Starlink

[Skybolt]

So I just logged on to pause my service until I figure out what I am doing. A new option was available strangely enough, "Change Plan" so I clicked on it and this was the only thing that came up -

View attachment 143056

Notice the 50GB limit on Priority data ... Then best effort service. The Regional Roam plan is only Best Effort service for $100 less. So $2/GB for priority data. Not liking where this is going.

And here's the email to support the new changes. I am guessing they know exactly if your a boater or not.

 

[Skybolt]

Since my SL array died I have been on the fence about getting a new one because of the service I was experiencing. It seems it is real and a lot of others are seeing this as well.

I found this great article on RV Mobile Internet that basically confirms what I been posting about.

This is a quote from that article and makes me think I should wait and see what happens this year with this.

"As time has went on with more users and more congestion, the initial impressive speeds have continued to drop. and most users are now only seeing an adequate 20-50 mbps downloads, and the original speeds of 200+ seem to be a thing of the past. There are also plenty of reports of people experiencing slower than 5-10 mbps download speeds during busy times of the day and some down under 5 mbps which at times starts to make Starlink even usable in congested areas. Congestion in some areas is really becoming a problem for some users."

 

[ttmott]

Since my SL array died I have been on the fence about getting a new one because of the service I was experiencing. It seems it is real and a lot of others are seeing this as well.

I found this great article on RV Mobile Internet that basically confirms what I been posting about.

This is a quote from that article and makes me think I should wait and see what happens this year with this.

"As time has went on with more users and more congestion, the initial impressive speeds have continued to drop. and most users are now only seeing an adequate 20-50 mbps downloads, and the original speeds of 200+ seem to be a thing of the past. There are also plenty of reports of people experiencing slower than 5-10 mbps download speeds during busy times of the day and some down under 5 mbps which at times starts to make Starlink even usable in congested areas. Congestion in some areas is really becoming a problem for some users."

I wonder if it is a ground station or spacecraft or both bandwidth issue. It seems there aren't that many ground stations looking at the maps.

 

[Skybolt]

I wonder if it is a ground station or spacecraft or both bandwidth issue. It seems there aren't that many ground stations looking at the maps.

Yeah, that is a good question. Looking at their service map(s) I only see one in MD and it's over by DC. I think they are aggressively changing their model to keep out the "Roamers" while the hardware is being deployed. And then will offer it up at a premium, just under what is available now by the competition. And that is exactly how it is playing out by me so far.

My account was changed without notice, no email, no text, nothing. I actually found out by @Jaybeaux posting about it a few weeks ago. I started off as residential w/mobility last Aug. That went to Regional Roam by them, now if I try and upgrade I am only offered up Maritime Mobility for $250/month. But hey that includes 50GB of premium data ... Sounds like a line from a bad movie.

I believe they are better at pin pointing where you use their service then they lead on. Meaning their octagon cells are supposed the limit of how they can pinpoint you. I believe it is a little finer then that ...

The issue is their "Best Effort" clause and that seems to be the only service you will get as a Roamer unless you up to the Mobility @ $250/month.

 

[ttmott]

Yeah, that is a good question. Looking at their service map(s) I only see one in MD and it's over by DC. I think they are aggressively changing their model to keep out the "Roamers" while the hardware is being deployed. And then will offer it up at a premium, just under what is available now by the competition. And that is exactly how it is playing out by me so far.

My account was changed without notice, no email, no text, nothing. I actually found out by @Jaybeaux posting about it a few weeks ago. I started off as residential w/mobility last Aug. That went to Regional Roam by them, now if I try and upgrade I am only offered up Maritime Mobility for $250/month. But hey that includes 50GB of premium data ... Sounds like a line from a bad movie.

I believe they are better at pin pointing where you use their service then they lead on. Meaning their octagon cells are supposed the limit of how they can pinpoint you. I believe it is a little finer then that ...

The issue is their "Best Effort" clause and that seems to be the only service you will get as a Roamer unless you up to the Mobility @ $250/month.

I'm pretty sure the dishy provides the GPS location in the data stream.

 

[ttmott]

Yeah, that is a good question. Looking at their service map(s) I only see one in MD and it's over by DC. I think they are aggressively changing their model to keep out the "Roamers" while the hardware is being deployed. And then will offer it up at a premium, just under what is available now by the competition. And that is exactly how it is playing out by me so far.

My account was changed without notice, no email, no text, nothing. I actually found out by @Jaybeaux posting about it a few weeks ago. I started off as residential w/mobility last Aug. That went to Regional Roam by them, now if I try and upgrade I am only offered up Maritime Mobility for $250/month. But hey that includes 50GB of premium data ... Sounds like a line from a bad movie.

I believe they are better at pin pointing where you use their service then they lead on. Meaning their octagon cells are supposed the limit of how they can pinpoint you. I believe it is a little finer then that ...

The issue is their "Best Effort" clause and that seems to be the only service you will get as a Roamer unless you up to the Mobility @ $250/month.

From a business perspective I would want my bandwidth capability over-consumed in subscriptions. At this point I'm sure they are revenue poor if not losing money. I don't know where the lines cross but my guess is at 80 percent deployed. In the mean time the paying customers will will see performance continue to degrade. They did launch a bunch of V2's this morning from the East Coast.
I read this morning that Russia has found a way to shunt/hack the system which isn't good at all.

 

[Skybolt]

I'm pretty sure the dishy provides the GPS location in the data stream.

I have read so many different things on this, but the array supposedly does not have a GPS in it. And they must use time and distance to calculate where you actually are. Last I read (few months ago) was they were only as accurate as one of their octagons that they use to show service on their maps. Just googling it now states ~7.7meters. So I guess they are going to get pretty accurate with their geofencing.

