Live data from Hacker News

SpaceX launches Starlink ‘flat high-performance’ dish for moving vehicles

teslanorth.com

61–66 of 66 posts

Re: SpaceX launches Starlink ‘flat high-performance’ dish for moving vehicles

#61
post #28

My experience with Starlink is that it kind of works(I get 50-100Mb bandwidth) but I have multiple(as in 10s) sub-second interruptions every hour. Dishy view is completely unobstructed. And weather is clear most of the time in California. As much as I hate Comcast, if 100Mb Comcast was available in my area I would trade it in a heartbeat.

I use starlink here in the UK. I don't get any drops and I spend probably around 4 hours a day on video calls. I've heard people say it can be regional though.

Re: SpaceX launches Starlink ‘flat high-performance’ dish for moving vehicles

#62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The original decision was this: SpaceX: "Hey FCC, can we get permitted for stationary satellite dishes?" FCC: "Yes." The new decision: SpaceX: "Hey FCC, can we also get permitted for moving dishes?" FCC: "Yes." The FCC didn't try to stop anything, they just weren't asked about moving dishes the first time.

I'm still curious about the legal situation here. Why is it banned by default? I mean other wireless communications are totally fine to use while in motion (HAM, cell service, wifi, CB, GPS, Satellite telephones, etc). Why does the FCC explicitly have to approve this kind of thing? I imagine it is more than bureaucracy?

Since RF spectrum is a very limited resource, everything is approached from a standpoint of "nothing is okay, unless it explicitly is". It is, rightly, tightly managed.

The things you mentioned are either in public bands (HAM, CB) or have long since gotten the same permission (sat phones).

The only reason this is newsworthy is because spacex/starlink. Headlines like "Satellite Phones BANNED (before the FCC approved their application)" don't get clicks.

Re: SpaceX launches Starlink ‘flat high-performance’ dish for moving vehicles

#63
post #28

My experience with Starlink is that it kind of works(I get 50-100Mb bandwidth) but I have multiple(as in 10s) sub-second interruptions every hour. Dishy view is completely unobstructed. And weather is clear most of the time in California. As much as I hate Comcast, if 100Mb Comcast was available in my area I would trade it in a heartbeat.

Wait until you get the strange billing from ComCast first. My mom had it in Florida and I found she had all sorts of extra charges for items and services she never had. There is a reason ComCast has a bad rep.

There's also a reason every terrestrial ISP has bandwidth caps.

"Unlimited" satellite bandwidth is not sustainable, and once the business model changes to acknowledge that, Starlink will join the ranks.

Re: SpaceX launches Starlink ‘flat high-performance’ dish for moving vehicles

#64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also frequency re-use. They will talk on the same frequency to multiple ground terminals, but pointed different directions from the satellites perspective.

Did not know that, neat. Phased arrays are so cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs2QcycggWU check this out, excellent teardown explanation about how the antenna works.

Re: SpaceX launches Starlink ‘flat high-performance’ dish for moving vehicles

#65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did not know that, neat. Phased arrays are so cool.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qs2QcycggWU check this out, excellent teardown explanation about how the antenna works.

The math used to determine the phase offsets to steer the beam is absurd.

Re: SpaceX launches Starlink ‘flat high-performance’ dish for moving vehicles

#66
post #45

Is it going to end up in Tesla truck and cars ? Tesla is building an army of connected robots on wheels.

Tesla vehicles and in fact most of today's cars and trucks have mobile connectivity, so the army of connected robots on wheels is already a thing.

Not sure if the current fleet talk much. With ubiquitous connectivity, maybe we could have all those vehicles talking to each other to act collectively.
Post reply on HN