PlayStation & ICS

Here I will explain the methods for getting your PS2 online with Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)

You will need:
*Broadband connection (512Kb minimum)
*PS2 network adaptor (if you don’t have the slimline PS2)

If you are currently online with a PC in your house, with a USB only modem connection and don’t mind having your PC turned on at the same time. Maybe Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) is for you.

What is Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) ?

Internet Connection Sharing allows you to share your computers existing connection to the Internet over a Local Area Network (LAN).

How do you Setup Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) ?

It depends on how you want the network to be Setup:

Direct (Crossover)


If you have just one computer in your house connected to the Internet via a USB modem, then this might be the ideal option for you.For this you will need:

*A PC connected to the Internet with a USB modem.
*A Network Interface Card(NIC) in your PC.
*An Ethernet Crossover cable.

Setting it all up:

Plug the cable into the back of your PS2 and your PC’s Ethernet card, then follow the steps below:

Windows XP - Main PC
1) Click “Start” button.
2) Click “Control Panel”.
3) If the option is given click “Switch to Classic View” (top left blue bar).
4) Click “Network Connections”.
5) Right click on your Modem Internet Connection.
6) Click “properties”.
7) Click “advanced”.
8) Tick the “enable Internet connection sharing” box.
9) Click “OK”.
10) Restart the PC if prompted.

Windows XP - ICS HUB Method

If you plan on using more then one Computer/PS2 with ICS then you are best off getting an Ethernet hub.

You will need:

* A PC connected to the Internet with a USB modem
* A Network Interface Card(NIC) in your PC
* One “straight through” Ethernet cable for every PS2/PC you plan to put on the network.
* An Ethernet hub ( with enough spare ports ).

1) Plug a straight through Ethernet cable to your PC and HUB.
2) Connect the straight through Ethernet cable from your HUB to each PC/PS2 you wish to get online.
3) Setup ICS on your PC as explained in Windows XP - Main PC above.

Windows XP - Client PC - existing network

If you have a PC near your PS2 which is connected to the Internet over an existing network, it may be more tidy for you to run a crossover cable from your client PC to your PS2, rather then running it from your main ICS machine/router/hub etc.

For this you will need:

* A PC connected connected to the Internet via an existing network.
* A spare Network Interface Card(NIC) in your PC.
* An Ethernet Crossover cable.

Connect the PS2 to your spare network card, using the Crossover cable.

Windows XP - Network Bridge
1) Click “Start” button.
2) Click “Control Panel”.
3) If the option is given click “Switch to Classic View” (top left blue bar).
4) Click “Network Connections”.
5) Highlight the Local Area Connection/Wireless Network Connection which connects you to the Internet and the one which is connected to your PS2.
6) Right click.
7) Click “bridge the network connections”.
8) Restart the PC if prompted.

Still haven’t managed to get online?

Firewall settings:
You may need to adjust your computers firewall, the easiest thing to do is allow connections from an I.P range e.g. 192.168.0.1 -> 192.168.2.200. or if you just have the option enable ICS connections.

(Bridge)Network card may not be compatible:

If you have bridged Internet connections and one card displays as “not connected”; then the cards may not be compatible with each other.

You can try and force compatibility using the instructions below:

Windows XP - force compatibility mode

1) Have the connections bridged.
2) Click “start”.
3) Click “run”.
4) Type “cmd”.
5) Click “OK”/ press return.
6) Type “netsh bridge show adapter”.
7) Press return *this will give you your network card ID’s.
8) Now use the command below twice - replacing the 1 with each of your card ID’s.

netsh bridge set adapter 1 forcecompatmode=enable
So if my wireless card ID was 1 and my wired was 2 I would type:
netsh bridge set adapter 1 forcecompatmode=enable
netsh bridge set adapter 2 forcecompatmode=enable
9)type netsh bridge show adapter again to check that both the cards are now enabled.