As long as you have set the transmission rate on this Microsoft wifi router (MN-500) to 1-2 mbps, you should have little (if any at all) difficulty in using it with your Nintendo DS WFC. If you have a different Microsoft Wifi Router (such as one of their newer models MN-610, MN-620, MN-700, or MN-820), you may be able to get away with a higher transfer rate setting. To be on a safer side, we will focus on how to configure/use the original (MN-500) Microsoft wireless router -which, we believe, would also apply for most of their aforementioned newer versions.

To establish a wireless link between your Nintendo DS and Microsoft wireless router MN-500, you need to set both of them so as to use known/valid networking (IP Address, Netmask, etc.) parameters, identical data encryption (WEP vs. WPA, etc.) methodologies, and mutually supported wireless protocol (IEEE 802.11b Vs 802.11g, etc.) standards.

While this may sound some what complicated, doing so is just a matter of two simple steps: With Step 1 involving verification/update of certain wireless networking/security parameters on your MN-500 router, and Step 2 being that of ascertaining that your have a matching connection profile (one of the three Connection Save Files -CSF 1, 2 or 3) that mirrors those settings on your Nintendo DS.

In line with the above, this document first details how to discover/configure various wireless networking/security parameters (SSID, Username, Password, WEP key, IP Address, MAC Address, etc.) on your Microsoft Wireless Router, and then provides you a pointer to step by step instruction on how to create and save a connection save profile on your Nintendo DS.

To access configuration utility embedded within your Microsoft WiFi router, you need to connect to it using the HTTP protocol. Launch a web browser (Internet Explorer, Opera, Firefox, or Netscape, etc.) on your computer, type in http://192.168.2.1 (default IP address for MN-500's LAN/NIC Interface) in its URL/Location bar, and then press Enter on your keyboard.

If presented with a user authentication (login) screen, try the following:
Default Microsoft Wireless Router Username: none (leave blank)
Default Microsoft Wireless Router Password: admin (lowercase)

If you cannot login using the above, it may be so because (a) you are not typing your password correctly, (b) your CAPSLOCK key is on, (c) someone has changed password on your wireless router, or (d) the firmware (a set of instructions stored on an EEPROM microchip) embedded within your MN-500 router is corrupted. If you are stuck, consider resetting your router to its factory default settings.

IMPORTANT: Do not forget to reapply your (tougher) security measures (by making use of a strong password, WEP Key, MAC Address filtering, etc.) immediately after you have reset (wiped clean) your router to its factory default settings and have it rebooted.

Login to Your Microsoft Wireless Router, and Proceed as Follows:

• Retrieve/Change SSID on Your MN-500 Router: From the Base Station Management Tool tab, go to Wireless section to review or change SSID on MN-500.

  Default SSID on a MN-500 Microsoft Wireless Router: - (There is no default SSID on a MN-500)

• How to Access or Change WEP Keys on a MN-500 Microsoft Wireless Router: To access the WEP information, go to the Base Station Management Tool, and then over to the Wireless Security section.

  While trying to diagnose WLAN connectivity problems, use a 64-bit (instead of using a 128 bit WEP key or WPA) data encryption key. If in doubt, use a simple 64 bit WEP Key (i.e. a 10-digit Hex WEP Key such as 0123456789 or 6666666666, etc.) on your MN-500 router. Record it for later use -i.e. for configuring a Connection Save File on your Nintendo DS.

• To Verify or Update DHCP Settings on a MN-500 Router: Go to the Broadband Network Utility tab, then to Adapter Settings area.
  
• To Verify or Update DNS Settings on MN-500 Routers: Go to the Base Station Management Tool tab, then to Wide Area Network area.
  
• To Verify or Update Broadcast Settings on MN-500 Routers: There is no provision for doing this on a MN-500 router.

Now that you have accurately verified/recorded various settings including the networking/security parameters (such as password, SSID, WEP key, LAN interface IP Address, Mac Address, etc.) used on your MN-500 wireless router, you can now proceed to the next step of creating a Connection Save File (CSF 1, 2, or 3) on your Nintendo DS using the same. Check out How to Configure Nintendo DS WiFi Connection Save Files to Work with Your Wireless Router for step by step instructions.

For further information on wireless link configuration/diagnosis, please check out additional documentation available at this site and/or at Microsoft wireless products support site. Explore the possibility of upgrading firmware on your MN-500 Microsoft WiFi Router as well.

How-to instructions contained herein applies to the following Microsoft WiFi Routers: Microsoft Wireless Router Model # MN-500, MN-610, MN-620, MN-700, and MN-820.