Using a free ISP with your Dreamcast - Works with PS2 also!
Aug 27 '01 (Updated Jan 04 '04)
The Bottom Line This explains how to obtain the DNS and user info to properly connect with a free, ad-based ISP such as Juno Web.
**Update**
This review was written quite a while ago, but the information still stands. Sadly, most Dreamcast games with Internet functionality have had their servers shut down by now. Still, you can use this trick to use your Dreamcast to surf the web or useo ne of the very few remaining games which still have functioning servers.
What's more important is that yes, this works with the Playstation 2. It should also work for the Gamecube, using the dial-up adpater.
Enjoy!
--The Info--
You, like many others, may have been drawn to the Dreamcast for several reasons; attractive price? Maybe. Large library of good games? Sure, why not. Internet play out of the box? Bingo!
But, upon contacting your ISP, they can't help you get online because they've never heard of the Dreamcast. Worse yet, you use AOL, for which there's no hope. Don't throw away your copy of Phantasy Star Online yet, I may just have the solution for you.
Yes, you can use a free, ad based, ISP for the Dreamcast. Many have already tried, and think it's impossible because no matter how they do it, they still can't connect. With a few tricks up your sleeve, you'll have no problem whatsoever.
This guide does not cover the Broadband Adapter available for the Dreamcast, for obvious reasons. Since there are no free, ad-based broadband services, if you have the BBA you don't need to read this.
Before continuing, I will warn you: using your dreamcast with an ad-based ISP violates thier Terms of Service. This means they could close your account, shut you off at any time, and even ban you from signing up with them again. Usually this last resort never happens, so if your account does get closed, you can open a new one.
The first thing you'll need are the DNS entries. These are simple to get for Windows users (MAC users, I'm sure it's easy, I just don't know how). Simply log on with your PC. Then, click on the Start button, and select 'Run'. Type in 'winipcfg' (without the apostrophes). Click 'More Info', and a box near the top will display your DNS1 number. Click on the ellipsis (...) next to that to get the DNS2 number. Write these down for future reference.
Next is the tricky part. You could try to enter your username, password, and DNS entries in your Dreamcast, but it still wouldn't work. In fact, it would say 'Invalid username or password'. This is due to the way in which ad-based ISP's work. The username and password you enter to connect are not your actual username and password the ISP's computers require. What actually happens is, the ISP software takes your username and password and links it to your member info. At this point, the ISP's central computers decide which ads to run. Once the ads are up, the software translates your username and password into the 'real' information that connects you to the internet. In fact, if you had this 'real' username and password, you could connect and bypass the ads altogether. As I mentioned earlier, this is a blantant violation of the TOS.
So how do we get this information? Luckily, there is a little program out there called Dialguard which will do just that. You will need a slightly older version of Dialguard, specifically 1.8.7; at the timeof this writing, one place to find it is http://www.qsl.net/g7xeo/dun.html. Any search engine should return good results if you simply type in 'Dialguard 1.8.7'. Once you have downloaded the file and scanned it for viruses, extract it and run it. It will minimize to your system tray. Now, simply launch your ISP software and connect. Dialguard will step in and ask you to verify that you want to make this connection. At this point, it displays your real username and password. Write these down carefully.**See Update Below**
Now we have all the info we need. Pop in the internet browser CD that came with your Dreamcast, and enter the setup screen. Follow the instructions that came with the browser software to configure your DNS1, DNS2, username, and password. I hope you have a Dreamcast keyboard because those usernames and passwords are pretty long (usually something like 'Zxc110228sg5526LKMnj4'). Now, enjoy playing Phantasy Star Online, Quake III Arena, Worms World Party, Alien Front Online, or whatever!
Following these steps will only allow you to get online. You won't be able to use the Dreamcast software to get email, since you need the ISP software to do that. But this will let yu access the internet to play games, access extras, and browse the web. Good luck!
**Update**
Dialguard version 1.0 will also work, following the directions above. Luckily, Dialguard v1.0 is much easier to find. Good luck!
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