PlayStation 2X Network Adaptor

10 Review to this product

• 

  Bryan Martin Firvida
  August 29th, 2002 on 5:40 pm

  Rating

  After many broken promises from various video game systems through the years, one finally comes trues — a add-on component thats actually worth buying. Granted, PC gamers have had online gaming for quite some time now, but this is the first serious venture into console land (yes the Dreamcast was there already, but where’s the dreamcast now?) My new PS2 Network Adapter was online in about 5 minutes – from out of the box to bumping helmets in Madden 2003. The setup was pretty simple, and the directions weren’t too intimidating. It does help if you’re a little bit of a techno-head, cause you won’t be nervous about what you’re doing – but you remove a cover here, plug in here, plug in there, insert disc and away you go. One thing – make sure you have space on your memory card (I think its 137kb) or you won’t be able to save your setup, and well, that’s just no good at all. Two sore thumbs up from here! You’re gonna want to add this to your PS2 and also look into installing a coffee pot nearby…
• 

  Anonymous
  September 2nd, 2002 on 4:59 am

  Rating

  My experience from the beta testing was great and if didn’t get a network adapter for free I’d definitely buy it. First off the installation took me about 45 seconds. The ISP set up took about 5 mins and the required save was about 130 kb.
  About the games, I used my phone line (56k) to play and could play 2 out of the 3 games. I couldn’t get the football game to play though. You have to create a user name and then login to server/lobby. You can talk in the chat room go play a game and then come back to the chat room, pretty cool.
  The network adapter is simply the best to me b/c I can use my parent’s existing narrow band ISP and still play games w/out having to pay a fee (unlike XBOX) and when I figure out a way to brain wash my parents into paying [money] for a cable modemn I won’t have to buy anything else (unlike GameCube who is releasing 2 seperate adapters for narrow and broadband connections). Plus it comes with a mail in offer for twisted metal black online for free!
• 

  Edward Davis Jr.
  October 15th, 2002 on 10:53 am

  Rating

  Have you ever played a console game and said to yourself “I wish this game was online”? Well, ask no more. This little wonder makes all your dreams come true. Have madden 2k3 and want the updated rosters for 2004? Just download them to your memory card. Want to play against millions of people around the world? Turn on SOCOM and hit online. This adapter also features BOTH a Dial-up (phone-line) port as well as a broadband (cable/dsl) port. While I have never used the dial-up port, the broadband port work like a dream. The adapter hasn’t caused any problems and works just as fast as your ps2 does. While there are relatively few games out now that are compatible with the adapter, sony has a whole lineup of games coming out next year that will take advantage or the adapters capabilities (Resident Evil Online anyone?).

  Where does this thing go? Right in the back of your PS2. It takes up very little space and can be used when the ps2 is in either upright or laying down position. Don’t have an internet provider to go online? A disc comes with the adapter to set up an account for you if you don’t have an online provider already.

  Definately buy this adapter if you want to play with or against people around the world.
• 

  Anonymous
  November 15th, 2002 on 6:57 am

  Rating

  the PS2 network adapter is definatly worth the $40.00. i own it, but the only game i have played on it is tony hawks pro skater 4. i have a very slow internet connection (28.8kb/s), but it does not seem to effect the gameplay at all. the only thing it effects is the loading times. the Playstation 2 in my opinion is easily the strongest system when it comes to online play.
• 

  Eric Kintzel
  December 5th, 2002 on 4:38 pm

  Rating

  To begin with, the PS2 Network Adapter is a must-have! As many of the other reviews have stated, chimps could walk through the ISP set-up. As long as you’ve had no serious head trauma that day, you’ll be fine.

  Let’s move on to an easy way to set up a wireless network. When I decided to go online, I knew that I didn’t want 100′ of CAT5e cable running through my house. Unfortunately, no one had any decent online ideas on how to set it up. So, here’s the true story of my wonderful little wireless home network.

  First, you’re going to need a wireless router. I purchased the Linksys BEFW11S4 and I’ve had no problems at all. It was very easy to connect the 2 desktop computers and the PS2. The BEFW11S4 uses the 802.11b wireless standard. (If you don’t know what this means, that’s ok….just make sure you purchase a wireless ethernet bridge with the same standard, but I’ll get to that).

