Starlink Beta Test

[Spacehead]

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Given the costs of launching satellites, would it be worth it to launch hundreds or thousands just to advertise from space?

I think there is some sort of law or agreement among nations that you can't put advertising in space. I'd have to research that though.
There was talk years ago of some company wanting to unfurl some type of huge banner or something that would've been larger than the full moon. I don't think they were allowed. I'm sure at the time the technology wasn't there. Not sure if it's even possible today.

If there isn't some sort of agreement in place now there needs to be.
Also, i don't know if its just global agreement of if it's just NASA & related requirement but i hear talk of newer satellites being able to have a controlled de-orbit at the end of life. There's already too much "junk" up there now.

 

[Brainonska511]

They are suppose to address this, hopefully they do. Otherwise any long exposure of the night sky is going to look like graph paper.

I've seen some mixed information about whether they have actually fixed this issue, and they haven't exactly been in a rush to stop new launches until the problem is solved.

 

[VirtualLarry]

You know that's a scary thought, send out a couple 100 thousand satellites up with mirrors that can quickly tilt back and forth and you got yourself a giant space based DLP projector to beam ads to earth. Heck by having multiple tilt angles and multiplexing the whole thing you could even target ads by region. They would be moving in a criss cross pattern you just reassign the pixels as they move and it's seamless.

You had better patent that! Before Google or Amazon does. Because... you know it's going to happen!

 

[Brainonska511]

/\
Given the costs of launching satellites, would it be worth it to launch hundreds or thousands just to advertise from space?

I think there is some sort of law or agreement among nations that you can't put advertising in space. I'd have to research that though.
There was talk years ago of some company wanting to unfurl some type of huge banner or something that would've been larger than the full moon. I don't think they were allowed. I'm sure at the time the technology wasn't there. Not sure if it's even possible today.

If there isn't some sort of agreement in place now there needs to be.
Also, i don't know if its just global agreement of if it's just NASA & related requirement but i hear talk of newer satellites being able to have a controlled de-orbit at the end of life. There's already too much "junk" up there now.

I don't know how you'd go about advertising from space - it would have to be one of the largest, if not the largest, space construction project ever to make something that is visible from the ground. It seems rather... Impractical.

As for the projector based idea, that also seems rather impractical considering the cost and complexity.

 

[Midwayman]

Its probably just a matter of time before it starts getting crowded and someone starts shooting down satellites.

 

[BoomerD]

Its probably just a matter of time before it starts getting crowded and someone starts shooting down satellites.

Russia conducts space-based anti-satellite weapons test

U.S. Space Command has evidence that Russia conducted a non-destructive test of a space-based anti-satellite weapon. On July 15, Russia injected a new object into orbit from Cosmos 2543, currently

www.spacecom.mil

 

[Spacehead]

I don't know how you'd go about advertising from space - it would have to be one of the largest, if not the largest, space construction project ever to make something that is visible from the ground. It seems rather... Impractical.

As for the projector based idea, that also seems rather impractical considering the cost and complexity.

Yeah, seems impractical to me too but...
This Russian startup wants to put billboards in space. (from 2019)
Pepsi Drops Plans to Use Orbital Billboard (from 2019)

A province in China recently proposed installing an artificial moon as a replacement for streetlights, although the project never materialized.

A large disco ball called Humanity Star, launched by Rocket Lab a year ago for no other purpose than to shine brightly as it flew by, angered some who labeled it environmental vandalism. It eventually burnt out in the atmosphere.

I guess maybe there aren't any official bodies to stop this kind of thing

 

[Red Squirrel]

Corporations will go to insane lengths if they want something, money is no object to them if they have an idea in mind.

 

[zinfamous]

I read that article yesterday and came away very impressed. Now we know the Starlink idea/concept works as designed and executed by SpaceX. It's like science fiction and anime I dreamed about coming to life as reality. Such exciting time to be alive. I still don't understand why people try to bet against Elon Musk. Dude dreams big and is sometimes late in delivering but he always deliver what he says he will do.

I'm pretty sure all the ships, RVs, rural businesses and homes, military, etc will all use Starlink in some fashion in the future. I lose cell signal while driving down to Florida or just going up to Georgia mountains. And it's not even that remote areas. I can think of so many uses for Starlink. I will 100% get this to go in my Cybertruck. Hopefully the technology and the speed keep improving to a point where instead of pizza box sized receiver, we can get the same functionality in a cellphone or even Apple Watch sized devices.

Reading these posts of yours is what I imagine attending one of those time-share pitch meetings is like.

 

[ponyo]

Reading these posts of yours is what I imagine attending one of those time-share pitch meetings is like.

They're trying to take your money. I'm trying to make you money.

I know there has to be some lurkers here who listened to me and became Tesla millionaire by following my moves. If you did, you can thank me by liking this comment.

 

[Spacehead]

Come to think of it I wonder how many internet base stations connecting to rest of internet there will be, if it will only be in the states or if they will put them around the world.

SpaceX has made applications to the FCC for at least 32 ground stations in United States, and as of July 2020 has approvals for 5 of them (in 5 states)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink#Ground_stations
One would assume SpaceX will need to get approval from an FCC equivalent department to set up in other countries.

