<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.4

                             SKYSTREAM NETWORKS INC.

                         2000 DIRECTOR STOCK OPTION PLAN

      1.    Purposes of the Plan. The purposes of this 2000 Director Stock
Option Plan are to attract and retain the best available personnel for service
as Outside Directors (as defined herein) of the Company, to provide additional
incentive to the Outside Directors of the Company to serve as Directors, and to
encourage their continued service on the Board.

            All options granted hereunder shall be nonstatutory stock options.

      2.    Definitions. As used herein, the following definitions shall apply:

            (a)   "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

            (b)   "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.

            (c)   "Common Stock" shall mean the common stock of the Company.

            (d)   "Company" shall mean SkyStream Networks Inc.

            (e)   "Director" shall mean a member of the Board.

            (f)   "Disability" shall mean total and permanent disability as
defined in section 22(e)(3) of the Code.

            (g)   "Employee" shall mean any person, including officers and
Directors, employed by the Company or any Parent or Subsidiary of the Company.
The payment of a Director's fee by the Company shall not be sufficient in and of
itself to constitute "employment" by the Company.

            (h)   "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.

            (i)   "Fair Market Value" shall mean, as of any date, the value of
Common Stock determined as follows:

                  (i)   If the Common Stock is listed on any established stock
exchange or a national market system, including without limitation the Nasdaq
National Market or The Nasdaq SmallCap Market of The Nasdaq Stock Market, its
Fair Market Value shall be the closing sales price for such stock (or the
closing bid, if no sales were reported) as quoted on such exchange or system for
the last market trading day prior to the time of determination as reported in
The Wall Street Journal or such other source as the Administrator deems
reliable;

                  (ii)  If the Common Stock is regularly quoted by a recognized
securities dealer but selling prices are not reported, the Fair Market Value of
a Share of Common Stock shall be the mean between the high bid and low asked
prices for the Common Stock for the last market


<PAGE>   2

trading day prior to the time of determination, as reported in The Wall Street
Journal or such other source as the Board deems reliable; or

                  (iii) In the absence of an established market for the Common
Stock, the Fair Market Value thereof shall be determined in good faith by the
Board.

            (j)   "Inside Director" shall mean a Director who is an Employee.

            (k)   "Option" shall mean a stock option granted pursuant to the
Plan.

            (l)   "Optioned Stock" shall mean the Common Stock subject to an
Option.

            (m)   "Optionee" shall mean a Director who holds an Option.

            (n)   "Outside Director" shall mean a Director who is not an
                  Employee.

            (o)   "Parent" shall mean a "parent corporation," whether now or
hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(e) of the Code.

            (p)   "Plan" shall mean this 2000 Director Stock Option Plan.

            (q)   "Share" shall mean a share of the Common Stock, as adjusted in
accordance with Section 10 of the Plan.

            (r)   "Subsidiary" shall mean a "subsidiary corporation," whether
now or hereafter existing, as defined in Section 424(f) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986.

      3.    Stock Subject to the Plan. Subject to the provisions of Section 10
of the Plan, the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be optioned and
sold under the Plan is 400,000 Shares (after giving effect to the three-for-two
stock split approved by the stockholders of the Company on February 29, 2000)
(the "Pool") (the Shares may be authorized, but unissued, or reacquired Common
Stock), together with an annual increase to the number of Shares reserved
thereunder on the first day of the Company's fiscal year, beginning with January
1, 2001, equal to the lesser of (i) 100,000 Shares, (ii) 0.25% of the
outstanding Shares of Common Stock on the last day of each prior fiscal year or
(iii) such amount as determined by the Board.

            If an Option expires or becomes unexercisable without having been
exercised in full, the unpurchased Shares which were subject thereto shall
become available for future grant or sale under the Plan (unless the Plan has
terminated). Shares that have actually been issued under the Plan shall not be
returned to the Plan and shall not become available for future distribution
under the Plan.

      4.    Administration and Grants of Options under the Plan.

            (a)   Procedure for Grants. All grants of Options to Outside
Directors under this Plan shall be automatic and nondiscretionary and shall be
made strictly in accordance with the following provisions:



                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3

                  (i)   No person shall have any discretion to select which
Outside Directors shall be granted Options or to determine the number of Shares
to be covered by Options.

