_____ ____ _____ ____
/ ___/____ ____ __ __ / __ Y ___// __ \
\__ \/ __ \/ __ \/ / / / / /_/ |__ \/ /_/ /
___/ / /_/ / / / / /_/ / / ____/__/ / ____/
/____/\____/_/ /_/\__, / /_/ /____/_/
/____/
__ __ __ _________ ____
/ / / /___ __________/ / ______ _________ / ____/ | / __ \
/ /_/ / __ `/ ___/ __ / | /| / / __ `/ ___/ _ \ / /_ / /| |/ / / /
/ __ / /_/ / / / /_/ /| |/ |/ / /_/ / / / __/ / __/ / ___ / /_/ /
/_/ /_/\__,_/_/ \__,_/ |__/|__/\__,_/_/ \___/ /_/ /_/ |_\___\_\
Sony PSP Hardware FAQ Version 1.00
29th November 2005
Copyright 2005 J. Phillip Sanders (
[email protected])
================================================================================
= Contents =
================================================================================
0. Introduction
1. What is the Sony PSP?
2. Specifications
3. Launch Information
3.1...Launch Dates, Packages and Prices
3.2...Launch Titles
4. PSP Menus
4.1...Game Menu
4.2...Video Menu
4.3...Music Menu
4.4...Photo Menu
4.5...Network Menu
4.6...Settings Menu
4.6.1...Video Settings
4.6.2...Photo Settings
4.6.3...System Settings
4.6.3...Theme Settings
4.6.5...Date and Time Settings
4.6.6...Power Save Settings
4.6.7...Sound Settings
4.6.8...Security Settings
4.6.9...Network Settings
5. Music/Video Players, Photo Viewer and Internet Browser
5.1...Video Player
5.2...Music Player and RSS Channel Player
5.3...Photo Viewer
5.4...Internet Browser
6. Frequently Asked Questions
6.1...General
6.2...Usage
6.3...Connectivity
6.4...Multimedia
6.5...Emulation and Homebrew Software
6.6...Alleged Faults
7. Wireless Networking
7.1...Overview (What are the PSP's Wi-Fi modes used for?)
7.2...Configuring Ad-hoc connections on the PSP
7.3...Configuring Infrastructure connections on the PSP
7.4...Configuring your PC With an access point as a hotspot
7.5...Configuring your wireless router or router+access point as a Hotspot
7.6...Configuring your PC for playing multiplayer PSP games on-line
7.7...Glossary (Common wireless networking terms)
8. Loose Ends
8.1...Useful Links
8.2...Credits
8.3...Legal Information
8.4...Email Policy
8.5...Version Information
================================================================================
= 0. Introduction =
================================================================================
The PSP introduces many new technologies to the world of portable games
consoles, which many users may find it difficult getting to grips with.
For example, how to configure the PSP to communicate with a PC or how to
set the PSP up to access the internet via a wireless network.
The main aim of this document is to provide solutions to many of these common
questions, as well as to reveal many of the useful, but often overlooked
features of the PSP.
================================================================================
= 1. What is the Sony PSP? =
================================================================================
The PSP is Sony's first attempt at a portable game system. Going directly
for a market that Nintendo have dominated for the last 10 years has been
viewed by many as foolhardy - however if anyone can topple Nintendo it
might just be Sony, as they have vast experience of portable devices from
Minidisk players to VAIO laptops.
The PSP itself is much smaller than many expected from initial press coverage,
boasting clean, stylish lines and a very attractive finish. The front is
almost entirely taken up by the large 4.3 inch screen and the rear dominated
by the large circular PSP logo on the UMD disk tray.
The display itself looks very much like the displays used on the more recent
Sony VAIO laptops, very dark when turned off, but bright and vivid when in
use. The UMD drive looks and feels very similar to a minidisk drive.
Battery life seems to be between 4-6 hours depending upon what the unit is
being used for, with music playback lasting significantly longer.
================================================================================
= 2. Specifications (taken from various sources) =
================================================================================
PSP CPU (System clock frequency 1~333MHz)
32MB Main Memory
4MD Embedded DRAM
UMD Drive (Playback only)
IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi)
USB 2.0
Memory Stick Duo PRO
IrDA
IR Remote (SIRCS)
5V DC OUT
Terminals for charging built-in battery
Headphone/Microphone/Control connector
Control:
Directional pad (Up/Down/Right/Left)
Analog pad
Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square buttons
Left, Right shoulder buttons
START, SELECT buttons
Display Mode, Sound Mode, Volume +/-, Home buttons
POWER On/Hold/Off switch
Wireless LAN On/Off switch
UMD Eject switch
Dimensions: Approximately 170mm (L) x 74mm (W) x 23mm (D)
Weight: Approximately 260g (including battery)
Screen: 4.3 inch, 16:9 widescreen TFT LCD
480 x 272 pixel (16.77 million colors)
Max. 200 cd/m2
Built-in stereo speakers
3.6V 1800mAh lithium-ion battery
================================================================================
= 3. Launch Information =
================================================================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 3.1. Launch Dates, Packages and Prices -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The European launch date was 1st September 2005. The retail price is £180
(258 Euros). Like in the US, the only pack initially available was the Value
Pack containing:
1 PSP console
1 Power supply
1 Instruction manual
1 White wrist strap
1 Carry case
1 Cleaning cloth
1 32MB Memory Stick Duo
1 Pair of headphones with inline remote control
1 Music/movie/game sampler UMD
The US launch date was 24th March 2005. The retail price is $249 USD ($299
Canadian Dollars). The only pack initially available was the Value Pack
containing:
1 PSP console
1 Power supply
1 Instruction manual
1 White wrist strap
1 Carry case
1 Cleaning cloth
1 32MB Memory Stick Duo
1 Pair of headphones with inline remote control
1 Music/movie/game sampler UMD
The first million purchasers will also receive a Spiderman 2 Movie UMD.
The Japanese launch date was 12th December 2004 for 20,790 Yen (with tax).
The system includes:
1 PSP console
1 Power supply
1 Instruction manual
In addition, a "Value Pack" was launched in Japan on the same date for 26,040
Yen (with tax) that contains the same as the normal pack plus:
1 White wrist strap
1 Carry case
1 32MB Memory Stick Duo
1 Pair of headphones with inline remote control
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 3.2. Launch Titles -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Europe:
Ape Academy
Archer Maclean's Mercury
Colin Mcrae Rally 2005
Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower
Dynasty Warriors
Everybody's Golf
Fired Up
MediEvil: Resurrection
Metal Gear Acid
Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition
World Snooker Challenge 2005
TOCA Race Driver 2
Virtua Tennis: World Tour
Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade
Tony Hawk's Underground 2: Remix
Spider-Man 2
NBA Street
Need For Speed: Underground: Rivals
Ridge Racer
Wipeout Pure
World Tour Soccer
US:
Ape Escape: On the Loose
ATV Offroad Fury: Blazin' Trails
Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower
Dynasty Warriors
FIFA 2005
Gretzky NHL
Lumines
Metal Gear Ac!d
MLB
MVP Baseball
NBA
NBA Street Showdown
Need for Speed Rivals
NFL Street 2 Unleashed
Rengoku: Tower of Purgatory
Ridge Racer
Smartbomb
Spider-Man 2
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR
Tony Hawk's Underground 2 Remix
Twisted Metal: Head On
Untold Legends: Brotherhood of the Blade
Wipeout Pure
World Tour Soccer
Japan:
Ridge Racers
Minna no Golf Portable (NA: Hot Shots Golf, EU: Everybody's Golf)
Lumines
Vampire Chronicle: The Chaos Tower (NA: Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower)
Armored Core: Formula Front (NA: AC Formula Front)
Mahjong Kakutou Club (NA: Mahjong Fight Club)
================================================================================
= 4. PSP Menus =
================================================================================
The main menu items are arranged horizontally across the screen, with sub
menus dropping vertically from them. Menus are shown right to left below.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 4.1. Game Menu -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The game menu is for launching games and managing game save data.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Game Sharing | Presumed to be for single game download play, I |
| | will add more information when games begin to |
| | support it. |
| | |
| Saved Data Utility | View/Delete/Copy and otherwise manage you saved |
| | game data. |
| | |
| | Press Triangle (menu) whilst a save is selected |
| | to be given the option to Copy, Delete or view |
| | further information about a save file. |
| | |
| UMD | Plays the disk in the UMD drive. |
| | |
| | Press Triangle (menu) whilst highlighting the |
| | UMD to be given the option to start the |
| | game/media or view information about the UMD in |
| | the drive. |
| | |
| PSP Update Ver x.xx | Appears when a game in the UMD drive provides |
| | the option of updating your psp to a newer |
| | version of the operating software (firmware). |
| | |
| Memory Stick | Plays games/game demos from the Memory Stick. |
| | Downloaded operating software (firmware) |
| | are available here also. |
| | |
| | Press Triangle (menu) whilst highlighting the |
| | Memory Stick to given the option to view |
| | information about the Memory Stick. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 4.2. Video Menu -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The video menu contains functions related to video playback.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Memory Stick | Plays video from the Memory Stick. |
| | |
| | Press Triangle (menu) whilst highlighting the |
| | Memory Stick to given the option to view |
| | information about the Memory Stick. |
| | |
| | Press Triangle (menu) whilst highlighting a |
| | video to be given the option to Play, Delete or |
| | view further information about the selected |
| | video. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 4.3. Music Menu -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The music menu contains functions related to music playback.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Memory Stick | Plays music from the Memory Stick. |
| | |
| | Press Triangle (menu) whilst highlighting the |
| | Memory Stick to given the option to start |
| | playback or view information about the Memory |
| | Stick. |
| | |
| | Press Triangle (menu) whilst highlighting a |
| | folder or music track to be given the option |
| | to play, delete or view further information |
| | about the selected folder of music track. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 4.4. Photo Menu -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The photo menu contains functions related to viewing images.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Memory Stick | Views photos/images from the Memory Stick. |
| | |
| | Press Triangle (menu) whilst highlighting the |
| | Memory Stick to given the option to start a |
| | slideshow or view information about the Memory |
| | Stick. |
| | |
| | Press Triangle (menu) whilst highlighting a |
| | folder to be given the option to start a |
| | slideshow, delete or view further information |
| | about the selected folder. |
| | |
| | Press Triangle (menu) whilst highlighting an |
| | image to be given the option to Display, Delete |
| | or view further information about the selected |
| | image. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 4.5. Network Menu -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Network menu contains functions related to network and internet access. This
menu is only present on operating software v2.0 upwards.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| LocationFree Player | The LocationFree Player allows you to watch TV |
