Starlink Anarchy

[accnick]

Starlink Roam ordered today. Now the waiting begins.

I don't need it until mid May, but decided I would rather get it in hand earlier rather than later, since I have no idea when it will ship and what the demand is right now, or will be later this northern hemisphere spring as the RV and boating folks ramp up orders.

 

[CapDave]

I returned my Flat High Performance dish with one day to spare on the 30 days, after reading the brand new ToS. I ordered a Standard dish with Global Roaming on 20th (to FL), they shipped it on the 21st.

I think there's some chance that "land only" is going to include harbors, whereas "continent of purchase only" is pretty clear...and easy to enforce. I really only want harbors, don't really care about high seas or underway, not very interested in paying $1k/month for Maritime.

If they offered Global Roaming for the FHP I would certainly have kept it on the same bet....

 

[accnick]

I returned my Flat High Performance dish with one day to spare on the 30 days, after reading the brand new ToS. I ordered a Standard dish with Global Roaming on 20th (to FL), they shipped it on the 21st.

I think there's some chance that "land only" is going to include harbors, whereas "continent of purchase only" is pretty clear...and easy to enforce. I really only want harbors, don't really care about high seas or underway, not very interested in paying $1k/month for Maritime.

If they offered Global Roaming for the FHP I would certainly have kept it on the same bet....

My Starlink shipped yesterday--a day after I ordered it--and will be here on Saturday. I order a rail mount from Axia Alloys for about $80. The mount looks like a clever and sturdy design, and can be ordered for any rail diameter or style.

Starlink Marine Boat Tubing Mount – Dishy – Axia Alloys

axiaalloys.com

 

[CapDave]

Today I received a phone call from Starlink in response to a trouble ticket I submitted about the new Roam ToS for my new Flat High Performance dish. A nice young woman told me that there is no expectation when or if Global Roaming will be available for that dish. Good thing I already returned it 3 days ago just inside the 30 days.

BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY - I was told verbally, and later in writing confirming the call, that I can expect Global Roaming with a v2 rectangle dish to work in the harbor anywhere in the world there is service. Verbally I was also told that small movements in the harbor - like swinging at anchor - would not be a problem. She reminded me that I cannot use the v2 "in motion" or "in the middle of the ocean" and that doing so would void my warranty.

So basically, I guessed right by returning the FHP and ordering the v2 (which was shipped in 24 hours). It's pretty easy to enforce "continent of purchase" for the FHP with Regional Roaming (whether they're enforcing it or not I don't know), BUT critically now I know for sure Global Roaming will work in the harbor - which is all I want. I have an Iridium Glow and a KVH V3-HTS to get weather at sea, and I don't need to watch Netflix out there.

So finally - I have a Starlink solution that will meet my needs AND is within the constraints of the ToS - and my budget. Who'd a thunk it?

 

[accnick]

Just arrived.....

 

[Israel Hands]

Just trying to summarize the state of things and figure out whether to order now-

From anecdotes of others and some personal observation, it looks like the Roam version using portable (not in-motion) hardware works most of the time even offshore now. And you can pause and un-pause the service in one-month increments. So at $599 upfront and $150 per month, is there any reason not to order at this time (expected upgrades needed, price increases or anything like that)?

 

[Jkdubz808]

Anyone heard whether or not SL will be geo-fencing their system? I thought the whole purpose was to be able to use it offshore underway.

 

[MaxDog]

Nobody knows what SL is going to do in the future. They say little to nothing and then do the opposite. People have been telling me it's going to stop working and tripple in price ever since I bought it. Neither has happened. Enjoy it while you can, and hope that it lasts a long time.
(Posted from Fakarava atoll in the Tuamotus via SL)

 

[robalex117]

Nobody knows what SL is going to do in the future. They say little to nothing and then do the opposite. People have been telling me it's going to stop working and tripple in price even since I bought it. Neither has happened. Enjoy it while you can, and hope that it lasts a long time.
(Posted from Fakarava atoll in the Tuamotus via SL)

Well said. Starlink and many of Elon Musk's ventures are like a black hole. Somehow he gets away with it but maybe one day the music will stop. As Maxdog says enjoy/use it while you can.

 

[TheDragon]

Nobody knows what SL is going to do in the future. They say little to nothing and then do the opposite. People have been telling me it's going to stop working and tripple in price even since I bought it. Neither has happened. Enjoy it while you can, and hope that it lasts a long time.
(Posted from Fakarava atoll in the Tuamotus via SL)

Cool, I spent a month in Fakarava last season and very much enjoyed it. I presume if you are at Rotoava you know to get up early for croissants and baguettes from the bakery, or preorder the day before. Drift snorkeling the South Pass was a highlight, along with kitesurfing at Hirifa motu at the SE corner, and walks on the fringing reef there.

