Dreamcast F.A.Q.

(Last Updated: 15.12.00)

**Please note that Sega has decided to stop offering its SegaNet ISP.

Do I have to use SegaNet's ISP to play games like NFL2K1 online?

No, you can use almost any ISP, but note that on average you will get a lower latency (lag) on SegaNet's ISP (for techies, SegaNet usually has pings in the range of 90-200ms, where as regular dialup ISPs are in the range of 250-500ms). However, you cannot use ISPs that use their own propriety software to logon, like AOL. It must be a PPP based ISP (which is most ISPs). Plus later this year SegaNet will have a broadband service too, and it is said to have ping rates as low as 35ms. See Sega.net for more information on SegaNet's ISP.

I can't seem to sign-up for the trial 50 free hours of SegaNet's ISP.

First, it may just be busy so you will need to try again later. However, you should probably clear your ISP setup information before attempting again. Do this by hitting 'A' on 'Online User Account'. It should switch to 'Account No. 2', and unless you filled this out already, it should be empty. You can also clear your settings by putting in any Dreamcast web browser disc. Then turn on the system while holding down buttons B and X on a controller in port B, and continue to hold them until the web browser's login screen appears. Be warned though that this erases all internet settings.

Sega doesn't have a local access number in my area yet.

Until there is (and more are being added all the time), you can use the toll free number, 1-877-700-7705 (only works on DC). Please note that the connection through this number isn't nearly as great as those through local numbers, so keep checking to see if a local number is added in your area.

I signed-up for SegaNet's ISP, but when I try to connect I get, "Failed to establish connection with your internet service provider. Please verify login information, and attempt to logon again."

Make sure you are using your FULL SegaNet ISP email address as your login name (i.e. name@sega.net).

I can't seem to connect at anything higher than 31200?

First off, Lynn McConnell, Sega.com's chief technology officer, said that NFL2K1 "was engineered to only connect at 33Kb because the developer determined that was all that was needed." However, since Dreamcast's modem is software based (i.e. a WinModem), it is hard for most people to get higher connections than this. Yet it really doesn't matter, 31200 is high enough to play games online. The greater issue when playing games online is latency. Services like SegaNet's ISP have a very low latency. So even if you got a higher connection with a non-SegaNet ISP, your game still won't play as well as it would on SegaNet's ISP at 31200. Some people claim to get better connections if they use the modem initialization string ATs28=56 instead of the default AT&F (you can enter this in 'Options'->'Internet Connection'->'Dial Options' in your DC web browser), but use this at your own risk. The other way you can try to help your connection rate is by changing the line you use. Try a different/shorter phone cord, and try a different wall jack (preferably one closest to the switchbox outside of your house). But usually there isn't much you can do short of moving;).

Are there any other modem strings worth trying?

Besides ATs28=56, two other strings you may want to try are: MS=V90,40000,56600 or MS=V90,1;S10=50S11=50 (thanks goes to Segadojo for these strings).

NFL2K1's online lobby.

What does that 'Rate' mean in NFL2K1's lobby?

This basically gives you the rating of the connection between you and that player (i.e. how low the lag will be). It is relative to each person. Best results are gotten when you play against ratings of 'Great' and 'Good'. Playing 'Poor' is not even worth trying usually. The lag may be so bad that you will not even get passed the setup screen. Plus 'rates' fluctuate so you will need to watch one for a moment to make sure it's really a 'good' connection.

How do I see my 'Rate' in NFL2K1?

There is no need to see it since those rates are relative to your connection. It's the rating between you and that player. So if you see player X have a rating of 'Good', then they see you as having a rating of 'Good'. The more 'Great' and 'Good' ratings you see, then the better your connection is overall. And while you will usually get the best results in a server located geographically close to you, this isn't always the case. So if connections seem bad on one server, try another!

I was playing a game of NFL2K1, and it said "Connection Lost". Should I hit 'B' to return to the lobby as it says?

If this happened even before the game begins (like on the game setup screen), then most likely you had a bad connection, and so you should probably just go back to the lobby. But, if it's during a game it usually means your opponent got disconnected. Your opponent will be given the chance to reconnect, and will probably return in a minute or two. So you should wait for them. If after several minutes they still haven't returned, it is safe to return to the lobby. Therefore, if you happen to get disconnected, reconnect immediately to get back to the game as quickly as possible. (Usually you will go to the pause screen for a minute, and then a window will pop-up saying you got disconnected and should hit 'A' to reconnect.)

Do I need a keyboard to play online?

No you don't, but it is highly suggested that you do. It will make finding opponents in the NFL2K1 lobby easier since you can talk to them with ease. (Without a keyboard, highlight the lower half of the lobby by hitting 'X' in order to talk using 'Start'.) More importantly, you MUST have a keyboard in order to talk (i.e. trashtalk, hehe) with your opponent during a game. It makes things a lot more fun. Plus as a side note, if you hit one of the F-Keys before you hit enter to send in a message, the current message will be saved to that key (until you turn off the power). So if there is something you like to say a lot, save it to say F12, and then all you have to do is hit F12 to say it again!

How can I find someone on NFL2K1 with all those servers to look through?

Once connected to NFL2K1, enter one of the lobbies. Make sure you have the top part highlighted (the part with everyone's name), hit 'X' to switch between the two parts. Then hit 'Start' on the controller, and type in the name of the person you are looking for with either the controller or keyboard. If they are online, a box will come up telling you on which server they are, and will give you the option of moving to that server or challenging that person to a game.

I can't get my SegaNet ISP Email to work.

Many people with user names between a-i are reporting problems. In the mean time, just change your POP email setting to any letter between j-z (example: popn.sega.net), and it should work.