802.11g Wireless Adapters for Game Consoles

1. Microsoft Wireless Network Adapter for Xbox 360

Microsoft's wireless adapter for the Xbox 360 is designed to plug into the USB port on the back of the console. The adapter draws its power through the USB connection and therefore does not require a separate power source. It supports both the WEP and WPA encryption standards. In addition to 802.11g, the adapter also supports 802.11a - potentially useful when taking your console on the road. This is an especially compact unit that nicely matches the console's color and style.

2. Linksys WGA54AG Game Adapter

The Linksys WGA54AG connects to the Ethernet port of an Xbox, Playstation or GameCube. As the name suggests, the Linksys WGA54AG supports both 802.11a and 802.11g WiFi networks. Unlike some other products in this category, however, the WGA54AG supports only WEP encryption. Linksys offers a one-year limited warranty for this unit.

3. Belkin F5D7330 Wireless G Gaming Adapter

Belkin's 802.11g gaming adapter networks a Xbox, PlayStation or GameCube via Ethernet cable. You can additionally connect it to the console via USB to substitute for a separate power cord. If necessary, upgrade the adapter's firmware to get WPA support. The F5D7330 ships with Belkin's lifetime warranty.

4. D-Link DGL-3420 Wireless Gaming Adapter

This adapter supports dual-band 802.11g and 802.11a wireless connections fed by an Ethernet link to the console. It features a system called GameFuel that simplifies configuration of network settings through the Xbox console screens. Designed to be used together with D-Link wireless routers, some settings on the DGL-3420 may be incompatible with routers from other vendors. D-link provides its one-year warranty for this product.

5. Linksys WET54G Wireless-G Ethernet Bridge

Though not labeled as a game adapter, network bridges like the WET54G connect any Ethernet device like a game console to a wireless home network. This unit supports 802.11g with WEP/WPA encryption. The product also supports a Power over Ethernet (PoE) adapter which eliminates the need for electrical cables. Otherwise, the WET54G is functionally similar to the WGA54AG above.

6. Microsoft Xbox Wireless Adapter

Microsoft's Wireless G (802.11g-only) adapter for the original Xbox perfectly matches the console's look. It connects to the Xbox Ethernet port and works as a general-purpose network bridge; therefore, it can actually be used with other consumer electronic products including the Xbox 360. Being an older product, however, it only supports WEP encryption and not WPA.