| (operating software v2.5 | at home wirelessly. This requires a base unit |
| upwards) | which currently appears only to be available in |
| | some regions. |
| | |
| RSS Channel (operating | This feature allows you to listen to content |
| software v2.6 upwards) | on the Internet such as news, commentary, etc |
| | that is distributed via a RSS Channel. |
| | Selecting this option when there are no RSS |
| | Channels set up on your PSP will take you to a |
| | website explaining how to use it. |
| | |
| Internet Browser | Opens the Internet Browser, which allows you to |
| (operating software v2.0 | browse websites. |
| upwards) | |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 4.6. Settings Menu -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Settings menu has options for connecting to the Internet to look for new
operating software, the USB connection option for connecting the PSP to a PC
as well as various submenus:
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Network Update | Updates the PSP's operating software (firmware) |
| | over the Internet, using a wireless Internet |
| | connection. If no connections have been set up |
| | in Settings, Network Settings. The Settings, |
| | Network Settings, Infrastructure Wizard will |
| | appear. |
| | |
| USB Connection | Puts the PSP in a mode to communicate with a PC |
| | via a USB cable. To exit this mode, press the |
| | Cross button. |
| | |
| Video Settings | Sub menu. |
| Photo Settings | Sub menu. |
| System Settings | Sub menu. |
| Date and Time Settings | Sub menu. |
| Power Save Settings | Sub menu. |
| Sound Settings | Sub menu. |
| Security Settings | Sub menu. |
| Network Settings | Sub menu. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 4.6.1. Video Settings Submenu -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Video Settings menu contains options that are related to the Video Player.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu LANguage | Changes the LANguage of UMD video menus. |
| | |
| Audio LANguage | Changes the audio LANguage of UMD movies. |
| | |
| Subtitle LANguage | Changes the subtitle LANguage of UMD movies. |
| | |
| UMD Video Volume | Increases the volume of UMD movies (options: |
| | Normal*, +1, +2). |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 4.6.2. Photo Settings Submenu -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Photo Settings menu contains options that are related to the Photo Viewer.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Slideshow Speed | Changes the speed of slideshows (options: Fast, |
| | Normal*, Slow). |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 4.6.3. System Settings Submenu -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The System Settings menu contains settings that generally relate to the PSP.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Nickname | Enter nickname for the PSP. This is used |
| | during multiplayer games. |
| | |
| System Language | Selects the Language of you PSP (options: |
| | English, Japanese, French*, German*, Spanish* |
| | Italian*, Dutch*, Portuguese*, Russion*). |
| | |
| | * Languages only available in operating |
| | software version 1.50 or higher. |
| | |
| Character Set (operating | Selects the default character set encoding for |
| software v2.0 upwards) | web browsing, etc (choices US (437), |
| | Multinational Latin 1 (850), Russion (866), |
| | Japanese Shift-JIS (932), Korean (949)). |
| | |
| Battery Information | Shows battery charge as a percentage, the |
| | estimated remaining play time, the power source |
| | battery or external (mains) and whether the PSP |
| | is currently charging. |
| | |
| Format Memory Stick | Formats a Memory Stick for use in the PSP. |
| | This is required to save photos, music, or |
| | video onto the PSP. |
| | |
| Enable WMA Playback | Displays the terms and conditions for playing |
| (operating software v2.6 | Windows Media Audio (WMA) music files on the |
| upwards) | PSP and upon acceptance enables the PSP to play |
| | them. |
| | |
| Restore Default Settings | Restores the PSP to the factory settings. |
| | |
| System Information | Shows the Media Access Control (MAC) address of |
| | the PSP (which is used as it's unique ID) and |
| | the version of the operating software |
| | (firmware) of the PSP . |
| | |
| About PSP | Shows copyright information. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 4.6.4. Theme Settings Submenu -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Theme Settings menu contains settings that relate to the PSP's theme. This
menu is only present on PSPs running operating software version 2.0 or higher.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Theme (operating software | Selects the theme that your PSP will use |
| v2.0 upwards) | (choices: Original*, 12 different colours that |
| | correspond to the 12 monthly themes on older |
| | PSPs). |
| | |
| Wallpaper (operating | Selects whether you wish to use wallpaper on |
| software v2.0 upwards) | yours PSP (Choices: Do Not Use*, Use). |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 4.6.5. Date and Time Settings Submenu -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Date and Time Settings menu contains options for setting the date and time,
as well as setting the time zone and the format the time and date is shown in.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Date and Time | Sets the date and time. When you select this |
| | option on a PSP running operating software v2.5 |
| | or higher, you will be prompted with the |
| | options "Set Manually" and "Set via Internet", |
| | "Set manually" lets you enter the time as you |
| | would on an earlier model PSP. "Set via |
| | Internet" attempts to update the date and time |
| | via the internet using any infrastructure |
| | connection you have set up. |
| | |
| Date Format | Sets the format for displaying dates on your |
| | PSP (choices: DD/MM/YYYY, MM/DD/YYYY, |
| | YYYY/MM/DD). |
| | |
| Time Format | Sets the format for display time on the PSP |
| | (choices: 12 Hour Clock, 24 Hour Clock*). |
| | |
| Time Zone | Sets the time zone you are currently in. |
| | |
| Daylight Saving | Sets the daylight saving mode for the time zone |
| | you are currently in (choices: Standard*, |
| | Daylight Saving). |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 4.6.6. Power Save Settings Submenu -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Power Save Settings menu contains options related to saving power to
preserve battery life.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Backlight Auto-Off | Sets the period after which the display is |
| | automatically dimmed (choices: off, 2 mins, |
| | 5 mins*, 10 mins). |
| | |
| Auto Sleep | Sets the period after which the PSP |
| | automatically goes to sleep (choices: off, |
| | 5 mins, 10 mins*, 15 mins). |
| | |
| WLAN Power Save | Wireless LAN Power Save Determines whether |
| | your PSP automatically turns wireless network |
| | connections off when inactive (choices: on*, |
| | off). |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 4.6.7. Sound Settings Submenu -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Sound Settings menu contains options related to the PSPs sound output.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| AVLS | [Automatic Volume Limiting System] Limits |
| | the PSP's maximum volume when on (choices: on, |
| | off*). |
| | |
| Key Tone | Sets whether the PSP's buttons "click" when you |
| | press them in the PSP's menu (choices: on*, |
| | off). |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 4.6.8. Security Settings Submenu -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Security Settings menu is used to lock the PSP to prevent adult content
from being used.
See "How does Parental Control work?" in section 6.1 for more information.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Change Password | Changes or sets parental lock password. This |
| | is used in combination with the parental lock |
| | level to stop adult content being played on the |
| | PSP. |
| | |
| Parental Control Level | Changes the parental control level. Off allows |
| | All content to be played, 1 allows the safest |
| | level of content, 11 the maximum (choices: |
| | off*, 1-11) |
| | |
| Internet Browser Start | Sets whether the parental control lock password |
| Control (operating | is required to use the Internet Browser |
| software v2.0 upwards) | (Choices: Off*, On). |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 4.6.9. Network Settings Submenu -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Network Settings menu contains options that are related to connecting
to other PSP's or devices via Wireless Network (Wi-Fi) connections.
See "What are the Wireless networking (Wi-Fi) modes on the PSP and what are
they used for?" in section 6.3 or the more detailed information is section 7 for
more information on the PSP's Wi-Fi functions.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Ad-Hoc Mode | Sets the Wi-Fi channel number for ad-hoc (peer |
| | to peer) connections (choices: Auto*, 1ch, 6ch, |
| | 11ch). You may need to change this in some |
| | cases as some electronics (cordless phones, |
| | etc) interfere with wireless connections. If |
| | you change this setting from Auto, then you |
| | will only be able to find PSP's with the same |
| | channel or PSP's set to Auto. |
| | |
| Infrastructure Mode | Starts a wizard for setting up and managing |
| | Wi-fi connections. You can configure multiple |
| | connections to different wireless networks from |
| | this option. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
* indicates default settings
================================================================================
= 5. Music/Video Players, Photo Viewer and Internet Browser =
================================================================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 5.1. Video Player -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Video Player is used to play MP4 videos from the Memory Stick and the UMD
drive.
The menu and controls are similar to the PS2's DVD playback options. During
playback you can press select to pause playback and use the PSP's main menu -
however, as soon as you select anything from the main menu, playback will stop
fully.
Controls:
Please note: The use of the Cross (X) and Circle (O) buttons are shown below as
they are used on Asian versions of the PSP, other regions reverse the use of
these two buttons.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Button | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| L | Return to the beginning of clip. |
| Triangle | Menu. |
| Circle | Play. |
| Cross | Stop. |
| Start | Play/Pause. |
| > | Fast Forward. |
| < | Fast Reverse. |
| Hold | Locks the PSP's buttons. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Menu:
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Go To | Prompts for time index to go to. |
| | |
| Screen Mode | Changes screen mode (choices: Normal*, Zoom, |
| | Full Screen, Original). |
| | |
| Display | Toggles display of filename, date/time and |
| | playback progress). |
| | |
| Help | Shows playback control help. |
| Return to Beginning | Returns to beginning of clip. |
| Fast Reverse | Fast reverse. |
| Fast Forward | Fast forward. |
| Slow Motion | Slow motion playback. |
| Frame Advance | Moves forward one frame at a time. |
| Play | Starts/resumes normal playback. |
| Pause | Pauses playback. |
| Stop | Stops playback. |
| Repeat | Enables repeat mode. |
| Clear | Clears repeat mode. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
* indicates default settings
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 5.2. Music Player and RSS Channel Player -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Music Player is used to play MP3, Atrac and WMA (operating software
(firmware) v2.6 upwards) music from the Memory Stick and the UMD drive.
