Dreamcast Is the Broadband Adapter [BBA] worth it?

[Ezri_Muldoon]

Way back in 2013 when I got my first Dreamcast I had a lot of the accessories, I was a bit of a collectionist back then.
I looked at the BBA and decided that $150 was too steep of a price to justify buying one.

Jump to 2025 and despite inflation BBA's still cost around $150, sometimes less.
And with a new Nintendo game costing $80, an Xbox controller $100 that price tag isn't insanely steep.
Heck most AAA pre-orders cost more if you're into collector edition merch.

So what do you think? Is the BBA worth it?
I would definitely play Phantasy Star Online using it, and possible even browse The Old Net, (or more realistically Protoweb given the Dreamcasts ram limitations.)
to check out some brain rot free content. But past that I don't know.

Or is there some crazy homebrew content that works with the BBA?
I've looked into third party web browsers but nothing seems to any more advanced than Planetweb 3.0.
I can't even seem to find anything of substance actually.
I just like the novelty of potentially firing up my DC and going online for the heck of it. Especially since I already have a DC Keyboard & mouse.
This wouldn't be my primary browsing device lol

 

[Segadude113]

Way back in 2013 when I got my first Dreamcast I had a lot of the accessories, I was a bit of a collectionist back then.
I looked at the BBA and decided that $150 was too steep of a price to justify buying one.

Jump to 2025 and despite inflation BBA's still cost around $150, sometimes less.
And with a new Nintendo game costing $80, an Xbox controller $100 that price tag isn't insanely steep.
Heck most AAA pre-orders cost more if you're into collector edition merch.

So what do you think? Is the BBA worth it?
I would definitely play Phantasy Star Online using it, and possible even browse The Old Net, (or more realistically Protoweb given the Dreamcasts ram limitations.)
to check out some brain rot free content. But past that I don't know.

Or is there some crazy homebrew content that works with the BBA?
I've looked into third party web browsers but nothing seems to any more advanced than Planetweb 3.0.
I can't even seem to find anything of substance actually.
I just like the novelty of potentially firing up my DC and going online for the heck of it. Especially since I already have a DC Keyboard & mouse.
This wouldn't be my primary browsing device lol

You can hook the Dreamcast up to a DreamPi, which is just a Raspberry Pi programmed to connect to the internet wirelessly.

 

[juanchikbzmusic]

AFAIK the telephone line adapter (bba?) it's not that pricey, it's the lan adapter the one that costs more, but it makes no sense buying one because a game had to be programmed for working with lan and not telephone line, and not much games support it

 

[Ezri_Muldoon]

You can hook the Dreamcast up to a DreamPi, which is just a Raspberry Pi programmed to connect to the internet wirelessly.

Everything is already wired into my router I'm already old school and have literally drilled holes through the upstairs flooring down to the router in past homes.
Connecting a Dreamcast into a free port would be less of a hassle than setting up Dreampie for me.

AFAIK the telephone line adapter (bba?) it's not that pricey, it's the lan adapter the one that costs more, but it makes no sense buying one because a game had to be programmed for working with lan and not telephone line, and not much games support it

I have the 33.6k euro modem, but never really wanted to jump through the hoops to get it working with Dreampie as I have PSO Blue Burst already on my laptop. Even then, accessing the old web any site would be throttled by those speeds

Whilst the BBA would help mitigate long loading times into something more reasonable, especially as I'd be running the planetweb from a GDEMU

 

[Miles]

I would definitely play Phantasy Star Online using it,

You can still play Phantasy Star Online? Is it a fan server?
Would this mean you could play it on Flycast since Flycast has an online feature?

 

[Segadude113]

You can still play Phantasy Star Online? Is it a fan server?
Would this mean you could play it on Flycast since Flycast has an online feature?

yeah fan servers keep it active.

 

[Miles]

yeah fan servers keep it active.

Awesome! The question now is could I play it on Flycast...

 

[Segadude113]

Awesome! The question now is could I play it on Flycast...

i think you have to set up an account first, I went through a process using Quake III. I think it was on redream or flycast via Retroarch on Steam?

 

[Miles]

i think you have to set up an account first, I went through a process using Quake III. I think it was on redream or flycast via Retroarch on Steam?

You have to use Quake 3 to make a PSO account?

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

It's worth it just from a collectionist's standpoint, but I can't imagine you'd get much milage out of it -- I certainly didn't, and mine was used when it made sense to.

 

[Sumea]

yeah fan servers keep it active.

