PSP update

I've finally got my PSP to see my wireless network - which consists of a Netgear WG602 wireless access point connected to an ethernet switch. I couldn't get it to work with WEP and almost turned off encryption in despair. In the end I decided to plump for OS 2.6 despite the limitations it imposes, there were just enough extras to appeal including better support for wireless encryption and audio streaming via RSS. They aren't perfect but they are a step in the right direction.

I had to overcome some hurdles in all this. In order to download the software I needed to register my PSP with the Sony site. It appears that my PSP was an import as the model numnber wasn't on the drop down list that Sony provided. It is a 1000 model which is apprently the Japanese one. This wasn't made clear to me when I bought it but in this internet based world that should be a minor detail. Clearly Sony has other ideas. I tried the listed models with the serial number but it didn't work. Then I found a site on the same matter. I used the model number 1003 and altered the first two letters of my serial number to SB. This allowed me to register and to download the OS update.

Then the battery wasn't charged, so I had to do that AND leave the power plugged in to update the OS. I don't really understand why simply plugging the power in isn't sufficient to do an OS upgrade.

This finally gave me all the wizzy new features but - no suprise - it still wasn't connecting to the Wireless Access Point using WEP. Nor would it using WPA-PSK(AES) the highest level available even though this appeared to be supported by the PSP. This didn't bode well. Fortunately setting the access point and the PSP to WPA-PSK(TKIP) finally meant that they could connect. It's a bit quirky but on the whole it works quite well. Though for some reason it won't save my google bookmark.

I've just bought a new CD and ripped it to my PC using Windows Media Player ~(WMA format). The PSP is meant to handle this with OS 2.6. Bizarrely it needs to connect to the internet to do it.

You can stream RSS audio and video but finding something worthwhile to listen to is proving tricky. It's also rather irritating that you have to stream via a wireless network, surely when many people seem to be buying 1Gb memory sticks a podcasting system makes more sense.

I'm now looking to setup my own server so that I can steam my music to the PSP and anywhere else I choose. I may look into setting up my own RSS feed.