The RSS Player allows you to listen to content on the Internet such as news,
commentary, etc that is distributed via a RSS Channel.
The menu and controls are similar to the PS2's DVD playback options. During
playback you can press select to use the PSP's main menu while the music
continues to play - however, as soon as you select anything from the main menu,
playback will stop.
Controls:
Please note: The use of the Cross (X) and Circle (O) buttons are shown below as
they are used on Asian versions of the PSP, other regions reverse the use of
these two buttons.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Button | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| L | Previous track. |
| R | Next track. |
| Triangle | Menu. |
| Circle | Play. |
| Cross | Stop. |
| Start | Play/Pause. |
| > | Fast Forward. |
| < | Fast Reverse. |
| Hold | Locks the PSP's buttons. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Menu:
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Previous Group | Previous folder/album. |
| Next Group | Next folder/album. |
| Next Track | Next track. |
| Previous Track | Previous track. |
| Fast Reverse | Fast reverse. |
| Fast Forward | Fast forward. |
| Play | Starts/resumes normal playback. |
| Pause | Pauses playback. |
| Stop | Stops playback. |
| Group Mode | Unknown. |
| A-B Repeat | Repeats of portion of a track between chosen |
| | points A and B. |
| | |
| P. Mode | [Playback Mode] Enables repeat and shuffle |
| | modes (options: Normal*, Repeat Once, Repeat, |
| | Shuffle, Shuffle-Repeat). |
| | |
| Clear | Clears repeat and shuffle mode. |
| | |
| Display | Toggles display of album name, track number and |
| | playback progress). |
| | |
| Help | Shows playback control help. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
* indicates default settings
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 5.3. Photo Viewer -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Photo Viewer is used to view photos and other image files from the Memory
Stick and the UMD drive. Images can be viewed either by browsing through them,
or as a slideshow.
The menu and controls are similar to the PS2's DVD playback options.
Controls:
Please note: The use of the Cross (X) and Circle (O) buttons are shown below as
they are used on Asian versions of the PSP, other regions reverse the use of
these two buttons.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Button | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| L | Previous image. |
| R | Next image. |
| Square | Slideshow options. |
| Triangle | Menu. |
| Circle | Start slideshow/Clear zoom. |
| Cross | Back/Stop. |
| Start | Start Slideshow/Pause. |
| Analog Nub | Control Movement. |
| Square+Analog Nub | Zoom In, Zoom Out. |
| Square+L | Rotate Left. |
| Square+R | Rotate Right. |
| Hold | Locks the PSP's buttons. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Menu:
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Set as Wallpaper | Sets the current image as the wallpaper image, |
| (operating software v2.0 | which can be enabled from the Theme Settings |
| upwards) | menu. |
| | |
| Slideshow Options | During slideshow: shows information about the |
| | slideshow in progress. |
| | |
| View Mode | Changes the view mode (options: Normal*, Zoom). |
| | |
| Display | Toggles display of filename, number date/time |
| | and a thumbnail image. |
| | |
| Help | Shows playback control help. |
| Clear Zoom | Not during slideshow. Resets to normal zoom. |
| Zoom Out | Not during slideshow. Zooms out. |
| Zoom In | Not during slideshow. Zooms in. |
| | |
| Rotate Left | Not during slideshow. Rotates the image left |
| | 90 degrees. |
| | |
| Rotate Right | Not during slideshow. Rotates the image right |
| | 90 degrees. |
| | |
| Up | Not during slideshow. Pans (Scrolls) the image |
| | upwards. |
| | |
| Down | Not during slideshow. Pans (Scrolls) the image |
| | downwards. |
| | |
| Left | Not during slideshow. Pans (Scrolls) the image |
| | left. |
| | |
| Right | Not during slideshow. Pans (Scrolls) the image |
| | right. |
| | |
| Previous | Previous image. |
| Next | Next image. |
| Slideshow | Not during slideshow. Starts slideshow. |
| Play | During slideshow. Play/resume slideshow. |
| Pause | During slideshow. Pause slideshow. |
| Stop | During slideshow. Stops slideshow. |
| Repeat | During slideshow. Enables repeats mode |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
* indicates default settings
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 5.4. Internet Browser -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Internet Browser is used to view webpages using a wireless internet
connection.
Controls:
Please note: The use of the Cross (X) and Circle (O) buttons are shown below as
they are used on Asian versions of the PSP, other regions reverse the use of
these two buttons.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Button | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| L | Back. |
| R | Forwards |
| Triangle | Menu. |
| Circle | Enter/Open Links. |
| Circle (Hold) | Open in Different Tab. |
| Cross | Close Internet Browser. |
| Start | Start Slideshow/Pause. |
| Analog Nub | Move "mouse" pointer. |
| D-Pad | Move pointer to next/previous link. |
| Square+Analog Nub | Scroll. |
| Square+D-Pad | Scroll Page. |
| Square+L | Previous Tab. |
| Square+R | Next Tab. |
| Hold | Locks the PSP's buttons. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Menu:
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Menu Option | Function |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| File | Contains options for entering the address of a |
| | page to visit, saving a page or link, viewing |
| | information about the current page and closing |
| | the Internet Browser. |
| | |
| Back | Returns you to the previous page you were |
| | viewing. |
| | |
| Forward | Allows you to go forward to the page you were |
| | viewing, before you selected Back. |
| | |
| Refresh | Forces the current page to be reloaded from the |
| | Internet. |
| | |
| Home | Takes you to your "home" page. This is the |
| | page that appears when you open the Internet |
| | Browser. |
| | |
| Bookmarks | Allows you to managed your "bookmarked" |
| | (favorite) pages. Use Bookmarks, My Bookmarks, |
| | Add to Bookmarks to add a new bookmark. |
| | |
| History | Shows a list of webpages you've visited |
| | recently. |
| | |
| | Press Triangle (menu) whilst highlighting a |
| | recent page to be given the option to Open, |
| | Delete or view further information about the |
| | selected page. At the top of this menu is the |
| | Delete All option to completely clear the |
| | history. |
| | |
| View | Contains options to make text larger or smaller |
| | as well as change the way pages are laid out |
| | on the PSPs screen. You can also change the |
| | character encoding here if you are trying to |
| | view a page with a different language character |
| | set. |
| | |
| Tools | This menu contains two things: |
| | |
| | 1) Settings - this contains various settings |
| | you may wish to change, including your home |
| | page, view settings, cookie settings, etc. |
| | |
| | 2) various tools to clean up the browser's |
| | environment, including Cookies, Cache, input |
| | history, etc. |
| | |
| Help | Shows Internet Browser help. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
================================================================================
= 6. Frequently Asked Questions =
================================================================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 6.1. General -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. Can I play games from other regions on my PSP (for example Japanese games on
an American PSP)?
A. Sony have stated that games will not be region coded, but UMD video/audio
content will be. It has been confirmed that current games are not region
locked. However UMD Movies are region locked.
---
Q. What kind of memory card does the PSP require?
A. The PSP requires a Sony Memory Stick Duo or Sony Memory Stick PRO Duo.
Memory Stick Duo's are supplied in various capacities up to 128MB. Memory
Stick PRO Duo supports higher capacity (for example 512MB - 1GB PRO Duo's
are available). It is also possible to use non-Sony branded Memory Sticks
(such as Sandisk) as long as they are either Memory Stick Duo or Memory
Stick PRO Duo.
Please Note: There are rumours that the Sony Memory Stick PRO Duo's marked
"High Speed" may not work properly with the PSP at the present time.
---
Q. What is the average battery life of the PSP?
A. Various sources have shown the battery life of the PSP to be between 4-6
hours, depending on what brightness you run the screen at, what game is being
played, and other factors. Japanese PSP's come with approximately 30% charge.
The battery does not reach full capacity until it has been charged and
discharged a few times.
The following battery test results are included courtesy of Corbie33:
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Game | Conditions | Battery Life |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Ridge Racers | Highest Brightness, Max Volume | 5 hrs 8 mins |
| Ridge Racers | Medium Brightness, 3/4 Volume | 5 hrs 52 mins |
| Ridge Racers | Low Brightness, 1/2 Volume | 6 hrs 24 mins |
| | | |
| Hot Shots Golf | Highest Brightness, Max Volume | 5 hrs 40 mins |
| Hot Shots Golf | Medium Brightness, 3/4 Volume | 6 hrs 31 mins |
| Hot Shots Golf | Low Brightness, 1/2 Volume | 7 hrs 27 mins |
| | | |
| Lumines | Highest Brightness, Max Volume | 5 hrs 3 mins |
| Lumines | Medium Brightness, 3/4 Volume | 5 hrs 48 mins |
| Lumines | Low Brightness, 1/2 Volume | 6 hrs 27 mins |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
---
Q. Does the PSP play DVDs?
A. No, the PSP is too small to fit DVDs into, instead Sony intend to release
movies on Universal Media Disks (UMD) Disks (the small disks that the PSP
uses). Additionally, it is also possible to convert DVDs or other video to
play from the PSP's Memory Stick. See "How do I put video files on my PSP?"
in section 6.3 for more information.
---
Q. Does the PSP play PS1 or PS2 games?
A. Neither, for the same reason it can't play DVDs - the PSP is too small to
fit CDs or DVDs into.
---
Q. If I import a Japanese PSP, can I make the menus display in English.
A. When you first turn on the PSP, a wizard will walk you through LANguage,
date and time and naming the PSP. Games will continue to display in whatever
LANguage they were designed to. If the wizard is skipped for some reason,
see "How do I make my Japanese PSP show the PSP main menu in English?" in
section 6.2.
