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Existing smartphones will connect with new satellite constellations in 2023

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Re: Existing smartphones will connect with new satellite constellations in 2023

#81

Post by jhoechtl »

crote wrote: post #25
rootusrootus wrote: post #10

So there's Bluewalker 3 which uses a big antenna to achieve communications with unmodified cell phones, and then Elon claiming that regular Starlink satellites will be able to do the same thing without that ginormous antenna. How does that work? Both are at roughly similar altitudes, BW3 just slightly higher.

SpaceX is going for text messaging, AST SpaceMobile wishes to offer cellular broadband. This means it is probably designed for a higher bandwidth on cellular frequencies. Beyond that, bigger antennas mean better signal quality, so a better coverage. Also, Starlink seems to be using an order of magnitude more satellites: AST SpaceMobile is planning a 243-satellite constellation, while Starlink currently has 3000+ sate…

> while Starlink currently has 3000+ satellites operational.

Wow, I was unaware that Elon already brought that amount of equipment into space!

Re: Existing smartphones will connect with new satellite constellations in 2023

#82

Post by zarzavat »

cpncrunch wrote: post #52
version_five wrote: post #27

This will hopefully give Canadians real options for mobile phone plans. It will be "illegal" because our telecom monopoly (oligopoly) writes the laws, but presumably with a US address it will be possible, like it was with satellite dishes, to get a proper phone on a network that doesn't gouge you. I'll be curious what the monopoly does to try and fight it.

There are affordable plans in Canada. It's just that they aren't really advertised. I have unlimited Canadian talk+text + 2GB for $35/month. Without the data (just unlimited domestic text+voice) it's $20/month. This plan isn't public...for some reason my wife got emailed about it and she got signed up. They allowed me to sign up too, even though they hadn't notified me about it. I think these plans are used to entice…

If $17 per GB is the affordable plan, what is the unaffordable plan?!

I pay <$2 per GB in the UK, and I think that's extortionate.

Re: Existing smartphones will connect with new satellite constellations in 2023

#83

Post by dismalpedigree »

Firmwarrior wrote: post #44
bagels wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I find it hard to believe that there aren't already intelligence satellites up there listening to as much RF as possible everywhere all the time.

The cool thing is that now you'll be able to cheaply monetize this information in order to better serve users with great perfectly-tailored advertising It'll be like a cool guy is just following you around 24/7 making sure you know what to buy and do and think

Barf. This sounds like a version of my own personal Hell.

Re: Existing smartphones will connect with new satellite constellations in 2023

#84

Post by mannanj »

kylec wrote: post #78
shasheene wrote: post #3

SpaceX and T-Mobile are starting a trial in late-2023 to use unmodified handsets for text (and later, voice and data) with the Starlink V2 network to remove cell coverage dead-zones. [1] [2] It's achieved by "dedicating a slice of T-Mobile's Mid-Band PCS [1.9 GHz] spectrum, to be integrated into Starlink satellites, launched next year", with each Starlink V2 satellite hosting two 5-6 meter long cell-spectrum antennas…

[flagged]

Is there someone you trust more with your data, if so, please share.

Re: Existing smartphones will connect with new satellite constellations in 2023

#85

Post by dismalpedigree »

m00dy wrote: post #69

Usually, these satellites fly over 500km altitude, and as far as I know, none of the nation-states can take them down due to the limited rocket science capacity.

Both china and Russia have demonstrated ASAT weapons in the past decade.

Re: Existing smartphones will connect with new satellite constellations in 2023

#86

Post by markus_zhang »

pests wrote: post #74
bee_rider wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Still, the fact that Apple has figured out the weird RF voodoo already makes it seem like a less ridiculous proposition.

Qualcomm is the one who has figured out the weird RF voodoo you speak of. Apple is just consuming that.

Is there any tech manual out there? Would love to see how it works.

Re: Existing smartphones will connect with new satellite constellations in 2023

#87

Post by martyvis »

pontilanda wrote: post #77
martyvis wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's strange that you think that this is so unachievable yet we have things like Bluetooth, WiFi, LoRa and regular cell phone all working with relatively tiny amounts of power and discriminating from the noise generated by other nonparticipants. This would amaze anyone from before the 70s.

What? My wifi barely reaches the other side of my room with a wall in between, how am I supposed to think 350 miles is within reason? Even with clear sky, your signal to a tower an order of magnitude closer would be unusable. If you look at apple’s latest feature, even them, with specific hardware probably, requires minutes of open-sky pointing directly at the closest satellite, to transmit mere bytes of data. That t…

I know nothing of your own situation, but having personally deployed fully working and operational WiFi for a 10000 plus seat stadium, various other campuses, but also seeing cell phones work in your pocket moving in a car or in a big city shopping centre is amazing. Even the Starlink stuff that is already deployed.

Anyway let's wait and see - I'm pretty sure T-Mobile wouldn't have signed on for something that is just a pipedream

Re: Existing smartphones will connect with new satellite constellations in 2023

#88

Post by tshaddox »

bee_rider wrote: post #50
pests wrote: post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple's solution is making use of special features in the radio package. The post states unmodified phones.

Still, the fact that Apple has figured out the weird RF voodoo already makes it seem like a less ridiculous proposition.

I always assumed the main thing with satellite messengers was that they transmit with much higher power. Not that such a system is easy to design, but the “voodoo” mentioned previously was more about achieving compatibility with an existing RF system at much longer ranges than the system was designed for.

Re: Existing smartphones will connect with new satellite constellations in 2023

#89

Post by mikehotel »

dismalpedigree wrote: post #83
Firmwarrior wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The cool thing is that now you'll be able to cheaply monetize this information in order to better serve users with great perfectly-tailored advertising It'll be like a cool guy is just following you around 24/7 making sure you know what to buy and do and think

Barf. This sounds like a version of my own personal Hell.

Given the forum, the sarcasm tag is almost certainly implied.

Re: Existing smartphones will connect with new satellite constellations in 2023

#90

Post by bawolff »

kylec wrote: post #78
shasheene wrote: post #3

SpaceX and T-Mobile are starting a trial in late-2023 to use unmodified handsets for text (and later, voice and data) with the Starlink V2 network to remove cell coverage dead-zones. [1] [2] It's achieved by "dedicating a slice of T-Mobile's Mid-Band PCS [1.9 GHz] spectrum, to be integrated into Starlink satellites, launched next year", with each Starlink V2 satellite hosting two 5-6 meter long cell-spectrum antennas…

[flagged]

Its your phone. You can control if it automatically connects to roaming. So you can opt out in the normal already existing way in your phone's settings.
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