What should I get?

[witness]

I am planning on getting satellite internet service ( http://directv.direcway.com/ ) I already have satellite TV and to get cable I would have to run my own underground cable about 4000 feet. So, that settled, I want to figure out the best way to create a home network so all of our computers can access the net via the satellite. I want to figure out the best and most secure way before doing anything, so I don't have to redo it later. I know that the best way to share a cable internet conn is via a router with the cable going directly to the router and each computer hooked to the router. I think this satellite deal will have to have a modem of some sort in a computer and the others will be fed from it. Should I add another computer to act as a server? If so, would an amd k6-2 333 bog things down?

Right now we have 3 desktops in operation. My wife and I each have our own in our home office and there is one in the livingroom for the kids. We want all 3 to share the satellite and my wife and I frequently exchange autocad drawing files.

There is so much info out there it's hard to sift throught it, so I'd like some advice from the people here.

Thanks,
DR

[corosus]

just a question, but why don't you take adsl???

[gunrunnerjohn]

Directway has a maximum speed of 500kbps, and from what I hear, that's pretty optimistic. My cable connection has 1.8mbit, and I hear that within a couple of months, Comcast is dishing out 3mbits!

I'm confused about the underground cable, there's no way to run it on poles? I have a friend with a 1/2 mile driveway, and Comcast is out there running the lines this week.

[corosus]

i don't think turning coax into poals is possible.
500kbps is pretty low, i'm in belgium, so you probably won't have acess to my provider, but i'm getting 3.3mbps out of my dsl connection.
how many feet in a mile???????? ( sorry i'm used to the metirc system, i know 1/2 a mile is more or less a kilometer, but how far is 4000feet??????

[witness]

dsl is not available to me right now. That is what I had planned on doing to begin with, but I'm getting tired of waiting.

Cable has to be underground because I'm on a private road and the place where the cable would come thru is not my property but a rightaway and we have an agreement that all utilities will be underground, phone & elect is underground. I will call comcast tomorrow and see what they say about running a cable out here, but they are probably going to say... how good is your credit? Living on a farm has it's advantages and it's disadvantages. A mile is 5280feet.

[cdnref]

YES You can run coax... just run it along with the power/telephone wires.

[witness]

Well I've done a bit more checking and the satellite modem is stand alone and will connect to a Ethernet connection. So I could run it to a router and connect all of the computers to it. So, the only thing is what kind of network should I set up and exactly what equipment should I buy.

As for the cable I will call and see if comcast will run the cable and what/if they would charge me. I will also look at coax cable and the cost of renting a ditch witch plus cable/modem setup charges.

cdnref...the power and phone lines are already in the ground. If we were running them now I would definately just add the coax in with them.

[ZeratulsAvenger]

I wouldn't get a satalite modem... You don't get the same speeds, I would assume that you woul dbe also using the satalite downlink and 56k up? That's how most of the ones I have seen are set up. I would do the satalite modem as a last option... and that's after waiting a year for our DSL... "only" 512 but if you have to use the phone line(56k) for your uplink then you won't be getting the speeds near what you want I don't think...

[witness]

comcast said about 200feet it would be about $1000 I didn't even bother to mention it had to be underground. If I ran it I think I could do it for about $2000-$2500. I can get the satellite for $600 and use it while I wait on the dsl to make it out here. So, right now I think I will get the satellite and a Belkin wireless router. I can hook up mine and my wife's computers to it by cable and the kid's by wireless. As well as have room for future expansion.
ZeratulsAvenger...it is two way satellite. Check out the link on the first post.

[ZeratulsAvenger]

Well... darn ;)

Disregard my post then...

[glc]

Are you SURE it's Ethernet? The last Direcway 2-way I had to deal with was USB *only*, running through a proxy server, and the ONLY way to share it was M$ ICS. Terrible service. Uploads were SLOWER than dialup and the lag was terrible.

[witness]

Yup, got this off their site:

Let’s take a look at the features of the New DW6000:

Compatibility with Windows and Macintosh based systems
Self Hosting/No Software to Load– automatically upgrades software when new versions become available
No Phone Line Needed, uses two-way satellite communication for setup and operation
Ethernet connection – provides easy connection to your computer or home network


I know it's not going to be a barn burner, but it's got to be better than what I've got. Hopefully dsl will be available in the next year or two...but I can't wait that long.

I think I've decided against the wireless deal. There is a dryer and a microwave in direct line from where the router would be to where the 3rd computer is.

So, is a Linksys BEFSR41 ($50 at newegg) ok or should I go with a Belkin Gateway Router ($60 at offocemax) ? Is there any appreciable difference in the 2? ...or what would you recommend?

Thanks!!
DR

[gunrunnerjohn]

I always recommend against Belkin equipment. Belkin is a repackager, not a manufacturer. As such, their offerings change regularly, and support a year or so from now could be spotty or non-existent.

If you look around, you can find rebate deals on broadband routers for $15-25 pretty regularly.

[glc]

The BEFSR41 is my old standby wired router. You can't go wrong with it. My second choice is a D-Link 604.

[Cruelcamper]

I like my D-link 614+, broadband router .11b at 22mbs and it only costed $30 after rebates at Compusa. I think the rebate is still going on until early november.

[gunrunnerjohn]

I have the D-Link DI-614+, it was $15 after rebate at OfficeMax last month. :D