I'm sick of how unreliable the Nintendo WFC adapter can be, so I'm 'hacking' (not quite the best word, but basically I'm making it do things it's probably not meant to) it, to see if I can make it a little more reliable. I already have drivers and such ready to begin modifications - I just need to find a good WLAN control software.
Has anyone else configured their WiFi adapter using something other than the system registration tool? If so, advice would be handy.
(PS: If this is more relevant to computing/technology than the DS, move plz)
I've never had any problems with it being unreliable. You know there's a software update for it available from nintendo.co.uk?
Yeah, I got that - perhaps it's just my computer.
The project is coming along nicely. I just need to bridge my internet and USB connector connections, and I'm done.
...or, you could just get a real wi-fi connection of your own. It's not that hard...
Because otherwise it's a waste of
... you got your PSP working on the NWFC dongle?
Teach me.
When you've got the guide up, send send send. I was going to buy an extra access point for it, but it seemed kinda pointless to have got the Nintendo one then.
Also, you up for some Tetris? :)
Okay, so here's a comprehensive guide of pretty much everything I did when setting this up.
First off, I'd recommend that anyone attempting this sets a system restore point - or something similar - before beginning. You'll be installing/uninstalling quite a few utilities, and we'll be replacing a few system32 files. From my experience of setting up this up, you'll have to do everything to the letter for a successful installation.
To start off, we're going to get a few downloads:
[URL="http://users.on.net/~kabeyas/nin_wifi.rar"]Drivers and .exes.[/URL]
You'll be installing a Buffalo driver from the same 'family' as the Nintendo WFC's connector - this file also contains a few .exe files, which will let the newly-configured device recognise your DS.
[URL="http://dlsvr01.asus.com/pub/ASUS/wireless/WL-167g/eng_2371.zip"]ASUS WLAN Control Center[/URL]
This is a relatively simple WLAN control program, that will basically replace your WFC registration tool. It also includes settings for encryption, security, and the like for your new network.
It's a good idea also to make a folder on your desktop called 'Nintendo WiFi', and dump both downloads in there, for quick reference. We'll be bouncing between them frequently.
Start off by uninstalling the WFC Registration Tool, and use Device Manager (My Computer > Properties > Hardware > Device Manager) to uninstall the actual device itself. Remove the dongle from the USB port, wait a few seconds, then re-insert. The 'New Hardware' wizard should appear, and when prompted, tell the wizard you'll find the drivers manually. Go to wherever you've downloaded the RAR file to, and lead the Browser to the Drivers folder, and continue. You should be given the option of one/two drivers. Highlight the BUFFALO driver, not the Nintendo one. Install.
Now, install the ASUS WLAN program. When it asks you to restart, don't bother - it's just a safeguard, and I find that you don't need to. Once it's been installed, go to the RAR file again, and look for the executables - six of them? Either extract or copy them to the ASUS WLAN folder on your C: drive. (C:\Program Files\ASUS\WLAN Card Utilities is the address on mine - I presume it'll be the same elsewhere) It'll ask you to overwrite the old ones - which you should respond to with a yes. Now open the Control Center (look in your programs list) and you'll be asked if you want to use a Windows configuration utility, or the ASUS one. ASUS all the way. Close and ignore the wizard. We don't need it.
Next, copy the file "C:\Program Files\ASUS\WLAN Card Utilities\Driver\WinXP\AP\rt2500usb.sys" to "C:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers". Make sure you overwrite the existing file.
Now, in your system tray, there should be an icon for the ASUS utility - normally a little spaceship, or a modem with AP on them. Right click it, and select 'Wireless Settings'. When the settings window opens, on the left hand side, select Config, then go to the SoftAP tab, and select Soft AP Mode. Uncheck the little box that says 'ICS'. Make sure in the box labelled 'Internet' that your internet connection is in there. If not, drag and drop it from the selection at the bottom. Click Apply (in the bottom left).
