Sharing STARBAND Satellite Internet

I set up a StarBand 360 modem connection via ICS earlier. Googling on the issue finds many different references that often imply that the process is complicated and fraught with time comsuming exceptions. However, the process I used went surprisingly quick - especially if you're moderately familiar with Windows networking. So...in an attempt to be a good Computing.Net'er, I'm posting this for others' reference. Pardon the spelling. I hope I did not leave out anything critical. HTH ------------------- Read completely FIRST If you do these steps EXACTLY in this order (don't jump ahead) you'll hopefully have quick results. You Need: +Windows XP Home or Pro (SP2 preferred) +Standard Desktop PC +Starband 360 Modem +Wireless 4-Port Router (brand shouldn't matter) or at least a network Switch. +Second Ethernet card for your PC (or 2 cards if your PC does not already have 1 installed) 1. If you have just a basic network Switch (not a router) go to step 2, if you have a ROUTER (which most are these days...especially if it has WiFi) then -Disable DHCP in the router. See the router's manual...basically, you log into the router and disable that feature using the router's configuration menu. - ALSO change the router's IP address to 192.168.0.2 (or anything higher than 2...but only change the LAST number, leave the others the same). * If you have a notebook or other PC that you can connect to the router to do this (other than the PC that is connected to the Starband)...do so. That will reduce complications. -When finished unplug everything from the router and turn it OFF. 2. Make sure that the Starband modem is connected to the main PC using a Cross-Over ETHERNET cable (not USB). - A cross-over cable is different than the standard ethernet cables that are used to plug a computer into a router or hub. Just go to any computer or office supply store and look specifically for a CROSS-OVER cable (they look just like a regular network cable...read the box) Cost is $5 - $10. -If your modem is currently connected via USB, just turn everthing off (unplug your PC), connect the modem via the Cross-Over, power up the modem and let it sync, then turn the PC back on. * Let the PC set for a few minutes. * Your PC may just auto-connect via the new cable connection, if NOT, click the Starband "Master Control" icon in the Starband program folder....if you don't get a green-light after that, trying running any of the config utilities that are accessible by clicking the Starband icon in the Systray....you may eventually get a greelite...just keep watching. *My PC was initially connected with USB and the above got a green connection....I did not have to uninstall / reinstall anything...just a few clicks got it reconfigured for the Cross-Over cable connection. * If you still can't get a green, give Starband Tech support a call. This should be just a "click-click" issue. Note: DO NOT TELL THEM YOU ARE SETTING UP A CONNECTION TO SHARE THE INTERNET....just tell them you want to connect your current computer using a Cross-Over cable rather than USB b/c it is more stable (which is the truth). While Starband does not Forbid you to use ICS, they do not support it, and the tech guy my just say "sorry" and hang up. 3. After you've got a good connection via the Cross-Over cable(reason, Ethernet is much more stable, especially for ICS), Turn the PC off (unplug it) and install a SECOND Ethernet card. -- Reboot and insure that both cards are working with no conflicts (just check Control Panel / System Manager) and that you've still got a good Inet connection - pull a few web pages. 4. When all is connecting well, turn the PC back OFF and unplug it. -Turn the router (or switch) on and plug it into the SECOND network card using a REGULAR network patch cable (NOT a cross-over). Plug the cable into one of the LAN ports on the switch/router (do NOT use the WAN port). -Turn the PC back on, wait a minute or 2, then make sure you are connecting to the Inet (pull a few web pages). 5. Once all is connecting well, Go to START / SETTINGS / NETWORK CONNECTIONS then click "Set up home or small office network" - Click Next until you get to "Select a connection method" - Select the choice titled "This computer connects directly to the Internet. The other computers on my network......" - You will probably be asked to indentify which Network card/connection is directly connencted to the Internet - BE SURE TO SELECT THE CARD WHICH IS PLUGGED DIRECTLY TO THE STARBAND MODEM !!. - Continue along and allow Windows to configure everthing else. 6. After Windows is finished, Go to START / SETTINGS / NETWORK CONNECTIONS then Disable the firewall on BOTH of the network connections. - ALSO, on the card/connection that is plugged directly into the Starband modem, go into its properties and DISABLE "Client for MS Networks" and "File and Printer Sharing" 7. After all is done, turn off the PC, unplug it, then turn back on. Check to see that the computer can surf the Internet. 8. With a second computer that is turned OFF, connect it to another LAN port on the switch/router. Or with a wireless pc, turn it on and make sure it is configured to connect to your wireless router / access point (see the manual if you do not know how). -Turn that 2nd pc on. Make sure that its network card/concection is set to "Obtain an IP address automatically" (this is done in the TCP/IP properties of the Connection's properties). 9. If you had to adjust the above setting, restart the computer. However, most network connections default to "obtain IP automatically" 10. Try to surf the Intenet from that second PC. Can you pull a web page? I could on the first try...and was pleasantly surprised. Even a wireless notebook could browse the Inet on the first try. Hopefully you can too. ADDITIONAL REFERENCE Other than Installing the second network card, this was my primary reference: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/crawford_02july01.mspx Basically, you just need to properly activate Windows XP ICS using 2 Ethernet Network cards (NOT USB). I did not have to do any special / unusual adjustments in Windows networking uniquely for Starband.

Thanks. This led me to the solution, indirectly. It is NOT a good idea to turn off the firewall. Leave it on, but enter an exception for TCP Port 9877 (starband port) for LOCAL NETWORK ONLY. With everything else as you have stated, it works great.