Industry guru Dave Taylor offers free tech support on a wide variety of technical and business topics, including HTML, Apple iPhone, online advertising, Cascading Style Sheets, Web design, management, Unix, Linux, search engine optimization, online dating, Mac OS X, shell script programming and Microsoft Windows.

No Access Points Detected on my Sony PSP?

Dave, I follow all your steps on how to get to the Internet on my PSP, but every time I try it says no access point detected. What does that mean, and how do I solve it??


Dave's Answer:

This is another on the list of surprisingly common questions that I get in my mailbox, and I think that much of the problem is simply that people aren't entirely clear how the Sony PSP connects to the Internet.

Here's the scoop: The PSP uses wireless "wifi" -- also known as 802.11b -- networking for its connectivity. Wifi networks have a maximum range of a few thousand feet, so if your pal at the end of the street has a wireless network installed, you won't be able to see it in your own home. If you're in an office and your geek colleagues have an 802.11b network a few floors below you, again, you won't be able to see it.

Now what does "see it" mean? It means that your Sony PSP detects the network and can access it. So when you see "no access points detected" it means that there are no wireless wifi networks within range of your PSP.

How do you solve it? Well, you can move to somewhere else where there is a wireless network, like a public library, buddy's house or Internet-enabled café, or you can build your own wireless network by purchasing a wireless base station (also known as an "access point", which is what the error message is about in the first place).

If you opt for the latter solution, you'll probably have to purchase $40-$50 worth of hardware and do some fiddling to get it to work. Make sure you get an 802.11b-capable device: If you only get one that speaks 802.11g then you'll be out of luck getting it to work with the Sony PSP itself.

I have lots of articles on Sony PSP and the Internet if you'd like to do more research too.



Help others find this article at Del.icio.us, Digg, Netscape, Reddit, and Stumble Upon    

Subscribe!

Never miss another useful Q&A article again! Subscribe to AskDaveTaylor with Google Reader.

Comments

I thought that 802.11g is backwards compatible with 802.11b by specification. I know that my 802.11g access point works with my PSP, and I'm fairly certain that it isn't broadcasting on two frequencies.

Posted by: Nathan Bolender at July 28, 2006 4:10 PM

I went to download games on my PSP then it doesn't show up on any files.What gives

Posted by: Matt at August 13, 2006 10:35 AM

i keep trying and trying to connect my psp to my wi-fi max i do everything there is to do butt it never works.can you help please?

Posted by: jimmy m. at November 4, 2006 10:00 PM

how do you get the access point detected

Posted by: kejay at January 1, 2007 6:42 AM

I have set up a Internet conection. How do I find a wireless access point? "No connections detected"? Need help!

Posted by: Austin at February 1, 2007 2:28 PM

i got an acces point an im on dial up and i have an router is it possible to go online is cause i have dial up plz need!!! help thank you

Posted by: francis at February 21, 2007 6:44 PM

hey
um i hav a few access points round near my house, i cant find the ip address before it says its timed out. how strong does the sygnal have to be to connect to the net. and wats this wap and secuirity, i don get it will this affect me connecting to the net
thanks

Posted by: james at March 26, 2007 1:18 AM

are all wireless broadband modems capable of running 802.11b? i have a wireless broadband modem and it still sez no access points! please help me!

Posted by: bob at March 28, 2007 10:28 AM

i dont have have any acess points what do i do help plz

Posted by: tay at June 10, 2007 3:44 PM

my psp say the access point was not detected what does that mean. please help me out

Posted by: chris at August 2, 2007 1:23 PM

Hi, i get a strong signal at home, but the person that i'm getting the signal from has a WEP, which i have no idea what it means? i have followed all the steps using wipeout, but still i'm getting connected. the signal strength is almost a 100%.
Thank you

Posted by: Mr. OH at August 11, 2007 10:22 PM

My psp cannot find and access point (access point being WifiMax)<---i know it sucks but its cheap and i have to get it to work...I got limited or no connectivity on my computer and ive tried many things but none work... please help!

Posted by: ...yo at August 21, 2007 10:34 AM

hello steve i was triying to get the internet on my sony psp but when i tested my connection the access point signel streanth was low what acccess point is high on signal strenth

Posted by: aaron hemmings at October 23, 2007 11:48 AM

Hi I brought new psp. And I have Broad DSL and router. and my connection is 75% how i get it 100%????????????????????? HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: STUPID PSP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! at November 22, 2007 8:59 AM

hey!i have my psp internet connesctions set up but wen i got on2 browser my psp says obtaining ip address and it says failure 2 obtain it!plzzzz help

Posted by: kevin dowling at December 22, 2007 1:38 PM

hiya

i have a wireless connection. that i have tried for months to connect my psp to. without much luck. it finds my access point and after i pop in my wep it still does not connect- giving me a error message.
i just got a ps3for xmas, and set up no prob, i have access to web browser, downloading games, but i cannot get the psp to link at all.. is that becauseyou can only have 2 devices running on one IP address, am baffled

Posted by: tamara at January 1, 2008 5:09 AM

I have a PSP, How do I correct this error? "Communication with the server failed.A DNS error has occured (80410418)"

Posted by: peter gregory at January 1, 2008 11:59 AM

How much memory does a psp need to connect to the internet? Is says that I do not have enough memory and I have a 1 G memory card.

