PS4 University Internet Access

DanielMMS

DanielMMS

DanielMMS

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Apologies, mods, no idea where to put this so please feel to move!

Number 2 son started at University of Sussex in September. Since then he has tried to connect his PS4 to the internet to no avail. He has tried cabled and wifi connection to the university network (apparently the PS4 OS is incompatible with their systems). He has tried using a hotspot from his laptop and mobile, neither of which are stable enough to be worthwhile. He's also tried to use his laptop as a cabled bridge but he can't get that to work.

I think he's probably exhausted his options but does anyone have any other bright ideas (other than building a gaming PC, which is Plan B).

Thanks in advance!
 
Get to the library and hit the books!
Failing that try and contact Sony who may be able to provide some guidance.
 
Incompatible? WAT. Prob code for icb to help you.

I dont own a PS4 for obvious reasons (master race) but you probably have to set up the ip address manually on their network settings to gain access.

The guys in network forum are probably the guys to ask
 
Thanks guys. Yes, he should hit the books - I'm quietly delighted that he can't use the thing - but he's talking about spending a fortune on a PC so trying to get the PS4 going is the soft option!
 
I had the same problem when I was in halls, only with a PS3.

It's "incompatible" because most unis these days use authentication software to ensure only students and faculty are connecting to their vast, stupidly fast network. Whatever they're using to enforce encryption will have its own app for configuring network adapters. There won't be software available for a PS4.

I suggest your son actually goes to the IT support guys with his query, rather than a support email. There will be a way to configure the connection manually (that's probably all the app does), you just need to know what settings to set.

Failing that, befriend a CS undergrad.
 
Its for security, PC's console games often use servers to connect and authenticicate accounts. Universities see these as potential back-doors and cyber security flaws.

The only way to get around this is by setting up a VPN, most IT services won't unblock a specific device but it may be worth a shot.. The issue is, most games use different login servers.

In my university i cant connect to any steam/origin/battlenet game but i can connect to a few different MMORPG's

The universities actively seek new servers to block.
 
DanielMMS said:
I'll get him to try to find the IT guys. Trouble is he only seems to be able to find the local hostelries rather than anything useful.
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Tell him to go to the computing department, they will know were IT are, they deal with them all the time :p
 
Go and find the computer engineering nerds they will have a workaround they may be willing to share.

I remember the good old days of Super JANET downloading Lost series 1 DVDs in minutes, good times. If you find the final year engineers they'll have free printing hidden somewhere I'm sure aswell, very useful for dissertations.
 
Normally the IT department or the ISP would need to allow the PS4 on the network (You'll provide them with the MAC address of the PS4).

As said above, PS4's don't know how to display a captive login page when connecting. Unlike your computer or phone/tablet.
 
Both the unis I have been to you get a log in somewhere using your university username and password that lets you add the MAC address of a device and what kind of device it is and it'll work.

I remember in Brighton uni it was somewhere on there website, can't remember if it was blackboard or not. And Nottingham my halls had a seperate ISP service we got log ins for.

Edit: I'm not sure your son knows how to use google or this doesn't work but it's worth a shot. https://m.sussex.ac.uk/USCS/authlogin.php?application_name=Sussex+Network+Support
 
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Playing computer games at uni??? Why??? Surely he can do that when home at Christmas or on the odd rainy day in the summer.

Granted he probably has a reasonable amount of free time as an undergrad but surely you can persuade him that he might make better use of it by joining some club/societies, socialising, meeting girls etc.. playing computer games is about the last thing you ought to be considering given the sorts of opportunities available at uni. Can always play on his PS4 when he's graduated.
 
Haven't read every replay so not sure if its been answered, but my university did this. What happened was there was a captive portal, a page where you had to log in before you got access to the internet, that registered the mac address with the network. This included certain checks, which wouldn't work on a console. So the way that you solved it was you spoofed the console's mac addresses on a PC, registered it and then the console would work.
 
Dark Light said:
Haven't read every replay so not sure if its been answered, but my university did this. What happened was there was a captive portal, a page where you had to log in before you got access to the internet, that registered the mac address with the network. This included certain checks, which wouldn't work on a console. So the way that you solved it was you spoofed the console's mac addresses on a PC, registered it and then the console would work.
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Just what I was about to suggest :)

I've not tried it, but that's how these systems work so it theoretically should.
 
the ports will be blocked on purpose... it's unlikely but possible that they will unblock them for your son, a better reason that to play games on my ps4 will be required.
 
This happened to me in halls due to their weird login system. I had to bring my own router in the end and connect it through that.

dowie said:
Playing computer games at uni??? Why??? Surely he can do that when home at Christmas or on the odd rainy day in the summer.

Granted he probably has a reasonable amount of free time as an undergrad but surely you can persuade him that he might make better use of it by joining some club/societies, socialising, meeting girls etc.. playing computer games is about the last thing you ought to be considering given the sorts of opportunities available at uni. Can always play on his PS4 when he's graduated.
Click to expand...

We did all that, but also had three TVs in the front room with some drunken Fifa tournaments going on.
 
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