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The Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection thread

J

Jonnyram

Member
nintendo_wifi_logo.gif


Mario Kart DS
US: 14 Nov
EU: 25 Nov
JP: 8 Dec

Animal Crossing DS
JP: 23 Nov
US: 5 Dec
EU: TBD

Rumordongle exposed!
pho26.jpg


Buffalo press release (in Japanese, sorry):
http://buffalo.melcoinc.co.jp/products/new/2005/000061.html

The service includes:
- Buffalo's simple one-button push AOSS system
- the USB dongle to be sold worldwide (for people without a wireless LAN)
- 1000+ Wi-Fi access points in game stores around the country

nintendo_ds.gif


How the USB dongle works:
1. You plug the connector into your internet-ready PC.
2. A window pops up, you click it with your mouse.
3. Then your DS can connect to it as a Wi-Fi access point.

NEC have also announced their own Aterm routers will support Wi-Fi connection:
http://121ware.com/product/atermstation/info/2005/info1005.html
 
Unison said:
A usb device that lets a DS wirelessly access a wired network.
Click to expand...

And it should be pointed out that if you already have a wireless router, you don't need the dongle. You're set.
 
Smiles and Cries said:
since this is for Japan it may not be what we get in the US but I hope it is very similar
nintendo seems to be going all out for this :)
Click to expand...
Buffalo is making the dongle that will be distributed worldwide. Added to the original post for clarification :)
 
Who willingly names something a DONGLE?!

Thanks for the explanation guys. I'm supposing my wireless router negates any need for a dongle? I really want one, too. Dongle. Dongle!

We need word on voicechat, too. Srsly. And a headset, ideally.
 
mj1108 said:
And it should be pointed out that if you already have a wireless router, you don't need the dongle. You're set.
Click to expand...
It might be a nice alternative if it is DS only access and you prefer your wifi to remain encryoted otherwise
 
Soul4ger said:
We need word on voicechat, too. Srsly. And a headset, ideally.
Click to expand...
That's a good point. What on earth happened to the headset - that socket next to the headphones can't be redundant forever.
 
so i buy a wifi box that plugs into my phone socket. ds connects to this box and goes onto the internet, and i pay for the phone call, yes?

or

i buy a usb wifi box that plugs into my pc. i log onto the internet using my service provider, that i pay a monthly subscription to, and i can play my ds online, essentially for free?

please could someone clear this up for me, thanks.
 
Jonnyram said:
That's a good point. What on earth happened to the headset - that socket next to the headphones can't be redundant forever.
Click to expand...

I'd be happy at this point if they're release a cellphone-style headset kit just for use with GAMES, not even online functions. I feel like a ninny shouting into the bottom screen, and I do some stupid shit in public without a second thought.
 
ziran said:
so i buy a wifi box that plugs into my phone socket. ds connects to this box and goes onto the internet, and i pay for the phone call, yes?
Click to expand...

The "Wi-Fi Box" doesn't go into a phone socket. The wireless router (Wi-Fi Box) would connect to a cable or DSL modem.

ziran said:
or
i buy a usb wifi box that plugs into my pc. i log onto the internet using my service provider, that i pay a monthly subscription to, and i can play my ds online, essentially for free?

please could someone clear this up for me, thanks.
Click to expand...

Exactly and from the sounds of it, I wonder if it would work on dialup.
 
Soul4ger said:
Who willingly names something a DONGLE?!
Click to expand...
I was sure there was a logical reason for the name. So I hit up Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dongle
The word dongle has been used as a placeholder name since the 1970s. Its origin is unknown. The American Heritage Dictionary, 4th edition, says it is "probably [an] arbitrary coinage."

...

According to a contributor claiming to be "Paul Handover, founder and managing director of Dataview Ltd.":

Although I can't remember the precise date, I well remember the conversation that I was having with Graham Heggie when he used the term 'dongle' and my immediate response that we couldn't use it as a term as it seemed vaguely vulgar. But we did and it became the generic term for a software protection key.
Click to expand...

:/
 
mj1108 said:
The "Wi-Fi Box" doesn't go into a phone socket. The wireless router (Wi-Fi Box) would connect to a cable or DSL modem.



Exactly and from the sounds of it, I wonder if it would work on dialup.
Click to expand...
thanks for clearing it up. :)

i've been unsure about ds and wifi since it was announced.
 
No one here's ever poked the stylus into that hole next to the headphone slot, or thrusted it up and down the slot it goes in on the DS?

I'm dissappointed in GAF.
 
CVXFREAK said:
No one here's ever poked the stylus into that hole next to the headphone slot, or thrusted it up and down the slot it goes in on the DS?

I'm dissappointed in GAF.
Click to expand...

Are you kidding? They do that every time there is a new Japanese daily sales thread or new famitsu news. Just most of u.. err.. them don't admit to doing it.
 
A dongle, from my understanding, is a device that plugs into a computer's external port and allows a program to function. They were used for copy protecting expensive software, like 3D Studio. i'm sure they're in some use today, but thankfully they're a lot less prominent.

What Nintendo is releasing looks to be a USB WiFi adapter, no different that what you can get off the shelf in terms of function, not necessarily compatibility.
 
Stryder said:
I wonder how I can connect through my wireless router with WEP encryption.
Click to expand...

It sounds like it works on Broadcom routers much like the Buffalo method described above. Button combination presses etc. But with normal routers (Belkin, DLink etc) perhaps there will just be advanced settings you can save to cart or your profile. Could be a bit annoying if it isnt saved to firmware somehow, cos you'd have to do it for every game... but then I've got an open network anyway. And the dongle is pretty cheap if I ever wanna lock it up.
 
aoi tsuki said:
A dongle, from my understanding, is a device that plugs into a computer's external port and allows a program to function. They were used for copy protecting expensive software, like 3D Studio. i'm sure they're in some use today, but thankfully they're a lot less prominent.

