Having trouble connecting (same old story) with PC->DC modem

Hi everyone, I'm posting this there to not spam the Announcement Thread anymore.

I'm using the Aleron Ives' PSO v2 Enhancement Pack disc.
I'm having trouble connecting to Sylverant.
The connection goes AOK, dialing, "Welcome to the world of PSO." and then it just stays there in what would be the Ship Selection screen, without any options and apparently no communication between PC and DC.
Even WinRoute Lite stays there silent after one last ACK between the server (67.22.144.120:9200) and the Dreamcast (192.168.55.2:1345) (using the logging option).
However, the Dreamcast is not frozen as I can see the background moving, and if I hang up the connection on Win98's side, I get GAME OVER. I'm redirecting all ports to the Dreamcast (with WinRoute), I disabled any security in the WinRoute, I even deactivated the firewall in the host computer. There's no movement at all.

I'm not even sure what's going on, I press everything, nothing seems to do a single thing. I'm wondering if it might be that I'm using the serial and access key Aleron Ives posted together with the disc, maybe it's because I was playing Offline with a PSO v2 US backup disc and the serial got stored (even if I input the new serial). I don't know.

When using Ives' disc, you need two more discs: a codebreaker bootloader and a codebreaker. You can download these from this site. Then you need to go to http://sylverant.net and click in connect. You need to follow the instructions for Phantasy Star Online ver. 2 (Dreamcast, EU). This will get you onto the Sylverant server. Good Luck!

The file in PSO Palace contains only one CDI, one of a CodeBreaker which supposedly was prepatched to allow CDR. http://psopalace.schtserv.com/downloads_dreamcast.html
I tried to burn it, but DiscJuggler (4) says that there were errors on the structure of the image and offerred to fix them. I burned two CDs: one saying "yes, fix it" and one saying "no" to that message.
Only the one which I denied DiscJuggler to fix it rarely boots, but dumps me back to the DC main menu.
The other one has never booted so far.

Also, I tried the DNS trick on the Windows 98 virtual machine that Aleron Ives told me about in the other topic and it didn't worked: Everything's the same, the screen only shows the BG of the Ship Selection screen, nothing more, nothing less. Also, when reading the Winroute logs, it seems the Dreamcast actually connects to the server (at least I can see the server's IP in the logs).

From what I've read over the years, most people who attempt to bridge their Dreamcast and PC fail to ever make it work, and those who do generally have terrible connections that are ridden with lag and cause them to disconnect frequently. Those who get it to work usually use Linux, to my knowledge. You might be better off just shelling out the money to get a dial-up ISP, unless your broadband provider gives you free dial up access, which some do. Of course, if you do pay for a new ISP, eventually the cost will equal and then exceed what you would have spent on a BBA, so if you plan on using the Dreamcast for a long time, the BBA is a good investment.

As for your connection problem, you can try setting DNS 1 in your Dreamcast's modem setup to the Sylverant IPA and changing the settings back in your VM; if that doesn't work, you can try this CB and see if that works.

Even so, the BBA also makes PC-DC connections easier to do, too.

You DO NOT NEED the codebreaker for Ives' EP; it is selfboot. About the lobby music thing, that happens because of the PC having a bad setting ro something, not the DC (at least, that was the case when I tried it). Also, make sure you are using a Revision A modem, and the the pc's modem is a hardware voicemodem.

mahkbooks wrote:When using Ives' disc, you need two more discs: a codebreaker bootloader and a codebreaker. You can download these from this site. Then you need to go to http://sylverant.net and click in connect. You need to follow the instructions for Phantasy Star Online ver. 2 (Dreamcast, EU). This will get you onto the Sylverant server. Good Luck!

Sorry, but I was only describing how to connect with only a dial-up connection, not with a PC to DC link. I use a back up dial-up service given to me by my isp, which gives me 20 hr/ month of free dial-up. Why don't you check with your isp to see if they offer this to you? If so, you still need a cb bootloader and a codebreaker to connect.

mahkbooks wrote:Sorry, but I was only describing how to connect with only a dial-up connection, not with a PC to DC link. I use a back up dial-up service given to me by my isp, which gives me 20 hr/ month of free dial-up. Why don't you check with your isp to see if they offer this to you? If so, you still need a cb bootloader and a codebreaker to connect.