---
Q. I'm in the UK, if I import a Japanese/American PSP, what do I need to
charge it?
A. Step Down converters that convert the 240v UK power supply to an 110v
US/Japanese supply are easily available from many electrical suppliers such
as Maplin Electronics (www.maplin.co.uk), however there is an easier solution.
The PSP power supply has a small "block" that takes a "figure of eight" power
cable, the same as the PS2, Xbox and many small appliances such as DVD players.
Simply plug one of these cables into the PSP's power supply and your problem is
solved. This solution should also work for other countries that use a 240v
system.
WARNING: Before attempting this, ensure that the power supply for your PSP is
marked "110 - 240V".
---
Q. How does Parental Control work?
A. The Parental Control works in a similar way to a DVD player. A code
(effectively a PIN number) is set on the PSP and a Parental Control Level
between 1-11 (or off). 1 is the most restricted mode, 11 is the open open.
Any content that is higher than the current level is shown as "Restricted
Content". This includes Games and Save Data. If a game or movie is played
this is of a higher Parental Control level, then the PSP will prompt for the
PIN before playback will start.
---
Q. Are there any differences between the US and Japanese PSP's?
A. The following differences have been observed, however I have not been able
to confirm that some of these changes are not also present in the Japanese
v1.50 Operating Software (firmware) update:
* When you go to turn the PSP off the power light will blink twice. If you
release the switch during that blinking the unit goes into sleep mode, if you
continue to hold until the blinking stops then it goes completely off.
* When you exit a game using the Home button and start moving around the menu
the screen no longer diverts back to the UMD as it comes up on the menu.
* Certain clock display problems have been corrected (midday showing as 0:00 on
the home screen).
* The Square button feels significantly better.
Thanks to Corbie33 for the information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 6.2. Usage -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. How do I make my Japanese PSP show the PSP main menu in English?
A. If you missed the wizard when you first used the PSP then follow the
following instructions:
Turn on your PSP with no UMD in the drive, use the d-pad to move to the
left most icon (it looks like a bit like a briefcase). Move down to the 5th
icon down (looks like a PSP with a spanner on the top-left) and press Circle.
Finally cursor down to the second option, press Circle, select "English" and
press Circle again.
---
Q. Why have my PSP's menus changed colour?
A. The PSP's menu changes colour every month according to the PSP's time and
date settings. The colours are:
January: Light Grey
February: Light Yellow
March: Light Green
April: Pink
May: Green
June: Light Purple
July: Cyan/Light Blue
August: Blue
September: Purple
October: Yellow
November: Brown
December: Red
Please note: There have been some reports that the PSP does not properly change
the menu colour if the PSP is asleep over the month change. This is apparently
automatically corrected once the PSP has been turned off, or a game played.
If you have operating software v2.0 upwards, you can change the theme colour
manually in the Theme Menu.
---
Q. What is sleep mode and how do I use it?
A. If you slide the power button up and release (eg. what people would expect
to do to turn the PSP off) then the PSP will enter sleep mode. The screen,
speakers, UMD drive, etc are turned off, but whatever game you were playing,
etc is still in Memory. When you wake the PSP back up (turn on as normal),
then you will be exactly where you were.
Apparently the US PSP also has the following extra feature: When you go to
turn the PSP off the power light will blink twice. If you release the
switch during that blinking the unit goes into sleep mode, if you continue
to hold until the blinking stops then it goes completely off.
Thanks to Corbie33 for the US PSP power off information.
---
Q. How do I turn the PSP fully off?
A. To turn the PSP off fully, simply hold the power button up until the screen
turns off. The power light will turn off after a few seconds. Note: There is
no need to hold the power button until the power light goes off.
Apparently the US PSP also has the following extra feature: When you go to
turn the PSP off the power light will blink twice. If you release the
switch during that blinking the unit goes into sleep mode, if you continue
to hold until the blinking stops then it goes completely off.
Thanks to Corbie33 for the US PSP power off information.
---
Q. What does the Home button do?
A. Pressing the Home at any point whilst a game is running will show the
current date/time, battery indicator and volume. You will also be asked if
you wish to quit the current game and go back to the PSP's main menu.
---
Q. What does the "Screen" button do?
A. The Screen button toggles between the 3 brightness settings for the screen.
A 4th brightness level (brightest) is available when the PSP is attached to the
mains power. Also holding the Screen button down whilst using the audio player
will turn the screen off entirely.
---
Q. What does the "Sound" button do?
A. The Sound button switches between EQ settings whilst in the PSP's main
menu, video or audio players. The EQ Settings are Off, Heavy, Pops, Jazz and
Unique. If you have the EQ enabled and remove your headphones, the PSP
automatically returns the EQ setting to Off. Also holding the Sound button
down will mute the PSP.
---
Q. What does the "Hold" switch do?
A. The Hold switch works like a CD/Tape/Minidisk player and locks all the PSP's
buttons to stop buttons from being accidently pressed whilst the PSP is in your
pocket. This is most useful during music, video or photo playback/viewing so
I've mentioned the Hold switch in those sections.
---
Q. What does the "Wi-Fi"/"WLAN" switch do?
A. The wireless networking features of the PSP cannot be used unless this
switch is in the on position. Turning this switch off not only saves battery
life, but also prevents your PSP sending signals that may not be permitted in
certain areas (hospitals, etc).
---
Q. What does Game Sharing do?
A. This feature is similar to the "single cartrige multiplayer" feature of
some Nintendo Gameboy Advance and Nintendo DS games.
The person with the cartrige chooses the option to play a multiplayer game
with game sharing. The people wanting to join the game select Game Sharing
from their Game menu, which will search for available games to join.
Once the players choose a session to join, a limited version of the game
will be downloaded to them and they will join the game.
---
Q. Why is there a Saved Data Utility and a Memory Stick option in the Game
menu?
A. Thie feature appears designed to run games or game demos from the Memory
Stick. At the time of writing, the only official use for this feature is to
run operating software (firmware) updates after they have been downloaded.
It is unknown at this time what other usage Sony intend to make of this
feature.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 6.3. Connectivity -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. What are the Wireless networking (Wi-Fi) modes on the PSP and what are they
used for?
A. The PSP supports two types of Wi-Fi connections - Ad-hoc and Infrastructure.
For more information see section 7.
---
Q. What wireless networking specifications does the PSP adhere to?
A. The PSP uses 802.11b for it's wireless networking.
---
Q. Is the PSP compatible with 802.11g or 802.11a?
A. 802.11g is backwards compatible with 802.11b, however the PSP will not
benefit from the increased speed the 802.11g offers. It is also possible
to disable 802.11b support on many 802.11g devices, so you should check that
802.11b support is not turned off on any 802.11g devices you use with the PSP.
Since 802.11b/g are not compatible with 802.11a, the PSP will not work with
802.11a devices.
---
Q. Is the PSP compatible with Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)?
A. PSPs running operating software v2.0 upwards are compatible with WPA,
earlier versions are not, and you should upgrade your operating software at
your earliest convenience in order to make it compatible.
---
Q. What is the Network Update option for?
A. The PSP is capable of updating itself over the internet. To do this
you must have access to a wireless 802.11b network that provides internet
access. Update are downloaded to your PSP's Memory Stick then are executed
from the Memory Stick using the Game, Memory Stick option. To set this up, see
"How do I set up my PSP to pick up Network Updates?"
---
Q. Does the US PSP have newer operating software (firmware) than the Japanese
PSP?
A. Original Japanese PSP's were shipped with firmware version 1.00, however
there is a firmware update available to bring it into line with the version
shipped on US Launch PSP's (version 1.50). Despite the version number, the
changes appear to be minor, except the inclusion of European language support.
Unit's purchased after launch seem to be running firmware that is reasonably
current, but often not the latest. If you have just purchased a new PSP, its
well worth checking if there is updated firmware for it at your first
opportunity.
---
Q. How do I set up my PSP to pick up Network Updates?
A. Select Settings, Network Settings option on the PSP, then select
Infrastructure Mode. You will be presented with a wizard that will assist you
in setting up a connection to a wireless network.
For more information see section 7.
---
Q. Can I browse the internet or pick up my email on my PSP?
A. PSPs running operating software v2.0 upwards have a fully functional
internet browser, but no email capability. Users of earlier version PSPs
should update their operating software at their earliest convenience if this
feature is required.
---
Q. Can I play games over the Internet with my PSP?
A. Sony have not unveiled their pLANs for internet play yet. However it is
possible to play multiplayer PSP games over the internet using "Tunnelling"
software. The best known product to use for this at this time is XLink Kai
(www.teamxlink.co.uk).
For more information see section 7.
---
Q. How do I get music files, photos or video onto the Memory Stick?
A. The easiest way would be to use a USB cable (see "What kind of USB cable
does the PSP require?"), but it should also be possible with a USB Memory
Stick Reader.
---
Q. What kind of USB cable does the PSP require?
A. The USB connector on the PSP is a 5 pin "Mini B" type connector. This cable
is used by some digital cameras and should be reasonably easily available.
---
Q. How do I connect the PSP to my PC?
A. Simply plug the USB cable into the PSP and then PC, power the PSP on
without a UMD in the drive and select Settings, USB Connection. The PSP
will now be detected by Windows as a removable drive. Please note: Windows
2000 upwards detects and supports Removable drives like the PSP without the
need to install any additional software (e.g. a Device Driver), however Windows
98 will prompt for a device driver when the PSP is connected. Since the PSP
does not come supplied with any PC software, at the time of writing it is not
possible to connect a PSP to a Windows 98 or older PC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 6.4. Multimedia -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. How do I put music files on my PSP?
A. With the PSP properly connected to your PC (see "How do I connect the PSP
to my PC?" in section 6.3), there should be a "removable drive" in My Computer.
