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Most DirecPC
installations use a satellite link for the downloaded data and
your computer's dialup modem for the "uplink" data.
This means that the limitations that apply to sharing a "one-way"
or "telco-return" connection will also apply to sharing
a DirecPC connection. See this
page for more info.
The DirecPC site has
information on using Microsoft's ICS to share it.
You may be able to use the info to use a different sharing program,
but keep in mind that not all sharing programs handle "telco-return"
connections very well.
You've probably heard that two-way (no dialup modem "uplink")
satellite broadband services are coming. As this is written
in early 2001, both Hughes/DirecPC
and Starband
are gearing up to offer these improved services.
Both companies are in the process of training installers and
dealers, so it will be late Q1 2001 before ordering and installation
becomes routine. DirecPC has partnered with Pegasus,
Earthlink,
Juno, andDirecTVto distribute the product. The hardware will run you
$400, "standard" installation another $200, and the
monthly charge is $70/month.
You can buy Starband's service direct
through their Web site, or through "select"
DISH
dealers. If you're feeling really flush with cash, you can
also buy it through your local RadioShack.
That method gets you a Compaq PC with the satellite "modem"
boards installed for about $1200. MSN will be your "choice"
for ISP at $60/month.
So, assuming you can wait until things settle down and everyone
gets their act together (which we'd recommend), which one do you
choose? Both services will provide between 400-500kbps
download and 125-150kbps uplink, slower than DSL or
cable modem alternatives (yeah, we know your cable modem connection
runs slower than that....). Both use "receivers"
that have a USB LAN connection (except for the Starband
version that comes bundled with a Compaq PC!), so you won't be
able to share the connection via a hardware router... at least
not yet.
Tip: Turns out that if you're willing to void
your Starband warranty, you can get rid of the
USB port and connect the Starband Model 180 to your LAN or router
via Ethernet. See Ken
Knight's Planet Bandwidth EtherME page for the step-by-step,
including nice pictures!
Both are affected by stormy weather, and have "lag"
or latency that will be guaranteed to make you lose in any
fragging contests.
Since we haven't tested either system (and haven't had any offers
from Hughes or Starband to do so either...), all we can do is
direct you to other sources of useful info:
Bob
Cringely of PBS fame has taken the StarBand plunge and writes
about it here
and here.
Check out Scot Finnie's excellent reports on his experience
with Starband. [Since the Winmag site has ceased operation,
I'm making the emailed versions of his weekly newsletter available
for reading]
These are user reports of what worked for them. Please note
that we can't answer any questions about them!
We have Wingate 4 (Deerfield.com)
and DirecPC set up on our network with Windows 98
and Windows 2000 servers. I tried it with Wingate 3.5
and had problems, but as soon as I upgraded to Wingate 4 everything
fell into place. We have the PCI DirecPC modem in a Win98
machine (we haven't tried the new drivers for Win 2000). We
leave our connection on all day and usually don't have any
problems!
[Thanks to Paula Paschall.]
[Thnx to Vince Warde! for the following Tip!]
I have had a great deal of success sharing my DirecPC connection
using AnalogX Proxy. Here's my current setup:
1) In AnalogX Proxy: Turn off the News Proxy
- I simply haven't been able to figure out how to get it to
work.
2) On the DirecPC machine, in Internet Options/LAN
Settings/ Uncheck the box "Use A Proxy Server".
This disconnects the DirecPC Webcast Server, as well as auto
dial up - but without this modification you won't be able
to make a https (secure server) from the client machines.
If you don't ever need to make https connections from the
clients, skip this step and DirecPC will dial out on demand
from the clients as well as from local applications.
3) In DirecPC NAV application: Sending mail
will be much quicker if you use DirecPCs SMTP server (mail.direcpc.com)
instead of you ISPs SMTP server. To do this make sure that
SMTP is not checked in DirecPC NAV/Turbo Internet Prosperities/Terrestrial
and configure any locally used mail programs to send mail
through mail.direcpc.com instead of your ISPs SMTP server.
In AnalogX use mail.direcpc.com as the outgoing server for
all the mail from the clients.
4) This worked with my ISP - I don't know about
yours! In DirecPC NAV/Turbo Internet Prosperities/Terrestrial
uncheck DNS. This will cause DNS lookups to be done via the
satellite instead of a landwire connection. Landwire is much
slower because DirecPC must reconfigure to send or receive
data via landwire (dialup). This causes a significant lag
for both outgoing mail (hence the suggestion above) and DNS
lookups. Getting DNS to work over the Satellite causes web
pages to download MUCH faster.
Tip: Turns out that if you're willing to void
your Starband warranty, you can get rid of the
USB port and connect the Starband Model 180 to your LAN or router
via Ethernet. See 
Bob
Cringely of PBS fame has taken the StarBand plunge and writes
about it