Post Your Stupid Questions- Tech Version

[collegestudent22]

Ok, in that case it could be the university network. Try this for port checking. If they are all blocked, it could be the wireless is on a NAT or it could be your ICS is setup wrong.

To clarify, I know they can't ALL be blocked, as I can connect to XBL (and the internet through the computer), just not to the party service, or the chat, or really any useful features except a (very) slow matchmaking - because I have trouble connecting to specific people, which just happens to be most of them and all of the people on my Friends list.

Now that I know that... Getting a wireless router could let you connect through a wired connection with both the XBOX and your computer simultaneously. The key is to get a router that supports client/bridge mode.

And would that fix the problem? I don't want to spend a lot of money (for me) except as a last resort unless it is likely to solve the problem. Also, the wireless is 802.1X, while the Xbox (a new one with the built-in Wi-Fi) supports only 802.11b/g/n.

Is this the page you tried?

Actually, no. That might help - I made the Xbox a static IP, and I opened the ports for the computer, but I neglected to combine the two. The other steps I might need to look at just in case as well. However, I am getting Starcraft 2 shortly, so I may need to come back to this problem......

[bagheadinc]

Getting a wireless router could let you connect through a wired connection with both the XBOX and your computer simultaneously. The key is to get a router that supports client/bridge mode.

And would that fix the problem? I don't want to spend a lot of money (for me) except as a last resort unless it is likely to solve the problem.

Hmm...that is actually an interesting idea. I'm not sure 100% sure if it would work, maybe I'll do some testing with that later this week. In terms of cost, you can pick up a router for $25 to $35 and throw DD-WRT on it. After that setting up a wireless bridge is pretty simple. I have an extra DD-WRT flashed router, if I can dig it up I'll see what I can find out and let you know.

[adciv]

The question is going to be is NAT performed by the university or not. If it is, he is SOL. If not, it should work. I was hesitant to mention DD-WRT as flashing is not for the faint of heart at first. Unless one has some free cash.

[bagheadinc]

I was hesitant to mention DD-WRT as flashing is not for the faint of heart at first.

Really? I've flashed 4 routers (WRT54G, WRT54GS, WRT54GL, and WRT160N) with no issues. Still haven't found my spare one to test on though.

[adciv]

You I would not qualify as faint of heart. Someone who has not delved deeply into the black voodoo magic of computers, such as CS22 (maybe Terene is a closer example for you?) is one of the faint of heart. I'll agree it's not that difficult, it can just be very annoying to do and some people are afraid(?) to do anything to their machines.

[collegestudent22]

Someone who has not delved deeply into the black voodoo magic of computers, such as CS22 (maybe Terene is a closer example for you?) is one of the faint of heart.

I may not be all that knowledgable about networking, but I am not one of the faint of heart. I did work as IT for a summer for an Air Force unit, and I have built computers. I just don't have a whole lot of money at the moment, and I am hesitant to try something that may not even work, but will cost me (relatively) a good bit of the money I do have.

The question is going to be is NAT performed by the university or not. If it is, he is SOL. If not, it should work. I was hesitant to mention DD-WRT as flashing is not for the faint of heart at first. Unless one has some free cash.

Unfortunately, looking into it, the NAT is performed by the university's network setup. So, flashing a router won't really help me in this situation. Oh, well. I guess I will have to live with limited functionality until I graduate and move on.

[JermCool]

So if you connect the Xbox directly to the wall, you still can't play with your friends?

My thinking would be just to throw in a little 4-port switch to connect your PC and XBOX. KISS method.

[collegestudent22]

So if you connect the Xbox directly to the wall, you still can't play with your friends?

The building isn't set up to allow that kind of connection. The only online connection is dial-up. I would have to pay for broadband DSL, which isn't really worth it while I have the limited connection through the free, university-provided wireless broadband.

[JermCool]

Aaah. OK - so it's wireless. I suppose I should have figured that.

Would something like this fit the bill?

[collegestudent22]

Two issues with that. One, it is one of the new Xbox "Slim" models, so it has a built-in wireless card, but that, as with the suggestion you made, is suitable only for 802.11, while the wireless is broadcast as 802.1X, supposedly for "security" reasons (which makes no sense to me, as if you live within range, you can easily pretend to be a student and get on the guest computers around campus to get into the network anyway...).

Furthermore, the problem isn't connecting but the NAT setup, which unfortunately is on the school end, so unless I can convince them to modify the setup to allow my Xbox through an open NAT, I cannot fix it. Alas, IPv6 cannot come fast enough.

[Martin Blank]

It's for wireless security, not general security. Using 802.1X means that each user gets his own, unique encryption key. Traffic cannot be decrypted casually by just anyone on the network, as happens when a pre-shared key (PSK) is used. It's more difficult to set up early on, but it's far easier to administer later when the number of users grows.

[collegestudent22]

I suppose that makes sense. Although, given the compatibility issues involved, I don't know if it is worth it. Especially given the "guest" network is unencrypted and also on 802.1X....

[Martin Blank]

I'm not sure how that would work. I'll have to check the wireless systems at work, and see if that's possible. IIRC, all of the authentication settings require at least WEP; otherwise, it's pointless to implement.

[san4os]

Im on vacation now!
I want to spend thim time in Silent Hill. how can I get here?

[JermCool]

Question: When did these spammers go from bots to real people?