Xbox 360 Wireless N Networking Adapter out this week in North America [update]

by JC Fletcher on Nov 10th 2009 1:30PM

After the item mysteriously appeared in a UK supermarket this weekend, Microsoft has finally offered a North American release date for the Xbox 360 Wireless N Networking Adapter -- and it's right now. Or, rather, "this week," as the announcement puts it. The new version of the official Wi-Fi adapter will retail for the same $99.99 that the first version commanded (though Amazon has it for $87.99 right now, and the old one at $76.49).

The Wireless Adapter N adds support for the 802.11n protocol, which should allow for higher-speed wireless connections. It also adds a second antenna, which allows for symmetry. Given its high price, it may cause buyers to suffer like the 802.11g did.

Update: We've confirmed with Microsoft that the original 802.11b/g adapter will only be available while supplies last -- at a new price of $80.

Source

Tags: microsoft, wireless-n, Xbox-360, xbox-360-wireless-n-networking-adapter

Reader Comments (92)

Fuck you microsoft, Im sharing my laptops WiFi connection.

Same baby! Even though thats just for college. I do have the older adapter for home use.

I use that too, but I've noticed quite a bit of lag. Not sure if buying this will help, but it will certainly look nicer.

This thing isn't going to make you faster online, n adapters are primarily for STREAMING/SHARING media from one location to another. In this case, your PC to your 360. While this adapter is too expensive, most n adapters are ($70-$100). This is obviously geared towards the audio/videophile crowd who believe cost is not an issue when it comes to their setups.

I was doing this for a while, until I gave in and bought a wifi adapter for $40 off a friend. Well worth the price because its such a pain in the ass with the laptop bridge. With the laptop bridge I would get all sorts of lag even though I have fios. I would also get lots of accidental shut downs when a family member decided to use it. Plus it saves on energy too.

I still think MS is overpricing this necessary peripheral. I believe that if they dropped it to $40-50 more people would purchase it. Not only that but it would greatly improve on our gameplay online because of less laggers.

Im gonna hafta disagree with ya there, captain. This isn't just geared towards enthusiasts, as it will soon be the only wifi option Microsoft offers.

Wireless is always a dodgy setup when playing online... it's best to just buy $100 worth of cable and go directly into your modem/router... unless of course you're stealing internet from someone else...

@morisato

You mean there are people who don't just have several hundred feet of ethernet cable in a closet waiting to be used? I tend to forget that I am not like the others.

Oh, and you can buy a hundred foot of cable off monoprice for 8$ plus shipping. No reason to pay silly BestBuy prices for cabling.

@captain: this is not an item for the audio/videophile crowd cuz no one in their right mind with such a setup would use the noise machine that is the 360 for any kind of streaming.

I'm inclined to agree with Courtney and Morisato. You can buy insane amounts of ethernet cable dirt cheap. Add a little duct tape and you won't even trip on it!

http://mshiman.com/gotyaagain.jpg

Will all routers be able to take advantage of this, or will I need to buy one that's compatible?

You'll have to have an N router.

But unless you are suffering weakness of signal due to range problems, it's probably not worth the hassle of buying a new router and adapter.

you will need a wireless n router to get wireless n speeds...but you can still use it with the other routers just that you will be limited to the speed the router is capable of

Here, I'll get this out of the way early.

You should all get a Wii or PS3 because the wireless is free. Look at the true cost if you buy a 360.

360 arcade: $199 + tax (no tax on PS3/Wii) = $499
360 wi-fi: $600 and you HAVE to have it and can't go online without it
XBox Live: $999
Rechargeable batteries for your controller: $7,365
Replacement 360's for RROD within the 1st month: $800
Hard Drive: $754

PS3 console: $0
PS3 wireless: built-in for uber fast gaming connections!
PSN: It pays you $50/mo because Sony loves you!!!
50000gb Hard Drive: $1

Ok, now that that's out of the way, maybe we can actually talk about the adapter this time.

