Starlink on the go?

[Tins]

I was under the impression that Starlink was tied to a particular sat that was controlled by your address. This video seems to say that all you need to do is enter a new address as you move around. If true it would be brilliant.


https://youtu.be/K9JU6cy4xyU't=1313

[JDNSW]

The satellites are moving rapidly relative to your position on earth, so you are not tied to a single satellite.

But you are tied to a location (so the satellites know where to expect you). And yes, this location can be changed - the system just has to know about it. It is up to Starlink under what circumstances they allow this, and you can expect there to be issues in some locations with too many customers or with licence restrictions.

They are working on an antenna for moving vehicles, but size and cost (and possibly power use) are likely to limit this for private users, and the physics suggests that it is unlikely to happen for vehicles as small as a car.

[goingbush]

I stripped the antenna from my starlink dish and surface mounted it on the roof of my truck. My truck body is 50mm coolroom panel so it was easy to dig out enough foam to accomodate the phase array antenna, once you disconnect the motors the elon magic still steers the beam toward satellite. I really dont know why they bother with the motors, maybe now there is enough satellites to not be a problem.

Once you move a few times the software switches to roaming so you do not have to change addresses.

temporary duct taped to weather seal and a piece of core-flute duct taped over the top for extra protection. The antenna is also bolted from the underside.

The speeds are the same as when it was mounted per factory on roof of house.



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[Milton477]

If I may ask, what is Starlink costing?
I work remotely sometimes & phone coverage is very ordinary at times (like now 1meg down & 25 up) so better comms would be nice.

[goingbush]

If I may ask, what is Starlink costing?
I work remotely sometimes & phone coverage is very ordinary at times (like now 1meg down & 25 up) so better comms would be nice.

The kit was around $700 from memory.
$139 a month. cancel anytime you like, they will also refund the kit if you want to pull out, ( well probably not mine)

[Pedro_The_Swift]

What sort of data does 139 a month get you?
The market for good mobile satellite coverage in OZ would be HUGE....

[goingbush]

What sort of data does 139 a month get you?
The market for good mobile satellite coverage in OZ would be HUGE....

unlimited data, its the only option AFIK.

[JDNSW]

Yes, although for how long?

Equipment costs have gone up now, and you can expect more rises. The dish is being sold for a lot less than manufacturing cost, so it is hard to tell what it may go up to. Could go down, but I would not count on it.

[goingbush]

Yes, although for how long?

Equipment costs have gone up now, and you can expect more rises. The dish is being sold for a lot less than manufacturing cost, so it is hard to tell what it may go up to. Could go down, but I would not count on it.

As the constellation becomes fully deployed future generation antennas should be cheaper is they don't / won't need the complication of the setup motors. Technically they are not a dish but a phased array antenna.

[JDNSW]

Interesting news which may affect pricing. Amazon has just bought almost every available commercial launch spot on large rockets for the next ten years or so from all western rocket companies, (United Launch Alliance, Arianespace and Blue Origin) except SpaceX, to launch satellites for their new "Kuiper" system, which will compete with Starlink. But first launches are probably five years away, and two of the rockets (Ariane6 and ULA) are yet to even see a successful flight.

In addition there is the European competitor OneWeb, which has previously launched about two thirds of it 648 satellites on Soyuz rockets, has now engaged SpaceX to do the remaining launches.

So within a few years, there should be three competing LEO satellite systems operational - which should keep prices down.

[goingbush]

A bit of competition should bring the prices down and will probably spell the end of terrestrial telcos.

Musk has built his constellation for less than what the NBN cost.

[goingbush]

To round off the "Starlink on the Go" install on the Iveco today I mounted an outdoor external access point on the back of truck.

The included Starlink wifi router which is mounted inside does not have a great range, so I added the Ruckus AP , this is similar to what you see at mining camps, caravan parks etc .

I could have just left the starlink kit in the box and set it up at camp but its a bulky box that I now don't have to cram in somewhere, and its a pain if you need comms in a hurry. I wont go as far as cancelling my satphone just yet though, esp as its only $15 a month.

Obviously the downside of my setup is you need a clear view of sky, its no good where theres a lot of tree cover, I don't camp under trees anyway so wont bother me.

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