Starlink

[BigBlue1]

I have a question on using the app to check for obstructions. What do the % numbers that show on the screen mean?

I haven't used the app for obstructions for months, since mounting the dish on the roof, but looking at it without going outside and actually using it I'd say the percentage in the center circle is the amount of sky you've scanned by moving your phone around. If there is more than one, perhaps the other is a percentage of obstructed view?

Rob

 

[RobA]

The question for me is, will the Verizon LTE Home Internet suck as much as their worthless DSL service.

I've had Verizon's LTE Home Internet for about a year. It feeds off of a tower 3/4 mile from my house and is good enough to stream Netflix etc. The speeds, however, rarely hit 50 mbps that they advertise. They usually are 10-15 during the evening, 35-40 in the morning and at times below 10. The worst part of the service, in my opinion, is the router. It can only handle a limited amount of devices you can have connected to it before the WiFi dies (I have a few Ubiquiti access points, Ubiquiti Nanostations (to get internet at our barns) and a bunch of Wyze cameras). I tried to substituting their router with the MoFi router I was using with the Ubifi service but Verizon could tell and made me use their router or lose the service. So I had an IT guy install a Ubiquiti Security Gateway which solved the problem.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I've had Verizon's LTE Home Internet for about a year. It feeds off of a tower 3/4 mile from my house and is good enough to stream Netflix etc. The speeds, however, rarely hit 50 mbps that they advertise. They usually are 10-15 during the evening, 35-40 in the morning and at times below 10. The worst part of the service, in my opinion, is the router. It can only handle a limited amount of devices you can have connected to it before the WiFi dies (I have a few Ubiquiti access points, Ubiquiti Nanostations (to get internet at our barns) and a bunch of Wyze cameras). I tried to substituting their router with the MoFi router I was using with the Ubifi service but Verizon could tell and made me use their router or lose the service. So I had an IT guy install a Ubiquiti Security Gateway which solved the problem.

I'm a bit concerned about the router as well. I have 10 devices, printer, TV, PC's, smartphones, security cameras etc. that connect via WiFi and 2 that plug into Ethernet ports. All remain connected but don't necessarily require bandwidth at the same time. The specs I've read vary with the type of equipment Verizon supplies but should just barely handle my requirements. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. UPS is supposed to deliver the equipment today so I'll know soon enough.

 

[LittleBill21]

I'm a bit concerned about the router as well. I have 10 devices, printer, TV, PC's, smartphones, security cameras etc. that connect via WiFi and 2 that plug into Ethernet ports. All remain connected but don't necessarily require bandwidth at the same time. The specs I've read vary with the type of equipment Verizon supplies but should just barely handle my requirements. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. UPS is supposed to deliver the equipment today so I'll know soon enough.

just throw another router behind it, and disable everything on the main router.

 

[bdhsfz6]

just throw another router behind it, and disable everything on the main router.

From what others have said, this is difficult to do. The person I spoke with at Verizon says it is not possible.

 

[LittleBill21]

if the verizon box has a network port, then it will work period. verizon will never tell you its supported as they don't want to have to support it.

 

[BigBlue1]

just throw another router behind it, and disable everything on the main router.

That's exactly what I do with the AT&T LTE modem that I have. It has an ethernet port that I connect to the WAN side of another router. I then disable wifi on the LTE modem (Netgear Nighthawk M1). I suppose if the Verizon LTM modem has no ethernet port it would be more work.

Rob

 

[LittleBill21]

That's exactly what I do with the AT&T LTE modem that I have. It has an ethernet port that I connect to the WAN side of another router. I then disable wifi on the LTE modem (Netgear Nighthawk M1). I suppose if the Verizon LTM modem has no ethernet port it would be more work.

Rob

he would just need a router that supports wifi as a WAN, but the configuration would be similar

 

[ponytug]

WiFi as a WAN is certainly one way to do it.

The Verizon MiFi 8800L also does support tethering via the USB port, which can then either be directly plugged into a second, more capable router, or via an adapter to convert USB to Ethernet. From what I read, not every adapter works. Of course, Verizon isn't going to tell you how- it would be a support nightmare trying to have their support team be up to speed on a bunch of other routers. Much easier to say "No.".

The advice to turn off most of the router functions in the MiFis is well taken, and will impact the performance of you don't. There is a great deal of information out there on how to do it. If you are considering doing this, I would read up a bit first.

One upside to the MiFi 8800L is that it has two antenna ports for external antennas (to do MIMO), which has the potential to improve speeds in fringe areas.

All the best,

Peter

 

[dmccarty]

Ordered Dishy in 2/8/2021 and my account says it will be delivered mid to late 2021. Since it is late 2021,

We have maintained two Internet services for years, two DSL lines with CenturyStink that are 1.5mbps each, and UbiFi cell service which is usually 6mbps worst case.

A month or so ago, we lost the DSL links. The phone was also off, which is no surprise, calling for service got the phone on pretty quick, which is a who cares since we really do not use it, but it was going to take 30 days, yes 30 days, to fix the DSL. This was also not a surprise because this appears to be the standard response from CenturyStink that we have heard from many others.

UbiFi upped the monthly charge from $90 to $120! They sent out a new sim card and at the end of October, the service all but stopped working. At least we had some service so many were reporting NO service what so ever.

So, here we have been paying for two internet services for years to have back up in case one goes down, and both services go down, or partly down, at the same time.

We got lucky and the CenturyStink repair guy, who as really nice, as they are 99% of the time, got here a couple of days early and got DSL working. Woot!

We had been researching other options for a cell based service and tried US Mobile. Their website said it would support our MoFi, we called and they said they support the device, the price was right, so we ordered sim. Get the sim and tried to enable it and the device is not supported. It was pretty obvious that other UbiFi customers tried to get on US Mobile and they changed the support in less than 24 hours.

