4 ms·

Expert opinions don't cost much.

• elcritch 7y ago
  Although you’re downvoted here, I believe you have a point. This expert doesn’t seem to factor in the likelihood that providing better quality service will be boosted by first mover advantage given the nature of the system. A linked constellation system is still novel and will certainly require trial and error to hone it. SpaceX has a major edge here in being first and having related expertise in a vertically integrated company. Unless they totally botch it they could readily remain a generation ahead of other players for a decade or more just by leveraging extra launch ability. E.g. they can iterate quicker and more often. Given this constellation and phased array antennas are novel combination an expert’s opinion is worth about as much as most here on HN. Also, it’s annoying how the article questions finding a market, as the competition in semi-rural areas is Comcast, charter, Verizon etc if lucky. That’s a pretty low bar IMHO. I hope we get some good competition in this area!
  • SEJeff 7y ago
    Elon recently stated the phased array antennas for Starlink will be the most advanced phased array antennas in the world. That's saying something as the AESA radars in the newer jets use phased array radars + antennas.
    • stcredzero 7y ago
      Once those start being manufactured at scale, maybe we'll have AESA radars available for hobbyist use? Say, aren't Tesla cars supposed to be using radar?