Answer:

The Wii Console is compatible with the following Wireless Security standards:

• A broadband Internet connection (cable, DSL, FIOS)
• A modem or mobile hotspot
• A router or gateway with:
• Wireless ability (most common)
• Wired connections and a Wii LAN Adapter (sold separate)

Determining your Internet connection compatibility: Not all Internet connections are created equally. If you are not sure if the type of Internet connection you have is compatible with the Wii console's online features, please see the chart below. If you are not sure what type of connection you have, contact your Internet Service Provider.

Related Articles:
How to Connect Online
How to Browse the Internet

Answer:

Nintendo's online features allow you to play some games with people you've never met before, from anywhere around the world. Sometimes, though, you may find you just want to play with a friend. By exchanging the Friend Code generated by your game with your friends, you have the option of focusing your game play experience to playing only with friends. For information on how to add a friend to your game's Friends Roster, please consult the manual for the game you are playing.

Information:

The access point(s) that your Wii found while searching will all be displayed in bars that look like this:



How you connect to an access point is determined by what is displayed:

1. Network Name (SSID)



This section of the bar will display the Network Name or SSID of any access points detected. If you need help finding out what the SSID is for your router, it is typically found in your router's setup tool. For help accessing your router's settings, try using our wireless router information.

2. Wireless Security



The next space on the bar will let you know if there is any wireless security on the detected access point. You will see one of two icons in this slot:

You may see a gray unlocked icon, which indicates the access point has no wireless security features enabled.

Or you may see a gold locked icon, which indicates the access point has wireless security features enabled.

3. Signal Strength



Finally, you will see an icon letting you know the detected access point's signal strength. There are three different levels of signal strength:

The green signal strength icon, lets you know the detected access point is within range and has a strong signal detected by your Wii Console.

In some cases you may see a yellow signal strength icon. This means there may be some type of wireless interference between your router and your Wii Console, or your Wii is too far from the router.

Lastly, the red signal strength icon. If you see this icon there is likely severe wireless interference between your Wii Console and your router, or your Wii is too far from the router.

Please Note: If you receive either the yellow or red signal strength icon you may experience difficulties connecting online. We recommend you try these steps to try and see if you can get a green icon before continuing.

With that in mind, let's pick your access point! Hopefully, you should see your access point with a green signal strength icon.

• If you see your access point listed with a gold, lock icon, click here.



• If you see your access point listed with a gray, unlocked icon, click here.



• If your access point is not displayed, click here for tips on what you can do.

802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, & 802.11g
802.11 is a protocol for exchanging data. The a, b, & g designations are network speeds. The Nintendo DS is compatible with routers that support 802.11b and 802.11g.

Access Point
An access point is part of a wireless network which allows devices to access the internet.

Air Station One-Touch Secure System (AOSS)
This feature automatically configures the SSID and WEP key for wireless routers made by Buffalo Technology with this feature with the Nintendo DS. This same feature is used with the Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector.

ASCII
This format represents all the letters and numbers on the keyboard as opposed to the Hex format limitations.

Broadcasting
When a wireless router is broadcasting, other wireless devices are able to detect that wireless router. If a wireless router is not broadcasting, other wireless devices must know the name (SSID) of that wireless network in order to utilize the wireless router.

Cable Modem
Cable modems deliver broadband Internet access through the unused portion of a cable television wire (as opposed to a phone line, like dial-up and DSL).

Connection Setting Save File
The Nintendo DS is capable of remembering how to connect to up to three separate wireless networks. Each of these is a 'Connection Setting Save File'.

DHCP (Dynamic Host Control Protocol)
Any network device, like your wireless router, can either broadcast a specific IP address, or can ask for one from a server. The act of asking for this address is called DHCP.

Dial Up Internet Connection
An Internet connection that uses a phone line and is generally considered slow. A dial up connection is not 'always on,' like cable or DSL access broadband connection, and needs to 'dial out' to connect to the Internet.

DNS (Domain Name System) Server
This is a special computer within your ISP's network that translates IP addresses into host names.

DSL Internet Connection
Considered a high speed/broadband Internet connection. DSL utilizes the unused portion of a phone line to access the internet, unlike Dial Up, DSL is 'always on', and does not use the 'voice' portion of a phone line, allowing phone calls to be made and received while connected.

Friend Code
Your Friend Code is a unique number that is generated by the Nintendo DS for each Nintendo wi-fi compatible game. This code is meant to be exchanged with friends so that you are able to play against each other in Friend mode via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

Friends
Friends are those people with whom you've exchanged your 'Friend Code' with, either automatically using the Nintendo DS's local multiplayer modes, or by manually entering them in a Nintendo DS game.

Gateway IP
The Gateway IP is the machine on a network that tells other computers on the same network where to go to find either other computers on the same network, or how to get out of the network to access the internet.

Hex (Hexadecimal) Characters
This format represents numbers and letters by using combinations of the numbers 0 - 9 and letters A - F.

High Speed/Broadband Internet Connection
An internet connection established through either a cable or DSL internet connect. Dial up is NOT considered a high speed connection.

Host Name
The relatively plain English name for a computer attached to the Internet. For example, the nintendo.com part of www.nintendo.com is the host name of the Web server computer for Nintendo.

IP Address
An IP address is a unique address that identifies computers on a network. It is a set of 4 numbers separated by periods, such as 192.168.0.1. Similar to the license plate on a vehicle, as this number may change at times.

ISP
An ISP, or Internet Service Provider, is the company (like Earthlink or AOL) that provides customers with Internet access.

LAN (Local Area Network)
The wired or wireless network setup in one particular physical location. For example, the wireless network in your home is a LAN.

