Setting Up Wi Fi On Your Ds

Several Nintendo DS games are capable of using Wi-Fi to connect to other players around the world. Setting up the connection requires a small bit of assembly but is a simple enough process. To begin, there must be an online-compatible game playing in the DS. For instance, for Mario Kart DS, select ?Nintendo WFC? and then ?Nintendo WFC Settings?? from the main menu.

Three different settings can be set up for varying locations. For example, it is possible to set up a connection for the network at home and then a public location with free, open Internet. At first, all of these connection buttons will read ?None?, but after setup and after connecting to a network, it will state that it is ?Ready?.

A home connection is likely the easiest to set up. To find a connection, select any connection button which states ?None? and proceed to ?Search For An Access Point?. This can be done outside of the home as well, in order to find out whether there is an Internet connection present. The majority of connections found, however, will probably be home, protected networks indicated by a red padlock. This requires a 10 character password, or a WEP key, before connecting.

The padlock will be absent when it is an unsecured network, granting the ability to connect and start playing right away. In the event that a key is required, selecting the network will prompt it to request the key, obtainable from the home computer settings. After logging into the network, it is possible to view its detailed settings, though they should probably be left on automatic. Messing with these settings would require knowing the IP address, gateway, subnet mask and DNS settings.

It is also possible to set up a connection by using the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector. This can be used when a home computer is connected to the Internet by way of broadband and if no wireless connection is present. This will cost about ?30 and comes bundled with a CD. Plugging the connector to a USB slot and running the CD software will allow the Nintendo DS to log into the broadband network when using the Connector option on the DS. This process is not possible on a Mac, however; it is a Windows only type of software.

With that, the connection should be well set up and will grant the ability to play games with anyone around the world.