Oh, thanks for the notice. Unfortunately, I don't have such thing with my ISP, and I can't lock up my home phone, as I use it pretty frequently to contact/get-contacted-by friends and/or clients.
I'm going to find those Bootloader and Codebreaker CDIs (I think I already got them), because I don't find any other way to do this (hope it works because CDs are becoming more expensive than DVD-Rs and my Dreamcast only likes one specific brand of CDs (yeah, it's really weird).
By the way, mahkbooks, are you able to contain yourself and only play PSO 20 hours a month?

Just a question: Do I need to open other ports in my router? My computer has broadband thru a router, so I saw a tutorial in OnlineConsoles and I redirected those ports noted there to my virtual machine host computer (40975, 41231, 41487, 41743) http://dreamcast.onlineconsoles.com/phpBB2/guides_pcdcwin98.php#7d.
In Winroute I used the same tip as in that URL (redirecting all ports to the Dreamcast).

EDIT #1:
Just tried with the BootLoader + CodeBreaker combo discs. I was able to write those codes, and run them, nevertheless, nothing happened. Same situation with the Ship selection screen background, no music, no reaction, no nothing. I'll record a video tomorrow to show you what's going on, because this is awkward to say the least. I'll do a last test tomorrow using real phone company dialup for a while in a timeslot which I know I won't get called.

If you go through dial-up modem, it should work. Most ISP's do not let it be known too publicly that they offer back up dial-up for free. I only found out from out from a friend who told me, and I confirmed this only when contacting the ISP by phone. They then gave me a phone number for the modem, and the account name and password. I think AT&T will do this, and so will SBC
As for playing less than 20 hours/ month, this is plenty already, due to the other things in my life, but even if I go over, it's only 99 cents an hour.
Perhaps you should install PSO PC. It is also very good, especially if you get a USB controller. It plays exactly like DC.

mahkbooks wrote:If you go through dial-up modem, it should work. Most ISP's do not let it be known too publicly that they offer back up dial-up for free.

I just called them and they offer a dial-up-connection-on-demand service, no contracts or whatsoever, costing about 2 US cents a minute (so pricey). I would try it only to test if my problem is my Windows 98 virtual machine/Winroute Lite combo (which I'm honestly considering is the problem, albeit browsing sessions work perfectly).
That's why I was asking which ports does PSO use, to open them up in my router. Maybe the server is expecting the Dreamcast to open up a port to communicate (not sure).
The video is on the order, in a few hours.

mahkbooks wrote:Perhaps you should install PSO PC. It is also very good, especially if you get a USB controller. It plays exactly like DC.

I already have an USB controller, and I feel impeded playing PSO** to say the least (it's a PS 2 Dual Shock controller connected to a PS2 to USB adapter). Also, personally I think PSOBB > PSOPC (lots of extras [but not good online servers]).

If you can get an x-box controller, that will work just fine. Just plug it in and configure it. You can also play by the number pad and arrows, and the ctrl key, but that is a little more difficult. Unfortunately, I don't know a thing about PSODC and ports. Too bad about your ISP

...You're using the correct CB codes, right? You need a connect code for Sylverant and an enable code that were made for EUv2. You can't use USv2 codes, and if you're using the codes for SCHTServ, you obviously won't connect here.

Aleron Ives wrote:...You're using the correct CB codes, right? You need a connect code for Sylverant and an enable code that were made for EUv2. You can't use USv2 codes, and if you're using the codes for SCHTServ, you obviously won't connect here.

I'm using both codes from here http://sylverant.net/connecting-to-sylverant/#psov2, and using your PSOv2 EP disc. I wrote them one by one and rechecked them on CB, so I'm pretty sure the codes are OK.

