Hello, I am currently in Afghanistan, attempting to run a satellite internet network for the guys here. We have an "IDirect 3000" series satellite decoder/router and we have about 70 computers hooked up to this network. My problem is: Everything on the network works perfect, instant messaging, pinging url's, everything, EXCEPT, accessing HTTP websites through a web browser. When there is 1 computer hooked up to the network, it will work, and yes, even with a few more after that, but then, HTTP simply stops, and we have no idea why. Could the configuration of a few people's computers interfere with the entire network's ability to view HTTP? I don't believe that bandwidth consumption is the issue, because we can all still do VOIP with skype and what not no problem. What could this be? We considered that the satellite decoder/router simply ran out of ip's, so we hooked up a linksys router and did all the routing through that, but still the same issue. (Please do not post replies about the linksys router, it is NOT the issue.) I have searched through this forum looking for other similar posts, but have found no hits. Thank you for your time! - Spc. Lee US Army Afghanistan

70 on a stick? Kind of a lot. Could the local computers be doing this? Heck yes. Could the ISP, slim maybe. Start with scanning for malware. I'd try live cd's on 5 or more to see if the os is doing this. Use hosts file to limit bad sites on every computer. Add in one entry for a known good site, a search site is best. If that site can then connect, I'd suspect even a dns issue. Use the search sites for a backdoor dns resolver or make a local dns resolver. I know it seems odd since you say even NAT'ed computers can't access the wan, yet other services can access the wan (skype). Does this do the same for https? Pretty sure it is a port 80 issue. What is on the lan that could limit that? Router set to threshold on that port? I read it wrong and answer it wrong too. So get off my case you peanut.

It sounds like either a firewall rule issue, or DNS to me. Most likely the former. What happens when you turn off the firewall? You might want to run a sniffer to see what's going on.