SpaceX Internet Satellite Network: Starlink

[CyberGus]

Got my Starlink stamps today!

View attachment 847487

You should mail a letter to Elon with one of them

 

[Cosmacelf]

You should mail a letter to Elon with one of them

First I’d have to book a flight to Niger!

 

[mongo]

You are absolutely right. I was about to point out that the gen2 sats with the laser links were already flying and that some users had already noted latency reductions (44ms >>> 37ms)

https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/omrogk

but then I realised that the observed latency reductions were not of the correct magnitude (20ms) for the laser links, and that in any case it seems FCC has yet to authorise switch-on

https://www.autoevolution.com/news/spacex-to-turn-on-laser-communications-for-starlink-satellites-reducing-internet-latency-191180.html

But I really can't see the laser links not getting approved. The US defence implications are such that it will surely get approved. Not that many text users will ever notice, though I'm sure there will be some edge case out there.

V1.5 onward have laser link.
V2 is the larger, order of magnitude bandwidth improvement, sats that need Starship (unless made in the compressed F9 compatible version).
The reduction in ping time is likely due to more sattelites in orbit leading to having a satellite closer to the user terminal/ ground station pair. A closer ground station would also help.

The linked FCC request was for communication to lower elevation (10 degrees relative to terminal) satellites than the current approval. FDA regulates lasers in the US.

 

[petit_bateau]

V1.5 onward have laser link.
V2 is the larger, order of magnitude bandwidth improvement, sats that need Starship (unless made in the compressed F9 compatible version).
The reduction in ping time is likely due to more sattelites in orbit leading to having a satellite closer to the user terminal/ ground station pair. A closer ground station would also help.

The linked FCC request was for communication to lower elevation (10 degrees relative to terminal) satellites than the current approval. FDA regulates lasers in the US.

Thanks Mongo. I'd forgotten the laser ones were strictly labelled rev 1.5. I'm not expecting to see too many 2.0 until Starship is operating due to the volume and mass required. But anyone who doesnt understand the defence implications of SpaceX+Starlink really isn't paying attention. I expect your explanation of the incremental latency improvement is the main one.

 

[mongo]

Pre-ordered mine but it's not available yet in my area.

If you are in wait-list area, you can order the RV version and get it much sooner. It doesn't have the same guaranteed data rates, but our RV subscription is kicking DSL's butt! Slightly higher monthly fee.
Still have residential order active as they do not allow RV to residential conversions currently.

 

[dhanson865]

https://www.reddit.com/r/StarlinkEngineering/comments/x91qze

 

[dhanson865]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/wx14dp/_/ilovvvf

Price cut summary so far (reply with any others):

