Starlink

alnav said:
Not at all what I expected. Looks like two independent terminals, albeit larger phased arrays, but no evidence of particular hardening for maritime use. For the price I imagined domes would be included.
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Me either Al. For 10K I was expecting a whole lot more and definitely tandem domes.
 
Got email from FedEx Starlink shipped from Hawthorn today will have it Monday.
 
Got my mount today from MRI. Super nice quality. Dishy arrives Monday so next weekend is going to be fun.
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SKybolt said:
Very nice, should be a fun weekend for you.

I ordered mine yesterday, just need to find a service address that will work for me.
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You ordered RV? Why do you need an address?
 
ocgrant said:
You ordered RV? Why do you need an address?
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Yes ordered RV, but there is no service where I am and you need to register a service address somewhere, and that needs to have available service. When I use the sat map that you posted, I actually have great service, so that's why I ordered it. But still need a valid service address.
 
SKybolt said:
Yes ordered RV, but there is no service where I am and you need to register a service address somewhere, and that needs to have available service. When I use the sat map that you posted, I actually have great service, so that's why I ordered it. But still need a valid service address.
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Orlando, I've got the RV version coming Monday as well. I'm looking at the RV availability map (https://www.starlink.com/map?source=rv) and it looks like the only place in our area with no service is a little west of Annapolis. Most everywhere else is "low capacity".
 
alnav said:
Orlando, I've got the RV version coming Monday as well. I'm looking at the RV availability map (https://www.starlink.com/map?source=rv) and it looks like the only place in our area with no service is a little west of Annapolis. Most everywhere else is "low capacity".
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Al - Mine is due Wed. This map https://starlink.sx/ shows great coverage in both are area's including Rock Hall and Fairlee Creek area's. So it looks like traveling will not be an issue. But as you mention low capacity, not sure what that means in terms of data rates, but you don't need that much to watch YoutubeTV and Netflix and the like. I have gotten away with 8Mbps download speeds. I am guessing that the worst case is a whole lot more then that, assuming service is still available.


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@ocgrant is your plan to keep the Starlink mounted on the pole with the motors enabled all of the time?

I am going to try this in stages, meaning first put it on the bow and then take the DTv dome down and mount it there with a Volcano mount if I can find one. Then remove the backing and motors and mount it flat on where the DTv dome was mounted. I am not sure that 9lbs on a three screw mount will last long in a storm, even if bolted. I think over time it will possibly crack the fiberglass.

Keep us posted and how you make out with the Bahama trip.
 
SKybolt said:
@ocgrant is your plan to keep the Starlink mounted on the pole with the motors enabled all of the time?

I am going to try this in stages, meaning first put it on the bow and then take the DTv dome down and mount it there with a Volcano mount if I can find one. Then remove the backing and motors and mount it flat on where the DTv dome was mounted. I am not sure that 9lbs on a three screw mount will last long in a storm, even if bolted. I think over time it will possibly crack the fiberglass.

Keep us posted and how you make out with the Bahama trip.
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Yes I am thinking the exact same way. For now it looks like I can remove the OTA TV antenna and install it there to do initial testing. I watched the video to drill the hole and disconnect the motors so might try that next. Yes the base is probably less than ideal for long term but for testing before I go through pulling the dome and sending it out to be cut and flattened this will be my plan. Who knows in a year they may have a completely different antenna that I want. I do question if their 9lbs includes that god awful base they show. I ordered a 5" stainless plate to weld the antenna base too in order to beef up the mount if I choose to go that way just in case.

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SKybolt said:
Al - Mine is due Wed. This map https://starlink.sx/ shows great coverage in both are area's including Rock Hall and Fairlee Creek area's. So it looks like traveling will not be an issue. But as you mention low capacity, not sure what that means in terms of data rates, but you don't need that much to watch YoutubeTV and Netflix and the like. I have gotten away with 8Mbps download speeds. I am guessing that the worst case is a whole lot more then that, assuming service is still available.


View attachment 132368 View attachment 132369
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Orlando, in a low-capacity area (and maybe a high one as well), it looks like to me the issue becomes whether there are other users in the same cell where you are trying to connect. If there are, Starlink appears to refuse to allow new connections regardless of signal strength. So, if your marina happens to have enough users you might get a no-connect based on that. Apparently that is happening in RV parks out west. There is a YouTube video of a guy who got around that by systematically mapping connection status within a radius of his park. I think he found an open location 10 or so miles away he entered as his current location and that worked. Starlink doesn't appear to know exactly where your dish is, only what you enter as current location.
 
ocgrant said:
Yes I am thinking the exact same way. For now it looks like I can remove the OTA TV antenna and install it there to do initial testing. I watched the video to drill the hole and disconnect the motors so might try that next. Yes the base is probably less than ideal for long term but for testing before I go through pulling the dome and sending it out to be cut and flattened this will be my plan. Who knows in a year they may have a completely different antenna that I want. I do question if their 9lbs includes that god awful base they show. I ordered a 5" stainless plate to weld the antenna base too in order to beef up the mount if I choose to go that way just in case.

