GameCube - Bellsouth DSL through Router - Connection Problem

[MoorePSO]

Technical:

• Platform: GameCube
• ISP: Bellsouth Fast Access DSL
• Modem: Westell Dual Connect
• Router: Netgear Wireless
  
  I am trying to connect my GC to the web through the router using a standard RJ45 ethernet cable.
  
  Note: With my home network architecture and remote working/telecommuting requirements, plugging the GC directly to the modem is not an option.

Problems:

• First, I let the GC broadband adapter settings default to automatic IP settings. I was able to log onto the website using the GC, but when I tried to enter the game I got past the "Minhiro" welcome message and then... nothing. I had no control, no menu, no options. Just, nothing.
  
  I called 800-USA-SEGA and was informed that there is a known problem with automatic IP settings. Resolution: Manually configure IP settings.
  
• Second, I manually configured the IP settings and got the same thing, basically. Called my ISP provider and got no help. Called Nintendo and they're no help.
  
• Third, I went into my router set up and reserved a specific IP address for the GameCube using the MAC address on the broadband adapter. I reconfigured the IP settings on the GC/BBA to match the reserved address, subnet mask, and gateway, leaving the DNS entries blank, and . . .
  
  . . . I don't even get as far as the "Minhiro" welcome message. Instead, I get a message, "Connecting to DNS server" (which I never received before -- Progress??), then after a couple of moments, it returns an Error No.102, and I cannot get on.

Questions and Requests:

• Can someone who knows what they hell they're doing help me set up my GC/BBA so I can play PSO online, pretty please?
  
• What the heck is an error No.102? (If you don't know, please don't respond with speculation. I am looking for an explanation of what Error No.102 means.)
  
• Does Sega have a list of error numbers and they're meanings?[list:c26f77a2bb]If so, where can I find it, please?
  If not, why the hell not? (As a software developer and support tech myself, this bugs me to no end.)

[*] I've searched the forums... I've googled... I've checked Nintendo's BBA help site... called Sega... and I find tons of forum messages and articles about the same issue... but none of them effectively explain how to configure the GC/BBA for accessing the game network(s) using DSL with a router.

Considering how common that set up is these days, and that it is a known issue (according to 800-USA-SEGA), both Nintendo and Sega should have this information ready and available. So why don't they?[/list:u:c26f77a2bb]


I am about three more go-nowhere customer/technical support phone calls and two more hours of experimentation away from saying the heck with it, cancelling my HL and returning the BBA to Nintendo as a gigormous waste of my time and money. (Nevermind the fact that the lack of knowledgeable support so far from either Nintendo or Sega is disinclining me from considering future products and services...)



Thanks,
Chadwick A. Moore

[armion]

Technical:

• Platform: GameCube
• ISP: Bellsouth Fast Access DSL
• Modem: Westell Dual Connect
• Router: Netgear Wireless
  
  I am trying to connect my GC to the web through the router using a standard RJ45 ethernet cable.
  
  Note: With my home network architecture and remote working/telecommuting requirements, plugging the GC directly to the modem is not an option.

Problems:

• First, I let the GC broadband adapter settings default to automatic IP settings. I was able to log onto the website using the GC, but when I tried to enter the game I got past the "Minhiro" welcome message and then... nothing. I had no control, no menu, no options. Just, nothing.
  
  I called 800-USA-SEGA and was informed that there is a known problem with automatic IP settings. Resolution: Manually configure IP settings.
  
• Second, I manually configured the IP settings and got the same thing, basically. Called my ISP provider and got no help. Called Nintendo and they're no help.
  
• Third, I went into my router set up and reserved a specific IP address for the GameCube using the MAC address on the broadband adapter. I reconfigured the IP settings on the GC/BBA to match the reserved address, subnet mask, and gateway, leaving the DNS entries blank, and . . .
  
  . . . I don't even get as far as the "Minhiro" welcome message. Instead, I get a message, "Connecting to DNS server" (which I never received before -- Progress??), then after a couple of moments, it returns an Error No.102, and I cannot get on.

Questions and Requests:

• Can someone who knows what they hell they're doing help me set up my GC/BBA so I can play PSO online, pretty please?
  
• What the heck is an error No.102? (If you don't know, please don't respond with speculation. I am looking for an explanation of what Error No.102 means.)
  
• Does Sega have a list of error numbers and they're meanings?[list:440b0dc293]If so, where can I find it, please?
  If not, why the hell not? (As a software developer and support tech myself, this bugs me to no end.)

[*] I've searched the forums... I've googled... I've checked Nintendo's BBA help site... called Sega... and I find tons of forum messages and articles about the same issue... but none of them effectively explain how to configure the GC/BBA for accessing the game network(s) using DSL with a router.