• Random US Customers: $110 -> $85 ($599 upfront)
• Puerto Rico: ?? -> $99 ($600 Upfront) - $99 USD
• Canada: $140 CAD ($759 CAD upfront) - $108 USD
• UK: 89 GBP -> 75GBP (460 GBP Upfront) - $89 USD
• Germany: 100 EUR -> 80 EUR (?? EUR upfront) - $80 USD
• Australia: 139 AUD (924 AUD upfront) - $97 USD (maybe not lowered)
• New Zealand: 159 NZD (1040 NZD upfront) - $97 USD (maybe not lowered)
• France: 99 EUR -> 50 EUR [250GB cap trial] (480 EUR upfront) - $50 USD
• French Islands: ??
• Austria: 99 EUR -> 85 EUR (?? EUR upfront) - $85 USD
• Netherlands: 99 EUR -> 85 EUR (480 EUR upfront) - $85 USD
• Belgium: 99 EUR -> 80 EUR (460 EUR upfront) - $85
• Ireland: 85 EUR (495 EUR upfront) - $85 USD
• Denmark: ?? -> DKK 725 (4120 DKK upfront) - $98 USD (maybe not lowered)
• Portugal ?? -> 65 EUR (350 EUR upfront) - $65 USD
• Switzerland: 94 CHF -> 94 CHF (594 CHF upfront) - $98 USD (not lowered)
• Chile: 92,000 CLP -> CLP 47,000 (CLP 470,000 upfront) - $51 USD
• Poland: 449 PLN -> 230 PLN (2300 PLN upfront) - $48 USD
• Italy: 99 EUR -> 70 EUR (410 EUR upfront) - $70 USD
• Czechia: ?? -> 1400 CZK (9100 CZK upfront) $57 USD
• Sweden: ?? -> 950 SEK (5440 SEK upfront) - $89 USD (maybe not lowered)
• Mexico: 2300 MXN -> 1100 MXN (8300 MXN upfront) - $55 USD
• Croatia: ?? -> HRK 370 (HRK 3800 upfront) - $49 USD
• Lithuania: 99 EUR -> 50 EUR (450 EUR upfront) - $50 USD
• Spain: 99 EUR -> 70 EUR (390 EUR upfront) - $70 USD
• Slovakia: 99 EUR -> 60 EUR (350 EUR upfront) - $60 USD
• Slovenia: ?? -> 60 EUR (350 EUR upfront) - $60 USD
• Brazil: 500brl -> 230brl (2000brl upfront) - $45 USD
• Bulgaria: ?? -> 95 BGN (900 BGP upfront) - $48 USD
• Romania: ?? -> 230 RON (2400 RON upfront) - $47 USD
• Greece: 99 EUR -> 60 EUR (400 EUR upfront) - $60 USD
• Latvia: ?? -> 60 EUR (365 EUR upfront) - $60 USD
• Hungary: 35,500 HUF -> 17,000 HUF (?? HUF upfront) - $42 USD
• North Macedonia: ?? -> 3700 MKD (21600 MKD upfront) - $60 USD
• Luxembourg: ?? -> 95 EUR (555 EUR upfront) - $95 USD (maybe not lowered)
• Dominican Republic: ?? -> 2900 DOP (27,000 DOP upfront) - $55 USD
• Moldova: ?? -> 1150 MDL (9000 MDL upfront) - $60 USD
• Estonia: 99 EUR -> 60 EUR (360 EUR upfront) - $60 USD
• Colombia: ?? -> 210,000 COP (2,200,000 upfront) - $48 USD

That's every country in launch order, excluding Ukraine and Tonga where commercial service isn't available. So far the floor seems to be $40-45 USD.

 

[petit_bateau]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/wx14dp/_/ilovvvf

At this rate of pride reduction it will very soon be uneconomic to do any more fibre build-outs in most of the world.

(which of course we have all seen coming, except that for most of us we have not - and still do not - have a route to invest in SpaceX/Starlink so the knowledge has been meaningless)

 

[loquitur]

https://www.reddit.com/r/StarlinkEngineering/comments/x91qze

I wonder how this dovetails with Apple's deal with Globalstar highlighted in
their iPhone rollout yesterday, and especially with Musk's Apple-related tweet today:

https://bit.ly/3eE2vYE

 

[Cosmacelf]

At this rate of pride reduction it will very soon be uneconomic to do any more fibre build-outs in most of the world.

(which of course we have all seen coming, except that for most of us we have not - and still do not - have a route to invest in SpaceX/Starlink so the knowledge has been meaningless)

Nah. Urban areas still need fiber, and there’s lots of urban areas without good fiber.

 

[dhanson865]

