Cable & XP
General
Overview
Configuring a Server or stand alone PC
Heartbeat Login Clients
Connecting Problems
Networking
Configuring
the second Network Card
Activating Internet Connection
Sharing
Configuring the client PCs
Summary
Overview
Note: If you're using a router
the information below is not relevant.
To share a Cable Internet connection using Windows XP's built
in Internet Connection Sharing, you'll need a PC to act as a Server
to handle the incoming connection and to distribute that to the
other computer/s.
The Server will need two Network cards. One to connect to the
Cable Modem and one to connect to the internal network.
If you're just connecting to one other PC without a hub, you can
only achieve that by using a crossover cable. If you're connecting
via a hub or switch, you'll need to use a standard, straight through
cable as the hub provides the crossover.
Older coaxial Networks are exactly the same to configure in principal.
Configuring a Server or Stand Alone
PC
Configuring the NIC is straightforward.
Once it’s fitted and the drivers are installed, plug the modem
in.
Go to your Control Panel
Choose "Network and Dial-Up Connections" 
Right-click and select Properties of the Adaptor plugged
into the modem
UN-tick everything except TCP/IP
Select properties of TCP/IP
Ensure everything is set to Automatic
“OK”
Restart if prompted.
Heartbeat Login clients
Update (Aug '06): Telstra have announced that the Heartbeat
system will be gradually retired over the next 9-12 months. See
Whirlpool
for more. While many people will still find the information on this
page regarding the Telstra Launchpad & BPALogin relevant for
the time being, those who are switched over to the new system will
find connecting now to be much the same as for Optus Cable subscribers.
(No login client or username & password required but Mac address
can play a role. See tip on the
heartbeat page.)
Note: Some people have reported getting regular dropouts after being
changed over to the new system by still running a login client,
so if you previously had a happy connection that now has a bad case
of dropping out, this may be why.
The Telstra Launchpad
Forget about the Telstra Launchpad on XP. Use BPALogin as below
instead.
The software will work however (if you really must), as
long as you disable XP's Firewall. (See
below)
The installation CD won't work and will just keep saying
it can't connect.
As a workaround, download and run "CONFIGW.EXE" from
update-server.
You can access this while not logged on.
 Do
not choose the option to update Internet Explorer. It is a
customised version which will configure outdated proxy details
and stop your browser from working.
Update: Telstra have released a
new login client for BigPond Cable users which will work fine.
BPALogin
Windows XP has a built in firewall which will
exhibit five minute drop outs due to the Telstra Heartbeat. The
firewall can be disabled, but as with other Firewalls, all that
is needed is to "allow" the heartbeat. Thanks to Andrew
Trevitt, this is how it's done.
Update: Telstra have released a
new login client for BigPond Cable users, and this one
looks much better than the old one. Unlike the old "Amicus
Launchpad", this new one (termed "BigPond Broadband
Cable Login") allows for specification of the port
for the Heartbeat, can run as a Windows NT Service, will
auto connect & reconnect with error logging, and integrates
with the Usage Meter Toolbar.
Connecting problems
If you can't connect, check that you're actually getting an IP
address from the ISP
Open a Command Prompt window and type ipconfig/release
enter and then ipconfig/renew
enter.
If it times out and you only get an address that starts with
169 you have problems.
Ensure the Network card is configured correctly as above
Ensure any link lights are on at the card and on the modem
Ensure all leads are tested and proven
Ensure that there are no conflicts in the device manager
Ensure that the Network Card does in fact work by testing
with another proven card if necessary
Remove any other Network cards
Uninstall any software that may be related to Internet or
Networking, particularly firewalls & VPN clients
Uninstall any dial-up or dial-in connections
Check that there are no proxies configured in Internet Options
> Connections > LAN Settings
Boot up with your XP CD and choose the repair option.
If all this fails, you most likely have a corrupted registry
and a complete format is the quickest
option.
That's it for a stand alone PC. Continue ahead for Networking.
Now for the other Network Card
Go to your "Control Panel"
Choose Network & Dial-Up Connections
Right-click the network card which is connected to your LAN.
Click "Properties"
Give it a static IP of 192.168.0.1
Set the subnet mask to
255.255.255.0
Note:
For the Computers to all "see" each other in Network
Neighbourhood, otherwise known as "My Network Places",
ensure file & printer sharing is active on this card
and Enable Netbios over TCP under the WINs tab.
Activating ICS
All that is needed is to enable sharing on the Network Card that
the modem is plugged into.
Go to Network & Dial-Up Connections in Control Panel
Right-click on the Network card that's attached to the Cable
modem
Select Properties
Select the Advanced Tab
Tick all the boxes (The top one's for the built-in Firewall
to keep the hackers out)
Client Configuration
Go to your Control Panel
Choose "Network and Dial-Up Connections"
Right-click and select Properties of the Adaptor plugged
your hub or other PC
Select properties of TCP/IP
Ensure everything is set to Automatic
“DNS” as below *
“OK”
Restart if prompted.
* Telstra users: If you're having trouble accessing news
groups, logging into Telstra or sending & receiving email
just add "XXX.bigpond.net.au" as a domain suffix (Where XXX is
your state - nsw, vic, qld, sa, wa etc) to the TCP/IP settings
on all the client PCs. (Pics
- win98/ME .
Win2K )
* Other Broadband users will need to consult
their ISP for these details. Often they're mentioned in on-line
FAQs.
For email: Just put your mail server's name in the SMTP
field in the relevant email address properties. In Outlook Express,
it should look like this for BigPond users.
You will need to do this whether your email account
is with your Broadband ISP or not. Any replies will come to you
via your usual mail server. So it'll use your ISP’s to send and
the other to receive. Your contacts won't know the difference.
Note:
If you want static IPs
on the LAN, you'll need to install the server's
IP address as a gateway on the client
PCs and also as a DNS search order.
This is also often a good method to get around some inexplicable
difficulties.
Note:
For the Computers to all "see" each other in Network
Neighbourhood, otherwise known as "My Network Places",
ensure file & printer sharing is active on this card.
Summary
The end result should look like this -
(Any settings not mentioned should be left at default)
The Server
Adaptor 1 connected to the modem:
TCP/IP set to obtain automatically
File & Printer Sharing on tcp/ip disabled
No DNS or Gateways enabled
(Disable netbios over TCP in WINs)
Adaptor 2 connected to the LAN
TCP/IP set to 192.168.0.1, Subnet 255.255.255.0
File & Printer Sharing Enabled
No DNS or Gateways enabled
The client/s
TCP/IP set to obtain automatically
File & Printer Sharing & Netbios over TCP under WINs
Enabled
DNS Suffix of your ISP's (BigPond is qld.bigpond.net.au or whatever
state you're in, & bigpond.net.au)
No Gateways
Alternatively -
Issue sequential static IPs in TCP/IP - 192.168.0.2, 192.168.0.3
etc. Subnet 255.255.255.0
File & Printer Sharing & Netbios over TCP under WINs
Enabled
DNS Suffix of your ISP's
DNS Server Search Order 192.168.0.1
Gateway 192.168.0.1
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