Ipstar Satellite, Configure Nat Problems

[cnxpat]

Hi all,

I got my IPStar setup, and I am able to browse the web, yet can't access any secure sites, can't use FTP etc.

I don't have a static IP address, and I was told I need to set up NAT in my router/gateway. From what I have read (and heard) sofar, it makes sense, when I "tracert" any website, after the BKK gateway all I get is * * * and time outs, so the website can't "find me" anymore.

I understand the problem (I think), yet now I have my IP-address, Subnet, default gateway, DHCP server, DNS server etc. etc., and I tried tie them up and configure NAT in the router using these values, but I can't get it to work. It's my lack of knowledge, I know.

Does anyone have a detailed description of how to set this up in the IPStar router using the IPStar terminal properties? (what to use for "NAT Pass thru port", "Static routes", "Nettgain pass through connection" ...)

I will be using the same connection for my desktop and my laptop, however, at the moment I would be very happy to be able to receive my e-mails, answer my customers, etc. on just one PC, so no hub installed yet, I am directly connected to the IPStar terminal/router!

(Obviously, the TOT techy came here twice and sat here pressing"refresh" and "pinging" and "tracert-ing" for 3 hours on each occasion, hoping it will solve itself,mumbling "gateway bangkok". My suggestions re. NAT were obviously ignored. Trying to get in touch with TOT HQ later, but in the mean time, any advice (other than "set up NAT" :-) is more than welcome!)

Thanks a lot in advance, back on the phone again now trying to get in touch with TOT "helpdesk"

cnxpat

[astral]

I am not sure with IPSTAR, but with most routers, you enter the range of addresses you want the DHCP of the router to offer and that is all.

The router handles the NAT.

With ipconfig /all at the command level of the pc you will be able to see what address the router is giving you. Probably 192.168.1.xxx.

You should see your router 192.168.1.1 as the gateway and one dns.

As you have had the technician in I would imagine that the address settings on the input to the router are correct.

Therefore his mumblings about the IPSTAR gateway problem are correct.

[cnxpat]

I am not sure with IPSTAR, but with most routers, you enter the range of addresses you want the DHCP of the router to offer and that is all.

The router handles the NAT.

With ipconfig /all at the command level of the pc you will be able to see what address the router is giving you. Probably 192.168.1.xxx.

You should see your router 192.168.1.1 as the gateway and one dns.

As you have had the technician in I would imagine that the address settings on the input to the router are correct.

Therefore his mumblings about the IPSTAR gateway problem are correct.

Hi, thanks for your reply,

well, he was blaming "Bangkok gateway", also mumbled "firewall", "wait 20 minutes", that was as far as his knowledge went (oh, and here was "ping" and "tracert"). That is about as far as my knowledge goes as well actually, but I am learning :-)

Unfortunately I need to try to configure nat on the IPstar router, or at least, that is the closest I can get to a solution at the moment whilst waiting for more TOT technicians.

The IP star router was setup before installation, so it was plug and play, except for beforementioned problems. Oh well, I'll keep on trying, thanks!

[Lannig]

I am not sure with IPSTAR, but with most routers, you enter the range of addresses you want the DHCP of the router to offer and that is all.

The router handles the NAT.

With ipconfig /all at the command level of the pc you will be able to see what address the router is giving you. Probably 192.168.1.xxx.

You should see your router 192.168.1.1 as the gateway and one dns.

As you have had the technician in I would imagine that the address settings on the input to the router are correct.

Therefore his mumblings about the IPSTAR gateway problem are correct.

Hi, thanks for your reply,

well, he was blaming "Bangkok gateway", also mumbled "firewall", "wait 20 minutes", that was as far as his knowledge went (oh, and here was "ping" and "tracert"). That is about as far as my knowledge goes as well actually, but I am learning :-)

Unfortunately I need to try to configure nat on the IPstar router, or at least, that is the closest I can get to a solution at the moment whilst waiting for more TOT technicians.

The IP star router was setup before installation, so it was plug and play, except for beforementioned problems. Oh well, I'll keep on trying, thanks!

My technical knowledge of iPSTAR is getting a bit old, but unless they have changed it drastically they don't do NAT. They give a few real IP addresses to their customers. I really don't see how using any kind of NAT would help you accessing HTTPS sites and even less using FTP (NAT usually makes FTP connections more problematic anyway!)

AFAIK they don't give their customers any access to the configuration of the iPSTAR box, do they?

My feeling is that the guy you spoke to didn't have the slightest clue of what he was talking about (the usual case with iPSTAR support, or I can imagine, even more with TOT folks dealing with the iPSTAR nonsense) so he was just mumbling random words to make you think he did.

Now for your particular problem: HTTPS and FTP are really two very different cases. There are many things that can break FTP, but I see no good reason why HTTPS would fail due to anything on your side (except your Windows-based firewall preventing your browser from connecting out to port 443, but I'll assume you've ruled this out already).

This means that the problem must be on their end.

