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FineWine

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#289331 30-Aug-2021 11:18
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Following on from this closed topic in April 2020: Weird Lights in the Sky at 6am

 

and this Topic: Starlink - pre-order available in NZ

 

I read this article this morning in the Herald: Internet shakeup: First wave of Kiwis connect to Elon Musk's Starlink - how it's working out.

 

Then I read this article in MacRumors: Kuo: iPhone 13 to Feature LEO Satellite Communications to Make Calls and Texts Without Cellular Coverage

 

It seems we are now REALLY getting into the realm of Dick Tracy and James Bond for the common people. My nephew in WA, who is a mines project manager, has been using satellite phones for a couple of decades but they can be quite bulky items compared to todays iPhone or Oppo phone etc.

 

If, as the various articles say, you will be able to get 4g/5g connectivity in rural areas in NZ and Australia, those residents will jump with joy. Of course urban areas would be covered as well.

 

Phones calls, internet & streaming, ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET, all in your pocket - WOW. This will make "Find My Phone/person" even better. Implanted locaters for everyone? Medical monitoring equipment, and list goes on.

 

 





Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.


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decibel
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  #2768762 30-Aug-2021 12:32
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All sounds great and it will be for people in remote areas of the globe.

 

But at what cost ?  - With several other outfits wanting to jump in on the action, there is literally going to be over a hundred thousand of these satellites circling the globe.

 

What are the dangers to space flight here?

 

Who gave the FCC the right is issue licences to these American companies to litter the globe with these satellites and who will clean up the mess when they go faulty?

 

Is there a plan to "de-orbit" them at the end of their useful life?

 

I think there could be big problems down the track.




Geektastic
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  #2768810 30-Aug-2021 14:07
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Great unless you think ruining the night sky view for your descendants just so you can get Facebook in the Sahara is a Bad Idea.

I think the fact that, when we look up at night, we see more or less the same things as Julius Caesar or Ramses saw ties us together.

It's criminal that Musk and his fellow travellers are allowed to destroy that link.





Handsomedan
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  #2768844 30-Aug-2021 14:55
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I'm with the naysayers here. 

 

 

 

Love the thought of unlimited access no matter where on this flat earth I am, but to pollute the skies with hundreds or thousands of pieces of tech seems...almost sacrilegious to me. 





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Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale 

 

 

 

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WyleECoyoteNZ
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  #2768908 30-Aug-2021 17:21
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Handsomedan:

 

I'm with the naysayers here. 

 

 

 

Love the thought of unlimited access no matter where on this flat earth I am, but to pollute the skies with hundreds or thousands of pieces of tech seems...almost sacrilegious to me. 

 

 

Oh, look a star.....no, that's just yet another satellite 😄 


Handsomedan
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  #2769124 31-Aug-2021 08:58
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WyleECoyoteNZ:

 

Handsomedan:

 

I'm with the naysayers here. 

 

 

 

Love the thought of unlimited access no matter where on this flat earth I am, but to pollute the skies with hundreds or thousands of pieces of tech seems...almost sacrilegious to me. 

 

 

Oh, look a star.....no, that's just yet another satellite 😄 

 

 

Imagine trying to navigate via the North Satellite, instead of the North Star. You'd have to move pretty damn fast! 





Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

 

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale 

 

 

 

*Gladly accepting donations...


FineWine

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  #2769216 31-Aug-2021 10:29
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Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.


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