Starlink now open for pre-orders.

plodder · 24-03-2021 8:35am

social butterfly 2020 wrote: »

Starlink satellites are at a much lower orbit compared to traditional satellite broadband suppliers.

Latency is lower and speeds of between 250mbps to 400mbps are achievable. Far eclipsing some fibre bb providers.

To compare this to previous satellite bb is void.

Fibre is vastly superior to all satellite bb.

LEO sats have good latency but capacity will never measure up to what the boosters are predicting. And capacity is what matters first and foremost once you have a reasonable level of latency which fibre provides.

It's the same old story: Generation N of wireless tech never delivers. It's always coming in generation N+1. Free space optics is probably N+2. It won't deliver either.

cruizer101 · 24-03-2021 9:01am

joe123 wrote: »

Starlink would not be able to supply 500k houses with sufficient speeds.

No one is suggesting anywhere near 500k houses.
The is around 2 million houses/apartments in Ireland, so if you were to look at the most rural say 1-2%, thats 20-40k houses and weigh up for those what is the cost of getting fibre to them vs something like starlink.

KildareP · 24-03-2021 9:19am

cruizer101 wrote: »

No one is suggesting anywhere near 500k houses.
The is around 2 million houses/apartments in Ireland, so if you were to look at the most rural say 1-2%, thats 20-40k houses and weigh up for those what is the cost of getting fibre to them vs something like starlink.

Until we can answer the question "can Starlink supply 20-40k houses with a fast, stable and reliable connection of 100Mb+ at all times" with actual, proven and demonstrable results, then there is nothing that can be weighed up against the present NBP solution where we know exactly what we're getting and exactly what it's capable of.

The theoretical maximums of the Starlink spec sheet that we've seen are just that - theoretical.

KildareP · 24-03-2021 9:26am

Messer1 wrote: »

The discussion should be about NBP+Starlink. It will take a few years for Starlink to grow and bed in just as it will take till 2026 ish to finish NBP. There is no need to carve off areas specifically for Starlink as homes starved of BB at the moment can, if they wish, subscribe to it shortly and when fibre eventually arrives either stick or switch.

I'll be honest, I've read your documents here and my takeaway of your pitch is that we should continue with the NBP but substitute (an undefined area) with Starlink. The very wording of it "Plan B for NBP" suggests that the present solution is somehow either at high risk of failure, or flawed, and that the government should be strongly reconsidering an alternative or backup plan to run alongside the current solution, and that this backup plan should be Starlink.

Just my own personal reading and takeaway of it

Until Starlink or wider LEO solutions are fully developed then I don't see why the government should either rewrite contracts to commit themselves to Starlink/LEO's in any measure or "Plan B" nor why they should promote Starlink/LEO's alongside the NBP, no more than they should promote any other operator out there today.

listermint · 24-03-2021 9:34am

Marlow wrote: »

The usage per household is vastly smaller. Even today.

Also, for reference: most OpenEIR exchanges currently only have a 10 Gbit/s connection back into the network. That can of course be upgraded, but that gives you a bit of a picture.

/M

I'd go out on a limb and say those stats are near obselete it not going that way fast, very fast. Between working from home, remote schooling, tv sure even bloody ring doorbells those numbers are obselete. And more so with the exodus from Dublin occuring right now as we type.

47akak · 24-03-2021 10:53am

KildareP wrote: »

Until we can answer the question "can Starlink supply 20-40k houses with a fast, stable and reliable connection of 100Mb+ at all times" with actual, proven and demonstrable results, then there is nothing that can be weighed up against the present NBP solution where we know exactly what we're getting and exactly what it's capable of.

The theoretical maximums of the Starlink spec sheet that we've seen are just that - theoretical.

Back of the envelope calculations but the answer is yes if you're talking 20k-40k houses, when there are 12000 satellites available globally in 5/6 years.

Messer1 · 24-03-2021 12:04pm

KildareP wrote: »

I'll be honest, I've read your documents here and my takeaway of your pitch is that we should continue with the NBP but substitute (an undefined area) with Starlink. The very wording of it "Plan B for NBP" suggests that the present solution is somehow either at high risk of failure, or flawed, and that the government should be strongly reconsidering an alternative or backup plan to run alongside the current solution, and that this backup plan should be Starlink.

Just my own personal reading and takeaway of it

Until Starlink or wider LEO solutions are fully developed then I don't see why the government should either rewrite contracts to commit themselves to Starlink/LEO's in any measure or "Plan B" nor why they should promote Starlink/LEO's alongside the NBP, no more than they should promote any other operator out there today.