Simply drag individual files or folders full of MP3, Atrac or WMA (operating
software (firmware) v2.6 or higher) files to the \PSP\MUSIC folder of this
drive. Your files will appear under the Music, Memory Stick option of the PSP.
Please note that MP3 playlists (not sure about Atrac) need to be in the same
folder as the files they are associated with. The PSP will automatically
display them at the same level as the folder.
---
Q. How do I put photos/image files on my PSP?
A. With the PSP properly connected to your PC (see "How do I connect the PSP
to my PC?" in section 6.3), there should be a "removable drive" in My Computer.
Simply drag individual files or folders full of image files to the \PSP\PHOTOS
folder of this drive. Your files will appear under the Photo, Memory Stick
option of the PSP.
---
Q. How do I put video files on my PSP?
A. Video files must be converted before they can be placed on a PSP. See
"How do I convert video files to play on the PSP?" for more information.
With the PSP properly connected to your PC (see "How do I connect the PSP
to my PC?" in section 6.3), there should be a "removable drive" in My Computer.
Simply drag individual files to the \MP_ROOT\100MNV01\ folder of this drive.
Your files will appear under the Video, Memory Stick option of the PSP. Files
must be named M4Vxxxxx.mp4 (where xxxxx is a number between 00001 and 99999).
It may necessary to create the \MP_ROOT\100MNV01\ folder to place
the converted video file(s) in. Note, this folder must be created outside the
\PSP folder.
---
Q. How do I convert video files to play on the PSP?
A. You need to convert files to the appropriate format (MP4) for them to play
on the PSP. Sony are releasing tools to do this, but there are
also 3rd party tools that work very well such as "3GP Converter". With some
converters, it may necessary to create the \MP_ROOT\100MNV01\ folder to place
the converted video file(s) in. Note, this folder must be created outside the
\PSP folder. Files must be named M4Vxxxxx.mp4 (where xxxxx is a number between
00001 and 99999).
For more information see either JustChillin's excellent "MP4 Movie Conversion
FAQ" (GameFAQs at
http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/psp/game/918340.html) or
http://video2PSP.com.
---
Q. If a DVD movie is between 4GB and 9GB, how will a full movie fit on the PSP?
A. When you convert a video file to play on the PSP, it is converted to a lower
resolution than that of a DVD. This is because the PSP's screen is much
smaller than a TV screen. The converted file is therefore MUCH smaller than a
DVD and can be easily placed on a 512MB or 1GB Memory Stick PRO Duo.
The typical size of a two hour movie appears to be around 300-350MB, whilst a
22 min anime/tv episode comes in at somewhere between 95-150MB depending on the
settings you use. I've had particular success with Anime, converting episodes
with everything except the next episode preview to about 95MB an episode.
Thanks to Junbo for providing me with info on file sizes.
---
Q. Can I put anything else on the PSP?
A. You can use the PSP as a portable hard drive, as long as you don't interfere
with the folders the PSP created when you formatted the Memory Stick. Simply
create a folder on the root of the drive and copy your files into it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 6.5. Emulation and Homebrew Software -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following section is purely for informative purposes. The author does not
condone or recommend hacking, reverse engineering or any other process required
to run unauthorised software on the Sony PSP, nor has the author ever actually
attempted to run unauthorised software on his PSPs.
Q. Can you run games for other systems or software not authorised by Sony on
the PSP (emulators and homebrew software)?
A. The PSP, as standard, requires all software operating on it to be authorised
by Sony. Various methods have been used to bypass this and run "unsigned"
applications on the PSP. However, Sony frequently update the PSP operating
software (firmware) to close these loopholes.
---
Q. How to Sony enforce PSP owners use newer operating software (firmware)?
A. In order to play newer games, you are forced to use newer operating software,
this ensures that games can take advantage of all the newer featres of the
PSP, as well as a method of forcing people to update their PSPs to fix bugs and
close security loopholes.
---
Q. Are there any downsides to using unauthorised software on the PSP?
A. Yes, if you wish to run unauthorised software on your PSP, you must avoid
updating the operating software on your PSP until updated versions of any
software you use have been released. If you update your PSPs operating
software your unauthorised software may stop working until another loophole
had been found to make it work.
This may mean you cannot play the latest PSP games or take advantage of the
latest PSP features.
---
Q. Can you recommend any unauthorised software or help me get it working?
A. No, I'm sorry, my PSPs are always updated to the latest operating software
available, as I prefer to have no issues with the newest games, along with the
most current bug-fixes and new features available from Sony.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 6.6. Alleged Faults -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q. Does the PSP really launch it's disks (UMDs) during normal use?
A. Under normal use the PSP does not eject the UMD disk being played. The
video circulating the internet purporting to show this shows undue pressure
being applied to the PSP, whilst the PSP is being aimed downwards. Since the
PSP pops the disk up (like a Sony Minidisk player), when aimed downwards, the
UMD disk drops out of the slot. Please note: If the UMD disk IS, for any
reason ejected whilst in use, the PSP simply pauses the game as if you had
pressed the Home button (see "What does the Home button do?" in section 6.2)
whilst you put the disk back in and continue play.
---
Q. Does the PSP's battery only last 90 minutes?
A. No, the PSP's battery lasts between 4-6 hours. See "What is the average
battery life of the PSP? in section 6.1 for more information. For the sake of
simplicity, I have included the test results that Corbie33 provided here also:
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Game | Conditions | Battery Life |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Ridge Racers | Highest Brightness, Max Volume | 5 hrs 8 mins |
| Ridge Racers | Medium Brightness, 3/4 Volume | 5 hrs 52 mins |
| Ridge Racers | Low Brightness, 1/2 Volume | 6 hrs 24 mins |
| | | |
| Hot Shots Golf | Highest Brightness, Max Volume | 5 hrs 40 mins |
| Hot Shots Golf | Medium Brightness, 3/4 Volume | 6 hrs 31 mins |
| Hot Shots Golf | Low Brightness, 1/2 Volume | 7 hrs 27 mins |
| | | |
| Lumines | Highest Brightness, Max Volume | 5 hrs 3 mins |
| Lumines | Medium Brightness, 3/4 Volume | 5 hrs 48 mins |
| Lumines | Low Brightness, 1/2 Volume | 6 hrs 27 mins |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------+
---
Q. Does the PSP suffer from errors reading disks or crashing?
A. The PSP, like all systems that use optical media (CD/DVD/UMD/etc)
occasionally suffers from not being able to read the disk. This usually seems
to be caused by dirt on the disk surface. Simply turning the unit off and then
on again corrects the problem. The very few crashes I have experienced are
certainly within normal expectations for a piece of equipment this powerful and
complex.
Please note that even cartridge based systems are not immune to this behaviour,
however in their case the symptom is usually that the system will not recognise
the cartridge at all.
---
Q. I've heard about "dead pixels". What are they and does the PSP suffer
from them?
A. Every pixel on an LCD screen is comprised of a Red, Green and Blue
sub-pixel. If one or more of these sub-pixels become stuck either on or
off, then the colour of the pixel is displayed incorrectly. "dead pixels" can
be various colours, (black, red, blue, green, etc) depending on what
combination of sub-pixels has failed.
Sadly, "dead pixels" are a common problem with LCD screens and all products
that use them (laptops/LCD monitors/portable games consoles/etc) suffer these
faults. Manufacturers usually specify a number of "dead pixels" that is
acceptable before the unit is considered faulty. This is usually between 3 and
5.
If you think you have a black dead pixel, it is possible that it is dust under
the screen. See "Can dust get under the screen of the PSP? If so, how do I
avoid it?" for more information.
---
Q. Can dust get under the screen of the PSP? If so, how do I avoid it?
A. I have not personally encountered this (yet), however other users have
reported that dust specs tend to look like dead pixels and are only visible
against very light colours or white. If you view the screen at another angle,
it may be no longer visible, unlike dead pixels that are visible at any viewing
angle.
I assume that the dust is entering the unit from around the buttons (particulary
the L & R buttons as there is a noticable buildup of dust around these buttons)
and I don't see any other likely point of entry.
Time will tell how serious a problem this is and the best ways of avoiding this
issue. I will update this section once more information is known.
Thanks to Corbie33 for the information on this issue.
---
Q. Is there a design fault with any of the PSP's buttons?
A. There appears to be an "irregularity" in the board design as the contact
for the Square button is not fully in line with the actual button. Some users
have reported that the button feels slightly different (more clicky). Some
users have also reported that their L & R triggers stick for a second if you
press them at the extreme edge, rather than the centre. This is sometimes
accompanied by a loud click.
This appears to be a minor problem, despite many owners extensively using the
square button in titles like Dynasty Warriors or Darkstalkers Chronicle. Sony
have recently admitted that 0.6% of Japanese PSP's have problems with the square
button sticking and will replace any unit that exhibits this problem.
================================================================================
= 7. Wireless Networking =
================================================================================
After reading the overview, check the following section depending on what you
are trying to set up. If you need more help with networking terms, see section
7.7 for a short glossary.
if you are trying to set up...
..your PSP to play multiplayer games on-line, see section 7.6
..your PSP to play on-line games, see section 7.3
..Internet access on your PSP through a hotspot, see section 7.3
..your PC as a hotspot, see section 7.4
..your router or wireless router as a hotspot, see section 7.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 7.1. Overview (What are the PSP's Wi-Fi Modes used for?) -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wi-Fi is a general term applied to wireless networking using a networking
standard known as 802.11b. The PSP supports two Wireless Networking (Wi-Fi)
modes, called "Ad-Hoc" and "Infrastructure".
Ad-hoc mode is for multiplayer games, Infrastructure mode is for internet
access for playing games designed to be played on-line (on-line games) or
general internet access.
Note: Normal multiplayer games are NOT the same as games designed to be played
over the internet (on-line games). Playing multiplayer games over the internet
does NOT require the same setup as playing games designed to be played on-line.
See below for more detailed expLANations of each mode.
Ad-hoc mode
-----------
Used for: Multiplayer games, Possibly file sharing between PSP (in future).
