ps2 network adapter reviews???
 

so anyone out there who was lucky enough to get their hands on one; any reviews for us?

i'd like info on:

ease of install
ease of connection
playabilty and fun
connections with other people

that is...if anyone can stop playing long enough! :)

thanks!

Since I have AOL, I will not know for a long time how good it is. The damn thing won't work with AOL DSL. It would have been nice to know that BEFORE I spent $60 on SOCOM!

ease of install - Can't get much easier. Since everything is configured on my router, I used all of the 'automatic' settings. Add a couple of minutes of setup time if you have to enter ISP settings.

Other than a penny (or other coin), no tools are required. The expansion port door pops right off. After the NA is placed in the port (don't forget to remove the plastic covering over the connector), you just tighten down the screws with the coin.

From there, just plug your phone line in (or ethernet) and boot up the PS2 with the disc in.

ease of connection - Depends on the game. I had a little trouble getting into the madden servers, but it wasn't too bad. SOCOM was a bit of a mess, due to high demand (didn't they see that coming?).

playabilty and fun - I don't care for NFL football at all, I play NCAA 2003. I bought Madden today at lunch just for online play. It's a different game when you know there's a human at the other end. Obviously it depends on the game, but there's a lot of potential for fun online play.

connections with other people - I didn't experience any lag. I know I was playing with some 56k'ers (I have ISDN), but everything was smooth. Establishing a connection with another player is done from within the game (you don't connect and then start the game).

Easy as pie to install.
Easy as pie to setup.
Easy as pie to get into Madden server.

I just got mine today too. I have dsl and show up 5 out of 5 greens on madden, and great in nfl 2k3.

the install was simple. you just remove the expansion bay cover on your ps2, remove a peice of plastic covering the connector on the NA, and place the NA in the bay. then just use a coin and screw in the 2 screws to hold em together. after that you just boot up with the start up disc and the program guides you through everything. it was flawless.

playing football online is amazing. both football games had a bit of lag, very little, but madden seemed to lag a bit more. especially in play calling. during the game it was a bit lagged too, a bit annoying for the running game.

I haven't tried frequency, and my socom just shipped from amazon. I think sony has a hit.


problems I've encountered...madden crashed on logging off. my ps2 is buried into my home theater and is a pain to get to, so it was annoying to have to move some stuff to hit the power from the back of the ps2. the reset button didn't work at all.

there are cheaters in 2k3 already. either that or the game is buggy. I stopped my oponent at his 15. on the first play, the ball zoomed accross the field like a bullet pass and ended up on my 15. the next play, started on my 15 with him having a 1st and 10. I wish there was a way to chat, so I coulda asked what happened.

No it will work. Unfortunately, You just have to call AOL and pay an extra $5 a month for their "premium" PS2 gaming service.

Interesting. I wonder if Sony made a deal with AOL to help finance their servers with the blood of AOL users. I can't imagine any possible reason for AOL to need to charge extra.

Pie.

I tried to get on-line with SOCOM today and was unsuccessful. I guess the server problem they were having is still there. Otherwise I had a great time playing Madden on-line until the other guy quit!

Overall, I'm thrilled! I just can't wait to get my QCast Tuner:

www.broadq.com

Check it out - it turns the PS2 into a media server that reads content from connected PCs. I have over 50GB of ripped tracks (9700+) that I ripped from my CDs, so I can't wait for this!

easy to install
easy to setup
I have had more fun playing madden today than I have on video games in years
Plenty of people to play. No lag and it's all fun

Took 3 hours to do install and setup.

Why?

cuz when i moved my ps2 after trying to hook it up in a different place. I forgot to plug in the ethernet cord. suck. I forgot about it. and kept trying and kept wondering why it wouldn't work. figured it out. now playing tony hawk 3 and madden continouisly.

oh and it is easy as finding a penny on the ground at a taco bell drive-thru window.

I played my first full game of Madden online last night. It was a blast. Playing online against a human completely changes the game.

The only time consuming part of the process was entering in my information using the onscreen keyboard. Everything else was a snap! I'd say that it took me about five minutes total to get online after I installed the adapter.

mrglass, I agree. I will be looking for a usb keyboard now. It will probably come in real handy when Tribes comes out anyway.

Can you use just any 'ole USB keyboard and mouse with a PS2?

Hmmm...could I hook up my KVM switch to my PS2? I'd still use my TV for output, but would my USB keyboard and USB mouse still work?

