PS2 navel? (small USB port)

[Slimedog]

On the original model PS2 next to the two USB ports there is one of the smaller USB ports. Its the size that matches most digital cameras. I'm not sure if this port exists on the new slim PS2. Can any USB accessory use any USB port? In other words, if you had a keyboard that had this smaller style of USB jack, would it work for any game that had keyboard support? Considering the way USB works, I would expect this to be the case, but I'm not sure.

Also, are there any specific PS2 accessories that use this smaller port? I don't think any of the US ones do, but I'm not sure about other regions. I'm also not sure what kind of USB port that printer has that works with GT4's photo mode.

[bargora]

You're talking about the iLink port, right? If so, then it's actually not a USB port, but a port using IEEE 1394 (or under Apple's nomenclature, "Firewire") protocol. IIRC, it's a 4-wire port, meaning that it's unpowered. The reason it's there on the PlayStation 2 is for use in linking two (or more) systems for head-to-head play.

For example, I've hooked together two PlayStation 2 systems, each running into its own TV set, to play head-to-head games of Unreal Tournament and Armored Core 2. While each of those games can be played as split-screen multiplayer games, when you use iLink each player gets a full screen.

While some games support only two players via iLink, some games supposedly support more than two. I've read that Unreal Tournament can support up to four and Gran Turismo can support up to six players (each player having his own system, disc and TV). In those situations you apparently need to have a Firewire hub to allow the various systems to communicate. Having not tried that, I can't give you any first-hand reports. iLink support was limited to a handful of early PlayStation 2 games, and is generally only poorly documented in the game manuals as far as linking more than two systems is concerned.

Anyway, I don't know of any other use for the iLink port aside from use in system link games.

[Slimedog]

You're talking about the iLink port, right? If so, then it's actually not a USB port, but a port using IEEE 1394 (or under Apple's nomenclature, "Firewire") protocol. IIRC, it's a 4-wire port, meaning that it's unpowered. The reason it's there on the PlayStation 2 is for use in linking two (or more) systems for head-to-head play.

For example, I've hooked together two PlayStation 2 systems, each running into its own TV set, to play head-to-head games of Unreal Tournament and Armored Core 2. While each of those games can be played as split-screen multiplayer games, when you use iLink each player gets a full screen.

While some games support only two players via iLink, some games supposedly support more than two. I've read that Unreal Tournament can support up to four and Gran Turismo can support up to six players (each player having his own system, disc and TV). In those situations you apparently need to have a Firewire hub to allow the various systems to communicate. Having not tried that, I can't give you any first-hand reports. iLink support was limited to a handful of early PlayStation 2 games, and is generally only poorly documented in the game manuals as far as linking more than two systems is concerned.

Anyway, I don't know of any other use for the iLink port aside from use in system link games.

:embarrassed:
Thanks!. I guess I just assumed it was another USB. I appriciate it info.

[rbudrick]

The name for a smaller USB port, btw, is Type B. The larger, end is called Type A. Type Mini-A and Mini-B are variations of these. Sometimes A and B are referred to as upstream and downstream (though I forget which is which).

Thank you for watching the Discovery Channel.

-Rob