Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Consider installation locations for each PS3 unit. You may want to put one in the family area for movie viewing and one in the primary gamer's living area. This can keep everyone happy when someone wants to play a game and watch a movie at the same time.
Run the power cables of each PS3 to a nearby electrical outlet. It is wise to invest in a surge protector to protect your investment. Because the PS3s will be in different areas of the house, you may have to purchase two surge protectors to cover both units.
Run the video cables from the back of the PS3 to the television. Each PS3 comes with standard RGB video cables. If you wish to enjoy an HD experience, you will need to invest in HDMI cables. These can be pricey, but the video quality is greatly increased.
Invest in a wireless router if you don't already have one in your home. A router allows multiple devices to share one Internet connection. A wireless router is a good choice, especially when you know you are going to have at least two PS3s connecting from different rooms. Computers and smartphones also can be used on the router simultaneously.
Turn on each PS3 and navigate through the setup screens. When signing up for the PS3 online network, you will need two separate accounts. To set up an account, you must enter a valid email address. Let two family members set up an account on either PS3, or make an alternate email address for one person to create two logins.
Invest in multiple copies of games if there is a need for it to be played on both PS3 systems at the same time. Otherwise, the game disc must be taken from one PS3 to the other as needed. To play online together, two copies of a game is required. However, two different online games can be played at the same time with no problems.
Observe the network over a few weeks and see how things are going. If there is a lot of online game play going on between both PS3s at the same time, your household will be using a lot of bandwidth. This may cause lag, decreasing the game experience. If this happens, consider increasing your speed through your Internet provider or changing to a different provider. Also, be aware of usage because some broadband plans have limitations on the amount of data that can be used on a monthly basis. Most Internet providers that have limits on use have a means of checking how much you've used online.
Use the two accounts interchangeably on the PS3s. For example, if the family is watching a movie and the normal user of that unit wants to move to the other room, he can log on under his account on the other unit. This way, he can access all of his normal features from the other system. However, his saved games will not follow him because they are saved on the particular system's hard drive.