Ad-hoc mode is for quick temporary connections between peers (i.e. multiple
PSPs, multiple PCs). Ad-hoc connections don't need detailed information to be
configured prior to the connection being made and are similar to a Bluetooth
connection between cellphones.
Since Ad-hoc mode is convenient for quick, temporary connections, multiplayer
PSP games use ad-hoc mode. After all, you don't want to have to go creating
network connections everything you play a multiplayer game with your mates, so
ad-hoc is the way to go.
Infrastructure mode
-------------------
Used for: Playing on-line games, internet access (browsing, listening to
RSS distributed content, downloading, operating software (firmware) Updates).
Infrastructure mode is for more formal connections, like connecting to the
internet. You must set up a connection to the network your wish to
access. This type of connection is the kind used in "hotspots", places that
have special hardware available for public connection. Common locations for
hotspots are cafes, hotels, malls, libraries, etc.
Infrastructure mode can be used update the PSPs operating software (firmware),
browse the internet (operating software v2.0 or higher), listen to RSS
distributed content (operating software v2.6 or higher) or play some
multiplayer games online.
It is quite simple to create your own hotspot, all you need is a broadband
internet connection (depending upon your configuration dial-up may work, but
performance would not be adequate to play games) and either an Access Point +
Windows PC, a Wireless Router or a Router + Access Point. Some methods for
creating your own hotspot are discussed in section 7.4 and 7.5.
Tunnelling
----------
Used for: playing multiplayer games which were not designed for internet play
on-line.
Tunnelling can be used to transport ad-hoc connections via the internet to other
PSPs. This is totally different from an infrastructure connection because:
1) The PSP doesn't know its happening, as far as the PSP is aware, the ad-hoc
connection is between two or more PSPs within normal operating range.
2) The PSP isn't connected to the internet.
3) Another device (in this case a PC running special software) is used to
intercept he PSPs ad-hoc connection and relay it over the internet to the
other players, who must have a similar setup.
Because the PSP doesn't know it's connection is being tunnelled, ANY
multiplayer PSP game can be played over the internet. The downside of this is
that the PSP thinks the game is being played by users in the PSPs normal
operating range and therefore will not handle connection problems (i.e. Lag)
as well as a game that is designed to be played on-line.
Some methods for configuring your PC for tunnelling are discussed in section
7.6.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 7.2. Configuring Ad-hoc connections on the PSP -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
None. PSP Ad-hoc connections by their very nature do not require any form of
setup by the user.
The only setting of is the Wi-Fi channel number in Settings, Network Settings,
Ad-hoc Mode. This should only be changed if you are experiencing interference
from other equipment or the channel you are using is not permitted in your
current location (different channels are permitted in different territories).
If you are wishing to play a multiplayer game on-online (tunnelling) an ad-hoc
connection, see section 7.6.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 7.3. Configuring Infrastructure connections on the PSP -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The PSP can support multiple Infrastructure connections, so you can have one
for home, work, etc.
To configure a new Infrastructure connection on your PSP, go to Settings,
Network Settings, Infrastructure Mode and select "-New Connection-". A wizard
will appear that will walk you through the set up (use Left/Right on the d-pad
to move back/forward through the steps).
The following table contains some of the things you may be asked and what they
refer to. Some of these settings may look daunting, but you can ignore them
in most cases, unless you have been told what to enter in them by the hotspot
provider or network administrator:
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Setting | Description |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Connection Name | Enter the name that you wish the |
| | connection to be known by. This has no |
| | relationship to the connection itself, but |
| | simply exists so that you know what the |
| | connection was created for. |
| | |
| SSID/Encryption/WEP Key | Many Wireless LANs transmit their SSID |
| | (network ID) to identify themselves, |
| | others do not. If you select "Scan", your |
| | PSP will list all the SSIDs it can find |
| | for you to select. If not, enter the SSID |
| | of the Wireless LAN you wish to connect to |
| | in the SSID field. |
| | |
| | In the Encryption field, either select |
| | "None" or "WEP" depending on whether the |
| | Wireless LAN you wish to connect to is |
| | using WEP encryption. |
| | |
| | If you selected WEP encryption, then you |
| | will be prompted for the WEP key. Simply |
| | enter the WEP key of the Access Point or |
| | Router you wish to connect to. |
| | |
| Address Settings/IP Address/ | Select "Easy" if you wish your PSP to |
| Net Mask/DNS | attempt to automatically configure it's |
| | TCP/IP networking settings. "Easy" should |
| | be chosen in most cases. Select "Custom" |
| | if you wish to manually configure the |
| | the PSP's TCP/IP settings. |
| | |
| | If you selected "Custom" in "Address |
| | Settings", you will be asked if you want |
| | to get a IP Address automatically, |
| | manually or via PPPoE. Select "Automatic" |
| | to let the PSP automatically get an |
| | address (if possible), or "Manual" if you |
| | want to assign the PSPs address manually. |
| | If you select "Automatic", then you will |
| | be asked if you wish to get DNS settings |
| | Automatically or Manually. |
| | |
| | If you opted for Manual addresses then you |
| | will be asked for the PSPs IP Address, Net |
| | Mask, Default Router, Primary and |
| | Secondary DNS Servers. If you opted for |
| | Manual DNS then you will be asked for the |
| | Primary and Secondary DNS Servers. Note, |
| | you do not have to specify both Primary |
| | and Secondary DNS Servers, just Primary |
| | will do if you only have one DNS server |
| | address. |
| | |
| Proxy Server | If you are behind a proxy server or |
| | firewall, you may need to enter the IP |
| | address of the Proxy server or hardware |
| | firewall, as well as the Port number it |
| | requires requests addressed to. If you |
| | are not behind a Proxy, then you can |
| | select "Do Not Use". |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
You will be presented with a settings list for you to check. Simply press
Right one more time, then Circle to save your connection.
After the connection has been saved, you will be offered the option of testing
it. Select Test Connection to let the PSP attempt to connect to the network
and access the internet.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 7.4. Configuring your PC with an access point as a hotspot -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Requirements
------------
* Windows 2000 or XP PC with a broadband internet connection.
* Available network adapter to plug access point into.
* 802.11b/g Access Point. I recommend the Linksys WAP54G Access Point
(
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=35&prid=608)
* Ethernet crossover cable long enough to reach from your PC to the
access point. This may come supplied with your access point.
Administrative rights are required to perform this procedure.
WARNING: This method should not be used if your PC is connecting to a router or
other residential gateway. If you are using a router then you should see
section 7.5 for how to configure either a wireless router or router + access
point.
WARNING: This method should not be used if your PC is connected to a Domain as
the wizard will break your connection with the domain. Domains are only used if
you have one or more Windows NT/2000/2003 servers, therefore this should only
apply to business laptops or business networks. You can check whether your PC
is connected to a domain by looking at the Computer Name tab of System
Properties (Control Panel, System).
Setup the hardware
------------------
Connect one end of the crossover cable into the PCs available network card and
the other end into the access point.
Configuring Windows
-------------------
Run the Network Setup Wizard on the Windows PC to configure it as a software
router. This wizard can be found in Control Panel, Network Connections and is
accessed either by selecting “Set up a home or small office network” from the
task panel, or by selecting File, Network Setup Wizard.
Technical note: The "Network Setup Wizard" in Windows will configure the network
card with the access point connected to the address 192.168.0.1, subnet
255.255.255.0 and will provide internet access, DHCP and DNS services to any
devices that attaches to it (via cabled or wireless network).
The following table contains an overview of the steps of the wizard, as well as
the answers I recommend choosing:
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Step | Description |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Step 1-2 | The first two steps of the wizard will |
| | describe the wizard’s purpose and show a |
| | checklist that you should read thoroughly |
| | before continuing. It is possible that |
| | that you will be warned about network |
| | adapters that have the cable disconnected |
| | at this point - if so, then ignore the |
| | warning and continue. |
| | |
| Step 3 | You are presented with a number of |
| | possible configurations. Select “This |
| | computer connects directly to the |
| | Internet. The other computers on my |
| | network connect to the Internet through |
| | this computer.” |
| | |
| Step 4 | Select your internet connection from the |
| | list |
| | |
| Step 5 | Put checkmarks next to the network |
| | adaptors that will be allowed to connect |
| | to the network. You must check at least |
| | the network adapter that the access point |
| | is connected to. |
| | |
| Step 6 | You can change the name of your PC and its |
| | description. These do not usually need |
| | changing. |
| | |
| Step 7 | Enter the workgroup name (name for a group |
| | of connected computers) here. This can be |
| | safely left as “MSHOME”. |
| | |
| Step 8 (Windows XP SP2 only) | You are asked if you want to enable file |
| | and printer sharing. Enable this feature |
| | only if you wish to share files and |
| | printers between PCs on your network. The |
| | PSP will not be able to use this feature. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
You are shown a list of the selections you’ve made, simply confirm your
selections to finish the wizard. You may be asked if you wish to create a
network setup disk, you can create one if you wish, but you do not need one.