Interesting read:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink#Satellite_hardware

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink#User_terminals

The system will not directly connect from its satellites to handsets (unlike the constellations from Iridium, Globalstar, Thuraya and Inmarsat). Instead, it will be linked to flat user terminals the size of a pizza box, which will have phased array antennas and track the satellites. The terminals can be mounted anywhere, as long as they can see the sky. Photographs of the customer antennas began to be seen on the internet in June 2020, supporting earlier statements by SpaceX CEO Musk that the terminals would look like a "UFO on a stick. Starlink Terminal has motors to self-adjust optimal angle to view sky".

Maybe the antennas won't need to move as much as i was thinking if i'm understanding the "phased array antennas" part of it.

Articles & pics of 2 different types of antennas
https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-starlink-antennas-spied-starship-factory/
https://ruraleconomytechnology.com/2019/03/13/spacex-user-earth-stations/

 

[BarkingGhostar]

Corporations will go to insane lengths if they want something, money is no object to them if they have an idea in mind.

Yes, and my employer paid $80 Billion for DirecTV. The original owners laughed their way to the bank.

 

[ultimatebob]

It looks like they're expanding the beta:

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/27/spacex-starlink-service-priced-at-99-a-month-public-beta-test-begins.html

$100 a month for a beta test with intermittent connectivity drops is pretty insane, plus $500 for the equipment.

 

[ponyo]

It looks like they're expanding the beta:

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/27/spacex-starlink-service-priced-at-99-a-month-public-beta-test-begins.html

$100 a month for a beta test with intermittent connectivity drops is pretty insane, plus $500 for the equipment.

Inline with expectation. If you're the target customer, this is like dream come true and no brainer. If you think otherwise, you're not the target customer.

 

[ultimatebob]

Inline with expectation. If you're the target customer, this is like dream come true and no brainer. If you think otherwise, you're not the target customer.

Yeah, it's inline with the expectations, but not inline with the hype. Originally, the SpaceX fanboys made it sound Jesus himself was going to rain down gigabit Internet access from the sky for around $50 a month.

If the beta (bugs and all) is $100 a month, I think that any hope that the shipping service will be less than that is gone for now.

 

[ponyo]

Yeah, it's inline with the expectations, but not inline with the hype. Originally, the SpaceX fanboys made it sound Jesus himself was going to rain down gigabit Internet access from the sky for around $50 a month.

If the beta (bugs and all) is $100 a month, I think that any hope that the shipping service will be less than that is gone for now.

This is godsend if you're in the target market. There's nothing comparable for $100 a month. $1,000 or even $10,000 a month won't get you similar service. This is like Jesus raining internet on you if you're in an area with no internet other than expensive and slow satellite.

 

[VirtualLarry]

This is godsend if you're in the target market. There's nothing comparable for $100 a month. $1,000 or even $10,000 a month won't get you similar service. This is like Jesus raining internet on you if you're in an area with no internet other than expensive and slow satellite.

Yeah. I don't think that I'm in the target market. I've got $40/mo 200/200 (really 300/300) FIOS FTTP, and Comcast $10/mo 25/3 cable service (both). StarLink sounded exciting, but ... I'll stick to wired broadband, when at all possible. If I didn't have my current options, then yeah, sure, I'd seriously consider StarLink.

 

[KMFJD]

that's cheaper than my current wisp

 

[BoomerD]

I pay $125/mo. for 100/10 cable internet. It seems to go down almost every time it rains...and it rains here a LOT.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I kinda hoped it would be cheaper but at same time I did not expect it to be. I'm assuming that's USD so it would be more like $140, then add HST, so $160ish. For those who can't get good internet I think Xplornet is still a better value at this point, if you don't care too much about the quality.

I would have assumed the beta would be free at least, and you just have to send the stuff back when its over, or pay if you want to keep it. I applied even though I don't need it, as it would be cool to try out the service. But I don't really want to pay either. I get 50/30 fibre internet so can't really complain about my internet.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

During the dialup days, customers were expected to buy their own modems. But the idiots in marketing and sales at the telcos got themselves into trouble, and zero-profitability when DSL came along and they provided the modem to you. It is good to see us going back to the customer paying for the customer premise equipment so the provider can this time be profitable again.

 

[Leymenaide]

I think the monthly rate may be subsidizing the antenna. They were having problems getting the cost down. Does anybody know if weather has an effect on this service?

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I bet it will! Think rain fade only worse.

 

[Red Squirrel]

One thing I'd be a bit concerned about is water sitting inside the dish and then turning into ice, and the overall frost cycle causing damage, as the dish is at a fairly upwards angle. For geostationary satellites the dish is tilted more so water/snow will not always sit in it. Though I've had to go clear snow off Bell TV Dishes before if it's wet/sticky snow, so yeah guess it will just be a fact of life that you might have to go clear it once in a while. I wonder if you will be able to remotely control it so that it tilts itself to empty anything in it. Then it returns to it's normal position. From my understanding these will use a bit of physical movement to aim, but majority will be beam steering.

 

[ultimatebob]

I'm also curious what the data caps are going to be on this. For $100 a month, I hope that they're pretty damn high, like 200 GB or better.