Starlink

[BigBlue1]

Looks like some recent changes at Starlink:

The roam '50GB for $50/mo' plan has transitioned to 100GB for $50. But after the 100GB instead of paying $1/GB more the plan just transitions to 'unlimited low-speed data'.

They dropped the equipment charges for residential hardware. So new residential subscribers pay $0 for hardware for signing up for the full $120/mo plan or 'lite' $80/mo plan.

I checked on my account and my inactive roam plan now indicates 100GB data allotment. That will be nice when I re-activate it in spring for camping.

I was pondering what the free equipment would mean to retailers like Home Depot & Best Buy, but I guess people signing up for roam plans still need to buy the equipment so I'd assume the retail channels will remain.

 

[B7510HSD]

What is Low Speed?

 

[BigBlue1]

What is Low Speed?

Instead of shutting off access after a user has reached the monthly data allotment threshold they continue to allow Internet access but throttle it down to a very low speed. I think it is around 512 Kb/s. Enough to do basic low-volume things but generally not useful for typical Internet access. This is the same thing they do when you 'pause' your roam plan... The system stays active but speed is massively cut. This allows users to, for instance, continue to receive system updates and access their Starlink account to make subscription changes.

 

[JRH02]

What is Low Speed?

Low speed is what makes you wear your teeth out. People whining about high speed numbers are often like those with a car speedometer that goes to 160 mph. "Mine is faster!" So what? You don't need or use it.

 

[BigBlue1]

Low speed is what makes you wear your teeth out. People whining about high speed numbers are often like those with a car speedometer that goes to 160 mph. "Mine is faster!" So what? You don't need or use it.

This reference is a very specific, very limited situation. It's not "I only have 50Mb/s but my buddy has 500 Mb/s" lusting after 'the best'. This is 0.5Mb/s which is just enough to be barely functional. And it is implemented that way for a specific set of reasons by Starlink.

 

[RandyT]

Looks like some recent changes at Starlink:

The roam '50GB for $50/mo' plan has transitioned to 100GB for $50. But after the 100GB instead of paying $1/GB more the plan just transitions to 'unlimited low-speed data'.

They dropped the equipment charges for residential hardware. So new residential subscribers pay $0 for hardware for signing up for the full $120/mo plan or 'lite' $80/mo plan.

I checked on my account and my inactive roam plan now indicates 100GB data allotment. That will be nice when I re-activate it in spring for camping.

I was pondering what the free equipment would mean to retailers like Home Depot & Best Buy, but I guess people signing up for roam plans still need to buy the equipment so I'd assume the retail channels will remain.

Its not free per se. It is a $0 rental that if you cancel the service the equipment has to be returned or you have to pay for it. And if you were one of the people that got in on the mini offer for people that have the residential plan it is now $5 for standby mode and $25 a month for 100GB for roam when you turn it on.

 

[BigBlue1]

Looks like another change just dropped.

Residential plans now offer speed tiers:
100Mb/s for $50/mo
200Mb/s for $80/mo
'best speed' for $120/mo (currently seems to be capped at 400Mb/s)

None of the tiers has data volume restrictions: "Unlimited data"

And the $120/mo tier offers a free mini device.

 

[IXLR8]

Hmm, I'm paying $120/mon and the best I am getting is 120Mb down, gen 2 dish. Maybe it is time to drop back to the $50/mon plan.

 

[Eagle1]

This morning on "lite" $80 per month plan
357 down 35 up.
Not a lot of others out here since most now have access to fiber in this sparsely populated area.

Consistently see 200+ down rare times it drops much below that.

 

[grsthegreat]

I just got that email, but not bothering changing. I’ll be fiber in a few months, than going to go to the standby plan

 

[ponytug]

Hmm, I'm paying $120/mon and the best I am getting is 120Mb down, gen 2 dish. Maybe it is time to drop back to the $50/mon plan.

