Starlink

[RedNeckGeek]

Service speed is generally slowing and interruptions are more frequent. I suspect this is a result of over selling the service.

We've had a LOT of rain up here, and several times I've noticed short pauses in the service. It's never been that fast at 75 down, though. I'm in a heavily subscribed area with wait list for Residential service, which is what I have.

I'm wondering if what you're seeing is weather related, too.

 

[ponytug]

Around here, rainfall intensity is pretty light in the grand scheme of things, and even during what passes for heavy downpours here, I can't see anything out of the ordinary. IIRC: there was some filing that suggested that there might be impairment above 1-2" of rain/hr.

Here is an in-depth analysis of the impact of rainfall rate on Ka and Ku bands in a tropical location with heavy (1"-12" rain/hour) rainfall. (Starlink uses both.)

Exploring Rain Fade in an Extreme Rain Fall Zone

Rain Fade is a factor with Ku-band and Ka-band satellite communications. Rainfall rate is measured in mm/hour. The occurrence ...

www.satcom.guru

(region P, below)

 

[LouNY]

Amazing I don't live in monsoon area but I have lost service during thunderstorms this paet summer.

 

[KilroyJC]

so, progresss report so far:

blocks of wood clamped to prevent base of mast from slipping sideways during lift (also visible is a pre-mounted bolt/stud for rapid fastening):

and the top stud:

bottom Unistrut and middle EMT sections u-bolted together (black tape is holding a spring-loaded StruNut in place for an additional bolt at the top of the existing strut on the solar array) :

Trial lift of the two pieces assembled (it wasnt too bad - I am sure it will be tougher fully assembled!):

Upper bolt/stud with mast raised:

Earlier, we had some Spectacular performance from our DSL:

 

[sodamo]

KilroyJC
Curious why you just didn’t mount at roof peak. Might have been easier.

 

[Tropical Jack]

Looking great! Almost there!

Jack

 

[KilroyJC]

I

KilroyJC
Curious why you just didn’t mount at roof peak. Might have been easier.

I don’t have a ladder long enough, and I haven’t purchased my scaffolding yet.

this is temporary until spring. And I can do it without getting on a ladder. Okay, I need to get on a 6’ ladder to spin on a couple nuts. . . But I don’t need to be 20+ feet up on a ladder . . .

 

[RedNeckGeek]

And I can do it without getting on a ladder.

Even if you had a tall enough ladder, do you really want to go up there every time the Dishy needs some love? I have a Protect camera sitting on the top of a pretty spindly pole, and every time it needs to be reset (which unfortunately is every so often), I can unscrew one bolt and pivot the pole down until it lays across the bed of the side-by-side. The Dishy, though, is at the top of an 8' pole that is anchored in 2' of concrete. I need a ladder for that one, and I wish I'd done it the same way as that camera pole.

 

[BigBlue1]

Even if you had a tall enough ladder, do you really want to go up there every time the Dishy needs some love? I have a Protect camera sitting on the top of a pretty spindly pole, and every time it needs to be reset (which unfortunately is every so often), I can unscrew one bolt and pivot the pole down until it lays across the bed of the side-by-side. The Dishy, though, is at the top of an 8' pole that is anchored in 2' of concrete. I need a ladder for that one, and I wish I'd done it the same way as that camera pole.

My dish has been mounted on my roof since about a month after I got it, so April-ish 2021. I haven't had to touch it since.

 

[Fallon]

My dish has been mounted on my roof since about a month after I got it, so April-ish 2021. I haven't had to touch it since.

Also, you can just unplug the cable to the dishy at the AP end. So unless something comes loose up top there would be no need to get up there.

I do agree with not crawling on the roof if you don't have to though. Not sure how ill mess with antenna on my 60' HAM radio tower now that my neighbor sold his 60' man lift. I could climb the tower, but really don't want to (and don't have the proper harnesses).