Satellite Direct PC & Linux

[wsm2506]

Does anyone know Direct PC will work under Linux?

[chikn]

NO! Get yourself a pieced together 2K box and ICS it.

[Craig McPherson]

I don't know much about DirectPC, but I know a bit about Starband, which is a lot better than DirectPC, but still not very good. It uses a cruddy USB connection to the "modem" device and extremely crappy Windows software, so there'd be no chance of getting that to work in Windows. However, with the "modem" box that Starband uses, it's possible to open up the device, fiddle around with some wires, and re-enable the Ethernet port on the device! This allows you to use the device in any operating system that supports Ethernet. This voids the warranty, of course, plus there's the risk of destroying the device while you're mucking around inside, and you won't be able to get any technical support.

I'm not sure if DirectPC is similar to Starband in that regard. If it uses a "modem" device with an Ethernet connector, you can use it with any OS. If its "modem" device connects to the computer via a USB cable, and hence requires special connection software, forget about it.

[chikn]

Originally posted by Craig McPherson:
<STRONG>
I'm not sure if DirectPC is similar to Starband in that regard. If it uses a "modem" device with an Ethernet connector, you can use it with any OS. If its "modem" device connects to the computer via a USB cable, and hence requires special connection software, forget about it.</STRONG>

Its a crappy USB only device with software that during registration (with a windows program) codes the device with activation info. It would be a real tough one to make work under linux.

[wsm2506]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

I have 2 laptops running WIN98SE and 2 desktops Dual booting WIN98SE and Mandrake 8.0. What if I set up one of the desktops as a Samba server? Would that allow me to do modem sharing with the other desktop running Win98SE?

[Tfortysix]

I don't know about DirecPC, I'm using Starband now and I would avoid that unless you have an extra computer to dedicate to hook up to the modem. Starband recently "upgraded" to a new modem which doesn't work well with Linux. It uses Nettgain software (www.flashnetworks.com) which is only written for windows. The old modem you could hook up to ethernet with a little work and Linux was fine with that. You can network this one fine, but only with windows talking to the modem. Check for DirecPC newgroups and ask them about this, or starband.gen newsgroup for starband.

[wsm2506]

Thanks!! I will check out the newsgroups.

[Nekopa]

This may sound silly, because I am a complete n00b, but could it be possible to use something like Wine to run the *modem software* ?

Lee

[Tfortysix]

Nope, wine doesn't work. I should add that linux is usable with starband, it just cuts the speed down to about 56k speed, which isn't what you're paying for. If you network with a windows box, the linux box will be able to use all the speed you be payin the big bucks for!