Whirlpool

I read on their web site that they shape the SAT1 plan (and others) to 28k. I also know that if you have a 512k connection you will hardly, if ever get that speed.

Have any users out there on SkyMesh been shaped to 28k? If so is it a good 28k or is is a 90% or 70% of 28k? Or is just unusable for anything other than email?

I'm with Skymesh. I have the SAT4 plan $49.95, 1024/512k, 1GB. It's been ok so far (better than dialup) and the government subsity is great.

When downloading say a file I easily get the quoted speed. The file will download at 100kb per second. So a 1mb file will take about 10 seconds to download.

The 28k shaping is still ok. It's not a total waste of time. So far I have only hit the shaping once and that was only a couple of days before the end of the month. I will let you know in a few days when I hit the shaping again - this month is looking grim half way through the month and 760MB downloaded :-(

When browsing the web however, there is like a stupid delay of a few seconds before a webpage downloads. This is really annoying and I don't know how they can even call it "broadband". Landline broadband as I remember it (from living in the city), opens pages really fast. Even my first ever 256k landline connection opened the page about 10times faster than my current 1024k satellite plan.

Has anyone else on satellite experienced this lag?

I have done a bit of searching to try and find out what the deal is, but so far no answers. Let's face it 1GB of monthly data is really just a web page browsing plan (ie. not much streaming or downloads), and that's exactly what I wanted it for. It just so happens that this plan is absoultely crap with opening websites quickly, however it is great at streaming and downloading.

Ok found the answer to the delay here:
forum-replies-archive.cfm/622027.html

Didn't realise the satellite was so far away ~ 35,800km. So obviously it takes a while for the signal to be sent there and recieved back.

My results for pinging www.google.com.au are average 1000ms which is about double the statistical value (~500ms) for a satellite connection. Also this is just for google some sites take longer than this.
Damn Skymesh, they are ok but not perfect.
Might have to look at wireless broadband!

The 28k shaping is still ok. It's not a total waste of time. So far I have only hit the shaping once and that was only a couple of days before the end of the month. I will let you know in a few days when I hit the shaping again - this month is looking grim half way through the month and 760MB downloaded :-(

afaast,

I'd be interested in hearing. I'm with Optusnet ADSL1 and I get shaped to 28k. I never get anywhere near that. I can't for the life of me work out why - oh why - ISPs know that when they sell 512k it is VERY unlikely that the customer will get 512. So why don't they advertise 512, set it to 650, customer gets 550 and they are "stoked". Likewise when you are shaped to 28k, set it to 33k so at least your customer will get around 28k. Has any one tried to view the Optusnet home page on a 28k connection? If I was a dial-up Optusnet, and I went to that page I'd be screaming at them to make more friendly to their dial-ups.

I suppose the speedtest.net site will not show a 28k connection speed accuratley so maybe www.ozspeedtest.com/bandwidth and choose the 70 or 600kb test and post your results. Be interesting to see the two (speedtest and ozspeedtest).

As an aside - I have strongly recommended a friend who lives 5km from the centre of Dubbo (yes 5km and they qualify for ABG satellite) to go with SkyMesh SAT1. Qualify, sign up for 30 days, shaped and NO EXCESS download charges for $30/mth. My brother who lives 150km north of Adelaide is going with (at this stage - I'm trying to see if he can get out of it as he has not had the dish put up yet) Activ8me for $30/mth, NO shaping AND three year contract!

bazbrian writes...

oh why - ISPs know that when they sell 512k it is VERY unlikely that the customer will get 512. So why don't they advertise 512, set it to 650

Because most users are on Telstra Wholesale set these and wholesale them on as is. To do this they would be advertising 450.. which would be BELOW what everyone else is so it would look slower even though its the same.

They technically ARE 512 ports, just because you dont achieve 512 in your download monitor does not mean they arnt being achieved.

that said.. in the UK. every speed 512 etc. is as here however the 2mbit plans ARE as you described.

bazbrian writes...

I'd be interested in hearing. I'm with Optusnet ADSL1 and I get shaped to 28k. I never get anywhere near that. I can't for the life of me work out why

When I hit the 28k shaping (only 180mb to go now!!) I will go to the speed test site and post up the results for you.

When I was back on dialup I never ever seemed to get 56k. It seemed to vary throughout the whole connection depending on how many users where online. I'm thinking that the 28k is better than dialup still.

Also during a the christmas period there were times when my skymesh connection was completely useless and I could not even open a page so I just gave up. Maybe because there were too many people using it i'm not too sure.

afaast writes...