Not very helpful I know

--Lannig

[cnxpat]

I am not sure with IPSTAR, but with most routers, you enter the range of addresses you want the DHCP of the router to offer and that is all.

The router handles the NAT.

With ipconfig /all at the command level of the pc you will be able to see what address the router is giving you. Probably 192.168.1.xxx.

You should see your router 192.168.1.1 as the gateway and one dns.

As you have had the technician in I would imagine that the address settings on the input to the router are correct.

Therefore his mumblings about the IPSTAR gateway problem are correct.

Hi, thanks for your reply,

well, he was blaming "Bangkok gateway", also mumbled "firewall", "wait 20 minutes", that was as far as his knowledge went (oh, and here was "ping" and "tracert"). That is about as far as my knowledge goes as well actually, but I am learning :-)

Unfortunately I need to try to configure nat on the IPstar router, or at least, that is the closest I can get to a solution at the moment whilst waiting for more TOT technicians.

The IP star router was setup before installation, so it was plug and play, except for beforementioned problems. Oh well, I'll keep on trying, thanks!

My technical knowledge of iPSTAR is getting a bit old, but unless they have changed it drastically they don't do NAT. They give a few real IP addresses to their customers. I really don't see how using any kind of NAT would help you accessing HTTPS sites and even less using FTP (NAT usually makes FTP connections more problematic anyway!)

AFAIK they don't give their customers any access to the configuration of the iPSTAR box, do they?

My feeling is that the guy you spoke to didn't have the slightest clue of what he was talking about (the usual case with iPSTAR support, or I can imagine, even more with TOT folks dealing with the iPSTAR nonsense) so he was just mumbling random words to make you think he did.

Now for your particular problem: HTTPS and FTP are really two very different cases. There are many things that can break FTP, but I see no good reason why HTTPS would fail due to anything on your side (except your Windows-based firewall preventing your browser from connecting out to port 443, but I'll assume you've ruled this out already).

This means that the problem must be on their end.

Not very helpful I know

--Lannig

Hi Lannig,

yes, I ruled out that, opened port 443 explicitely, also tried without firewall, reinstalled a fresh XP ... using opera, IE, Firefox, Seamonkey ...

The issue might not be https related, but I just can't sign in anywhere. I call that "can't access secure sites". e.g.

I can't sign into my eBay account, yet I can open ebay.com and browse.

I can't sign into my hosting account at godaddy.com, yet I can browse godaddy.com.

I can't sign into my e-mail accounts, either webbased (can't sign into gmail.com, hotmail.com, yahoo.com) or using an e-mail client (again, I tried them all).

I can't connect to my websites using FTP, that is, I can connect, but I can't sign in and FTP.

So ... interesting is that when I "tracert", after the BKK Gateway all I get is * * * * which does indicate that I can't be "seen" anymore, hence the nat <-> dynamic IP address suggestion (given to me by another ip-star user with is lucky to have a static IP-address).

Another issue is corrupted CRC's on files that I download, they're all useless.

The "good" thing was that it wasn't working on the techy's laptop either, so I couldn't be blamed. Yes, it is on their end, but ... well, you know how it goes.

to be continued ...

[h90]

Some adds to that:

My technical knowledge of iPSTAR is getting a bit old, but unless they have changed it drastically they don't do NAT. They give a few real IP addresses to their customers. I really don't see how using any kind of NAT would help you accessing HTTPS sites and even less using FTP (NAT usually makes FTP connections more problematic anyway!)

you can set NAT in the box, but it simply does not work but for https and ftp nat is not necessary. These time outs are normal for IPStar. That is not a specific problem of the OP, it is just for everyone on IPStar.

AFAIK they don't give their customers any access to the configuration of the iPSTAR box, do they?

yes you can change a few things inside with the password, but it does not help and sometimes the box just crashes, pretty useless but possible

My feeling is that the guy you spoke to didn't have the slightest clue of what he was talking about (the usual case with iPSTAR support, or I can imagine, even more with TOT folks dealing with the iPSTAR nonsense) so he was just mumbling random words to make you think he did.

actually seeing a person, getting an answer (even it is nonsense), is far more than we normal user ever get. You may still think you are customer and you want to get what you paid for..... you are wrong!! You are allowed to pay, thats all. If it works sometimes partialy, be happy, thats already more than other customer get.

Now for your particular problem: HTTPS and FTP are really two very different cases. There are many things that can break FTP, but I see no good reason why HTTPS would fail due to anything on your side (except your Windows-based firewall preventing your browser from connecting out to port 443, but I'll assume you've ruled this out already).

corrupt data is happening sometimes, it seems the communication protocols are not written good, like there are no checksums or things like that (or they turned that off to save overhead). Corrupt data in encrypted things may cause troubles, security warnings for example.

This means that the problem must be on their end.