                  (ii)  Each Outside Director shall be automatically granted an
Option to purchase Shares (the "First Option") on the date on which the later of
the following events occurs: (A) the effective date of this Plan, as determined
in accordance with Section 6 hereof; or (B) the date on which such person first
becomes an Outside Director, whether through election by the shareholders of the
Company or appointment by the Board to fill a vacancy; provided, however, that
an Inside Director who ceases to be an Inside Director but who remains a
Director shall not receive a First Option. The First Option for an Outside
Director who has not previously received a stock option grant from the Company
shall be for 30,000 Shares; provided, however, it shall be increased by 2,000
Shares for service as Chairman of the Board of Directors, 2,000 Shares for
service on the Board's Audit Committee and 2,000 Shares for service on the
Board's Compensation Committee. The First Option, if any, for an Outside
Director who has previously received a stock option grant from the Company shall
consist only of 2,000 Shares for service as Chairman of the Board of Directors,
2,000 Shares for service on the Board's Audit Committee and 2,000 Shares for
service on the Board's Compensation Committee.

                  (iii) Each Outside Director shall subsequently be
automatically granted an Option to purchase Shares (a "Subsequent Option") on
the date of the next meeting of the Board following the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders in each year commencing with the 2001 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders provided he or she is then an Outside Director and if as of such
date, he or she shall have served on the Board for at least the preceding six
(6) months. The Subsequent Option Shall be for 10,000 Shares; provided, however,
it shall be increased by 2,000 Shares for service as Chairman of the Board of
Directors, 2,000 Shares for service on the Board's Audit Committee and 2,000
Shares for service on the Board's Compensation Committee.

                  (iv)  Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (ii) and
(iii) hereof, any exercise of an Option granted before the Company has obtained
shareholder approval of the Plan in accordance with Section 16 hereof shall be
conditioned upon obtaining such shareholder approval of the Plan in accordance
with Section 16 hereof.

                  (v)   The terms of a First Option granted hereunder shall be
as follows:

                        (A)   the term of the First Option shall be ten (10)
years.

                        (B)   the First Option shall be exercisable only while
the Outside Director remains a Director of the Company, except as set forth in
Sections 8 and 10 hereof.

                        (C)   the exercise price per Share shall be 100% of the
Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant of the First Option provided,
however, that in the case of a First Option granted on the effective date of the
Company's initial public offering pursuant to a registration statement filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the exercise price per share shall
be the initial public offering price per share.



                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4

                        (D)   subject to Section 10 hereof, the First Option
shall become exercisable as to 1/4 of the Shares subject to the First Option on
the anniversary of the date of grant, and as to 1/48 of the First Option at the
end of each month thereafter, so that the First Option shall be fully
exercisable four years after its date of grant, provided that the Optionee
continues to serve as a Director on such dates.

                  (vi)  The terms of a Subsequent Option granted hereunder shall
be as follows:

                        (A)   the term of the Subsequent Option shall be ten
(10) years.

                        (B)   the Subsequent Option shall be exercisable only
while the Outside Director remains a Director of the Company, except as set
forth in Sections 8 and 10 hereof.

                        (C)   the exercise price per Share shall be 100% of the
Fair Market Value per Share on the date of grant of the Subsequent Option.

                        (D)   subject to Section 10 hereof, the Subsequent
Option shall become exercisable cumulatively with respect to 1/48th of the
Subsequent Option at the end of each month after the date of grant, so that the
Subsequent Option shall be fully exercisable four years after its date of grant,
provided that the Optionee continues to serve as a Director on such dates.

                  (vii) In the event that any Option granted under the Plan
would cause the number of Shares subject to outstanding Options plus the number
of Shares previously purchased under Options to exceed the Pool, then the
remaining Shares available for Option grant shall be granted under Options to
the Outside Directors on a pro rata basis. No further grants shall be made until
such time, if any, as additional Shares become available for grant under the
Plan through action of the Board or the shareholders to increase the number of
Shares which may be issued under the Plan or through cancellation or expiration
of Options previously granted hereunder.

      5.    Eligibility. Options may be granted only to Outside Directors. All
Options shall be automatically granted in accordance with the terms set forth in
Section 4 hereof.

            The Plan shall not confer upon any Optionee any right with respect
to continuation of service as a Director or nomination to serve as a Director,
nor shall it interfere in any way with any rights which the Director or the
Company may have to terminate the Director's relationship with the Company at
any time.

      6.    Term of Plan. The Plan shall become effective upon the earlier to
occur of its adoption by the Board or its approval by the shareholders of the
Company as described in Section 16 of the Plan; provided, however, the Plan
shall not become effective until the effective date of the Company's initial
public offering pursuant to a registration statement filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission. It shall continue in effect for a term of ten (10)
years unless sooner terminated under Section 11 of the Plan.



