So I recently decided to upgrade my wireless network as I bought myself a new Linksys Wireless N router and thought I would begin the fun task of resetting everything currently going to my old router. This is where the fun begins, so I set up the new router on my desktop, which took me a bit since the installation CD was programmed by a gang of sadistic asshats that for some reason felt a need to turn off my connection and then tell me that it wasn’t working. I sorted that out via technical services and the first thing they told me to do is discard the CD as we would just set everything up manually, which was a lot easier.

After setting that up it was time to move to my laptop, this actually wasn’t too bad, but then it was time to move to all the consoles. I started with my Xbox 360, bad move, I found my network SSID with no issues but for some reason the Xbox kept asking me for a WEP key!? This was odd since I never set one up on the router, instead I had setup a more secure WPA Personal passphrase. After banging my head against the wall and trying to call up the router tech support I resorted to the master, DrunkPandas. We tried fiddling around with the damn thing and then he asked me the golden question, what adapter was I using on my 360. Well of course the old black one that I had setup on my original Xbox, I wasn’t paying another $1000 bucks for another one. Well there in lies the problem the old black model Microsoft Wireless Adapter is not compatible with WPA and can only accept WEP.

So what does this all mean, don’t try to use the old black wireless adapter with anything past WEP encryption, it just wont work and give you headaches, like me. Since the PS3 and Wii have built in wireless adapters that accept WPA and WEP, PS3 actually accepts WPA2, this was a none issue and went very smoothly. Curious how this will work out on my DS and PSP next?

Overall:
New Wireless Router N - $100
Calling tech support - Free
New Xbox 360 wireless adapter - $100
Getting a headache - Priceless