When I hit the 28k shaping (only 180mb to go now!!) I will go to the speed test site and post up the results for you.

Thank you.

How good is the usage monitor?

Do you have to go to the Member Login Area or is there a third party program that can sit in the SysTray and advise you of your ongoing usage. Programs like Netspace Usage Grabber, Westnet Usage Grabber ( www.studiocoast.com.au/software.asp ) or Burnsies Optusnet Data monitor ( www.burnsie.com.au ). All these sit in the sytray and expand to display comprehensive data. They even have the mouse over feature where some data is displayed without even having to expand it.

These types of tools are important to know if you are to be shaped. Do SkyMesh advise when you get to 80%?

bazbrian writes...

How good is the usage monitor?

I only use the members area to check this. Other than that you can use your LAN connection status screen to see how much data you have used. (If you have a LAN of course).

bazbrian writes...

Have any users out there on SkyMesh been shaped to 28k? If so is it a good 28k or is is a 90% or 70% of 28k? Or is just unusable for anything other than email?

I used up my limit on the second last day of last month just to see what it was like. I could browse fine, Internet banking was good and emails came in just fine. I downloaded some large files using FlashGet and it was slooooooow as you would expect, but not much different from dial-up. It showed an average of 3.75 KBps which is close to 28 kbps. I got the files I was looking for overnight and that suited me.

I'm not sure if broadband speed testers work at dial-up speeds, but the test results I got were multiples results of 29, 27 and 26 so they must be shaping at 33/33 to get those sorts of results, allowing for overheads. I hope that's worthwhile. Carl.

bazbrian writes...

Do SkyMesh advise when you get to 80%?

I got an 80% warning email and another one when I hit 100%. I knew they were both coming because I check my usage each day. It's displayed hourly if you click on "detailed usage". I'd like to be able to buy extra data blocks like Internode and a bunch of other ISPs offer, but with Skymesh you have to upgrade your Plan. There's no charge and you can do it mid-month, so that's fair enough. Carl.

bazbrian writes...

Have any users out there on SkyMesh been shaped to 28k? If so is it a good 28k or is is a 90% or 70% of 28k? Or is just unusable for anything other than email?

Ok I have hit the shaping and this is what the speed test came up with. Adam internet is the closest mirror to my location. So i'm getting 85% of 28k. Dammit!

Test run on 23/01/2008 @ 06:07 PM

Mirror: Adam Internet
Data: 70 KB
Test Time: 23.59 secs

Your line speed is 24 kbps (0.02 Mbps).
Your download speed is 3 KB/s (0 MB/s).

afaast writes...

Mirror: Adam Internet
Data: 70 KB
Test Time: 23.59 secs

Hey afaast, that test is just 70KB, which doesn't seem like a large file. If you're already shaped and you don't have to worry about going over your limit, why not run the speed test on Skymesh's site (home page down the bottom). It's 2.6 MB and that's a better size to test the average speed.

Also, that test shows how many objects your Internet browser is capable of retrieving simultaneously. I use IE and it was only capable of downloading 2 objects simultaneously until I patched it to download 6 objects at the same time. I'm not sure if that would make much difference to the test results at dial-up speed but it made a lot of difference to my speed when not speed limited. The patch for IE is available on the Web but it's also available to download on their home page. It's called the Internet Explorer Speed Booster and it's a free patch. I gather there's similar patches for other browsers. Firefox has a few settings that achieve the same thing.

Let us know how you go? Carl.

afaast writes...

I'm with Skymesh. I have the SAT4 plan $49.95, 1024/512k, 1GB. It's been ok so far (better than dialup) and the government subsity is great.

Hi there you Skymesh people, I am currently on dial up and looking at going satellite either thru Skymesh or aussie broadband. Both have good plans. Are you happy with the Skymesh service and the installation etc?

Do you find that their download tally is reasonably accurate? and their support centre helpfull?

And how about the modem is it noisy? I want to be able to leave it on all day so want a modem that is quiet.

I will also need to network in a 2nd computer and I am not technically minded so is it fairly simple with Skymesh?

Their website is by far the best out of all the satellite providers as far as information goes, if their service is as good as their website info they should be goooood.

Love to hear your comments.(good & bad).

Thanks
Tanya

mumof4 writes...

And how about the modem is it noisy? I want to be able to leave it on all day so want a modem that is quiet.