Configuring the access point
----------------------------
Following the manufacturer's instructions, configure your access point as
follows:
Note: The names of options may not be exactly the same on your access point and
the steps for configuring your chosen brand of access point will be documented
in its manual. Options not listed in the following table may be optional or
specific to your access point.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Setting | Recommended Value |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Access Point Name | Whatever you wish to call this access |
| | point. |
| | |
| SSID | Whatever you wish to call your wireless |
| | network. |
| | |
| SSID Broadcast | Optional, if you turn it off, the access |
| | point won’t be visible to a casual scan |
| | for wireless networks, however that makes |
| | it a bit harder to connect to it from your |
| | PSP (since you can’t just scan for it). |
| | Some people recommend turning SSID |
| | Broadcast off since it adds a little bit |
| | more security. |
| | |
| Automatic/Manual/Static Address | Manual (some times referred to as static |
| configuration | addresses are required) |
| | |
| IP Address | 192.168.0.xxx, where xxx is a number not |
| | used by another device on your home |
| | network. I recommend assigning it a |
| | number around 245-250 since lower numbers |
| | will be assigned to your home network by |
| | Windows. |
| | |
| Subnet Mask/Net Mask | 255.255.255.0 |
| | |
| Default Gateway/Router | 192.168.0.1. This the address that |
| | Windows assigned to your PC for internal |
| | connections (i.e. inside your house) |
| | |
| Security | WEP, 64 or 128bit, create a 10 (for 64bit |
| | WEP) or 26 (for 128bit WEP) digit key with |
| | the letters 0-9 and A-F and write it down |
| | safely. This key is required to connect |
| | to your hotspot with other devices. 128bit |
| | WEP is preferable since it provides a |
| | higher level of security. Note: WPA is |
| | not supported by the PSP at the time of |
| | writing. |
| | |
| MAC Address Filtering | On. This is used to list the MAC |
| | addresses (unique hardware IDs) of devices |
| | that you will allow to connect to this |
| | access point. I recommend testing your |
| | hotspot before enabling this feature. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Testing
-------
If you have configured everything properly, you should be able to follow the
instructions in section 7.3 to configure your PSP to connect to your new
hotspot.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 7.5. Configuring your wireless router as a hotspot -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Requirements
------------
* Broadband internet connection.
* Wireless 802.11b/802.11g Router compatible with your internet connection. I
recommend the Linksys WRT54GS Wireless Router with Speedbooster if you have a
cable or DSL internet connection that uses an Ethernet connection to your PC
(
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=35&prid=610).
* PC/Mac to use to configure your router.
* Ethernet patch cables to connect any wired devices (PC, etc) to the router.
Note: you may need to change the Ethernet cable from your cable/DSL box for a
patch cable before you are able to get on-line, since in some cases crossover
cables are supplied by the ISP.
Note: If you are using a router and a separate access point, the setup is much
the same except some settings will be on or duplicated on the access point.
Simply connect the access point to one of the wired sockets on the router.
WARNING: It is crucial that you purchase a router that is suitable for your
internet connection, make sure when buying a wireless router that the router
supports the type of internet connection you are using (type of cable, type of
internet connection). If in doubt, check with your ISP before buying.
Setup the hardware
------------------
Connect your internet connection into your router and use Ethernet patch cables
to connect any wired devices to the router.
Configuring the router
----------------------
Following the manufacturer's instructions, configure your router as shown in
the following tables.
Note: The names of options may not be exactly the same on your router and the
steps for configuring your chosen brand of router will be documented in it's
manual. Options not listed in the following table may be optional or specific
to your router.
Internet Settings:
If you are unsure about these settings, it is advisable to
contact your ISP and confirm what they should be set to before you start.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Setting | Value |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Router Name | Whatever you wish to call this router. |
| | |
| Automatic/Manual/Static/PPPoE/ | Usually automatic (DHCP) unless your ISP |
| PPTP/L2TP Address & Connection | has provided you with a specific address |
| Type | and connection type |
| | |
| IP Address | May be required by your ISP, if so |
| | then use as provided by your ISP. |
| | |
| Subnet Mask/Net Mask | May be required by your ISP, if so |
| | then use as provided by your ISP. |
| | |
| Default Gateway/Router | May be required by your ISP, if so |
| | then use as provided by your ISP. |
| | |
| DNS Server(s) | May be required by your ISP, if so |
| | then use as provided by your ISP. |
| | |
| L2TP Server | May be required by your ISP, if so |
| | then use as provided by your ISP. |
| | |
| User Name | May be required by your ISP, if so |
| | then use as provided by your ISP. |
| | |
| Password | May be required by your ISP, if so |
| | then use as provided by your ISP. |
| | |
| Host Name | May be required by your ISP, if so |
| | then use as provided by your ISP. |
| | |
| Domain Name | May be required by your ISP, if so |
| | then use as provided by your ISP. |
| | |
| MAC Address Clone | Used to fool your internet connection into |
| | thinking your PC is connected rather than |
| | a router. Useful if your ISP only allows |
| | a nominated network card to connect. |
| | Simply enter the required MAC address or |
| | disable it if you don't require it. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Other Settings:
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Setting | Value |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Router IP Address | 192.168.0.xxx, where xxx is a number not |
| | used by another device on your home |
| | network. I recommend assigning it a |
| | number around 245-250 since lower numbers |
| | will be assigned to your home network by |
| | Windows. |
| | |
| Subnet Mask/Net Mask | 255.255.255.0 |
| | |
| DHCP Server/Automatically | On, you will be asked to assign either a |
| Assign Addresses to Clients | range of addresses or a starting address |
| | and number of addresses to assign. These |
| | addresses will be automatically assigned |
| | to devices as they connect to the router. |
| | (192.168.0.50 - 192.168.0.100 is a good |
| | rule of thumb. |
| | |
| Static DNS/WINS Servers | These are only required if you have an |
| | existing DNS/WINS server in your house and |
| | should not be normally required. |
| | |
| DDNS Service | Some routers will offer this service, it |
| | uses a third party DNS server to make it |
| | easier to find your own devices attached |
| | the router (by allowing you to call them |
| | by name rather than IP address, unless |
| | the service is free, I wouldn't bother. |
| | |
| SSID | Whatever you wish to call your wireless |
| | network. |
| | |
| SSID Broadcast | Optional, if you turn it off, the access |
| | point won’t be visible to a casual scan |
| | for wireless networks, however that makes |
| | it a bit harder to connect to it from your |
| | PSP (since you can’t just scan for it). |
| | Some people recommend turning SSID |
| | Broadcast off since it adds a little bit |
| | more security. |
| | |
| Security | WEP, 64 or 128bit, create a 10 (for 64bit |
| | WEP) or 26 (for 128bit WEP) digit key with |
| | the letters 0-9 and A-F and write it down |
| | safely. This key is required to connect |
| | to your hotspot with other devices. 128bit |
| | WEP is preferable since it provides a |
| | higher level of security. Note: WPA is |
| | not supported by the PSP at the time of |
| | writing. |
| | |
| MAC Address Filtering | On. This is used to list the MAC |
| | addresses (unique hardware IDs) of devices |
| | that you will allow to connect to this |
| | router. I recommend testing your hotspot |
| | before enabling this feature. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Testing
-------
If you have configured everything properly, you should be able to follow the
instructions in section 7.3 to configure your PSP to connect to your new
hotspot.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 7.6. Configuring your PC for playing multiplayer PSP games on-line -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Requirements
------------
* Windows PC with a broadband internet connection. Windows XP with Service Pack
2 strongly recommended.
* SUPPORTED 802.11b/g wireless network card. I recommend the Linksys WPC54G
PCMCIA Card for laptops or the Linksys WMP54GS for desktop PCs
(
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=36&prid=611) and
(
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=36&prid=621).
* Tunnelling software
Administrative rights are required to perform this procedure.
Note: Tunneling does not work at present with wireless routers or access points.
Don’t even bother trying to get tunnelling working with these configurations as
you’ll be wasting your time.
Note: Tunnelling requires fooling your PSP into thinking it’s communicating with
another PSP, not your PC. Any wireless hardware MUST support Promiscuous Mode
(which allows a device to intercept packets not actually addressed to it), check
with your hardware supplier if you are not sure.
Configuring Windows
-------------------
Note: For this walkthrough, I am using Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2.
* In Control Panel, Networks, select your wireless network adapter, right-click
on it and select Properties.
* On the General tab, put a checkmark in “Client for Microsoft Networks” and
“Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)”
* On the Wireless Networks tab, select “Use Windows to configure my wireless
network settings”
* Press the Advanced button (not the Advanced tab)
* Select “Computer-to-computer (ad-hoc) networks only”
* Put a checkmark in the “Automatically connect to non-preferred networks”
checkbox
* Press OK to close Advanced.
The next five steps may not be required, depending on your configuration.
* Click the General tab.
* Click on “Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)” and press the Properties button.
* Click “Use the following IP Address”.
* Enter “10.0.0.1” in the “IP Address” field and 255.255.255.0 in the “Subnet
Mask” field.
* Press OK to close Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties
Finally press the OK button to save your changes.
If you turn on your PSP’s WLAN switch, load a multiplayer game and attempt to
host a multiplayer session, your PC should detect your PSP and show that it is
trying to connect to a network (SSID usually starts with PSP for PSP ad-hoc
connections)
Setup Tunnelling Software
-------------------------
Note: For this walkthrough, I am using Xlink Kai, available from
www.teamxlink.co.uk
* Install Xlink Kai and register for a XTag username from the teamxlink website.
* Start the Kai Config Tool from the Xlink Kai Evolution 7 program group in your
start menu.
* Select your wireless network adapter in the Network Adapter list. If your
network adaptor is not listed, you may need to put a checkmark in the “Show
Dangerous NICs” checkbox.
* Enter your username and password in the “Default XTag” and “Default Password”
fields and ensure the “Auto Login” checkbox has a checkmark in it.
* Ensure that the “Accept UI Connections From” list is set to “Any IP Address”
* You may find that setting the “Kai Port” and “Kai Deep Port” fields to “30000”
may help, depending on your configuration.
* You may find that putting a checkmark in the “Enable PAT” checkbox may help,
depending on your configuration.
If your PC is behind a hardware firewall or router, additional settings may be
required on your firewall or router, see www.teamxlink.co.uk for more
information.
Hosting your first game
-----------------------
The first two steps may not be required by some titles, however some titles
(Ridge Racers particularly) refuse to host if your PC is connected to the PSP's
wireless connection when you select to host a game.
* Ensure Xlink Kai is closed.
* Disable your wireless network connection from Control Panel, Network
Connections.
* Start your PSP and ensure the WLAN switch is on.
* Launch the game of your choice and select to host a new game.
* Enable your wireless network connection from Control Panel, Network
Connections and ensure that it connects to your PSP. This is simply a case
of following the prompts Windows offers (it will tell you when connected or
if it can see the PSP but isn’t connected yet).
