What is Starlink Satellite Internet? Elon Musk has created a special way of providing internet that is gaining a lot of attention. That method involves delivering internet directly to people through satellites. Although this method is not new, but the way Elon Musk has planned it is quite unique and is expected to completely change the internet user experience in the future. Currently, in most places, internet is delivered through internet fiber optics. Fiber optics is a technology in which data travels through light, but Starlink is quite different from it. Starlink is a satellite internet constellation operated by SpaceX.
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All the satellites in it orbit the Earth at a lower altitude compared to other communication satellites and provide internet service directly to their customers all over the Earth. In this article, you will learn everything about Starlink. You’ll find answers to all questions about Starlink, such as what is Starlink, how does Starlink work, what is its speed etc.
What is Starlink Satellite Internet?
Starlink is a satellite internet service that provides internet to people directly through satellites. This service is launched by SpaceX, an American company. To establish the Starlink network, the company started launching Starlink satellites from 2018. By December 2021, 1700 satellites have been successfully deployed in low Earth orbit. Elon Musk’s goal is to bring internet through Starlink to every corner of the world because many parts of the world still do not have internet connectivity. For this, Elon Musk aims to deploy 12,000 satellites in space.
Starlink satellites will be about 60 times closer to the Earth than traditional satellites. This will result in lower latency for users, meaning data will reach from source to destination in a much shorter time. According to Elon Musk, Starlink’s service will be 40% faster than fiber optics, which uses light for communication.
How Does Starlink Internet Work?
Satellite internet is not considered good due to high latency. Therefore, to deliver data with low latency, Starlink satellites are placed in lower orbits compared to traditional satellites, at an altitude of approximately 550 kilometers from the Earth’s surface. This makes Starlink beneficial for video calls and online games, challenging other space-based internet providers.
Due to the low orbital position, Starlink satellites shine more at night because they are much closer to us.
SpaceX launches 60 Starlink satellites at a time using its Falcon 9 launch vehicle, placing them in the initial parking orbit at an altitude of about 440 km from the Earth. From here, each satellite deploys its solar panel, and then all satellites begin to spread around the Earth.
Each satellite uses its thruster to achieve the designated high altitude for the final orbit, which is 160 km above the orbit of the International Space Station (ISS). As satellites move higher, they become slower, as less sunlight reflects on Earth from higher altitudes.
Before the use of communication satellites like those used for TV signals, which are placed in higher orbits, is placed farther from the Earth so that satellite dishes can see it in a larger geographical area. But Starlink will orbit close to provide global coverage, requiring thousands of satellites simultaneously.
Starlink spacecraft are smaller and lighter compared to traditional satellites, with a weight of about 250 kg. Some people also call them flying routers. This is why customers need a ground-based antenna (dish) to benefit from Starlink service.
As soon as power is supplied to this antenna, it immediately scans the sky and establishes contact with nearby Starlink satellites. It maintains contact with each visible satellite, and the previous satellite fades when it goes beyond the horizon.
For the user’s connection, a Starlink Kit is provided upon registration, which includes equipment such as:
- Starlink Dish (antenna)
- Power Supply
- Mounting Tripod
- Wi-Fi Router
- Cables
In addition to this, users need to use the Starlink app to determine the correct position for installing Starlink for the installation. The app is available on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
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Before installing Starlink, keep in mind that each satellite dish connects to the internet by linking with a designated ground area within the specified cell. If the dish is outside the designated cell, no other satellite will be assigned to provide internet, meaning the user will not receive internet. Therefore, users are advised to provide the correct address for Starlink. If a user books satellite internet from a different location and shifts somewhere else after ordering, they will need to contact the company’s service team.
Starlink Internet Speed:
Starlink provides the fastest and maximum speed of up to 150 Mbps, surpassing any other satellite provider. In comparison, ViaSat offers speeds up to 100 Mbps in its most expensive plan, while HughesNet provides a maximum speed of 25 Mbps. Elon Musk claims that Starlink will soon achieve speeds of 300 Mbps.
Current Availability of Starlink Internet:
As of October, 2023, Starlink is available in almost the entire United States.. Now it’s available over 60 countries. It is going to available all around by 2023.
Pricing of Starlink Internet:
In the US, SpaceX charges $499 for the Starlink kit and an additional $99 per month.
Starlink Performance in Inclement Weather:
Starlink requires a clear sky to provide internet service. Heavy rain and storms can interfere with the connection, causing slow internet or temporary outages. However, the Starlink dish is designed to detect and melt snow, but accumulating snow can pose challenges. Proper grounding according to the US National Electrical Code (NEC) is recommended, especially in lightning-prone areas.
Initiation and Ownership of Starlink:
Elon Musk initiated Starlink in 2015 through his company SpaceX. The first satellite launch took place on February 22, 2018, and as of mid-2023, 5222 satellites have been launched. The official website for Starlink is Starlink.com.
Advantages of Starlink:
- Faster service compared to traditional satellites, offering speeds of up to 220 Mbps.
- More cost-effective than other satellite internet providers.
- Currently, there is no data limit on Starlink, allowing unlimited data usage.
- Provides lower latency compared to traditional satellite internet.
- Expected to be available worldwide, ensuring coverage in every corner.
- Easy installation process for the Starlink kit, which users can install themselves.
- Quick recovery after natural disasters like rain or storms, as it does not involve cable damage.
Disadvantages of Starlink:
- Challenging to use in bad weather conditions, and users may face difficulties during heavy rain or storms.
- Lack of portability in the Starlink dish, limiting the ability to move devices like phones or laptops while using Starlink.
- Users are required to perform hardware installation themselves, as professional installation services are not provided.
- Bandwidth sharing in specific locations may lead to reduced speeds, particularly in urban areas.
- Difficulty in reaching remote locations with Starlink internet.
- High equipment costs, making installation expenses relatively high.
Conclusion:
This article aimed to provide comprehensive information about Starlink Satellite Internet. The goal was to present details in simple language so that readers wouldn’t need to visit other websites for information.
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FAQs
How much does Starlink cost?
One-time equipment $599 and $50 shipping fee, and $90.00-$250.00/mo
Is Starlink faster than 5G?
5G reach up to 1 Gbps in some place and Starlink offers 100 Mbps.
Is Starlink better than fiber?
Till now fiber is better than Starlink.
What are the disadvantages of Starlink?
It has the higher latency of 43ms.while Fiber’s latency is around 17ms.That is reason Fiber is faster than Starlink.