Perhaps you missed the reply that you given in the Aussie BB thread on the subject of noisy modems.

forum-replies.cfm?t=849792&p=7

Ian Watson writes...

The new icon series modems do not produce any significant noise. The problem with the old modems with an internal fan no longer exists. This is the case for all IPStar users, not just Aussie Broadband.

All the Ipstar providers use the same equipment. The Icon modem is not noisy (the old ones were though). Even with the old ones, the noise generated was just like having another computer fan on really.

I will also need to network in a 2nd computer and I am not technically minded so is it fairly simple with Skymesh?

It is as simple as it is with any IPstar provider as they all use the same equipment.

Hi Chaosdog1

Thanks for your reply. I'm new to all this and its taking me a while to get a grip on it all. On the skymesh website their modem appears grey and ausssie bb told me that theirs were white hence I wrongly assumed that they were different.

Anyway my main aim was to find out from Skymesh customers whether they were happy with their services as I have read 2 negative threads about skymesh & wandered if this was the norm or just two bad cases. If you get my drift I'm trying to get a feel for the company and how reliable they are.

I like the fact that skymesh have better support hours and NO excess fees although for that you pay $99 installation fee and are shapped back to 28k, which provided it is no worse than the 28k I have on dial up now it will be fine. Aussie bb shape back to 64/64 k but charge you -10c /mb when they do.

They are both pretty good deals and to me now its down to who provides the better and most reliable service. How do I find out that????????

Getting a hang of this forum business. LOL

Regards
Tanya

mumof4 writes...

shapped back to 28k, which provided it is no worse than the 28k I have on dial up now it will be fine

One of my friends is on Skymesh and got shaped in their first month. Feed back from them is that it was better than their dialup. I'm on Optusnet and sometimes have been shaped to 28k for a day or two. It is far worse (that I can remember) than dialup.

bazbrian writes...

One of my friends is on Skymesh and got shaped in their first month.

Hi Bazbrian, are your friends happy in general with Skymesh?

Tanya

mumof4 writes...

On the skymesh website their modem appears grey and ausssie bb told me that theirs were white

old modem = big and grey, new modem = smaller and white.

You'd probably find most providers haven't felt the need to update the pictures of the modem as a priority.

Activ8 provide 64/64 shaping with no excess charge as another alternative.

mumof4 writes...

Hi Bazbrian, are your friends happy in general with Skymesh?

Yes they are. If you go with any Ipstar provider, I think you will find that they all count download and upload to their data limit. I recommended Skymesh to two people, but one was to far along with Activ8 to pull out. Both are on a 500mb plan but the Skymesh shapes AND does not charge for any extra data. Once they get shaped to 28k, I have suggested they basically only use it for email and basic browsing. Even if it takes 10 times longer to get their emails, they are not paying for it or for a phone call if they were on dialup.

I, on optusnet, have a very good data monitor that sits in my system tray. I don't think anyone has developed a system tray data monitor for any of the Ipstar ISPs. So I have got my brother, who is using Activ8 to install Netmeter www.metal-machine.de/rea...=tpmod;dl=item14 . Because he is using ONLY ONE pc on his system , the total data (up and down) will give him a good accurate easy way to see how his data is going. Activ8 will send an email to advise 50% plus a few other % to keep you advised. Not sure how Skymesh does it.

Bottom line, if you have only one PC connected to your ISP, then use Netmeter. If you have more than one PC, put netmeter on all and do a manual tally.

As I am a person that doesn't like ISP's that don't shape AND don't charge for excess at 10c plus per mb, then Skymesh would have to be the one. I feel it is wrong wrong wrong for an ISP to shape AND charge for data at 10c per mb. Some ADSL providers charge a very minimal fee of something like $4/GB. Have a look at this page bc.whirlpool.net.au/bc-p...t&upfront=999999 I feel it is CRIMINAL for Dodo to charge $180/GB excess when others charge $4/GB. OK - off my soap box now.

bazbrian writes...

Some ADSL providers charge a very minimal fee of something like $4/GB.

Of course, data delivered over ADSL is incredibly cheap compared with satellite transmission.

bazbrian writes...

I think you will find that they all count download and upload to their data limit

AussieBB do not, and in my case that makes it the best deal.

From the aussiebb plan page - Data allowance refers to downloaded data only, uploaded data is free

www.aussiebroadband.com.au/plans.html

Munka writes...

AussieBB do not, and in my case that makes it the best deal.

