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Starlink standing
How we calculated our grade
Pros
- Decent velocity for a remote network
- Low overhead
- Unlimited information
- Mobile internet applicable
Cons
- High upfront charges
- Slower than wires or fibers computer
- Prone to severe climate
Starlink Internet assessment
You most likely also have access to satellite internet if your home doesn’t have access to or fiber-optic online services, whether because you’re in a rural area or are constantly moving. The only satellite internet service to offer speeds up to 220Mbps, Starlink, may just be the best choice for you. Simply keep in mind that quality services doesn’t come cheap.
Expect to pay$ 120 a month for fixed home internet service, plus$ 349, , for the equipment needed to get started. Starlink is likewise imposing a one-time$ 100 congestion cost in some places. Although the monthly cost of mobile services may be lower, so are the anticipated frequencies.
Starlink will still be the best broadband option for some, especially those who live in rural areas or are on the go, despite the sky-high charges.
Starlink Internet strategies and sales
Starlink prepare | Regular cost | Speed variety | Technology charges | Data registration |
---|---|---|---|---|
Standard | $120 | 30-150Mbps | $ 349 honest | Standard infinite |
Priority | $140-$500 | 40-220Mbps | $ 349-$ 2, 500 upfront | 40GB-2TB, common unlimited later |
Roam | $50-$165 | 30-100Mbps | $599 | 50GB-unlimited |
Mobile Priority | $250-$1,000 | 40-220Mbps | $ 2, 500 upfront | 50GB-5TB, common unlimited later |
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Origin: CNET analysis of company data.
Starlink’s programs are a little confusing to understand but basically, the programs are divided into either “fixed area” or “roam/mobile” plans for those on the head like campers, RVers, nomads or sea explorers.
Starlink’s Priority program is listed as a” Set Site” business online strategy, but you don’t have to own a business to be eligible for the program. Although the Flat High Performance equipment costs a hefty$ 2, 500, you can choose between the Enterprise ($ 699 ) or Standard ($ 349 ) equipment instead.
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Starlink certainly adds value in areas where other satellite services can, particularly with its cellular plans and higher data allotments, but I’d prefer a little more speed for the price, or a lower price immediately.
With home computer speeds ranging from 25 to 220Mbps, Starlink has the potential to offer faster speeds than or ( as well as other famous remote computer options ). In contrast, and top out at around 100Mbps to 150Mbps in most places.
Starlink costs and company details
It’s obvious why Starlink has only grown in popularity among rural computer users. Here’s a closer look at the words of this dish internet service provider’s contract.
Data cap
Starlink’s programs feature “unlimited data”, but you’ll probably still be subjected to accelerate during maximum congestion hours. Depending on the level you choose, the Priority program comes with 40GB, 1TB, or 2TB of “priority” data while the Standard household computer program includes unlimited data. Customers can choose between 50GB and 5TB of data under the Mobile Priority plan’s wider data cap.
Users have network precedence over Standard users thanks to prioritizing them, which could result in faster speeds that are less susceptible to network congestion. When your priority data pool is run out, the service switches to standard data. When that occurs, bandwidth is always prioritized the same as everyone else on the network.
As a result, you may experience slower speeds for the remainder of the billing cycle, which is much less of a penalty compared to the substantial and purposeful Hughesnet and Viasat can impose once customers exceed their monthly data allotment.
Congestion charge
In many areas around the country, Starlink now charges a one-time congestion fee of$ 100. On its website, Starlink states,” We hope to stop charging new customers as soon as network capacity increases.” You can enter your email address to receive a notification when the charge is removed.
Low enough latency for online gaming
Another benefit of Starlink is its low latency, which is comparable to that of cable internet and other types of terrestrial connections. The majority of customers should see latency low enough to play online games and steer clear of lag-prone video calls.
The time it takes for information to reach and depart from your internet provider is sometimes called “ping.” Geostationary satellites, like those employed by Hughesnet and Viasat, orbit some 22, 000 miles above the Earth, resulting in the highest latency of any modern internet connection.
Starlink’s low Earth orbit satellites zip around the planet at an altitude of around 350 miles– 60 times closer to the Earth’s surface than traditional satellites, per the company’s claims– so it takes far less time to transfer information back and forth.
high equipment costs, but no installation expenses
You might pay more month-to-month with Starlink than Hughesnet and Viasat, but, , equipment costs are actually lower with Starlink. Standard equipment retails for$ 349, which is significantly lower than its prior offer of$ 599.
Viasat and Hughesnet offer the option of leasing equipment for an additional$ 15 or so per month in place of the upfront fee. No such option is available with Starlink: customers purchase the equipment and after 30 days, it’s theirs to keep.
Starlink may save you money on installation costs because no expert installation is necessary ( or even possible ). Hughesnet and Viasat, on the other hand, require professional installation, which can add$ 100 or more to your upfront costs. Better still, equipment is apparently simple to set up, as seen in the video below.
With the Starlink Mini dish on the go
The rollout of the leveled up Starlink’s appeal to rural, traveling customers. The equipment costs$ 599, and there are between$ 50 and$ 165 for a monthly subscription. You can stop and begin using the service at any time thanks to the 30-day trial and no contracts that come with the equipment.