What Nintendo is releasing looks to be a USB WiFi adapter, no different that what you can get off the shelf in terms of function, not necessarily compatibility.
Click to expand...

A dongle is any small tech device, really. It's gotten more general in usage. :)
 
This must be how Revolutions Wifi will work. Wireless Lan out of the box and free online Wifi connection as long as you have a wireless router. If not just buy a cheap little "dongle" and your all set plug and play. Looks like Nintendo wants to make this as simple and painless as possible so to maximize the online service percentage of Rev's userbase. They just might pull this off.
 
Shaheed79 said:
This must be how Revolutions Wifi will work. Wireless Lan out of the box and free online Wifi connection as long as you have a wireless router. If not just buy a cheap little "dongle" and your all set plug and play. Looks like Nintendo wants to make this as simple and painless as possible so to maximize the online service percentage of Rev's userbase. They just might pull this off.
Click to expand...

That's exactly it, in a nutshell.
 
I could just leech of the many unecrypted wireless connections that fall around my house but I'll pick up the dongle for better signal strength.

There wouldn't be a DS firmware upgrade because the system's memory is volatile so it would be dumped everytime you power down the system. The online component will be built into the games.
 
ds-aoss.jpg


So whats this peice of Software for the DS on that Buffalo Site?

dongle.jpg


Picture of Dongle Exposed.
 
Ironclad_Ninja said:
There wouldn't be a DS firmware upgrade because the system's memory is volatile so it would be dumped everytime you power down the system. The online component will be built into the games.
Click to expand...

... but the DS does have a small amount of flashable firmware memory. A system upgrade IS possible, but it's unlikely to be offered, as you have to short/ground/whatever the term is two contacts hidden under a label in the battery compartment for the flash function to be enabled for reprogramming.

Nintendo could do it at their service centers without a problem, and I can imagine them making a small "docking bay" thing for use in a retail store (although that's more problematic, as you need to remove the battery compartment cover and peel back a sticker), but it seems unlikely that Nintendo would actually go through the process of updating the firmware.

(Network settings should be saved to the internal memory of the DS, though.)
 
DavidDayton said:
... but the DS does have a small amount of flashable firmware memory. A system upgrade IS possible, but it's unlikely to be offered, as you have to short/ground/whatever the term is two contacts hidden under a label in the battery compartment for the flash function to be enabled for reprogramming.

Nintendo could do it at their service centers without a problem, and I can imagine them making a small "docking bay" thing for use in a retail store (although that's more problematic, as you need to remove the battery compartment cover and peel back a sticker), but it seems unlikely that Nintendo would actually go through the process of updating the firmware.

(Network settings should be saved to the internal memory of the DS, though.)
Click to expand...
Correct, but this works against their EASY ideology. There is a small bit of memory that could sustain a firmware upgrade but seeing as it is much easier to build the online component into the games, that is what will be done.
 
How much internal memory (not RAM) does the DS have? I was actually wondering about this since going on-line would mean a whole bunch of things needs to be saved either on a cart or on system, things like network settings, buddy lists etc.
 
Ironclad_Ninja said:
Correct, but this works against their EASY ideology. There is a small bit of memory that could sustain a firmware upgrade but seeing as it is much easier to build the online component into the games, that is what will be done.
Click to expand...
I know, I just felt the urge to correct you when you (seemed to) say that the DS couldn't have a firmware upgrade. It could, but Nintendo is really unlikely to ever offer one.

Deku said:
How much internal memory (not RAM) does the DS have? I was actually wondering about this since going on-line would mean a whole bunch of things needs to be saved either on a cart or on system, things like network settings, buddy lists etc.
Click to expand...
One of the DS hacking sites had that info... I'd have to go searching for it. I do know that the iQue DS has twice as much "flashable" memory as the standard DS does, which seems interesting.

Network settings seem like they could be easily stored in the DS as it is -- for all we know, there is already a portion of the memory set aside for "extra settings". I'm assuming that any global buddy lists, if they exist, would be stored on Nintendo's servers. A quick download when you connect is all you need. Game specific buddy lists would be stored on the cartridge.
 
DavidDayton said:
I know, I just felt the urge to correct you when you (seemed to) say that the DS couldn't have a firmware upgrade. It could, but Nintendo is really unlikely to ever offer one.
Click to expand...
In my original post, it does seem like I said that a firmware upgrade is impossible, but I never meant it that way. Nonetheless, you are absolutely correct that an upgrade is possible but overly difficult to be handled easily.
 
Ironclad_Ninja said:
In my original post, it does seem like I said that a firmware upgrade is impossible, but I never meant it that way. Nonetheless, you are absolutely correct that an upgrade is possible but overly difficult to be handled easily.
Click to expand...

Although it is interesting that Nintendo left the option open. I'm quite curious about that.

I'm more curious, however, about what exactly the "Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire Update" process does to that little GBA cart. If it's a permanent fix, what is going on? The battery back up just stores saved game data... is it just changing a misplaced bit in the time location?
 
DavidDayton said:
Network settings seem like they could be easily stored in the DS as it is -- for all we know, there is already a portion of the memory set aside for "extra settings". I'm assuming that any global buddy lists, if they exist, would be stored on Nintendo's servers. A quick download when you connect is all you need. Game specific buddy lists would be stored on the cartridge.
Click to expand...

This is, frankly, the most likely explanation as to how encryption keys will be handled. The software to actually do the normal wifi connection will be on the cart, and it will save settings to whatever built in cmos or flash memory the system must have for some of its settings.
 
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