I'll give it a second spin with the Win98 VM combo, and record the video to show you.

Finally, I wasn't able to do the "real dial-up" test because the support people at my ISP gave me wrong information regarding the user name and password to use with their on-demand service, which I've been trying to correct since 12PM, calling and calling to different service lines to know which user name and password to use. So far I have 4 combinations and no one works (yeah, tech support sucks).

<drama>I'm stranded here, wanting to play in my untrusty Dreamcast, but everything is failing.</drama> LOL.

BTW, Aleron Ives, do you know which ports I have to open up in my router? Should I ask our friends at Sylverant? Thanks!

I guess I'd be the "friends at Sylverant". Honestly, I've never done any sort of DC-PC connection so I wouldn't have any idea... I'm fortunate enough to have two BBAs for testing things, so I've never needed to do that sort of stuff.

No ports needed from what I've experienced, and I've done a similar thing with a bba->pc connection (ports would be the same for dialup-->pc i assume).

You open ports to allow people to connect to you. Opening ports doesn't do anything to help you make connections to someone else. That is to say, you don't need to open any ports.

I would open those ports anyway to be safe.

What kind of modems are being used here?

I've encountered issues where it will take FOREVER to get to the ship list. Sometimes 10-15min. Switching to an Revision A DC modem fixed the problem.

I've had a very easy going time with this guide. I've spent hours in PSO with this setup and its much faster and more reliable than any of the dial up isp's I've used in the past.

http://www.dreamcast-scene.com/guides/pc-dc-server-guide-win7/

Long time no see, kingbuzzo.

That guide looks quite good, and I would imagine that it would probably work for anyone. I'm curious, did you ever get a revision B modem to work with a voltage inducer? They claim PSO hates revision B modems, period. How difficult is it to find a revision A modem these days? I'd think it might be kind of difficult, depending on what year Sega started shipping Dreamcasts with the revision B.

As for ports, you'd only need to open them if you're using a software firewall that requires you to add exceptions for outbound traffic. Hardware firewalls don't do that, at least not any that I've ever seen.

Aleron Ives wrote:Long time no see, kingbuzzo.

That guide looks quite good, and I would imagine that it would probably work for anyone. I'm curious, did you ever get a revision B modem to work with a voltage inducer? They claim PSO hates revision B modems, period. How difficult is it to find a revision A modem these days? I'd think it might be kind of difficult, depending on what year Sega started shipping Dreamcasts with the revision B.

As for ports, you'd only need to open them if you're using a software firewall that requires you to add exceptions for outbound traffic. Hardware firewalls don't do that, at least not any that I've ever seen.

Hey there Ives.

Revision B was very unreliable for me even with a voltage inducer. Sometimes the connection was fine, but usually it'd be extremely laggy and no data would get through. Switching to a Rev A modem fixed my problem, but I still need to use a line voltage inducer due to my USB modem requiring it.

There are usually a few Rev A modems on ebay. Or you could always be sneaky and pull a switcheroo in the pawn shop :p

Oh my God, kingbuzzo, you're a genius!
I never thought of the idea of using VMWare to install Crunchbang (my fav Debian Linux variant).
I'll try that tutorial, definitely.

To say the least, you mean I'm in deep water right now. My modem is a B. That sucks.
I built a voltage inducer using a 14 volts source (as my Winmodem didn't like only 9V).
I'll try to search for a A rev. modem in my local classic videogame shop. It won't be easy, as last time I asked they didn't have any Dreamcast stuff (and I needed another multiblock MU).

So, there's not one chance to be able to connect to Sylverant using my B rev. modem? (I'm asking for confirmation because it works really well for other petty/menial work like browsing).
Scratch that, I just read that part in the tutorial kingbuzzo posted. *sigh*

Thanks for the link kingbuzzo, nice reference there.

sorry, I should add that I was able to use Planet Web just fine with the Rev B. It connected very quickly every time. I haven't tried Quake 3 or Starlancer though. In fact, I haven't confirmed anyone consistently using PSO via PC-DC server with a Rev. B

A plain Dial-up ISP works of course.

