I used to have a great wireless set up in my home when I had a cable
modem.  In my new home, the only option for highspeed internet was
Direcway (Hughes)satelite service.  However, the proprietary modems
provided by Direcway have only a USB 'out'.  There is no ethernet
cable 'out'.  My Belkin wireless router has only ethernet 'ins'.

Several folks have suggested that my only option may be to connect the
Direcway modems by USB to a computer and then feed the wireless router
from there...hmmmm.  Not sure if that will work or if its the best
solution. I do have a spare box that could be dedicated this way if it
makes sense. Current equipment is not an issue, nor is money. I want
to set it up in the BEST way, if someone can guide me to the correct
combination of software and hardware.  Thanks.

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 01 Jan 2003 10:42 PST

Dear jmhines123-ga:

If you do not get an answer to your "802.11b" setup, I have a DirecWay
Satellite home networked system myself (consisting of two computers in
different parts of my home) that is done with cables and software and
mine works perfectly. Both computers can share folders, files, and
internet connection using only one dish, one sat modem and one phone
line. I know this is not really what you are seeking but if all else
fails I'd be happy to tell you how I did it.

Regards;
tutuzdad-ga

Hi, 

Until your question here I was going to get one of these connections,
but now I'm pretty sure I won't bother. The USB line from the DirecWay
modem reportedly will not work in a hub or router, it checks to see
that it is in a PC with the Windows OS. I'm not really sure how, but I
found enough comments in forums and such to suggest that purchasing a
USB-RJ45 adapter or router might be a waste of money. I've found a few
of these, and will list them at the bottom, but again, they are
probably a waste of money.

Here is one page's solution: This is pretty simple. 
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/qa/qa20020930.shtml

We are going to need XP or Win2k for this to work. What we are doing
is setting up the machine as a router. Your friends suggestions are
correct. It will work, I have a similar setup at home, and have setup
others with the same solution. It is not the best, but with the way
your DirecWay system seems to work, it looks like the only method. You
could try these other things, but make sure you keep the receipt. :-)

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Product_Id=104991

Vigor2200USB Router.
http://www.draytek.co.uk/products/vigor2200usb.html

DrayTek
http://www.draytek.com.tw/vigor2200usb.htm

DrayTek Vigor2200USB
http://www.practicallynetworked.com/item.asp?pid=427


Thanks, 

webadept-ga

Thanks!

Webadept's answer is excellent.  I just thought I would add some
additional background information, since I've searched for similar
solutions in the past.  As Webadept and your friend suggest, having a
computer serve as the router is the best way to go in this
circumstance.  (Since you have a spare computer, that is a great way
to go.  If you didn't have a spare, you could simply add the software
Webadept suggests on a computer you normally use... it would need to
be the computer the DirecWay plugs into.)

The following information is based upon the Starband satellite
internet system, but, I suspect it is very similar to the DirecWay
technology.  In the case of the Starband system, the satellite modem
actually has an ethernet port on it.  However, even though the port is
there, you would still want to plug it into a Windows computer,
instead of directly into a hub or wireless router.  For the satellite
system to get decent download performance, it must take advantage of
compression and acceleration software which apparently they have only
bothered to develop for Windows.  In the case of the Starband system,
bypassing the special software would cut performance to less than a
dial-up modem.

So, for now, your satellite modem needs to plug into a Windows
computer for best performance, before the connection is shared. 
However, there is potentially good news on the horizon.  Gilat, the
manufacturer of satellite modems for Starband, has developed a new
model that has the TCP and HTTP acceleration embedded in the modem. 
With the new model, the Windows software is not required.  Assuming
that Hughes will develop a similar model, perhaps in the future there
will be new alternatives.  When or if Starband or DirecWay would
distribute and support these devices is anyone's guess... but, we can
hope.

For what it is worth, you can read about the new Gilat modem here:
http://www.gilat.com/Products_Skystar360E_Features.asp

You may find this comparison between DirecWay and Starband
interesting:
http://www.scotsnewsletter.com/20.htm#revu1

Finally, Optistream has some higher-priced standalone router solutions
for DirecWay, but, I think they are priced for a business audience.
http://www.optistreams.com/pg_core/prod_dw4020.htm
http://www.optistreams.com/pg_core/prod_sat_gateway.htm