SpaceX plans a Starlink evolution with its application to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to introduce a new smaller dish for Starlink subscribers, which the documents claim will make it more portable for Starlink RV users.
The next-generation Starlink dishes will leverage a smaller footprint measuring 11.4″ by 9.8″, still providing high-speed, low-latency broadband service anywhere. The existing Starlink dish is significantly larger, measuring 20.2″ by 11.9″.
SpaceX Plans Starlink Evolution
The Starlink form factor evolution is not limited to the smaller dish. The company is preparing the release of a new user terminal. SpaceX launched its Starlink satellite internet service in late 2020 and, since then, has already released several different versions of its user terminals.
The FCC issued SpaceX Services, Inc. a temporary license to “evaluate new user-terminal hardware.” Based on documents posted to the FCC website, SpaceX wanted to begin testing the new equipment as far back as October 28, 2022, but it was only approved in late February. The testing period for 200 prototype user terminal units will end on April 25, 2023.
New Starlink hardware to be tested in five locations
According to the FCC filing, SpaceX will test the new hardware in five locations: Los Angeles and Mountain View, California; Redmond, Washington; Riverton, Wyoming; and Cape Canaveral, Florida. The test program will use up to 200 units of the new terminal hardware design. SpaceX stated that the tests “may include a combination of earth stations on vehicles, vessels, and aircraft.”
“This testing will allow SpaceX to characterize the performance of these user terminals under a wide range of conditions and to measure the RF density of emissions from these user terminals,” SpaceX said in the filing.
The testing must be completed by the end of April, per the FCC’s temporary license, meaning that Starlink RV subscribers could start receiving the new hardware during the last half of 2023.
Related:
New Starlink satellites, price increase and confusion for subscribers
##RVT1095b
I have been signed up for regular starlink since nov 15 last year still nothing so why working on rv
So what kind of price tag will be on this one???
Might be a bit inflated to cover Elons costs for providing broadband for free over Ukraine the past year. Elon’s contribution has likely/possibly saved more Ukrainian lives than all of the NATO nations combined.
I think there is a timing issue in this report in one place it says end of testing period is the end of April yet shipping isn’t expected until months after, in last half of 2023
There’s no issue. These are the dates in the FCC Application, as well as the dates cited by Starlink in their announcement.
It did not say that “shipping of test units isn’t expected until months after…”. It said that shipping of new units to subscribers could begin in late 2023. Testing is going to wrap-up by the end of April.
Starlink certainly is intriguing. If we full-timed, then I would have great interest. We do not, however, so we will continue to connect our devices to the internet using grandfathered data plans over AT&T’s and Verizon’s systems. We are retired and travel part-time, so continuous connectivity is unnecessary.
I wish there were an alternative satellite Internet service provider to Starlink, as I don’t want to give Elon any money.
HughesNet.
I wish Cherry Garcia didn’t come from Ben and Jerry’s.
Thumbs-up! Progress has to be funded by someone, and Elon has money to put into these high-cost projects. I may not agree with Bill Gates politically, but he is using some of his money to try to control disease. Good cause, and it is his money.
Then why are the oral polio vaccines in Burundi causing MORE polio cases than the “wild” polio cases? There is a push for depopulation happening, consider looking into the WEF and the statements they’ve made.
FYI. The picture used in your article titled “Starlink News: An Exciting Update for RVers” is mislabeled. The picture depicts a version 2 dish (measures 20.2″ x 11.9″) but is labeled “The new smaller Starlink dish”. The new dish is almost a square shape at 11.4″ x 9.8″ inches. Just thought you’d like to know …
Here’s a photo I took of the vessel testing out Starlink’s new dish system. Port Canaveral this week.
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This article read a lot like it was copy/pasted from a Starlink press release. And “providing high-speed, low-latency broadband service anywhere” depends on a pretty loose translation of anywhere. Anywhere there are no trees overhead, and anywhere they don’t have capacity issues.
It wasn’t.