Starlink

[Skybolt]

What's in it for Sx to establish the recreational marine use to a higher tiered subscription?
Is it because there are more inter-satellite relays required before a ground station?
It seems to me that the satellites crossing over the oceans are minimally utilized other than being, for the most part, relay stations.
I can't understand, technically, the difference between a land yacht and an ocean yacht other than there are significantly more land yachts.

I agree, that boating should not even come in to play either. I think it is just to try and recoup some of the cost. Otherwise it makes no sense. To your point, there shouldn't be any difference between RV use and a boat's use.

To me this may signify there may be a throughput issue and the recreational users may be more significant then was planned for.

While geo-fencing may not in and of itself come in to play here for most users. I think their band width limiting will. I am hoping yesterdays speeds was just a fluke, as I have seen before, and not the norm.

 

[Skybolt]

Well today was a little better then yesterday speeds increased a bit to ~10MBps and as low as 2MBps and while tv could stream, there were moments of the spinning cursor. Watchable not questioning how via-able this is going to be @$150.month.

@ocgrant and @alnav what are you guys seeing for speeds? Only a few weeks ago things were as they were last year, but sometime last month they went down hill quickly. Very interested in hearing what you guys are seeing?

I am hoping things are going to be better and a cell contract isn't in my future. ...

EDIT: Not looking good ... https://spaceexplored.com/2022/11/0...-speed-1mbps-speeds-for-business-after-limit/

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy...download-speed-fell-nearly-30mbps-in-q2-2022/

With Roam plan not having any priority service it looks like this may be done for rec. boaters.

 

[alnav]

Well today was a little better then yesterday speeds increased a bit to ~10MBps and as low as 2MBps and while tv could stream, there were moments of the spinning cursor. Watchable not questioning how via-able this is going to be @$150.month.

@ocgrant and @alnav what are you guys seeing for speeds? Only a few weeks ago things were as they were last year, but sometime last month they went down hill quickly. Very interested in hearing what you guys are seeing?

I am hoping things are going to be better and a cell contract isn't in my future. ...

EDIT: Not looking good ... https://spaceexplored.com/2022/11/0...-speed-1mbps-speeds-for-business-after-limit/

Orlando, sorry, my dish is laid up for the winter and I'm laid up due to a recent hip replacement. The other hip is scheduled for April so I probably won't get the dish out until late May or early June.
I did do some looking around on the subject. I thought there was a real-time bandwidth map I looked at early on but couldn't find it. I did see a comment that the US East problem was due to legacy frequency users who haven't been sorted out as yet. That sort of makes sense in that physical satellite coverage should be the same at similar latitudes across the country.
Hopefully your low speeds will clear up. I think there'd be a huge hue and cry on the internet if your experience was widespread and I didn't see that in my scan today.

 

[Skybolt]

Orlando, sorry, my dish is laid up for the winter and I'm laid up due to a recent hip replacement. The other hip is scheduled for April so I probably won't get the dish out until late May or early June.
...
Hopefully your low speeds will clear up. I think there'd be a huge hue and cry on the internet if your experience was widespread and I didn't see that in my scan today.

Hope you have quick recovery Al. All the best for that.

That is why I am posting on this. I too would expect a lot more chatter then I see. I am hoping I didn't screw up my dish some how, or it suffered some kind of hardware failure when it was rebooting last weekend etc.

 

[Irie308]

Launched this past Friday and took the StarLink out of suspend mode. Have been using the StarLink without issue at my marina. Since I’m facing north I just placed the dish inside my bridge. It’s been up and running for 48 hours now. Hasn’t skipped a beat. Getting 128mb down. The swap to dc power is going to work out well. Had to power down the boat today to switch my 30 amp receptacles to smart plugs and was able to keep the dish running, streaming tv while I kept an eye on my emails for work. I’m no wirelessly monitoring the boat from home without interruption.

