Starlink beta blog

[jjbbrewer]

Starlink beta test

Yesterday I signed up for the Starlink beta program available in my area.



My intention is to experiment with it and compare it to the other options I have available:

• Comcast cable
• Verizon 4gLTE
• City of Loveland Fiber Optic

My goal is to do real world testing and measuring of this capability with the hopes that someday it'll become portable and maybe a little easier on power.

If you're interested, please subscribe to this thread and I'll do my best to blog my findings.
If you want to tell me how stupid this is and how it'll never work, feel free to post that, too.

For some initial Q&A - go here - https://www.starlink.com/faq

 

[jjbbrewer]

My order confirmation said I'm getting the following parts



.. antenna, wifi router, power supply, cables, and mounting tripod. They recommend you mount it on the ground, but also say rooftop mounting is a good option. A rooftop mount kit is available for an extra charge. I'll probably do that.

They're fulfilling orders on a first-come first-served basis, but I have no idea who is in line in front of me.

ETA is mid to late 2021 whatever that means.

 

[ice_nyne]

Subbed. Interested in hearing your findings.

Hopefully that delivery date sticks!


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[Wynn1427]

Had signed up with just an email back in November and said they would reach out once the time was getting close for our area for service (we are by no means remote as many other regions across the US, but who knows how they will decide who gets the beta status as this program gets up and going for them). Also got the email yesterday that said it was open in our area for deposit sign up, so I have signed up as well. We currently have Comcast internet service and swapped away from AT&T just over a year ago. Would also like to see if this will eventually become a portable option while traveling.

 

[CoChris-MGRV]

Yesterday I signed up for the Starlink beta program available in my area.

Following. Interested in your findings. I am just up the road from you (and used to work at AMD too).

Chris

 

[Ynot4me2]

I'm patiently waiting for my invite.
I'll be following your findings.
Will you be mobile or always from the same location?

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[jjbbrewer]

Will you be mobile or always from the same location?

To get it going, I'll be at my house / stationary. After that, who knows. Right now it says that it won't work out of my "cell", which I understand to be about 20 square miles. My thought it to cruise around my cell and find the boundaries.

 

[JustUs&doggo]

Just curious, what is the initial $ and then have they told the monthly $?

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[gbkims]

I put in the preorder deposit after reading the Arstechnica article.

https://arstechnica.com/information...g-pre-orders-for-service-in-mid-to-late-2021/

"SpaceX this week began accepting preorders for Starlink broadband, asking for $99 deposits for service that would be available in the second half of this year.

To start the process, you can go to Starlink's website and enter your email and service address. The overall cost is $499 for hardware, $50 for shipping and handling, and $99 for monthly service, plus tax. These are the same prices charged in the ongoing beta, which is limited to parts of the northern United States and southern Canada.

"Starlink is targeting coverage in your area in mid to late 2021," the preordering system says. "Availability is limited. Orders will be fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis. You will receive a notification once your Starlink is ready to ship.""

 

[RobWNY]

It's a 100% game changer if Starlink ever becomes mobile capable. Even if there's an add on charge for that ability, it would be worth the cost to have great internet regardless of where you are. I live in Western NY and have the same mid to late 2021 availability for the Beta service testing. I won't be doing that right away though. Too many other expenses and I have 200mb download speed for $75 so I don't have a real big need right now. I did subscribe to your thread though to keep up on things. We wintered near Kennedy Space Center last year and watched 9 rocket launches up close (within 5 miles). 6 of them were Falcon 9 rockets sending up satellites and 2 were Atlas 5 rockets sending supplies to the ISS. It was a truly spectacular thing to watch. We could hear the roar of the engines and crackling of the flames and the sonic booms at about 45 seconds into the flights was impressive. Watching at night was super cool too. The entire area would be lit up for a couple minutes. We also watched the SpaceX Falcon 9 intentional abort mission that blew up on purpose. That was the most spectacular one of all, to see the capsule jettison away safely moments before watching the rocket valued at $50,000,000 explode into a huge fireball. We can't wait for this pandemic to be over so we can snowbird and watch again!

 

[jjbbrewer]

It's a 100% game changer if Starlink ever becomes mobile capable.

10-4! That's why I'm experimenting with it. There's zero chance of my Comcast cable or Loveland fiber optic ever becoming mobile. And Verizon is just criminal, so ..

We wintered near Kennedy Space Center last year and watched 9 rocket launches up close (within 5 miles).

That's VERY cool! We'd love to do that. That's a great idea to camp out and watch a few. I'll put that on my list for sure.

 

[AZMike]

I received my invite via email yesterday. It's a little too pricey for me seeing as it's not a remote setup. I may sign up when I can "take it with me".

 

[RVingwithJessandChris]

I paid the startup fee as well. My email said it would be mid to late 21 before it is available. Even if it's not portable per se it will still be a game changer for us at our farm. I would also think it would be a great add on at campgrounds in the event our systems are not portable.

 

[MoonShadow_1911]

Just saw this article! https://www.teslarati.com/starlink-mini-elon-musk-update/

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[RobWNY]

That's great news! I just wish Elon would have elaborated a little and gave a tentative target date.

 

[applewpb]

I too paid my 99.00 for the beta program fee last week. I live in Florida so I am curious to see when we finally get service. I am more interested in using it with my 310GK!

 

[geotex1]

We are receiving our equipment in 3 weeks from Monday. Friends have been beta testing on left coast, right through the fires last year. They are full-time with a mountain home base where they weathered COVID-19 lockdowns. We live so rural our only options are Dish and an interlaced DSL at the sticks and bricks! Looking forward to this!

 

[jlk111]

Yesterday I signed up for the Starlink beta program available in my area.

View attachment 32222

My intention is to experiment with it and compare it to the other options I have available:

• Comcast cable
• Verizon 4gLTE
• City of Loveland Fiber Optic

My goal is to do real world testing and measuring of this capability with the hopes that someday it'll become portable and maybe a little easier on power.

If you're interested, please subscribe to this thread and I'll do my best to blog my findings.
If you want to tell me how stupid this is and how it'll never work, feel free to post that, too.

For some initial Q&A - go here - https://www.starlink.com/faq

Verizon has gotten extremely poor lately in the northwest. Dropped calls, echoing voices, missing or days late texts and voicemails. Everyone I know that use Verizon comment about the horrible service they provide.

 

[Z71-K9]

I would buy tomorrow if there was monthly plan. I only need from June to October (camping season). I really dont want to pay $50 a month through winter.

 

[gbkims]

SpaceX plans Starlink broadband for cars, boats, and planes - ARStechnica