XBox 360 Wireless Adapter

An XBox 360 wireless networking adapter allows your XBox 360 to connect to a local network, such as a home network. Official XBox 360 Wireless Adapters are compatible with the wireless networking standards of 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g.

There are two choices when it comes to buying a wireless adapter for your XBox 360. The first is to buy an official Microsoft adapter and the second is to buy a cheaper third party brand which can cost one third of the price of the Microsoft product. So is it worth spending more to buy an official adapter? The resounding answer amongst enthusiasts is yes. Some people have experienced problems with third party XBox 360 wireless adapters and most consider the Microsoft version to be superior.

The benefits of having an XBox 360 wireless adapter include the following:

• Easily synchronizes with your XBox 360 system
• Transfer music and videos from your computer's Media Center to your XBox 360
• Play games and chat with friends on XBox Live
• No wires means no mess and clutter

The official Microsoft XBox 360 wireless adapter costs around $100 recommended retail price however substantial discounts can be found by shopping around. For example, Amazon stocks the Xbox 360 Wireless Network Adapter for $82.99. The adapter is 100% compatible with Windows Vista Media Center which adds a new element of entertainment to your XBox 360. And because the adapter is powered by your XBox 360 console there is no extra clutter to take care of power.

Some negative comments about third party XBox 360 adapters include a lack of documentation and reliability issues. This can be a problem if you are not experienced with wireless technologies. You also do not want your adapter cutting out in the middle of a game or data transfer.

Many people have asked whether a USB wireless adapter can be used with an XBox 360, rather than the more expensive XBox 360 wireless network adapter. It is not possible to use any other adapter as no generic USB adapters are compatible with the XBox 360 system.

The XBox 360 wireless adapter is easy to install and set up and you can have it operating in minutes. You should have no hassles getting the adapter to work right out of the box. An XBox 360 wireless adapter adds an extra exciting element to your XBox 360 system and gaming experience.