* Start Xlink Kai and browse the lobby you require.
* Wait for other users.
Joining your first game
-----------------------
Joining a game is exactly the same as hosting, except you don’t need to close
and reopen Xlink Kai and disable/enable your wireless network connection.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- 7.7. Glossary (Common wireless networking terms) -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As well as the terms mentioned in the Overview, the following table contains
some common networking terms you may encounter whilst setting up your PSP or
setting up your own wireless network. Some of the later items (TCP/IP, Net
Mask, Gateway/Router, DNS, etc) are often provided for you if you are connecting
to another providers network, and are only required when setting up your own
wireless network. Even then, many Routers, Access Points and similar provide
wizards to deal with many of the technicalities.
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Term | Meaning |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Local Area Network (LAN) | Local Area Network - a group of connected |
| | computing devices. |
| | |
| Wireless LAN/WLAN | Common term for Wireless Networking. |
| | |
| Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) | Common term for Wireless Networking, more |
| | specifically 802.11b. |
| | |
| Service Set Identifier (SSID) | An ID (name) that differentiates one |
| | wireless network from another. |
| | |
| Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) | A security method to protect your |
| | connection from intruders, WEP requires a |
| | "Shared Key" to be assigned to all |
| | communicating devices, any device without |
| | the correct key cannot communicate over the |
| | Wireless LAN. |
| | |
| Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) | Another security method, not currently |
| | supported by the PSP. |
| | |
| Open System | Common term for no encryption/security on a |
| | Wireless LAN. |
| | |
| Shared Key/WEP Key | A sequence of hexadecimal letters and |
| | numbers (0-9, A-F) that acts as a password |
| | between devices using a WEP protected |
| | Wireless LAN connection. |
| | |
| 802.11b | Member of the 802.11 family of IEEE |
| | specifications. Provides up to 11Mbps in |
| | the 2.4Ghz band. The PSP uses 802.11b for |
| | it's wireless networking. |
| | |
| 802.11g | Member of the 802.11 family of IEEE |
| | specifications. Provides up to 54Mbps in |
| | the 2.4Ghz band. 802.11g devices generally |
| | support 802.11b as well, though this can |
| | usually be disabled if required. |
| | |
| 802.11a | Provides up to 54Mbps in the 5Ghz band. |
| | NOT COMPATIBLE WITH 802.11b or the PSP. |
| | |
| Access Point | A device that provides a point of access |
| | for wireless devices to a wired network. |
| | Used to allow wireless devices access to a |
| | wired network, and usually internet access. |
| | |
| Router | A device that routes data between two |
| | networks. Useful for allowing multiple |
| | devices to shared an internet connection. |
| | |
| Wireless Router | A Router that has an Access Point built in. |
| | |
| Transmission Control Protocol | A common format for transmitting data |
| /Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) | between devices. As the name implies, |
| | TCP/IP is the most common protocol for |
| | internet connections. |
| | |
| IP Address | On a TCP/IP network, each device is given |
| | an IP Address to uniquely identify it. |
| | |
| Subnet Mask/Net Mask | The Subnet Mask/Net Mask is used to |
| | identify which part of an IP Address is the |
| | network ID (known as subnet), and which is |
| | the devices address. One of the most |
| | common Subnet Masks is 255.255.255.0, which |
| | indicates that the first three numbers of |
| | the IP Address are the Subnet ID and the |
| | last number is the Host/device ID. |
| | |
| Default Gateway/Router | When a piece of data needs transmitting to |
| | a different subnet, the data is sent to |
| | this address instead. At the specified IP |
| | address there should be a Router that has |
| | been set up with rules how to reach the |
| | desired subnet and will route the data for |
| | you. |
| | |
| Automatic IP/Dynamic Host | Many networks operate a DHCP server which |
| Configuration Protocol (DHCP) | will automatically handle the IP address, |
| | subnet, gateway, DNS settings for you. If |
| | the network you wish to connect to supports |
| | this service, then you can simply set all |
| | your IP settings to Automatic/DHCP and the |
| | network you are connecting to will handle |
| | the rest. |
| | |
| Domain Name Service (DNS) | DNS servers handle translation of domain |
| | names (i.e. microsoft.com) into their |
| | corresponding IP address. Without a DNS |
| | server, it is very difficult to find any |
| | website or server. Usually DNS server |
| | requests are either sent directly to the |
| | internet, or through a gateway that will |
| | query a DNS server for you and return the |
| | result. |
| | |
| Media Access Control (MAC) | The MAC address is the unique ID given to a |
| Address | network enabled piece of hardware. The MAC |
| | Address of a PSP can be viewed by selecting |
| | Settings, System Settings, System |
| | Information. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
================================================================================
= 8. Loose Ends =
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- 8.1. Useful Links -
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http://sonypsp.sourceforge.net: Useful tool for managing data on the PSP.
http://www.gamefaqs.com: The site that hosts this document.
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- 8.2. Credits -
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* Corbie33 for providing me with battery benchmarks and for the information on
dust under the screen, on the L&R trigger sticking issue, changes between the
US/Japanese PSP and confirming that US PSP games do work on a Japanese PSP.
* Junbo fo repeatedly looking over the Wi-Fi portions of this document,
providing info on video file sizes and providing helpful feedback and
corrections.
* Radiocaf for updating me on the European launch titles and on the early
adopter UMD offer that was available at launch in Europe.
* Shinjiru for information on the L&R trigger sticking issue.
* TechniMyoko for figuring out the filenames required for video files and for
letting me link to her site.
* JustChillin for allowing me to link to his FAQ.
* SniperGX for permitting me to link to his site.
* CloudRules for confirming that the US Value pack does indeed contain a wrist
strap.
All the other users of the "PSP General" messageboard on GameFAQs. who helped
check this document and make it possible.
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- 8.3. Legal Information -
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This document may be not be reproduced under any circumstances except for
personal, private use. It may not be placed on any web site or otherwise
distributed publicly without advance written permission. Use of this guide
on any other web site or as a part of any public display is strictly
prohibited, and a violation of copyright.
This information is provided "as-is". Use of any information in this document
is entirely at your own risk. Neither the Author, or any site hosting this
document is liable for any damage you cause to your PSP, PC, Internet
connection arising from the use of information provided in this document.
The author does not condone or recommend hacking, reverse engineering or any
other process required to run unauthorised software on the Sony PSP, nor has
the author ever actually attempted to run unauthorised software on his PSPs.
Websites authorised to host this document: GameFAQs.com.
You can find the latest versions of this FAQ at GameFAQs (www.gamefaqs.com).
All trademarks acknowledged.
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- 8.4. Email Policy -
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A simple list of rules for sending me email:
1. Please be specific in order for me to understand your question.
2. Check the latest version of this FAQ before sending questions.
3. Do not send attachments in any emails to me without my consent.
4. Do not ask questions that have already been answered in this FAQ.
5. Do not attempt to send me SPAM, the quoted address is not my primary address
and has spam-filtering in place.
6. If I don't reply to you, just e-mail me nicely and I’ll try to reply ASAP.
Please appreciate that I am a very busy person, with a business to run, so
if I don't reply promptly, please don't be upset.
7. Don't ask me about Emulation, I can't provide any help with emulation issues.
Any email that does not comply with these rules will most likely be deleted.
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- 8.5. Version Information -
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1.00: Version 2.5 firmware updates.
Version 2.6 firmware updates.
Emulation Section, containing theoretical explanation.
Updated Internet Browser section.
Various other updates relating to firmware changes and things that have
become clearer since launch.
Finally updated the European Launch Titles.
Noted reversal of Cross (X) and Circle (O) buttons on Asian version PSPs
in the controls section for the various "Players".
Added Emulation to a list of things not to email be about in section 8.3.
Various other updates and corrections.
0.98: Version 2.0 firmware updates.
European release info.
0.97: US Release bonanza!
Updated menu walkthroughs with firmware v1.50 changes.
Added information about US/JPN launch firmware version differences and
that the JPN PSP can be updated to the US release firmware.
Added more information as to how the PSP firmware update actually
functions, now an update has been released.
Updated FAQ now we know for sure that US games work on the JPN PSP.
Added differences between US/JPN PSP.
Added Wrist Strap back into US Value Pack, I previously "corrected" it
based upon incorrect information.
0.96: Updated European release date info. (noted delay and speculated dates).
Fixed US Value pack error, cleaning cloth instead of wriststrap.
Added more information on video conversion and estimated file sizes.
Split some Connectivity FAQ questions into new Multimedia section.
Some other minor changes/corrections.
0.95: Added US launch information.
0.94: New section with detailed discussion of connection types supported by the
PSP and their uses, methods for configuring a hotspot, tunnelling and
creating infrastructure connections on a PSP.
Added Useful Link section.
Added a couple more questions to the "Connectivity" FAQ section
Added correct video filenames to "Connectivity" FAQ section.
Corrected Memory Stick FAQ entry to note that "High Speed" Memory Stick
Pro Duo's allegedly do not work in the PSP.
Updated info on sticky square button issue.
Fixed some typos.
Made menus hierarchical.
0.93: Added a few more questions to the "General", "Connectivity" and "Alleged
Faults" FAQ sections.
0.92: Added "Alleged Faults" FAQ section.
Moved Wi-Fi expLANation to the "Connectivity" FAQ section and added text
to replace it to refer readers to that section.
Added FAQ entry for "How will a DVD video fit on a PSP Memory Stick."
Added link to Parental Control FAQ entry in the security menu
description.
Expanded Parental Control FAQ entry.
Fixed a few more typos.
0.91: Completely redesigned layout.
Expanded some FAQ information.
Added more FAQ entries
Expanded player/menu information
Renamed "Introduction" to "What is the Sony PSP?"
Added new introduction
0.90: Added Photo Viewer controls/menus
Added introduction
Added launch titles
Fixed minor spelling mistakes and layout errors.
0.75: Everything!
