Starlink - pre-order available in NZ

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#2767298 27-Aug-2021 06:54

doctortea:
Interesting read.

From a business perspective, if they have 600k pre-orders at $499 USD, why would they lower the price?

Also as a commenter points out on the article, it sounds like the SpaceX president was actually referring to the production cost, rather than the end consumer cost (PC Mag misinterpreted).

Yeah, very good point and I think you're right that it's a case of poor reporting. I note that in their earlier article here they even refer to a tweet from Elon replying to a question about dropping the price for consumers in 3rd world countries which probably puts the whole thing to bed:

SpaceX needs to pass through a deep chasm of negative cash flow over the next year or so to make Starlink financially viable. Every new satellite constellation in history has gone bankrupt. We hope to be the first that does not.

CrazyM

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#2767505 27-Aug-2021 12:06

I read that the Starlink satellite dish is estimated to cost about double what they are charging consumers for it. If thats the case and SpaceX is losing money each dish then I doubt that they will pass the savings on to consumers if they make a cheaper version.

In other news I received a black dish and its working great here in the Te Awamutu area. I'm not using the supplied Starlink router and instead have it plugged directly into my TP-Link Deco X60 mesh. Unfortunately the Deco system doesnt let me assign static routes to the dish so I can either have my Deco running as a router with its QoS features but no Starlink app stats, or run the Deco as an AP and lose the QoS but get the Starlink app working.

I also ordered the $79 Pipe Adapter that hasn't arrived yet but is due in the next few days. I haven't ended up using it so if anyone needs one send me a PM and I'll pass it on for a discount (COVID delivery permitting)

Oblivian

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#2767524 27-Aug-2021 12:35

If they have more rideshares, the launches are paid by the customers essentially. Else yes, it's an expensive 5-10M per launch+ hardware of the sats and dishy manufacturer

But he is the master of surge and low cost vs production manufacturing methods.

And in other news

Lasers coming to a space near you.. (we knew this but appear closer than thought)

https://www.space.com/spacex-starlink-internet-satellites-lasers-launch

kingdragonfly

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#2768167 28-Aug-2021 19:20

Talks about Amazon's lawsuit against StarLink

Elon's Had Enough of Bezos

sidney

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#2768219 28-Aug-2021 23:35

CrazyM:

I read that the Starlink satellite dish is estimated to cost about double what they are charging consumers for it. If thats the case and SpaceX is losing money each dish then I doubt that they will pass the savings on to consumers if they make a cheaper version.

If Vodafone can make money giving customers $320 off the retail price of an iPhone 12 mini plus Air Pods as well as $100 off interest on extended payments just for committing to 12 to 36 months of a $40/month phone plan, it is not that surprising to charge NZ$1000 less than Dishy's real cost that was estimated by some third party to lock someone in to a $160/month contract. Yes, there is no fixed minimum term, but the target customer is someone who does not have usable alternative Internet access, so they don't need a minimum term to be locked in.

Linuxluver

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#2768533 29-Aug-2021 22:27

My Starlink kit should arrive tomorrow.

I have fast fibre already via Spark, but it falls over every time a drunk hits a phone pole (or a farmer digs a new ditch) east of Tauranga. I'm curious to see how it goes. It's about the same cost as my existing Internet....so I may run them side by side for a while and then decide which one to keep.

I have a big yard....so I'll probably just put it out on the lawn for a few daysuntil I decide where to mount it. I'd prefer it to remain accessible. I may just dig a post+braces in and mount it on that.

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quickymart

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#2768585 30-Aug-2021 07:35

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58061230

shk292

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#2768591 30-Aug-2021 08:32

quickymart:

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58061230

Some nylon mesh over the dish would quickly fix that

Zander

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#2768689 30-Aug-2021 11:02

quickymart:

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58061230

"It's actually been very good but I noticed a series of outages - some a second, some longer," says Prof Alan Woodward.

For an IT / Cybersecurity Expert - that Dishy positioning looks awful! Seems to be pointing straight at a low wall, and looks to be trees just behind that. Don't know how he could squeeze low on that roof to use the App to test for blockages. No wonder he's getting a 'series of outages'. Just blaming pigeons for his own laziness of plonking it on top of his kitchen :)

Oblivian

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#2768708 30-Aug-2021 11:19

He's got about 100deg FOV to deal with either side of the lowest (about 25deg). Not just a static spot in the sky.

Someone needs to send him to the images readily available

https://circleid.com/images/uploads/12685b.png

sidney

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#2768755 30-Aug-2021 12:24

Zander:

Seems to be pointing straight at a low wall, and looks to be trees just behind that.

Not necessarily. Taking a picture zoomed in makes far things in the background look close. This is an example of two photos of the same scene, the first taken with a telephoto lens to make it look like people are flouting social distancing rules. The picture of Dishy could be simply taken with a less extreme zoom than in this example, but still enough to make the wall and trees look closer.

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dacraka

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#2768773 30-Aug-2021 12:55

Is there any way to have Starlink and traditional broadband in one residence, say ADSL to work as an automatic seamless backup in case Starlink temporarily has no connectivity?

andypen

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#2768776 30-Aug-2021 13:03

dacraka:

Is there any way to have Starlink and traditional broadband in one residence, say ADSL to work as an automatic seamless backup in case Starlink temporarily has no connectivity?

Yes. There are mainstream routers available with dual WAN ports and if you're so inclined you can also roll your own on a Microtik or a Ubiqiti Edgerouter. I currently have that for my crappy ADSL and an RBI as backup.

Zander

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#2768777 30-Aug-2021 13:04

sidney:

Not necessarily. Taking a picture zoomed in makes far things in the background look close. This is an example of two photos of the same scene, the first taken with a telephoto lens to make it look like people are flouting social distancing rules. The picture of Dishy could be simply taken with a less extreme zoom than in this example, but still enough to make the wall and trees look closer.

Yes, I like my photography too - but I really don't think there is anything making this setup look significantly different than it is. The angles on the photo don't look distorted for example.

Your example shows 2 very different positions, and possibly lenses - trying to intentionally 'confuse'.

Given Dishy is about 60cm across, it looks to be only about 30cm away from the brick wall. With Dishy's mast around 40cm high, that wall must be taller and around 80cm-to-1m high. That tree at least looks to be almost touching and even surrounding that kitchen roof from both sides - so its likely blocking the signal even more.

It is possible they moved the Dishy for the photo, as there seems to be almost reason it couldn't and shouldn't be further back on the roof away from the wall - but probably still getting interference from the wall and tree even then. Though I just noticed, the photo was taken by the house owner (not a photographer) so I'm not sure why he'd move his Dishy for a photo.

I say all this after sadly cancelling my Dishy, as I've got a lot more space than this photo and what I thought was a good view - but still have trees blocking some of it, which I can't do much about as renting.

PS - my guess is that he stood on his roof, and used the App. From head height and holding the phone up higher etc, maybe the blockages look 'ok', but then when Dishy is put straight on the roof the position is not so good. He really should know what he's doing based on his CV though, so its a bit bemusing! :D https://www.surrey.ac.uk/people/alan-woodward

Starlink dish photo

sidney

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#2768787 30-Aug-2021 13:31

Zander:

PS - my guess is that he stood on his roof, and used the App.

Yes, looking at the details in his picture, like the stripes on the floor in front and behind Dishy being the same width, I would say there is no foreshortening going on, and the wall and trees are certainly in the way.

I'm about to cancel my order too, I don't see any practical way to get Dishy higher than the hill to the south now that I know that's the direction I need.

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