A TechLore "Ask the Experts" Question...

Question:

Ok, so I have a dial-up Internet connection, and I was wondering if it is still possible to connect the PSP to the Internet? If so, could you help me out and explain please? Thanks a bunch.

-submitted by GIJoe032.

Answer:

Even using dial-up Internet, it is still possible to get the PSP online. However, if you're planning on head to head gaming, I wouldn't bother - dial-up just doesn't have the speed to play others online. Of course, if you just want to something that isn't speed critical, like web-surfing using the PSP browser or downloading PSP updates, it is possible with the right hardware in place.

As we all know, the PSP can only connect to the Internet over Wi-Fi 802.11b/g networks. There is no actual requirement that the PSP must have a broadband pipe. So, the trick is to create a network that's connected to a dial-up connection instead of broadband.

The Hardware

Most people that use dial-up Internet have not yet created a home network. If you have, you're only using it to share printers or files, and not an Internet connection.

The first piece of hardware you'll need is a wireless or wired network router with a DB-9 COM port, like the D-Link DI-824VUP, or the D-Link DI-808HV. The only real difference is that the 824 has wireless capability integrated; you'd need to add an external wireless access point if you got the wired only model.

The important thing about these two particular routers is the DB-9 COM port, which is there to connect to an external RS-232 "backup" modem like the DIAMOND SupraMax SM56E or Creative V.92 7000000003080. The idea is that if the broadband network is not available, then the router will dial out using the modem to keep everything online. Since you don't have broadband, it will use the modem whenever the router gets a request from a connected device (TIP: PCs are always trying to access the web. Turn off your computers when not in use to prevent the phone line from constantly being in use).

Once you have the router, and the external wireless access point set up (if you bought a router without integrated wireless capability), you'll be able to connect your PSP to the router and download updates or surf the web. Who knows, some games may not require ultra-fast connections for online play...just don't get your hopes up.

It's Kind of Like Broadband... Just Not As Fast

By going this route, not only will you be able to connect your PSP to the Internet, but you'll finally be able to share a single dial-up connection among multiple computers, just like with broadband. That's right dial-up fans, more than one computer can use the Internet at the same time, provided each computer is connected to the router using 10/100 Ethernet. Of course, there's not much bandwidth in a dial-up connection, so don't expect much if more than one computer is active at the same time.

The ISP

One limitation to this type of set up is that you will not be able to use certain dial-up Internet providers, the most common being AOL. Basically, they will be incompatible if you are forced to use a proprietary software dialer to get online. If you are unsure, contact your ISP. They will be able to tell you if a proprietary dialer is required.

Matt Whitlock - Editor, TechLore.com

Did You Know...

The Playstation 2 plays original Playstation games better than the first. Read "Enhance Playback of Playstation Games on the Playstation 2" to learn more.

There is an entire regulatory board that rates video games to help parents keep informed about what games their children play. Read "Tips For Parents about the Video Games Children Play".

While You're At It...

Want to learn more about the PSP? Read "Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) Hands On Review" to get a real Gadgeteer's perspective.