 

[Skybolt]

Launched this past Friday and took the StarLink out of suspend mode. Have been using the StarLink without issue at my marina. Since I’m facing north I just placed the dish inside my bridge. It’s been up and running for 48 hours now. Hasn’t skipped a beat. Getting 128mb down. The swap to dc power is going to work out well. Had to power down the boat today to switch my 30 amp receptacles to smart plugs and was able to keep the dish running, streaming tv while I kept an eye on my emails for work. I’m no wirelessly monitoring the boat from home without interruption.

Thanks Irie, I didn't think you were in yet given your location.

I am starting to think my dish is damaged from the constant rebooting it was in two weeks ago. It hasn't acted the same since. Thinking I might need another one. Tough call since it might not be damaged and this is what is going on here. But right now I don't have a tenth of the service I had last season.

 

[Irie308]

Seems I’ve found the location to flat mount my StarLink. Have seen them trimmed down to just over an inch thick. Once I put up the cover layer to the canvas it will be completely hidden. I just need to get the nerve up to hack up my StarLink and fabricated a mount. Only concern is would heat from a black canvas in the sun be an issue. Further testing is required.

 

[Skybolt]

Seems I’ve found the location to flat mount my StarLink. Have seen them trimmed down to just over an inch thick. Once I put up the cover layer to the canvas it will be completely hidden. I just need to get the nerve up to hack up my StarLink and fabricated a mount. Only concern is would heat from a black canvas in the sun be an issue. Further testing is required.
View attachment 142357

Wow that's thinking outside the box. Very nice idea. I would be leary of the black canvas. I know how hot my blue gets, not to mention putting on a backing on.

But there are plenty of videos online on how to cut the back off. looks pretty easy with a cut-off wheel. Probably best to do in two passes.

 

[Skybolt]

... I am hoping I didn't screw up my dish some how, or it suffered some kind of hardware failure when it was rebooting last weekend etc.

I am guessing my array is hosed and need a new one, so I ordered one yesterday. It will be interesting to find out if that is actually the issue. I figure if it isn't I can cancel and return it and only be out a few bucks. But not looking forward to it not being the issue. Upgrading the Peplink to the new 5g pro and 40g antenna isn't cheap and no money saved with the right cell contract.

 

[techmitch]

I am guessing my array is hosed and need a new one, so I ordered one yesterday. It will be interesting to find out if that is actually the issue. I figure if it isn't I can cancel and return it and only be out a few bucks. But not looking forward to it not being the issue. Upgrading the Peplink to the new 5g pro and 40g antenna isn't cheap and no money saved with the right cell contract.

Doesn't the Dishy have some kind of warranty?

 

[Skybolt]

Doesn't the Dishy have some kind of warranty?

Absolutely does, but not when you defile it as we have done ...

Cutting or changing anything voids the warranty, and I cut a hole to unplug the motors and also cut the cable to adapt to 12v..

 

[techmitch]

Absolutely does, but not when you defile it as we have done ...

Cutting or changing anything voids the warranty, and I cut a hole to unplug the motors and also cut the cable to adapt to 12v..

Ah, I knew that others have, but I must have must missed the part where you sliced on yours.

 

[Skybolt]

Ah, I knew that others have, but I must have must missed the part where you sliced on yours.

I was one of the first back @ post #144

 

[ttmott]

I was one of the first back @ post #144

Orlando - didn't you have issues with the aftermarket power supply you were using getting hot?
Have you taken a technical look at that since? Measure voltage and AC ripple?
Coincidence?
I'd be curious to see the difference between the Sx power supply and that aftermarket one on a scope, ballasted.

 

[Skybolt]

Orlando - didn't you have issues with the aftermarket power supply you were using getting hot?
Have you taken a technical look at that since? Measure voltage and AC ripple?
Coincidence?
I'd be curious to see the difference between the Sx power supply and that aftermarket one on a scope, ballasted.