 

[ttmott]

I have read so many different things on this, but the array supposedly does not have a GPS in it. And they must use time and distance to calculate where you actually are. Last I read (few months ago) was they were only as accurate as one of their octagons that they use to show service on their maps. Just googling it now states ~7.7meters. So I guess they are going to get pretty accurate with their geofencing.

Like that is solving a fourth order polynomial.....

 

[Skybolt]

From a business perspective I would want my bandwidth capability over-consumed in subscriptions. At this point I'm sure they are revenue poor if not losing money. I don't know where the lines cross but my guess is at 80 percent deployed. In the mean time the paying customers will will see performance continue to degrade. They did launch a bunch of V2's this morning from the East Coast.
I read this morning that Russia has found a way to shunt/hack the system which isn't good at all.

I would have to agree with that 80% of this plan. And their offering Best Effort service for a premium at this point that is in some cases unusable. SO their geofencing probably comes into play here. They see people only on the water with there equipment and there goes your service.

Awesome, I knew Russia would have to come into play some how ... geesh ...

 

[Skybolt]

Like that is solving a fourth order polynomial.....

So this article explains how they used their own design mod chip with a R-PI chip to help in calculations.

So they have a "GPS" of sorts, but not as we currently think of one.

https://www.wired.com/story/starlink-internet-dish-hack/#:~:text=Among other items on the,up and download its firmware.

 

[ttmott]

So this article explains how they used their own design mod chip with a R-PI chip to help in calculations.

So they have a "GPS" of sorts, but not as we currently think of one.

https://www.wired.com/story/starlink-internet-dish-hack/#:~:text=Among other items on the,up and download its firmware.

That makes more sense. GPS receiver in the dishy and encoded in the data stream to the satellite.

 

[Skybolt]

That makes more sense. GPS receiver in the dishy and encoded in the data stream to the satellite.

Yes, exactly. I think the V1 dish's didn't have anything and now the V2's do. Took a while for the hackers to catch up.

Supposedly that info is available in the debug screen in their app. Can't verify that any more ...

 

[Skybolt]

I probably sound like the grim reaper of SL, but it is not good. Here is a quote from panbo -

"About a month ago Starlink changed the behavior after the priority data allocation was exhausted. Previously, service would continue but at a limited 1 Mbps upload and download. Now, instead of limiting throughput, your location determines the outcome. "

Note the 1mb up/down, I was experiencing exactly that. The rest of the article is well worth a visit. Ben wrote an excellent article on this - https://panbo.com/starlink-maritime-affordable-options/

Good luck guys ...

 

[ocgrant]

I feel you... I am getting ready for a summer in the Bahamas and need to make sure I have internet to work. While I have the cell back up of Peplink I prefer to use the new Starlink while at the dock. I really don't care about use in motion or use while at sea so i am hoping that the "Roam" version will work for me in the marinas as that is where I really use my internet for myself and my daughter to work remotely. I am on the edge to order the new "Marine package" of $250 a month and the bigger Dishy I am not in love with the higher monthly price. Not sure what to do... I guess I will take a trip to Bimini in the next month to test out what I have and see what happens then make a decision what to do...

 

[Skybolt]

Grant, from what I am reading you should be fine until the new changes filter down to you. I have been speaking with a guy in the gulf that was switched to regional roam and he hasn't experienced any slow downs yet. Your area has not been "wait listed" yet, so I think you still have some time until all these changes get to you. I live in the wait listed zone so by definition it's only best effort service and then RR plan is best effort on top of that.

If the 50gb were 100gb then I would be right there with you. Working from the boat and streaming every weekend has been just 100gb/month. Also I think you can still upgrade your plan without upgrading the hardware. My Regional Roam plan allows me to upgrade to the $250 maritime plan. Good luck in your decisions.

 

[ocgrant]

Grant, from what I am reading you should be fine until the new changes filter down to you. I have been speaking with a guy in the gulf that was switched to regional roam and he hasn't experienced any slow downs yet. Your area has not been "wait listed" yet, so I think you still have some time until all these changes get to you. I live in the wait listed zone so by definition it's only best effort service and then RR plan is best effort on top of that.

If the 50gb were 100gb then I would be right there with you. Working from the boat and streaming every weekend has been just 100gb/month. Also I think you can still upgrade your plan without upgrading the hardware. My Regional Roam plan allows me to upgrade to the $250 maritime plan. Good luck in your decisions.

Where are you seeing this upgrade option in the app. I played in the app yesterday and don’t see any options to change my plan.

 

[Skybolt]

Where are you seeing this upgrade option in the app. I played in the app yesterday and don’t see any options to change my plan.

Sorry not in the app, it's online in your account when you click on manage of that array. This is the only option if you want to continue using SL as far as I see. And the 50gb is a hard stop down to Best Effort. Worth a try I would think.

 

[ocgrant]

Found it very cool. So I can keep my dishy and just switch plans it looks like? That’s baller!

 

[ocgrant]

Starting to think I have a connector issue. Has the symptoms that Everlander had in his video. Guess I am going to pop it up tomorrow and hardwire the cable and eliminate the the RJ45. I think the multi strand wire is a big concern.

 

[Skybolt]

Starting to think I have a connector issue. Has the symptoms that Everlander had in his video. Guess I am going to pop it up tomorrow and hardwire the cable and eliminate the the RJ45. I think the multi strand wire is a big concern.
View attachment 143211

Did you upgrade your account? If not, I started with this exact same issue and then also hardwired and then ...

Good luck Grant.