Product Description

The PS2 Network Adapter allows you to reach new heights in your gaming, by opening the online world up to you!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1487 in Video Games
• Brand: Sony
• Model: 711719704300
• Released on: 2006-06-15
• Platform: PlayStation2
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: .40 pounds

Features

• This Network Adapter connects to the Expansion bay on your PS2 and provides you with an online connection
• Select the speed at which you can connect -- between a 56k modem, or a 10/100 Base-TX Ethernet connection
• Add to the replay value of your favorite games by challenging people around the world
• Requires an 8MB memory card with 137KB of free space

Amazon.com Product Description
The PS2 network adapter offers both dialup and broadband connectivity to play PS2 games online. It includes a startup disc with playable demos of Frequency and Madden NFL 2003, as well as video demos of ATV Offroad Fury 2, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4, and Tribes: Aerial Assault.

To use the network adapter, you need a PlayStation2 game system, an 8 MB memory card with at least 137 KB of space, and a dialup or broadband Internet connection with an Internet service provider. The network adapter works with just about any ISP service, including AOL, AT&T WorldNet, EarthLink, Prodigy/SBC, and Sympatico. Check with your ISP for details.

Connect the network adapter to the PlayStation2 system by lining up the unit's connectors to the expansion bay located in the rear of the PS2. Once your hardware is set up, the user must insert the network adapter startup disc in order to configure the ISP network data and connect to the Internet. Simply go through the ISP setup process located on the main menu of the startup disc. Your network configuration data will be saved onto your memory card. The ISP network configuration will work only on the specific PlayStation2 system you used for the initial ISP setup. Network configuration data is not transferable from system to system.

Customer Reviews

Online games with no fees!
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)

Setting up your wireless home network with your PS2!
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...)

Hard to find, easy to set up
What's there to say? This network adapter/modem just pops into the back of your PS2, then you spend about 5 or 10 minutes fiddling with the very easy-to-use setup disc. Assuming everything went well, you can test it out by playing one of the two included demos, Madden 2003 or Frequency.

I liked that it was easy to install and configure, and I like the way it looks sticking out of the back of the PS2. I do wish that the console had come with a network adapter in the first place, especially since everyone is having such a hard time finding this item now. At least they give you a coupon for a free copy of Twisted Metal Black Online; that made shelling out for this a little less painful.

This is definitely a good buy, and there are a lot of great online games coming out in the next few months.

A few words of advice: rather than paying as much as twice the cost of the network adapter to get one from a private seller, just wait. By the time Sony is keeping up with the demand, there'll be a lot more games out. If you really can't live without online play, a few online Playstation games (for instance, Tony Hawk 3 and Madden) will work with a USB network adapter. Also, be sure to pick up a USB keyboard so that you can chat with your online friends and rivals.