Starlink

[rekees4300]

Maybe this has already been mentioned. Verizon is expanding rural coverage and offers $40 or $60 unlimited internet. Sprint has $50 for 50gb plan and is also expanding coverage. No additional charges for going over and so far hasn't slowed down for us. Sat services hard sell if expansion continues.

It's called competition. IMO it's Verizon, Sprint, and many other ISPs that are going to be the "hard sell" if Starlink is successful. Isn't it interesting they are offering better deals now that Starlink is near operational?

 

[/pine]

Obviously some are not seeing the big picture...If there were not areas/regions that have no sources for truly high speed connections (i.e., fiber)...there would be no real need for services like Starlink....If Starlink can live up to it's expectations they will have little real competition in said areas/regions...

 

[Diggin It]

Fixed Wireless like Cell service can expand coverage to places not feasible for copper or fiber to the home, but there still has to be a way for the towers to be powered and link up. There are a LOT of homes in my county that are 'too far' for copper/DSL, but could easily get service by fixed wireless.

One problem with former satellite services including TV was/is 'dark spots' in valleys or the backside of mountains that couldn't get line of sight to the birds. I haven't heard if this will be reduced or eliminated.

 

[/pine]

Fixed Wireless like Cell service can expand coverage to places not feasible for copper or fiber to the home, but there still has to be a way for the towers to be powered and link up. There are a LOT of homes in my county that are 'too far' for copper/DSL, but could easily get service by fixed wireless.

One problem with former satellite services including TV was/is 'dark spots' in valleys or the backside of mountains that couldn't get line of sight to the birds. I haven't heard if this will be reduced or eliminated.

It's not economically feasible to even build towers where the critical mass of paying customers can't support the expense...

IIRC...the existing older satellite services use high orbit satellites and are limited in numbers...Starlink satellites are many and in low earth orbits...this is what separates them from older services with severe latency issues...

??

 

[rekees4300]

One problem with former satellite services including TV was/is 'dark spots' in valleys or the backside of mountains that couldn't get line of sight to the birds. I haven't heard if this will be reduced or eliminated.

The "UFO on a stick" doesn't move but can electrically change its reception angle to align with the satellites. How it will interact with trees, buildings, hills, etc. has yet to be determined. That is a big, fundamental question that hopefully will be answered by the public beta test and then communicated to prospective customers.

 

[LouNY]

Fixed Wireless like Cell service can expand coverage to places not feasible for copper or fiber to the home, but there still has to be a way for the towers to be powered and link up. There are a LOT of homes in my county that are 'too far' for copper/DSL, but could easily get service by fixed wireless.

One problem with former satellite services including TV was/is 'dark spots' in valleys or the backside of mountains that couldn't get line of sight to the birds. I haven't heard if this will be reduced or eliminated.

Fixed wireless is what I have and have had for close to 20 years,
it has a hard time living up to its promises.
As a matter of fact it usually falls short.
It is also a line of site service so the wrong side of a hill or forest guess what, no go.

 

[Mat4644]

Obviously some are not seeing the big picture...If there were not areas/regions that have no sources for truly high speed connections (i.e., fiber)...there would be no real need for services like Starlink....If Starlink can live up to it's expectations they will have little real competition in said areas/regions...

True but the numbers and size of the Sat only access areas are shrinking. Rural wireless is growing and 5G soon. Such as my area recently. Starlinks market is shrinking unless cost is minimal vs wireless.

 

[Diggin It]

^^ I see the US as a testbed. How much of Canada, Mexico, South America and beyond is open to them?

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Obviously some are not seeing the big picture...If there were not areas/regions that have no sources for truly high speed connections (i.e., fiber)...there would be no real need for services like Starlink....If Starlink can live up to it's expectations they will have little real competition in said areas/regions...

Yes and if they were to be able to provide satellite phone service that would be the icing on the cake. Since we have a new roof and heat/air system needs coming up we are hoping to get a new Tesla roof and heating/air so we can charge the $25K Tesla car when they start shipping.

Fed dollars for traditional fiber optics, etc may dry up if Starlink works well without any capital cost to the utility companies.

 

[kcflhrc]

Lot's of what if's with Starlink at this point. As far as speed and reliability there is no current replacement for fiber and honestly I can't foresee anything competing with fiber in the near future. Anything wireless is going to have more issues than a fiber connection as long as you can keep the idiots from cutting it. The amount of data you can push down a single piece of glass is truly mind boggling.