SCHTHACK connection error No.102

[coolmatt41]

Yesterday I tried for hours to connect to the private, free PSO server. I have PSO ep.1&2 for Gamecube and recently bought a working Broadband Adapter for the Gamecube as well. When I attempt to log on I get to a screen that says "Connecting with SCHTHACK" or something along those lines and then receive a message saying "No.102. There is a problem with your provider, please check your provider settings, etc."

I have found out by reading many posts on forums (including this one) that error No.102 is a problem for a lot of people. On those threads they complain about similar problems to me, but never have the actual solution. I will attempt to explain as accurately as I can how I have set up my Gamecube internet.

I have followed the connection instructions in SCHTHACK's connection guide for Gamecube except for the fact that I needed to set a static IP address because otherwise I received Error No.015 (but that's another story).

OK, so I connect my Gamecube directly to my Broadband modem (I know that they aren't technically called modems with broadband, but I'll call it that anyway). I have already checked using command prompt the static IP address for that modem by typing ipconfig /all (by doing this I received the IP address, subnet mask and default gateway for what the computer calls "Ethernet adapter Local Area Connection"). I entered these three strings of numbers into the part of the Network Settings section of PSO where you select to manually enter an IP address rather than automatically get assigned one by DHCP.

I then pinged a couple of DNS's and entered schtserv's adderss as the primary DNS and I can't remember which other ones I used, but I used lots. I tried to connect using these settings, but received the above error message.

I have tried a large number of combinations of DNS addresses, including just entering one address into primary, trying all of the DNS addresses that people recommend, etc. but to no avail. I cannot get the Gamecube to connect to the server.

Please can somebody help me! I lost hope a couple of weeks ago of ever playing PSO online again when I heard that the servers had gone down, but now I have the opportunity to do just this but can't connect! Please help.

Polite Notice - please don't reply to this post saying "Use these DNS addresses because they work for me" or "Have you tried Captain N's DNS address?" Yes I have. I would like to know if the problem is on my end or on the servers' ends. If someone has gone through the same problem as me and knows how to fix it please let me know.

[Phantom_RAcast]

I got that error all th time when I first got cable internet. What I had to do was call tech support and they said they had to authorize the MAC address. After that it started to work. Maybe try calling your ISP?

[coolmatt41]

Phantom_RAcast, could you ellaborate on that a little? What do you mean by MAC address? I have a PC, do you mean an Apple MAC, or is a MAC address some special address that you need? Is it different to the address that I found by using command prompt in my initial post? Also, if it is different, how did you use this address to solve the problem. Ie. where did you enter it in the settings?

Thank you for your help, I really appreciate it.

[Phantom_RAcast]

It's a unique identifier for network cards. Like I said I couldnt get past this until I called my ISP. You might be having a different problem though. Are you running PSO+?

[coolmatt41]

I have PSO Ep. 1&2, as I mentioned in my initial post. PSO+ isn't available in the EU. I called my ISP and they said that they don't block anything on their end, so my Gamecube's MAC address does won't be blocked. Any more ideas?

[coolmatt41]

I'm beginning to wonder whether it's my Broadband Adapter that's the problem. I went to a friend's house and used his wireless internet connection (connecting through my laptop) and tried various recommended configurations, but it still won't work!

Is there any way of finding out if the Broadband Adapter's still working? Read my previous posts if you need more information on my previous attempts to connect.

[Phantom_RAcast]

Are you absolutely sure you had ICS set up properly? It's best to plug in to the wall and get it working before diagnosing it as a bad adapter.

[coolmatt41]

No, I'm not sure that I have my ICS set up right. But as there isn't anyone on my end who knows how to set it up I'm having a lot of trouble in that respect. I need help from someone who knows how to set it up correctly. If you, Phantom_RAcast, or anyone else, would like to help me it would be much appreciated.