Xbox 360 Connection Guide

There are 4 ways to get online and play games with people across the world using your Xbox 360:

1) Direct Modem Connection
2) Router Connection
3) Windows ICS Connection
4) Wireless Connection

1) Direct Modem Connection

A direct connection is probably the easiest to set up, as you just need to connect your Xbox 360 directly to your modem with a standard Ethernet cable.

Connecting in this way means you'll only be able to get online with your Xbox 360 OR your computer, not with both at the same time. You'll also need a lot of Ethernet cable if your Xbox 360 and TV are not near your modem.

1. Turn your Xbox 360 and your modem off.

2. Connect your Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port on your modem.

3. Then connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port on your Xbox 360.


4. Turn your modem on, then turn on your Xbox 360 (make sure there is no disc in the disc tray).


5. If you've already played games offline on your Xbox 360, the Xbox Dashboard will open to the Xbox Live area. Select Xbox Live. If you've never used your Xbox 360 before, you will need to create a gamer profile - please see the documentation with your console for further details.

2) Router Connection

With a router connection you can get online with your computer and your Xbox 360 at the same time. You will need:

• 3 Ethernet cables
• An Xbox Live compatible router
• A PC with a network interface card (NIC)

1. Turn off your router, modem, computer and Xbox 360.

2. Connect the first Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port on your modem. Then connect the other end to the Ethernet input port on your router.

3. Connect the second Ethernet cable to one of your router's Ethernet output ports and connect the other end to the Ethernet port on your PC.

4. Connect the third Ethernet cable to another Ethernet output port on your router, then connect the other end to the Ethernet port on the back of your Xbox 360.
5. Turn your modem on, then turn on your router, then turn on your computer.
6. Try connecting to the Internet, just to make sure that you have the wiring set up correctly. If you have problems you may need to set up your router for Internet access (please check the instructions that came with your router for help with this).
7. Make sure there is no disc in your Xbox 360 disc tray, then turn on your Xbox 360.
8. If you've already played games offline on your Xbox 360, the Xbox Dashboard will open to the Xbox Live area. Select Xbox Live. If you've never used your Xbox 360 before you will need to create a gamer profile - please see the documentation with your console for further details.
   

3) Windows ICS Connection

Windows Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) lets you use your PC as if it were a router. This is quite a simple way to connect, but does mean you'll have to have your PC switched on whenever you want to get online. There are two ways of connecting with ICS:

a) To connect with ICS through a USB Modem you need:

• 1 x USB cable
• 1 x Ethernet cable
• A PC with a network interface card (NIC)

1. Turn off your modem, your PC and your Xbox 360.

2. Connect your USB cable to the USB port on your modem and the other end to a USB port on your PC.

3. Connect one end of your Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port on your PC

4. Then connect the other end to the Ethernet port on your Xbox 360.
5. Turn your modem and your PC on.
6. Setup Windows ICS on your PC to share your Internet connection. (The following instructions are for Windows XP):
7. Log on to your PC as Administrator or Owner.
8. Click Start, right-click My Network Places and then Properties.
9. You can now connect using either a Local Area Connection or a PPPoE connection.

Local Area Connection

1. Right click the connection that you use to connect to the Internet.
2. Click Properties then Advanced.
3. Click Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection.
4. Click OK.

PPPoE Connection

1. Below Broadband right click PPPoE Connection (or this may say PlusNet).
2. Click Properties and then click Advanced.
3. Click Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection.
4. Click the Home Networking Connection drop-down list and choose the networking connection that your computer is connected to.
5. Click OK.

Once you've set up ICS make sure that you can get online with your PC. Make sure there is no disc in your Xbox 360 disc tray, then turn on your Xbox 360. If you've already played games offline on your Xbox 360, the Xbox Dashboard will open to the Xbox Live area. Select Xbox Live. If you've never used your Xbox 360 before you will need to create a gamer profile - please see the documentation with your console for further details.

b) To connect through ICS through your internal (PCI) modem you need:

• 1 x Ethernet cable
• 1 x RJ-11 analogue phone cable OR one F-type coaxial cable
• A PC with a network interface card (NIC)

1. Turn off your PC and Xbox 360.
2. Connect your RJ-11 phone cable or F-type coaxial cable to your PC's modem and the other end to the phone socket on your wall.
3. Connect one end of your Ethernet cable to the Ethernet port on your PC and the other end to the Ethernet port on your Xbox 360.
4. Setup Windows ICS on your PC to share your Internet connection. (The following instructions are for Windows XP):
5. Log on to your PC as Administrator or Owner.
6. Click Start, right-click My Network Places and then Properties.
7. You can now connect using either a Local Area Connection or a PPPoE connection.

Local Area Connection

1. Right click the connection that you use to connect to the Internet.
2. Click Properties then Advanced.
3. Click Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection.
4. Click OK.

PPPoE Connection

1. Below Broadband right click PPPoE Connection (or this may say PlusNet).
2. Click Properties and then click Advanced.
3. Click Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection.
4. Click the Home Networking Connection drop-down list and choose the networking connection that your computer is connected to.
5. Click OK.

Once you've set up ICS make sure that you can get online with your PC. Make sure there is no disc in your Xbox 360 disc tray, then turn on your Xbox 360. If you've already played games offline on your Xbox 360, the Xbox Dashboard will open to the Xbox Live area. Select Xbox Live. If you've never used your Xbox 360 before you will need to create a gamer profile - please see the documentation with your console for further details.

4. Wireless Connection

1. Turn off your wireless router, PC and Xbox.

2. Slot a wireless network adapter to the I/O port on the back of your Xbox 360.

3. Plus the wireless adapter cable into the I/O port on the back of your Xbox 360. (You'll find this to the right of the network adapter you just plugged in).

4. Put the network adapter antenna up.

5. Turn on your wireless router, PC and Xbox (make sure there is no disc in the disc tray).

6. Go to the wireless settings screen by going to System > Network Settings > Edit Settings.

7. Set the SSID on your Xbox 360 to match the SSID on your wireless router. If your wireless router broadcasts the SSID then this should appear automatically on your Xbox. If not, choose Specify Unlisted Network and enter the SSID. Choose Infrastructure as the Network Mode.

8. Set the Security Type to match the security type of your wireless router. This will be WEP or WPA - if it's WPA you will need to use the same encryption key that you use with your wireless router.

9. On the Apply Settings page click Test Xbox Live.

10. You'll now see a screen telling you that your Xbox is connected. (Note: You may need to run an update if you've not connected before, in which case your Xbox will restart before connecting).

Find out more about wireless networking in our Networking Guide

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