What are the problems with the satellite Internet service 'Starlink' developed by SpaceX?
Starlink review: dreams, not reality --The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/22435030/starlink-satellite-internet-spacex-review
Patel points out that Internet communication services in the United States are expensive, and although there are problems with customer support and data policy, they are forced to use slow Internet lines due to their lack of competitiveness. Especially in rural areas, the situation seems to be poor, and in the countryside of New York where Mr. Patel lives, the line meets the broadband standard 'download speed of 25 Mbps or more' set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Only 43% of the total are connected.
Starlink, on the other hand, is aiming for a communication speed of 300 Mbps by 2021 and 10 Gbps in the future. The usage fee is not so high compared to other Internet communication services, and the Starlink kit for $ 499 (about 54,000 yen) that includes a Wi-Fi router and a user terminal for connecting to an artificial satellite is included. If you purchase it, you can use it for a monthly fee of $ 99 (about 10,800 yen). It is also expected that the launch of new Internet communications services that do not rely on existing infrastructure may encourage competition in the less competitive telecommunications industry.
Many Americans are excited about the appearance of Starlink, partly because the broadband policy of the United States has failed. Starlink at the time of article creation is provided as a beta version to the last, and if a certain number of allocations are filled, it can not be newly used, but fortunately the area where Mr. Patel lives had room for allocation. So, it seems that he actually purchased the Starlink kit and used it.
The Starlink kit that arrived under Mr. Patel is 'a parabolic antenna that connects to an artificial satellite', 'a metal tripod for a parabolic antenna', 'a 100-foot long PoE cable', 'a power adapter', and 'with a PoE cable'. It consists of a 'small Wi-Fi router'. According to Patel, the setup was very easy, just connect the cable and power adapter, plug the power plug into an outlet, then attach the antenna to a tripod and place it in the right place. Although it's in beta, Patel felt it would be close to the version already released to consumers.
The Starlink satellite dish that Patel showed when the setup was completed looks like this. You can see that it is large enough to be placed on the loading platform of a pickup truck.
by Nilay Patel / The Verge
However, because the antenna needs to stay connected to satellites that fly far above the sky, 'where to install the antenna' becomes a serious issue, Patel said. If the sky is blocked by trees, buildings, utility poles, etc., Starlink's communication will be interrupted, so it is possible to secure a 'conical space with nothing blocking the sky at an angle of 25 degrees or more from the horizon'. It is desirable to install it in a place. In fact, some Starlink beta testers
On the other hand, it is recommended to take the antenna indoors for safety in strong winds, so it seems better to prepare a ladder to take in the antenna when installing in a high place. .. When Mr. Patel installed an antenna in the garden, he could not connect to the Internet for about two hours a day due to the influence of the house itself and the surrounding trees. Patel said the antenna would have been mounted on a pole that protruded above the roof unless it was used for short-term review purposes.
Once the antenna is installed, it will automatically detect the position of the satellite and point the antenna in the appropriate direction. The included Wi-Fi router has a very simple mechanism and you can start using it like a normal Wi-Fi router, so there is nothing to worry about in the settings, as soon as the setup is completed You can start using the internet.
When Patel actually used Starlink's Internet, the download speed was up to 222 Mbps and the upload speed was up to 24 Mbps. The maximum speed is only temporary, and the download speed is about 30 to 90 Mbps, but if this speed is consistent, it will compete with the telecommunications carriers that provide the Internet in the American region. There is power.
However, Starlink's Internet line seems to be unable to communicate for several seconds at a frequency of once every few minutes, and services such as Slack, Zoom, and online games that require real-time connection could not be fully used, Patel said. Stated. Also, although it was possible to watch 4K videos with video viewing services such as Netflix and Disney Plus, which create a certain amount of buffer, it seems that delays are worrisome with services such as TikTok that load new videos one after another. It is said that not only Mr. Patel but also other beta testers have reported the event that communication is cut off at a pace of once every few minutes.
Patel, who actually tried Starlink's Internet, unfortunately concluded that Starlink was a 'hype' at the time of writing, and even if it was expensive and slow, it would not be a competitor to existing communications services. I will.
The problem of unreliable and inconsistent radio waves is expected to be resolved as the number of satellites launched increases, but it has been pointed out that Starlink's satellites will become an obstacle to space observation. I will.
Concerns that 'SpaceX satellites will be too bright to destroy space research' --GIGAZINE
Patel said that while Starlink is certainly an engineering feat, it's a problem with the trade-off of 'launching a large number of satellites for Internet access and adversely affecting astronomy.' He points out that more discussions should have been made. He added that Starlink, which has various problems, has attracted attention, and the expectations of many Americans themselves emphasize the failure of Internet communication services in the United States.
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