Issue with keeping computers and Xbox Live connected

[Acrappa]

My situation is that I have a cable modem that is shared by three computers and an Xbox through a hub. I pay for three IPs (one for each computer), and my ISP is one that officially supports Xbox Live. Its Xbox Live homepage (http://support.cox.net/custsup/gaming/xbox_live_setup.shtml) mentions no requirement of paying for an additional IP for Xbox Live play.

The first time I tried to connect to Xbox Live, my Xbox couldn't establish a connection to the server. So my first instinct was to unplug my cable modem and let everything reset itself. This worked; I was able to get online with my Xbox, and I thought that everything was fine. However, the next day one of my three computers wasn't able to go online even though the other two computers and the Xbox were able to. I troubleshooted the same way I did with my first problem; I unplugged the cable modem and let everything reset itself. Bingo, I was able to get all three computers online again.

More problems though. Basically what happens is that every time I go on Xbox Live, one of my three computers will not work until I unplug the cable modem (the Xbox support page seems to address this: http://www.xbox.com/support/con-power.htm). It seems like because I have three IPs that only three devices can go online at once, but I don't think that this is how it's supposed to be. It's most onerous to have to unplug the cable modem everyday, so I'm looking for a solution.

I wonder if getting a router would be a viable solution. Please let me know if you've experienced this issue and how you troubleshooted it. Any suggestion is much appreciated.

[SPARTAN VI]

I'm using a CompUSA router and it craps out every once in a while. Whenever I've been online for a while, and someone turns on the XBOX, it'll kick my computer off. Same thing when the XBOX is on LIVE and I turn on my computer.

I'm sure this isn't an issue with other routers, just make sure when you go out and buy a router, that it is NOT CompUSA. Get a Linksys router, they're more expensive (maybe $20-$30 more) but it sure beats having a router that keeps quitting on you.:)

[Ryan Sanders]

Well I have 1 IP and no router. What I do is switch from the PC to the Xbox. I have to do the same thing and it is very annoying. Still with 3 IP address', you should be able to play XBL and still have 3 PCs running.

[Acrappa]

Originally posted by SPARTAN VI
I'm using a CompUSA router and it craps out every once in a while. Whenever I've been online for a while, and someone turns on the XBOX, it'll kick my computer off. Same thing when the XBOX is on LIVE and I turn on my computer.

I'm sure this isn't an issue with other routers, just make sure when you go out and buy a router, that it is NOT CompUSA. Get a Linksys router, they're more expensive (maybe $20-$30 more) but it sure beats having a router that keeps quitting on you.:)

Thanks for your advice. I'll likely go buy a router tomorrow, and it will not be a CompUSA brand. :)

[Baleful]

No no no, you don't need to spend that much money on a router. A $25-$30 switch should work just fine. Ask any network administrator, switches are god, routers are just routers...

[stang46]

Accrapa,
Here is what the problem is. You only have 3 ips. Whenever all 3 of your computers are online each one has an ip assigned to a specific MAC address for each device. When you go to plug your Xbox in it will not get online cause all 3 of the ips are assigned to the three computers MAC addresses. The only way to 'release' the ip so the xbox can grab one is to restart your modem or use ipconfig in DOS and release an ip. The same thing happens when you have your xbox working, unplug it, and go to use your comp. One of the ips is now assigned to the MAC address of the Xbox and therefore the cable modem will not let the computer get online until the ip is released. Once again the only way to release the ip from the xbox is to restart the modem. Does that make sense???

This is the standard way cable modems work. You really only have three solutions here.

1. Restart your modem everytime you use your xbox like your doing now
2. Buy a router
3. Buy a 4th ip address

Your problem is typical and the hardware is designed to do exactly what it is doing. Don't think something is wrong with your setup, you just need to follow one of the 3 choices above...

[stang46]

No no no, you don't need to spend that much money on a router. A $25-$30 switch should work just fine. Ask any network administrator, switches are god, routers are just routers...

Ahh...another XBA poster who seems to know everything about networking when in fact your comments make no sense. Generally everytime a networking question comes up someone chimes in with a comment that is bs...

Switches are not 'god', many switches are built into routers(actually my wireless router has an internal 4-port switch). Both serve two ENTIRELY different purposes.
A router splits one ip into multiple ip addresses.
A switch/hub just routes signals from lets say a cable modem to multiple computers.

Just adding a switch would not solve his problem. More than likely he is already running a switch/hub from his modem if he has 3 computers hooked up to his cable modem already don't ya think???

[CharlieHustle]

Have you ever thought about just using your computer as a router? Just buy another network card and install it( if your network port is already being used). Connect your xbox to your comp with a crossover cable (or a system link cable). Goto network connections and it has an option to share the internet connection through that comp. So now, your xbox and all other computers can be online at the same time. It works for me.

[ShannonX]

Originally posted by Acrappa
My situation is that I have a cable modem that is shared by three computers and an Xbox through a hub. I pay for three IPs (one for each computer), and my ISP is one that officially supports Xbox Live. Its Xbox Live homepage (http://support.cox.net/custsup/gaming/xbox_live_setup.shtml) mentions no requirement of paying for an additional IP for Xbox Live play.

The first time I tried to connect to Xbox Live, my Xbox couldn't establish a connection to the server. So my first instinct was to unplug my cable modem and let everything reset itself. This worked; I was able to get online with my Xbox, and I thought that everything was fine. However, the next day one of my three computers wasn't able to go online even though the other two computers and the Xbox were able to. I troubleshooted the same way I did with my first problem; I unplugged the cable modem and let everything reset itself. Bingo, I was able to get all three computers online again.

More problems though. Basically what happens is that every time I go on Xbox Live, one of my three computers will not work until I unplug the cable modem (the Xbox support page seems to address this: http://www.xbox.com/support/con-power.htm). It seems like because I have three IPs that only three devices can go online at once, but I don't think that this is how it's supposed to be. It's most onerous to have to unplug the cable modem everyday, so I'm looking for a solution.

I wonder if getting a router would be a viable solution. Please let me know if you've experienced this issue and how you troubleshooted it. Any suggestion is much appreciated.

if you have 4 concurrent connections to the internet you will need 4 IP address, one for each device. 1 for each of your computers and one for your xbox. If you use a router, you dont have to have 4 ips.

[darianX]

Just go drop $50 and pick up a Linksys broadband router/switch - all your problems will go away.

[Snoopy7548]

dont buy a switch if youre gonna share a connection. i bought a switch, and i found out that it wouldnt work (i hooked my xbox and my computer up to it, and only my computer worked.) buy a router with a switch built in.