[lug] Linux and Satellite Internet Access?

[Brian Moore]

In the case of Starband, they use a USB-connected satellite modem
that has a driver only for doze.  The driver also doesn't use
the dialup or LAN adapter code, and therefore things like 
CheckPoint SecuRemote will not work with this service.

Starband says right up front that VPNs will not work with their
service.  Also, one of the folks I work with who has Starband called 
them to see when a Linux driver would be available.  Their answer 
was an immediate "NEVER".

I've also heard that the satellite modem USB interface is supplied
by an Ethernet to USB adapter inside the modem, and that one could
go in and disconnect it and connect directly to the Ethernet.
I don't know whether this is true or not.  

The above mentioned person is getting rid of it.  The propogation delay 
to the bird and back is on the order of 3-4 seconds, and the service 
is nearly unusable for anything other than large downloads and streaming 
video.  Web page load timeouts are very common, and small downloads
usually time out and have to be restarted.

Of course, YMMV.
-Brian   

"Trever C. Trader" wrote:
> 
> I dont' see why there would be any problems.  Satellite internet like
> anything else uses a standard IP stack for it's communication.
> 
> The only problem that I have with Satellite Internet is the fact that it's
> half-duplex with about a 600ms lag time up and down.
> 
> On Sat, 3 Feb 2001, David Morris wrote:
> 
> > I was just wondering what options are available for connecting a LINUX
> > box to the internet via satellite?  Within the next 6 months or so, I
> > might well be moving up to the mountains, and it is likely that
> > neither DSL, nor Cable will be available for high speed
> > access.
> >
> > As of a year ago (my last inquiry on the subject) the answer was that
> > nothing really worked all that well with Linux, if at all.  Has that
> > changed, or is it likely to change in the next few months?
> >
> > --David
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> >
> 
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-- 
Brian Moore, Sr. Network Engineer        e-mail: bmoore at digitalglobe.com
EarthWatch, Inc.                                     phone: 303-702-5527
1900 Pike Road                                       fax:   303-682-3848
Longmont, CO 80501