Xbox Live and DSL Info Needed

[Matt Young 0]

Just to preface this, I tried searching for info elsewhere, but this computer is so slow that I waited literally 2 hours and couldn't get the info I needed to load. I hope that you guys can help me out.

 

I ordered SBC Yahoo DSL a few days ago. From all accounts, it is compatible with Xbox Live. The package is on its way at this time and what the service rep told me is that it would have everything I needed to connect to the internet. and I assumed all I would need for Live would be a starter kit.

 

However, people are telling me now that I need some sort of ethernet card and ethernet cable? The cable would be affordable, I'm guessing, but any type of card for a computer is typically expensive. I don't want to have to spend a ton of money for this after paying for the DSL equipment.

 

My computer (not this slow ass one, thank God) meets all the specs for running SBC Yahoo DSL and I have the Pro Package kit on its way to my house. I'm going to Best Buy today to pick up a few things, amongst them a Live starter kit, and I need to know what else, if anything, I need to purchase to run DSL on both my computer and Xbox Live (not necessarily at the same time, but that would be nice). I'd like to know before I go as it would be a hassle to get there again anytime in the next couple days since I don't have a car at the moment.

 

I apologize for my complete lack of knowledge on what is likely a simple matter to many of you, but any help would be very much appreciated.

[Guest CronoT]

Here's what I could find on the XBox.com website:

 

Check Availability

Packages and services vary by state. SBC Communications operates in the following states:

 

California

Nevada

Arkansas

Kansas

Missouri

Oklahoma

Texas

Connecticut*

Illinois

Indiana

Michigan

Ohio

Wisconsin

 

*Xbox Live package promotion not available.

 

New customers, check out more information about SBC DSL service availability in your state.

 

 

Set Up Your Connection

 

DSL modem equipment that works with Xbox Live and SBC Yahoo! DSL Internet service

 

Efficient 5360 modem/bridge

Compaq PC with PCI modem

2Wire HomePortal

PPPoA devices

IMPORTANT! Before following any connection steps below, you should print or save an offline version of this page, as you may need to disconnect your PC from the Internet.

 

Also, before following any connection steps, see your Xbox Instruction Manual for important safety information.

 

Connecting Your Xbox

When using the SBC Yahoo! DSL Internet service, your Xbox can be connected to Xbox Live using a direct, router, or Windows ICS connection.

 

Note A PC may be required to activate high-speed Internet service.

 

There are several types of modems you can use with the SBC Yahoo! Internet service to connect your Xbox to the Xbox Live service. Each device requires a unique configuration depending on the type of connection you will be using.

 

All USB-only DSL modems require a Windows ICS connection.

 

The Efficient 5360 modem/bridge can be configured with a direct or router connection.

 

If you have a Compaq PC with a PCI modem, you may connect to the Xbox Live service by installing a new network card and using Windows ICS. Or, you may remove the PCI modem entirely and purchase a DSL home gateway (the 2Wire product line is recommended by SBC).

 

The 2Wire HomePortal system has two models— the 100 and the 1000. The 2Wire 100 is a simple router and should be configured using the router connection instructions. The 2Wire 1000, however, is a combination device. It is both a DSL modem and router. As such, specific instructions for connecting your Xbox to this device are outlined below.

 

Customers using PPPoA (Point to Point Protocol over ATM) will need a residential gateway (like the 2Wire 1000) that supports PPPoA. You will need to connect the Xbox to the gateway either directly or via a hub. If you have a PPPoA modem with no extra Ethernet jacks, you will need to install a NIC in the PC (if you do not already have one) and set up a Windows ICS connection.

 

SBC Business DSL customers can connect their Xbox to the Xbox Live service using a static IP address and a hub. Specific instructions for this configuration can be found below in the SBC Yahoo! Business DSL Troubleshooting section.

Direct Connection with SBC

 

For a direct connection, you will need a standard Ethernet cable with RJ-45 connectors. To directly connect your hardware:

 

Turn off your devices (Xbox console, SBC DSL modem, and, if you have one, your PC) before connecting any cables.

 

You must disconnect your modem from its power source to turn it off.

 

 

If the PC NIC is already connected to the modem, disconnect the Ethernet cable from the PC NIC.

Connect the Ethernet out port on the modem to the Ethernet port on the back of the Xbox console using the Ethernet cable.

Turn on your modem.

Turn on your Xbox console, with no disc in the disc tray.

From the Xbox Dashboard, choose Settings, Network Settings, and then Connect.

