Starlink

[BigBlue1]

I must be missing something, I use WiFi calling. What's the advantage of using something different?

Wifi calling is basically an implementation of VOIP on your cell phone. Your phone uses your wifi data connection instead of the cell tower connection to process your call. VOIP is a general term describing making a phone call over an IP-type data connection instead of over a cell connection or physical wiring like a land line/DSL line. If you wanted a home phone and wanted to use your ISP's Internet connection instead for it you'd need some type of VOIP solution.

 

[Torvy]

Faxing he said faxing.
I was laughing about this with a couple of game friends online the other night. We were remembering waiting on the dialup tone. lol

Those tones are the audible part of the "handshake". This forum is just a modern BBS.

 

[plowhog]

Nobody in these forums has ever indicated they've noticed anything like that.

Was not intending to challenge your conclusion/belief. Only to say it is technically possible to degrade gaming (or other) services without it being visible to the user.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

I do miss the old copper landlines and desk speaker phones for good quality audio.

I still have a landline, but seldom use it. The audio quality of the iPhone is far superior to any other handset I've ever used. Heck of a lot more capable and versatile, too.

Yeah, FAX went the way of the dodo bird. If you need to transmit a document, make a photo of it and email it.

 

[BigBlue1]

Was not intending to challenge your conclusion/belief. Only to say it is technically possible to degrade gaming (or other) services without it being visible to the user.

Well sure. But technically possible doesn't mean likely or that a person can't be confident they won't. It's also technically possible that they will cut their prices in half but I'm confident they won't. Your post indicated you weren't sure how a person could be confident that they wouldn't actively block gaming and I answered with why I am confident. Thought that's what you were asking...

 

[plowhog]

Thought that's what you were asking...

I think I have landed on an explanation. I have too many of Elon Musk's bad habits.

I've run a technology company where the sales people were far outselling the service folks ability to keep up. A micro version of Musk wiring up all these new SL systems with only limited bandwidth sometimes spread too thin.

So, if I were him, I'd certainly be degrading the speeds for users who were told not to do online gaming but were consuming bandwidth because they were doing it anyway. That doesn't mean it's happening ... of course.

 

[LittleBill21]

I think I have landed on an explanation. I have too many of Elon Musk's bad habits.

I've run a technology company where the sales people were far outselling the service folks ability to keep up. A micro version of Musk wiring up all these new SL systems with only limited bandwidth sometimes spread too thin.

So, if I were him, I'd certainly be degrading the speeds for users who were told not to do online gaming but were consuming bandwidth because they were doing it anyway. That doesn't mean it's happening ... of course.

online gaming uses like 1/50th the bandwidth a single hd movie. streamers are what eat bandwidth.

 

[Citydude]

Wifi calling is basically an implementation of VOIP on your cell phone. Your phone uses your wifi data connection instead of the cell tower connection to process your call. VOIP is a general term describing making a phone call over an IP-type data connection instead of over a cell connection or physical wiring like a land line/DSL line. If you wanted a home phone and wanted to use your ISP's Internet connection instead for it you'd need some type of VOIP solution.

Thanks for the explanation.

 

[BigBlue1]

I'd certainly be degrading the speeds for users who were told not to do online gaming but were consuming bandwidth because they were doing it anyway.

Where did that come from?? "Told not to do online gaming"?? Never heard such a thing.

 

[plowhog]

Blue, I'm going to conclude by observing your high confidence in all things Starlink. I'm just more skeptical. Simple as that.

 

[BigBlue1]

OK. But where did you get that "told to not do online gaming"? That's a pretty significant statement... Are you saying that SL has that in their terms of service or made some public statement like that? Source?

 

[NoTrespassing]

OK. But where did you get that "told to not do online gaming"? That's a pretty significant statement... Are you saying that SL has that in their terms of service or made some public statement like that? Source?

Probably referring to this in an email:

What will the internet experience be like with Best Effort?

During times of peak network congestion, Best Effort users will experience notably slower speeds than Residential users. Best Effort users will be able to engage in typical internet activity like email, online shopping, or streaming a n SD movie, but they won’t be able to engage in activities like online gaming, video calls or streaming 4K and HD movies.

My guess that they're warning potential customers that speed may/will become too slow during peak usage to engage in those activities.

 

[BigBlue1]

Ah. Yes, that is a warning about what may not work well with Best Effort service during peak usage times, because BE customers get lower priority. In my opinion it is NOT telling people they are not allowed to do those things... just that they will have issues trying. And BE service is definitely not standard residential service.

 

[Oaktree]

I still have a landline, but seldom use it. The audio quality of the iPhone is far superior to any other handset I've ever used. Heck of a lot more capable and versatile, too.

While I agree that a smartphone is more versatile than a landline, the audio quality of them is atrocious. Wife has a (fairly new) I-phone and unless she has a really strong signal, calls are garbled, full of minor little dropouts/glitches, all of which makes intelligibility go right down the dumper.

 

[Oaktree]

Probably referring to this in an email:

What will the internet experience be like with Best Effort?

During times of peak network congestion, Best Effort users will experience notably slower speeds than Residential users. Best Effort users will be able to engage in typical internet activity like email, online shopping, or streaming a n SD movie, but they won’t be able to engage in activities like online gaming, video calls or streaming 4K and HD movies.

My guess that they're warning potential customers that speed may/will become too slow during peak usage to engage in those activities.

Is "best effort" a Starlink thing? Never heard of it before. Do you get a break pricewise if you agree to that?

As an aside, I'm mostly retired but still do a little work from time to time (I work on communications equipment). Was at one of my sites today and there was a crew there from a local wireless ISP doing an equipment upgrade. He claims that they offer gigabit service that actually approaches gigabit speeds. I asked him how SL had affected his business, he told me they lost a few customers to them initially, but most of them came back within 6 months because the service was so bad, and tech support was all but non-existent. Now I don't know how much of this was just dissing the competition but it was one of those things you don't generally hear about.

 

[sodamo]

Fedex delivered my ethernet adapter today, not that I’m ready to install it yet.
Driver said only 80 SL systems on his truck today versus 158 yesterday.

I guess there have been many of us waiting.

 

[JasperFrank]

Your zoom meeting is only as good as the slowest participant.

 

[WoodChuckDad]

I have “Best Effort”at the house we are building. My experience is just anecdotal, but when doing tests I am usually around 45 mbps. Sometimes it will be down to 4 mbps. I have worked from home, remote consoled into computer systems and on a Teams or Zoom call, while sharing screens. I really have not noticed a difference from the 5 G t-mobile I have at the Rental. Today I did a facetime call to my wife to show her the progress of the drywallers. It worked flawlessly and It was 6 pm. We had the “peak hours” warning and I checked the speed. 4.5 mbps.

 

[BigBlue1]

Is "best effort" a Starlink thing? Never heard of it before. Do you get a break pricewise if you agree to that?

Yes, it is a fairly new SL offering. The perk is that anyone can sign up, versus waiting for full availability in your area. I think the concept is: Sign up immediately and enjoy it in a lower priority than full service and when they have capacity you can change to full residential (high priority) service. Remember, MOST people who are target customers of SL don't have much of any other reliable broadband connectivity at their location, so getting in at 'best effort' is still way better than their other options. Folks with other decent ISP options probably can't relate to the idea.

 

[K5lwq]

Your zoom meeting is only as good as the slowest participant.

In my case the slowest participant has nothing to do with internet speed.