Munka

Perhaps that could be the case for many. $29.95/mth for a 256/64 and 1GB total download and 9.9c per MB excess at 64/64.

Skymesh 512/256 for $29.95/mth and 500MB up/down, shaped to 28/??? and nothing more to pay.

I suppose 256kbps speed is lightning fast after having nothing or 33.6kbps dial up. The novelty soon wears off and 256 becomes too slow. Being shaped to 28kbps is frustrating also.

Which ever ISP anyone chooses, just do your research, ask questions, sort the hay from the chaff, make the big D and two months later something better will come along and you've locked yourself into a contract for 24mths. After that contact finishes and you make the big D again you'll find that you probably still haven't got it right, but this time you've locked yourself into only six mths. It never ends ;-))

bazbrian writes...

Perhaps that could be the case for many. $29.95/mth for a 256/64 and 1GB total download and 9.9c per MB excess at 64/64.


I think you may have misunderstood my comment, you said they all count uploads to the over all data quota, that is clearly not the case with aussieBB -

From their T&C's Upload and Download Data Ratios.
Uploads are not counted in the Aussie Broadband data usage charging, however it is reasonable to expect that upload data will not exceed download data over the monthly billing period.

www.aussiebroadband.com....ditions_aup.html

I said:

Perhaps that could be the case for many. $29.95/mth for a 256/64 and 1GB total download and 9.9c per MB excess at 64/64.

Skymesh 512/256 for $29.95/mth and 500MB up/down, shaped to 28/??? and nothing more to pay.

Munka writes...

I think you may have misunderstood my comment

Munka

I think you actually misunderstood my comment. 1GB total download. That's 500MB Peak and 500MB Off-Peak - Download only

bazbrian writes...

If you go with any Ipstar provider, I think you will find that they all count download and upload to their data limit

This is the post that I was commenting on, and no aussieBB is an IPStar provider and do not count uploads towards data limits.

OK - mis-quote and I accept that not ALL Ipstar ISP's charge for uploads.

Munka writes...

aussieBB is an IPStar provider and do not count uploads towards data limits.

But if you upload more than you download you could be shaped, suspended or cancelled. Best not leave that P2P program running after you download those "Linux distros".

www.aussiebroadband.com....ditions_aup.html

Upload and Download Data Ratios.
Uploads are not counted in the Aussie Broadband data usage charging, however it is reasonable to expect that upload data will not exceed download data over the monthly billing period. At Aussie Broadband’s discretion, abuse of Aussie Broadband’s no charge policy for uploads will result in service shaping, suspension or cancellation. The service will be shaped to 64 kbps download and 64 kbps upload immediately if your upload data exceeds your download monthly data limit. The service will reset to normal speeds at the beginning of the next monthly billing period.

bazbrian writes...

Skymesh 512/256 for $29.95/mth and 500MB up/down, shaped to 28/??? and nothing more to pay.

Currently Ipstar shaping is at 64/64 if a shaped plan is what you have and NO more to pay, Some ISP’s have not updated their Web Pages to reflect the actual facts..

There is a push on at present to have the Ipstar shaping speed set to 80/80 to make the service friendlier for services that require around the 70 kbps to function correctly..

Paul

Ukurrie writes...

Currently Ipstar shaping is at 64/64 if a shaped plan is what you have and NO more to pay, Some ISP’s have not updated their Web Pages to reflect the actual facts..

Well that would explain why my friend said even when it was shaped, it was better than his old dial-up. I just assumed he had "crap" dial-up.

Ukurrie writes...

Currently Ipstar shaping is at 64/64 if a shaped plan is what you have and NO more to pay, Some ISP’s have not updated their Web Pages to reflect the actual facts..

Thanks for this info, if this is the case, skymesh looks very inviting with its plans. I have been reserved up until now with skymesh as I didn't really like the idea of the shaping 28/28 even though it has to be said that I am only on 28.8 kbps dialup now.

Tanya

bazbrian writes...

Skymesh 512/256 for $29.95/mth and 500MB up/down, shaped to 28/??? and nothing more to pay.

Skymesh are offering new customers Bonus Data so the 512/256 500 MB plan now comes with an extra 500 MB Off Peak. I'm not sure if that applies to existing customers or just new customers. I have found the 28/28 kbps shaped speed is actually faster than that and quite good for browsing, emails etc. Downloads are still slow. Carl.