  Secondly, you’ll need the above mentioned wireless ethernet bridge. I used the Linksys WET11 and the bandwith is superb. (It also uses the 802.11b wireless standard, so it’ll work just fine with the BEFW11S4.) Some people knock it in their online reviews, but for online gaming it is more than adequate. There’s NO WAY you’ll need anymore bandwith playing online than what the WET11 offers. Basically, this little devil plugs into the wall by your PS2. You then run some network cabling (CAT5e) from the WET11 to your PS2 and BAM, you’re almost there.

  Almost there…you’ll have to add the WET11 to your home network, but it’s also quite simple installation. The BEFW11S4 will auto-detect the WET11 if it’s powered up. Then all you have to do is run through the rather brainless ISP (Internet Service Provider) setup.

  TAA-DAA….you’re done! Now go pickup Madden 2003, or SOCOM and get playing!

  (All products mentioned in this review are available here on Amazon.com and I suggest you get them here. I did MASSIVE comparison shopping when I set this up in October 2002, and Amazon.com had the best pricing…)
• 

  Will
  December 22nd, 2002 on 10:59 pm

  Rating

  Well so far the network adaptor is a great investment. I’ve already been playing Madden, THPS4 and SOCOM online for about a month and everything has worked practically flawlessly. There have been some server issues with SOCOM(great game btw) initially, but they have since been ironed out for the most part. With Madden, I’ve tested both BB and 56k(my cousin has 56k only)and BB seems to be lag free for the most part in my area, but 56k chugged a bit in Madden at my cousin’s house using his network adaptor, but remained playable. THPS4 was smooth throughout. Setting up the Adaptor itself was pretty easy…probably took me no more than 5 minutes to install it and get up and running online. I’m sure it won’t be that easy for everyone out there, but it was for me. The step by step interface was quite clean and easy to navigate and pretty helpful. There is also a little video to help you in case you’re having difficulty. You’ll also need just 137kb of free space on your memory card to save all your network settings. You also get a coupon to receive Twisted Metal Black: Online for FREE. All in all, I’m quite happy with my experience so far. The adaptor was easy to setup, you get a free game and comes with two playable demos, Madden2003 online and Frequency online and also a few video only demos of THPS4, Automodelista and a couple others. And all these games are free to play online. No subscription fee’s or the like, whch is the best part about it. The most fun games online for PS 2 are, SOCOM, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 4, Madden 2003, NFL2k3, NBA2k3, Tribes, ATV Offroad Fury 2, Twisted Metal Black, Frequency. Also, some upcoming online games include GT4, Final FantasyXI, Automodellista, HSG online, ResidentEvil Online, WSB2k3, ASB2003, and V&B to name a few. Anyway, if you can find one, I recommend picking one up, espscially broadband users. PS: You might see something that looks like an orange spark in the front of the console near the vents when putting on the console. Don’t worry, that is just an Orange LED that lights up when the adaptor is accessed. I never knew there was an orange LED in the front, so I was taken a back at first)
• 

  Chris
  January 17th, 2003 on 2:59 pm

  Rating

  What’s not to like about this product? If you can find it, it costs only 40.00$ and it’s worth every penny. It comes with a bulit in 56k modem jack for websurfers still in the stone age, and right next to that is a broadband ethernet jack.

  All three major consoles are online right now, The PS2 with this product (the PLaystation 2 network adapter), XBox with it’s XBox live service, and Gamecube with it’s modem peripherals. The gamecube only has 1 online game though, Phantasy Star Online, and it’s very good. Xbox has a good service but it has a few catches in it that makes sony’s online setup more likeable. First off, XBox live is a service, when you pick it up, it comes with a Headset to talk to other players, a few demos, and a year subscription to Live. If you wanna play after your first year, you have to pay another 50$ and you can only pay nd setup your account with your credit card. Also, it’s Broadband only, meaning the majority of people who want to play games online (56k is still the majority of what people surf with) are left out with no other chance for online play on the XBox. The games for live are pretty decent, but none really stand out, the ones I’d recommend are Mechassault and Unreal Champuionship, don’t listen to your friends, Ghost Recon is horrid. And you can talk to anyone you want to in any xbox live game, so that’s cool.

