seeking technical advice

[Niki]

Okay. To clarify.

I have a cable connection with Comcast, but the plan is to use a 'special' US PS2 through a LAN port on a Realtek [wired] router with an integrated firewall. Everything's hooked up with RJ-45s except the cable line which goes to the WAN port of the router. I'm operating out of Northern California, USA, but would be connecting to JP PSU servers.

What i think i'm hearing is that i'll have to use the JP online software to set up the JP PS2 for online play, i'm just curious if it will work given my current setup.

[as usual, my attempt to stay on-topic was woefully off-target.]


<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Niki on 2005-12-23 17:53 ]</font>

[OdinTyler]

On 2005-12-12 13:14, Niki wrote:
Alright, so as the hour draws near, getting ready for PSU has hit a snag.

See, my PS2 is 'special' and cannot be used online due to issues with DNAS authentication [guess that's what i get for not thinking ahead. damn korean RPGs]. My question is, does anyone know if an NTSC-J PS2 will support SCEA/SOE software, or conversely, will the online software included with the JPS2 function normally with a US ISP?

Or is there something obvious i've overlooked?



1. Your question will probably be moved, so, Ill try to answer best I can before that happens.

2. First, PSU isnt Korean, its Japanese. Just thought Id clear that up. http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif

3. DNAS is primarily used as a detection for cheating or tampering in any way. Provided youre using an authentic, non-copied, fully-approved disc, you should GENERALLY (barring any problems) be let online. To my knowledge, it checks more for software issues than hardware, but, I wouldnt rule it out.

4. Is your system Japanese or American? If youre crossing a system from one country & a disc from another, of course, it wont work. Youd have to have a converter or mod chip in your system. The right mod chip wont be detected EXCEPT possibly trying to go online since a mod chip counts as 'tampering.'

5. Another point to consider is the NTSC. As far as I know, in Asia, a different format is used (or at least a variation of one). I believe I heard of some converter that reads various formats. You might have to check one out from an import company.

6. Lastly, if you ARE using a Japanese PS2 & running on an American ISP, keep in mind youll be using phone lines not originally programmed for your system. There could be a conn problem from the beginning. You could always put in an international number but that would cost you a fortune in phone calls or however your ISP is set up.

This is the best I could come up with. Id consider just investing in a US system. Maybe someone else would have more to input. However, since you intend to be online, Id just try to opt for the easiest solution: a new PS2.

[Niki]

On 2005-12-12 13:30, OdinTyler wrote:

2. First, PSU isnt Korean, its Japanese. Just thought Id clear that up. http://pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif


Here i was referring to Magna Carta and the like.


3. DNAS is primarily used as a detection for cheating or tampering in any way. Provided youre using an authentic, non-copied, fully-approved disc, you should GENERALLY (barring any problems) be let online. To my knowledge, it checks more for software issues than hardware, but, I wouldnt rule it out.


i am 100% sure this is a hardware issue.


4. Is your system Japanese or American? If youre crossing a system from one country & a disc from another, of course, it wont work. Youd have to have a converter or mod chip in your system. The right mod chip wont be detected EXCEPT possibly trying to go online since a mod chip counts as 'tampering.'


American. You see where I'm going with this?


5. Another point to consider is the NTSC. As far as I know, in Asia, a different format is used (or at least a variation of one). I believe I heard of some converter that reads various formats. You might have to check one out from an import company.


Will do.


6. Lastly, if you ARE using a Japanese PS2 & running on an American ISP, keep in mind youll be using phone lines not originally programmed for your system. There could be a conn problem from the beginning. You could always put in an international number but that would cost you a fortune in phone calls or however your ISP is set up.


Well, we've hit the quick here. It's a broadband [cable] connection with a US ISP, but i am looking to play the JP release [the rest of the JP/Sega online requirements having been met]. i have access to a JP PS2, i'm just not sure if/how it will work states-side.

Thanks for the tips!

EDIT [Damn, one thing i forgot to mention was that i'm running through a Realtek router with a hardware/integrated firewall, which may also be the problem. Any more useful advice?]