                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5

      7.    Form of Consideration. The consideration to be paid for the Shares
to be issued upon exercise of an Option, including the method of payment, shall
consist of (i) cash, (ii) check, (iii) other shares which (x) in the case of
Shares acquired upon exercise of an option, have been owned by the Optionee for
more than six (6) months on the date of surrender, and (y) have a Fair Market
Value on the date of surrender equal to the aggregate exercise price of the
Shares as to which said Option shall be exercised, (iv) consideration received
by the Company under a cashless exercise program implemented by the Company in
connection with the Plan, or (v) any combination of the foregoing methods of
payment.

      8.    Exercise of Option.

            (a)   Procedure for Exercise; Rights as a Shareholder. Any Option
granted hereunder shall be exercisable at such times as are set forth in Section
4 hereof; provided, however, that no Options shall be exercisable until
shareholder approval of the Plan in accordance with Section 16 hereof has been
obtained.

                  An Option may not be exercised for a fraction of a Share.

                  An Option shall be deemed to be exercised when written notice
of such exercise has been given to the Company in accordance with the terms of
the Option by the person entitled to exercise the Option and full payment for
the Shares with respect to which the Option is exercised has been received by
the Company. Full payment may consist of any consideration and method of payment
allowable under Section 7 of the Plan. Until the issuance (as evidenced by the
appropriate entry on the books of the Company or of a duly authorized transfer
agent of the Company) of the stock certificate evidencing such Shares, no right
to vote or receive dividends or any other rights as a shareholder shall exist
with respect to the Optioned Stock, notwithstanding the exercise of the Option.
A share certificate for the number of Shares so acquired shall be issued to the
Optionee as soon as practicable after exercise of the Option. No adjustment
shall be made for a dividend or other right for which the record date is prior
to the date the stock certificate is issued, except as provided in Section 10 of
the Plan.

                  Exercise of an Option in any manner shall result in a decrease
in the number of Shares which thereafter may be available, both for purposes of
the Plan and for sale under the Option, by the number of Shares as to which the
Option is exercised.

            (b)   Termination of Continuous Status as a Director. Subject to
Section 10 hereof, in the event an Optionee's status as a Director terminates
(other than upon the Optionee's death or Disability), the Optionee may exercise
his or her Option, but only within three (3) months following the date of such
termination, and only to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise
it on the date of such termination (but in no event later than the expiration of
its ten (10) year term). To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to
exercise an Option on the date of such termination, and to the extent that the
Optionee does not exercise such Option (to the extent otherwise so entitled)
within the time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.



                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6

            (c)   Disability of Optionee. In the event Optionee's status as a
Director terminates as a result of Disability, the Optionee may exercise his or
her Option, but only within twelve (12) months following the date of such
termination, and only to the extent that the Optionee was entitled to exercise
it on the date of such termination (but in no event later than the expiration of
its ten (10) year term). To the extent that the Optionee was not entitled to
exercise an Option on the date of termination, or if he or she does not exercise
such Option (to the extent otherwise so entitled) within the time specified
herein, the Option shall terminate.

            (d)   Death of Optionee. In the event of an Optionee's death, the
Optionee's estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise the Option by
bequest or inheritance may exercise the Option, but only within twelve (12)
months following the date of death, and only to the extent that the Optionee was
entitled to exercise it on the date of death (but in no event later than the
expiration of its ten (10) year term). To the extent that the Optionee was not
entitled to exercise an Option on the date of death, and to the extent that the
Optionee's estate or a person who acquired the right to exercise such Option
does not exercise such Option (to the extent otherwise so entitled) within the
time specified herein, the Option shall terminate.

      9.    Non-Transferability of Options. The Option may not be sold, pledged,
assigned, hypothecated, transferred, or disposed of in any manner other than by
will or by the laws of descent or distribution and may be exercised, during the
lifetime of the Optionee, only by the Optionee.

      10.   Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization, Dissolution, Merger or
Asset Sale.

            (a)   Changes in Capitalization. Subject to any required action by
the shareholders of the Company, the number of Shares covered by each
outstanding Option, the number of Shares which have been authorized for issuance
under the Plan but as to which no Options have yet been granted or which have
been returned to the Plan upon cancellation or expiration of an Option, as well
as the price per Share covered by each such outstanding Option, and the number
of Shares issuable pursuant to the automatic grant provisions of Section 4
hereof shall be proportionately adjusted for any increase or decrease in the
number of issued Shares resulting from a stock split, reverse stock split, stock
dividend, combination or reclassification of the Common Stock, or any other
increase or decrease in the number of issued Shares effected without receipt of
consideration by the Company; provided, however, that conversion of any
convertible securities of the Company shall not be deemed to have been "effected
without receipt of consideration." Except as expressly provided herein, no
issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class, or securities
convertible into shares of stock of any class, shall affect, and no adjustment
by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number or price of Shares
subject to an Option.

