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SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

wsj.com

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Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#81

Post by SECProto »

lettergram wrote: post #73

Dear SpaceX, How about you just give me service in middle USA. I pre-ordered in 2021, you’re currently saying I have to wait until 2023. What gives? You’re launching over oceans, Europe, South America, why not Missouri or Indiana or Kentucky?

> I pre-ordered in 2021, you’re currently saying I have to wait until 2023. What gives?

The current network in Missouri and Indiana and Kentucky is saturated [1]. This will get better as they launch the next shell of satellites, and as they upgrade the satellites to v2 (more/better antennae, laser interlink). There can only be so many subscribers per "cell" on the map.

[1] https://www.starlink.com/map

Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#82

Post by swatcoder »

xcskier56 wrote: post #78

While I see the great potential in this technology, the collateral damage is the loss of places where one can truly disconnect. I just got back from 4 days camping at a remote mountain lake with zero phone coverage, and it’s one of the most incredible ways to fully recharge and step away from the day to day treadmill of the modern world. When we loose the possibility to completely disconnect, I at least, will feel a…

You could already bring a satellite phone wherever you were, could probably have tuned an AM radio into something if you had wanted, etc

Disconnecting is a choice you make, not a place you go.

Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#83

Post by mef »

xcskier56 wrote: post #78

While I see the great potential in this technology, the collateral damage is the loss of places where one can truly disconnect. I just got back from 4 days camping at a remote mountain lake with zero phone coverage, and it’s one of the most incredible ways to fully recharge and step away from the day to day treadmill of the modern world. When we loose the possibility to completely disconnect, I at least, will feel a…

why not just not bring your phone? or keep it in airplane mode?

Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#84

Post by nsilvestri »

xcskier56 wrote: post #78

While I see the great potential in this technology, the collateral damage is the loss of places where one can truly disconnect. I just got back from 4 days camping at a remote mountain lake with zero phone coverage, and it’s one of the most incredible ways to fully recharge and step away from the day to day treadmill of the modern world. When we loose the possibility to completely disconnect, I at least, will feel a…

Until the eye-Phone gets installed, you can always leave your phone somewhere else.

Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#85

Post by [deleted] »

xcskier56 wrote: post #78

While I see the great potential in this technology, the collateral damage is the loss of places where one can truly disconnect. I just got back from 4 days camping at a remote mountain lake with zero phone coverage, and it’s one of the most incredible ways to fully recharge and step away from the day to day treadmill of the modern world. When we loose the possibility to completely disconnect, I at least, will feel a…

[deleted]

Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#86

Post by imoverclocked »

xcskier56 wrote: post #78

While I see the great potential in this technology, the collateral damage is the loss of places where one can truly disconnect. I just got back from 4 days camping at a remote mountain lake with zero phone coverage, and it’s one of the most incredible ways to fully recharge and step away from the day to day treadmill of the modern world. When we loose the possibility to completely disconnect, I at least, will feel a…

Not to be snarky, phones do have an “off” button. There is no reason we can’t have a little disconnectedness anywhere we choose. Ie: the problem isn’t the connection, it’s the expectation that just because there is a connection there is also a need to respond.

Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#87

Post by bombcar »

cma wrote: post #63
Nextgrid wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Doesn't this require specific hardware?

They claimed it will work on most existing phones, but they did caveat with "aspirationally" all over the place.

If it’s send-only than a satellite receiving a ping isn’t insane - they’re only 340 miles up.

Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#88

Post by joshmn »

I'm still baffled that I get better service in the middle of a lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness than on the shore. I tried T-Mobile for service, I tried Verizon, and I tried AT&T, and for whatever reason, I could run a decent speed test in the middle of many lakes, but not anywhere else.

Re: SpaceX, T-Mobile to connect satellites to cellphones in remote areas

#90

Post by coconut08 »

xcskier56 wrote: post #78

While I see the great potential in this technology, the collateral damage is the loss of places where one can truly disconnect. I just got back from 4 days camping at a remote mountain lake with zero phone coverage, and it’s one of the most incredible ways to fully recharge and step away from the day to day treadmill of the modern world. When we loose the possibility to completely disconnect, I at least, will feel a…

if you want to not have cell service while you are camping then you can just leave your phone at home. i'm sure that the benefits brought to people who are saved from being bitten by a poisonous snakes or fall down the side of a mountain will outweigh your moderate discomfort brought about by your lack of self control.
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