Starlink internet satellites keep emergency workers online amid wildfires

Re:Starlink internet satellites keep emergency workers onlin... by gpm on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @07:41PM (#24645452)

The advantage isn't latency but connectivity. Connectivity requires both user and base station to connect to the same satellite, and that happens more often the closer they are to each other.

This becomes less of a problem as you gain more satellites, but right now with the limited rollout I'm pretty sure it is significant.

Base stations that have identical radios to user antennas (which have a general fcc license) probably don't require further licensing. They would be limited bandwidth but that's a lot better than nothing, especially during a disaster.

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Re:Starlink internet satellites keep emergency workers onlin... by jcrawfordor on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @10:50PM (#24646784)

Documents from Starlink suggest the usable footprint of the satellites is a bit over 500km wide, so roughly the size of Washington. Further, Starlink only reported positive results from inter-satellite relay testing very recently ("first successful test" about four weeks ago).

Combining these, and considering that they are operating multiple ground stations within Washington, I don't think inter-satellite relay is a factor at all right now.

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Re:Starlink internet satellites keep emergency workers onlin... by gpm on Wednesday September 30, 2020 @11:35PM (#24647074)

That's... an assumption that went into the logic in the comment replying to and the logic in it's grandparent.

I think you meant to contradict me, so I think my comment is being misunderstood, which might explain the downvotes too... I just can't figure out how your are misreading it.

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