How To Add A Game Console To Your WLAN

Adding a game console to your WLAN

Game console makers are quickly adding networking to their products' list of features. Leading the way with this was Microsoft's Xbox. Sony's PlayStation and the Nintendo Game cube are catching up, with multiplayer titles and networking support available.

Adding your game console to your WLAN is easy. You just need to add a Wi-Fi adapter. Microsoft recently announced an adapter for the Xbox, but both Linksys and NETGEAR already have game adapters available that work with all three consoles. The adapters connect to the console via an Ethernet cable, so if your console isn't equipped with an Ethernet port, you have to add that as well. Wireless game adapters range in price from $80 to $150, are self-contained, and don't require any drivers.

Occasionally, you may experience problems between your router and your game console. The router may not recognize the console, or the console may not be able to acquire an IP address. Try this process to resolve the problem:

- Turn off all of your other WLAN clients.

- Turn off your console and router.

- Turn the router on.

- Turn the console (and adapter) on.

- Turn the rest of your clients on.

Sometimes, the game adapter has to establish its connection with the router before the other clients do. If this fix worked, you should only have to do this one time. If the problem persists, check the Web site of your router's manufacturer for troubleshooting tips.