From Issue #5 , Page #80 | By Rachel Cericola , Dan Leahy

Welcome to the world of wireless gaming.

You may be chained to your gaming system, but that doesn't mean you have to be tied down.

The digital age is so '90s. By now, we all have CD burners, DVD players and enough gadgets and games to stock our own personal Best Buy warehouse. That's cool, but one of the results, and common problems, of having so many toys is the coiled mess of wires and cords that goes with the hook up. But why be tethered to your home base when there are options that let you blast your opponents out of the air, ring or other playing field, while making a sandwich from another room. Welcome to the age of wireless gaming.

Return to Sender

Serious gamers can face serious overload behind the TV. Audio/video cables can cramp up a lot of that space, and to avoid more mess, many gamers drag out their console of choice every time they want to play.

There is help. X10's Game Sender ($79.99) does away with the hassle by wirelessly sending the A/V signal to your TV. Simply attach the trasmittter to the video (yellow port) and audio (red and white ports) connections on your gaming system, and plug in the AC adapter. Then plug the receiver into the A/V connectors on your TV, and plug in that AC adapter. Now you're running wireless.

This system is easy to move from room to room, regardless of where you—or your kids—like to play. It uses the same 2.4-GHz technology that cordless phones have been using for years, and sends that signal up to 100 feet. It's compatible with all current console formats, and some that have long passed, but we still pull out for occasional play. The only downside is that it doesn't support S-Video or component cable signals, which offer better color, resolution and image clarity. So if you bought that high-end TV in hopes of the ultimate gaming experience, you may be a little disappointed with the results.

Online Options

As broadband use increases and the number of home networks continues to grow, so does the needs of the rabid gamer. Not to worry, there are a slew of products currently on the market that can put you out over the Internet, without the wired mess.

Nyko's Wireless Net Extender ($99.99) connects your PlayStation 2 (PS2), Xbox or PC to a Web connection for real-time online play. Two small cubes connect your broadband connection to your console without any additional wiring. Using radio-frequency (RF) signals, the unit works through walls up to 100 feet away.

Other similar products are also available, such as Hawking Technologies' Wireless Gaming Adapter ($99). It doesn't work for PC users, but it does put PS2 and Xbox players on the home network for head-to-head gaming in-house or over the Web.

The Linksys Wireless-G Game Adapter ($99.99) operates in the same way, but also throws in the capabilities to work with the Nintendo GameCube too. It's driver-free, so it also works on pretty much any PC platform. U.S. Robotics has the 802.11g Wireless Gaming Adapter and Ethernet Bridge ($109.95), which gives way to wireless for almost any Ethernet-capable device. Like the Linksys unit, it's plug-and-play, meaning you don't need to mess with your current network. It also boasts WEP (wired equivalent privacy) features, which means you won't have to worry about anyone attacking your system while you are thrashing online competitors.

Head Games

It's fourth and goal, you've got your opponent--who happens to live 400 miles away--on the ropes, and it's time to punch in the winning score. As you cross the goal line, you jump to your feet and start shouting "That's right, who's your Daddy?" Well this time it's not just the wife and kids that tell you to pipe down. That's because your opponent can actually hear you through Logitech's wireless headset for Xbox Live ($79.95). With a range of 30 feet, you can taunt your competition and get the front door all at once.

This product comes on the heels of Nyko's SpeakerCom ($24.99), which allows Xbox Live users to cut the cord and free their minds. This controller-mounted unit allows gamers to chat and listen closely to the competition without the use of a headset. It even has a self-muting microphone designed to weed out background noise.

Stay in Control

Your eyes say back up, but your brain says you must move forward. Who wins this constant gamer's grudge match? Logitech--who has come up with a line of wireless gaming controllers for the PS2 as well as Xbox ($39.99 to $69.95). Arsenal Gaming also introduced the Falcon ($39.99) gamepad a little while back, designed for cordless control of any PlayStation product.

Any console gamer would appreciate the cooling effects of Nyko's Air Flo controllers. Each of the PS2, Xbox and GameCube models uses 2.4-GHz technology for lag-free response time without line-of-sight interference. Even better, it cools down that sweaty mitt of yours during hours of intense playtime.

Many people prefer the traditional PC as their main playground. While we don't have a solution on how you can carry around a massive hard drive (laptop, anyone?) and big screen, there are wireless controllers you can use to reduce clutter around that normally packed work area. Apple makes a wireless keyboard ($69) and mouse ($69), which both use Bluetooth technology to get comfy for endless hours of gaming action. Microsoft also makes similar products for PC users, or you can check out models from Fellowes, Kensington, and a variety of other manufacturers.

Cutting the cords allow any gamer to take a step back and enjoy all of the action, as well as the advantage of being able to play from virtually any vantage point in the room. So hit the couch, throw the cords away, and don't look back.

Game Glossary

Bluetooth: A short-range radio standard developed by a group of electronics manufacturers, it enables wireless connections among Web devices and between devices and the Internet.

Component: A 3-plug video cable that can transmit progressive video signals in higher resolutions.

S-Video: A video plug that provides for a better video image than the old-fashioned composite.

WEP: Short for Wired Equivalent Privacy, this security protocol is designed for wireless local area networks (WLANs) defined in the 802.11b standard. WEP is designed to provide the same level of security as that of a wired LAN.