playstation2 and connecting to the internet

robnye

i have just had my broadband upgraded....... free of charge from 512k to 2mb

and was wondering about connecting my kids ps2 to the internet.

has anyone done this?

what do I need to do it?

what can be done on the internet when connected, or is it all gaming?

puno

find your answer

here

puno

mostly gaming uses for the bband connection, but the other benefit is that the network adapter gives you the ability to add a hard drive and store all your games on this, they load much much faster.

if you "google ps2 hard drive" you should get some answers as to how this works

puno

there is a really good FAQ here

Grover

It been a couple of years since I attached my PS2 to the internet with the ethernet adapter so please forgive me if this information is now out-of-date.

The older bulkier PS2's require an ethernet adapter; the newer slimline versions (I believe) have one built in. Mine is an old type with the adapter.
It's only worth going through the hassle if you know that you or your kids are going to be heavily into gaming online. My ethernet adapter is now gathering dust after a flash in the pan mega-usage of about two weeks in favour of continuing to play online from the PC itself.

There is a chat facility on most games. Some games even off you online discussion through the use of headsets and I think the EyeToy now offers a webcam facility.

However, if your modem doesn't have the appropriate jack socket, then you'll have to use a router or patch the adapter through a computer. I set mine up through an old laptop which is fairly easy to do and had that connected to the net via a usb modem.

One word of warning is that the old ethernet adpaters didn't come with a cross-over cable and so of you went for the PC as a router method then you needed to purchase an additional cable too.

I'm sure there is someone out there who can shed light on the new PS2 and its setup though too.

criminal_smile

I've got a slimline PS2, and am currently awaiting my Network Access Disc (free from Sony) so that I can edit my Network Configuration file which lives on the PS2 memory card. This file is needed to go online with most games, although a few (like Tony Hawks Pro 4) have their own servers, and you can get online with these direct from the game. You have 2 options to get online (assuming you have the NA disc, and the ethernet adapter or slimline PS2).

Option 1:
Connect straight to the modem. You can use a straight through patch cable to connect from the PS2 ethernet port to the ethernet port on the back of your modem. This means that you cannot use your pc for internet access while the PS2 is connected though.

Option 2:
Connect through your PC. You can connect the PS2 through your PC by using a crossover patch cable, connected to a spare ethernet card on your pc. If you don't have a card, you can get one for about £3-4 (I got mine in Maplins), and it will plug straight into a spare PCI slot. This method has the advantage of allowing you to use both the PS2 and your PC online at the same time.

I use option 2, simply because it allows me to use the PC at the same time.

HTH