Follow Slashdot blog updates by subscribing to our blog RSS feed

 


Forgot your password?
Close
typodupeerror
×
Games Entertainment

Wireless PS/2? 27

Posted by Cliff from the 802.11b+USB-adaptor+LCD-display=fun-in-the-sun dept.
eclipsemgp asks: "I am breathlessly awaiting the end of August when I can have my PS2 go online and play SOCOM, Madden, etc. I have a wireless DSL router (Linksys BEFW11S4) that I use with my iMac and XP Laptop. Is there anyway way to hook up the PS2 WITHOUT the network adapter? Maybe using the USB port I could use wireless network adapter. I know the network adater is cheap, but I will pay for less clutter and the coolness factor. Plus my wife will kill me if I have to run yet another cable across the room to the router. Any thoughts?" Would it even be this simple. Will out-of-the-box USB 802.11 adaptors even work on the PS/2, or will the Sony network adaptor be the only way to get the hardware online?
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.

Wireless PS/2? More

Wireless PS/2?

Comments Filter:

  • bleh (Score:5, Insightful)

    by JRAC ( 525882 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @02:54AM (#4044605)
    stop saying 'PS/2'. makes it look like you're talking about the PS/2 protocol. say PS2 :P
  • I thought "Cool. A Wireless PS2." Then, "Oh, they're talking about the protocol." Then, "Oh, they're really talking about the PS2. Cool."

  • Never going to happen! (Score:3, Insightful)

    by GoRK ( 10018 ) on Saturday August 10, 2002 @04:46AM (#4044837) Homepage Journal
    I wouldn't expect any old USB ethernet adaptor to work with the Playstation2, particularly a wireless one. Since they are selling/distributing their own network adapter, I'm guessing that unless Sony releases a compatible wireless adaptor (doubtful), you'll have to use their ethernet adaptor no matter what.

    Remember, since each game CD/DVD contains the operating software, that same CD will have to include the software (drivers) to operate the network device. Having only a single piece of hardware means that you'll be insured compatibility for every ethernet-using game.

    So, that means you'll have to use a wireless ethernet tranciever of some sort.

    For instance: http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=2 2&prid=432

    PS 2 Linux or something is a different story. You likely could get a usb wireless adaptor working with that -- but it wouldn't work on any games.

    ~GoRK
    • While I agree with your comment, it's itneresting to note that Tony Hawk 3 *currently* works with just about any USB Ethernet NIC. You don't need the Sony NIC to get online with a PS2 right now.
      • I was not aware of that. That's cool.

        In any case, since a wireless device generally requires extensive configuration to be able to attach to the network above and beyond the usual simplicity of plugging in the cable required of a normal nic, it may be likely that no games ever support such a device directly.

        However, a very keen third party product would be to create a clone of the sony ethernet adaptor (it's probably mostly standard parts anyway) that has a built in wireless bridge. A little eeprom on the adaptor would let you boot a configuration cd to set up your WLAN settings and save them to the card. Then the regular TCP/IP stuff in the game would work just fine.

        ~GoRK
  • I'm sorry to say that, but it's true. Now that the PS2s broadband adapter is comming out, that's what all games will support. You will not be able to use USB network gear. This leaves you with 3 options. The first is to use the modem, but what self respecting geek would use a modem? The second is to run an ethernet cable from your router. The third (and most geeky) would be to have a computer (like a Linux box) next to your PS2. You'd have the PS2 get it's internet from the Linux box, and the Linux box would have a wireless card to get it's internet from the router. Your last option is to find out if anyone makes small ethernet->wireless converters.
  • Linksys carries a Wireless AP/Client/Bridge unit that takes wireless to 802.3. It supports 128 bit wep (as if that is any protection), and has a decent feature set considering linksys sucks.
  • To avoid the clutter, I ran all relevant cables under the floor to a small project box mounted within the floor, under my coffeetable. The game machines on the lower shelf of the coffeetable have power, AV and network without a messy trunk of cable connecting the entertainment center and coffee table island.
  • The only game that had support for non-Sony ethernet adapters was Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and this was because the game came out almost a year before Sony's adapter. It had support for 4 or so USB Ethernet Adapters but none of them were wireless. I also wouldn't expect any of the new online games to support these adapters.

  • Why? (Score:1)

    by Exiler ( 589908 )
    Why would you want a PS2 net? Just make a WiFi and have everyone in your neighborhood set up thier PS2s with it =P

  • Painfully obvious, really. (Score:3, Insightful)

    by cybermace5 ( 446439 ) <g.ryan@macetech.com> on Sunday August 11, 2002 @12:38AM (#4049098) Homepage Journal
    Look. If USB 802.11 adapters, which have been out for ages, would work with the PS2, then why are you waiting breathlessly for Sony's broadband adapter? If they worked, THEN PEOPLE WOULD ALREADY BE DOING IT.

    Seriously. I guess it's to be expected of an iMac and Windows XP user. :-)

    Cliff, you need to quit choosing random topics without looking at them, just so you can get back to your WC3 game quickly.
    • It's not _that_ outlandish of a question. USB NICs work with the PS2 (with THPS3, at least - because they wrote the support into the game).
    • I should been more clear in my question. I was looking for ANY means to hook up the PS2 to the wireless router. In Alrescha's post below, he mentions the LinkSys WET11 Bridge. Using the Sony Network adapter and the bridge together may work. This was my original intent with the question. If a USB WiFi Adapter worked, I wanted to know as well. And no, people would not already be doing it. There is a grand total of 1 game (2 now with madden) with online capability. It's not like there are thousands of games out there that people can try. Why don't you try finding a answer then jumping all over the question.
  • I'm currently on the net with a real PS/2 as I've been doing for years before Sony even dreamt about the PS2. My PS/2 has this true blue badge saying IBM PS/2 on the front panel.

    PS/2 is IBMese for Personal System 2, it is always written with the slash, and it has nothing to do with Sony. What Sony is trying to convey with the PS2 remains unclear to me...

    The PS2 has a long way to go before it tops the PS/2. In my mind, the PS2 will always be an expensive, useless toy totally unlike the PS/2 family.

    Note: the Sony is labeled PS2 without the slash.

Slashdot Top Deals

Dynamically binding, you realize the magic. Statically binding, you see only the hierarchy.

Close