help with nintendo DS and wifi

Ravenpoe · Mar 18, 2011

I have a feeling I'm going to have to buy a router, but let's see if anyone knows how to cludge together a fix with what I have!

I want to connect my DS to a wifi connection. It only supports WEP, and it does not support ad-hoc networks. My main source of internet connectivity is my cell phone's wifi hotspot, which creates an ad-hoc network.

My laptop can connect to it, of course. And I have a spare usb wireless adapter that supports WEP, but when I try to bridge the connections and connect to the adapter in access point mode, the DS gives me the error that "The access point is busy".

Does anyone have any advice?

grub · Mar 19, 2011

get one of these: http://cgi.ebay.com/Nintendo-DS-Wi-...t=Video_Games_Accessories&hash=item3a641b414d

Nintendo has discontinued them but it should suit your needs.

Ravenpoe · Mar 19, 2011

grub said:
get one of these: http://cgi.ebay.com/Nintendo-DS-Wi-...t=Video_Games_Accessories&hash=item3a641b414d

Nintendo has discontinued them but it should suit your needs.

I've heard from several people that the ds wifi dongle doesn't work with windows 7 64-bit, which is what all of my computers run.

AshburnerX · Mar 19, 2011

Honestly, I wonder why nintendo didn't design the 3DS with the ability for firmware updates? They could have patched in all of this then.

Does anybody know if the 3DS can do more than WEP?

Ravenpoe · Mar 19, 2011

No idea, but I really, really hope so.

I think I'm just going to have to go out and buy a router. It's been a long time coming, anyway.

Far · Mar 19, 2011

I bought one of those dongles awhile back and ended up returning the thing after scouring the net for a couple days on how to get it to function correctly. Ended up just buying a cheap linksys router which worked right away and has continued to work perfectly for about 4-5 years after that. Now that I work returns at a best buy I can honestly say I see a family or young kid buy and return one of those dongles every few weeks. Always point them towards a router.

grub · Mar 19, 2011

from what i understand the dsi and 3ds both have wpa capabilities

AshburnerX · Mar 19, 2011

grub said:
from what i understand the dsi and 3ds both have wpa capabilities

Which doesn't help the folks with the DSLites and DS. But it's good to know that it'll work when I eventually upgrade.

figmentPez · Mar 19, 2011

grub said:
from what i understand the dsi and 3ds both have wpa capabilities

Is that only for new games though? I was under the impression that DS games will only support WEP, period, even when played on a DSi or 3DS.

Ravenpoe · Mar 19, 2011

Bought a router. Time to go catch Victini.

grub · Mar 19, 2011

figmentPez said:
Is that only for new games though? I was under the impression that DS games will only support WEP, period, even when played on a DSi or 3DS.

I hadn't heard that. I looked it up and here is what nintendo has to say:

Important note about the Nintendo DSi and WPA security: While the Nintendo DSi is compatible with WPA security, Nintendo DS games with online play still require the use of WEP or no security to connect with the Nintendo WFC. Therefore, your connection settings for using these games must be set up on slots 1-3. If you need more details on using your adjusting your router's settings, click here and select your router (if available).

http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/wfc/en_na/ds/wrWEPkeyHelp.jsp

Zappit · Mar 21, 2011

I'm just getting the 3DS - how long has the DS been out? My poor DS is worn and tired...and couldn't connect to a Wifi signal in McDonalds.