Please help me help my son..............

[mshelton22]

I have been a starband customer for almost a year. Recently I had to replace my 360 modem because it stopped working. Since I have installed the new modew the wireless network I had set up will not work. My laptop will not connect to the internet although it does recognize and connect to the wireless network.

The reason this is important to me is that I have a disabled child that is in a bed most of the time and is unable to access the desktop computer. Using the laptop with wireless connectivity helps my son stay entertained, complete homework assignements and stay in touch with the world in general. Over the past 30 days (modem replacement) I have been scouring the internet for information to help me through this problem and have tried about every suggestion and fix i could find on the internet with no success.

Several sites I have visited have pointed to this site as somewhere that may be able to give me some direction in this area. I do not like to use my child's illness as an excuse, but anything you could do to give me some direction in this area would be appreciated by both my son and I.

Here is some info on my equipment:

HP desktop running Win XP
Linksys wireless G router
HP laptop running WIN XP Professional with wireless card built in (AMD Turion)
Starband 360 modem connected via crossover cable
Also have 2nd ethernet card installed in desktop

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.


Mike Shelton
mshelton22@starband.net

[thefultonhow]

Thread moved to Networking and Internet Connections forum.

If you plug the laptop into one of the ports on the router, can you access the internet then?

[mshelton22]

Originally Posted by thefultonhow Thread moved to Networking and Internet Connections forum. If you plug the laptop into one of the ports on the router, can you access the internet then?

No I cannot

[thefultonhow]

Sounds like a problem with the laptop itself then. Have you tried running spyware/virus scans? If not, try doing so. If you don't find anything, try running WinsockXPFix -- I've had good luck using it to fix internet connections in the past.

[glc]

Please review exactly how everything is wired? Please be extremely detailed as far as what port on what is connected to what with what. Also, if you can, provide us with a link to Starband's support site and any applicable instructions for connection sharing.

[mshelton22]

There is a cable coming from the dish to the starband model 360 modem.
There is an ethernet crossover cable from the modem to the built in ethernet port on the HP desktop computer.(This computer can connect to the internet without a problem).
From the second ethernet card on the desktop a crossover cable connects to the wireless router (Linksys WRT54G) in port #1 (NOT the WAN port).
There are also seperate power cable to the router and modem.
My HP desktop recognizes the network and indicates that it connects to the network, but will not load any web pages. I am unable to ping and web pages from the laptop.
I know the connection seems strange, but in all the meterial I have read, the modem MUST connect to the PC first because of software issues or the starband service will not work. Please let me know if you need any more details.
Thanks for your assistance

[kodmaster]

Have you considered that you should cancel starband and get a new isp?

Edit:Have you got ics running on your desktop? That has to be running for the internet to go through. Once you do that you would just connect it to a port other than wan and you should be able to access it with the laptop.

P.S. Can you access the internet on the desktop?

[mshelton22]

I am in a rural area, so it is dial up or satelite.........................
Plus, if I cancel now I have a hefty cancellation fee.....
The worst part about thi is the network worked fine before the modem replacement, oh well.

[rspassey]

Have you tried this, even though you have heard it won't work properly?

Modem > router (WAN) > one cable goes to wired PC ; the laptop is on the wireless

Make sure ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) is enabled on the proper port on your desktop (not the one going to the modem, the one going to the router).

Also, I am no expert, but I use patch cables connecting from PCs to modems directly... not crossover (which are generally used when directly connecting two PCs together for file sharing and what not) - Perhaps try using a patch between the modem and the PC and the PC and the router.

[kodmaster]

Originally Posted by ryan124712 Have you tried this, even though you have heard it won't work properly? Modem > router (WAN) > one cable goes to wired PC ; the laptop is on the wireless Make sure ICS (Internet Connection Sharing) is enabled on the proper port on your desktop (not the one going to the modem, the one going to the router). Also, I am no expert, but I use patch cables connecting from PCs to modems directly... not crossover (which are generally used when directly connecting two PCs together for file sharing and what not) - Perhaps try using a patch between the modem and the PC and the PC and the router.

I've never seen a modem that uses a crossover cable to go to the computer. Unless they specifically said to use one. Also why did you choose them in the first place? They have extremely strict TOA from what I read. For the somewhat money more it would cost you you should've went with DirectTV SAtellite or something like that. Even though it's expensive.

Edit: You could use your router as a bridge and then run a cable to your desktop and install the software on that computer and then install the software on your laptop.

What exact linksys router are you using?

Have you tried just directly plugging the laptop into the desktop via crossover cable?

[mshelton22]

Originally Posted by kodmaster I've never seen a modem that uses a crossover cable to go to the computer. Unless they specifically said to use one. Also why did you choose them in the first place? They have extremely strict TOA from what I read. For the somewhat money more it would cost you you should've went with DirectTV SAtellite or something like that. Even though it's expensive. Edit: You could use your router as a bridge and then run a cable to your desktop and install the software on that computer and then install the software on your laptop. What exact linksys router are you using? Have you tried just directly plugging the laptop into the desktop via crossover cable?

Starband says to specifically use a crossover cable--while I'm not saying I made the best choice, I am stuck with it for now.

[kodmaster]

have you tried the above... also have you tried directly plugging the laptop into the modem? and connecting to the internet?

[thefultonhow]

Originally Posted by mshelton22 Starband says to specifically use a crossover cable--while I'm not saying I made the best choice, I am stuck with it for now.

Well then try two different connection methods:

1. Run a crossover from the modem to the WAN port on the Linksys router and then regular cables to the two computers.
2. Run a regular cable from the modem to the WAN port and then regular cables to the two computers.

[glc]

You are using Internet Connection Sharing. You have to log into the Linksys router and change some settings to make it compatible and turn it into a "dumb" wireless access point/switch. The best way to do this is with the laptop, using a cable.

You have to disable its DHCP server, and change its internal IP address to 192.168.0.254 (factory default is 192.168.1.1).

Make sure ICS is set up correctly - when it's correct, it will assign the nic in the desktop that's connected to the router an IP of 192.168.0.1.

You also do NOT use a crossover cable between the nic and the router - that one must be a straight cable.

-----------------------------

Folks - Starband only permits sharing their residential service with Microsoft ICS. You may not use a router connected directly to their modem. You have to buy their business service to get a router. From their FAQ:

Can I set up a home network with the StarBand® satellite modem? The StarBand Residential service is intended for Internet connectivity and customer support of a single personal computer connected directly to the StarBand satellite modem. Additional computers, networked in such a way as to utilize the StarBand Residential service and consume additional bandwidth, are not supported by StarBand and may result in service restrictions if the bandwidth usage exceeds permissible levels under the Acceptable Use Policy. Prior to requesting customer service and technical support for the StarBand software installed on the PC connected to the StarBand satellite modem, it will first be necessary to remove any networking software. Networking multiple PCs to share access to the StarBand Residential service is done solely at the member’s own risk and may invalidate the ability of the StarBand software to function properly. Members who still choose to assume this risk may minimize the impact to the StarBand network and risk of improper functioning of the satellite modem by using the Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) feature in Windows 2000 and Windows XP. REMEMBER: StarBand does not provide any support for networking. The StarBand 484 Small Office service allows for easier networking with its built-in, 4-port Ethernet router. This modem does not require any networking software to be installed on a computer.