This is using cell towers to relay to the satellites right? There were some companies trying to do direct cell to satellite and I didn't think it was feasible.
Direct from cell to sat, goal is deadzone free, global coverage
SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas
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Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas
#12This is using cell towers to relay to the satellites right? There were some companies trying to do direct cell to satellite and I didn't think it was feasible.
No, it's the latter of what you mentioned-- direct cell to SpaceX satellites
I thought existing Starlink needed a phased array antenna to get decent signal strength. How the hell is a cell phone radio going to reach a satellite?
Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas
#13This is using cell towers to relay to the satellites right? There were some companies trying to do direct cell to satellite and I didn't think it was feasible.
This sounds like direct to satellite from existing handsets. I can imagine that LTE at 550km is possible but quite a feat of engineering.
Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas
#14This is actually fascinating. T-Mobile doesn’t need a fiber or even cable buildout to a remote location, just power and the local clearances for a tower, they plop a Starlink antenna on the top and bam. Congestion will be a challenge but it will be way better than the current status quo.
This needs no new towers, direct cell / sat comms with current phones
Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas
#15Earlier quoted context omitted.
No, it's the latter of what you mentioned-- direct cell to SpaceX satellites
I thought existing Starlink needed a phased array antenna to get decent signal strength. How the hell is a cell phone radio going to reach a satellite?
Gen 2 sats and a big antenna, will work with existing phones
Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
No, it's the latter of what you mentioned-- direct cell to SpaceX satellites
I thought existing Starlink needed a phased array antenna to get decent signal strength. How the hell is a cell phone radio going to reach a satellite?
This is definitely what I am interested in-- how existing cell HW can be picked up by their satellites. Even at low data rates for emergency SMS, etc. (caveat, I'm not a HW or radio engineer), this seems like an incredible feat if they can get it to work.
Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas
#17This is actually fascinating. T-Mobile doesn’t need a fiber or even cable buildout to a remote location, just power and the local clearances for a tower, they plop a Starlink antenna on the top and bam. Congestion will be a challenge but it will be way better than the current status quo.
>Congestion will be a challenge but it will be way better than the current status quo.
If they QoS common messaging apps and SMS, it'll be a massive win for a lot of people.
Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas
#18AST SpaceMobile will be launching a cellular base station satellite on a SpaceX rocket later this year.
Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas
#19This is actually fascinating. T-Mobile doesn’t need a fiber or even cable buildout to a remote location, just power and the local clearances for a tower, they plop a Starlink antenna on the top and bam. Congestion will be a challenge but it will be way better than the current status quo.
This needs no new towers, direct cell / sat comms with current phones
Won't that require a bunch of phone hardware for sat comms?
Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
No, it's the latter of what you mentioned-- direct cell to SpaceX satellites
I thought existing Starlink needed a phased array antenna to get decent signal strength. How the hell is a cell phone radio going to reach a satellite?
Maybe we're back to the days of lunchbox cell phones that get extremely hot and are questionably safe to hold next to your head.