Simplest way to connect my PS3 to internet?

winston

winston

Champions League
7 August 2005
I've been trying to work out what is the simplest solution to getting my PS3 connected to the internet.

I've got a PS3 with ethernet cable, an ADSL modem which is connected to my PC via USB port and a PC with no network slot.

I was thinking that I should be able to simply plug one end of the ethernet cable into the PS3 and plug the other end into my ADSL modem (by using a RJ45 to RJ11 connection adapter) and that would be it.

However, upon visiting my local Maplin to purchase said RJ45-RJ11 adapter, they said they didn't stock it and when I explained what I wanted it for, they said it wouldn't work anyway and that I need to buy a router. After some further discussion, I left to ponder and try to get my head around what I really need to buy here.

So, if I buy a router, I can see that I can then plug my PS3 ethernet cable into router, which then connects to my ADSL modem (unless the router has a built in modem). So, I think that means my PS3 could then be connected to the internet. (Presuambly I'd have to buy a network card to allow an ethernet connection from my PC to the router).

Do I really have to buy a router? Why can't I just plug my PS3 straight into my ADSL modem via an RJ45-RJ11 adapter, or is their some other device cheaper than a router? I feel a router is overkill as I'll hardly ever by using my PS3 online - just the occassional demo download, so would happily just unplug my PC from the modem until finished the PS3 download.

Thanks for any help.
 
Getting a decent router is always a good idea in my opinion, especially the Netgear ones that have a firewall built in. In the words of that SHITE PC World advert doing the rounds at the minute, "you can't put a price on piece of mind!" It's handy for future use as well, if you get the Netgear DG834N you have a firewall, max-range wireless AND ADSL2+ support (which will be the standard eventually, BT are in the process of converting all exchanges and hope to start offering ADSL2 in early 2008 - although Be Internet are already offering it, and the speeds are literally doubled).

The easiest thing to do (not the cheapest but the easiest, which is what you asked :)) is to get the Netgear DG834N, best router out there IMO (countless friends have it and have no problems, plus wireless access from a great distance). You might not use the features now but you don't know what the future holds, you might get a wireless laptop, a new console, ADSL2 etc... and you'll be covered.

I'm pretty sure what you've been told at Maplin is correct as well, so I don't even know if there is a cheaper option. But I would very highly recommend getting a router, as I say.
 
What I'm thinking is if I buy a cheap network card for my PC (£10), can I plug my PS3 into the PC via the ethernet cable and given the PC is connected to my existing ADSL modem via it's USB port, the PS3 can access that and get on-line?
 
It depends on whether the PS3 supports sharing that way, I'm not sure if it does. You'll have to look it up, sorry.
 
Not sure it does. Might have to be a crossover cable, and you would have to enable ICS.

Get a router, they are far more flexible. You can then expand a have more devices connected.

I've got a cable running upstairs from my Router (which is downstairs) and that goes into a hub, so I can plug my two PC's and 360, along with 2 laptops on the wireless.
 
Peter Eyres said:
Not sure it does. Might have to be a crossover cable, and you would have to enable ICS.
Click to expand...
Of course, that's what I was trying to think of. Haven't been connected up like that in a while though.

Winston, the PS3 may work with a crossover cable from the PC to the PS3, but as Peter says, you'd have to enable internet connection sharing (and end up pissing around with the settings for days before it worked reliably).

Save yourself the hassle, invest in the future (with built-in protection). :)
 
Ok, I'm being persuaded to go down the router route (heh).

Will you please clarify a few things?

1) Does the router have it's own power supply or is it like a modem and just converts the signals?

2) I might be using the router only for my PS3 (not my PC) so if I only plug it in whenever I need to use it (which will be about once every couple of months), are the configuration settings stored within the PS3 (ie. what number to dial, etc). What I'm getting at is do I need to re-set everything up each time I plug it in as I won't be leaving it plugged in all the time?

3) If I do want to plug in my PC to the router, presumably it will have to go in via a RJ45 connection from my PC. Does that means I will have to buy a network card for my PC. (I currently just connect via a USB modem).

Thanks.
 
1) Router has its own power supply that needs plugging into the wall.

2) Configuration settings are stored both in the modem and in the PC/PS3/360.

3) Ah, yes, you will need a network card in your PC if you don't already have an RJ45 plug in there - I believe you can get an RJ45 to USB converter but for the sake of £10 from a computer fair (and the converter would probably be the same price if not more) you're best to save yourself any aggro and get a network card. I'd recommend the cheapest Netgear one you can find so that it matches the router (if that's the one you'll be getting), but in theory, any should work with it.
 
