The X360 Controller Wireless Technology...What Is It?

[Arsynic]

MS said it's a custom 2.4 GHz technology, but I'm wondering what MS is using? Is it an implementation of BlueTooth? Or is it something else?

 

[ERP]

It's just a generic 2.4GHz device.
i.e. it broadcasts in the unrestricted 2.4 GHz band and doesn't use a standard protocol.

 

[OtakingGX]

I heard it was wreaking havoc with Walmart's wireless networks when they first got their demo units in.

 

[see colon]

I heard it was wreaking havoc with Walmart's wireless networks when they first got their demo units in.

i often wondered about that rumor, because the controllers in the 360 demo units are wired (they run into a USB hub, along with the memory card reader, and the hub plugs into the back USB port on the system). i guess you could still get some interference from the systems ireless reciever (assuming the demo units have one), but i would thing the lack of wireless traffic from not using wireless controllers would keep that at a minimum.

 

[OtakingGX]

Just because the controllers are plugged in doesn't mean that the console's wireless radio isn't on, searching for more. It was probably this constant broadcasting, looking for controllers to connect that was causing problems.

 

[[maven]]

It's just a generic 2.4GHz device.
i.e. it broadcasts in the unrestricted 2.4 GHz band and doesn't use a standard protocol.

It was developed with http://www.rtx.dk/, and I would suspect that it is reasonably close to Bluetooth (i.e. uses the lessons learnt from it like frequency hopping etc.) but tailored to the purpose and incompatible with the standard.

 

[Guden Oden]

I could very well imagine it uses bluetooth hardware, with changes on the protocol level to separate the two. This way MS wouldn't have to reinvent the wheel. BT is already an established low-power draw system with built-in measures to combat interference. It would be a lot of work to create something similar.

 

[Gubbi]

I could very well imagine it uses bluetooth hardware, with changes on the protocol level to separate the two. This way MS wouldn't have to reinvent the wheel. BT is already an established low-power draw system with built-in measures to combat interference. It would be a lot of work to create something similar.

Quite right, and as was stated it was made by RTX, who were among the first to develop BT hardware. - And for a few years produced the only BT test rig available, which was a bit of a cash cow for them. I would guess the BT expertise is why they were selected for the job in the first place.

Cheers

 

[Rockster]

I like the idea of a proprietary protocol though. The last thing I need is someone coming over to my house and their cell phone interupts my game when it tries to register with my console!

 

[Arwin]

I like the idea of a proprietary protocol though. The last thing I need is someone coming over to my house and their cell phone interupts my game when it tries to register with my console!

It would be pretty lame if registering a device would happen during a game, and would disrupt it at that. Furthermore, if the wireless controller and the Cell Phone are on the same standard, are they then more, or less likely to tune their channels for minimum interference? Considering the people who made it, they will probably be able to deal with BT devices interference, but still ... what's the point, really, of making this proprietary? Why not support, for instance, existing BT headsets?

There's rarely a reason for proprietary stuff other than money. I.e., MS will be able to make more off you having to buy specific 360 devices.