4 ms·

Starlink can't do satellite to satellite hops and is low orbit. So there needs to be a base station within a short distance for the user to bounce to via a sing

Starlink can't do satellite to satellite hops and is low orbit. So there needs to be a base station within a short distance for the user to bounce to via a single satellite. So right now Starlink won't work in Tonga since the nearest base station (Boorowra, NSW) is over the horizon for satellites visible to people in Tonga. The base station in Fiji means that Starlink can work in Tonga. Note that Inmarsat, iridium, etc. work just fine in Tonga in the meantime.

spullara 5y ago
The latest version of Starlink is equipped with lasers to do these hops. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink#V1.5_(operational) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink#V1.5_(operational)
- dotnet00 5y ago
  They're still a relatively small portion of the operational constellation, so while better than nothing, they aren't common enough to rely on for continuous service, thus the choice of Fiji for this temporary station. While this will likely not be the case within another year, what matters in relation to this is what they can do right now, not in another year. This shouldn't be taken as criticism of Starlink, but rather an example of the possibilities as the fully featured constellation starts to become ready. Eventually they wouldn't need to send over engineers to setup a base station, they'd just send over some dishes and adjust routing priorities.
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- monkeybutton 5y ago
  The source linked to by the wiki article talks about the first batch of laser link satellites being launched but doesn't really go into much depth about it. Does this mean they're wrapping up the testing phase? It would be cool to read more about the practical logistics done to make such a network work in orbit.
- deelowe 5y ago
  Does it work? I read the laser tech had issues.
- mlindner 5y ago
  https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1484424055071641602 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1484424055071641602 Musk himself says there's not enough laser-capable satellites yet. This is why they're setting up a ground station in Fiji (because it has internet), to act as the relay.
derekp7 5y ago
With 500+ ms ping and 100 gb per month I take issue with regular satellite "just fine". But I may be biased due to what I'm used to. Starlink should be much lower latency, even with the extra ground hop.
- mbreese 5y ago
  Can you use them to communicate? Then, yes, they work just fine. Are they limited in what they can do? Of course they are, but when the entire country is largely offline, you'll take what you can get. Nobody (I hope) is trying to use the other options to stream Netflix at the moment. Would a Starlink setup be better? Absolutely, but that has also had issues, which meant that it wasn't an option at all. Hopefully are now addressed and Tonga will have better communications options. I'm pretty impressed by their ability to get a new ground station up and running so quickly.
- mr_toad 5y ago
  If you’re in Tonga a 500ms ping to the US or Europe wouldn’t be unusual anyway.
mlindner 5y ago
Yep that is exactly the situation. The inter-satellite laser link satellites don't have enough in orbit yet to provide anything better than intermittent (a couple times a day) connectivity. Fiji is nearby so can act as a ground station for the satellites as it has internet.

spullara 5y ago

The latest version of Starlink is equipped with lasers to do these hops. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink#V1.5_(operational) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink#V1.5_(operational)

dotnet00 5y ago
They're still a relatively small portion of the operational constellation, so while better than nothing, they aren't common enough to rely on for continuous service, thus the choice of Fiji for this temporary station. While this will likely not be the case within another year, what matters in relation to this is what they can do right now, not in another year. This shouldn't be taken as criticism of Starlink, but rather an example of the possibilities as the fully featured constellation starts to become ready. Eventually they wouldn't need to send over engineers to setup a base station, they'd just send over some dishes and adjust routing priorities.
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monkeybutton 5y ago
The source linked to by the wiki article talks about the first batch of laser link satellites being launched but doesn't really go into much depth about it. Does this mean they're wrapping up the testing phase? It would be cool to read more about the practical logistics done to make such a network work in orbit.
deelowe 5y ago
Does it work? I read the laser tech had issues.
mlindner 5y ago
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1484424055071641602 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1484424055071641602 Musk himself says there's not enough laser-capable satellites yet. This is why they're setting up a ground station in Fiji (because it has internet), to act as the relay.

derekp7 5y ago

With 500+ ms ping and 100 gb per month I take issue with regular satellite "just fine". But I may be biased due to what I'm used to. Starlink should be much lower latency, even with the extra ground hop.

mbreese 5y ago
Can you use them to communicate? Then, yes, they work just fine. Are they limited in what they can do? Of course they are, but when the entire country is largely offline, you'll take what you can get. Nobody (I hope) is trying to use the other options to stream Netflix at the moment. Would a Starlink setup be better? Absolutely, but that has also had issues, which meant that it wasn't an option at all. Hopefully are now addressed and Tonga will have better communications options. I'm pretty impressed by their ability to get a new ground station up and running so quickly.
mr_toad 5y ago
If you’re in Tonga a 500ms ping to the US or Europe wouldn’t be unusual anyway.

mlindner 5y ago

Yep that is exactly the situation. The inter-satellite laser link satellites don't have enough in orbit yet to provide anything better than intermittent (a couple times a day) connectivity. Fiji is nearby so can act as a ground station for the satellites as it has internet.