Member Avatar for Zouski

Our home has a wireless network set up, but unfortunately an Xbox wireless adapter costs $100. There is a computer near the Xbox that is connected to the wireless network using a Wireless-G PCI Adapter with RangeBooster. I want to be able to share that connection between the Xbox and computer, but I can't enable Internet Connection Sharing. An ethernet cable from the PC to the Xbox has not worked, as it says it cannot acquire the IP address. Any ideas?

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— two practical paths exist: attach the Xbox to the home router (simplest), or have the PC share its Wi‑Fi link to the Xbox. is right that the router is the usual place to plug the Xbox, but if the router is not reachable the PC can act as a gateway using Windows Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) or a network bridge. The PC method works but has a few common pitfalls to check.

Try this ICS checklist (Windows XP-era steps):

  1. On the PC, run ipconfig /all to confirm the wireless adapter has Internet and note the Default Gateway.
  2. In Network Connections, right‑click the Internet-facing adapter -> Properties -> Advanced and enable “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s Internet connection.”
  3. Make sure the service "Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)" is started in Services.
  4. Temporarily disable any third‑party firewall/antivirus and reboot the PC after enabling ICS.
  5. Connect the Xbox to the PC's Ethernet port. If DHCP fails on the Xbox, assign a static address on the Xbox in the 192.168.0.x range (for example: IP 192.168.0.2, subnet 255.255.255.0, gateway and DNS 192.168.0.1) because Windows ICS typically uses 192.168.0.1.
  6. If there is no link light on the PC port, try a different cable or a crossover cable if either device is very old.

Notes and alternatives:

  • Many wireless drivers do not support Windows bridging; if you see an error when creating a bridge, use ICS or a hardware bridge instead.
  • A small wireless bridge / travel router configured in client/bridge mode is inexpensive and more reliable than keeping a PC on all the time. It provides a single Ethernet port the Xbox can plug into and works like a dedicated adapter without buying the OEM Xbox Wi‑Fi accessory.

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Member Avatar for caperjack

wire the xbox to the wireless router ,not the pc.

Member Avatar for Zouski

This is confusing to me, because I'm not exactly sure where the router is then. The rangebooster is just a chip in the computer, with no other ethernet port. So can the computer become a router?

Member Avatar for caperjack

Our home has a wireless network set up,

you say you have a wireless network setup ,in order to have this you would have to have a wireless router ,hooked to you inter modem,and the computer with the Wireless-G PCI Adapter with RangeBooster in will be picking up its signal from you wireless router .or wired to the modem and is not using the Wireless-G PCI Adapter with RangeBooster.
wireless route would look something like this .

So can the computer become a router?

No

its 5:45am and im off to work soon and will not return until 7pm

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