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Iran is likely jamming Starlink

timesofisrael.com

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Re: Iran is likely jamming Starlink

#131

Post by ACCount37 »

ovi256 wrote: post #121
Majromax wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It sounds like Starlink uses GPS to localize the receiver, rather than for any active step in the communication link. Since most receivers are static, I wonder if an effective workaround to this is for the receiver to just remember its last GPS fix for longer, or worst-case allow a manual location specification in lieu of a GPS fix.

A user provided location cannot be trusted for geofencing purposes. A GNSS (GPS or other) is needed sooner or later. This is a legal requirement for sanction and regulation enforcement (US, if not others).

Starlink system inevitably knows the terminal location down to a service cell, which is what, a 20km grain? Good enough for "regulation enforcement".

Re: Iran is likely jamming Starlink

#132

Post by BurningFrog »

almogo wrote: post #66

Does anyone know how Iranians are _actually_ communicating right now? I remember seeing here on HN (admittedly a long time ago) some Bluetooth-mesh technologies that promised decentralized solutions to these very type of problems

The only working communication I see mentioned on X is Starlink.

Re: Iran is likely jamming Starlink

#133

Post by ViewTrick1002 »

Majromax wrote: post #65
archerx wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the GPS satellites are above the starlink ones how is Iran able to disrupt the GPS signals?

GPS signals are extremely weak, and they're necessarily received from omnidirectional antennas that can't provide much antenna gain. In some sense it's a miracle of signal processing that GPS can ever be received.

There have been developments in receiving antennas that are harder to jam.

Most jamming is horizontal and limited to a few bands. So by having a directional antenna and listening to all services for now it seems to work. But this is a cat and mouse game.

https://furuno.eu/gr-en/marine-solutions/gnss-positioning-ti...

Re: Iran is likely jamming Starlink

#134

Post by RickJWagner »

almogo wrote: post #66

Does anyone know how Iranians are _actually_ communicating right now? I remember seeing here on HN (admittedly a long time ago) some Bluetooth-mesh technologies that promised decentralized solutions to these very type of problems

I saw a comment yesterday from a user claiming to be in Iran. I think he said StarLink was usable. ( Maybe that’s changed, though. )

Re: Iran is likely jamming Starlink

#135

Post by RickJWagner »

RandomLensman wrote: post #95
gordonhart wrote: post #71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There’s no evidence that China (or anybody else) has the capacity to meaningfully harm the 9000+ satellite Starlink constellation.

Debris creating debris creating debris ... ?

Yes, I’ve seen this!

It was a small, triangular ship that blasted big asteroids, which in turn spun off and collided with other asteroids…

Re: Iran is likely jamming Starlink

#136

Post by nsmdkdfk »

dsign wrote: post #128

My thoughts to the Iranian people, may they get what they need and deserve at a cost that is not too high. As in all conflicts, there's always a "fog of blame" where there isn't absolute certainty about who is right and who is to blame. Though it's not that hard. Because their survival depends on it, dictators are very good at blaming others--anybody, really--for their own shortcomings, and they usually wield the kin…

[flagged]

Re: Iran is likely jamming Starlink

#137

Post by general1465 »

consumer451 wrote: post #54

I am curious if there are any implications for the Russian invasion of Ukraine from this tactic working.

I don't think it will have much implication. Jamming is a two way street. You can erase some spectrums, but you are also creating massive electromagnetic beacon for home-on-jam ammunition.

However if you are a protester without any advanced weapons, then you can't do anything against that.

Re: Iran is likely jamming Starlink

#138

Post by woodruffw »

paganel wrote: post #101
Imustaskforhelp wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Gps is free to use. Running your own gnss service requires an atomic clock and possibly separate transmission hardware, which is possible, but adds cost, volume, and weight. Thanks you provide some great insights on why starlink didnt use gps but still if starlink wants to focus itself as the uncensorable internet in places like protests etc. I feel like they can probably do this after this recent incident I just c…

Yes, ask their Mossad direct and local handlers (as per Mike Pompeo [1]) about how things are going, I’m sure that this being Mossad they have a ground-based way to get the information out. [1] https://xcancel.com/mikepompeo/status/2007180411638620659

Mike Pompeo is a private citizen; is there some reason to believe that he has direct knowledge of foreign involvement in these protests? It seems unlikely, and doubly so that he’d actually disclose it if he did.

Re: Iran is likely jamming Starlink

#139

Post by Forgeties79 »

sawjet wrote: post #109
afavour wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> if starlink wants to focus itself as the uncensorable internet in places like protests etc I’m not sure Musk would actually want that though, especially these days.

Why not?

Because Musk is a fickle, unethical individual with poor impulse control and too much money who only talks about high minded concepts like “free speech” and “battling censorship” when it serves his interests at that moment.

Re: Iran is likely jamming Starlink

#140

Post by s800 »

Imustaskforhelp wrote: post #99
tucnak wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is said they pulled the plug for all peering on Thursday, although I would assume some kind of government-run ISP may be operational still (I haven't checked Cloudlfare radar)

Pardon me but can you please provide me more context regarding it. I am genuinely confused about the ground state of reality in Iran right now regarding Internet access at all can you please take a look at cloudflare radar and see what the current ipv4 connectivity means? Even Ipv4 was blocked for sometime but then it got back to normal in the graph shown in cloudflare radar Can you please tell me what you mean by pl…

Iranian address space is no longer in the public routing table.
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