Starlink internet satellites keep emergency workers online amid wildfires

Re:Starlink internet satellites keep emergency workers onlin... by walrus01 on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @10:12AM (#24638889)

The starlink earth stations in WA are in Redmond, North Bend and Brewster. With another one under construction near Prosser. In the photo that's not a starlink 'trunk' link/earth station antenna, which is much larger. That's an end point CPE.

the beta-test starlink earth stations look like this: https://imgur.com/a/mg3cq9R#RssFOnG

The one in Boca Chica, TX is the same radomes, unknown exact dish/electronics configuration inside, mounted on steel pedestals on concrete foundations. But otherwise the same.

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Re:Starlink internet satellites keep emergency workers onlin... by gpm on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @10:52AM (#24639311)

While it does appear to be closer to the consumer antenna than the normal base stations, it's just a radio, there is no reason it couldn't be used as a base station, and unlike the regular base stations it is designed for quick and easy setup so it potentially makes sense to use it as one during a disaster. This explanation definitely makes a hell of a lot more sense than it being a stunt.

More base stations and particularly base stations close to the disaster increase the portion of time that any given satellite has a link to both the end user and a base station. Particularly during this early stage when they have a limited number of pre existing base stations and limited satellite coverage that is very important for connectivity.

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