Your settings are now used to connect to Xbox Live. Progress is displayed on the Connect Status screen. If the last item is "Connected to Xbox Live," congratulations! You are connected to Xbox Live. To create your Xbox Live account, see Account Creation, or for more information about managing your account, see Account Management.

 

If you cannot connect to Xbox Live, see Troubleshooting Your Connection with SBC for more detailed information about the problem and steps you can take to fix it.

 

Router Connection with SBC

 

 

To connect to Xbox Live with a router connection, you'll need three Ethernet cables with RJ-45 connectors and a cable/DSL router. To share with a PC, you'll also need an Ethernet NIC installed in the PC.

 

To share your SBC Internet connection with your PC using a router:

 

Turn off your devices (Xbox console, DSL router, SBC DSL modem, and PC) before connecting any cables.

 

You must disconnect your modem from its power source to turn it off.

 

 

If the PC NIC is already connected to the modem, disconnect the Ethernet cable from the PC NIC.

Connect the Ethernet out port on the modem to the Ethernet in port on the router using an Ethernet cable.

Connect one of the Ethernet out ports on the router to the Ethernet in port on the PC NIC using an Ethernet cable.

Connect another Ethernet out port on the router to the Ethernet port on the back of the Xbox console using an Ethernet cable.

Turn on your devices. You should turn them on in order from the wall jack out. This means, first turn on your modem, then your router, then your PC.

If you're setting up your own home network, configure your router to use SBC PPPoE setings. For more information about configuring your router, see your router documentation.

Verify that the PC can access the Internet.

Turn on your Xbox console with no disc in the disc tray.

From the Xbox Dashboard, choose Settings, Network Settings, and then Connect.

Note With a router connection, you do not need to turn on your PC to access Xbox Live from your Xbox console.

 

Your settings are now used to connect to Xbox Live. Progress is displayed on the Connect Status screen. If the last item is "Connected to Xbox Live," congratulations! You are connected to Xbox Live. To create your Xbox Live account, see Account Creation, or for more information about managing your account, see Account Management.

 

If you cannot connect to Xbox Live, see Troubleshooting Your Connection with SBC for more detailed information about the problem and steps you can take to fix it.

 

Windows ICS Connection with SBC

 

 

To connect to Xbox Live with a Windows ICS connection, you'll need:

 

One standard (straight-through) Ethernet cable with RJ-45 connector (to connect the modem to the DSL wall jack)

One cross-over Ethernet cable with RJ-45 connector

One USB cable with USB connector

A PC with an Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC) installed.

For more information about installing and configuring a NIC, see your NIC documentation.

 

To share your SBC Internet connection through your PC using Windows ICS:

 

Turn off your devices (Xbox console, SBC DSL modem, and PC) before connecting any cables.

 

You must disconnect your modem from its power source to turn it off.

 

Connect the modem to the DSL wall jack using the standard Ethernet cable. If you've previously connected to the Internet with your PC, this should already be connected.

Connect the PC to the USB-based modem with the USB cable. If you've previously connected to the Internet with your PC, this should already be connected.

Connect the Ethernet port of the PC NIC to the Ethernet port of the Xbox console using the cross-over Ethernet cable.

Turn on your devices. You should turn them on in order from the wall jack out. This means, first turn on your modem, then your PC.

Verify that the PC can access the Internet.

Configure your PC to use Windows ICS to share your Internet connection with your Xbox console. For more information, see Using Windows ICS.

Turn on your Xbox console with no disc in the disc tray and from the Xbox Dashboard, choose Xbox Live. Or, play an Xbox Live enabled game and choose the option for Xbox Live play.

Note With a Windows ICS connection, you must turn on your PC to access Xbox Live from your Xbox console.

 

If you cannot connect to Xbox Live, see Troubleshooting Your Connection with SBC for more detailed information about the problem and steps you can take to fix it.

 

 

To set up your Xbox console using the 2Wire HomePortal System

 

Connecting your Xbox with the 2Wire 100 HomePortal is identical to connecting with a router. Therefore, if you are using the 2Wire 100 HomePortal, you do need to enter the PPPoE information into the 2Wire 100 HomePortal. If you are using the 2Wire 1000 HomePortal, you do not need to insert the PPPoE information into the device. Note that if you want to connect more than one device (an Xbox and a PC, for example) to the 2Wire 100, a hub is required.

 

Because the 2Wire 1000 HomePortal is both a DSL modem and router, it receives this information directly from SBC. For both the 2Wire 100 and 2Wire 1000 systems, you must make sure you have a firmware version of 3.3 or higher for the device to work with Xbox Live. Note that if you want to connect more than one device (an Xbox and a PC, for example) to the 2Wire 1000, a hub is required.