Well, yes and no: Active with handful of people.
There is much much larger scene for Xbox/GameCube PSO. GameCube PSO is not that active with actual GameCubes thanks to the same issue, BBA prices, but countered by new BBA alternatives. But GameCube is much better supported thanks to alternatvies like nintendon't BBA emulation on Wii and Wii U, and also adding keyboard emulation through at least older USB keyboards. Dolphin Emulator can also play and connect to PSO GC servers. Xbox can also connect through Insignia to Ragol or Schthack and crossplay with GameCube on these servers. Way more than DC version has to offer and these versions are also not very popular.

The servers that offer console PSO are largely Ragol and Schthack. Ragol has at the time of this post 0 players online, all versions. Schthack has 12, for all versions as well. Best guess is these are overwhelmingly if not all GameCube versions. Numbers fluctuate with active hours and weekends. Maybe you can ask people on Discord to play. The experience of hopping on and meeting people especially in DC PSO will be colored by these numbers. Most likely nobody will be around. Maybe if you keep trying at different times on different days you randomly meet someone; hope they are also leveling at the same level you are, or willing to relogin on alt that can. I did get into some online PSO on Xbox version last year and it can go up to 10-20 players on weekends for Schthack and depends on US/EU peak active hours. But it is not that much activity. Other people would need Ephinea numbers to call a game active. Ephinea being the BlueBurst/PC version host with 100-500 players online at all times.

I just think the numbers speak for themselves when it comes to advocating someone to buy a very expensive accessory for very inactive game. Across three to four servers. The realistic numbers are that even the more active consoles are not that active. I would first try to use emulator or alternative method of connecting and seeing how the servers are. The BBA is extremely likely extremely useless piece of tech that the collector pricing does not help.

 

[RETRO-VETRO]

Absolutely, @Ezri_Muldoon the Dreamcast Broadband Adapter or BBA is one of those rare retro peripherals that’s managed to hold its value not just in dollars, but in sheer novelty and utility. Back in 2013, $150 felt steep, especially when the modem could technically get you online. But in 2025, with AAA games pushing $80 and controllers hitting triple digits, the BBA’s price tag feels more like a collector’s rite of passage than an unreasonable splurge. For someone like you, already equipped with a Dreamcast keyboard, mouse, and a taste for digital archaeology, the BBA unlocks a surprisingly rich set of possibilities. Phantasy Star Online remains one of its best use cases, with fan servers like Sylverant still supporting broadband connections for smoother gameplay. Browsing retro web portals like Protoweb or The Old Net is totally doable, especially since they’re optimized for low-RAM browsers, and while Planetweb 3.0 is still the ceiling for most Dreamcast browsing, the experience is more about the vibe than the functionality. Beyond that, the BBA shines in homebrew circles: it enables faster GD-ROM dumping, supports KallistiOS for custom apps and servers, and even opens doors to LAN play in select titles. While third-party browsers haven’t evolved much, the adapter’s real value lies in its ability to turn your Dreamcast into a living artifact, one that still connects, still plays, and still surprises. If you’re chasing novelty, speed, and a bit of retro chaos, the BBA isn’t just worth it, it’s a flex.

 

[Ezri_Muldoon]

You have to use Quake 3 to make a PSO account?

No, but Quake 3 can still be played online using a DC.

As for PSO: Here you go
It supports flycast, but due to the niche nature you won't find players randomly. Most hardcore DC Gamers set a time to all meet to experience PSO. Dreamcastic organises community stream twice a month. Last upload at time of writing was from two weeks ago.

supports KallistiOS for custom apps and servers, and even opens doors to LAN play in select titles.

Okay, now that appeals to me. I'm no game dev but I used to mod GoldScr so I have a passing interest in learning DC homebrew and having a way to test it without repeatedly burning a discs or copying data to an SD Card would be convenient.

And well, if we held RGT community Dreamcast events I would be down. Those without a BBA could connect using emulators.

 

[nobitakun]

Not worth it. Dreamcast PSO is the original one but paying that outrageous price for a broadband adapter is just dumb in my humble opinion. But I am the kind of person who thinks overpriced retro stuff is just not worth it, because I never think its price is justified. I would use those 150€ to buy other stuff before it raises its price too.

You have alternatives, play it on PC, emulate it or use other consoles with more affordable way to play online.

 

[RETRO-VETRO]

No, but Quake 3 can still be played online using a DC.

As for PSO: Here you go
It supports flycast, but due to the niche nature you won't find players randomly. Most hardcore DC Gamers set a time to all meet to experience PSO. Dreamcastic and his organise community stream twice a month. Last upload at time of writing was from two weeks ago.


Okay, now that appeals to me. I'm no game dev but I used to mod GoldScr so I have a passing interest in learning DC homebrew and having a way to test it without repeatedly burning a discs or copying data to an SD Card would be convenient.

And well, if we held RGT community Dreamcast events I would be down. Those without a BBA could connect using emulators.

Indeed, Flycast does emulate dial-up!