Not very helpful I know

definitly on their end, and not one problem, thousands of problems, there are other topics, there is one guy who fax them every day his complains and somewhere there is an own forum for IPStar bashing

--Lannig

[Lannig]

Some adds to that:

(...)

Thanks for the update and extra info H90.

corrupt data is happening sometimes, it seems the communication protocols are not written good, like there are no checksums or things like that (or they turned that off to save overhead). Corrupt data in encrypted things may cause troubles, security warnings for example.

Well, this isn't going to be helpful to anyone but just for the sake of it, the main problem they have is with their TCP accelerator stuff. The big issue with Internet communications over a satellite link is the transit delay. With TCP connections, it means that you have to wait double that delay to get your last data packet ACKed by the receiving end. This makes the throughput very low. There are tricks that can be played with the TCP window size to accomodate for the large amount of data "inflight" but this requires tweaking at both ends so it's not acceptable in a end-user context. So what they do is faking the TCP packet ACKs locally by software running on the customer box and at the gateway, then handling the satellite transmission hop specifically. TCP data acknowledgments are no longer really end-to-end. This is kind of bleeding-edge IP technology, so one can easily imagine what happens when it is put in the hands of Thais to make it work (even though that software was bought from foreign companies). Also, it works OK when all the rest is working fine too, the code is properly updated at both ends to squeeze out bugs etc. None of this happens at iPSTAR. The result is what you see...

definitly on their end, and not one problem, thousands of problems, there are other topics, there is one guy who fax them every day his complains and somewhere there is an own forum for IPStar bashing

I'm just repeating myself here, but I have good reasons to think that home users of iPSTAR probably should give up any hope of improvement. That's a niche market with low margins they're not putting efforts in anymore (well, if they ever had). They're eaten alive by ADSL where available. The technology costs too much and has too serious drawbacks for the needs of home users. They have found other ways to sell the enormous satellite bandwidth they have available to governments and corporate users with much higher margins (and considering the recently published financial data of Shin Sat, they need quick cash). For those who can't get ADSL here in Thailand, well, let's hope for WiMAX if the Thai military accept to release a bit the grip they have on all the radio spectrum.

--Lannig

[cnxpat]

h90, and all,

I'm not talking "time-outs", "slow" ... I just can't get in anywhere (sites and facilities I mentioned before), never, not even sometimes, not even a little bit, not even slowly, not even almost. Even entering http://gmail.google.com times out, on every thinkable browser, and on every pc around here.

Again, the tracert is an indication (or at least it should be to a network engineer - not me, although I think common sense does help as well) that something is wrong on their end.

Configuring "Nat" was a suggestion that made sense to me ("I can't be found after leaving the gateway"),

And yes, I can access the IPStar box as I made sure I got the password from the techy (not "jay yin yin" all the time really does work contrary to popular belief :-). Not that I know exactly how to configure it though (should that be the solution, which some may doubt, but I am just willing to give it a try)

I am in touch with a (finally "satisfied") IPStar user, I don't care too much about speed, I understand a thunderstorm will disrubt the signal, yet I DO need to be able to get into eBay, need to be able to FTP some websites I am developing, and I need to get my e-mails and be able to reply quickly (have to make a living right?).

I was using TOT ADSL in Chiang Mai before, and it was ok. Not good, but sufficient, I could do all the above, and even have a decent skype video/call connection with relatives in Europe. I do not have a choice at the moment, there are simply no landlines where I am living.

I will also have the satellite receiver and router replaced tomorrow, but my connection is fine, speed is fine for me (got the "cheap" 256/128 connection). I still am convinced it's a configuration issue either in the IPStar box, or on their server, gateway whatever.

we'll keep trying, and keep the very uplifting messages coming please :-)

[h90]

you wrote above "and I am able to browse the web"

and here you write "not even a little bit, not even slowly, not even almost. Even entering http://gmail.google.com times out,"

that are different informations. google.com is normaly mentioned as a part of the web.

Please clearify, can you use normal webpages like www.google.com, www.thaivisa.com, www.seal-direct.com ??

At least sometimes (don't expect more than sometimes from IPStar) or not.

h90, and all,

I'm not talking "time-outs", "slow" ... I just can't get in anywhere (sites and facilities I mentioned before), never, not even sometimes, not even a little bit, not even slowly, not even almost. Even entering http://gmail.google.com times out, on every thinkable browser, and on every pc around here.

Again, the tracert is an indication (or at least it should be to a network engineer - not me, although I think common sense does help as well) that something is wrong on their end.

Configuring "Nat" was a suggestion that made sense to me ("I can't be found after leaving the gateway"),

And yes, I can access the IPStar box as I made sure I got the password from the techy (not "jay yin yin" all the time really does work contrary to popular belief :-). Not that I know exactly how to configure it though (should that be the solution, which some may doubt, but I am just willing to give it a try)

I am in touch with a (finally "satisfied") IPStar user, I don't care too much about speed, I understand a thunderstorm will disrubt the signal, yet I DO need to be able to get into eBay, need to be able to FTP some websites I am developing, and I need to get my e-mails and be able to reply quickly (have to make a living right?).