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Niki on 2005-12-12 14:06 ]</font>

[OdinTyler]

No problem. Thought Id try to help if I could. Lets see, you said you have broadband (a good thing), American ISP & you want to play the import of PSU. Like I said, an ISP is pre-programmed to work with numbers of that country. For example, DSL (like I have), still runs on phone numbers. Its going to have the 3 digit area code, followed by the 7 digit number. In other countries, if one were to dial from here to say, Japan, youd have to input the international code, followed by a Japanese number. That ends up being I believe 12 or so digits. Given that ISPs arent set up like that, it could cause a real hassle.
Now that I think about it, Idk how ppl played the JP version of PSO in other countries. Maybe they could offer you insight as to how to get setup? This is why its just worth it to get the US release. No international conn probs, no extra online probs. Do you know anyone who played the JP PSO? Check with them, see what they say.

[Niki]

Okay, I've done some digging, and from what i've been told, i'll need a JP PSTwo to even get online with JP software. This is a shame, but at least i can still sell my 'special' US PSTwo now.

So, now my question is this: has anyone in the US been running JP PSO, and if so, how did you get online?

[watashiwa]

An American PS2/PStwo should have no problem using the Japanese version of PSU, even go to online, afaik. All you'd need is either a modchip'd system or to buy a copy of Swap Magic, which is used to boot imports.

This has been the same deal with the Japanese version of PSO on both Dreamcast and Gamecube. If you had an American console, you'd have to use an Xploder to boot the Dreamcast version of the game and, for the game code, something like Freeloader or a modded Gamecube to boot the Japanese version of PSO on it.

I've played the Japanse version of PSO on both of the systems and never had any problem booting it and getting online after figuring out how to obtain my Hunter's License on the Japanese website.

Should PSU be using a similar online setup, all that should be required is a method to boot your game. Dialup or connecting via Ethernet should work the same way as it worked on both the Gamecube and Dreamcast version's of PSO. (Taking whatever network configuration you save in the game's software and using that to connect online..)

[Niki]

Hm, well that's food for thought. My home network setup has changed a lot since i last played PSO online, so i'm not sure how it's going to work.

Thanks, watashiwa.

[BahnKnakyu]

If PSU works in any way like the standard PS2 network software - JP or US - the only thing you need to do is tell PSU to use your broadband setup. If you're using an always-on (DSL isn't always on, since you have to dial up like a modem) connection, such as cable or a T1 line, you simply tell the software that your source of Internet is - well - Ethernet. Advanced Mods/stealthmods nowadays can even hide themselves from the network software in some way just in case PSU does some sort of checkup for your PS2's true legitimacy.

[Niki]

Hm, well i hope to have sorted this out, but if i am wrong, then come February i will have to ask for help again.

Thanks, Bahn.

[Niki]

Hm, well this is interesting. i've just been told by a console repair technician that a JP PSTwo will not work in Region 1 when playing online games. Something to do with the BIOS...

Anyone care to refute/confirm this?

Just another note: got a second opinion and this tech also said that it's a possibility that the BIOS on a JP system would make getting online in the US impossible.

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Niki on 2006-01-03 22:29 ]</font>

[Curiosity]

I guess this may seem 'trivial' in a sense (or maybe common knowledge might be a better term) to some/most, but do JP PSTwo's "work" that much differently than other JP consoles (like JP Gamecubes) in regards to online games? I mean both my Gamecubes (well including my 1st currently non-functional one) were JP and worked fine for JP PSO online.

On the other hand, I was on dial-up and not broadband (which you're talking about) and that might be the key difference here.

[Niki]

i'm not an engineer, but it seems to me that hard-wiring your product to deliberately malfunction outside your country/region seems idiotic. You'll certainly make less money that way.

However, as the release date has now been pushed back, the point of getting online with the JP version is now moot. For me, that is.

Thanks to everyone for the help. Should you feel it necessary to close this thread, i would not be opposed to it.