 

[toddster]

It's like trying to buy utilities from a squirrel:

Starlink is now offering a new Maritime / Mobility plan for $250/mo that provides 50GB of Priority data, which enables our fastest network speeds for consumers and can be used on the ocean and land. After using all Priority data, the plan includes unlimited data on inland coverage (e.g., lakes, rivers) anywhere Starlink has service around the world.

Additional Priority data (with access to oceans) will be available for purchase at $2/GB in your account page at a later date.

To upgrade to the new plan, you can sign into your account, click "Manage" under "Your Starlinks", and then select "Change Service Plan". Learn more here.

 

[Fah Kiew Tu]

It's like trying to buy utilities from a squirrel:

Starlink is now offering a new Maritime / Mobility plan for $250/mo that provides 50GB of Priority data, which enables our fastest network speeds for consumers and can be used on the ocean and land. After using all Priority data, the plan includes unlimited data on inland coverage (e.g., lakes, rivers) anywhere Starlink has service around the world.

Additional Priority data (with access to oceans) will be available for purchase at $2/GB in your account page at a later date.

To upgrade to the new plan, you can sign into your account, click "Manage" under "Your Starlinks", and then select "Change Service Plan". Learn more here.

Well, aside from the fact that Elon is a fruitcake who acts like a spoilt child, I expect some of this is evolving as more sats get launched and they get a better handle on how much data they can realistically handle as things scale up.

So - shrug. $250/month doesn't sound too outrageous. But then I was used to paying Inmarsat prices in a former life so it's all relative.

FKT

 

[noaano]

I've had decent luck rinsing things with freshwater and then letting them dry totally.

Pure alcohol works well too. First rinse it with freshwater, then alcohol.

You can also drink some. Freshwater, I mean.

 

[accnick]

It's like trying to buy utilities from a squirrel:

Starlink is now offering a new Maritime / Mobility plan for $250/mo that provides 50GB of Priority data, which enables our fastest network speeds for consumers and can be used on the ocean and land. After using all Priority data, the plan includes unlimited data on inland coverage (e.g., lakes, rivers) anywhere Starlink has service around the world.

Additional Priority data (with access to oceans) will be available for purchase at $2/GB in your account page at a later date.

To upgrade to the new plan, you can sign into your account, click "Manage" under "Your Starlinks", and then select "Change Service Plan". Learn more here.

Yeah, I got that email yesterday. Reminds me of all the "essential upgrades" to my computer security software.

Since we're just coastal cruising in Maine, I'm going to stick with the basic roaming plan until I see how it works.

 

[noaano]

It's like trying to buy utilities from a squirrel:

Yep, that is already hours old news, it might not be available anymore.

Will be interesting product for an ocean crossing, the pricing, terms of service and product offered might change more often than the time zone.

BTW what is the current deal with flat high perf antenna vs roaming? Kinda hard to keep up.

 

[toddster]

If you click through to the link, they offer the "new" service with the flat ("one-time $2500 equipment fee") antenna, but apparently you can also just click to "upgrade" your current service with the old dishy.

Uh, sure, let me pay twice as much for what I've already got. Well, I'm sure it will stop working at some point. Either because the company turns it off or the sea kills it. I'll think about "upgrading" then.

 

[mckenzie.keith]

If you click through to the link, they offer the "new" service with the flat ("one-time $2500 equipment fee") antenna, but apparently you can also just click to "upgrade" your current service with the old dishy.

Uh, sure, let me pay twice as much for what I've already got. Well, I'm sure it will stop working at some point. Either because the company turns it off or the sea kills it. I'll think about "upgrading" then.

Some people have flattened their dishy antennas. Removed the motors and flat-panel mounted them on the roof of an RV or whatever. I am assuming that the US$2500 antenna works better (maybe the phased array is more dynamic or something) but who knows?

 

[noaano]

Some people have flattened their dishy antennas. Removed the motors and flat-panel mounted them on the roof of an RV or whatever.

This is clearly a violation of the required in the operating licence 10deg (used to be 16deg?) "GSO protection" function, so lets see how long this will be tolerated by Starlink, ITU, FCC and GEO operators.

Dishy tilts away from GSO for the very reason of protecting GEO satellite communications. If flat, there will will be stray emissions as the beam is not tight enough.

It won't affect Starlink working, its the other services that suffer, so lets see.

I am assuming that the US$2500 antenna works better (maybe the phased array is more dynamic or something) but who knows?

Well, its approved for that use, I guess due to tighter beam and tolerances, so there is that.

 

[Israel Hands]

Just watched Elon's big rocket explode. Er'body hold onto your wallets, price hike may be in the offing.

 

[MauiPunter]

Just watched Elon's big rocket explode. Er'body hold onto your wallets, price hike may be in the offing.

You mean an "unplanned rapid disassembly".