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?