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How to Connect a PSP to the Internet Through a Cell Phone

Connecting a PSP to the Internet through a cell phone is helpful if you are on the road and need to get your PSP online to play games or download important updates. However, the PSP can connect to the Internet via wireless networks exclusively, so you must use a computer to translate the data connection on your cell phone into a wireless Internet connection that the PSP can recognize and use. To do this, your cell phone must have an Internet-sharing application, and your computer must have a wireless card.

Things You'll Need

Computer with wireless adapter
Cell phone with data connection and Internet-sharing application

Instructions

Connect the Phone to Computer
- 1
  Connect your cell phone to the computer via USB. Plug the cable into the phone on one end and into the computer's USB port on the other.
- 2
  Start the Internet Sharing application on the cell phone. Make sure the "PC Connection" menu reads "USB," and "Network Connection" lists your cell phone carrier.
- 3
  Start the Internet Sharing connection. Press the "Connect" soft key on your cell phone. It will take a few seconds for the Internet-sharing connection to be negotiated, during which time the screen may read "Check USB cable connection"; this is normal.
- 4
  Test the connection. Once the connection is successful, it can take a few seconds for the Internet-sharing drivers to install. After the "Driver Software Installation" screen closes, launch a Web browser and test the Internet connection.
Start an Ad Hoc Network Connection
- 5
  Click the "Start" button and select "Control Panel." Select "Network and Internet" and open the "Network and Sharing Center." Click on "Manage network connections," located in the left column. Find the cell phone connection you want to share (normally named the model number of your phone), and right-click on it. Choose "Properties." Click on the "Sharing" tab and ensure that "Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection" is checked. Click "OK."
- 6
  Start the ad hoc network. Click the "Start" button and select "Connect to." When prompted, select "Set up a connection or network," followed by "Set up an ad hoc (computer-to-computer network)."
- 7
  Create an SSID. The SSID is the name of your wireless ad hoc network connection, and the network name you will select on the PSP. You may also use WEP or WAP encryption to secure your wireless ad hoc network, but this is optional. The PSP can handle either encryption type. Once an SSID is configured, click "Next" and finish the wizard.
Connect the PSP
- 8
  Open the network control panel. At the PSP home screen, make sure the wireless LAN switch on your system is turned on. Use the menu bar to navigate to "Network Settings" and press "X".
- 9
  Find your SSID. Select "Infrastructure Mode" to connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot. Select "New Connection" and name the profile that will be associated with your cell phone Internet connection. Next, select the SSID of the network to which you want to connect and press "X".
- 10
  Enter the security key. If you configured the ad hoc network to have a security or encryption key, enter it using the on-screen keyboard and press "X".
- 11
  Test the connection. Your ad hoc network will configure itself automatically, so simply press "X" as prompted on the PSP screen. When complete, select the "Test Connection" option to verify connectivity. Finally, open the PSP Web browser or the PlayStation Store to verify the PSP can load webpages.

Sony PSP