[NEWS] 802.11G on psp's

[snaeem]

Now here's a major technical fumble of the kind you don't see every day: Sony launches the PSP worldwide, touting its 802.11b support, and only includes WEP support! As you know if you read our Wi-Fi blackpaper (or if you've been paying any attention at all to wireless news for the past few years), WEP is garbage. Someone clever commented in a Sony message board thread about this issue that WEP is so insecure and fast WEP-cracking utils are so widespread and easy to use, that it's almost like there's a Ron Popeil product out that'll do it for you.

(Update for those wondering why this is important: Without WPA support on the PSP, you'll have to first unsecure your home or business network before you can connect to it with the PSP. For ad hoc PSP-to-PSP networking, nobody cares about encryption, but for PSP networking through a WAP, it's a big deal if you have can't use WPA.)

Not being a PSP owner (*sniff*), I wasn't aware of this issue until I ran across this outraged ZDNET blog post from George Ou. Ou isn't the first person to be mystified by Sony's decision—some googling turned up this blog post from earlier in the month—but he's the first I've seen with a big soapbox. Ou is calling for Sony to stop producing PSPs without WPA support, and if possible to ship a firmware upgrade that'll put WPA support on all existing PSPs.

I ran across this thread on the Sony board where the poster claims that Sony could indeed ship a firmware upgrade that would not only turn on WPA, but would enable other 802.11 protocols, including 802.11g:

The Sony PSP contains 2 Taiwan manufactured Wi-Fi chips designed by Marvell Semiconductor. The model numbers are 88W8380 (MAC) and 88W8010 (RF transceiver). The chips are listed on this webpage: Sony PlayStation Portable (PSP) Fat and Slim

The 88W8010 is an upgraded (802.11g) version of 88W8000 (which only supports 802.11b). So this chip is fine. The one in question is 88W8380. If it is based on 88W8300, then it only supports 802.11b. But if it is based on 88W8310, then it is 802.11g capable (54Mbps, about five times faster than 11Mbps of 802.11b). The 88W8310 chip also support 802.11i and 802.11e, which is AES (WPA) and QoS (quality of service). Maybe someone has more info on the 88W8380 chip. If it is based on 88W8310 (not 88W8300), then the PSP actually supports 802.11g, but not activated.

I haven't verified any of this, so I simply pass it along as-is. Perhaps someone with a PSP who wants to void the warranty could post some verification in the discussion thread? If it's true, Sony needs to get on the ball and ship that firmware upgrade ASAP.

[drew00629]

interesting find.

[snaeem]

thanks bro....i guess they are gonna enable it in their next firmware so we can use it

[Lokibrth]

as for the WPA both sony and nintendo are taking heat for it. The DS only supports WEP and unless i'm mistaken the Wii also only supports WEP

[xCrAzy-Assx]

what do you mean by "support"?
my friend has WPA and he can use his

not sure what you mean exactly

[talltexan]

leech from a friend in the apartment complex or a stupid neighbor so you don't have to put your own network at risk i say :-p.

[clockdryve]

I also heard that the next 4.0 OFW will enable the G band wifi. Can't wait till Dax get's a HOLD of that It has been RUMORED for a long time....that the psp actually has an 802.11g wifi chip.....just not turned ON yet in recent FW's.

[snaeem]

yaa tht wat i heard

[catb50]

Well I got a slim 3 months ago and that would be cool if the next firmware will allow the PSP Slim to run G mode instead of that slow B. Hopefully sony doesn't be a pain in the A$$ and make us buy a new PSP to run 802.11g.

[snaeem]

well all psp's have 802.11G chip phat n slim =DD i have a fat one

[EazyE]

yea im slightly confused as well. im using WPA-PSK (TKIP) network encryption on my router. it still run 11b though of course. but how can darkalex not just enable this himself? i guess i dont know the extent of the programming and im sure its difficult otherwise he'd done it by now.

[snaeem]

as if he has nothing els to do in world??

[drew00629]

hold on.. what ever happened to dax's retirement?

[snaeem]

r u kidding me....he cannot retire soo fasst