Thanks for taking the trouble to read Plan B. It was never intended that the plan would undermine the NBP which it says has made "significant progress".

However, a "plan b" for the NBP is clearly needed, and is being worked on based on Minister Ryan's comments, to speed up delivery of broadband within the IA. It was in that context that Starlink could target premises in areas where "incremental capex and waiting time for services are greatest". This does NOT require any direct Governmental intervention and this wasn't proposed in Plan B. However, it should be noted that in Germany a subsidy towards the cost of antenna is being considered and that the UK is considering incorporation of Starlink into Project Gigabit.

For its sins, our Government is tangled up in a 25-year, 2k page 'watertight' contract linked to a very specific solution and heavily funded by taxpayers. Market forces and operational performance will determine whether Starlink or other solutions find a niche either in the run up to the completion of the NBP or thereafter.

joe123 · 24-03-2021 12:46pm

Messer1 wrote: »

Thanks for taking the trouble to read Plan B. It was never intended that the plan would undermine the NBP which it says has made "significant progress".

However, a "plan b" for the NBP is clearly needed, and is being worked on based on Minister Ryan's comments, to speed up delivery of broadband within the IA. It was in that context that Starlink could target premises in areas where "incremental capex and waiting time for services are greatest". This does NOT require any direct Governmental intervention and this wasn't proposed in Plan B. However, it should be noted that in Germany a subsidy towards the cost of antenna is being considered and that the UK is considering incorporation of Starlink into Project Gigabit.

For its sins, our Government is tangled up in a 25-year, 2k page 'watertight' contract linked to a very specific solution and heavily funded by taxpayers. Market forces and operational performance will determine whether Starlink or other solutions find a niche either in the run up to the completion of the NBP or thereafter.

Again, Absolute madness to be beating the drum for a tech that hasnt even been trialed here yet. Starlink may be a solution to that 1% NBI cant reach but if people want to use Starlink while they wait for NBI then great. I'm one of those people.

Its clear as day that you have a massive bee in your bonnet over the rollout. But stop trying to talk on behalf of "rural" Ireland.

Absolute flutes like this delay actual positive, progressive infastructure.

And would you stop comparing a country the size of Ireland to the likes of the UK and the states.

cruizer101 wrote: »

No one is suggesting anywhere near 500k houses.
The is around 2 million houses/apartments in Ireland, so if you were to look at the most rural say 1-2%, thats 20-40k houses and weigh up for those what is the cost of getting fibre to them vs something like starlink.

Define rural?

544k Premises in the IA. So its 1 -2% there NBI should look at for alternatives. Not 1-2% of 2 million.

Marlow · 29-03-2021 10:29am

Looking at the map this morning, it seems, that we're currently being passed by one of the more dense clusters of satellites.

/M

Atomic Pineapple · 29-03-2021 11:27am

Off topic: Can anyone else see a load of skulls in the picture Marlow just shared!?

irishgeo · 29-03-2021 12:03pm

Marlow wrote: »

Looking at the map this morning, it seems, that we're currently being passed by one of the more dense clusters of satellites.

/M

They are not live yet and are enroute to their orbits.

Marlow · 29-03-2021 3:05pm

Atomic Pineapple wrote: »

Off topic: Can anyone else see a load of skulls in the picture Marlow just shared!?

Yep. Was thinking the same.

irishgeo wrote: »

They are not live yet and are enroute to their orbits.

I assumed as much. There are 3 clusters like this over Europe atm. SpaceX have been pushing the launches pretty consistently lately.

Also, I've seen the first UK residents receiving their Starlink gear, who signed up around the same time as I did, so there's a good chance, that they might start shipping to Ireland soon, too.

/M

Romer · 29-03-2021 3:14pm

Marlow wrote: »

Also, I've seen the first UK residents receiving their Starlink gear, who signed up around the same time as I did, so there's a good chance, that they might start shipping to Ireland soon, too.

/M

Every time I see an update in this thread I'm hoping it's some lucky bugger saying theirs is shipped.

darrenheaphy · 29-03-2021 5:36pm

Hehe, me too!

Spocker · 30-03-2021 10:03am

Some kit on the way or already in Kerry, I'd be assuming it was fasttracked https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/munster/arid-40253768.html

Irish Examiner wrote:

The size of a small satellite dish, the kit that has made its way to Kerry includes a long cable and an indoor box said to be "the size of a lump of turf".

