What is Starlink?
Starlink is a division of SpaceX that deals with the homonymous program. The project was born in 2015 to bring broadband connection everywhere thanks to a network that, initially, should have included 12,000 satellites in orbit at 1,100-1,300 km of altitude. However, things did not go as planned, forcing SpaceX and the good Elon Musk to review their plans.
These huge objects that streak the sky are designed to bring the Internet connection everywhere, starting right from the most remote areas of the planet. However, they cannot remain stationary at a single point. They move continuously, allowing anyone to spot the famous lights initially discussed.
The functioning of the satellites
Viasat and HughesNet use satellites in geostationary orbit, i.e. always located in the same region. The advantage is that they serve the same area constantly. In short, the signal arrives very late and therefore allows surfing the net but makes it difficult to manage video calls or use online games.
Starlink Installer instead opted for a lower orbit to reduce the latency to about 30 ms. However; this does not allow individual satellites to cover the same area as they move very quickly instead of in perfect harmony with the Earth's rotational motion.
The Starlink kit
However, from February, pre-orders are also open in Italy, which means that you can already request the kit. The latter includes the antenna, a Wi-Fi router, power supply, cables and a tripod. The most complex part is the installation. Not so much for the assembly of the components, which is very simple, as for the positioning?
But this is only the beginning. Musk said that Starlink Install would not only focus on increasing the satellites and, therefore, on the coverage of the service but also on designing them to double the connection speed by the end of 2021.
Satellite vs fibre optic
Fibre requires excavation, work, investment and time. Of course, launching satellites into space is certainly not cheaper, but once the network is created, which SpaceX has already done, the wait to use the service is much shorter. All the more so in remote places on the planet, where it is not a question of "extending the cables" but creating the entire infrastructure from scratch.
With the optical fibre, the cables are buried and protected. It is very difficult for rain and snow to cause disruption. While it is impossible to say the same thing for satellites, satellites also have to deal with the wind.
Starlink Tin Roof Mount confronts you with another problem that does not concern connectivity or service costs but light pollution. The antennas reflect a lot of light, making the satellites visible even to the naked eye. It is a fascinating sight, but in reality, it obstructs the view of astronomers and enthusiasts.
Musk's company began testing the "darkest", a satellite with an anti-reflective coating; since last August, the company has launched the "VisorSat", i.e. satellites with a special viewer that protects the antennas and reduces the light emitted. Nothing changes for those already in orbit that will be replaced in a few years.
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