Posted by: josh at January 3, 2008 6:36 PM

im really stuck im tryin to get internet access on my psp and its soooo difficult it just says a connections error has occurred.the attempt to obtain the ip address timed out! it says in one of ur other questions tht is common and i have to go closer to the access thingy and i have. im sitting right next to it and its still doing the same thing what do i do????

Posted by: lauren at February 19, 2008 10:43 AM

wen psp came out they said wow u can go on internet, u can surf the web and its easy....hmmm u guys sound pretty dam smart y is this so hard?

Posted by: omg psp hard to figure out at February 26, 2008 7:43 PM

I just bought my friends psp just the other day it works fairly well but I can not get the internet up on it my other friend has one he's no help I did so my much studying till I found this now I know where to go for wi-fi eighther mcdonalds or cafe.

Posted by: andrew pearl at April 5, 2008 2:49 PM

ok its says the access point was not detected and i dont know what that means so can you tell me....and where is the AOSS button at???

Posted by: Raynece at June 9, 2008 6:18 PM

Hello. I am having trouble with my new PSP Slim. Like with my old PSP, before it was stolen, I can find my access point, linux (b not g), the WEP key is known and entered, and everything goes fine until after it obtains the IP address. it seems to work, but will just sit there doing the loading bubble in the corner. then after a few minutes, it says the connection failed (DNS error 80410410) It isn't a weak connection because the signal strength is 95-100% all the time. Please help.

Posted by: Josen at June 16, 2008 2:16 AM

help to detect access point on psp please help me?

Posted by: rj at July 21, 2008 6:26 PM

where and what is the aoss button on a psp

Posted by: edster at September 6, 2008 2:26 PM

everytime i go scan it says no access pionts detected. what do i do

Posted by: matt f at September 26, 2008 3:28 AM

i bought a new psp.and i fill all the qustions but after that.no conection point detected now i dont now what to to help???????????????????????????????????

Posted by: fraol at October 1, 2008 9:07 AM

hi there I need some help with my psp and wifi I have a wifi internet card from alltel cell phone company and I'm trying to get internet on my psp and I don't know how...

I'm new to this but don't a psp detect wifi signals and if it does why don't it detect mine even when I'm in the house it still won't detect what am I missing what do I need to do because it is a wifi connection.

I have no idea please help if you can my e-mail is dawnrenee88@yahoo.com

Posted by: dawn b at October 3, 2008 1:35 PM

HI,

i have an psp and i was wondering could you be upstairs and the access point be downstairs and it still work???(please help

Posted by: tyler jones at November 8, 2008 6:43 PM

High my name is Ian Kowatch I have a question about the acesses point. how do I get inside the acesses point to internet broswer?

Posted by: Ian Kowatch at January 5, 2009 12:00 PM

i cant find the access point when im trying to get on internet browser why?

Posted by: cameron at March 22, 2009 4:48 PM

my 2wire modem is wireless but it is set too 802.11g, but does have the option of changing it too 802.11b, if i change it will i still get internet on my home pc?

Posted by: dave at March 30, 2009 12:04 PM

it says access was not detected and i've tried it lots of times and still says it

Posted by: nathan at April 26, 2009 6:22 AM

HOW DO U GET ACCESS POITS ON MI PSP

Posted by: LJ at August 6, 2009 12:48 AM

i bought a psp 2000 and every time i try getting on the net it goes and says dns failure i know ur buzy but please help me get on the net my email addres is pennington_jacob@yahoo.com

Posted by: jacob pennington at October 12, 2009 4:00 PM

you are very intelligent and excellent at this type of stuff. but not so much me. how do i get wallpaper on my sony psp?

Posted by: keke at December 31, 2009 9:40 AM

Dave
Just like many of your other questions. I have a PSP and it cannot detect wireless access point. However the set up scan indicated 100% at best and 90% at worst. i've gone over config a few times. my router is N draft is this compatible. Sony support have washed their hands blaming my internet. please advise.

Posted by: jasper at January 28, 2010 12:20 AM

i dont have any access point what do i do

Posted by: ranveer at February 9, 2010 1:40 AM

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...
Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











Remember personal info?


Please note that I will never send you any unsolicited email. Ever.

While I'm at it, please note that by submitting a question or comment you're agreeing to my terms of service, which are: you relinquish any subsequent rights of ownership to your material by submitting it on this site.








Ask Dave Taylor: The iPhone App: Advertisement



Follow me on Twitter @DaveTaylor

Search
Find just the answers you seek from among our 2300+ free tech support articles by using our Lijit search engine.


Help!





Subscribe to
Ask Dave Taylor!

Add to Google Reader
Add to My Yahoo!
Subscribe in NewsGator Online

RDF   XML

Free Updates!
Sign up and get free weekly updates and special offers on books, seminars, workshops and more.


Recent Entries
Book Links
© 2002 - 2010 by Dave Taylor. All Rights Reserved.

Note: This web site is for the purpose of disseminating information for educational purposes, free of charge, for the benefit of all visitors. We take great care to provide quality information. However, we do not guarantee, and accept no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained on this web site or on any linked site.

[whiteboard marker tray]
"Ask Dave Taylor®" is a registered trademark of Intuitive Systems, LLC.