Damsel In Distress!!! Help With WRT54GS & PS3

claireh · 11-12-2007, 18:36

Hi,

Can anyone please help... I bought a PS3 two days ago and have been trying to connect it to the internet using wifi. I have a WRT54GS router (5.1) and use Virgin Media broadband (well what used to be Telewest).

I have tried various settings but it always fails to get an IP address.

Yours frustrated and desperate to get on line

Claire

danpad · 11-12-2007, 19:09

hi, the router has the external (virgin media) I.P address, something like 82.17.68.68 (yours will be unique) this is what connects to virgin, devices connected to the router also have unique i.p but these are not visible to the outside world, these are usually something like 192.168.100.100.

if you connect to your router using a p.c and using internet explorer enter
http://192.168.1.1 with a blank username and a password of admin.

this will enable you to check the router settings, security settign an router firewall,
this should enable you to check the settigns match your PS3, i would try and connect with the PS3 next to the router and then once connected move the PS3 to the desired location, because your problems may be caused by a simple lack / poor quality of signal

popper · 11-12-2007, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by claireh

Hi,

Can anyone please help... I bought a PS3 two days ago and have been trying to connect it to the internet using wifi. I have a WRT54GS router (5.1) and use Virgin Media broadband (well what used to be Telewest).

I have tried various settings but it always fails to get an IP address.

Yours frustrated and desperate to get on line

Claire

first of all

next inwhat way a noob, the PC ,networking,wireless,web... just so readers know how basic to make it to at least try and get you up and running (without any security on the PS3) to pick up the latest ps3 firmware updates.

do you have a PC that will also be using the wireless router connection or wired directly into it, that might make it easyer later for browsing to the routers internal web server for changing settings.

did you try the most basic setup to start with, that being taking the router right out of the connection and directly connecting the VM CM with an rj45 cable to the PS3 to see if it will connect that way.

VM-cable-modem<===>PS3
if that works the next thought is your routers settngs (you imply you had it a while and working with i assume a PC.

again temp disable wap,and all router security as it may be interfering with letting the PS3 on the network, even if when you are selecting the PS3's SCAN Option to find the network and it seems to find it ok.

also is the router set to give out IP addresses to your connected devices (PC,PS3,whatever) it so thats were the directly connected PC to router-port1 comes in handy as you can then log into the wireless routers webpage and look at what its tryed to/given the PS3.

you can always set a manual IP for the PS3 inside the router pages but that can get confusing for real noobs

to add to the first response, the thing to remember is that there are basicly two parts to a (wireless-) router
the so called WAN side were the whatever-Modem directly connects to, and the totally seperate part called the LAN side that gives out IP No.s for any device trying to connect to the router ,be it wired or wireless.

right, so weather you did the above direct test or not, im going to assume you are now ready to try again after resetting the router the generic defaults or know how to temp turn off the security to remove that as your faultly connection.

VM-CM<===>WAN-port-wireless-router-lan-port1<===>PC
and PS3<--->wireless-router

although you could also temp wire the ps3 directly to router-LAN-port2 if you want to try that first and have a spare standard straight through rj45 cable

open your pc browser with a url of http://192.168.1.1 and you should see the routers internal mini web server pages were you can check and change settings etc.

<===> =wired rj45 cable
<---> =wireless connection
<=x=> = x/cross-over cable

11-12-2007, 20:52

is wireless enabled on the router? if it is is it secure ? if its secure and on have you added your secuirty settings to the ps3?

claireh · 11-12-2007, 21:31

Thanks for the replies

Here's some info on my set up and what I've done so far...

I have two laptops that I use wifi with my router, which is set up with "WPA2" security. The laptops connect ok where I have put the PS3. This whole network thing was set up for me but I've figured out enough to enter the SSID and WPA key manually into the PS3.

I've been into the router using the 192.168.1.1 address (got that from the router manual) but I'm not sure why that would help

With my new laptop I just entered the SSID and WPA key in and bingo it connected.

What happens is that when I go through the basic options on the PS3 and then try to connect it flashes "exchanging key" and then comes up with an error message something like "exchange timed out" and by the IP Address it says "failed".

I haven't tried to connect the PS directly to the router, I'm not sure I can - the router is on a different floor of my apartment to the tv.

Thanks for your help.

Claire

popper · 11-12-2007, 21:34

like i already said/implyed, KISS (Keep It Simple S*) to prove at the very least, a BASIC connection can be made to work, without the headache of security and getting every aspect of that just right just to sucessfully connect, and these routers are reported as being very slugish with security turned on

claireh · 11-12-2007, 21:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by popper

inwhat way a noob, the PC ,networking,wireless,web... just so readers know how basic to make it to at least try and get you up and running (without any security on the PS3) to pick up the latest ps3 firmware updates.