Messer1 · 30-03-2021 10:20am

Hopefully first of many installations to help kick start Plan B for NBP.

PeeJayIEee · 30-03-2021 10:34am

Just noticing this thread from the list of updates. Can't believe the first posts showing the tweet "Speed will double to ~300Mb/s & latency will drop to ~20ms later this year". I wonder what part of the path the latency comment refers to, because in the real world (as compared to science fantasy), physics mandates a round trip delay of approx. 550ms to a single satellite in geo-synchronous (stationary) orbit.

loyatemu · 30-03-2021 10:45am

PeeJayIEee wrote: »

Just noticing this thread from the list of updates. Can't believe the first posts showing the tweet "Speed will double to ~300Mb/s & latency will drop to ~20ms later this year". I wonder what part of the path the latency comment refers to, because in the real world (as compared to science fantasy), physics mandates a round trip delay of approx. 550ms to a single satellite in geo-synchronous (stationary) orbit.

they're not geo-stationary, they're in low earth orbit and your "dish" can connect to multiple satellites in the cluster as they move around.

Messer1 · 30-03-2021 11:56am

loyatemu wrote: »

they're not geo-stationary, they're in low earth orbit and your "dish" can connect to multiple satellites in the cluster as they move around.

Not only that but starting next year, Starlink sats will incorporate inter-sat laser links which will offer some speed advantages over terrestrial fibre. Also, possible competitors - Amazon and OneWeb - will be using ISLL from the start of their services.

mikefromcork · 30-03-2021 1:45pm

Messer1 wrote: »

Hopefully first of many installations to help kick start Plan B for NBP.

The only thing that would kickstart that is a government subsidy, which thankfully will never happen. Apart from the outside chance of subsidising it for the last 1 to 2% of the NBP. That would not happen for a number years as it would only serve to undermine the NBP.

ednwireland · 30-03-2021 1:50pm

on the news last night

The initial equipment to connect the Black Valley in Kerry to the internet is to be installed within days.

https://www.rte.ie/news/regional/2021/0329/1206850-black-valley-internet/

Orebro · 30-03-2021 2:07pm

Messer1 wrote: »

Hopefully first of many installations to help kick start Plan B for NBP.

Yes I'm sure they're following that "plan" to the letter :rolleyes:

TheWonderLlama · 23-04-2021 11:23am

nice little review on someone who got Starlink in the US.

https://www.jeffgeerling.com/blog/2021/setting-starlink-spacexs-satellite-internet?utm_source=pocket-newtab-global-en-GB

Poulgorm · 27-04-2021 7:32pm

Just curious: you get a dish that is pointing to the sky - so what is the role of the ground stations?

The Continental Op · 27-04-2021 7:44pm

Poulgorm wrote: »

Just curious: you get a dish that is pointing to the sky - so what is the role of the ground stations?

How do you think the satellites connects to the internet?

Don't forget these aren't stationary satellites they are moving, so as they move across the earth they need base stations across the world to connect to.

The Cush · 29-04-2021 1:32am

John Collison (Stripe), Starlink in Ireland. Is he living in the Black Valley by any chance???

https://twitter.com/collision/status/1387406756880412676

Spocker · 15-05-2021 6:25pm

It's not going to affect us directly in Ireland, but Starlink are partnering with Google to put some downlink points at Google Data Centres: https://cloud.google.com/press-releases/2021/0513/spacex-starlink-google-cloud

BigAl81 · 15-05-2021 7:54pm

The Verge did a write up here...

https://www.theverge.com/22435030/starlink-satellite-internet-spacex-review

Seems like early days

Messer1 · 20-05-2021 4:22pm

BigAl81 wrote: »

The Verge did a write up here...

https://www.theverge.com/22435030/starlink-satellite-internet-spacex-review

Seems like early days

A very sloppy assessment which is refuted here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiU8EzNBEgo

As a beta tester located in Dublin, the key to high performance is a clear sky view for the antenna. Early days yet, but my Starlink is superior to that of my eir-supplied FTTC service.

NewClareman · 24-06-2021 10:05pm

SpaceX is now close to providing global broadband coverage, according to SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell. By any standards this is a breathtaking roll out of technology. "After about 28 launches, we'll have continuous coverage throughout the globe," she said Tuesday during an online panel discussion for the Satellite 2021 LEO Digital Forum.

Starlink trial providing 'absolutely fantastic' coverage in West Cork.

