Starlink

[Oaktree]

Sorry to say NO. Your location is dependent on which Starlink ground station you are connected to and where that ground station connects to the internet. I live in VA and my location has moved from GA to NY to VA to CA, presently it shows me in Ashburn VA.

Speaking of SL uplink locations, have they recently consolidated them? There used to be a site not too far from me, but when I drove by there a month or so ago I noticed everything was gone. This site was in northern Vt.

 

[IXLR8]

Speaking of SL uplink locations, have they recently consolidated them? There used to be a site not too far from me, but when I drove by there a month or so ago I noticed everything was gone. This site was in northern Vt.

Is that the one in Lunenburg? Maps still show it as being there, but nothing is connecting to it.

 

[Oaktree]

Is that the one in Lunenburg? Maps still show it as being there, but nothing is connecting to it.

That's the one. Everything's gone from that site.

 

[nikdfish]

Just about done with setting up the apache 3800 box for portable operations with the Mini. The setup has a 12v 300wh lifepo4 battery, a 30v DC power supply, fuse block & solar charge controller. Wiring includes switches for battery & the 30v supply for the mini. There are also a cable pass-through and duplex anderson powerpole outlet with screw-on caps. I need to wire in connectors for the charge controller.

 

[JRH02]

The starlink annual report:

Starlink | Progress Report

Expanding Boundaries for Humans on Earth

www.starlink.com

It irks me. But it's another Elon thing. Starlink was proposed to benefit for the folks past the last mile with no other option. It was and IS that. But it has gotten big quickly and crazily so with people paying premiums in 'high usage' areas, motorhomes on the move, small systems for free and on and on. We wont talk of the arguments over dish stuff.

We also won't talk about customer service with Grok. Or is it Crock? But when they did engage they did me well. Better than well as support goes. Just don't want help immediately because there are only three guys behind Grok (teasing). But it scares me that it is getting too big and too fast. But who does that better than Musk?

We live off grid in the middle of nowhere with zero cell signal. Starlink is our safety and primary communication. It is better than anything previous (satellite) and I've have them all. May they die [fill in your word]. But I fear the rules may be changing.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Starlink was proposed to benefit for the folks past the last mile with no other option. It was and IS that.

And didn’t the Biden admin turn them down for that?

 

[IXLR8]

And didn’t the Biden admin turn them down for that

Biden turned them down due to the fact that Starlink didn't meet the speed and coverage requirements in the required timeline. Starlink didn't get enough satellites up and functioning in time.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Biden turned them down due to the fact that Starlink didn't meet the speed and coverage requirements in the required timeline. Starlink didn't get enough satellites up and functioning in time.

Pretty sure it was a different reason.

 

[ponytug]

Pretty sure it was a different reason.

I hear you, but that wasn't it.

No, the Federal RFQ was very clear about speeds, and Starlink did not meet the speeds. I followed that whole process quite closely because we are also in an area with no services besides satellite. I was hoping one of the local fiber companies might bid on our road, but in the end, there were no bids.

Our local telco quoted us $14k to run fiber, which granted was cheaper than I could have run it, but the monthly charge was for $500/100Mbit/s. "Commercial service rates only." A micro cell tower capable of long distance microwave would have run us $20-$25k, for a monthly cost of $250 for 300Mbit/s service. Most of my neighbors have shelled out for those services.

Starlink did selectively bid on areas across the country for service where they apparently believed that they would have less competition. The map of the proposed service areas looked like some lot layouts in some crazy newspaper land lottery development. It had no correlation to the Starlink cells, just where others weren't proposing services. There were vacant lots in the largest city around here that had Starlink bids on them, because nobody else was bidding on it.

Woulda, coulda, shoulda...

I just hope that the service keeps functioning, or we will have to build that micro tower.

All the best,

Peter

 

[grsthegreat]

I will love my FREE FIBER when it finishes its installation…..all underground is done except to house. Ground is frozen now….so have to wait till spring. But at least it’s not 14 grand

 

[ultrarunner]

Almost what I paid in Olympia to bring in Comcast Fiber underground…

 

[two_bit_score]

No, the Federal RFQ was very clear about speeds, and Starlink did not meet the speeds.

By design not by happenstance.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Fiber is now available at my house, they just sent me a notice. They didn’t list the price.

 

[Oaktree]

I will love my FREE FIBER when it finishes its installation…..all underground is done except to house. Ground is frozen now….so have to wait till spring. But at least it’s not 14 grand

How did you get fiber for free?

 

[ultrarunner]

Maybe in exchange for an easement?

My telco friends get some great deals if provider was their old employer but still pay at a reduced rate…

 

[WM75Guy]

I am glad we didn't have to pay for fiber. Spectrum ran fiber underground along my county road a while back, putting in taps at every property line. Had 2 800'-900' drops ran underground to the house and the shop with a fiber modem inside of each. I didn't have to pay anything for installation. The drop to the house quit working, probably due to animal damage, and was replaced by Spectrum for free.

 

[JRH02]

Good for all of you, living by a 'road' and having a plow clear the road or the REA come investigate your power outage. I'd call you by the name of a German sausage but you might be complimented.

But to the topic I brought up last, this is about PAST the last mile. Where there IS nothing. In some cases it may not even be electricity. [Gasp] Certainly no gas. Nobody's wire will go there.

As always it is all about the masses and economy. I get that. But that was what Starlink was/is to do. And did it.

Edit: and people with no understanding are going to argue about it.

 

[grsthegreat]

How did you get fiber for free?

Nope, there bringing fiber to entire area for free. Free install, free modem, free install fiber direct to home. Part of government funded rural internet system.

They have dozens of crews working the area. They have hooked thousands of homes up in past year or 2. They did our underground thru development this summer, but frozen ground halted service to house. They said they could lay above ground temp if requested, but can’t for me as it goes over driveway.

Will have 500x500 service for $65/month. My friend had his installed a few months back….amazing speed.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I can get 600 Mbps for $65 month, or 1.2 Gbps for $65 with 60 month contract. 30 Mbps for $40.

 

[JRH02]

I ditched you on the 2nd word. Good for your neighborhood!