FWIW: Moving from a gen 2 dish to a gen 3 dish moved our speeds from 120 to 360Mbits/s, with no other changes.It also slightly lowered the latency by 2-3ms.

All the best, Peter

 

[IXLR8]

FWIW: Moving from a gen 2 dish to a gen 3 dish moved our speeds from 120 to 360Mbits/s, with no other changes.It also slightly lowered the latency by 2-3ms.

All the best, Peter

I've heard several folks say that upgrading to gen 3 will gain a noticeable speed improvement in speed tests. The only issue is that anything over 30Mb/s down is more than enough for us. We just don't need much bandwidth.

 

[ponytug]

I've heard several folks say that upgrading to gen 3 will gain a noticeable speed improvement in speed tests. The only issue is that anything over 30Mb/s down is more than enough for us. We just don't need much bandwidth.

Makes sense to me; I wouldn't either in that case.

All the best, Peter

 

[JRH02]

gen 2 dish to a gen 3 dish moved our speeds

And WiFi signal strength reaches much further.

 

[nikdfish]

Starlink just updated their monthy prices.

For residential:
$50/mo 100Mb/s, unlimited data, "free" hardware in some markets? not available in some markets
$80/mo 200Mb/s, unlimited data, "free" hardware in some markets? not available in some markets
$120/mo ("Residential Max") 400Mb/s, unlimited data, "free" hardware, "free" Mini kit with discounted roaming (1/2 price), free "mesh kit" (mini router).

For roaming
$50/mo full speed for 100GB, reduced speed after that (standby speed?)
$160/mo full speed, unlimited data

 

[ning]

I have fiber on my street, but my local fiber company has their head where the sun don't shine and my Starlink is both faster and cheaper than the fiber service they provide.

There's fiber on the country road about 260' from the house (straight line) but they're not doing drops to houses.
I considered Starlink and was on the wait list for a couple years and just before the waitlist popped, Verizon's 4G LTE home internet became available; it's now 5G; I get very reliable 200-400Mbps / sub-20ms latency for $35/mo, very tough to beat.

Starlink just updated their monthy prices.

My guess is this is for two reasons: 1, they have increased bandwidth available because they're adding more and more satellites.... and 2, the mobile operators are taking business where theirs is available because of significant price difference.

I'd be tempted by the $50/mo as 100Mbps is sufficient for us, and it would be nice to have two sources of comms.

 

[ernemats]

I have Gen 2 system, which I like, paying $120. per month. I bought the equipment for it several years ago. Can I switch to this offer and get free equipment and if so what would I do with my existing equipment?

 

[Torvy]

I have Gen 2 system, which I like, paying $120. per month. I bought the equipment for it several years ago. Can I switch to this offer and get free equipment and if so what would I do with my existing equipment?

I'm in the same boat.

If I read correctly, we still need to pay ($500-$600?) for the new equipment.

I haven't really had any issues, so I think I'll wait a generation or so.

 

[BigBlue1]

I have Gen 2 system, which I like, paying $120. per month. I bought the equipment for it several years ago. Can I switch to this offer and get free equipment and if so what would I do with my existing equipment?

You're probably going to need to open a support query to Starlink to find the answer to that. They did ship me a free Gen 3 system last fall after I had asked them about some rain fade issues I had observed. You could also log into the Starlink web site and go through the 'purchase' process and see if it allows you to set up a new subscription with the new 'free' hardware. I can say that when I was swapping equipment it involved setting up a new subscription under my account and then dropping the old one, so maybe that will work for you.

 

[JRH02]

I have Gen 2 system, which I like, paying $120. per month. I bought the equipment for it several years ago. Can I switch to this offer and get free equipment and if so what would I do with my existing equipment?

You own what you purchased and it works for you. Be happy for that. I experienced a failure in December that bricked my Gen 2. In a trouble ticket Starlink verified what happened and treated me well in the end. I'm sure others could chime in with similar stories. I don't believe you are going to get Starlink to give you free equipment.