Forgot to answer this... beyond the standard security bits of entering keys I have no idea about setting networks up or how they work. There were options in the PS3 that I had no idea about so I just accepted the default, one of them was something about "MSU"

.

Thanks for your patience.

Claire

popper · 11-12-2007, 21:44

cant say for "WPA2" and the latest PS3 firmware updates, but older versions dont support anything but the WPA and WEP standards.

just temp turn off security in the routers config (all your pcs will still connect fine)
and re-try the ps3 again ,it should connect and be given a new seperate IP as per the working lt pcs

claireh · 11-12-2007, 21:53

Hi popper,

Thanks for helping me with this and being patient, I'll get there eventually...

So there's two things I need to try - check which version of the firmware my PS3 has and if it is the latest. How do I check this on the PS3?

Then disable the security on the router..? I take it there is an option somewhere in the router to do that.

If I wire the PS3 to the router with a cable and get the thing to connect to the internet, will it download the firmware update that way?

Sorry for all these questions.

Claire

popper · 11-12-2007, 22:41

no problem with patience here, most of us like helping people learn new skills ,after all we may need your skills some day

you dont need to worry about the current firmware version as the PS3 will just do a check once online and offer you to update it if needs be.

do a search on "ps3 firmware update" to read some info about it and see if they have included a working "WPA2" and other additions in one of the updates.

assuming there is such a working "WPA2" update your only real problem is getting online to install it, and thats not so hard.

by far your easyest option will be to just unplug the routers rj45 cable from the back of its WAN port and plug that end directly into the PS3 so its in effect directly connected as i said above, or just use a spare one if its easyer to connect ps3 and vm-cm in the same room temp.
VM-CM<===>PS3
power cycle the VM-CM then the PS3 and it sould just connect like any other PC device to the web.

OR if its easyer to plug the PS3 into one of the routers spare LAN ports (if its in the same room, or you have long enough cable)useing another rj45 cable assuming you have one to use handy.

OR just find the option in the wireless router to temp turn off security as then the pc3 will just see your fully open wireless kit and should connect wirelessly no problem and be given a valid ip.

i dont have that router and cant seem to find the PDF for it to review and guide you, perhaps someone else can find it and tell you the 'step by step' to turn off security to get your ps3 online and able to then download any updates(and play an online game until you notice the time LOL).

later you may need to revert to one of the PS3 supported security options if the firmware doesnt exist for your current PC settings , you will OC need to also ajust the LT PCs to this other security option to get it all working again.

like i said dont worry about it as a temp measure just to get you up and confirming your new HD video/game machine is functioning/connecting as expected.

claireh · 11-12-2007, 23:15

Thanks popper

I have found where to turn the security off in the router. There's a drop down menu box under "Wireless Security" which has "Disabled" in the list. Mine is set to "WPA2 Personal".

I'll try this tomorrow night and let you know how it goes.

I Googled firmware updates and found lots of links about "WPA2" so that might be the problem.

Thanks again.

Claire

claireh · 13-12-2007, 21:57

OK... an update...

I managed to connect the router to the PS3 with a lead and download the system update... and guess what...?

THE WIFI WORKS!!!

So it was the firmware update!

Thank you so much for help Popper

Claire

popper · 13-12-2007, 22:37

nice to see a happy camper

Tavo · 27-02-2008, 22:47

I have found where to turn the security off in the router. There's a drop down menu box under "Wireless Security" which has "Disabled" in the list. Mine is set to "WPA2 Personal".

can you please explain a little bit more as to what you checked or unchecked in the wireless security. did you enable it or desable it? did you change the WPA2? i'm having the same problem you had. please help.

Druchii · 27-02-2008, 23:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tavo

I have found where to turn the security off in the router. There's a drop down menu box under "Wireless Security" which has "Disabled" in the list. Mine is set to "WPA2 Personal".

can you please explain a little bit more as to what you checked or unchecked in the wireless security. did you enable it or desable it? did you change the WPA2? i'm having the same problem you had. please help.

She disabled it, so her PS3 could connect to the internet. The PS3 then downloaded its firmware update which includes support for WPA2 (Or so i'm led to believe). I assume she then switched the setting back to "WPA2 Personal" and entered the key onto the PS3 which (now after the firmware update) supports the WPA2 standard.

Or at least, that's my understanding.