Mad Catz to offer cheaper muliplatform Wireless-N adapter for gaming

(Credit: Mad Catz)

On the heels of last week's official Xbox Wireless-N adapter release, today Mad Catz announced a similar, cheaper alternative that will provide your Xbox 360 with the same wireless capability. Priced at $80 it appears to be a no-brainer over the $100 Microsoft-branded adapter, and did we mention it works with the PlayStation 3, as well?

Instead of a USB interface, the Mad Catz adapter will have an Ethernet port, enabling you to use it with either console. Also in the box will be a 3.3-foot Ethernet cable, which should net you enough slack for optimal reception.

The Mad Catz Wireless-N Gaming Adapter is available via the GameShark store.

[RockaTech]

will this adapter work for any kind of internet capable device since it connects via ethernet cable? for example on an old desktop that is 3 rooms away from your router and its near impossible to get a cable there?

[mgheff]

still too expensive.. I want a 20 buck or at the most 30 buck one

[spiterod]

Wireless N adapters for laptops are around 80 dollars. This isn't a bad deal. Since it is by a third party, chances are the price will drop in time.

[Forked_Tongue]

If you're paying $80 for a wireless-n adapter for a laptop and you already have internet connection then you're ripping yourself off. You can do a search at any of the major sites such as Amazon, eBay, NewEgg, Tigerdirect, Google shopping, etc and get one for less than $20 for an usb one. Unfortunately these don't work on xboxes.

[zarchon1]

All PS3s come with this built in. How can it be a selling point? Maybe if the internal one breaks, I don't know. I think it is stupid that XboX360 doesn't come with wireless already built in. In truth, the PS3 is far cheaper than the 360.

[buzzchill]

I looked at the specs on Sony's website. It states 802.11 b/g. This article is about wireless-n

[Audioque18]

I have a ps3 and don't have built in wireless, so this is useful to me!

[Alba-tross]

O.k it's a 802.11n bridge. How does it's performance compare to other 802.11n bridges from D-Link, Linksys, Netgear, etc.? Only one antenna?

[backwerds]

The wireless bridge is useful. You can use it to connect to any device that uses an ethernet port. Woot had a linksys wireless n bridge up about 2 months ago for about $30; and i have used it since.

[topperfalkon]

bear in mind this is pretty much useless unless you have an 802.11n capable router. And a wired connection is still going to be better.

[mogamer]

You gotta be kidding, right? $80 is a deal? You can get much less expensive products from online pc stores like Newegg. Here is an example:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156258

[sbernander]

How do I know if I have an 802.11n capable router?????

[Forked_Tongue]

I made a post in the cheapskate section about a cheaper wireless solution all of which were about $50 less.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13845_3-10408768-58.html?tag=mncol;title

I would recommend instead to buy a wireless router that's capable of becoming a wireless bridge so you can not only hook up the xbox360 but also buy the cheaper bluray players, media computer, popcorn hour, etc that you can have at the TV. You'll still need to buy a network cable (unless you already have one) to connect to these as well but it's much cheaper and more useful than the microsoft solution (can you even you use the MS adapter with anything else?). All these routers I'm recommending do not require you to flash it with an open source firmware, they're built in to the existing firmware as a feature.

For about $30 with free shipping from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/ZyXEL-NBG419N-802-11n-Wireless-Router/dp/B002HJ25SM/ref=pd_sim_e_1 which can be used as a wireless bridge, just hook up a 1m network cable to it.

If you only want a smaller 2 port pocket router with wireless-n to use as a bridge $30+ shipping http://www.amazon.com/IEEE802-11n-Wireless-Multi-Function-MZK-MF150W-Designed/dp/B002GK2EWE/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1259970397&sr=8-11

$50 for a Trendnet gaming adapter, small and hides well in any entertainment center.

If you want a name brand you can also buy a refurbed Cisco game adapter WET610N $45 http://www.buy.com/prod/linksys-by-cisco-wet610n-wireless-n-ethernet-bridge-with-dual-band/q/loc/101/211876442.html and Linksys by Cisco WGA600N $40+ shipping http://www.buy.com/prod/linksys-by-cisco-wga600n-dual-band-wireless-n-gaming-adapter-linksys/q/loc/108/211827819.html

All of the above are wireless-n but you're happy with g and don't mind refurbished you can have a solution for $16 + shipping TEW-450APB http://www.unityelectronics.com/product-product_id/5528/m/TRENDnet/p/TEW-450APB-R