OK, final question for now...jsut to confirm that the configuration settings in the modem saved even when powered off?

Thanks for your help Jack.

Just wait until I get it all bought and set up....I'll be back asking where do I download the demo, etc....

I've been putting this off for months so it's about time I finally caught up with the rest of the world.
 
winston said:
OK, final question for now...jsut to confirm that the configuration settings in the modem saved even when powered off?
Click to expand...
That's what I meant above, sorry I didn't make it clearer. There's a flash chip in the router that stores all the configuration, so when it's switched off for periods of time the information still stays in the router.

Shame you're not getting a 360 as well, would love to play you on FIFA, but never mind. :(
 
Right, I've bought the Router/modem but didn't buy a network card yet.

Plugged the router into the phoneline and turned it on along with the PS3. The PS3 found the router wirelessly, so at least that works.

Now I don't know how to get the PS3 to connect to the internet. There's a whole bunch of options available in the PS3, none of which make any sense and the instructions are woeful, full of acronyms and tech-speak...completely unless you know exactly what you're doing (in which case you wouldn't need instructions anyway).

I've not set up the router on my PC yet (no network card) but if I do, and then connect to the internet, will these settings be stored in the router and I can then get the PS3 to autodetect the internet connection and save all this fannying around like a blind man. I'm assuming the general process will be similar for your Xbox360.

I was hoping this would be a simple plug-and-play type setup, so if it's a simple auto-detect from a live internet connection, then fine. If not, I can feel my blood starting to boil. I don't want to have to get an HND in Computer Networks just to get my games console working. Bloody technology!! Bores me to death. Just work, damnit!!
 
If you're connecting to the PS3 via cable, then all you need to do is put your ISP details into the modem (using the PC - type in 192.168.0.1 if it's a Netgear router, and you'll get the config screen up). You should really set up the firewall as well, so that everything but what's required for the PS3 is blocked, but if technology bores you to death then I'm assuming you're drifting off at this point...

Anyway, that should be it, depending on the PS3 (you may have to edit the internet settings to copy the details you've entered into your router, but you shouldn't have to). Without putting the settings in using the PC, you won't be able to connect to anything yet, so make sure you research all the data for your ISP and get it written down - the server details, the DNS server numbers, etc.
 
Not connecting via cable, assuming you mean cable as in cable tv (nor using a cable either - wireless between PS3 and router/modem. Currently just an ADSL modem connected to my BT phoneline, but from what you say, I first need to get my new router/modem connected to my PC so need a network card after all. Then I set up my router/modem with my ISP details and the PS3 should then detect those settings and connect to the internet with them?

It's the settings which are worrying me - I downloaded from my ISPs (pipex) website their information sheet, but it doesn't contain DSN stuff, just:

VPI - 0
VCI - 38
Encapsulation - VC/MUX or VC Based
Protocol - PPPoA
Mode - G.DMT
Authentication - CHAP
Preferred MTU - 1500 (or as close to as possible)

All double-dutch to me.

The PS3 also asks for all sorts of equally obscure info:

WLAN security setting?
IP address settings (is this the netgear number you gave or is it my ISPs IP address?)
DHCP host name?
DNS setting (oh, you mentioned that)
MTU (wayhey, it's on the Pipex list)
Proxy server?
UPnP?

None are explained in the PS3s so-called instructions.

Perhaps if I get my router set up with the correct ISP details, the PS3 will know what to do and the settings will take care of themselves automatically...otherwise I'm going to get upset.

Surely every kid in the country who's got his PS3 online hasn't had to wade through all this crap and understand it?

I used to be a bit of a tech-head (build PCs from scratch, etc) so dicking around with motherboard settings and other equally anal things was something I was used to, but I just can't be arsed any more. I just want it to work, straight out of the box.
 
winston said:
(nor using a cable either - wireless between PS3 and router/modem)
Click to expand...
That's what I was referring to - for games you'd be better off connecting your PC and console(s) via cables, over wireless you're likely to notice a big difference (in a bad way), sometimes even if your router is right next to the PS3. Wireless can be funny when what you're doing demands a high amount of bandwidth every second over a lengthy period of time. Plus, it requires more fiddling... Read on!

