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Mad Catz has finally stepped it up to lead the way for a cheaper alternative to some of Microsoft’s outrageously priced accessories. Like the notoriously known wireless adapter from Microsoft, theirs retails for $99.99. Unlike the Microsoft Wireless-N adapter that uses the rear USB port on the back of the Xbox 360, the Mad Catz device is an N wireless bridge-type device that plugs into the regular wired Ethernet port on the back on your console, giving it Wireless-N connectivity using the new device. The great thing about Mad Catz’s device is that it also supports B/G signals for those who may not have an N router just yet.
Installation for the adapter is really a breeze. Inside of the package is an Ethernet cable, installation CD, a power supply, and of course, the adapter. Yes, it does require an external power source and it doesn’t feed off the Xbox 360’s power like the official adapter. That is again, because it’s connected via Ethernet. Not a big problem though if you got a nearby unused power slot. Also, a PC is also a requirement to set this adapter up. After popping in the mini-cd, a nice step by step tutorial comes up so guide you along the way to set up your adapter. First time, you have to plug the Ethernet cable to the PC to configure the settings. The adapter offers a quick and easy setup style thanks to the Quick Setup Button with a router or access point featuring WPS.
If you don’t have a router that supports WPS, no worries, you can still do it the old fashioned way. After choosing your wireless router and connecting, you’re done and you’ll just need to transfer the Ethernet cable now to the back of the Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 has no problem with the adapter and instantly recognizes it as just an Ethernet connection; so no worrying about Microsoft disabling any unofficial products.
Performance wise, the connection is better than ever before. I have the older Microsoft A/B/G adapter and the signal I used to receive from that varied from just ok to sometimes poor. Netflix streaming was also sometimes vary terrible and I suffered some occasional drops. Comparing the B/G signals and performance of the Mad Catz adapter to the A/B/G Microsoft adapter, Mad Catz’s completely blows Microsoft’s out the park. As mentioned earlier, this adapter also supports the Wireless-N signal which is just excellent. I’ve only had one disconnect from Xbox LIVE so far.
When using the Wireless-N network, the adapter offers a strong and stable connection to your Wireless-N broadband router/access point and delivers up to three times the range and speed (up to 150Mbs) when compared to other Wireless-G gaming adapters running at speeds up to 54Mbs. Best thing about this is that you can hook this adapter to any Ethernet enabled device and deliver Wireless-N connectivity to it as well. 1080p instant streaming on Netflix works excellent as well – of course, this also depends on your internet connection speed. If you got the speed for the instant 1080p streaming, then this wireless adapter makes it a lot better with little to no drops. The same goes for streaming media from computers.
While of course it is always better to game wireless, for those who may not want to have a long wire running through their room or even can’t, the Mad Catz device is a good option for the $79.99 suggested retail price that many will consider. The great thing about this is that it’s just not designed to work only for the Xbox 360. You can use this adapter for anything that has a Ethernet port for internet connectivity, even the Playstation 3. Sure the Playstation 3 offers wireless connectivity right out the box, but it does not support the newest Wireless N signal. I’ve been using the adapter ever since receiving it and absolutely love it. If you’re in the market for a wireless adapter for the Xbox 360, then this is definitely the product for you. Sure it’s still pricey, but at least it’s cheaper than Microsoft’s.
You can purchase the adapter now by visiting the Mad Catz Store.
The Good: Cheapest gaming adapter out right now for the Xbox 360. Excellent performance. Supports the Wireless-N signal. Works for multiple devices.
The Bad: You need a external power source, still pretty pricey. Since it is Ethernet, it’s hard to tell the wireless signal strength.
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HARDWARE RATING: 9.5
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