360 Controller Charger AND Wireless Reciever.

gropingmantis · 26 Aug 2011 at 17:28

I am sick of having to use 2 USB ports on my computer for one controller (one for the charge cable and one for the wireless reciever).
So I was wondering if there is a product that combines the two? Some sort of docking station that combines charging and recieving wireless with only one USB cable required in a nice neat package.
So far my google has come up with nothing of the sort.

Please help!

orderoftheflame · 26 Aug 2011 at 17:31

No such thing I'm afraid.

gropingmantis · 26 Aug 2011 at 17:33

orderoftheflame said:
No such thing I'm afraid.

Gah I blame consoles and console gamers. It seems so stupid to have one cable only carrying data and another only carrying power. Or at least its stupid when you have a PC.

Xelene · 26 Aug 2011 at 17:48

Just use the wired pad

gropingmantis · 26 Aug 2011 at 22:12

sldsmkd said:
Just use the wired pad

No I bought a wireless pad for a reason. It really suprises me that someone has not done this yet. Perhaps I shall do one myself.

gropingmantis · 26 Aug 2011 at 22:14

Aha! I have found one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmeXSq1OY1o

Doesn't seem to be a black version though. But there is hope!

Razor-BladE · 26 Aug 2011 at 22:28

Get a wireless pad which uses batteries instead of the battery pack, and get some rechargeables?

Fanatic · 26 Aug 2011 at 22:36

Don't you only have 2 cables plugged in whilst it is charging? When it is charged you only need the receiver plugged in and you can put the charge cable away. I don't use mine that much, I guess if you use yours a lot you would be charging it more often.

Though I have a powered USB hub so have plenty of USB ports so I don't mind having 2 cables plugged in. Maybe you could get yourself a powered hub, only £10 or so.

Edit: Assuming you have a play and charge kit

gropingmantis · 26 Aug 2011 at 22:47

Yes I have a play and charge kit and its not about the USB ports being taken up its about the utter pointlessness of having to have one USB cable for power and another for data. Its a waste and it adds to the tangle of wires already behind my computer.

Why use rechargable batteries in the battery pack when I have the play and charge kit? That defies the entire purpose of the play and charge kit.

Razor-BladE · 26 Aug 2011 at 22:57

But if you have to use the play and charge kit, then it defeats the point of it being wireless? Or am I not understanding what you want?

james.miller · 26 Aug 2011 at 23:00

Does using two ports really cause you any issues? I'm not sure it's something really worth getting worked up about. Modern mobo's have 10 or more usb ports, just plug the receiver in to the back and forget about it.

gropingmantis · 26 Aug 2011 at 23:03

Razor-BladE said:
But if you have to use the play and charge kit, then it defeats the point of it being wireless? Or am I not understanding what you want?

Not really because the play and charge kit is pretty handy for recharging the pad when I am not gaming. I never play with it charging only ever wireless so I want to be able to dock and charge the controller but have it possible to pick up and go immediately.

james.miller said:
Does using two ports really cause you any issues? I'm not sure it's something really worth getting worked up about

Im not worked up about it and its not an issue but it is something that I have identified as being something that could be better and perhaps should be better. It is not life or death that I have such a device but dont you think it would be better than the current way of doing things? Its all about progress.

james.miller · 26 Aug 2011 at 23:08

oh no doubt, I agree with you. I just think that these days with motherboards supporting 10 and more usb ports (and that's without using hubs of course) that its really something I wouldn't worry about. I can't remember the last time i even thought about my receiver, it just sits behind my av unit plugged in to my htpc and has done for years lol.

gropingmantis · 26 Aug 2011 at 23:13

james.miller said:
oh no doubt, I agree with you. I just think that these days with motherboards supporting 10 and more usb ports (and that's without using hubs of course) that its really something I wouldn't worry about. I can't remember the last time i even thought about my receiver, it just sits behind my av unit plugged in to my htpc and has done for years lol.

But having lots of ports is no reason to become complacent.

Werewolf · 27 Aug 2011 at 00:46

I would have thought the obvious problem with a single port solution, would be fairly simple:

The USB receiver for the 360, from memory uses pretty close to the limit for the USB 1/2 current, which means that the charger is going to be slowed down (unless the receiver turns off whilst charging).

Personally I use some hybrid rechargeable batteries, I have the AA's in 2x mice, and the Wiimote, 360 controller and find a single spare pair tends to be enough to mean I've yet to run out on more than one device at a time.

gropingmantis · 27 Aug 2011 at 01:04

Werewolf said:
I would have thought the obvious problem with a single port solution, would be fairly simple:

The USB receiver for the 360, from memory uses pretty close to the limit for the USB 1/2 current, which means that the charger is going to be slowed down (unless the receiver turns off whilst charging).

Personally I use some hybrid rechargeable batteries, I have the AA's in 2x mice, and the Wiimote, 360 controller and find a single spare pair tends to be enough to mean I've yet to run out on more than one device at a time.

But if it is a docking station then it doesnt matter that the reciever is off when charging as I wont be playing when it is charging.

I so rarely change batteries in my wireless peripherals. I have a Logitech K750 which never needs batteries. A Logitech M570 that needs new batteries every 18 months or so. A Logitech M705 that needs new batteries every 3 years apparently. So its only the 360 pad that needs regular charging. I want to leave batteries far behind.

kylew · 27 Aug 2011 at 01:15

gropingmantis said:
Yes I have a play and charge kit and its not about the USB ports being taken up its about the utter pointlessness of having to have one USB cable for power and another for data. Its a waste and it adds to the tangle of wires already behind my computer.

Why use rechargable batteries in the battery pack when I have the play and charge kit? That defies the entire purpose of the play and charge kit.

The play and charge kit's intention was to be used on an Xbox 360, where the receiver's already in the console. The receiver for windows is somewhat of an afterthought, which is why you'd have to use two USB ports.

Why not buy a USB to mains adapter so you can charge your pad from a plug socket?

gropingmantis · 27 Aug 2011 at 01:16

kylew said:
The play and charge kit's intention was to be used on an Xbox 360, where the receiver's already in the console. The receiver for windows is somewhat of an afterthought, which is why you'd have to use two USB ports.

I know but what I want to know is why there cant be a PC one that can do both rather than this cop out. Its an afterthought.

kylew said:
Why not buy a USB to mains adapter so you can charge your pad from a plug socket?

Its not that I have a lack of USB ports its the principle of the thing. Why do I have to use 2 cables where one would suffice.

kylew · 27 Aug 2011 at 01:20

gropingmantis said:
I know but what I want to know is why there cant be a PC one that can do both rather than this cop out. Its an afterthought.

It's like what Werewolf said, the charging time will be increased if it's all in one cable. The same way that charging your mobile from USB is slower than charging it from the mains, the current is a little higher from the mains USB adapters. A USB wireless receiver will be using power to communicate with the controller so it's not that practical to have them both in one cable.

I suspect if an all in one one were to come out, it'd use 2 USB ports anyway.

gropingmantis · 27 Aug 2011 at 01:22

kylew said:
It's like what Werewolf said, the charging time will be increased if it's all in one cable. The same way that charging your mobile from USB is slower than charging it from the mains, the current is a little higher from the mains USB adapters. A USB wireless receiver will be using power to communicate with the controller so it's not that practical to have them both in one cable.

I suspect if an all in one one were to come out, it'd use 2 USB ports anyway.

But one does exist (see further up). I may get it and make some modifications to it.