On Tuesday we talked about the process for connecting clients’ PS2s to the Internet so they can enjoy online gameplay. Well, as promised, today we will look at connecting your clients’ Xboxes to the Xbox Live service so they, too, can feel the tremendous sense of excitement that comes from team-based online play.

All right, let’s get started, shall we?

Unlike the PS2, Xbox live is not a free service. Don’t get me wrong though, it is totally worth the cost. Still, the reality of having to pay a fee to play games that can be enjoyed on a PC for free can be a bit hard to explain to a client. You will need to select a service plan that fits your clients’ budgets. For most, this would be the 12-month starter kit plan. The starter kit comes with 12 months of Xbox Live, a headset, and instructions on how to sign up for the service. I would recommend this to most people as it is the best buy out there, in my opinion.

If you are like most people, your clients will be using routers so they can share a connection with other PCs in the home. For the physical setup of the Xbox, simply plug the network cable into the Xbox and router.

Getting the service up and running is easy. Just insert the Xbox Live enabled game into the drive and follow the simple onscreen instructions. It really is that easy. At some point during the setup, you will be prompted to make some choices for subscribing to the Xbox live service. Like most people, the clients will have likely purchased an Xbox Live starter kit. With the kit, you will find a card that is good for the 12-month subscription to the service. Scratch off the hidden numbers on the card and then enter the information that is requested. Another point to keep in mind is your ‘gamer tag.’ This will be the Xbox Live name that your clients will have for the entire duration that their account remains active. It is critical that they choose a name wisely since that name cannot be redone if they change their mind later on.

Taking your gaming wireless can be accomplished thanks to the help of the Xbox wireless adapter. After purchasing this device, be sure to follow the instructions to install it. Not only that, but be sure to check for firmware updates as well. From the Xbox Dashboard, select Settings, Network Settings, Advanced, and Wireless. OK, from this point you would treat it a lot like you might a Wi-Fi enabled laptop PC. Make sure the SSID settings are set right and that any network login is entered correctly, as well.

Still have some questions that were not covered here? Write me and let me know. I would be happy to assist however I can. ;o)