You will get a message box asking if it's okay to change to SoftAP mode - say yes. Another message box should appear with "add the adapter to the network bridge", forget it, and OK. If all has gone well, there will be no error messages (Unless my guide sucks). Now close the ASUS Wireless Config utility - I spent about twenty minutes trying to finish the job, but it insists on conflicting when you set up ICS.
Next stop - Network Connections. It opened manually on my computer when I clicked 'Apply', but it might not be the case with everyone so Control Panel > Network Connections. Right click the internet connection you're currently using to access the internet, and look at the properties. Go to the Advanced tab, and set up ICS by clicking the checkbox marked Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection". Then click OK/Apply that, too. If you get an error message about the IP address already being in use, disable the Network adapter you're trying to share with the adapter, then try again - be sure to enable it again afterwards. It can take a long time for ICS to be enabled so wait patiently - a long wait is a good sign, in actual fact.
Now right-click on the Wireless Network Connection (if you have more than one, this is your Buffalo Adapter, that we installed earlier) and click to view the Properties. In the middle of the box there will be some protocols in a scrollbox - select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and then open the properties for that, too. Windows would have assigned a static IP address if ICS was successfully enabled - check to make sure this IP address does not conflict with other IP addresses on your network. It shouldn't, in my experience. Also, it should be on a different subnet to the Local Area Connection (for example, my computer's IP address is 192.168.0.1, I assigned the wireless network connection the IP address of 192.168.1.1 - which is a different subnet). If it is on the same subnet, ICS will not work correctly - conflicting addresses.
Now we need to set up some basic security, so that old Mr Jones upstairs doesnt download horse porn to your computer while you're out at work - even if you don't want/need security, the Nintendo DS still requires WEP keys and such. Reopen the ASUS WLAN program, go back to Config, and under the 'Basic' tab, set a SSID - it's irrelevant what you call it - mine is 'Default'. In the encryption tab, choose 'Shared for Network Authentication' and WEP for your Data Encryption - I have found that this works much better, especially with the DS. Now enter a WEP key - with more numbers, it will probably be harder it'll be for people to gain access, but it will be much harder to remember. I've only used one line, as I live next door to an old folk's home, and my neighbour is a middle-aged widow, but you might want more encryption if it's more likely someone will try and sneak on. Now go back to the Basic tab, and at the bottom click on Advanced. Change the 54g Mode setting to 802.11b only. Click Apply again (on the left) to save the settings.
Finally, we've finished setup, computer-side.
Now power on your DS, with a WFC game inserted, and work your way to the WFC Settings (the options control center with the white background - you'll have used it to set up the WFC adapter in the beginning). Select the Manual Setup option. Enter the SSID and WEP Key (both of these are case-sensitive - so watch out!) you entered to the ASUS Config utility before. Be sure to remember them. Select No to Auto-obtain IP Address (irritating, I know, but the Nintendo DS doesn't seem to do DHCP correctly with ICS for some reason - I'm not tech savvy enough to know why.) Now give your DS an IP Address (make sure it's on the same subnet as the USB connector, I gave my DS the IP address: 192.168.1.2). Subnet mask is 255.255.255.0. For gateway and primary DNS, enter the IP address of the USB connector - check the Network Connections again if you don't know it. Now try and test connection, and if all has gone well the connection should be successful...
:cool:
Now, returning to the ASUS Control Center, you may want to cover up your SSID, and use MAC Address filtering to improve the security of your wireless access point - personally, I haven't bothered, but I'm sure people who live in internet-popular areas like universities and flats will.
Now, moving onto PSP and other wireless devices - my knowledge is limited on the PSP, but I presume there is an input control where you choose your wireless connection, so you should follow the instructions I gave on the DS to get connected. Laptops, etc. may be able to find the connection automatically - if not, guidance again will be needed - SSIDs etc.
I know my explanation may throw some people in places, so I can add screenshots, or more in-depth guides on request. Any tech problems can be directed straight to me.
Best of luck!
remember hackers are losers piraters are winners