Question/advice

[Callalily]

I just changed internet providers, but now I can't seem to get a connection to play on-line games. The internet provider says all is okay on their end, but when I switch cables to play on-line games I don't get a connection. I've even tried a new cable to no avail. I'm getting really frustrated.

Anyone run into this problem? Any advice?

[Orsino]

1. What do you mean by...

..."don't get a connection"? To what? From what? Are you able to browse the web? Are you able to ping and/or traceroute to the server or servers you want to play on?

[Callalily]

2. Yes, I can browse the web

that stuff works fine, but when I switch the cable to play on-line games I don't get a connection. I'm doing the same thing I did with my other modem, but this one doesn't seem to be speaking with my PS2. When I switch cables, the lights do not flash like it does when the cable is in for the internet.

Poor explanation I know, but I hope you get my meaning.

[Orsino]

3. Okay, so the Internet connection is fine.

That isolates the problem to your PS2, the cable, or possibly some setting in your modem that blocks a port used by the PS2. Does the game box have any sort of diagnostic function?

The lights not flashing may just mean that the cable is bad.

[Callalily]

5. I know that the cable

is good, as well as my PS2, because I can use it when I connect to DSL (I kept that service until I can get the new one working properly), but I get a "no connection" message when I hook it into the modem supplied by my cable company. The cable company says it's not their problem, that the internet is working fine, which is correct, but I was assured that I could also use it to play on-line games, which at the moment is not the case.

Not clear what you mean by "diagnostic function", but the "game box" itself is a simple piece of equipment. Just put in the disk, hit the on button, and it's ready to go.

[Orsino]

6. Then that leaves port-blocking, as described below.

Your equipment is fine, and browses just fine. Something in your new connection, though, is preventing you from connecting with a particular application. Your ISP provided the cable modem, no doubt with security measures in place; these days, that means not just blocking certain types of traffic, but allowing only particular traffic, and a port used by the PS2 may be blocked inbound or outbound.

If your PS2 documentation doesn't list the ports that must be open, contact the manufacturer. Then make sure that your ISP opens the firewall to permit your play.

[Callalily]

7. You are absolutely

not going to believe this. I finally got my on-line game to work, after chatting with technical support from both Sony and my internet service. Apparently there are no firewalls on my new modem. Cable people were baffled and could not help me. Sony people told me it was my internet provider. Ugh!

So this is how I got things working. I unplugged the modem and waited the obligatory three minutes. Connected my game cable to my modem and edited my network settings (again!) on my game, and it finally connected.

But there's a strange part here. When I switched cables to get back onto the internet, I could not get a connection, so I unplugged the power to my modem (waiting the obligatory three minutes) and hooked onto the internet, but it took several attempts before I got a connection.

Continuing my testing, I switched cables again to try out the on-line game, and got the "no connection" message" again, unplugged power, etc, etc.

So apparently, I must unplug power to the modern every time I want to switch between playing on-line games and connecting to the internet, and make several connection attempts before succeeding.

Have you heard anything so stupid in all your life! Hopefully I will continue to get connections, but this is utterly ridiculous.

But I would like to thank you for all your time and help with my problem. I truly appreciated your efforts.

[Salviati]

9. Maybe you should buy a router...

then you can keep both the ps2 and computer plugged in all the time, no cable switching required... Just plug the router into the DSL modem, and the computer and ps2 into the router.

[EarlG]

4. Sounds like a firewall problem

If you are connecting to the Internet via DSL or cable then the modem that your ISP provided probably came with a built-in firewall. If that's the case, you may need to open specific ports on your firewall in order to be able to connect to the games you're trying to play.

Different games require different ports to be open. You might want to do a Google search on the specific games you're trying to play and look for information on which ports those games require you to open. The games' websites should have troubleshooting FAQs on how to connect when using a firewall.

[Callalily]

8. Thanks for your

help. I finally got things working. Please see my response (#7).