Considering how common that set up is these days, and that it is a known issue (according to 800-USA-SEGA), both Nintendo and Sega should have this information ready and available. So why don't they?[/list:u:440b0dc293]


I am about three more go-nowhere customer/technical support phone calls and two more hours of experimentation away from saying the heck with it, cancelling my HL and returning the BBA to Nintendo as a gigormous waste of my time and money. (Nevermind the fact that the lack of knowledgeable support so far from either Nintendo or Sega is disinclining me from considering future products and services...)



Thanks,
Chadwick A. Moore

Error 102 is displayed as You could not be connected to the server. Please check that your ISP settings are correct before connecting. The line was disconnected.

What this means is that your attempt to connect to online gameplay did not complete. In other words, when your gamecube sent the request to connect to the Sega servers, it never reached it, or maintained a stable enough link to establish a connection.

The common problem with Bellsouth DSL is attributed to the anti-virus software they have implemented with their service. So far, after all this time there has not been one roundabout way of bypassing this problem.

The solutions given so far involve contacting Bellsouth (Yes, again.) and informing them you are using a gaming console to connect to the internet. This works some of the time, but as I am not a Bellsouth employee, I can't say why it works, because it is evident that they have never disabled the offending software from their service.

The second solution, often posted by Momonpso is to switch to a different DSL provider. Alladvantage has little failure working with PSO.

Leaving those solutions to the connection problem out, and emphasizing the most common solution to this. Wireless routers have history of not maintaining enough of a connection to the GCN, and have been the source of many a connection problem. Although I know you don't want to hear this, direct connection should be attempted.

[MoorePSO]

THIS POST GENERATED THRU THE GC/BBA.

[MoorePSO]

EDITED to remove potentially abusive/offensive remarks.

[MoorePSO]

Bellsouth is not quite so useless after all. Just certain individuals, evidently...

So the problem turned out to be my modem and router configuration. My modem was set to PPPoE connection and my router was set with the "No" for whether or not my internet connection requires a log on.

Resolution:

• Changed router settings to "Yes" for log on and provided log on credential.
  
• Changed modem to Bridged Ethernet connection.
  
• Used automatic IP settings on GC/BBA

[MoorePSO]

UPDATE: I, my wife, and my oldest, have all successfully been online several times. Even running through the router, the connections have remained stable and fairly reliable.



Armion,

I apologize for the tone and content of my previous response to you (edited to delete the content). I realize you were just trying to help. Suffice it to say, I was more than just a little frustrated all the way around. However, that does not justify or excuse my behavior. Mea culpa!

Just so you know... to add to your own knowledge-base or perhaps update the FAQ... the issue turned out to be Modem/Router Configuration issue.

The modem is connected to the router, however it was set to handle the PPPoE connection (as though it were connected directly to a computer). Also, the router was set up to act as a DHCP server, but it did not handle PPPoE.

The resolution for my problem was rather simple:

• Go into the modem set up and change the connection mode to "Bridged Ethernet".
  
• Go into the router set up and change the Basic Settings to indicate that the ISP requires authorization and provide the PPPoE credentials (user name and password).
  
• Within the router set up, reserve an IP address to the GC/BBA using the MAC address on the BBA. (This may or may not be necessary...)
  
• Configure the GC/BBA to use Automatic IP settings (just accept the defaults).
  
• Reset/reboot the modem, router, and GC, and, voila!, PSO online!

[armion]

UPDATE: I, my wife, and my oldest, have all successfully been online several times. Even running through the router, the connections have remained stable and fairly reliable.



Armion,

I apologize for the tone and content of my previous response to you (edited to delete the content). I realize you were just trying to help. Suffice it to say, I was more than just a little frustrated all the way around. However, that does not justify or excuse my behavior. Mea culpa!

Just so you know... to add to your own knowledge-base or perhaps update the FAQ... the issue turned out to be Modem/Router Configuration issue.

The modem is connected to the router, however it was set to handle the PPPoE connection (as though it were connected directly to a computer). Also, the router was set up to act as a DHCP server, but it did not handle PPPoE.

The resolution for my problem was rather simple:

• Go into the modem set up and change the connection mode to "Bridged Ethernet".
  
• Go into the router set up and change the Basic Settings to indicate that the ISP requires authorization and provide the PPPoE credentials (user name and password).
  
• Within the router set up, reserve an IP address to the GC/BBA using the MAC address on the BBA. (This may or may not be necessary...)
  
• Configure the GC/BBA to use Automatic IP settings (just accept the defaults).
  
• Reset/reboot the modem, router, and GC, and, voila!, PSO online!

Eh, don't worry about it. I've gotten far worse. As long as you are able to connect to online gameplay without any problems, my concerns are taken care of.

Happy hunting online, and many Red Boxes to you.

[MoorePSO]

Eh, don't worry about it. I've gotten far worse. As long as you are able to connect to online gameplay without any problems, my concerns are taken care of.

Happy hunting online, and many Red Boxes to you.

Thanks!