8 ms·

Starlink Mini is now available

63 points by virgildotcodes 2y ago

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]
tucnak 2y ago
[flagged]
aschobel 2y ago
$50 for 50 GB is a touch steep but that plan does allow usage in-motion. I saw a YouTuber in a plane use it up to 100 MPH.
- aftbit 2y ago
  You can get "unlimited" for $150/mo but then they talk about "Mobile Priority". Their pricing page is kind of a mess to be honest.
voidUpdate 2y ago
Do you have to stop and set it up or can you use it from your backpack like the image shows?
- yencabulator 2y ago
  The image does not show it being used, nor does it show the average-draw 25 W power source.
- wkat4242 2y ago
  I think that image just shows it being transported, not being used. I wouldn't want to carry an active phased array on my back either by the way.
- supertrope 2y ago
  It has to be pointed at the sky and plugged into power.
4gotunameagain 2y ago
So, equipment price $500. Cheapest unlimited, $120/mo. Then "Mobile Regional", $150/mo. I cannot find out what "regional" means, what the limitations would be. Anyhow, it seems like a fair offer
- yencabulator 2y ago
  Starlink regions: https://api.starlink.com/public-files/Mobile_Service_Regions.pdf https://api.starlink.com/public-files/Mobile_Service_Regions...
- tbeseda 2y ago
  I think "regional" means continental. So if you get a regional plan in North America, it won't work in Europe.
- tocs3 2y ago
  It sounds like a fair deal in that you pay for the service and they provide the service. The economics of it will depend wildly on use case. I am getting internet thru Calyx Institute[1]. About $500 set up and $35/month (supposedly unlimited mobile 4G). Should work most everywhere there are people but only those places that also have cell coverage. [1] https://calyxinstitute.org https://calyxinstitute.org
Equiet 2y ago
$50 for 50GB seems like a fair offer for the US market, especially given the possibility of coverage in remote locations. But keep in mind that US market is unique, as it's extremely overpriced with very poor quality/coverage. Looks like average price in the US is $6.00/GB. Compare this to countries like Israel ($0.02/GB) or Colombia ($0.20/GB). Whenever I travel, I usually have a better coverage and faster connection in a jungle than downtown SF.
- SkyPuncher 2y ago
  I too often have a better connection in rural America than downtown. Rural America is largely free of interference. Even if you have a weak signal, the tower and your phone can hear each other very clearly. In a downtown, it gets messy.
  - alphabettsy 2y ago
    Is that interference or congestion?
- teruakohatu 2y ago
  > Looks like average price in the US is $6.00/GB. Are data allowances common in the USA for terrestrial data? In New Zealand >87% of the population can get 1gb connection for $61 USD with no data cap (and no long term contract, cheaper if you find a deal). One ISP (or brand) is offering a 10gb connection for $40 USD on a 24 month contract. >1g limited to a a small number of cities as far as I know. Our mobile internet costs a fortune, costing for example the cheapest non-prepaid plan from the largest telco is $27.50 USD for 4.5gb of data.
  - dzhiurgis 2y ago
    For mobile - I currently pay $330 NZD for 2 phones for 15GB/mo which turns out to be $8.4 USD per month. You do have to be look out for such deal tho (Kogan Mobile). Deprioritised starlink is $80 nzd / month which is cheaper than fiber or vdsl and on par with "unlimited" 4G/5G. Mini is quite good option for boating (campsites usually are well connected here) provided it can cope with swell like bigger dishes do. Edit: Strange they haven't integrated WiFi HaLow yet since it's primary target is rural customers who would benefit a ton from 1km radius signal...

deleted 2y ago

[deleted]

tucnak 2y ago

[flagged]

aschobel 2y ago

$50 for 50 GB is a touch steep but that plan does allow usage in-motion. I saw a YouTuber in a plane use it up to 100 MPH.

aftbit 2y ago
You can get "unlimited" for $150/mo but then they talk about "Mobile Priority". Their pricing page is kind of a mess to be honest.

voidUpdate 2y ago

Do you have to stop and set it up or can you use it from your backpack like the image shows?

yencabulator 2y ago
The image does not show it being used, nor does it show the average-draw 25 W power source.
wkat4242 2y ago
I think that image just shows it being transported, not being used. I wouldn't want to carry an active phased array on my back either by the way.
supertrope 2y ago
It has to be pointed at the sky and plugged into power.

4gotunameagain 2y ago

So, equipment price $500. Cheapest unlimited, $120/mo. Then "Mobile Regional", $150/mo. I cannot find out what "regional" means, what the limitations would be. Anyhow, it seems like a fair offer

yencabulator 2y ago
Starlink regions: https://api.starlink.com/public-files/Mobile_Service_Regions.pdf https://api.starlink.com/public-files/Mobile_Service_Regions...
tbeseda 2y ago
I think "regional" means continental. So if you get a regional plan in North America, it won't work in Europe.
tocs3 2y ago
It sounds like a fair deal in that you pay for the service and they provide the service. The economics of it will depend wildly on use case. I am getting internet thru Calyx Institute[1]. About $500 set up and $35/month (supposedly unlimited mobile 4G). Should work most everywhere there are people but only those places that also have cell coverage. [1] https://calyxinstitute.org https://calyxinstitute.org

Equiet 2y ago

$50 for 50GB seems like a fair offer for the US market, especially given the possibility of coverage in remote locations. But keep in mind that US market is unique, as it's extremely overpriced with very poor quality/coverage. Looks like average price in the US is $6.00/GB. Compare this to countries like Israel ($0.02/GB) or Colombia ($0.20/GB). Whenever I travel, I usually have a better coverage and faster connection in a jungle than downtown SF.

SkyPuncher 2y ago
I too often have a better connection in rural America than downtown. Rural America is largely free of interference. Even if you have a weak signal, the tower and your phone can hear each other very clearly. In a downtown, it gets messy.
- alphabettsy 2y ago
  Is that interference or congestion?
teruakohatu 2y ago
> Looks like average price in the US is $6.00/GB. Are data allowances common in the USA for terrestrial data? In New Zealand >87% of the population can get 1gb connection for $61 USD with no data cap (and no long term contract, cheaper if you find a deal). One ISP (or brand) is offering a 10gb connection for $40 USD on a 24 month contract. >1g limited to a a small number of cities as far as I know. Our mobile internet costs a fortune, costing for example the cheapest non-prepaid plan from the largest telco is $27.50 USD for 4.5gb of data.
- dzhiurgis 2y ago
  For mobile - I currently pay $330 NZD for 2 phones for 15GB/mo which turns out to be $8.4 USD per month. You do have to be look out for such deal tho (Kogan Mobile). Deprioritised starlink is $80 nzd / month which is cheaper than fiber or vdsl and on par with "unlimited" 4G/5G. Mini is quite good option for boating (campsites usually are well connected here) provided it can cope with swell like bigger dishes do. Edit: Strange they haven't integrated WiFi HaLow yet since it's primary target is rural customers who would benefit a ton from 1km radius signal...