SpaceX Internet Satellite Network: Starlink

[dhanson865]

What kind of dirt do the penguins have on Musk?

no penguins in Alaska, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Scotland, Greenland and such. Those sats go north south but they also rotate east west in effect so they service almost the entire earths surface. Though it is more important for the people more than 53 degrees north or south since the first layer of the network covers most of us.

Your service in Virginia is coming very very soon. Maybe this picture would help on that front, quite a few new ground stations have been listed recently.

Wise, NC and Mandale, NC being the two closest to VA.

 

[dhanson865]

if you want to drive over and check this is what you are looking for (that's what the ground stations look like behind the fence). Notice the distinct lack of penguins.

 

[ICUDoc]

Notice the distinct lack of penguins

Does the 5G scare them off?

 

[HVM]

"No penguins" It's the polar bears right? (Especially in Finland, Sweden and mainland Norway)

 

[bhzmark]

Your service in Virginia is coming very very soon.

Isn't the lowest latitude so far about 44? And Virginia starts in low 39?

 

[DMC-Orangeville]

Isn't the lowest latitude so far about 44? And Virginia starts in low 39?

Yes 44 is the current low point. I'm at 43.56, and got turned down.
I live too far south (funny when a Canadian says that, isn't it)

But

On a similar thread on this site (Canada) a person in London Ontario, Latitude 42.98 got service. Hmmmmm.

 

[Gwgan]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/kxros6/list_of_starlink_beta_invite_locations/
“ Known Invite Range: 41.8°N to 54.7°N”

 

[bxr140]

a snapshot of the orbits. Reminder: orbits shift from left to right (or is it right to left), either way that lone "polar" orbit will cover the entire map, just takes several days to work it's way around so those regions only get coverage for a few minutes here and ther

Bit pedantic but...both.

The inclined/prograde orbit sats have a westward precession of about 4.5 degrees/day and the polar/retrograde orbit sats have an eastward precession of about 1 degree/day. Its also useful to note that the earth's rotation effectively moves everything ~24 degrees eastward under every ~94 min Starlink orbit, and that's going to be the primary variable in when/where the polar test sats can provide service (as opposed to precession). That per-orbit rotation is the phenomenon that draws the classic ISS (and other) orbit projection maps, where successive orbits effectively step westward over a fixed mercator map.

Anyway, right now polar testing will be many minutes of service followed by some hours of blackout. Gut feel says Starlink will need maybe 200-300 polar sats to start offering beta service in the northern [sparsely] populated land masses like Alaska and Scandinavia, though (for instance) they'll probably only need a quarter of that or less for full coverage at Amundsen-Scott. Good PR dropping a few terminals down there too. And, near as I know, there are no 5G bats in Antartica to screw it all up.

Isn't the lowest latitude so far about 44? And Virginia starts in low 39?

Its a two-dimensional lottery, not just latitude. Latitude is important of course, as that's the first order analysis of whether or not there's statistically useful satellite coverage over a region to provide beta service. However, the closer one is to a ground station the lower one's latitude can be while still receiving materially useful service, even below current "low latitude" beta testers. Its pretty straightforward geometry where a user, a ground station, and a [non ISL] satellite all need covisibility for the user to receive service. The closer one is to the ground station, the more the geometry just becomes "can the ground station and satellite see each other".

 

[dhanson865]

Isn't the lowest latitude so far about 44? And Virginia starts in low 39?

44 hasn't been the limit in a while. 43, 42, and 41 aren't that uncommon now

as mentioned above https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/kxros6/list_of_starlink_beta_invite_locations/ is a good place to look, you'll see service marching south at a steady pace, rumblings are that a bunch of new ground stations just went live so invites will be coming...


also VA already has some service

https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/lb0cxl/45_households_in_va_receive_starlink/

Wise County's location of 36.58 degrees north is well below 39.


you just have to get used to the idea that this is a moving target, whatever southern limit there was last week or last month isn't the southern limit today or next week or next month.


here is a snapshot from this morning, know that it'll likely be outdated in a few hours or a day or two

 

[TheTalkingMule]

So if I order Starlink in Philadelphia, would it be physically possible to sell connections to my known and trusted immediate neighbors? Obviously would need a considerable mesh router of some sort.

It's like all of my anti-Comcast anti-Verizon dreams are coming true!

 

[Ralbright]

Just placed my order today for beta in PA at 39.5

 

[HG Wells]

NOTE: They are now taking preorders for $99 in almost all areas.
Sign up now so you are on the list !

 

[JPP]

NOTE: They are now taking preorders for $99 in almost all areas.
Sign up now so you are on the list !

Thanks for the head's up. I had previously signed up for the beta, but now have my $99 deposit in place. I see that for my area (SF Bay Area/NoCA) they are estimating mid-to-late 2021.

 

[dhanson865]

Looks like anyone north of 39 in the US is getting to order the kit near $600 and full sign up, anyone further south in the US or in other countries gets a $99, 99 euro, whatever equivalent deposit and a time estimate that varies by location.

Like I said earlier today the bar is moving and Virginia doesn't have long to wait (neither does anyone else in the US between 37N and 53N)

Someone in KY at 37.x N got a full kit.

>Availability is limited. Orders will be fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

[1965Falcon]

Looks like anyone north of 39 in the US is getting to order the kit near $600 and full sign up, anyone further south in the US or in other countries gets a $99, 99 euro, whatever equivalent deposit and a time estimate that varies by location.

Like I said earlier today the bar is moving and Virginia doesn't have long to wait (neither does anyone else in the US between 37N and 53N)

Someone in KY at 37.x N got a full kit.

>Availability is limited. Orders will be fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis.

I think it also depends on ground station capacity. I'm at 45.6 degrees and when I ordered it said available mid to late 2021 (Washington State).

 

[DMC-Orangeville]

I was denied 2 weeks ago....see: SpaceX Internet Satellite Network: Starlink

I got my order put through today. 2 to 4 week wait for shipping due to high order volumes.
I mentioned it to 2 of my neighbour friends. They each got an order!
Dish party soon

 

[Mengy]

Just placed my order, I'm in Pennsylvania. $581 for the kit, expected delivery in 2-4 weeks!

I look forward to modern internet speeds, FINALLY!

 

[Bobfitz1]

I'm in southern Vermont and placed an order which required $99 deposit.

Does anyone know whether Starlink frequencies are more or less disrupted by trees in the area of the house compared to sat TV from companies like Dish and DirecTV? Does snow collecting on top of dish block signal from/to the sats?
Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[BioSehnsucht]

I'm in southern Vermont and placed an order which required $99 deposit.

Does anyone know whether Starlink frequencies are more or less disrupted by trees in the area of the house compared to sat TV from companies like Dish and DirecTV? Does snow collecting on top of dish block signal from/to the sats?
Thanks in advance for any info.

Trees will almost certainly be an issue. From some videos I've seen it looks like the app has a way to show you what part of the sky should be clear of obstructions. i.e. at 7m20s :

As for snow collecting, the dish is self heating and flat, it should keep free snow/ice buildup, it will just run off as water.

 

[dhanson865]

here is a snapshot from this morning, know that it'll likely be outdated in a few hours or a day or two

View attachment 635059

Here's the difference a couple of days makes. 37 N to 41 N filled in nicely. Give it a little time and the march south will continue.