MAC Address
Every piece of network hardware, like that contained within the Nintendo DS, has a unique identifying number that is placed there by the manufacturer. It is based upon a set standard that all manufactures have agreed upon, and no two MAC addresses are alike. Similar to the VIN number of a vehicle, as the number is not changeable.

MAC Filtering
Mac Filtering is a router function that can be set to only allow certain MAC addresses to communicate on that network. If MAC filtering is on, then the Nintendo DS's MAC address will need to be manually entered on that router in order for the DS to access the internet.

Network
A network is a system for communication between computers.

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection
The official name for Nintendo's online wireless game play service.

Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection ID
The unique identification number assigned to a specific Nintendo DS when using the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. This number can change if connection settings are overwritten.

Nintendo Wi-Fi USB Connector
The licensed Nintendo accessory that plugs into a USB port on a computer. This allows Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection wireless game play without a wireless router.

Pass Phrase
Some routers will allow you to enter a pass phrase into the router which is then converted to a WEP key. The Nintendo DS does not recognize pass phrases, and requires the actual WEP key to be entered when the router has WEP security.

Primary DNS
DNS, or Domain Name Service, is the method of translating the name of a website (such as www.nintendo.com) to the IP address of the computer on which that website is contained, similar to the way that a phonebook associates people to specific telephone numbers. The Primary DNS is the address of the machine that contains this 'address book' of websites.

Region-wide
An option on some Wi-Fi compatible DS games which limits the strangers you can play with over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection to the same country as you.

Rivals
Strangers you can play with over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection who have similar statistics to yours.

Secondary DNS
A backup of the Primary DNS. This is used if the Primary DNS server is unavailable.

Sniffing
Sniffing is the method that a network device, like the Nintendo DS, uses to identify available wireless networks in the area.

SSID (Service Set Identifier)
This is the name of network that you're trying to connect to.

Static IP Address
A static IP address is when a specific IP address has been assigned to a specific computer on the local network. The opposite of a static IP address is having the computer select one automatically (DHCP).

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol)
TCP/IP is the most common protocol for transmitting information around a network. Every computer on a TCP/IP network must have its own IP address.

Transmission Rate
The speed at which a network device communicates within the network.

USB Port
This is a communication port on your PC that different types of devices can be connected to.

WAN (Wide Area Network)
The network outside your home that connects you to the Internet is a WAN.

WEP Key
The WEP Key is a password which is exchanged between a wireless device and a router on routers using WEP security.

WEP Security
A method of encryption used by routers to protect against unauthorized network access.

Wi-Fi
Wireless Fidelity. This is a term that is used to describe wireless networks.

Wired Router
As opposed to a wireless router, this router connects to the PC and the cable or DSL modem using a cable.

Wireless Router
A wireless router allows for network communication to take place between a computer, like the Nintendo DS, and the Internet.

Worldwide
Strangers you can play with over the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection who are located anywhere in the world.

WPA Security
A method of encryption (as opposed to WEP) used by routers to protect against unauthorized network access. The Nintendo DS is not compatible with the WPA method or any other methods of security other than WEP.

Information:

WEP and WPA/WPA2 are types of security that are used to protect home wireless networks, and both are compatible with the Wii console (except where described below). WEP and WPA/WPA2 are turned on and off through your wireless router's setup utility. If WEP or WPA are currently activated on your wireless router, you must enter the WEP and WPA/WPA2 keys into the connection settings of the Wii console.

Where to enter the WEP and WPA passcodes in the Wii console:

If you need first-time setup assistance with your Wii console's internet connection, please click here.

If you have an existing connection already setup, but need to make changes, you can enter them by going to "System Settings", and select "Internet." From there, select "Connection Settings" and choose the connection file you would like to edit.

Where to find your WEP and WPA settings for your router:

You can typically find the WEP Key settings for your router under the "Wireless" or "Wireless Security" sections in your router settings on your PC. For specific information on locating WEP and WPA/WPA2 settings for your router, click here and select your router manufacturer and model number (if available). You may also want to see your wireless router's owner's manual or contact the manufacturer for further assistance.

Additional Notes About WEP:

• Most routers have multiple (typically four) WEP key slots. The Wii is only compatible with the WEP Key in the #1 slot. Having any other slot as the active WEP Key will likely not work with WEP.
• Some routers allow you to enter a Passphrase. This is then converted to a WEP Key number. When you are entering a WEP Key into the Wii console, the actual WEP Key is required. The Passphrase will not work.

Additional Notes About WPA/WPA2 encryption:

• There are several different WPA variations. The Wii is compatible with:


• WPA - PSK (TKIP)
• WPA - PSK (AES)
• WPA2 - PSK (AES)

 

Answer:

Nintendo's online features allow you to play some games with people you've never met before, from anywhere around the world. Sometimes, though, you may find you just want to play with a friend. By exchanging the Friend Code generated by your game with your friends, you have the option of focusing your game play experience to playing only with friends. For information on how to add a friend to your game's Friends Roster, please consult the manual for the game you are playing.

Answer:

• Most Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection games are designed to allow you to play with people you've never met before, from anywhere around the world. Exchanging Friend Codes with others gives you the additional option of playing only with those players you have designated as friends.
• There are times when a Friend Code is necessary to play online. For instance, in order to visit someone else's town in Animal Crossing: City Folk, you will need to have exchanged Friend Codes with the other person.

Answer:

A unique Friend Code is generated for each Wii Wi-Fi compatible game. This is done so that when you are looking to play online with friends, the Friend Code can look for those friends that are online and playing the same game as you are.