I'm glad the guide could help, but by no means am I the originator of the ideas behind a linux ppp server, or running it in VMware. It's all info I found on different pages and forums posts around the different Dreamcast sites and I felt it deserved to be presented in a noob friendly fashion.

My own PC-DC server is Crunchbang running natively on my netbook.

https://2img.net/h/i3.photobucket.com/albums/y85/k1ngbuzzo/pc-dc/IMG_1341.jpg

kingbuzzo wrote:sorry, I should add that I was able to use Planet Web just fine with the Rev B. It connected very quickly every time. I haven't tried Quake 3 or Starlancer though. In fact, I haven't confirmed anyone consistently using PSO via PC-DC server with a Rev. B

I'll be researching to find a Rev. A modem. This kind of disappoints me.

kingbuzzo wrote:I'm glad the guide could help, but by no means am I the originator of the ideas behind a linux ppp server, or running it in VMware. It's all info I found on different pages and forums posts around the different Dreamcast sites and I felt it deserved to be presented in a noob friendly fashion.

My own PC-DC server is Crunchbang running natively on my netbook.

It looks very nice there!
I'm having a problem, and I think, well, something is missing in that tutorial. If you're meant to use bridged networking on the VM, then you would need to supply your own network configuration (because I don't have any DHCP servers running, minus the router, and I think the router doesn't likes my VM).
I'll try it again to see what's going on.

I am curious though, what's the difference between using a regular phone jack and bridging your DC and PC? If you supply the necessary voltage on the line and the revision B modem still doesn't work, there must still be some difference between the two setups. It seems like if somebody figured out what that difference was and found a way to compensate for it in addition to the voltage inducer, it would be possible to play PSO with a revision B modem. Since it works fine when plugged into a normal phone jack, PSO and the revision B modem are obviously compatible, so the difference must be on the PC side...

@Aleron Ives
I believe it's the fact that the phone line actually has electricity in it dedicated to running through phone lines, unless it's the dial tone which is just plain absent in a pc...

I know Dreamcast@Onlineconsoles has stuff about it, but I really cannot remember what it was...

Moopthehedgehog wrote:@Aleron Ives
I believe it's the fact that the phone line actually has electricity in it dedicated to running through phone lines, unless it's the dial tone which is just plain absent in a pc...

I know Dreamcast@Onlineconsoles has stuff about it, but I really cannot remember what it was...

I heard that using a Line Simulator would make it work. It supplies the same line voltage as in the phone services, it even has ringer support. The problem is that one of those are REALLY pricey, and there is a DIY circuit on Internet but it's awesomely complex. A line inducer is a 1st grade project when in front of this thing: http://veryuseful.info/linesim/

I always asked the same as Aleron Ives. But now my question is What is the REAL difference between A and B modems? Anyway, I just went to my classic videogame store, and I'm out of luck: Out of 4 Dreamcasts all modems were B. I saw one A on eBay and if I had money in PayPal I would buy it at once. (Shipping and handling to my country is about 15 USD with a service I found). http://cgi.ebay.com/Dreamcast-Modem-replacement-/110599335946?pt=Video_Games&hash=item19c03bf00a I think I will get some money on PayPal next week, so please don't buy it before I do!

In my country's auction site I can't find anything beyond consoles and controls: http://listado.mercadolibre.com.co/dreamcast (by the way, 1 USD = 1900 COP if you're wondering what the prices would be).

Tamhvm wrote:I'm having a problem, and I think, well, something is missing in that tutorial. If you're meant to use bridged networking on the VM, then you would need to supply your own network configuration (because I don't have any DHCP servers running, minus the router, and I think the router doesn't likes my VM).
I'll try it again to see what's going on.

as long as your router is DHCP, it should assign a local ip to the VM.

Code:

sudo ifconfig

You then assign the Dreamcast its own ip with /etc/ppp/options.ttyS0

Code:

sudo gedit /etc/ppp/options.ttyS0