Is anyone on this forum using Skymesh satellite voip? I moved from a Skymesh wireless area to where there was nothing else and now have Skymesh satellite. I'm thinking of getting their two way voip service and I'm keen to find out what others think of it. I spoke with them yesterday and one of the salesmen called me back on a satellite voip line and it was quite clear, certainly as good as a mobile call. I have relatives in the UK and at 3.3 cents a minute I'm interested.

CarlG writes...

I'd like to be able to buy extra data blocks like Internode and a bunch of other ISPs offer, but with Skymesh you have to upgrade your Plan.

Hi Carl

I am absolutely no expert, but I have found while scratching around in Skymesh's website that you can actually buy extra data blocks. $10 for 250 mb, $17 for 500mb & $28 for 1G. I think this is for new & existing customers. Hope this helps, although sounds like you cope fine on the shaping.

Regards
Tanya

mumof4 writes...

you can actually buy extra data blocks. $10 for 250 mb, $17 for 500mb & $28 for 1G.

Thanks Tanya, I see that now. I suspect that's new. I haven't needed to buy any extra data yet, but it's good to know that it's available. I'm not aware of any other satellite ISP's offering data blocks, though it's pretty common in the ADSL world. Thanks.

georget writes...

Is anyone on this forum using Skymesh satellite voip?

Hey georget, I got my Skymesh VoIP two weeks ago and it's been good. They supplied a Linksys 3102 TA which has had good reviews on Whirlpool. Plugs together easily and works as advertised. I use my Uniden cordless phone, but any phone will work. I haven't called overseas but local and interstate calls are good quality. They didn't offer to call me so I could hear the quality but it's a 30 day contract like my internet so if it wasn't any good I could cancel.

I've made a few calls to mobiles buy I reckon it's cheaper to call mobile to mobile. I have the two way service and Skymesh supplied a local number from my area. Some of the other VoIP providers only have capital city numbers which is a bit strange given that most satellite customers are in the bush. They can list your number in the white pages but I haven't bothered. Call quality is good and the satellite lag isn't all that noticeable after you get used to it. All the calls are billed on my Internet account which is handy. As I make more calls I'll know more. They say VoIP definitely won't work if you're shaped, which is fair enough. I hope that helps.

I have been with Skymesh since switching from dial-up in mid-Jan, and after enduring
years of rude know-nothing dial-up helpdesk staff I have to say their customer service is the best I have ever encountered by a very big margin.

I'ts sure easy to rip through the allowance and be ""shaped"", though, mumof4.

x777 writes...

I'ts sure easy to rip through the allowance and be ""shaped"", though, mumof4.

Hi x777, generally, how do you find the shaping in comparison to dial-up?

Tanya

Ukurrie writes...

Currently Ipstar shaping is at 64/64 if a shaped plan is what you have and NO more to pay, Some ISP’s have not updated their Web Pages to reflect the actual facts..

I emailed Skymesh sales this morning who confirmed that their shaping is at least 28/28 but can be higher.

Tanya

mumof4 writes...

how do you find the shaping in comparison to dial-up?

Much the same, Tanya, if not a little faster.

mumof4 writes...

I emailed Skymesh sales this morning who confirmed that their shaping is at least 28/28 but can be higher.

Thanks for the update, A neighbour is with Skymesh and currently shaped, is showing that their shaped plan is running at 58 / 65.. Will have to check it out again next month.

Site for test is www.speedtest.net/index.php

Paul

x777 writes...

I'ts sure easy to rip through the allowance and be ""shaped"", though, mumof4.

I'm in the same boat as Mumof4 - trying to decide between Skymesh & Aussie BB. Hard to know how much data you'll use. Aussie BB is the better deal I feel - but is the off peak allowance of any real value - and does the slower upload speed make any significant difference

djackson writes...

but is the off peak allowance of any real value

Did you realize that skymesh also have the off peak data too.

I agree "djackson", that the decision is a hard one considering I will probably end up on a 1G + 1G(bonus data) plan. Aussie bb is certainly cheaper and no installation fee and only counts uploads but I hate the idea of having to pay excess data fees and as you said until you actually get onto satellite you really don't know what your usage will be like.

I just want to hurry up & make the decision so I can get the satellite dish on my roof!!!

Tanya

mumof4 writes...

Aussie bb is certainly cheaper and no installation fee and only counts uploads but I hate the idea of having to pay excess data fees and as you said until you actually get onto satellite you really don't know what your usage will be like.

