Unwire Your Xbox

Wireless Xbox courtesy Microsoft

This 50-foot Ethernet cable snaking all the way through my apartment from the router in the bedroom to my Xbox 360 in the living room? That's how I used to play videogames online. The Xbox doesn't come with wireless capability built in, and I didn't want to shell out the extra $100 -- a third the price of the console itself -- for Microsoft's wireless adapter. Third-party wireless bridges cost a bit less but are still pricey. Finally, though, I found a way to ditch the giant wire with a solution that cost me only 40 bucks. If you already have a wireless network set up in your home, you can make a second, cheap router function as an Xbox adapter by replacing its firmware with free software called DD-WRT. As long as you download the right version, almost any brand of router will work. I bought an older model on Amazon, but you can get a used one on eBay for $15 or less -- well worth it for the pleasure of blasting annoying teenagers in Denmark in Halo 3.

DIY Wireless for Your Xbox

Time: 30 minutes
Cost: $15-$50

dd-wrt:  courtesy dd-wrt.com

1. Before buying a router for this project, check dd-wrt.com to make sure the specific model is supported. If so, download the right version of the software to your computer.
2. Follow the installation instructions on dd-wrt.com for your specific router model. This may require you to change your computer's network settings. Connect the router to your modem and your computer with Ethernet cables. Update the router's firmware with the DD-WRT software.
3. Enter the router's IP address in your computer's Web browser, which should now bring up the DD-WRT interface. Change the router's settings to "client mode." This enables it to receive an Internet signal from your original router.
4. Disconnect the cables, and restore the original network settings on your computer. Place the router near the Xbox 360 console, and connect it with a short Ethernet cable. Turn on the console, and connect to Xbox Live.