Save $100, Get WiFi On Xbox 360 : Connecting with a Mac: Manual Xbox 360 Settings, Continued

By Anthony Celeste , published on March 17, 2009 at 11:50 AM
Picture 12 of 14
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  

For example, my Airport card uses the address 192.168.1.2 and I gave the Ethernet port the IP Address 192.168.1.5.  Enter your Subnet Mask (this will be the same for all your devices, while on a standard home network, the value is usually 255.255.255.0).  Enter your Router’s address (this will usually be the address you use to access your router’s Web interface, such as 192.168.1.1).

There are many ways to determine your DNS Server(s) on a Mac, but none of them are especially reliable. Ideally, you’ll be able to find the number(s) listed in your router’s Web interface. You can also check your ISP’s Web page, do a Google search, or if you have access to a Windows computer on the same network, enter IPCONFIG/ALL at a command prompt. With your Mac set up, the next task is to manually configure the Xbox 360.

  1. Turn on your Xbox 360, and go to My Xbox --> System Settings --> Network Settings --> Configure Network --> press the “A” button --> Manual Settings. This is where most people make a critical mistake. It seems like the obvious thing to do is give the Xbox 360 an IP address in your router’s IP range, but that’s not the correct step. The Mac is now operating as the Xbox 360’s gateway or server, so you’ll have to assign an IP address within the Mac’s server IP range. Macs usually serve IP numbers in the 192.168.2.x range, (not the 192.168.1.x range). 
  2.  So, click on IP Address and assign the Xbox 360 an address such as 192.168.2.12.  Press the “B” button, click Subnet Mask, and enter your network’s Subnet Mask (this is still almost always 255.255.255.0).  Press the “B” Button, and click Gateway.

This is where another critical error occurs, since the Gateway is usually your router’s IP address (such as 192.168.1.1). In this case, the Mac is acting as your gateway, so assign the Mac’s gateway address, which is usually 192.168.2.1. When finished, click Done.

    3.  Move down to DNS settings, press the “A” button, and click manual. This is the third critical error that’s easy to make, since the instinctive thing to do is enter your ISP’s DNS server settings. However, the Xbox 360 needs your Mac’s DNS servers settings, which is the same as the Gateway (usually 192.168.2.1). You only need to enter a primary DNS server. Click "Done," and check your connection.

    4.  Reboot your Xbox and your Mac, and test the connection.  At this point, everything should be working.

Sponsored links
Comments
Anonymous 03/17/2009 2:24 AM
Hide
-0+

This is all very nice ways to save money, thank you tomsguides. I've already bought a $100 adapter but i could use the laptop method which is neat.

One more method i would like to know is using the psp's built in wireless. If you guys could try to set that up, it'll be awesome as i never use mine anymore.

mavroxur 03/17/2009 2:51 AM
Hide
--1+

At first I got excited, thinking this was maybe an article about how to reflash firmware on an off-the-shelf USB wireless adapter or something, not a re-hash of the 1,492,391 other ITENTICAL articles on every gaming site on the internet.

mavroxur 03/17/2009 3:09 AM
Hide
--2+

I meant Identical

uwgibson 03/17/2009 3:12 AM
Hide
-3+

I have the linksys wireless wga54g gaming adapter that I used for my original xbox. I was able to configure it so a xbox360.. or computer (currently using it for this) can get internet wirelessly..

Pretty sure you cant just buy it on the shielf and have it work unless u first set it up on a computer with the right settings and have the 360 configured properly as well... anywho some combination of my tinkering made it work.. go me.

but... I like faster speeds.. so i just run a 25ft cable across the room when i want to game :-D

uwgibson 03/17/2009 3:12 AM
Show
Tekkamanraiden 03/17/2009 3:51 AM
Hide
-0+

Yeah a 50ft cable and a switch was considerably cheaper than a wireless adapter. Heck I even bough a usb ethernet adapter for my Wii.

Tomsguiderachel 03/17/2009 8:06 PM
Hide
-1+

mavroxur :
At first I got excited, thinking this was maybe an article about how to reflash firmware on an off-the-shelf USB wireless adapter or something, not a re-hash of the 1,492,391 other ITENTICAL articles on every gaming site on the internet.


uwgibson,

I'm sorry if you've read this stuff before, but many of our Tom's Guide audience doesn't visit gaming sites, so we thought it would be useful for them--especially since many non-gamers are buying the Xbox 360 for its networking/media capabilities.