Hey Tanya, I didn't think .Aussie was cheaper at all, other than the free installation, all their plans are a smidgeon more. On the $29.95 plan, .Aussie is only 256/64 kbps compared with 512/256 kbps for Skymesh. Yes, uploads are free with .Aussie, but at 64 kbps upload on that plan, could you upload all that much data? To get a 512 kbps download speed from .Aussie, you're looking at $39.95, and that only has 128 kbps upload and not 256 kbps like the $29.95 Skymesh plan. And you risk getting charged for excess data. Of course bonus data was a big thing until Skymesh matched them.

Also, Skymesh support are there on the weekends, and I read somewhere on WP that .Aussie aren't open for support on weekends, but that may not be current. The one thing that clinched it for me was that if you're in a spot beam, Skymesh give you free service calls for warranty failures, and they put that in writing. At the time I quizzed them, .Aussie said that if the equipment failed under warranty they would replace the hardware free, but I would have to pay for a service call (travel time, labour etc), and that could be around $200. I'd check that out with .Aussie. I'd also put the hard word on Skymesh and see if they will budge on the $99. Don't die wondering. Anyway, you're certainly down to the two most competitve providers, they are streets ahead of the others. Ditch that dial-up, make a decision and please let us know who you decided on. Carl.

CarlG writes...

I didn't think .Aussie was cheaper at all,

Hi Carl

Well for me, I think I'll end up using the plan with 1G + 1G (bonus). With Aussie bb its only $40 a month but admittedly comes with the excess data fee of .10c/mb. With Skymesh the same plan is $48 ($47 +$1) but doesn't have any excess data fees. And of course you have the installation fee. With Skymesh though you really only get say 750/800 mb download as upload is counted.

Aussie aren't open for support on weekends

Absolutely, and their day time support hours are only 9 am to 5.30 pm AEST compared with Skymesh's 8am-8pm plus of course their week-ends support.

The speed variation with the 2 is probably not going to worry me too much unless I think I can get away with the cheap plan of 500 + 500mb, then I would definately be better off with skymesh.

Great advise re maintenance as I hadn't covered that in my "investigations". Thanks Carl.

Regards
Tanya

The good support hours and no excess data fees has won me over, I have sent my application off today to "Skymesh". Have decided to start on min plan and see how we cope with the shaping.

Thanks everyone for your valuable input and hope that I have been of some use to others along the way too.

My journey has just begun, bring on satellite broadband....

Tanya

Hi Carl, Tanya, others

This has been very informative as My contract with Bordernet is finished. I am currently researching another provider. I thing I will go for the 512/128 - 1G + 1G $39.95 plan with Aussie, I just need to find out the process of changing providers.
This may be a good question to ask providers before you sign up?

Regards Keith

Hi

Have just had satellite installed today thru Skymesh. It's working beautifully thru a 5 port switch to my newish computer but I cannot make my windows 98 SE computer recognize the connection. Skymesh support was great and spent 20 min on the phone with me putting in 2 manual DNS numbers but this failed and they said they could do no more. It goes without saying that I am quite computer illiterate.

If anyone has had any luck with win 98 computers on satellite I would love to hear some feedback.

Thanks
Tanya

Mumof4,

Satellite, ADSL - doesn't matter. it's all network.

Have any of your computers networked together before the 5 port switch?

What is your setup? Do you allow an auotomatic IP allocation? At work we have Win95 (no scragging here people - all it really does is telnet into a Linux box and provide a basic office front end to write up customers jobs), Win98SE, Windows XP workstations and web servers AND ..... wait for it...... a couple of Macs still running OS8. Any one can connect to internet.

We allocate a fixed IP address to ever computer on our network. If a visiting tech has to connect, then an IP is allocated by the DHCP. All our PCs are on the same workgroup, but that doesn't matter. At home on the week end I handed over an old, very old laptop to a 13yr old. I made sure it was updated AND was set to the "standard WinXP Home" workgroup called MSHOME. My workgroup at home is not called that. Even though it was in a different workgroup, it connected to the internet and downloaded updates.

bazbrian writes...

Have any of your computers networked together before the 5 port switch?

Yes they did but I wouldn't say particularly well, sometimes the win 98 computer could connect to the internet and some days it just wouldn't. The 2 computers were linked by a blue network cable, a different one than I am using now. Apparently the actual cable is the same but the ends are swapped over or something????

bazbrian writes...

What is your setup? Do you allow an auotomatic IP allocation?

Sorry, as I said I am pretty much computer illiterate and so would have to say I don't know.

Tanya

All's well, thanks to a generous forum member both computers are purring.

Tanya