I was using TOT ADSL in Chiang Mai before, and it was ok. Not good, but sufficient, I could do all the above, and even have a decent skype video/call connection with relatives in Europe. I do not have a choice at the moment, there are simply no landlines where I am living.

I will also have the satellite receiver and router replaced tomorrow, but my connection is fine, speed is fine for me (got the "cheap" 256/128 connection). I still am convinced it's a configuration issue either in the IPStar box, or on their server, gateway whatever.

we'll keep trying, and keep the very uplifting messages coming please :-)

[cnxpat]

Hi,

yes, I can "browse" the net, yes, I can access www.google.com, www.hotmail.com, www.yahoo.com.

On entering username and password it get's stuck. In gmail's case, I even get stuck on entering http://gmail.google.com.

Maybe gmail.google.com redirects to "signin at google.com" or whatever. Wish I could check where gmail.google.com takes me, but the nearest internet cafe is 20 km's away, will do so net time though!

I know this is confusing, I know WWW.google.com is part of the net, however GMAIL.google.com is another URL.

Hope this clarifies?

thx!

[cnxpat]

Hi,

yes, I can "browse" the net, yes, I can access www.google.com, www.hotmail.com, www.yahoo.com.

On entering username and password it get's stuck. In gmail's case, I even get stuck on entering http://gmail.google.com.

Maybe gmail.google.com redirects to "signin at google.com" or whatever. Wish I could check where gmail.google.com takes me, but the nearest internet cafe is 20 km's away, will do so net time though!

I know this is confusing, I know WWW.google.com is part of the net, however GMAIL.google.com is another URL.

Hope this clarifies?

thx!

Edit: I checked the IP-addresses as well using "ping", www.google.com connects to 66.102.7.147, gmail.google.com to 216.239.63.107

[h90]

Hi,

yes, I can "browse" the net, yes, I can access www.google.com, www.hotmail.com, www.yahoo.com.

On entering username and password it get's stuck. In gmail's case, I even get stuck on entering http://gmail.google.com.

Maybe gmail.google.com redirects to "signin at google.com" or whatever. Wish I could check where gmail.google.com takes me, but the nearest internet cafe is 20 km's away, will do so net time though!

I know this is confusing, I know WWW.google.com is part of the net, however GMAIL.google.com is another URL.

Hope this clarifies?

thx!

Edit: I checked the IP-addresses as well using "ping", www.google.com connects to 66.102.7.147, gmail.google.com to 216.239.63.107

can you try: https://secure.modshop2000.com/psxtune/psx2...ermatrixse.html and http://www.psxtune.com/psx2/ordermatrixe.html

I just tried these two over IPStar and they work.

You can also try to send the orderform, just don't give your creditcard and mention that you are from Thaivisa (the order comes out direct here on my computer).

would be interesting if it works or not

[cnxpat]

hi h90,

I managed to get into the 2nd URL (http://www.psxtune.com/psx2/ordermatrixe.html) and ordered, apparently sucessful,

the first url (https://secure.modshop2000.com/psxtune/psx2...ermatrixse.html) has been loading for a few minutes now, as is the same with gmail, hotmail, godaddy, ebay sign ins ... etc. etc. and ends in "the page can not be displayed" (on IE) and "problem loading page" (on FF). Can try Opera and SeaMonkey, but you get the point ;-)

thx

[h90]

hi h90,

I managed to get into the 2nd URL (http://www.psxtune.com/psx2/ordermatrixe.html) and ordered, apparently sucessful,

the first url (https://secure.modshop2000.com/psxtune/psx2...ermatrixse.html) has been loading for a few minutes now, as is the same with gmail, hotmail, godaddy, ebay sign ins ... etc. etc. and ends in "the page can not be displayed" (on IE) and "problem loading page" (on FF). Can try Opera and SeaMonkey, but you get the point ;-)

thx

got the order.

the other the secure page is definitly working here on IPStar (Loxinfo) and it da*mn fast (for IPStar, you can not manage to make a coffee and drink it finish while it is loading).

Anyway not a big help, but maybe you can tell the technican that for other IPStar user it is working.

Looks like the port is closed, firewall or something like that at IPStar.

Sounds very dumb so maybe it is true, someone tried to block file sharing and closed all not necessary (in his opinion not necessary) ports.

If I recall right one mod here has ipstar from TOT, I think it is username george, he reported that loxinfo ipstar and tot ipstar are different in performance.

[cnxpat]

Ok, thanks for your time anyway h90,

yes, speed is not an issue sofar for me either, it's not bad, and I don't need to watch tv or download gig's of stuff, so I am fine, and I can wait an hour to download 20 MB's, we're still in Thailand and everything "cha cha".

Gives me time to feed the pigs :-)

I do still think (also based on another IP-starrer) that dynamic or static IP address has something to do with it. Static IP is 200 THB/month extra, and I don't need it (don't need remote access or whatever) but if that solves it, I really need to get online well, effective online (email, ftp and eBay) quickly!