You know, I bought a cheap $10 USB keyboard and mouse a week ago, and it seemed to work, but the cord was too short! Take into consideration how far your PS2 is from you when you look into buying these peripherals. I took them both back and will probably get a SharkBoard for $20 or a PS/2 to USB adapter so I can use a keyboard and mouse I already own.

Yeah, I am pretty sure any of them work. I saw a logitech wireless mouse and keyboard for $50 on Amazon.

I got my AO-Smell connection to work today. I am signed up under the unlimited plan if that makes any difference. I really like Madden online even with my crap 56k connection.

AOL will only work with dial up. I just got DSL, and they said it will be some time, ie. months, before I will be able to use it. I will probably return SOCOM to EB and get something else

wow! thanks for all the input, guys!
it sounds like my fears about this inital rollout being a big suck-a thon are unfounded.
i'll be getting my network adapter soon!

thanks again

went to compusa and best buy for either a cheap USB keyboard or the sharkboard and neither of them had any. I settled for a $30 logitech internet navigator keyboard that was mispriced at $20. It works fine.

I just picked a NA up, is it supposed to be loose and rattle when you pick it up and move it (or kinda shake it a little?)? I'm away from my place so can't hook it up until Monday or so.

I think mine did that also. Kinda like the screws that screw it in or something.

Thanks S}{ammer :)

damnit, it doesnt work with my network setup, be advised the adapter only likes to work with run of the mill hub/router/switch ethernet solutions.

what is your network setup? Perhaps someone here could help.

will i need to enter info about isp adress, user id crud, etc.? i am a simple gamer and all that stuff confoozes me. i want to plug and play.

I had some problems with my ISP, but it didn't have anything to do with the NA. Once I got it figured out on my end, it has been awesome! Everything I could have hoped for. Now I need a cheap router to share net access simultaneoulsy, and a keyboard. Entering IM's one letter at a time is a pain!

you shoudln't have to enter IP addys. It was plug and play for me. If you have a router it should work easy enough or if you plug your cable modem into the computer and your computer into a hub just enable internet connection sharing.

Can I go wireless with sharing my internet connection with my PS2? I really don't want to run cable. Also, what equipment will I need? Currently, I don't have a router or anything else.

I do, however, have the network adapter. Are these things supposed to be getting scarce? I wasn't going to get one right away, but was afraid if I waited I might left in the cold later.

I am using a router, does anyone know the port I have to unlock?

oh, you know what, connect to madden 2003 and go to the news section, it tells you the ports it requires. As for wireless, I don't know how you would do it right now, eventually I would expect someone to make an adapter of some sort.

alright i got a question, the thing wont work. im pluging it into a small rca cable modem and when ever i get on it says that it isnt connected right. are there any defective copies anywhere.

from EA Tech Support site:

If you are having difficulty connecting to the Madden NFL 2003 Playstation 2 online server, there are three main things to check.

1. Check to make sure the PS2 network adapter has been configured correctly. The adapter should have instructions you can go through to make sure it has been set up properly. You may need to contact Sony support if you are unsure about the setup process.

2. Make sure you have registered the online adapter with Sony. Again, this is something you can do by contacting Sony support.

3. Check to see if you are connecting to the internet from behind a firewall, or if your ISP blocks any ports. The following ports need to be open to be able to connect:

TCP 9995/9996 outgoing to connect to the lobby server.
UDP 1791/1792 incoming/outgoing for head-to-head play.

Where did everybody get their adapters? I've got mine on order from Best Buy, but I ordered kind of late.

Socom should be waiting for me at home. :)

a friend of mine is a manager at a gamestop so i got one on release date with no preorder :D

Oh - you suck!


...I'm mean good for you TaTTooD!

:)

I got it on release day at Best Buy. I was in the store as soon as it opened and saw about 30 NA. But I forgot my credit card at home as well as my $5 GC and the $5 coupon from EGM. So I went to EB(I had some store credit) and they said they haven't received them yet. I thought "screw this, I don't really want one anyway." and I got home. Then I was browsing online and read that people were all happy with their NA. So at about 11:30 AM, I got back to Best Buy and they still had about 5 NA left. Picked one up, paid for it ($30+tax after it was all said and done), went home, and played MADDEN!

yeah, Best Buy for me also.

I have to quickly comment that I'm shocked at the huge demand for this adapter. Everyone I know is looking for it. Many are people that never used their online capabilities with the Dreamcast. Sony may be on to something with their online strategy.