So we tried Verizon which is our cell phone provider. They have plans to support 150GB a month for I think it was $80 or $110 depending on your other plan. Not sure how this all went down, the wifey had to go to the Verizon store as usual, but we changed our Unlimited cell phone plan to a new Unlimited plan, and supposedly got the Internet access for only $10 a month. I will believe it when I see the bill settle out. Been down this path before.

We know from using UbiFi, that most months we are averaging 130GB. Some months are more due to work but we can work around the work related bandwidth. So far, after almost a week, Verizon has been working well and seemingly better than UbiFi. We will be canceling UbiFi before the next pay period.

This is a mess but it might work out in the end. Having two Internet providers has been useful and we like having the backup even though DSL is slow. Once we get Dishy, and if it works like it should, we will cancel CenturyStink, which will pay for Dishy, and keep Verizon. That way we will have two separate Internet services and we will actually be saving a fair amount of money. Go Figure.

We Need Our Dishy!

Later,
Dan

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

I preordered Starlink in February. Since then nothing but crickets from them also!

We ordered ours in late May, and were told it would be delivered late 2021. It arrived a few days ago and will be set up this weekend. I don't understand how they are prioritizing delivery, but they obviously have some factors they are considering other than a straight FIFO queue. WE currently have adequate service because we are line of sight and about a mile and a half from one of the wireless towers connected to the county PUD fiber optic net. a few hundred feet further east and we would lose that line of sight. We are in a very rural county, about 5000 square miles and 42,000 population.

 

[ponytug]

We ordered ours in late May, and were told it would be delivered late 2021. It arrived a few days ago and will be set up this weekend. I don't understand how they are prioritizing delivery, but they obviously have some factors they are considering other than a straight FIFO queue. WE currently have adequate service because we are line of sight and about a mile and a half from one of the wireless towers connected to the county PUD fiber optic net. a few hundred feet further east and we would lose that line of sight. We are in a very rural county, about 5000 square miles and 42,000 population.

I'm envious. Looking at a recently revised estimate from Starlink of "late 2022 to early 2023" here, despite having ordered early February 2021. I don't get the queue either. No line of sight to anything. Our nearest neighbor going east is five and a half tortuous miles, and then the next neighbor is about fourteen miles farther. Going west is closer, but it is quite rural and unpopulated.

AT&T has discontinued new DSL here, and admitted that they are having increasing issues procuring remanufactured boards to replace the DSL parts that fail. Of course with long telephone lines, above ground, our teleph9ne wires and equipment short out or die not infrequently. Squirrels caching acorns in patch boxes don't help.

Sigh. Where is Elon Musk when you need him?

All the best,

Peter

 

[ponytug]

I should have learned to expect it; I ordered Tesla batteries May of 2020. Installed in September, 2021, due interesting queuing behavior by Tesla, and still being debugged is November 2021...Today, their solar meter decided to double our solar production (yay, I guess. I just don't believe a 6kW system is now magically cranking out 7 for the first time in its existence...in late fall.)

 

[ponytug]

Starlink released a statement stating that moving the service address won't delay the shipment.
PC Mag: SpaceX: Changing Your Starlink Service Address Won't Delay the Shipment and

Starlink Support Help Center "Note: Orders are fulfilled based on the date of your initial Starlink order; if you move to a new location, your place in the queue at the new location will still be based off of your initial order date."

But then again, they don't comment at all on the 2022-2023 dates.

We shall see...

All the best,

Peter

 

[3 Horse Ranch]

"Note: Orders are fulfilled based on the date of your initial Starlink order

I am really curious what the criteria, algorithm, what have you, is for their decisions on who gets what and when. Our 5 month wait compared to your apparent 12-18 month wait just doesn't seem fair or justifiable especially since you placed your name in the queue 3 months ahead of us. My condolences, but no, we won't ship ours to you.

 

[Torvy]

Sigh. Where is Elon Musk when you need him?

Elon Musk is here. I'm guessing he is prioritizing us over Cali right now.

 

[riptides]

I ordered Feb 9th. Less than 24 hours after receiving the eMail invite.

The interesting aspect, a neighbor (less than 4 miles away), has been up and running since March.

My account still lists late 2021 as expected delivery. However, my address now says late 2022, early 2023.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Good luck. Hope your order arrives on time and it works properly. If you have problems and Verizon Support can't help there is a Reddit Verizon Forum available. r/verizon

The Verizon Gateway LTE Home Internet equipment was ordered 11/1 and arrived as promised on 11/4. Installation was easy once I discovered it was plug & play. There were no instructions provided and navigating the Verizon website to find product information was problematic.

I'm getting 45 mbs down and 4 up. Slow by Starlink standards but 15X faster than my existing DSL service. So far, I have 10 devices connected and all work normally. There are 2 Ethernet ports on the router/modem which I may try to use with another router if necessary.

 

[riptides]

The Verizon Gateway LTE Home Internet equipment was ordered 11/1 and arrived as promised on 11/4. Installation was easy once I discovered it was plug & play. There were no instructions provided and navigating the Verizon website to find product information was problematic.

I'm getting 45 mbs down and 4 up. Slow by Starlink standards but 15X faster than my existing DSL service. So far, I have 10 devices connected and all work normally. There are 2 Ethernet ports on the router/modem which I may try to use with another router if necessary.

That's awesome for you.

The price point is pretty good too. Let us know if you notice data caps or throttling.

 

[IXLR8]

I would love to get the Verizon LTE HI, I am using Verizon cell service, but the Verizon web page says that the LTE HI service is not available in my area?? Maybe it is time to go to the local Verizon store and see what they say. I need to do something before we move into our new home just before Christmas. Cell phone hotspots just don't cut it, too data limited.