winston said:
Currently just an ADSL modem connected to my BT phoneline, but from what you say, I first need to get my new router/modem connected to my PC so need a network card after all. Then I set up my router/modem with my ISP details and the PS3 should then detect those settings and connect to the internet with them?
Click to expand...
If you're using a cable, yes. Once the settings are inputted into the modem the PS3 should be able to be set to "automatic" and read the settings from the router - if it's a good router. If you're NOT using a cable, then no, you'll need to input everything manually into the PS3.

winston said:
It's the settings which are worrying me - I downloaded from my ISPs (pipex) website their information sheet, but it doesn't contain DSN stuff, just:

VPI - 0
VCI - 38
Encapsulation - VC/MUX or VC Based
Protocol - PPPoA
Mode - G.DMT
Authentication - CHAP
Preferred MTU - 1500 (or as close to as possible)

All double-dutch to me.
Click to expand...
If you've got the Netgear router then all that is already set, those are the default settings (they should be on most routers).

I've just had a quick read-up on Pipex. Your username will be in this format; whatever%dsl.pipex.com (you are supposed to replace the @ with that % sign, for some reason). The password is your password, obviously. IP subnet mask is 255.255.255.255, I can't find the gateway IP address so I'm assuming that's set automatically (if not get in touch with Pipex), DNS servers are (primary) 62.241.160.200 and (secondary) 158.43.240.4 (or you can set them to automatic so that you always have the latest addresses).

As for the stuff your PS3 asks for...

WLAN security setting
Wireless LAN security, for wireless only. It will currently be set to "off", which means if Johnny next door has a laptop with a wireless receiver he can pick up your modem, access it (because there's no password set) and look at child porn on your connection until 3am every morning. Hence why I said, you should set up security on it as soon as your PC is connected. There is a "wireless settings" tab from the configuration screen (to access, type 192.168.0.1 from your internet browser, username is Admin, password is password). You can choose security method, you're best off with WEP, and then choose a password that it will convert into a big long string of letters and numbers that needs inputting into anything you need to access the internet wirelessly.

IP address settings
This is the number that you want your PS3 to be assigned according to the router. You can set that to automatic, or if it doesn't let you, input 192.168.0.3 (your router is 192.168.0.1, your PC can be 192.168.0.2).

DHCP host name
The address of the router doing the address assignment. 192.168.0.1, if it's a Netgear router.

DNS setting
Depending on the setup, you can use either the DNS addresses your ISP provides (I would recommend that), or if you're having issues you can specify the same address as the DHCP host name, and the router will automatically send whatever DNS settings you've inputted into it.

MTU
You know this one! It's the speed of your BT line basically, default is 1500. You can do tests to find out the exact number but it's not worth it.

Proxy server
You won't be using one I shouldn't think if you have a proper ISP and a simple home network.

UPnP
Universal Plug and Play, hurray! This is a great thing. If it's switched on in the router settings (default is on with Netgear, I think), and you're connected via cabling, all the ports required for the device (PS3) are opened automatically, meaning you should be able to connect to anyone in the world, without any horrible lag because you haven't specified everybody in the world's IP addresses to the router.
 
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Pipex DNS are automatic, but I do have them handy if you need to input them manually.

With my 360, all I had to do was to plug in my cable to the hub, because just like on a PC the network adapter on the 360 was set to retrieve the IP and DNS automatically, so it reads the DHCP info from the router and does it all for you.
 
So to clarify, if I get an ethernet cable from my PS3 to my router, that whole last section about the stuff the PS3 asks for should be automatically set up?

Cheers for all the help Jack (and Peter), it's been a very useful learning experience. I'll head back to Maplin tomorrow so hopefully tomorrow night I'll have it all up and running.

Router + network card + extra ethernet cable...this is costing me about £80, just so I can play the flippin' FIFA08 demo. What has the world come to when I'm coughing up the best part of a ton for a FIFA demo?!

And by the way, do you seriously think I'd play you on-line? There's no way I'm going to be the guy you score against for your first goal in 300 hours!
 
yes, because the Router stores your ADSL details, the PS3/360 shouldn't have to.

by default the network adapter should pick up from the DCHP Server on the Router and you're ready to go.

I can't say for sure as I don't have a PS3.
 
OK, bought my network card and ethernet cable (had to bend the front metal plate to fit it into my rather old pc case), got the router set up (effortlessly - it just needed my ISP login name and password) and it connected to the net, plugged in the PS3 and it auto detected everything. After faffing around with Playstation Network, I finally found the FIFA08 demo and it appears to be downloading!

It's been a long and quite expensive route, but I'm basically there so thanks again for your help, chaps.
 
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