You idiot! You forgot 10000 dollars for breaking the TV with the Wiimote!

you forgot the ps3 import price on games

But those thousands of dollars make the experience worthwhile, maaaan

Sadly your sarcasm is really just about what the joystiq posts have become. Apparently if you like Sony it's mandatory for you to hate the 360. I don't know why this is. Justification for spending your money on something you want?

You forgot the necessary dustbuster with Wii

(goes to wash virtual mouth out with soap)

You forgot to include the price of a home and electricity. I mean,if we're gonna be cocks here.

Vcize completely flipping the fuck out: Priceless.

I love reading the comments in stories about this adapter because it is becoming increasingly clear that 98% of fucking people don't know what the fuck this new adapter does.

Does it cook bacon? If not then I see no need for it.

...and to think, for $100 more, you could buy the basic console itself.

YES!!!
More overpriced, proprietary hardware!

I think JC should write all press releases for microsoft.

Ahh...more overpriced accessories.

Only from Microsoft. Your Money, Our Passion.

The sad thing about it is that people will buy this thinking that they get some kind of online edge in performance.

It just allows you to be further away from you router.

It also allows for faster speeds. While that may not be visible in an application like gaming, to say that range is the only benefit of 802.11n is incorrect.

The key is you are still are not gaining an "edge". Just like if you decide to run 50 feet of cable instead of using wireless you still won't have an advantage.

If you want to believe that you will see a performance increase go ahead.

Fail.

Let's kill third-party memory units then this. I'm not the type to go on a full-blown tirade, but they're trying my patience. They keep this up and they'll join Activision-Blizzard on that effigy I'll burn in a glorious fashion.

Until then - I'll stick with my hardline connection thanks.

Just in time for Christmas....

I'LL pass.

I bought 50 feet of ethernet cable to directly plug my 360 in to the router. It was far cheaper.

*and it's faster.

And a far better connection... I think crappy wireless connections account for at least half of the bad hosts on Live.

I've been using the old Ethernet cable that came with my 360 way back when, and I will continue to do so until one of these things become reasonably priced.

Yeah, too bad the new 360's don't come with that cable. I've got two of them.

Why switch from wired to wireless? The adapter will never be more reliable than your current wired set-up.

Agreed; even if it becomes reasonably priced, it's not as good as a cable. If you value watching Netflix without becoming insane, stick to wired.

Oh, and I hear it's good for gaming too.

@ Darth

My MW2 console came with an ethernet cable. It's HDMI and component that they pulled.

802.11g's bloodstains!!!!!

Suffer like G did?

GO CARL!

THANK YOU.
The 802.11 was throwing me way off. But now that I'm on track, I LOVE the references.

(Not sarcasm, I am, in fact, an idiot.)

No thanks.

It still makes no sense to me why MS doesn't put Wifi in the 360, I know they claim it's a choice if we want it or not, but if they want this to be a living room entertainment device, it needs wifi since like 95% of ppl do not have an ethernet jack right next to their HD TVs, I suspect this is why the Ps3/360 online install base is about the same, ps3 has wifi so almost everyone is on, while MS excludes anyone who doesn't have a jack next to their TV

On the flip-side, I would have liked it if the Wii DID have an ethernet port like the 360 does.

Can't please everyone.

Though, with the proprietary $100 kick-in-the-pants option, MS could try a little harder.

What do you mean most people don't have an ethernet jack next to their HD TVs? The most popular high speed internet service in North America is cable, and your cable comes out next to your TV, so why not put the wireless router there, and plug your game systems directly into it? That's what my friends and I do.

@AirIntake

In my experience most people place their modems next to their computers, which are often not next to their TVs.

The way most people think is to have modems/routers with their computers, not their TVs

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Xbox 360 Wireless N Networking Adapter out this week in North America [update]

Reader Comments (92)

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