ps3 wireless question

[jayquam]

Ok,so I'm taking my ps3 with me to college. My dorm room has free wireless internet and all the that good stuff. I've done soom googling and about half say I will need a router, and half say I will not need a router to connect.

Can anyone help me out? Will i need a router?

[Omega Amen]

It depends what you mean specifically by "My dorm room has free wireless internet" quite honestly. My guess is no, but I really do not know until I look at your school's specific policy on using their wireless access points. For example, how many computers/devices are allotted to you to connect to their wireless access points? It is usually the details of the school's network access policy that give students trouble, not necessarily their computer/console.

My advice is you should just wait until you get there and ask some fellow students on what you actually need. If you find out you don't need one, you did not waste any money buying one earlier. If you do need one, they are very easy find to purchase, and you will know exactly what you need to do to get it to work nicely with your school network.

[Bobtheduck]

It depends what you mean specifically by "My dorm room has free wireless internet" quite honestly. My guess is no, but I really do not know until I look at your school's specific policy on using their wireless access points. For example, how many computers/devices are allotted to you to connect to their wireless access points? It is usually the details of the school's network access policy that give students trouble, not necessarily their computer/console.

My advice is you should just wait until you get there and ask some fellow students on what you actually need. If you find out you don't need one, you did not waste any money buying one earlier. If you do need one, they are very easy find to purchase, and you will know exactly what you need to do to get it to work nicely with your school network.

If their policy is that you can't connect games to them or his PS3 constitutes one too many devices, then I'd think a new router wouldn't' help anything... The router has to connect to something, and it's not like you can get new DSL connections hooked up in dorms, particularly if the phone line is paid for by the school. So what would be the reason you'd EVER need another router? If there's already wireless in the school, the PS3 can pick it up. If you're not allowed to connect the PS3, another router won't help.

[jayquam]

Thanks guys,I will ask the Tech. Office and see what their response is.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Does your room have any ethernet outlets? If so, try connecting your ps3 into one.

[Bobtheduck]

Does your room have any ethernet outlets? If so, try connecting your ps3 into one.

Again, if it has "free wireless" then you don't need ethernet as all PS3s have wireless capabilities. And if there are limits on that internet, then connecting via ethernet won't be any better than connecting via wireless.

[Omega Amen]

If their policy is that you can't connect games to them or his PS3 constitutes one too many devices, then I'd think a new router wouldn't' help anything... The router has to connect to something, and it's not like you can get new DSL connections hooked up in dorms, particularly if the phone line is paid for by the school. So what would be the reason you'd EVER need another router? If there's already wireless in the school, the PS3 can pick it up. If you're not allowed to connect the PS3, another router won't help.

Actually, a router can help even with such a policy, depending on the router's capabilities and how the school network doles out its IP addresses and keeps track of MAC addresses. The key is that the wireless link of the router must be part of the school network (e.g. address space 172.16.X.X) and separated from the local network on the wired links of a person's local network (e.g. address space 192.168.1.X). So it depends if the wireless router can support that configuration, which I am not sure typical ones for home use do that.

But that is a lot of ifs, and like I said, it depends on the specifics of the school network's policy.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Again, if it has "free wireless" then you don't need ethernet as all PS3s have wireless capabilities. And if there are limits on that internet, then connecting via ethernet won't be any better than connecting via wireless.

What if their free wireless sucks? (Like my school) XD

[jayquam]

Thanks Omega,Bob.,and Smartypants, I finally found outthe answer .Each room has wireless and an ethernet port. All I have to do is enter my school id # and password to use my ps3 online.

[Bobtheduck]

Actually, a router can help even with such a policy, depending on the router's capabilities and how the school network doles out its IP addresses and keeps track of MAC addresses. The key is that the wireless link of the router must be part of the school network (e.g. address space 172.16.X.X) and separated from the local network on the wired links of a person's local network (e.g. address space 192.168.1.X). So it depends if the wireless router can support that configuration, which I am not sure typical ones for home use do that.

But that is a lot of ifs, and like I said, it depends on the specifics of the school network's policy.

Wow. Ok. I prove (once again) I really don't get this networking stuff... Just when I think I have it figured out enough...