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Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

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Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#61

Post by retrac »

CSMastermind wrote: post #43
wcfields wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had a buddy [1] that worked in the kitchen at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station for a few seasons in 2012-2014. From what he told me: The internet works at certain times of the day at different bandwidths depending on the satellite. I think at that time there was 3 in orbit, and one of them was a retired Navy sat that had like dial-up speed. Also everything that goes to the station stays there so the vinyl collecti…

> Also everything that goes to the station stays there What's the reasoning behind that? Presumably people bring back clothes and other personal affects right?

Personal effects must be like 1% (approximately) of what they ship in, by weight. Consider things like the consumables and construction equipment.

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#62

Post by db48x »

capableweb wrote: post #50

According to their coverage map ( https://www.starlink.com/map ) there is no coverage in Africa nor Asia, unless I'm missing something obvious. Or if there are new continents I'm not aware of.

That map doesn’t distinguish between waiting for enough satellites to be in the sky overhead and waiting for permission from the local government. For better or worse, each country’s government has to approve the use of any particular frequency, as well as things like transmission power.

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#63

Post by capableweb »

mchusma wrote: post #58
capableweb wrote: post #50

According to their coverage map ( https://www.starlink.com/map ) there is no coverage in Africa nor Asia, unless I'm missing something obvious. Or if there are new continents I'm not aware of.

This is availability for purchase map, not coverage.

What is the difference? If I pick an address in Africa, it tells me "Service date is unknown at this time", does that mean they have coverage there but I cannot purchase it if I live there?

So I could, if I live in Africa, buy it and send it to an address in Europe, go pick it up and then use it from my home in Africa?

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#64

Post by capableweb »

db48x wrote: post #62
capableweb wrote: post #50

According to their coverage map ( https://www.starlink.com/map ) there is no coverage in Africa nor Asia, unless I'm missing something obvious. Or if there are new continents I'm not aware of.

That map doesn’t distinguish between waiting for enough satellites to be in the sky overhead and waiting for permission from the local government. For better or worse, each country’s government has to approve the use of any particular frequency, as well as things like transmission power.

That makes perfect sense. If the service is not available, it's not available. The reason why doesn't make a difference "how available" it is. Either it is, or it isn't.

Seems a bit like false marketing to say "Starlink is now on all seven continents" when it's more like "Starlink has satellites over seven continents but you can only actually use it on five of them"

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#65

Post by Dylan16807 »

MichaelCollins wrote: post #35
madspindel wrote: post #6

One step closer to Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative.

It's now the Space Development Agency's (SDA) National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA). But yes, Starlink looks a hell of a lot like the Transport Layer of the NDSA, which is meant to be a mesh network comprising of thousands of satellites in LEO. Either Starlink is the Transport Layer of NDSA, or it proves that SpaceX has the technical ability to create the Transport Layer (no other company does.)

I really wouldn't put it that way, though. The core part of SDI, the missile defense, isn't part of NDSA. And the "transport layer" is something new to NDSA as far as I can tell.

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#66

Post by gpm »

espadrine wrote: post #21
wmf wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How about getting Tesla banned from China and possibly starting an orbital war that triggers the Kessler syndrome?

What would be banned are the dishes. China doesn’t need to send a missile to LEO (which would be unnecessarily costly for them).

China has previously demonstrated anti-satellite weapons multiple times just to demonstrate they have them (and maybe make sure they work), I doubt they'd be that worried about the cost to demonstrate that they mean it and are willing to use them.

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#67

Post by gpm »

capableweb wrote: post #64
db48x wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That map doesn’t distinguish between waiting for enough satellites to be in the sky overhead and waiting for permission from the local government. For better or worse, each country’s government has to approve the use of any particular frequency, as well as things like transmission power.

That makes perfect sense. If the service is not available, it's not available. The reason why doesn't make a difference "how available" it is. Either it is, or it isn't. Seems a bit like false marketing to say "Starlink is now on all seven continents" when it's more like "Starlink has satellites over seven continents but you can only actually use it on five of them"

Eh, it depends on who "you" are. I'm pretty sure the USAF can use them on all seven continents. Meanwhile I, not having a contract, can't use them on any continent.

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#68

Post by wmf »

dylan604 wrote: post #56
hollander wrote: post #5

How about providing free internet to China and Russia, to give the people there proper information without government oversight?

I mean, they kind of are, right? If the Chinese and Russian people came up with their own gear to receive/send compatible signals with the signal, then they could use it. Of course, authorized accounts would probably be problematic. Getting Starlink branded gear to use will also be hard in those countries.

No, they could not use it. I'm pretty sure the satellites turn off their transmitters and receivers when passing over unlicensed countries (if for no other reason than to save power).

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#69

Post by fasthandle »

eagerpace wrote: post #52
hollander wrote: post #5

How about providing free internet to China and Russia, to give the people there proper information without government oversight?

Valid comments here but with the very recent developments on satellite connections direct to mobile phones, how long until you don't need a giant satellite? It may be sooner than we think. Certainly there are other enforcement mechanisms but the trend towards the internet becoming a ubiquitous utility is still making a lot of progress and this is the next paradigm shift.

Indeed. Without veering of into another discussion, other enforcement includes apps and phone monitoring. This isn't limited to other apps on a phone but firmware, input methods, even simply switching IPs.

As well as VPNs existing, international sim cards also 'bypass' internet filtering. Absolute restriction of the internet is not the goal. The goal is to not allow anything approaching a critical mass to do so, especially less technically literate who would not seek out VPNs etc unless they were marketed to or directly facilitated. The next is to all but remove the browser, email is truly dead having never been a big thing socially, with a domestic app orientated landscape; mobile penetration is far beyond lap/desktop.

This doesn't make it better, but it is how it is.

Re: Starlink is now on all seven continents, enabled by its space laser network

#70

Post by db48x »

capableweb wrote: post #64
db48x wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That map doesn’t distinguish between waiting for enough satellites to be in the sky overhead and waiting for permission from the local government. For better or worse, each country’s government has to approve the use of any particular frequency, as well as things like transmission power.

That makes perfect sense. If the service is not available, it's not available. The reason why doesn't make a difference "how available" it is. Either it is, or it isn't. Seems a bit like false marketing to say "Starlink is now on all seven continents" when it's more like "Starlink has satellites over seven continents but you can only actually use it on five of them"

Well, if you hover over various countries where it’s not yet available, it will tell you when they estimate that it will be available. Nigeria says “Q4 2022”, which is not very far away. In order to be sure of having service available in a month or two, they have surely already built a ground station or two, printed some instruction booklets in Nigerian, hired some Nigerian sales reps, etc.
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