5 ms·

The field of view from the satellite is 5000 km, though reception probably gets a lot worse at lower angles for a multitude of reasons. Hope I calculated right.

• walrus01 6y ago
  the starlink beta test customer terminals only have a cone shaped view of suitable beam forming ability and gain above them, so the 4000 km is a lot less in usable practice. they can't talk to a satellite that's 15-20 degrees above the horizon for instance, it'll only work when the satellite rises higher in its general field of view.
  • namibj 6y ago
    The horizon limitation is primarily regulatory. Given that limitation, it doesn't make sense for them to extend the cone closer to the horizon than their flat phased array can do.
    • shaklee3 6y ago
      Not true. The antenna itself has a very low scan to keep costs down.
      • walrus01 6y ago
        Indeed, a flat phased array can only have a certain limited gain at elevations and azimuths far away from the direction it's pointed in. One of the reasons if you ever see a flat phased array radar inside the nose radome of a air superiority type fighter jet, they're not fixed but also can be mounted on a sort of pan/tilt platform for steering.
      • namibj 6y ago
        Yes, because e.g. a multi-panel design would be limited by regulations. Hence they decided on the single panel for ROI/cost-efficiency purposes.