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Perfect, that is my exact thinking as well. I am going with the volcano mount because it may be a bit lower once I shorten the pole from the satellite itself. Then as you next phase is to disconnect the motors. I like the plate idea makes mounting very easy.
 
alnav said:
Orlando, in a low-capacity area (and maybe a high one as well), it looks like to me the issue becomes whether there are other users in the same cell where you are trying to connect. If there are, Starlink appears to refuse to allow new connections regardless of signal strength. So, if your marina happens to have enough users you might get a no-connect based on that. Apparently that is happening in RV parks out west. There is a YouTube video of a guy who got around that by systematically mapping connection status within a radius of his park. I think he found an open location 10 or so miles away he entered as his current location and that worked. Starlink doesn't appear to know exactly where your dish is, only what you enter as current location.
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Yeah and this is the really confusing part that I have read about. What does that mean other users and how many is too much? 1 or 100? This is the service location issue I was referring too @ocgrant and you might have an issue based on this in the
Bahama's.

Al how do you plan on getting around this? By constantly changing your service location? This is/was my plan, but perhaps not and does this need to be done every time you move? Glad the service can be put on hold ...
 
SKybolt said:
Yeah and this is the really confusing part that I have read about. What does that mean other users and how many is too much? 1 or 100? This is the service location issue I was referring too @ocgrant and you might have an issue based on this in the
Bahama's.

Al how do you plan on getting around this? By constantly changing your service location? This is/was my plan, but perhaps not and does this need to be done every time you move? Glad the service can be put on hold ...
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I imagine the Starlink control system reacts to the local situation in terms of number of users and bandwidth being absorbed. The video I watched was from what looks like a popular Arizona snowbird destination so there may be hundreds if not more RV's gathered and lots of dishy's. I assume the first to arrive and set up get to keep their location as long as they stay. I suspect the west coast has many more users since the coverage was there early on. Hoping the east coast is fairly sparse, at least for now. My intention is to play with the system for the rest of this year. I'll probably just set up the dishy on its little legs on the bow while in port then figure out something more permanent over the winter.
 
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alnav said:
I imagine the Starling control system reacts to the local situation in terms of number of users and bandwidth being absorbed. The video I watched was from what looks like a popular Arizona snowbird destination so there may be hundreds if not more RV's gathered and lots of dishy's. I assume the first to arrive and set up get to keep their location as long as they stay. I suspect the west coast has many more users since the coverage was there early on. Hoping the east coast is fairly sparse, at least for now. My intention is to play with the system for the rest of this year. I'll probably just set up the dishy on its little legs on the bow while in port then figure out something more permanent over the winter.
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So your saying there is a loading issue with each satellite and for argument sake it's set to 100 and user 101 will not get service?
 
SKybolt said:
So your saying there is a loading issue with each satellite and for argument sake it's set to 100 and user 101 will not get service?
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Close, from what I think I've learned. I am guessing it is about more than just one satellite, more a function of the number serving any given area, and that ground station capacity plays as well. But, yes, for any given ground position, once "capacity" is reached, the next subscriber trying to use that position will be turned away.
 
alnav said:
Close, from what I think I've learned. I am guessing it is about more than just one satellite, more a function of the number serving any given area, and that ground station capacity plays as well. But, yes, for any given ground position, once "capacity" is reached, the next subscriber trying to use that position will be turned away.
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Wow, I did not think it worked that way. What are they going to do when this service takes off if the limited use now can't be met in area's (Rhetorical). Not good at all.

So if you change your service are a outside of the the current satellites view does that work? I wouldn't think so but I have to ask. Guess I'll find out soon enough.
 
I did a little looking around at the state of Starlink's growth and was impressed. 20 or so launches this year of around 1,000 new satellites. There was one today, the eighth since 1 July of 53. So, apparently they are increasing capacity at a good pace.
Also found this site: https://satellitemap.space. Shows every satellite current position along with ground station locations. Look for log "strings" of satellites; I expect those are recently launched and headed for their ultimate positions.
 
alnav said:
Close, from what I think I've learned. I am guessing it is about more than just one satellite, more a function of the number serving any given area, and that ground station capacity plays as well. But, yes, for any given ground position, once "capacity" is reached, the next subscriber trying to use that position will be turned away.
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So, if you are "registered" in an area do unregistered (RV'rs) get bumped off if there are not enough channels to permit the registered to log on? Or, once you are registered is it assumed you are 24/7?
The waitlist is confusing.
 
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