(btw, you can cancel the order, I am sure I can't get a PS2 to work either :-)

Calling TOT again as well ...

cnxpat

[h90]

Ok, thanks for your time anyway h90,

yes, speed is not an issue sofar for me either, it's not bad, and I don't need to watch tv or download gig's of stuff, so I am fine, and I can wait an hour to download 20 MB's, we're still in Thailand and everything "cha cha".

Gives me time to feed the pigs :-)

I do still think (also based on another IP-starrer) that dynamic or static IP address has something to do with it. Static IP is 200 THB/month extra, and I don't need it (don't need remote access or whatever) but if that solves it, I really need to get online well, effective online (email, ftp and eBay) quickly!

(btw, you can cancel the order, I am sure I can't get a PS2 to work either :-)

Calling TOT again as well ...

cnxpat

it shouldn't has any influence if the IP adress is static or not. thats sure not the reason.

btw. if you go online with normal analog modem everything is working? (just to doublecheck that it isn't something on your computer).

Pigs: if you have natural feeded pigs I would like to have some meat

[cnxpat]

H90,

If I had a landline, I wouldn't be using the satellite :-) having said that, the neighbouring village has tot landlines, yet no adsl available either so anyway ... nope, can't check that.

I am 99.99% sure it isn't my pc, as the same problem occurred on the TOT techy's laptop, and on the other desktop I have here. Now that would be a huge coincidence right? I also reinstalled (a LEGAL) version of XP, got all the updates, patches, Service Pack's ... tried all browsers, all e-mai clients, various FTP programs, various fire walls (on and off) ... Ok, it can't be ruled out, but it's very unlikely it's my laptop, and my desktop, and TOT's laptop at the same time.

Also, when I go to the nearest internet cafe with this laptop, I just plug in the LAN cable and I'm up and running, checking my e-mails, FTP-ing, handling sales, and trying to keep my customers happy and begging for more patience. So make it 99.9999% sure.

The food for the pigs does come in bags, they didn't like our grass :-) now how natural that is, is very difficult to tell! At least they're not in a pig-factory, just in a stable and outdoors, being lazy all day.

Ready to take orders anytime of course, through my websites or e-mail ... IF I can get them!

[ace]

Hi,

First off, traceroute returning * * * * * is not an issue, just normal operation of f/wall / router.

As your problem is with https, and it occurs on different PCs, it seems apparent that you have a firewall issue, port 443. Responsibility of the service provider. If this is proved OK then you can have a more obscure f/wall issue such as an over-sensitive stateful inspection mode f/wall (as https is encrypted the port can be open but the packets denied as they can't be examined) or packet in sequence compulsary mode or even mtu / dnf issues on a router. But this is getting way technical and hard to troubleshoot without access!

Some potential windows issues and the solutions here:

http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windows/t-5...-SSL-HTTPS.html

Make sure all your PC security is turned off (just for testing).

Good luck!

Ace

[cnxpat]

Thanks Ace,

on "my side", I opened port 443, and tried (for 3 days now) with and without firewalls, antivirus etc. on all machines, without results. Started with clean pc's, fresh installs of XP, (legal XP home and Xp Pro) still no results, and as I said before, I hook up my laptop to any LAN like in the internet cafe, and I am flying all over the net, secure or not, and can do all the things I can't do now (and like I used to do for over a year on several ADSL networks, wireless and wired).

Now it is hard to explain to TOT (and also hard to imagine) that my connection is the only one with this issue, yet I am pretty convinced it is not my PC (as the technician had the same problem with his laptop). "They" need to fix something, or tell me how to configure for their specific configuration, that's all. Will also ask for a new router and a new receiver (on the dish) to test and to rule out any hardware probs on that part.

Yes, I read about MTU, I used a tool called DRTCP021 to set it to several suggested values, still no success. It is definitely hard to troubleshoot, yet I guess a proper network engineer would be able to work it out. I admit straight away, I AM NOT (nor do I pretend to be :-), and the tot technician even less I'm afraid!

Had a look at the link, thanks for your tip, I found similar links and suggestions on other sites as well, and tried them all. I did the re-registering, and there's a tool WinsockXPfix that does all that and more ... nothing! (I am not using Norton).

Now I really don't know what I can/should do or try, but leaving it in TOT hands is not something that makes me feel confident it will be sorted anytime soon either.

So, close to despair, but will keep trying! Thanks all for your input, and keep them coming of course.

thanks all for your time! I will sacrifice/donate a pig for the winning solution :-)

[h90]

Thanks Ace,

on "my side", I opened port 443, and tried (for 3 days now) with and without firewalls, antivirus etc. on all machines, without results. Started with clean pc's, fresh installs of XP, (legal XP home and Xp Pro) still no results, and as I said before, I hook up my laptop to any LAN like in the internet cafe, and I am flying all over the net, secure or not, and can do all the things I can't do now (and like I used to do for over a year on several ADSL networks, wireless and wired).

