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Networking and Your Satellite Internet Connection
Introduction

Multi-computer families are a growing trend.
People upgrade to new
computers because the old one
isn't powerful enough to run the
latest applications in video
editing, photo editing or games.
The older computer still works
fine for the kids homework,
school reports and browsing so it
is kept along with the new one.
The availability of broadband
Internet connections is also
increasing as are the number of
households with broadband. These two
trends have, in turn driven the growth of a
third trend - the home network. A home
network allows the broadband connection to
be shared by all the networked computers,
eliminating much of the conflict over who
gets to use the Internet. Formerly the
network was only found in businesses but
many companies that manufacture the
hardware elements of a network recognized
the trend toward home networks early and
began marketing their products to the home
consumer. A trip to your local computer
store will reveal a dazzling array of products
for a home network that can be
overwhelming.
Among the most common questions asked
in the DSLR Satellite forum concern sharing
the satellite connection. Frequently new
owners have been offered conflicting or
erroneous information by the companies or
dealers that sell the service regarding
whether the Satellite connection can be
shared.
If they then go to a computer store and ask
about sharing their broadband connection
they are very likely to be given further
erroneous information by the store
personnel who are unaware of the particular
requirements of this connection. Forum
members decided to develop this document
to assist the new Satellite Internet user to:

1. Establish a working home network


2.
Share their Satellite Internet
connection
This document is designed to assist the
computer user who has never even opened
their computer's case to get a network up
and running and to share their satellite
connection. (You probably will have to open
your computer's case to do this, but getting
the courage up to take that first step may be
the hardest part.) If you are ready to try
read on.


Example of a mixed wired and wireless LAN


2 What Type of Network - Hardware Decisions

In order to share an Internet
connection, you must first
establish a network (LAN)
and get your computers
talking to each other.


4. Power Line Networking. This relies on
existing electrical wiring in the home to carry
the network data. Advantage: No new
wires - while not every room in the home will
have a phone jack, all will have electrical
outlets. Also, by necessity, computers will
be located near electrical outlets. It doesn't
require a card to be installed in the
computer. Disadvantage:
Slower than
Fast Ethernet for file transfer. There are
competing standards. It can be very slow
using the older technology. It uses large
wall devices to access an electrical outlet.
The first decision you will be
required to make is what kind
of network will work for your
situation. There are several
types to choose from, each
with their own strengths and
weaknesses. You'll need to
make this decision before you purchase
anything.


1. The Wired or 10/100 Ethernet Network
also known as Fast Ethernet to distinguish
it from the older 10BaseT Ethernet (which
will also work fine.) This network requires
cable to connect all elements of the
network. Advantage: Secure, reliable and
has the fastest file transfer and is relatively
inexpensive. Disadvantage: wires. If the
computers are some distance apart you'll
either have wires strung through the house
or you have to figure out how to fish wires
through the walls, attic, basement or crawl
space.

2. The Wireless Network also known as
Wi-Fi or 802.11b. This relies on radio
signals broadcast from an Access Point to
reach the networked computers.

Advantage:
No or few wires.

Disadvantage: Slower file transfer rate,
works best with a clear line of sight between
the Access Point and the computers
receiving the signal. Distance and objects
blocking the signal will reduce the speed of
the network. Recently new WiFi5, (802.11a)
equipment has come out that allows
substantially faster file transfer speeds. Be
careful what you purchase as 802.11a does
not talk to 802.11b.

3. Phone Line Network also known as
HomePNA. Advantage: makes use of
existing phone wires and jacks to carry the
network communications. Disadvantage:
You have to have phone jacks located
where your computers are located or you
have to add them and wire them. Slower
than the 10/100 Ethernet but about the
same speed as the current Wireless
networks speeds.
Recent advances may have ironed out some
of the disadvantages that this type of
network had so this may merit a second
look.
Special Note: Recently an increasing
number of computer manufacturers are
including Network Interface Cards (NICs) as
standard equipment in their computers.

Before you head off to purchase anything,
check your computers to see if they already
have a Network Interface Card.

You will also need to check inside your
computers to see whether they have a
spare PCI slot available to install the NIC.




3
4
What to Purchase for a Wired Ethernet Network

Sufficient amount of Category 5 or 5e
cable to wire your house. Note: Non-
plenum cable should be fine, unless you
have cable runs that come in close
proximity to any type of heat source
such as hot water pipes, heating duct
work, etc. It is preferable to avoid being
near any heat source, if at all possible.
However, if it is unavoidable then
plenum cable should be used.

Sufficient number of RJ45 Jack
Modules, wall plates and electrical
boxes. Note: You will need one wall
plate and one electrical box for each,
remote client location, plus one wall
plate and electrical box close to the host
computer and switch. The client wall
plates can either be single or double
hole plates. The host/switch wall plate
should be a 2, 3 or 4 hole plate,
depending on how many remote clients
you will be running cable to. For each
hole in the wall plate you will need a
Jack Module or blank, depending on
whether you use each hole in each wall
plate.

One, 10/100 Network Interface Card
(NIC) for each computer. Note: This
includes the host computer. This is
different from other Broadband Internet
connections (DSL & cable) that require
two NIC cards in the host computer.
Some brand names include Belkin, D-
Link, Linksys, 3-Com and Netgear.

A five (or more, depending on how
many computer you will be networking)
port, auto-sensing, network switch for 3
or more computers. Note: You might
consider buying a Home Networking kit,
which normally comes with the switch,
two NICs, plus some cables. Then all
you have to do is purchase any
additional NIC cards you may need.
The brands are the same as mentioned
in item three.

Enough prefabricated patch cords to go
between the switch and wall plate as
well as between the wall plate and each
client computer. Note: These should
be Category 5 or 5e rated. Of course, if
you put the switch close to the host
computer (logical choice), then a patch
cord from the switch to the host
computer.

Note:
Make sure these are straight thru cables
and not crossover cables. Crossover
cables are only used if you are
connecting one client to the host and not
using a switch.


Small, sharp, pocket knife or Xacto
blade to strip outer sheath (outer cover)
from the Category 5 (Cat. 5) cable.

Diagonal cutters or Cat. 5 crimping tool
(optional), with cutters.

Fish tape or some other means to fish
cable through hollow walls.

Masking tape or cable markers for
marking all cables.

Small blade, flat screwdriver or 110
Punch-Down impact tool (optional) for
attaching wire to RJ45 Jack Modules.

Cable tester (optional)

Number 2 Phillips head screwdriver or
number 10 and 15 Torx driver for taking
apart your computer and installing the
NIC Cards.


Special Note:
It is wise to purchase your RJ45 wall
plates and Jack Modules at the same
place and get the same brand. There are
several brands available and they are not
always interchangeable. Jack Modules
and wall plates can usually be purchased
at Lowes, Home Depot and your local,
electrical supply house. Some hardware
stores will carry these items. Radio
Shack has their own type of RJ45 Jacks
and wall plates that are totally different
then the industry standard. They are fairly
expensive, but a bit easier to attach the
cable to.