 

Troubleshooting your connection with SBC

The network troubleshooter will automatically provide you with an error message and suggested solutions for your connection. Note the error message title (such as No Connection, Network Error, IP Conflict) to help troubleshoot the error, and follow the suggestions provided by the network troubleshooter.

 

Configuring PPPoE Settings

 

For a direct connection, you must set the PPPoE setting provided by SBC in the Xbox Dashboard to connect to Xbox Live.

 

Turn on your Xbox console with no game disc in the disc tray.

 

From the Xbox Dashboard, choose Settings, then Network Settings.

 

These steps assume you cannot connect to Xbox Live until you finish configuring your Xbox console to use your provider's PPPoE settings. The network troubleshooter will display the message "PPPoE Available." Press the B button to close this message and proceed to step 3.

 

From the Network Settings screen, select PPPoE Settings.

 

Enter the PPPoE information provided by SBC.

 

To attempt to connect to Xbox Live using the new settings, return (BACK) to the Network Settings screen, and then select Connect.

Configuring for SBC Yahoo! Business DSL connected through a hub, using a static IP address

 

If you choose to assign a fixed IP address to your Xbox, you'll need to use a unique IP address. Make sure that all IP addresses assigned to your computers and other networked devices are unique.

 

Note that connecting using a hub connection type is not supported by Xbox Live. Until you have completed the steps below, the network troubleshooter will display the message "Network Error." Press the B button to close this message and follow the instructions below.

 

 

From the Xbox Dashboard, choose Settings, and then Network Settings.

From the Network Settings screen, select IP Addresses.

Set the IP Addresses to valid addresses provided by your ISP or gateway.

Set the Subnet Mask to the value provided by your ISP.

Select DNS servers.

Check your DSL setup documentation from SBC for the primary and secondary DNS server addresses.

 

If you are connecting to a residential gateway, set the Primary DNS Server to the IP address of the residential gateway and leave the Secondary DNS Server address blank.

 

Select PPPoE settings.

Set Configuration to Off.

To attempt to connect to Xbox Live using the new settings, return (Back) to the Network Settings screen, and then select Connect.

See Troubleshooting for more help connecting to Xbox Live.

 

I hope that gives you all the information you need. Personally, I think you should get Time-Warner Cable Road Runner service. It's what I use, and I've never had a problem with it, aside from the occasional cable drop.

[Matt Young 0]

I'm kind of stuck with SBC for the time being.

 

Thank you very much for the info, but can you or anyone else explain that in layman's terms?

[Matt Young 0]

I've got an eMachines eTower 600 IS, if that helps at all...

[Guest Vitamin X]

Erm, what Crono posted wasn't particularly helpful without the pictures. Just wait until the package comes, as everything you need will be there except for the ethernet adapter/card. Basically, you need to get a router to make sure 100% that it will work (I tried doing the ICS thing that Xbox Live said you could supposedly do but it didn't work at all for me). I got a motorola wireless broadband router for like $40 at Wal-Mart, you could probably get one for cheaper that's not wireless (I need mine to be wireless because I have a wireless network with other computers). However, you should check the back of your computer and see if you have an ethernet port, if you don't, you're going to need to get an ethernet adapter for your computer, because you'll need one for it to work, I'm pretty sure that if you got one of those automatic system check things for your DSL to make sure you had all the system specs, you should have one since DSL can only work if you have an open USB port and/or an ethernet port.

 

Don't forget you could pick up a free 2-month trial for Live as well from just about any new game (you could go to a local Blockbuster and open the new game cases as often times they leave the free 2 month trial card in there).

 

So, for a rundown:

Buy a router and an ethernet adapter if you need one (which you might not, but check the back of your computer anyways)

Wait for the pro package to arrive, as that will probably include all the cables you need as well as the modem

Follow all the instructions carefully, and also buy an extra ethernet cable or two. I needed 3 cables to set my system up (one to go between the router and computer, one for the modem to the router, and one for the Xbox to the router).

 

Although you might not be familiar with the techie terms yet, you better get familiar with them quick because you'll need it to set everything up quickly and smoothly. By the way, I'm still waiting up on you to start up that NFL2k5 league...

[Matt Young 0]

Thanks, VX. That made things a lot more clear for me. I decided earlier after being completely overwhelmed and befuddled by what Crono posted that I would wait until I receive my pro package before buying anything just to be safe. Besides, Best Buy was sold out of the other stuff I planned on buying anyway.

 

As for the league, signing up will be the frist thing I do on Live as I stated in the other thread.