Now it is hard to explain to TOT (and also hard to imagine) that my connection is the only one with this issue, yet I am pretty convinced it is not my PC (as the technician had the same problem with his laptop). "They" need to fix something, or tell me how to configure for their specific configuration, that's all. Will also ask for a new router and a new receiver (on the dish) to test and to rule out any hardware probs on that part.

Yes, I read about MTU, I used a tool called DRTCP021 to set it to several suggested values, still no success. It is definitely hard to troubleshoot, yet I guess a proper network engineer would be able to work it out. I admit straight away, I AM NOT (nor do I pretend to be :-), and the tot technician even less I'm afraid!

Had a look at the link, thanks for your tip, I found similar links and suggestions on other sites as well, and tried them all. I did the re-registering, and there's a tool WinsockXPfix that does all that and more ... nothing! (I am not using Norton).

Now I really don't know what I can/should do or try, but leaving it in TOT hands is not something that makes me feel confident it will be sorted anytime soon either.

So, close to despair, but will keep trying! Thanks all for your input, and keep them coming of course.

thanks all for your time! I will sacrifice/donate a pig for the winning solution :-)

Actually it sounds for me very easy to understand:

a) Laptop working in the Internet-cafe on the pages which does not work at your home.

Conclusion not the laptops fault

the TOT technican (shall we call him technican??) has a laptop and get the same results as you, so point a) true and not a farang fake story.

Conclusion: fault is at IPStar or TOT.

c) as most probably noone at TOT has any clue about Internet or anything else, but it worked well in the next village, so the way should be to setup everything complete new like you would be a new customer, as the sat anyway don't know if you stay in ban nok or kwai bury.

d) most probably they make plan b: be quiet, keep low profil and pray to big buddha that this boring farang customer hopefull soon stop to disturb them in their office-sleep with his phone calls....

So sorry to tell it does not look good for you......

Maybe you can offer the technican 2000 Baht if it works by next week or that you feed him to the pigs if it does not.

I remember my installation, the technicans were not really the elite of technicans I ever saw.

Sorry for beeing not very helpful, my full sympathy for you.....

[cnxpat]

Thanks h90 for your sympathy, I am a patient man and I can keep on smiling (been in LOS quite a while), yet my customers can't.

I was actually just writing an update, and I have another dumbass question, and since you have all been really helpful, I was wondering if I could be so bold to pick your brains again.

So I have the IP-star box (and Inshallah it will work one of these days/weeks/months), and the connection from the box to my laptop is using a cross-over cable, RJ-45 to RJ-45 (the large plugs). I do not use a LAN hub (yet) as I want to get it to work first, and then hook up my other PC. The IP star box also has a USB 1.1 port. (a product data sheet of the box can be found here, for those interested: http://www.iconz.co.nz/downloads/xterrestrial_tech.pdf)

I used to have "normal" ADSL over the phone line, and I used a Zyxel modem/router "prestige 660 HW" with 4 ports and wireless. Problem is that "input" to this modem/router is through a RJ-11 plug, the "small" normal phoneline plug. TOT assured me I could use it, so in stead of selling it to the neighbours that I shared my ADSL connection with in Chiang Mai, I took it with me to the boonies, only to find out that I can't use it, well, as far as I know now.

Is there any way I can still use this modem, maybe as a LAN hub, but at least to use it's wireless facilities?

If not, "for sale ADSL 2+ 4-port gateway with 802.11g Wireless Zyxel Prestige 660HW-61, in mint condition, (price 6 months ago and current) THB 3,500 - make me an offer" :-)

(Already fed the pigs, and now waiting for TOT to call back to solve the other issues - had them on the line just now, and I tried to explain, succeeded more or less, yet I wished I never mentioned FTP, as that was what he was going to focus on, "let me try" he kept saying, and I had to explain that I am sure HE can, but I CAN'T! He will call back, erm, I heard that one before! approx. 25 times). Funny thing was when I asked about port 443 and their firewall, he said their firewall isn't blocking anything, which made me wonder what the ****** point of having a firewall is in the first place. I kept my silence, also knowing that I am not an expert, yet for the moment I want TOT to think I am.

[h90]

Thanks h90 for your sympathy, I am a patient man and I can keep on smiling (been in LOS quite a while), yet my customers can't.

I was actually just writing an update, and I have another dumbass question, and since you have all been really helpful, I was wondering if I could be so bold to pick your brains again.