If you upgrade to the Roam Unlimited plan for$ 165 a month, you can get unlimited data and guaranteed in-motion use up to 100 mph, so you can access the internet on-the-go from your vehicle.
ran a speed test while using the Starlink Mini, which showed speeds up to 100Mbps with a 23ms latency, despite the typical download speed being 50Mbps and 10Mbps upload speed. This enables you to access internet that is high enough to stream your favorite movies or , whether you’re sailing in the middle of the ocean or taking a hike through the Grand Canyon.
Watch this: Testing Out SpaceX Starlink Satellite Internet
12:32
The Starlink setup is surprisingly straightforward.
Professional installation isn’t available with Starlink, but the self-install process seems fairly straightforward. For rooftops, yards, and your home’s exterior, Starlink offers a variety of mounting options. There’s even a Starlink app for , and , that uses augmented reality to help customers pick the best location and position for their receivers.
John Kim, a CNET’s John Kim, signed up for Starlink at his home in California in 2021 and began testing it out at various locations. He had a typical download speed of 78 Mbps and a latency of about 36 minutes at home. In the video on this page, which you can watch, you can hear more of his first impressions.
Starlink coverage: Available almost anywhere in the US
According to , Starlink is available to 99.7 % of US households. That’s the highest coverage percentage of any internet provider, including Hughesnet and Viasat.
There are a few cities, specifically , , and , where service is currently” sold out”. Still, Starlink’s coverage is impressive. I conducted serviceability checks on addresses across , , and the south in and rural , and every time I responded,” Starlink is immediately available.”
Service isn’t limited to just the US. According to the company, the list of countries currently served by the growing network of low-orbit satellites includes the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand and others.
Starlink’s fleet expansion continues at a rapid rate
Starlink has been busy in 2024, sending more than 30 payloads into the sky including a recent launch in August, carrying 23 new satellites. The total fleet now sits at roughly 6, 000 functional satellites, but there’s still a way to go. SpaceX has indicated that it wants as many as 42, 000 satellites in its constellation, and Starlink will likely need at least 10,000 in orbit before it can claim to offer full service to the majority of the world.
What does this mean for Starlink internet?
Ideally, Starlink’s coverage and speeds will improve with every launch. Starlink’s website says,” Starlink users typically experience download speeds between 25 and 220Mbps, with a majority of users experiencing speeds over 100Mbps”. According to the internet speed-tracking website Ookla, Starlink provided   in the US for the first quarter of 2023. ( Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis. )
That’s significantly less than the end of 2021, when Starlink’s average download speed was just over 100Mbps. The decline may be a result of growing subscriptions and increased network congestion. As more and more new satellites are added to the fleet, it’s likely that average speeds will increase to around 100Mbps or higher soon.
How does Starlink compare?
Starlink isn’t yet, or even ever, replacing your fiber, cable, or fixed wireless connections like and . That doesn’t seem to be the intent behind the service. In all areas where traditional wired or fixed wireless services are inaccessible or scarce, Starlink is best suited to offer a practical solution for broadband in underserved areas or for a mobile demographic.
Such areas have previously had two internet options: . How does Starlink stack up against its satellite internet rivals now that it has a third option?
Hughesnet can be a bit cheaper per month than Starlink, with standard rates of$ 50 to$ 95 for maximum download speeds of 50 to 100Mbps. Viasat is also cheaper, with a standard rate of$ 100 to$ 150 per month for up to 150Mbps. Despite having faster speed potential, unlimited data, and lower latency, Starlink is a slightly more expensive option than Hughesnet and Starlink.
Depending on the ISP, plan you choose, and the equipment you choose, pricing can be a toss-up between all three satellite providers. Starlink holds the advantage in basically every other category, including maximum speeds, latency, data allowances and contract requirements.
What’s the final word on Starlink?
Starlink is an exciting and much-needed addition to rural internet’s long-limited landscape. Although the service is slower and more expensive than many other providers and connection types, the relatively high-speed potential, low latency, unlimited data, and no contract requirements increase its value as a rural internet provider.
Starlink internet FAQs
Does bad weather affect Starlink?
The FAQ states that” we advise installing Starlink in a location where snow accumulation and other obstacles don’t block the field of view.” Your satellite internet connection may also be impacted by heavy rain or wind, which could lead to slower speeds or a rare outage.
In the sky, can you see Starlink satellites?
The International Astronomical Union issued an alarm-sounding statement warning of unanticipated effects on stargazing and the protection of nocturnal wildlife shortly after Starlink’s first broadband satellite deployment.
Despite their good intentions, these satellite constellations may threaten both, the statement reads.” We do not yet understand the impact of thousands of these visible satellites scattered across the night sky.”
Starlink has since started testing various designs to lessen the brightness and visibility of its satellites. At the start of 2020, the company tested a” DarkSat” satellite . Later, in June 2020, the company launched a” VisorSat” satellite that features . In August, Starlink launched another batch of satellites– this time, they all were equipped with visors.
Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX, said,” We want to make sure we do the right thing to make sure we make sure we do the right thing.” ” It’s cool for them to see a Starlink. But they should be looking at Saturn, at the moon… and not want to be interrupted”.
The Starlink teams have collaborated closely with world-renowned astronomers to learn more about the specifics of their observations and engineering adjustments that can be made to reduce satellite brightness, according to the company’s website.
Where can I learn more about Starlink?
Beyond that, we expect to continue testing Starlink’s network as it expands. We’ll let you know when we’re more informed about how the satellite service as an internet provider operates.