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Starlink Maritime

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Re: Starlink Maritime

#281

Post by jonah »

vl wrote: post #256
cronix wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Starlink RV is only currently meant to be used while stationary and can't track while in motion, which is why the hardware is identical to the home unit. They're supposed to be coming out with new hardware that allows use while in motion. It was only a week ago that the FCC approved the application for "vehicles in motion."[1] It will be on airplanes as well, soon. [1] https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/30/fcc-approves-spa…

What I really want is hardware that is mounted on RV roof and can be deployed and folded with a press of a button. While I don't care if it works in motion, I do care about setup convenience, and I'm not getting current version because setting it up is just too cumbersome. Or even better: just flat beam-forming antenna on the RV roof. Once thing there is enough on the roof is space.

Ehh, we just got an RV unit for Search and Rescue use in remote areas[0]. Setup is about three steps and just a couple minutes. Waiting 5-15 minutes for it to connect to the constellation takes longer.

[0] https://www.instagram.com/p/CfUUWVfJKo1/

Re: Starlink Maritime

#282

Post by jpgvm »

tsimionescu wrote: post #49
Tuna-Fish wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They don't need any new development or that kind of stuff for wide coverage, just the intersatellite links, and they have launched 15 groups of them in the first 6 months of this year.

"just" the intersatellite links, which is research-level technology given the speeds, distances and precision required. Tesla Autopot also requires "just" a few software updates.

Iridium launched with inter-satellite links in 1997.

Swapping radios out for lasers isn't that much harder, there is some difficulty in tracking/alignment but it's space - things tend to stay where you put them, with whatever momentum you left them with.

Completely different ballgame to Autopilot which basically requires advancing the field of AI by another quantum leap before it's ready.

Re: Starlink Maritime

#283

Post by jpgvm »

adra wrote: post #224
dingosity wrote: post #216

Just curious. Does anyone know anyone who has received their terminal who is not a SpaceX employee or opted for Mobile/RV? I keep hearing about how they're being deployed, but the only people I know who have received their terminals are SpaceX employees or people who agreed to the more expensive Mobile/RV service.

I was visiting some rural family in Alberta Canada and there's a bunch of them running with starlink setups now. I feel they're prioritizing rural first because there isn't really service to compete with / target demographic?

Yeah, their product compares very favourably to competition in rural but I suspect the other reason is density. They don't have enough satellites with enough bandwidth to provide high speeds for a lot of people in a small area (like a city) but the more spread out their customers are the more efficiently they make use of their fast moving satellites.

Re: Starlink Maritime

#285

Post by roflyear »

moralestapia wrote: post #24

The writing is on the wall. RIP Garmin, Iridium, etc... As to why it is expensive? Well, they did their homework and found out is a lucrative market (one doesn't need a lot of hindsight for that, though).

People with a go or inreach aren't going to buy this lol

Re: Starlink Maritime

#286

Post by NelsonMinar »

ww520 wrote: post #254
aml183 wrote: post #164

I work in the space industry and follow SATCOM closely. This is a very competitive space. Companies like Viasat, Iridium and Inmarsat already work in this vertical. SpaceX beats all these companies from a marketing perspective, but the big question is will a LEO operator provide better coverage than a GEO operator?

For latency and bandwidth, LEO beats GEO hands down.

They're really completely different product categories and shouldn't even be compared.

Re: Starlink Maritime

#287

Post by NelsonMinar »

sillysaurusx wrote: post #146

Can anyone explain how the ping is so low on starlink? I always assumed satellite internet was always going to be inferior for online gaming, but everything I find online says that starlink is great for it. I guess I don’t have a specific question. It’s just one of those engineering marvels that I never thought I’d see. No wires, but still frag people at <90ms ping.

Note that latency isn't as good as Starlink advertises. My residential service is supposed to get 20-40ms latency. In reality I get 40-80ms (as measured with ping to 8.8.8.8) and it's highly variable.

Starlink latency is still quite good and a completely different category of service than any geosync satellite ISP. But they've got a ways to go to improve it. A lot of gamers seem unhappy with it right now, FWIW.

Re: Starlink Maritime

#288

Post by 10u152 »

moralestapia wrote: post #24

The writing is on the wall. RIP Garmin, Iridium, etc... As to why it is expensive? Well, they did their homework and found out is a lucrative market (one doesn't need a lot of hindsight for that, though).

Garmin doesn’t operate a satellite network. They produce devices and on sell subscriptions to other satellite services. This won’t really impact them at all. They could pivot to use another network if it becomes more feasible.

Re: Starlink Maritime

#289

Post by O__________O »

ncallaway wrote: post #192
michaelt wrote: post #114

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Also data is not charged in minutes, it's theoretically unlimited. If you buy the 'medium plan' for $119/month [1] you get 150 Minutes of 'Data, Standard Voice or combination of both' and can buy additional data for US$0.42/min. And the 'light plan' [2] at $57/month includes just 5 minutes. Data seems to a "call via the Iridium GO! Access number" like old school dial-up. It's only if you buy the 'heavy plan' for $1…

If we're comparing price to a $5,000/month offering, I think it's totally reasonable to compare it to the $149/month package of Iridium.

Maybe, though there are 43830 minutes in a month and that package offers 150-mins. Guessing there better bulk min plans, but at the 0.42 a min over the 150-mins, that’s $18345.60 + the monthly fee.

Re: Starlink Maritime

#290

Post by andrew_ »

We still need a 12v solution for the peasants that boat offshore. The current monthly fee represents a full year of boat payments. Definitely not targeted at consumers.
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