I have this habit of keeping and reading, cover to cover, all instruction manuals I get. Even manuals for mundane devices like the toaster, waffle iron, and dishwashwer, I’ve read. According to my dishwasher manual, if you go on vacation for two or more weeks, you’re supposed to run hot water down the drain for twenty minutes before running the dishwasher, since hydrogen built up in the pipes might explode when it comes in contact with the dishwasher heater element. Who would have thought - explosive dishwashers!

So we’ve been gone for almost two weeks - did we run the hot water before starting the dishwasher? Of course not - what’s a little explosion?

Anyway, I found a couple of interesting things in the manuals for the Xbox 360, and its Wireless Networking Adapter, which I just bought. From page 24 of the 360’s Volume 1 manual, “Troubleshooting” section:

“Wireless Controller Does Not Work: Metallic decorations or stickers on the console or controller can interfere with wireless controller performance. Remove decorations and retry connecting.”

Do you think that the maker of this faceplate knew about this little interference problem? Forget metal stickers - this guy put a HUGE METAL PLATE over the front of his 360. The original auction on eBay, since ended, says that the faceplate was indeed sold - I bet that buyer isn’t having much luck with his wireless controllers, what with metal reflecting radio waves, and all.

Also, of note, was this line from the Wireless Adapter manual:

“If you use wireless controllers, you may get better performance using 802.11a (5-GHz band) for your network connection, since the wireless controllers operate on the 2.4-GHz band.”

I use 802.11g - this operates on the 2.4-GHz band. I don’t know anybody who actually has and uses a 802.11a network, let alone someone who uses it for gaming. So, for us mere mortals, I take from this that with all four wireless controllers going, while playing a major game of Halo 2 over Xbox Live using the Wireless Networking Adapter, there is a tiny amount of increased latency due to the signals all arriving at the same time, and having to be queued and processed in order. How about that. Guess those wired controllers have the last laugh. Or not.

So now that I’ve bought this Wireless Adapter, how does it work? In a word, easily. You go to the Dashboard, search for networks, join one, and boom - online. Effortless. I took my 360 down to Roseburg this last weekend, and noticed that there was an unsecured wireless network in the area. I took my 360 out onto the porch (for better reception), turned it on, connected to the network, redeemed a 1600-point card, and bought Gauntlet with it. We had a great time playing the game that weekend, and I can’t believe how easy that adapter was to use. Plus, it’s so cute peeking up from the back of the console…

Be aware that the unit is really expensive - try $100. I got mine subsidised from Christmas - I hope you can to. I can’t wait for our next LAN party to try this hummer out. No wires! Yay!

Finally, this article scares me a little, but I’m not running this kind of network. Sure enough, the instruction manual says that WPA2 networks are supported, even though Microsoft says that compatability with these kinds of networks was removed late in development. Oh well - it doesn’t seem to affect me though, and I’m running a pretty tight WPA network already - who needs fancy WPA2?

Well, I suppose it was inevitable. You know that horrible sinking feeling - when you start to see your online nick get used by more and more people you don’t know? I started searching around for a more unique name recently, and I finally decided to take the plunge.

“Sandstone” seems to be used in a quite a few places. My new name, Stonesand, seems to be totally unique. Already, I have this secured for my Xbox Live Gamertag and Slashdot account - two places where uniqueness is very hard to achieve without putting a lame number behind your name, ala “Hunter2641″, funky punctuation, ala “_-*Beebop*-_”, or strange spellings, ala “DaT3|2m1n8er”. The nice thing about uniqueness, is that I shouldn’t have to change names again. Right?

Anyway, the new site’s name is Stonesand, and thus changed, I am. Those of you with access to post stories to the site still have access, so feel free. I’ll try to roll some of the graphics soon.

Sandstone is dead; long live Stonesand!

-Benjamin Brewster

UPDATE: I’ve finished converting the site - if you see any instance of the word Sandstone around, comment on it on this post, and I’ll take care of it. Also, you can see I’ve put my Xbox Live 360 Gamercard on the sidebar - those of you with editing power, let me know if you want yours there, as well, and I’ll add ‘em.

UPDATE: I’ve added Editor’s Gamercards to the sidebar.

I am the proud owner of an Xbox 360… for real! I got the magic, lottery-winning phone call about an hour ago, and I’m now home with the box. Here’s some pics:

They had five units in for this shipment. Yikes - I feel lucky today! I also did get the remote - the media remote is a limited time offer thingy - it’s basically a DVD (and other device, I think) remote. Not really necessary, since the controller can be used for a remote, too.

FYI - I suppose I could have sold it on eBay. In fact, right before I opened it, I did a quick check of eBay. The check revealed that Xbox 360 Premiums with two peripherals (extra wireless controller and the play and charge kit) would sell for around $800… but I’ve already put $450 into it, and there’s no telling that I’d get another console before Oblivion comes out. Sure I might make a few hundred bucks, but I wouldn’t be able to play the games I want to play until what, the Summer? Who can blame me for keeping it, since money isn’t really tight around here?