So I have the IP-star box (and Inshallah it will work one of these days/weeks/months), and the connection from the box to my laptop is using a cross-over cable, RJ-45 to RJ-45 (the large plugs). I do not use a LAN hub (yet) as I want to get it to work first, and then hook up my other PC. The IP star box also has a USB 1.1 port. (a product data sheet of the box can be found here, for those interested: http://www.iconz.co.nz/downloads/xterrestrial_tech.pdf)

I used to have "normal" ADSL over the phone line, and I used a Zyxel modem/router "prestige 660 HW" with 4 ports and wireless. Problem is that "input" to this modem/router is through a RJ-11 plug, the "small" normal phoneline plug. TOT assured me I could use it, so in stead of selling it to the neighbours that I shared my ADSL connection with in Chiang Mai, I took it with me to the boonies, only to find out that I can't use it, well, as far as I know now.

Is there any way I can still use this modem, maybe as a LAN hub, but at least to use it's wireless facilities?

If not, "for sale ADSL 2+ 4-port gateway with 802.11g Wireless Zyxel Prestige 660HW-61, in mint condition, (price 6 months ago and current) THB 3,500 - make me an offer" :-)

(Already fed the pigs, and now waiting for TOT to call back to solve the other issues - had them on the line just now, and I tried to explain, succeeded more or less, yet I wished I never mentioned FTP, as that was what he was going to focus on, "let me try" he kept saying, and I had to explain that I am sure HE can, but I CAN'T! He will call back, erm, I heard that one before! approx. 25 times). Funny thing was when I asked about port 443 and their firewall, he said their firewall isn't blocking anything, which made me wonder what the ****** point of having a firewall is in the first place. I kept my silence, also knowing that I am not an expert, yet for the moment I want TOT to think I am.

what I do here is running IPStar into my PC which is a gateway and connect to the internal network with a second card. But I think it is also possible to put the ipstar box on a switch.

But I prefer the idea on having it sepperated, want the computer with the accounting software as far as possible from the internet.

your wireless gateway has no RJ-45 plugs, right?

Than it is useless for me (even if I will get my adsl the day before yesterday as promised(now postponed 10 days))

[Guest Reimar]

Hi there all,

to use more than 1 comp on IP-Star without static IP and the Box connected to a Hub/Switch you need to enable NAT. Otherwise as h90 has done is right: use of 2 E-Card in the "server".

Anyway, the problems is wit IP-Star, the system and THAICOM. According to a speech of a managment member of CSLox, they already ordered engineers from the Manufacturer Company in the USA, which is also owned by Shin Corp., to come to Thailand to check out and solve the problems here in Thailand. But that will need TIIIIIIIIIIIIME!

And the IP-Star of TOT, even Samart is running via THAICOM also!

As i posted in ADSL Thailand already, I have stop the payments to CSLox since June and will not start tpo pay again before the system is work with 90% of true data tranfers. And for the time of NON-Service I will not pay anyway. This is very well known by CSLox as they have it in written and signed form several times from me.

I running a company doing Service for Networks. We bill to our customers "after" service and for service we have done only and not for service in advance and specialtiy not for service we have NOT done.

The only way to force somebody to give you for what you have paying for is to stop all payments!

CNXPAT:

The e-mail via CSLox IP-Star works fine without problems. The only problems I had with e-mail is, if the speed drops down, the transfer needs a long time. Once for 1 mail with 4.8 MB attachment: 5.5 hour!

But I use static IP's and I know from a Friend in Bang Prah that he have a lot Problems with E-Mails via dynamic IP!

Reimar

[cnxpat]

I just came back from the local school, using SAMART IPStar with fixed IP address, and it worked great, downloaded and could send my e-mails etc! Not superquick, but it worked on this very same laptop.

They use the same equipment (dish and ipstar box), the only difference with my configuration is that I am connected to the IPStar box directly, and the school has a LAN hub (as has the internet cafe I suppose)

could that be an issue? (Could anyone out there test that)

The worst thing about TOT is the lack of customer service. We will call back, they never do, we will come today, they don't.

And welcome to you Reimar! (and you thought CS Loxinfo was bad)

[h90]

Hi there all,

to use more than 1 comp on IP-Star without static IP and the Box connected to a Hub/Switch you need to enable NAT. Otherwise as h90 has done is right: use of 2 E-Card in the "server".

Anyway, the problems is wit IP-Star, the system and THAICOM. According to a speech of a managment member of CSLox, they already ordered engineers from the Manufacturer Company in the USA, which is also owned by Shin Corp., to come to Thailand to check out and solve the problems here in Thailand. But that will need TIIIIIIIIIIIIME!

And the IP-Star of TOT, even Samart is running via THAICOM also!

As i posted in ADSL Thailand already, I have stop the payments to CSLox since June and will not start tpo pay again before the system is work with 90% of true data tranfers. And for the time of NON-Service I will not pay anyway. This is very well known by CSLox as they have it in written and signed form several times from me.

I running a company doing Service for Networks. We bill to our customers "after" service and for service we have done only and not for service in advance and specialtiy not for service we have NOT done.

The only way to force somebody to give you for what you have paying for is to stop all payments!

CNXPAT:

The e-mail via CSLox IP-Star works fine without problems. The only problems I had with e-mail is, if the speed drops down, the transfer needs a long time. Once for 1 mail with 4.8 MB attachment: 5.5 hour!