Yes I did, when I posted a few post's back about the voltage ect, that was from the dc to dc converter. Zero ripple or noise, looked at it with a scope. I couldn't see any noticeable differences between SL power supply and the converter. My issue with the converter getting hot was the array was constantly rebooting. I am still not sure why it was rebooting so much. But a guess is a firmware update got interrupted, because when I came out into the open (from winter storage under a roof) it was still doing that. It finally calmed down over night and started acting normal the next day. But no download speed, barley enough to stream music. Tv skips and waits. Some speed tests where between 1-3 MBps.

My plan, when I receive the new array, is to plug in and test straight from the box with no mods and see what I should expect with the speeds with all original equipment. Then if everything is good, plug into existing modified wiring to test that. Then, if no changes, mod the new array and move on with the new array. If the new array has the same slow speeds then return the array and buy a new Peplink 5G pro with 40g antenna and hopefully be able to use in most places. I had a lot of issues getting cell service in a lot of where I go. And Oh yeah, be pissed off at SL for killing my plans for this thing. So I'm really hopping that my existing array is screwed up.

 

[dtfeld]

I am guessing my array is hosed and need a new one, so I ordered one yesterday. It will be interesting to find out if that is actually the issue. I figure if it isn't I can cancel and return it and only be out a few bucks. But not looking forward to it not being the issue. Upgrading the Peplink to the new 5g pro and 40g antenna isn't cheap and no money saved with the right cell contract.

Ive been watching all of you work through all the SL hardware, firmware, and related issues. I know this is awsome technology, but maybe a little bit in its infancy, so I’ve stayed away.

However, having upgraded the Peplink last year to the MAX BR1 Pro 5G, and sticking with a dedicated Verizon data account, I couldn’t be happier, I think you will be as well (even with cellular limits).

The 5G throughput is 10x-50x what the older generation hardware was, and can handle anything I’ve asked it to do including remote monitoring, security cameras, YoutubeTV, streaming just about anything we could think of.

Additionally, as SL gets its *&$# together, the 5G makes for a great onboard router/network management hub. All of it remote manageable. So while expensive, I don’t think it a waste of money.

 

[ttmott]

Ive been watching all of you work through all the SL hardware, firmware, and related issues. I know this is awsome technology, but maybe a little bit in its infancy, so I’ve stayed away.

However, having upgraded the Peplink last year to the MAX BR1 Pro 5G, and sticking with a dedicated Verizon data account, I couldn’t be happier, I think you will be as well (even with cellular limits).

The 5G throughput is 10x-50x what the older generation hardware was, and can handle anything I’ve asked it to do including remote monitoring, security cameras, YoutubeTV, streaming just about anything we could think of.

Additionally, as SL gets its *&$# together, the 5G makes for a great onboard router/network management hub. All of it remote manageable. So while expensive, I don’t think it a waste of money.

All good Dave until the boat is out of cell range which we are quite a bit. I have international calling on the Iphone so we have two way comm in the islands and will keep the KVH active until they get things ironed out on the Starlink. I suspect we are still a couple of years away.

 

[dtfeld]

Agreed, cellular has limits out of sight of land, but man it seems like SL is making it really difficult for you boater guys.

I have an issue being under a covered slip (first world problem), that it won’t work at the dock. Seems like every technology has its limits, and if you want to stay connected on a boat, your going to have to have a primary and backup system. Nothing is easy about this.

Hopefully SL irons all of this out sooner vs later. I think it is the future for sure.

 

[ttmott]

I have an issue being under a covered slip (first world problem), that it won’t work at the dock. .

I wish I had that problem.....

 

[Irie308]

Really don't think SL connectivity will be an issue for us coastal cruisers. There really is no way for them to restrict access in a small anchorage or bay. Unless he really wants to be d@#k about it...lol. We should also keep in mind that SL first rollout wasn't to satisfy the pleasure boaters. We are just putting the carriage in front of the horse as we wait for SL to catch up to our needs. For now I'm pretty happy with what they are providing even with the small rate increase. If I have to walk to the bow of my yacht to setup a highspeed internet dish so that i can stream Netflix at 150mbs while at anchor I think I can grin and bear it...