  So why is Sony’s online plan better? It caters to everybody with a PS2 and an ISP, You can play with your dialup service, or your broadband service. Setup is much easier also, screw this device into the expansion bay on the backside of your PS2 and then all you have to do is pop in the setup disc, with a few taps of the X button on your Dualshock controller and your done. As for games, well theres plenty of really good ones. If you bought this product then you might as wel get SOCOM too, it’s the best online game on any console, Tony hawk 4 and Madden are great too.
• 

  Will
  February 23rd, 2003 on 1:47 pm

  Rating

  Well so far the network adaptor is a great investment. I’ve already been playing Madden and SOCOM online for 2 weeks and everything has worked practically flawlessly. There have been some server issues with SOCOM(great game btw) initially, but they have since been ironed out for the most part. With Madden, I’ve tested both BB and 56k(my cousin has 56k only)and BB seems to be lag free for the most part in my area, but 56k chugged a bit in Madden at my cousin’s house using his network adaptor, but remained playable. Setting up the Adaptor itself was pretty easy…probably took me no more than 5 minutes to install it and get up and running online. I’m sure it won’t be that easy for everyone out there, but it was for me. The step by step interface was quite clean and easy to navigate and pretty helpful. There is also a little video to help you in case you’re having difficulty. You’ll also need just 137kb of free space on your memory card to save all your network settings. All in all, I’m quite happy with my experience so far. The adaptor was easy to setup, and comeswith two playable demos, Madden2003 online and Frequency online and also a few video only demos of THPS4, Automodelista and a couple others. And all these games are free to play online. No subscription fee’s or the like, whch is the best part about it.You can play Tony Hawk 4, Madden 2003, SOCOM, ATV 2, NFL2k3, NBA2k3, Tribes, Twisted metal Black online on your PS2, all day for free. So, if you can find one, I recommend picking one up, espsecially broadband users. And to name some exiting upcoming online titles inlude Syphon Filter, Gran Turismo 4, DestructionDerby 3, Madden 2004, NBA2k4, NFL2k4, Automodellista, Final Fantasy XI, BiohazardOnline, to name a few. PS: You might see something that looks like an orange sparkin the front of the console near the vents when putting on the console. Don’t worry, that is just an Orange LED that lights up when the adaptor is accessed. I never knew there was an orange LED in the front, so I was taken a back at first)
• 

  Gerald S Allgood
  October 2nd, 2003 on 2:08 am

  Rating

  This is a high quality modem, I can tell simply because I have 18 years experience in the computer field. It is easy to install and set up and I have had no problems with this modem; I have logged over 200 hours on it since I bought it five months ago and use it every day! I highly recommend this product to anyone looking for a quality online experience.
• 

  K. Boswell
  November 19th, 2004 on 1:47 am

  Rating

  Sheesh. Don’t worry about some of the reviews here…this product performs flawlessly. If your dial-up connection is worth its weight, it’ll work okay, but DSL and cable work perfectly. Online gaming is especially fun for the older clique, wherein it gets harder to round up your buds to play…or, if you’re the ultra-competitve type that thinks they’ll rule the gaming world (until you get totally owned by a 11 y.o. in Duluth). I’ll use this review answer some questions here, and hopefully some that haven’t yet been asked. Before I begin, please do some research before littering every web page you see with posts that you’ll never come back to check, you actually learn stuff when you figure it out yourself. And if you really need help, ALL CAPS IS A GOOD WAY FOR SOME ONE TO JUST IGNORE WHAT YOU’VE POSTED. First off, playing online for most games is FREE, check a publisher’s website if you want a definite answer. Your internet connection is not free, Sony can’t help you out on that. But if you have a pre-existing ISP account and a PS2 equipped with a network adapter, all that is required from you is simply loading up the setup disc, setting your internet configs and it’s time to rock and roll. If you’ve got a problem setting the configuration, read the instruction manual…most manufacturers actually put useful info in these things. If that’s no help, call your ISP, if you get any answer other than the one you need, you’re not asking them correctly. If they tell you they don’t know anything about the PS2, tell them it’s just like a computer and read exactly what you see on the screen to them. They can help on the prompts. Secondly, you don’t need a router or $200 worth of equipment to hook this thing up. It plugs directly into your phone line for a dial-up connection, or plugs in via ethernet to your DSL or cable modem. Routers are for networking, or in layman’s terms, for hooking up a buncha stuff at once. If you don’t use a router, simply disconnect your cable from the computer and hook up your PS2. NOTE: Your computer will not be connected to the internet if you do this, simply unplug from the PS2 and reconnect the computer to return things to normal. If the cable doesn’t reach, i.e. the modem is in your office upstairs and your TV is downstairs, buy a length of ethernet cable that will do the trick. Those with technical proficience in the matter will make their own cable from rouged or bargain bin materials for a small sum. Those of you with wireless routers: you’ve already (whether you know it or not) paid for a wireless card installed your computer that allows you to use your wireless router. The PS2 has only ethernet and a phone line input. Nuff said.