Re:Starlink review, four months in
by skellington on Thursday July 22, 2021 @02:11PM
(#27922306)
You are probably technically correct, but most people don't need 24hr internet access, so that one 400 watt panel would provide high speed internet for let's say 12 hours a day and that's plenty for this odd scenario of living in a place with no power but still needing high speed internet.
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The claim was 24/7 powering with "a 400W panel and some batteries" - which is simply false.
I deal with the realities of off-grid power in my office on a daily basis, and a vast majority of what's written about solar and batteries by people who don't have experience with them is simply wrong. I try to correct it where I can.
With a 400W panel and a few kWh of batteries, you could reasonably accomplish 14-16 hours of access during peak sun in the summer, 8-12 hours in spring and fall, and 0-3 hours in winter, except for 5-6 hours on sunny winter days.
Although I've heard that the newer Dishys use somewhat less power (50-70W), which does improve things.