DS Wi-Fi - any idea how to get it to work? still no joy

[eldad9]

I write software for a living. Wireless software. For real. But I can't figure out how to get the blasted DS to play nice with my motorola WR850G router.

When testing the link, the DS things for over a minute, before coming up with error code: 52100, which doesn't really say much ("connected to access point but unable to connect to the server").

Here are my settings. Can anybody help?

SSID: mynetworkname (the real one)
WEP Key: ***** (yes, I'm down to 40-bit in my desperate attempt to get this to work)
auto-obtain IP address: no
IP address: 192.168.10.201 (static address, router knows not to assign it using DHCP)
subnet mask: 255.255.255.0 (same as on the PCs, thank you)
Gateway: 192.168.10.1 (same as on the PCs, thank you)
Auto obtain DNS: no (I've had some trouble with that on the PCs, so I assigned them manually to my ISP's servers, which are: )

Primary DNS: 68.6.16.30
Seconary DNS: 68.6.16.25

(not that it matters, I'll probably never win an online race of mario kart anyway).

[Vinny]

Have you checked the http://www.nintendowifi.com tech support? It was helpful for me. It can't be your router since it's recommended for the DS by Nintendo.

[Arkay Firestar]

maybe the network name is too long for the DS? And are you sure your router is allowing more than one connection...I mean, have you tried a laptop or something to make sure it isnt router settings as opposed to your DS?

To be honest, it worked like a perfect charm the first time I tried...so its gotta be some weird confounding variable...good luck dude!

[.JPG]

I'm guessing you have the most updated firmware for that router? Because that could be a big factor if it's not. With my Linksys I had a lot of trouble getting it to connect even with the latest firmware, but you have to mess around. I ended up opening different ports and enabling different things to get it to work. In a minute I'll upload a screenshot of which ports I opened that may help you.

[scottman]

Nintendo wifi is very flaky except for a small number of routers IMO. If you don't have the proper revision router, it might not work. If yours is not the ver3 WR850G that they list as recommended, it might not work at all. I have a dlink DI-524, but there is no fix for my revision yet, so I can't use it. Even though my psp connects and browses the web fine.

I don't know if it's because of Nintendo's servers, or if the ds wifi is just too picky, or if it has something to do with the isp.

Check out the Nintendo wifi forums and support section, but here is what seems to be typical to try:

Try turning off WEP.
Try changing the transmission rate of your router if possible.

Nintendo really dropped the ball on online play, once again. I would hope they are trying to make their system compatible for more routers.

[MorPhiend]

Works fine for me. What did I do? I used the $10 off coupon at BB and got the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Adapter for $30. Seriously, I think that is the best option...

[eldad9]

Have you checked the http://www.nintendowifi.com tech support? It was helpful for me. It can't be your router since it's recommended for the DS by Nintendo.

I really didn't find there a list of what the error messages *actually* mean.

I'm guessing you have the most updated firmware for that router? Because that could be a big factor if it's not. With my Linksys I had a lot of trouble getting it to connect even with the latest firmware, but you have to mess around. I ended up opening different ports and enabling different things to get it to work. In a minute I'll upload a screenshot of which ports I opened that may help you.

I did update the firmware to the newest version - but why should it matter? Specifically, I mean.

maybe the network name is too long for the DS? And are you sure your router is allowing more than one connection...I mean, have you tried a laptop or something to make sure it isnt router settings as opposed to your DS?

No, the real one I'm using is four letters long. And my router is allowing more than one connection, and I also tried when nothing else was connected.

Nintendo wifi is very flaky except for a small number of routers IMO. If you don't have the proper revision router, it might not work. If yours is not the ver3 WR850G that they list as recommended, it might not work at all. I have a dlink DI-524, but there is no fix for my revision yet, so I can't use it. Even though my psp connects and browses the web fine.

Try turning off WEP.
Try changing the transmission rate of your router if possible.

Nintendo really dropped the ball on online play, once again. I would hope they are trying to make their system compatible for more routers.

Turns out that mine is a V2. But again, why does it matter? And why wouldn't it work with all routers? It's freaking TCP/IP, the idea is that all hardware is compatible with all other hardware regardless of vendor. And for the most part it's exactly like that. And there's no reason to turn off WEP - since the error says the DS can connect to the router.

Works fine for me. What did I do? I used the $10 off coupon at BB and got the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Adapter for $30. Seriously, I think that is the best option...

I'm not giving in to extortion. It's not the money; it's the principle of the thing.

[dayglo]

Are you broadcasting in a mixed mode? I had some problems with my router, and found that setting it strictly to B, as opposed to mix B/G, seemed to solve my problems. As much as I hate to take a step backwards as far as transfer speeds, it solved my problem.

[scottman]

You didn't dig deep enough to find the code translator.
Go here for error codes:
http://www.nintendowifi.com/customersupport/troubleshoot.do
But sometimes an error code will be due to something else, so don't always trust what it says.

The router version and firmware DOES make a huge difference for this. I'm as frustrated as you over how picky it is, but that's for Nintendo to work on. Read the forums on their site and you'll see what I mean.

Some things I've heard is that the DS transmits much slower than most routers expect, so they need to be able to adapt to the slower rate. Some of them can't or need certain settings explicitly set to do this. My guess is that the DS wifi hardware was mainly designed for short-distance in-person wireless with other DS systems, while internet wireless wasn't implemented as well for it, so you need a router that is optimal to make it work.