Starlink goes beta

[George K]

https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2020/10/27/SpaceX-launches-public-beta-test-of-Starlink-Internet-service/2971603815156/
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The initial Starlink service is called "Better Than Nothing Beta," according to multiple screenshots of an email, CNBC reported.

Joining the public beta test costs $99 a month on top of a $499 upfront cost for the ground equipment, which includes a user terminal to connect to the satellites, a mounting tripod and a Wi-Fi router.

SpaceX also has a Starlink app listed on the Google Play and Apple iOS app stores, which helps users set up their systems and allows them to search areas of the sky for unobstructed views.

"As you can tell from the title, we are trying to lower your initial expectations," the Starlink Team signed email said. "Expect to see data speeds vary from 50 Mb/s to 150Mb/s and latency from 20ms to 40ms over the next several months as we enhance the Starlink system. There will also be brief periods of no connectivity at all."

[Mik]

Sign me up!

Oh, wait....

[George K]

In a multi-family dwelling (apartment or condo), mounting an antenna might be a problem (it would be for us). But for rural areas it's probably going to be great.

Now, if they could only solve the light pollution problem for astronomers.

[Loki]

Woof

[taiwan_girl]

THis would be very good if it were worldwide, though price could be an issue for a lot of people. I know that there was an earlier forum thread about internet speeds. I typically get 3-4 Mbs download and little less than 1 upload.

Having said that, most of the time, those speeds are "okay". However, video calls with lots of people can be bad, and sometimes trying to log in to remote computers to access their speeds does not work.