NewClareman · 24-06-2021 10:34pm

Spocker wrote: »

It's not going to affect us directly in Ireland, but Starlink are partnering with Google to put some downlink points at Google Data Centres: https://cloud.google.com/press-releases/2021/0513/spacex-starlink-google-cloud

I think it will affect us directly, Dublin has been home to Google’s European headquarters for many years now.

theguzman · 29-06-2021 7:29pm

Musk is going for a complete global launch in five weeks time.

https://interestingengineering.com/elon-musk-announced-starlink-global-five-weeks

Romer · 29-06-2021 9:10pm

theguzman wrote: »

Musk is going for a complete global launch in five weeks time.

https://interestingengineering.com/elon-musk-announced-starlink-global-five-weeks

Cool.

listermint · 30-06-2021 8:55am

NewClareman wrote: »

I think it will affect us directly, Dublin has been home to Google’s European headquarters for many years now.

Theyve one data center here versus the competition which have many especially Amazon. The fact they have their EMEA hq here has no bearing on how many data centers they have it's entirely irrelevant.

They may not even put the starlink on the one in Dublin either as there may be no point it's not really intended to feed metropolitan areas. Rural poor coverage areas.

TheWonderLlama · 16-07-2021 7:39pm

just paid the balance for the equipment and order is confirmed. W00t!

Marlow · 21-07-2021 12:13pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117621430#Comment_117621430

You lucky git .. still waiting. No word from them, yet.

/M

darrenheaphy · 22-07-2021 9:28am

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117621430#Comment_117621430

Nice! Did you have to do something specifically to get the order (that we could do too) or did Starlink proactively reach out to you to confirm order?

TheWonderLlama · 23-07-2021 11:41am

Aww yeah. Box arrived yesteday. Behold.

Screenshot 2021-07-23 at 11-39-18 Speedtest by Ookla - The Global Broadband Speed Test.png

This is it just setup on the lawn. Before any adjusting. Seriously impressive.

TheWonderLlama · 23-07-2021 12:14pm

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117645253#Comment_117645253

Nothing, they sent me an e-mail and basically said it was ready, pay up!

darrenheaphy · 28-07-2021 9:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117651105#Comment_117651105

Nice, hopefully we'll be soon. How's it been now that you've installed it proper?

TheWonderLlama · 29-07-2021 2:49pm

I probably need to relocate it so that it has no obstructions, but it has been pretty consistent for the whole week. Streaming is not problem, online gaming is fine, very little lag. Overall top marks so far. Going to ring eir now to tell them to sling their hook.

The Cush · 05-08-2021 12:44am

Starlink orbital planes almost complete

https://twitter.com/MichaelVolle/status/1422943293852225545

06-08-2021 6:33pm

No sign of fibre rollout to my area any time soon. Would be surprised it it’s this side of 2024.

So having read through this thread, I’ve put my starlink order in today. If this works I wonder will the government quietly scrap the NBI plan

The Cush · 06-08-2021 7:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117716862#Comment_117716862

This will not be a replacement for the NBP but may be an expensive temporary alternative until fibre arrives in an area.

The NBP contract has been signed with NBI so they won't be stepping aside.

eirlink · 07-08-2021 8:02pm

im planning for Starlink in a rural area and have a few questions please:

downloaded the Starlink app (IOS) and when checking for obstructions i sweep the phone across the sky and the app swallows up the green dots as i go. however the app sticks on "processing" and never reveals the results. am i missing something?
Im in the NBI intervention area, and dont see a service here for a 2 years....is it easy to cancel when NBI arrives?
upon cancelling, i take it i own the equipment so perhaps sell it on to somebody else who can reuse it / re-register it?
its it unlimited downloads? any capped limits? throttling ?

Thanks for helping.

The Continental Op · 08-08-2021 6:48pm

afaik you need an account with Starlink of the app do anything?

Just look up and due north with you head back almost as far as it goes and if you can't see any obstruction above you then you are probably good to go.

Oafley Jones · 09-08-2021 10:01am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117721232#Comment_117721232

You can sell it on, but unless they’re right next door to you it won’t work. The equipment is geo locked

BigAl81 · 20-08-2021 10:20pm

Is this generally available? Or on a trial basis only?

Marlow · 08-10-2021 12:22pm

Well, my order went into completion last night. Yay.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117782921#Comment_117782921

It's still beta and it depends on where you are. They are shipping out based on areas.

/M

eirlink · 08-10-2021 9:40pm

ordered mine tonight. paid in full

cell went live earlier today

Starlink now open for pre-orders.

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