https://www.reddit.com/r/StarlinkEngineering/comments/xaazvu

• Misused data outside the record to penalize SpaceX alone for its system’s current speeds, which are irrelevant to whether SpaceX can meet RDOF’s speed requirements starting three years from now, as is actually required. RDOF was, by design, meant to provide funding—and time—for participating service providers to meet these requirements. Indeed, most RDOF applicants currently provide no service in many/any of their RDOF areas today. The fact the Bureau relied on unauthorized outside speed tests without even notifying SpaceX that its decision was based on these tests only compounds the error.
• Ignored robust record evidence of SpaceX’s proven ability to quickly expand and upgrade its network. On August 10, 2022—the day the Bureau issued its decision— SpaceX launched its 21st Starlink mission—and 35th Falcon 9 mission—of the year. Since then, SpaceX has completed its 26th Starlink mission and 40th overall successful launch of 2022. This world-leading launch cadence gives SpaceX an unmatched ability to deploy its satellites and has enabled SpaceX to launch over 3,000 satellites to date. SpaceX’s satellites have also operated with over 99% reliability since being licensed by the FCC in 2018, far surpassing the deployment and reliability requirements in its FCC license and demonstrating it will readily exceed all RDOF deployment requirements.
• Failed to accurately contrast SpaceX’s transparent all-in pricing against the opaque pricing—which disguises the true cost to consumers—common in the industry. The suggestion that Starlink pricing justified the Bureau’s decision likewise makes no sense. SpaceX never claimed it would use its current pricing in the RDOF territories (indeed by law it cannot). More fundamentally, any suggestion that Starlink is relatively expensive is unsupported by an apples-to-apples comparison because SpaceX, unlike other RDOF bidders, fully discloses its true cost to consumers, with no hidden fees, no installation costs, no perpetual equipment rentals, no early termination fees, no ballooning “promotional” prices, etc
• Far more troubling, as no RDOF applicant offering fiber even bid in the majority of the territories SpaceX committed to serve through RDOF, the Bureau’s decision leaves the Commission with no plan to connect many unconnected Americans, undermining the very purpose of this program

 

[Cosmacelf]

https://www.reddit.com/r/StarlinkEngineering/comments/xaazvu

Yep, SpaceX hit all the important points. Frankly the FCC decision can only be either rank corruption or rank incompetence.

 

[BioSehnsucht]

Yep, SpaceX hit all the important points. Frankly the FCC decision can only be either rank corruption or rank incompetence.

Embrace the power of 'both'?

 

[Cosmacelf]

Embrace the power of 'both'?

While funny, I haven’t seen the FCC be actually hugely incompetent? Other than estimating broadband penetration using a hopelessly inaccurate survey, which they are now trying to fix.

 

[bxr140]

We'll see how competent the FCC is if/when the they strike SX's egregious attack on Globalstar.

 

[petit_bateau]

On the FCC RDOF thing

FCC Commissioner demands review of Starlink subsidies

Withdrawal of SpaceX's $885.5m award a 'drastic action' – but Musk wouldn't want subsidy anyway, right?

www.theregister.com

 

[ecarfan]

So cool!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1570073223005622274

 

[mongo]

Reportedly, residential users with difficult locations can buy the $2,500 dish with the same monthly fee.
SpaceX's $2,500 High Performance Starlink dish now available to residential users

 

[dhanson865]

Reportedly, residential users with difficult locations can buy the $2,500 dish with the same monthly fee.
SpaceX's $2,500 High Performance Starlink dish now available to residential users

Help Center

support.starlink.com

* Better performance in hot weather. Download speeds are typically 3x better at > 35°C (95°F)
* Better performance in the snow: 1.7x better snow melt capability (Inches/hour).
* Improved weather resistance. High performance is rated IP56, or resistant to water jets. Standard is rated IP54, or resistant to water spray.
* Better visibility of satellites. Your Starlink needs a clear view of the sky so it can stay connected with satellites as they move overhead. The High Performance can see 35% more sky, allowing it to connect to more satellites and better serve users with atypical installations, unavoidable obstructions, or in polar (>59 degrees latitude) and equatorial regions where there are fewer visible satellites.

Most people key in on the polar >59 degrees and don't think of the lower sat density at the equator.

Equatorial heat + low sat density combine to make this significant at the equator as well.

 

[ecarfan]

Reportedly, residential users with difficult locations can buy the $2,500 dish with the same monthly fee.
SpaceX's $2,500 High Performance Starlink dish now available to residential users

Interesting!

According to the SpaceX support page, the expensive dish is well-suited for harsher environments. It can bear heat, cold, and rain better than the standard receiver.

The rugged dish can see 35 percent more sky, increasing its capability to connect to more satellites. It also performs better with unavoidable obstructions.

Users of the $2,500 satellite dish can expect speeds between 150 to 300 Mbps. In comparison, the regular dish promises between 50 and 200 Mbps.

However, faster speeds are not guaranteed with the souped-up dish, at least for now. The Starlink network is already tasked to the limit, thanks to overwhelming demand for the service.