FFXI on ps2 with cable ISP problemFollow

Hey guys, since the release of FFXI on ps2, I have been operating on a dial up connection. That is until yesterday. I finally got cable internet through my local cable company and started setting things up yesterday. I originally set things up as a single computer connected to my cable modem, and everything worked well. I then moved on and installed my new linksys wired router and reconfigured my ps2's network settings. I brought up FFXI, and it comes up through POL, then the connection times out. I look at my modem and the "send" light on the front is flashing and I'm no longer online. After several hours of trying to figure out what is happening, I finally started over from scratch. Got everything set up again and start my ps2, and the game loads completely. So I'm all kind of excited, but after about 2 minutes I get disconnected with POL error 4001. I tried several more times to log in and the same thing happened each time, it would allow me to play for 2-3 minutes then disconnect me with the same pol error. And the strange thing is that as I was getting disconnected I continued to receive LS chat, it was like I was still receiving yet not sending out. I checked around and saw that the error message most likely means that I need to open some ports, but when I tried to do that I was completely lost, it was asking me for some info that I have no clue about. So I come to you guys to get some opinions, are the ports most likely my problem and if so what would be the best way for an idiot like myself to open them? Thanks in advance for reading this and any help will be greatly appreciated!

Aewsome thanks for replying! Yes indeed it is Comcast, I hope that's not going to prevent me from playing since I signed a service contract with them :/

Also, I have discovered how to open the ports but I need the application name, and I have no idea how to get that from a ps2.

Again I thank you for helping me out, rate up.

Router settings are typically configured through an http interface. Open your web browser and type 192.168.1.1 into the address bar.

The default name and password should be in your manual. For linksys I think the username is admin, with no password. Check the book.

Definately find out a way to get it working with the router. It will be better and safer for you in the long run.

Well I just found out that having Comcast come out and do everything is going to cost me over $300 so it's back to square one. There is no way in hell I'm paying over 300 dollars for some asshat to come hook up a 50 dollar router.

I bought a Linksys 4 port router with a VPN/DMZ port (model BEFSX41), I have opened all of the necessary ports to run FFXI as well as playonline which took me forever to find the IP address for the ps2. I have also connected the DMZ port to the ps2 and enabled that setting. Also I have changed the settings on my network adapter and when I run a connection test it works. I have read every FAQ I can find on the subject and found that others have been able to play FFXI with this router, and I can't seem to get it right. I can, however, play FFXI if I connect the ps2 directly to the modem so I know the problem has to be somewhere in the router settings.

Here is what happens when I attempt to play FFXI through the router: I can log completely into playonline and into FFXI and even begin play. However within 10 minutes at the most I get a POL error and the connection times out. The entire process of getting disconnected takes a few moments too, and during this time I continue getting text through my linkshell log from other players. It's weird it's like I can still receive info while I'm getting booted.
The only things I can think of that could be wrong are:

I'm only paying to have on system linked to the web, but I was under the impression that you could get around that with a router. Please correct me if I am wrong.

My new internet connection was provided by Comcast, so I have no idea how to change settings within that connection. I am running XP, but the router seems to be working well for the PC so I don't know if I need to change any of the settings from within the PC other than the direct router settings.

When opening the ports in my router specified by square enix for use with playonline/FFXI, there was something that didn't quite seem right. The fields that were available for change were: application, start, end, TCP/UDP, IP address, and enable (check box). The start and end fields are for the ports or ports ranges, I understand the TCP/UDP, IP address and the enable fields, but I have no clue what to put into the "application" field. I spoke with a Linksys tech support who indicated it was pretty much something I could name whatever I want.

You have already helped me a ton and I appreciate it. Something I should have said to start with is that I got the Linksys Befsx41 4-port router which has a dedicated line for the DMZ host which I use for the ps2. I was under the impression that would eliminate the need for individual port opening settings but I set tehm anyway in addition to using the DMZ line. As for the ports I opened it went like this:

I followed the advice from the FAQ on this board (as well as playonline) that says:



So I opened the ports like this:

start: 25 end: 25 TCP
start: 80 end: 80 TCP
start: 110 end: 110 TCP
start: 443 end: 443 TCP
start: 50000 end: 65535 TCP
start: 50000 end: 65535 UDP

Something else I discovered today that seemd odd to me but may explain some things:

If I run ps2->modem it works great

If I run ps2->router->modem(without my pc hooked into the router as well) it worked well.

If I run ps2->router->modem (with pc hooked into the router as well) I get booted from FFXI within 5 minutes of playing.



Thanks again for helping me so much I hope this new info can shed some light on my problems.