Connecting PS3 to Internet, pondering options (if any)

[Haruko]

Hi.

My PS3 is in the garage hooked up to the HDTV, which means that it's approximately 50 feet away from my room, which is where the DSL modem stands right above my computer tower. The only working phone line is in the adjacent room approximately 15 feet away (it is right behind my room and I have to run the wire around). The modem I am using is Westell WireSpeed DSL modem by Verizon.

Anyways, I'm wondering what my options are. Considering the distance involved, I'm thinking wireless is the best idea, but I'm wondering if that's even a feasible idea since my Internet connection is DSL and not wireless. Is over 50 feet too much for an ethernet cable with my Internet connection? Do I even need a router? If I understand correctly, there is a splitter that allows for two or more ethernet cables for the same modem. In any case, if I choose wireless or wired, is the router the only device I need, or am I also looking to install another device?

As I suspect may be apparent to everyone here already, I know very little about all this networking business, so I may be raising concerns that are not concerns at all, or that are horribly misguided. Even with my Google searches, I am still scratching my head about this. Sorry.

[Mr. Tickle]

Aye, u are in the right area with the router.

Basically u can get a router which be the DSL modem and wireless transmitter for the whole house. (Depending on the age of the PS3 you'll also need a wireless adaptor for ur PS3, but I think all models other than old 20gig models have it in built)

I'm not sure on your location so pricing will be hard, but a quick google search shows an usb dongle for ur ps3 for about £20 (if u need it) and a decent enough wireless router for £30-40+

The internet connection itself is not important the router/modem does the job of splitting the connection. Normally the router will have 4 ethernet ports for normal wired connection and able to transmit for wireless too.

The wireless connection is sent out and access is controlled by using a password. Normally the router has a default random password but I would recommend changing that once it's set up. Once it's up and broadcasting, this youtube vid should show you how get ur Ps3 to connect: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC7aPylbI3M

So, to sum up. Buy a wireless router with in built modem which u'll plug in ur internet connection, it will split ur internet connection between the wired/wireless for you, and the ps3 should have in built wireless already.

(One other option is to use plug socket connections. These go into normal plug sockets and send an internet connection through the electrical wiring of the house, but I would still recommend wireless!)

[Mr. Tickle]

self reply: Ignore the comment about your location, couldn't see it when I was writing, so looking at maybe $60-80 dollars for a router, but I'm sure your american comrades could be more precise on that.

Cheers.

[Haruko]

Thanks.

I have one of the latest models of PS3, that slim one for $350. Sorry, I should have mentioned that.

As for the router, I'm wondering what the members here recommend. I've actually searched for routers before, and those ones by Linksys seem to get a lot of positive rep. If I choose one from them, though, it seems this one should be a good bet:

http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-EtherFast ... 004&sr=8-7

[Mr. Tickle]

First problem, that isn't a wireless router, looks wired only.

I'm not 100% sure on the exact nature of internet connections in the US, does you plug the internet connection into your modem from the phoneline or a special cable connection?

My first guess is you need one of these http://www.amazon.com/Linksys-WRT54GL-W ... =pd_cp_e_1 which is the same as you one u posted but with wireless.

[Haruko]

Oh, I should have paid more attention. That was my first choice, but I pulled up the other one searching for a cheaper alternative.

As for my Internet connection, I connect the phone cord to the DSL modem, and then an ethernet cable from the modem to the computer.

[Questor]

I'm pretty sure the PS3 has on-board wireless, so you don't have to purchase a USB wireless connector. So your only worry would be a wireless router.

I've used everything from a apple airport to a full-on cisco router with an aironet module. As long as you configure it correctly, there doesn't seem to be much in the way of difference.

[starslayer]

In the US, you'll still need your DSL modem. Instead of plugging the modem into the computer, though, just plug it into the router. The router itself will come with instructions on how to set up the wireless and everything else. And yes, your PS3 has built in wireless.

The WRT54GL is a very good, dependable router (I've never heard of one that ever actually bricked), but unless you're willing to mess with custom firmware, you'll need to use WEP for your wireless network to be able to connect your PS3 to it (for some reason, the PS3 supports only WEP and WPA-PKS, which most routers don't support).

[Edi]

Most routers that are newer than stone age actually support WPA-PSK just fine and most newer routers also support WPA2 encryption.

What I'd recommend is moving the DSL modem from the comp room to connect to the phone socket with just a 5 foot cord. Then run a longer network cable to the computer. The reason for this is that once the phone cord starts getting longer than 5 feet, the DSL signal quality starts degrading really fast and may result in a choppy internet connection, lower connection speeds (e.g. getting only 3M out of a 8M line if the distance to the DSLAM is less than optimal). I do this shit all day long and nine times out of ten when people have phone cords longer than 5 feet, the problem is right fucking there. The network cable specs are such that you can run 100 meters of that before you need a signal regenerator, so there's no problem with that cable being long.

For the PS3, a WLAN router attached to the DSL modem. The onboard wireless on PS3 will take care of things just fine. Look for a brand called Trendnet, they make good stuff. That's the only manufacturer outside of A-Link or Telewell that I would consider, and as those others are Finnish, the availability of their equipment may be patchy over there.

[Haruko]

I very much appreciate both the DSL and router advice, Edi. Thanks.

[Edi]

I very much appreciate both the DSL and router advice, Edi. Thanks.

You're welcome. If you aren't averse to paying a bit more money than for a standard WLAN router, buy a DLS modem with a WLAN built in. Trendnet also makes those and the benefit of a combo device is having less stuff lying around getting in the way. However, if you have a big house, it's better to have just a standard DSL modem and then buy a powerful WLAN router (n-standard, there are three standards, b, g and n, so make sure it's n-capable). That way the signal won't fade out too soon.

I have a combo cable modem/WLAN router and the WLAN on that device is absolute shit, so if there's lots of walls, lot of distance or even doors in between, an integrated device may not be optimal. It's very dependent on the local conditions on site, so I can't give any 100% reliable advice on that score.

[Ypoknons]

The only real difference between wired and wireless PS3 connections is that the PS3's g wireless probably won't stream 1080p video, whereas the wired connection definitely will. No biggie for practically everything else the PS3 does though.

[Enigma]

I know it happened to me but if you get an error message on your PS3 after trying to do a wireless connection with WPA, try turning off the MAC Filtering from the router. It worked for me.

[Jade Falcon]

I had trouble with the wireless set up, and basically couldn't be arsed. I just plugged in the cable from my 360 that was attached to my PC and it worked first time. Maybe someday I'll get round to configuring the wireless, but my setup doesn't need it.