How To Connect To Xbox Live With Modem

By: Brandon Lutz

Break Studios Contributing Writer

Wondering how to connect to Xbox live with a modem? One of the great innovations to the gaming world is Xbox Live: an organized system of players, all of whom use Xbox, that are able to converse and play various Xbox games together. Not only that, but with the Xbox 360's arrival years ago, Xbox Live has grown to not only connect players to multiplayer games, but also serves as a digital marketplace where one can buy movies, TV shows, wallpapers, pictures and even classic arcade and Xbox games. In order to get Xbox Live, it does require Internet service. While connecting the Xbox to the Internet may seem like a tedious process, one with tangled cables, several technology boxes and a stressed mind, setting up Xbox Live is relatively easy so much so that even those not-so tech savvy gamers can hook it up.

Supplies:

Two Ethernet cables (one as a spare or if using a router)
A functional Xbox 360
A functional Internet service
A modem (no preference)
A router if being used
A computer handy to refer back to the instructions

Before trying to connect anything, it's important that you reduce the risk of errors or glitches when trying to connect to Xbox Live. In order to reduce this obstacle, it's advised that you turn off both your Xbox and your modem before connecting the two; doing so will prevent errors that will only make it more frustrating to deal with connecting to the Internet. If you're using a router as well, that too should be turned off as the router will connect the Xbox and the modem.
After all devices have been turned off, it's time to connect the Xbox to the modem. Using standard Ethernet cables, which act as a conduit, place one end of the cable into the Ethernet port at the back of the Xbox and one into the Ethernet port in the modem. When this is done, turn on the modem and then the Xbox (in that order to prevent connecting errors) without a disc in the drive.
Turn on the modem and then the Xbox and try a network test. This can be found in the settings option on the dashboard and simply checks to see if the Xbox is receiving Internet signal.
Log into your Xbox Live account and enjoy!

While connecting the Xbox directly to the modem is an option, some opt to use a router between the two as there may be other computers or other devices sharing the network. In that case:

Turn off the router, modem, and Xbox in order to avoid glitches. Once again, this is to prevent any random connection errors from occurring and reduces stress should one occur.
Take one Ethernet cable and connect it to the modem and to the specifically designated Ethernet port that is for the modem on the router. This port is usually on the opposite side of the router adjacent from the LAN ports.
Using the other Ethernet cable, connect the cable to one of the LAN ports which will connect to the Ethernet port on the Xbox. LAN ports are located on the router which can be used for a number of technological devices and a router typically has more than three.
Turn on the modem, router and then the Xbox, which should not have a disc in the drive. Doing this ensures that the network signal flows to each device in the correct order from the source, the modem.
Do a network test to see if the Xbox is receiving a signal. Like before, go to the Xbox dashboard then to Internet settings to perform a network test.
Sign into your Xbox Live account and enjoy!