***-->The SCOOP on BBA and Serial Cable!<--***

Well, 1½ weeks ago I was totally new to this and I can tell you it was
overwhelming at first. I had a hard time getting help and I felt bad for XENA
(The most helpful and KNOWLEGEABLE person on here) being bothered by so many people.

This is my thanks to Xena for the help he provided and is the reason for my success!
I figured if I write this it will save XENA a lot of posting time!

First off, if you are just getting into this, like I was, and you are in it strickly
to increase your game library, STOP right now. I don't care about what you do, so I am
not going to give you a copyright speech. PLEASE! No, I am only saying that if that is
THE ONLY reason, don't do it. It is a lot of work, a lot of time and not very easy at
times. It doesn't add up just to get a few more games. What I would do is BUY them off
the net (ripped CD-R copies) They sell for $8 to $10U.S. and I wouldn't pay any more than
that.

Now, if you are like me and a hobbyist, and CANNOT pass up a challenge, then read on!

To start, go HERE! and buy the DC-PC "coders"
cable. Everyone seems to be buying the Lik-Sang version which is A)a ripoff ($34.00U.S.) and B
a complete piece of shit. Can't you see all the posts "Fried lik-sang" "Lik-Sang cable is DEAD!"
Heed the warning signs! It is only 14 inches long! Has NO protection in the middle where the
circuit board is (for regulating voltage differences) and is not of high quality. The tototek
one, however is $20U.S. and is 6½ FEET LONG! Also, it has thicker, high quality cable and the
circuit board in the middle is SAFELY ENCLOSED. Notice on lik-sang's site they don't provide a photo?
Whereas on tototek's site it is CLEARLY displayed?

Ok enough about the cable. If you can afford it, go HERE
and buy THAT! It's a Broadband Adapter, hence forth "BBA" (a 10/100mbit RJ45 Ethernet adapter which replaces the MODEM)
It's $70 clams to your door 2 day air, but WELL worth it!

Why? Because for 2 reasons, QUAKE and other titles are WAY better at those speeds. So is surfing the net.
and the other reason? Because when you "rip" a game (copy data from dreamcast to pc) with the cable (ANY SERIAL CABLE to ANY PC)
it takes anywhere from 17 to 24 hours. NO JOKE! I didn't know this. It is not made very commonly known.
The BBA?? Last night I ripped a game in about 28 minutes!!!!!!! I think that is reason enough.


Ok, NOW you got the hardware. So what now? Well before we go further let me just tell you that
once you have successfully "ripped" a game, it isn't even ½ over. (I know... sheesh!)

You will 1st need TOOLS to perform these duties. By FAR the best site as a resource for files AND INSTRUCTIONS
is HERE!! BY FAR! Everything you need is THERE. Once you get a handle on
it and have all the tools you need, then you will only need the net to either help others or get that much needed
patch off of DCCOPYWORLD. (especially the one I sent for SOUL CALIBUR NTSC/USA release! hehehe) This post had to be continued because
it wouldn't let me put enough in here!!