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Topic: How do I change my WPA wifi to WEP so can use internet on my DS game?

Posts 1 to 14 of 14

sarahh

I know this is far from a new problem, but I've been trying to work out what to do and just getting more confused so figured I better just ask!

I have a wifi router with Sky, using WPA encryption. My 3DS can browse the internet on this, but my pokemon pearl game cannot, it can only access the internet through WEP encryption.

I don't want to change the encryption on my home router because it's not secure, and I'm not the only one who uses it. I've seen the stuff about nintendo usb adapters, but I'm having trouble finding one since they were discontinued. I did buy an 802.11N usb adapter, figuring it would do the same thing. I managed to get that installed on my laptop (windows 7) and connected to my wifi...but it didn't have the capacity to generate a WEP link for me to then piggyback my 3DS onto. I'm not sure what was wrong with this, and I'm not tech-savvy enough to work it out, despite trawling through the manuals it came with. :/

I've also seen posts where people have bought a new router...but I don't understand how this would get wifi signal? Do you link it up to your original router somehow?

As you can see I'm pretty clueless; I basically either need to be told an exact usb adapter make and model that will link into my current WPA wifi and then generate a WEP access point, and how to set it up, or the same for a router.

If someone could point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it, thanks!!

sarahh

WesCash

I don't think the USB adapter you have is actually an access point itself. It just gives wireless capability to whatever it is connected to. In the case of your laptop, it's sort of redundant unless it's better than the adapter inside the laptop itself (which it probably is though). I don't think there is any sort of USB device that does what the Nintendo USB connector did. I may be entirely wrong, so don't take my word for it.

If you don't want to change the encryption on your router, I'm not really sure what other option there is to be honest. You could probably buy a second router, set it to WEP encryption, and hook it up to your modem. I imagine that's how it is done. Then you'd just have two different routers.

If I'm wrong about any of this, hopefully someone can correct me.

WesCash

3DS Friend Code: 2019-9710-8219

Mowzle

I'm not here to point you in the right direction - sorry! And I should emphasise that I'm no more tech savvie than you are.
However, I can tell you that I got hold of a Nintendo USB adaptor several years ago here in the UK, just before they disappeared from sale completely (not cheap, it cost £30). I tried the USB device on my DSi XL for a few different games, but never succeeded in getting it to connect to the web. The problem was definitely the mismatch between the WEP and WPA technology. My 3DS is fine with the WPA technology, but the WEP based older games cannot access the web when installed in the 3DS.
Our wifi router uses WPA encryption, and like you I never attempted to change it to WEP because of the security issues. I seem to recall that, after an extensive internet search, I did find some tech information implying that the problem was insoluble. There may be a solution out there somewhere, but that's debatable. I ultimately accepted that the WEP based technology was outdated and that I would not be able to use the online aspects of those older games.
Best of luck with your search.

Best place to hang out on a dull day? Nintendolife.

ShadJV

While I don't have an answer, I feel it should be noted that DS games will no longer have online services in about a month (May 20 I think?) so you may not want to bother spending money on any adaptor or router to solve this problem, unless you really feel it's worth it for the month of use you'll get.

Feel free to add me on the Nintendo Network: ShadJV
Here's my 3DS FC, always looking for Pokemon X Friend Safaris: 2191-7643-5167
Peace!

Mowzle

@ShadJV:- Very good point! I had forgotten about that one!

Best place to hang out on a dull day? Nintendolife.

dumedum

I changed it to WEP on the router, did what I needed to do (download Layton puzzles on all 3 games), then changed it back to WAP. Piece of cake. Don't worry about "security issues" .You are only doing it for limited times anyway.

"Dubs Goes to Washington: The Video Game".

Nintendo Network ID: Del_Piero_Mamba

sinalefa

I found a similar problem when my brother changed the router config to WPA a few months ago.

What I do is use my smartphone as an access point. I have an S3 mini, so it has an open network. It works wonders for DS games. Please note that my smartphone does NOT get its internet access from the router, but directly from the ISP.

I will comment in this thread, never being able to find it again.

WesCash

What @dumedum suggested is what I used to do, but if there are other people on the network this could annoy them temporarily.

But like @ShadJV pointed out, DS games are going to lose Wifi functionality very soon anyway.

WesCash

3DS Friend Code: 2019-9710-8219

Mowzle

@dumedum:- So, bearing in mind you are USA based, but "sarahh" and I are UK based (which may not be relevant to this issue), how did you change the settings on your router?
I would love to download the bonus Layton puzzles on all my games before the service expires in May.

Best place to hang out on a dull day? Nintendolife.

WesCash

@Mowzle
You'll have to access your router's webpage, which just involves typing its IP address into your browser's address bar. It's usually "192.168.0.1".
Then you'll need the username and password, which will vary depending on the router or your internet service provider. But typically it's something generic like "cusadmin" and "password" unless you've changed it. Should be able to google it for your specific case. Then it's just a matter of changing WPA to WEP in the wireless section.

Edited on by WesCash

WesCash

3DS Friend Code: 2019-9710-8219

Mowzle

@WesCash:- Thanks for the detailed response!
I have checked all that out, and found the page where I originally set up my wifi connection. Sadly there doesn't seem to be a specific section for wireless security settings. I think maybe my router has been preset to WPA (which is the standard in the UK at the moment) by my ISP. There is a culture in Britain of not trusting the populace to manage their own lives efficiently, so we don't always get presented with options.
It was worth a try, but I guess I can manage without Professor Layton's bonus puzzles.
Once again, thanks for the help.
Cheers!

Best place to hang out on a dull day? Nintendolife.

sarahh

Thanks for all the replies, and so soon!

I was wanting to use the internet for pokemon pearl, as you can trade pokemon etc, do you guys know if this feature is going to be affected by the cessation of online services? I also heard that there are pokemon 'events', where special pokemon are distributed via wi-fi, which I was hoping to get access to. If that's all being stopped, then yeah, it really won't matter if I can get online!

I think I'll try what you've suggested - @dumedum and @WesCash - and see if it adds enough to the gameplay for me to try the second router option or not before it's all stopped.

Overall I'm rather confused by the way Nintendo are using the internet with their games. It's a great additional resource, and I think it's clear from how many people have tried to get around this encryption problem that us players want to use it...so I don't get the logic of discontinuing their usb adapters - and now stopping their online services... :s

Thanks again for all the help guys, I really appreciate it!

sarahh

sinalefa

They had this restriction only on DS games. 3DS games can connect to WPA no problem.

I will comment in this thread, never being able to find it again.

DanMan82

If you really wanted, you can find a wireless access point that supports WEP, connect it to your current router, give it a different SSID (the name of the wireless network), do things like disable DHCP on it, and in theory, this should work...but as others have already said, the kind of money and time you would put out to purchase and configure the thing wouldn't be worth it since the servers are going offline in a month.

Edited on by DanMan82

"If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome."- Michael Jordan
“I am thankful for all of those who said NO to me. Its because of them I’m doing it myself.” – ?????

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