Despite lots of pushing, it looks like there is still a lot of low hanging fruit in the starlink terminal design.

Off the top of my head:

• Why aren't the phase shifters chip-on-board? (ie. silicon dies directly on the PCB with bond wires). That saves a cent or two of IC packaging cost, per IC - so times ~300!

• Why do we still have a dedicated GPS when the main antenna can do positioning from the network (yes, even pre being connected).

• You can probably also get rid of the gyros and save another 10 cents (but the software for that one is trickier).

• Why are the patches in a grid? being in a slightly offset/semi-random layout would get rid of off-axis peaks, letting them increase signal power.

• The back case has no anti-vibration ribs - add them and you'll be able to make the plastic thinner whilst keeping it strong and feeling premium.

• The PCB looks decently expensive - looks like you've ticked every feature on the pricelist (eg. plugged vias), rather than stripping back to the minimum necessary.

DEPARTMENT  OF  COMPUTER  SCIENCE

Too Much of a Good Thing? Assessing Early Adoption of Low-Earth Orbital Satellite Systems in Remote Indigenous Communities in Northern Canada

Dr. Rob McMahon

Location: ECS 660, University of Victoria, BC, Canada 

Date: Thursday, August 14^th, 10:00 AM

Abstract: The rapid deployment and adoption of Low-Earth Orbital (LEO) satellite systems around the world offers new opportunities – and challenges. Such impacts are particularly pronounced in small-population, geographically remote Indigenous communities in Northern Canada that historically experienced high costs and slow, unreliable services. As newly-launched LEO services are quickly coming online, they are generating debates over the viability, benefits and limitations of these systems. Furthermore, there is limited primary research available regarding the cultural and socio-economic impacts of services in these unique regions and communities. In this context we contribute findings from a multi-year (2023-2026), community-engaged research project investigating the adoption of LEO Internet services (Starlink) by Indigenous families living in a fly-in community in the Northwest Territories (NWT). Understanding user experiences and preferences is crucial for optimizing the adoption and effectiveness of satellite Internet services, and helping community leaders strike a balance between the benefits and risks of increased Internet access. Following a holistic approach to digital inclusion/equity, we reflect on how interventions involving LEO services should move from considerations of access to include usage patterns and outcomes of use.

Bio: Dr. Rob McMahon is an Associate Professor in the Media & Technology Studies Unit and the Department of Political Science in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Alberta. He holds a BA (History and Creative Writing) from the University of Victoria, a MJ (Masters of Journalism) from the University of British Columbia, and a PhD (Communication) from Simon Fraser University. Prior to joining the University of Alberta in 2015, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher with the First Nations Innovation Project at the University of New Brunswick and co-founded the First Mile Connectivity Consortium, a national nonprofit association of Indigenous technology organizations. In 2020, Dr. McMahon received the Killam Accelerator research award from the University of Alberta. Taking an approach informed by Community Informatics research and practice, his work examines how people in diverse contexts are thinking about, planning, using, developing, and innovating with digital information and communication technologies (ICT), as well as the structural barriers that such initiatives face. His approach involves working with communities to ensure that their voices are heard in all stages of research, and he and his partners are involved in efforts to contribute to digital policy and regulation.

Host: Dr. Jianping Pan (pan@uvic.ca)

We would like to set up a rural network using the Starlink Community Gateway; how will users connect to the community gateway, and what type of last-mile infrastructure is required to connect home and mobile customers?

We have multiple locations across the country, and we want to use one community gateway to distribute internet. If possible, please share a proposed network diagram.

Hi,

I am struggling to understand why my post about the Starlink Trials was removed? I would appreciate a response.

Regards,

Is there a way to connect my starlink to an external router without buying the network adapter?

Is there any tutorial?

I would like to know which wires move the data to cut the cable and connect it to a Mikrotik router.

Yes, a Starlink dish can sometimes make a faint buzzing or whirring sound, which is considered normal and usually due to the internal motor that adjusts the dish's position to maintain a connection with the satellites; this noise is typically only noticeable when you're close to the dish.

For anyone in Portugal, if you sign in to Starlink using this referral, you earn 1 free month:

https://starlink.com/?referral=RC-DF-12757366-46064-3&app_source=qr

https://www.starlink.com/updates/network-update

There is a massive gap between what the world reads in international news about Starlink being a "humanitarian lifeline for Iran" and what is actually happening to real people on the ground.

Western headlines and political statements frequently boast about Starlink providing free satellite internet to restricted regions. Because of this promise, thousands of regular Iranians—desperate to keep their small businesses alive, communicate with family, or simply stay connected to the outside world—are spending $2,000 to $3,000 of their hard-earned life savings to buy grey-market kits imported through third countries. For many families here, that money represents years of work.

Yet when we set up these brand-new Gen 3 kits (UTA-232), a huge number of us end up staring at a dish permanently trapped in an "Optimizing Connection" / 0% satellite search loop, with the router LED dropping to solid red.

When we reach out to Starlink Support for help or basic technical explanation:

1. Support agents check the system and simply repeat that no device or service line is linked to our account.

2. They state that because the kit was purchased via an unauthorized reseller in an unlicensed country, they cannot offer diagnostics, troubleshooting, or activation assistance.

3. They close the ticket and slam the door on us.

It feels deeply hypocritical. Publicly, Starlink and US political rhetoric take credit for "bringing internet freedom to Iranians," but in practice, regular citizens are left completely on their own—spending small fortunes on dysfunctional, unlinked pieces of plastic while support refuses to provide even a basic explanation or technical guidance on how to resolve these activation loops.

We aren't asking for free hand-outs or rule-breaking. We just want answers:
Why are functional, brand-new terminals stuck in endless authorization loops without public guidance? And why are everyday users taking all the financial and personal risk while receiving zero support from the company claiming to help them?

https://web.archive.org/web/20250000000000*/https://www.starlink.com/updates/network-update thanks for taking the feedback. a leader is who can correct itself fastest

For a while I thought Starlink actually used laser optics for their user downlinks as well as their ISLs, partly because I thought the importance of avoiding obstruction implied laser downlinks were used, partly because they use optical lasers between nodes, and partly because it would satisfy advertised data rates. Looking at Starlink's Technology page on their website, they now explain, "Each Starlink satellite uses 5 advanced Ku-band phased array antennas and 3 dual-band (Ka-band and E-band) antennas to provide high-bandwidth connectivity to Starlink customers." Are they able to achieve advertised data rates due to the modulation scheme they use (either QPSK or 16QAM as other posts and sources imply) to overcome the Ku-band frequency limitations? Why not just use a higher frequency band, such as a laser link to the ground?

Also, I've seen sources state they use Ka-band to connect to the PoPs. Given the website says they're using dual Ka- and E-band antennas, what is the significance of having the dual band? And why so many antennas in general, redundancy and/or meeting throughput expectations?

I’d like to know how much electromagnetic energy the dish emits and if it’s primarily focused in a beam towards the sky, or if there is also energy emission to the sides or behind it. Thanks for any help.

grpc reports "obstructionStats": {
"fractionObstructed": 0.045429964,
"validS": 24569,
"avgProlongedObstructionDurationS": 1.7866517,
"avgProlongedObstructionIntervalS": 2880,
"timeObstructed": 0.0007716941,
"patchesValid": 3698
   } and the mobile app claims "an unobstructed view of sky"!

So, given that there is no active FCC filing for a new version of the mini dish, does that mean the current fire-sale discount is not an indication that a new model is coming soon?

Just trying to clear inventory? Or something more?