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A comment on Starlink was offered free to those hit by Hurricane Helene. It was anything but.

Re:Starlink was offered free to those hit by Hurricane Helen... by josefritzishere on Tuesday October 08, 2024 @01:25PM (#41779646)
This is classic Musk. Is this guy even capable of conducting honest business?
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Re:Starlink was offered free to those hit by Hurricane Helen... by Katydid on Tuesday October 08, 2024 @02:18PM (#41780205)
This came as a huge shock to those who only got the "free Starlink" through word of mouth here on the ground. We were told, "just go to starlink.com/activate" and type in your address. It was complete horseshit. The worst part about it was phones were in SOS mode, there was no internet anywhere, yet we could load that page to activate, which meant THERE WAS INTERNET. Just not to those who didn't pay for hardware and delivery (to places that are impossible to deliver to even today a week out). Infuriating.
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Re:Starlink was offered free to those hit by Hurricane Helen... by inemesitaffia on Tuesday October 08, 2024 @02:27PM (#41780291)
The offer is specifically targeted at people buying at retail who have issues activating.

And has never been misleading. You can check the source yourself

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Re:Starlink was offered free to those hit by Hurricane Helen... by falcolas on Tuesday October 08, 2024 @02:47PM (#41780472)
Source checked. Sending in free hardware, and we're creating an update to make service free. Oh, and after 30 days, you'll be renewed on a normal retail plan

Sources: Starlink on X, Musk on X, and the Starlink details page on the free service respectively.

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Re:Starlink was offered free to those hit by Hurricane Helen... by inemesitaffia on Tuesday October 08, 2024 @03:13PM (#41780725)
I have the same sources it's an offer for free service for people with equipment.

https://x.com/Starlink/status/1841503492445176151

https://x.com/Starlink/status/1841567233417576497

You don't need to activate a plan or even make an account. The dish will just work

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Re:Starlink was offered free to those hit by Hurricane Helen... by falcolas on Tuesday October 08, 2024 @03:26PM (#41780868)
https://www.starlink.com/support/article/58126733-e4d2-db62-...

    Go to starlink.com/residential
    Enter your address and click “Order Now”
    Select the “Helene Relief” service plan and check out
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Re:Starlink was offered free to those hit by Hurricane Helen... by inemesitaffia on Tuesday October 08, 2024 @03:30PM (#41780897)
Starlink kit required in the post you did contrary to the post activation isn't required.

If you have a dish, you don't have to sign up for anything

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Re:Starlink was offered free to those hit by Hurricane Helen... by falcolas on Tuesday October 08, 2024 @03:34PM (#41780963)
Those are the instructions for new customers. Existing customers can add up to 20 kits to their account you'll note.

These are absolutely tied to accounts, to addresses, to billing information.

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Re:Starlink was offered free to those hit by Hurricane Helen... by inemesitaffia on Tuesday October 08, 2024 @03:35PM (#41780974)
Like I said.

You have a dish currently without a plan in the area, you switch it on. It will give you Internet

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Re:Starlink was offered free to those hit by Hurricane Helen... by falcolas on Tuesday October 08, 2024 @03:37PM (#41780997)
I said it more politely elsewhere, but:

Citation needed.

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Re:Starlink was offered free to those hit by Hurricane Helen... by inemesitaffia on Tuesday October 08, 2024 @03:42PM (#41781058)
I talked with this guy Mike Coryell and this is an interview he had recently.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6362916358112

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Re:Starlink was offered free to those hit by Hurricane Helen... by inemesitaffia on Thursday October 10, 2024 @08:56AM (#41798331)
Better from a user rather than supplier

https://x.com/Unitedcajunnavy/status/1843985998721524222

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Re:Starlink was offered free to those hit by Hurricane Helen... by inemesitaffia on Tuesday October 08, 2024 @02:36PM (#41780374)
This is classic nonsense from you.

The article is very misleading

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