            (b)   Dissolution or Liquidation. In the event of the proposed
dissolution or liquidation of the Company, to the extent that an Option has not
been previously exercised, it shall terminate immediately prior to the
consummation of such proposed action.

            (c)   Merger or Asset Sale. In the event of a merger of the Company
with or into another corporation or the sale of substantially all of the assets
of the Company, outstanding Options may be assumed or equivalent options may be
substituted by the successor corporation or a Parent or



                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7

Subsidiary thereof (the "Successor Corporation"). If an Option is assumed or
substituted for, the Option or equivalent option shall continue to be
exercisable as provided in Section 4 hereof for so long as the Optionee serves
as a Director or a director of the Successor Corporation. Following such
assumption or substitution, if the Optionee's status as a Director or director
of the Successor Corporation, as applicable, is terminated other than upon a
voluntary resignation by the Optionee, the Option or option shall become fully
exercisable, including as to Shares for which it would not otherwise be
exercisable. Thereafter, the Option or option shall remain exercisable in
accordance with Sections 8(b) through (d) above.

      If the Successor Corporation does not assume an outstanding Option or
substitute for it an equivalent option, the Option shall become fully vested and
exercisable, including as to Shares for which it would not otherwise be
exercisable. In such event the Board shall notify the Optionee that the Option
shall be fully exercisable for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of
such notice, and upon the expiration of such period the Option shall terminate.

      For the purposes of this Section 10(c), an Option shall be considered
assumed if, following the merger or sale of assets, the Option confers the right
to purchase or receive, for each Share of Optioned Stock subject to the Option
immediately prior to the merger or sale of assets, the consideration (whether
stock, cash, or other securities or property) received in the merger or sale of
assets by holders of Common Stock for each Share held on the effective date of
the transaction (and if holders were offered a choice of consideration, the type
of consideration chosen by the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares).
If such consideration received in the merger or sale of assets is not solely
common stock of the successor corporation or its Parent, the Administrator may,
with the consent of the successor corporation, provide for the consideration to
be received upon the exercise of the Option, for each Share of Optioned Stock
subject to the Option, to be solely common stock of the successor corporation or
its Parent equal in fair market value to the per share consideration received by
holders of Common Stock in the merger or sale of assets.

      11.   Amendment and Termination of the Plan.

            (a)   Amendment and Termination. The Board may at any time amend,
alter, suspend, or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration,
suspension, or discontinuation shall be made which would impair the rights of
any Optionee under any grant theretofore made, without his or her consent. In
addition, to the extent necessary and desirable to comply with any applicable
law, regulation or stock exchange rule, the Company shall obtain shareholder
approval of any Plan amendment in such a manner and to such a degree as
required.

            (b)   Effect of Amendment or Termination. Any such amendment or
termination of the Plan shall not affect Options already granted and such
Options shall remain in full force and effect as if this Plan had not been
amended or terminated.

      12.   Time of Granting Options. The date of grant of an Option shall, for
all purposes, be the date determined in accordance with Section 4 hereof.



                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8

      13.   Conditions Upon Issuance of Shares. Shares shall not be issued
pursuant to the exercise of an Option unless the exercise of such Option and the
issuance and delivery of such Shares pursuant thereto shall comply with all
relevant provisions of law, including, without limitation, the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, state securities laws, and the requirements of any stock exchange
upon which the Shares may then be listed, and shall be further subject to the
approval of counsel for the Company with respect to such compliance.

            As a condition to the exercise of an Option, the Company may require
the person exercising such Option to represent and warrant at the time of any
such exercise that the Shares are being purchased only for investment and
without any present intention to sell or distribute such Shares, if, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company, such a representation is required by any of
the aforementioned relevant provisions of law.

            Inability of the Company to obtain authority from any regulatory
body having jurisdiction, which authority is deemed by the Company's counsel to
be necessary to the lawful issuance and sale of any Shares hereunder, shall
relieve the Company of any liability in respect of the failure to issue or sell
such Shares as to which such requisite authority shall not have been obtained.

      14.   Reservation of Shares. The Company, during the term of this Plan,
will at all times reserve and keep available such number of Shares as shall be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the Plan.

      15.   Option Agreement. Options shall be evidenced by written option
agreements in such form as the Board shall approve.

      16.   Shareholder Approval. The Plan shall be subject to approval by the
shareholders of the Company within twelve (12) months after the date the Plan is
adopted. Such shareholder approval shall be obtained in the degree and manner
required under applicable state and federal law and any stock exchange rules.



                                      -8-