How to wirelessly network PS2?

[Shifty Geezer]

I'm thinking loosely of getting a network adapter for my PS2, and I'm wondering how I can use my wireless network seeing as it only has AFAIK ethernet ports. Would I have to route it through the PC, or can I magically use 802.11g from PS2 directly with some gizmo?

 

[drpepper]

NM, I don't know anything about wireless...

[edit] could you not use this?

The problem with this solution is that you have to get another wireless hub/router on the main network for your ps2 to talk on the network. It may be expensive but it's the only way i can think of in getting a wireless ps2.

 

[BlueTsunami]

Well, if its near your PC and your PC is wireless (with an open ethernet port) or has two ethernet ports then you should be able to route the PS2 through your PC. You would do that by sharing the port that your using for the PS2. You may need a crossover cable (not a regular patch cable which is the most common kind of cable).

Or you could just get a wireless bridge and connect that to your PS2. Either way it will work.

 

[wireframe]

I'm thinking loosely of getting a network adapter for my PS2, and I'm wondering how I can use my wireless network seeing as it only has AFAIK ethernet ports. Would I have to route it through the PC, or can I magically use 802.11g from PS2 directly with some gizmo?

You'll need a WiFi/ethernet bridge. This is a device that turns a normal ethernet port into a WiFi connection (externally, you connect the ethernet port from the device you want to bridge into an ethernet port on the bridge itself and from there it leaves as WiFi through the antenna).

I assume you mean you have a PS 2 with no netwroking and the network adapter you are talking about is a cable ethernet one. So, you'd need to do something like this:

PS 2 <-> Network Adaptor <-> WiFi Bridge <~~~~WiFi~~~~> WiFi Access Point or Ad Hoc Network

Once you have the Network adapter installed you'll be able to assign an IP to it. This IP is then translated or bridged into a WiFi IP by the WiFi bridge. You will probably have to use a PC to configure the bridge as the PS 2 doesn't have a Web browser to access its configuration system.

Here are some links to suitable products (RJ 45 Ethernet to WiFi)

Linksys WGA54G (not to be confused with WAG54G)
Netgear ME101 (WiFi B, not G)
D-Link GameFuel DGL-3420 (WiFi A & G)

Quick notes on WiFi:
1. WiFi G (or 802.11G) is backwards compatible with B (802.11b). Therefore, it is recommended you buy G equipment as it offers 54mbps transfer rates over 11mbps of B.
2. WiFi standard A is totally different and is not compatible with either B or G. It offers the same speed of G, but uses a higher frequency in a band with less interference. It has slightly shorter range, but lack of interference may negate this in favor of A in real world usage.
3. The GameFuel brdige listed above is therefore a good choice as it covers A, B, & G standards. This leaves your options open at the other end of the WiFi network.
4. Look carefully at what security options you need for your network so you don't end up buying a bridge that cannot use WPA, for example, forcing you to disable this for the entire network to get your PS 2 online.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Thanks for the info. Adapters are fairly expensive, save the Linksys Wireless Ethernet Bridge at £16 which eBuyer is out of stock on. If I decide to give it a go I'll try the 'through the PC' route first and then grab a bridge if I feel it's worth it.

 

[RiZeUp]

I opted for a Linksys WRT54G with a modified firmware. Allowing me to put it in bridge mode.
It works really great. Granted it's not as simple as an official bridge adapter but it's cheaper and it does more. Now I can plug my gamecube, ps2 and xbox in the router and have it bridged to my other wireless router with the internet connection.

Theres tons of alternatives to the WRT54G firmware. I'm currently using DD-WRT. http://www.dd-wrt.com/