But I use static IP's and I know from a Friend in Bang Prah that he have a lot Problems with E-Mails via dynamic IP!

Reimar

Reimar: I think they will just cut their service if you don't pay.

But on the other side, will you feel much difference to the existing "service"?

I had 2 bad experiences trying to force someone in thailand by telling "if, than I cancel....." it did not work at all. I got told that the lady on the phone, REALLY don't care if I cancel or not, she get exactly the same salary. And one time I got told that some are happy if customer cancel, because than they are not so busy in the office.

Well good luck on IPStar.

4.8 MB 5.5 hours

I think I can do that with smoke signals and on the other side the guy, pressing the 0s and 1s on the keyboard.

[cnxpat]

And just for grins (yet sad enough it's true!):

I thought, Samart IPStar is working just around the corner, I have all the equipment here, why not give Samart a call then, and inquire about their prices for IPStar.

After asking the same question to 6 different people, I managed to get hold of someone at "customer services" who actually knew what IP star was.

He was very polite, spoke good English, and asked me what kind of package I would like.

I said, "well 256/128 is fine, how much is that per month and what are the installation costs?"

(Now, I know, I should have started to worry when he asked me if I wanted "two packages"!)

"No, just one please!"

And he seriously replied, "For 256 it's 4,800 THB/month, and 3,600 THB /month for 128"!

First flabbergasted, then I almost started to wet myself, mumbled "thanks/khap khun krap" and hung up quickly before rolling over the floor!

Bless him, the poor guy, but he made my day!

[Guest Reimar]

Hi,

h90:

They will NOT cut the service!! Anyway: WHICH SERVICE??

You see, I didn't sign up private, I sign up with my company and we paying a lot of tax and so we have to explain to the Revenue Departmant we paying for which service. That is a different situation as private. They also offered some discount already, but not enough! But why they doing so? I offered them to take back the whole thing or I'm ready to go with them to the court! I don't mind!!

CNXPAT:

IP-Star is owned by Shinawatra Corporation because THAICOM is a part of Shin.Corp. like CSLoxinfo. So what is about the price?

Easy game: ShinCorp need TOT for telephone services in many parts! So TOT get the best price from Shin.Corp. CSLoxinfo is owned by Shi.Corp. but must cover the "loss" from the business with TOT! Samart is on far end: get the highest price!

But as you found out by yourself: the service with Samart IP-Star works!! I know that the service people from Samart high educated and they have a very taff training to be uptodate! I was using Samart for a long time wiyh Dial-Up Internet and that was the most best service I got here in Thailand for Dial-Up. Thai Don't use Samart for IP-Star is why they did not reply for my enquiries!

But just in the moment I still waiting for the confirmation for the Meeting with CSLox beginning next week. May I have to call the Manager again! TOT and CS-Lox have one thind both the same: Lack of Service!!

Reimar

[cnxpat]

Lack Of Service, and I always thought LOS was referring to the Land Of Smiles!

anyway, it's almost 18:00 now (if hours > 12, hours = hours - 12 to get pm-time), TGIF, and I am getting a bit silly, still waiting for the phone call since 08:35 this morning, and the technicians that were supposed to come here early afternoon.

I stopped looking for issues on my laptop, it works with IP Star, other LAN's etc, so won't fiddle around with it anymore. And I regret re-installing XP, especially since I had a winning streak of 15 games on Freecell!

So, time to chill out, yet another 10 hours wasted today, it's up to TOT now, so will start the calling, waiting, explaining routine again tomorrow.

Reimar, I am sure Samart has high educated staff, yet my experience as described in the previous post (and I wasn't joking!) didn't give me a lot of confidence.

I'll be back, trying to get a LAN hub and see if that makes a difference, I'm still wondering if anyone has any thoughts on that?

It's too late now to go into "town" as it is getting dark, and the potholes (well, manholes actually) the whole 20 km's makes leaving the village after dark (even sober) similar to suicide.

[Guest Reimar]

Hi,

I done my last two test today, one with Netgain enabled and one with Netgain disabled. Take a look by yourself:

1. Netgain enabled

2. Netgain disabled:

When checking with Netgain enabled the Tachometer needle moves very smothly and continous, if disabled, the needle "jumps" and nothing continous while downloading.

And by the way, after I called to the Manager of CSLox, they fixed the Meeting for next Tuesday at ~11.00 am. So I/ll see!!!!

I dont know what staff Samart has Upcountry, but in Bangkok is really good.

I'm sorry but in the preview I can't see the pictures so I will attach them: 1 J_NET Gain ena.jpg and 2. J_NET Gain disa.jpg

Reimar

[astral]

They use the same equipment (dish and ipstar box), the only difference with my configuration is that I am connected to the IPStar box directly, and the school has a LAN hub (as has the internet cafe I suppose)

A simple hub will not work, it needs to be a router to handle the NAT.