Thanks,
Rachel Rosmarin
Editor of Tom's Guide

bustapr 03/17/2009 9:27 PM
Hide
--2+

TomsGuideRachel :
uwgibson,I'm sorry if you've read this stuff before, but many of our Tom's Guide audience doesn't visit gaming sites, so we thought it would be useful for them--especially since many non-gamers are buying the Xbox 360 for its networking/media capabilities.Thanks,Rachel RosmarinEditor of Tom's Guide


HOLY CRAP!!!! Tom's employees are finally fightng back.Sooner or later we'll see Parrish cursing at every person that says he's bad at his job!

mavroxur 03/17/2009 10:58 PM
Show
Tomsguiderachel 03/17/2009 11:06 PM
Hide
-2+

mavroxur :
I'm sorry, I phrased that incorrectly. I meant to say "re-hash of the 1,492,391 other ITENTICAL articles on every gaming / technology site on the internet". I incorrectly singled out gaming sites, and for that i'm sorry. It's not just gaming sites that cut and paste that information.


Mavroxur,
Sorry I called you by the wrong name before--my apologies. I would also never suggest that we were the first people to come up with these Xbox260 wifi workarounds. But the truth is that we did test each method and come up with what I hope is a useful list of tips for troubleshooting the problems that are associated with these methods. Again, if they are not of use to you, I am sorry, but we most certainly did not "cut and paste" the info from anybody else--you can be sure this is 100% original testing and reporting.

random1283 03/18/2009 10:31 AM
Hide
-2+

Mavroxur
Just lay off as she said, she was just testing out all the options to see how they work out, and adding a bit of helpful info. And anyway I have not seen an article like this before anyway.

Forsaken503 03/18/2009 2:36 PM
Hide
-1+

Just a note on the 360 Ethernet port: It is an auto-detect ethernet port that will switch between straight through and crossover mode depending on the device it is connected to and the type of cable, therefore a cross-over cable is not required.

To test this theory, take the ethernet cable supplied with the 360 (or any ethernet cable) and connect it between the XBOX360 and a router and check connectivity (it passes). Then take the same cable and connect it to an ethernet port on a laptop/desktop, it will work as well.

Forsaken503 03/18/2009 2:39 PM
Hide
-0+

Just a note on the 360's ethernet adapter: It is a auto-detect port that can switch between cross-over and straight through mode depending on the device it is connected to and the cable used, therefore a cross-over cable is not required.

To test this: Take a ethernet cable and connect it between the 360 and a router, then check connectivity (it will work). Then take the same cable and connect it between a laptop/desktop and the 360, it will also work.

Forsaken503 03/18/2009 2:50 PM
Hide
-0+

Sorry about the double post, but also another point:

In most routers, adding an entry to the DMZ does not disable the routers firewall for all other clients on the network, only for the IP addresses specified in the DMZ list. Therefore, adding your Xbox 360 to the DMZ will not disable protection for the other computers on your neetwork, and since no malware/virus has been designed to attack the 360 (yet), it's usually not necessary to undo the DMZ option after your done gaming.

mavroxur 03/18/2009 3:42 PM
Show
jay29geo_31 03/18/2009 6:13 PM
Hide
-0+

anyone think this would work when hooking up my samsung blu ray player with wifi too? instead or running the cable across the floor lol

zuesacuatl 03/18/2009 7:11 PM
Hide
-3+

Wow Mavroxur, did your mom like hate you when you were young? Maybe drop you on your head once or twice? Such angst.

Anonymous 03/19/2009 1:21 AM
Hide
-1+

i have my 360 connected through ICS on windows XP. was a pain in the arse to get working but did save the $100

AARRGGHHH 03/19/2009 3:30 AM
Hide
-1+

WTF PimpTarts... I think you work for Microsoft.

I haven't seen these particular Mac suggestions anywhere before. Every site I've seen says to connect a Mac to 192.168.1.1 or 10.0.0.1 as the gateway. And it never works. This article says to connect a Mac to 192.168.2.1 - which I'm going to try first chance I get.

matchboxmatt 03/19/2009 7:42 AM
Hide
-1+

I couple months back when I got a 360, I bought an extra ethernet card for my PC so I could use network sharing for both wired and wireless connections.

Works great and is incredibly convenient if your 360 is close to your PC. It's also ballin if you're stuck behind a network that needs software to sign into like a college dorm connection.


Comments are closed on this page.
Sponsored links