untitled
Xbox 360 wireless adapter
page created 12-22-2005.
UPDATE: It doesn't look like MS is gonna support WPA2 on the wireless adapter. This isn't a case of false advertising because the manual really isn't advertising and all the other sites that list WPA2 being supported are not Microsoft sites. Actually, there seems to be little to no information about what security modes their product does support on xbox.com now. It all comes to down to being a case of just having an incorrect manual online and thrid party sites having wrong specs posted.
WARNING TO CONSUMERS: Xbox 360 wireless adapter does not support WPA2. Only WPA.
Correction: The packaging does NOT state which security modes are supported. It only says it supports a/b/g.
Problem: Xbox 360 wireless adapter will not work with the 802.11g wireless access point in WPA-2 mode even though the manual says it does (pg 10 of manual ).
Purpose: Track the efforts to get the Xbox 360 wireless adapter working in WPA-2 mode as advertised.
Note: If anyone at all has this adapter working in WPA-2 mode, please email me the make/model and if possible the firmware revision of your access point. email asshat@post.com.
Progress:
December 15th - Read information about Xbox 360 wireless adapter. Verified it support WPA-2 before purchasing it to make sure it would be compatible with my network.
December 17th - Bought the $99 Xbox 360 wireless adapter. Got home and plugged it in. The access point (WRT54GSV4) wasn't detected. Searched forums and found same problem no solutions. I found a disturbing post from Gamertag Tarkin( a 360 launch team member) that claims that WPA2 doesn't exist...
"The Xbox 360 Wireless Adapter does support WPA, but WPA2 was not an official standard when the adapter went into productions. AFAIK It still hasn't been ratified so there's no way to support something that doesn't exist.
WPA2 was ratified in June of 2004. Try again, Tarkin. All my various operating systems and hardware seem to interoperate fine with WPA2 enabled on my AP (im using WPA2-Personal to be exact). I discovered that if you change the access point security mode down to WPA, then the xbox 360 wireless adapter works as it should.
December 18 - I listened to the Major Nelson podcast #153. Where the Xbox connectivity project manager was interviewed. I forgot his name but he gave his gamertag, Delta4. My buddy fired off an in game message to Delta4 with a quick question. "Are you aware that WPA2 doesn't work with the xbox360 wireless game adapter?" He is the project manager, right? He should be aware of this issue hopefully. The answer came back soon after. "We are aware that WPA2 is not supported by the Xbox360 Wireless adapter and that is by design"
Audio Link #1
Audio Link #2
December 22 - Blew off some steam by making this page. I need to figure out how to make it work and alert other consumers to the false advertising. It's not bad enough that according to Microsoft WPA2 doesn't exist, but its not even supported by design... which is why they put it on the website and in the manual!?! Consumers are paying a premium price for a adapter that does not have premium features or even promsied features. I can't say I'm surprised judging from Microsoft past performance in security.
December 23 - Three more polite messages from Delta4. WPA2 was removed late in development. Apparently it shouldn't be in any documentation or any websites. No word on a refund yet. I want to get a WPA2 capable wireless bridge instead.
bravenet.com