Trinidadian Guide to Setting up and using the Playstation Network (Updated!)

So you live in Trinidad or any other country not on the Country List when you go to register for an account.
What to do? What to do?

So how important is this online service?
I can honestly admit to you that the online experience on PS3 is 50% or more the overall PS3 experience.

1.) Broadband Internet
So to get online, yes you need a broadband connection.
For the best experience you’ll want to get a Blink Internet package of 2mbps. which is $350 per month.
If thats a bit costly, the 1Mbps connection for $250 will do the job.
If Flow is in your area, I’d highly recommend their 6mbps connection for $350… Its what I use and online games do not lag.

You see what is most important here is “ping”. that is response time in games. The ping on both Flow and Blink are generally really good so it doesn’t matter which carrier you go to. But for downloading files from the Playstation Network. a faster connection would be really nice.
From experience I download a 1.5GB file from the Playstation Network in about 30mins with my Flow connection.
Thats an hour, 30mins on a 2mbps connection.
So do you need more speed? or can you wait the extra time…

You’re also gonna need a wireless router to get your PS3 online.
Using this router your connection could be wireless or wired.
With the internet connection plugging into the router and you running a cable to the ps3 or setting up the wireless on the ps3.
I won’t go into all the networking in this post, unless someone requests that.

2.) Registration
Now Sony has not been too kind on allowing countries not on their “market” list to use the Playstation Network.
You will have to sign up for an account using another Country address.
The most frequently chosen is the US.
If you have family in the US, better yet as you can use their address… Otherwise you can use a false address for registration.
So you sign up for an account, chose your online ID etc… And thats pretty much it.
Sign in to the network and you’ll have access to your friends list.

Note: You can register for a Playstation Network Account using your PC.
>>> http://store.playstation.com
Select the US, and register for an account.
This method uses the exact same on the PS3 interface.

3.) Purchasing from the Playstation Store/Network

Now the Wallet System on PS3 is simple.
Just like prepaid, purchase funds, and its in your wallet.
You can add up to $150USD into the wallet.

So if you have relatives in the US, or know someone with a US credit card with a US billing address.
You can use that method and reimburse the relative.

Now for me I have a Canadian PSN account and I first used a relative’s card from Canada when they visited in June.

I have just last week tested the Entropay system.
www.EntroPay.com

How Entropay works is you create an account with them, you’ll need an ID card, Passport #, or Driver’s License for authentication purposes.
You then use you local credit card and add funds to the entropay wallet.
This works with a fee system…
I don’t know exact rates.
But from adding $12CDN to my Entropay Wallet/Virtual Credit Card, I was charged 59c. ($3.**TT, not bad)

So Entropay is really a online credit card.
Got to your ps3, set the Card Holder Name as “ENTROPAY USER”.
Enter the Credit Card #, Security Code given to you by Entropay.
And add the funds you’ve added to the Entropay card.
Be it $150USD, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5….

If you’re using a US account then you can add exactly $150USD to the entropay card. (+the fee)
And then add the exact $150 to your ps3 wallet.
For me I had to add a little more to the entropay card due to exchange rates with Canada/USA.

So once you have funds in your wallet, you can use the Playstation Store to purchase full games, and simpler mini games etc…
Tonnes of fun stuff..
Also Downloadable Content for games.

So thats it really…
If anyone has additional questions, please add to the comments.

Helpful Links:
www.BlinkBroadband.tt
www.FlowTrinidad.com
www.Entropay.com
www.us.playstation.com/PS3/Network

EDIT -
Recent developments show that Sony is now rejecting Entropay cards on the PSN.
So caution attempting to use this service.

New Edit - 2/1/09
Old Entropay users before Entropay was blocked can still use the service.

Here’s the letter being sent out to Entropay customers:

Dear XXXXXXX

We apologise for the inconvenience.
Although our cards accepted by a vast majority of online merchants, please note Playstation has changed their payment mechanism and is unable to process payments with prepaid cards.
Any pre-authorisations you have should be refunded within 6 working days.
Should you require any further assistance please do not hesitate to contact us.

Regards
Michelle

EntroPay Support

The only other option to buy from the PSN Store would then be the PSN card and a foreign credit card…
Sucks to be a Trini…