Graffiti Cybertruck spotted with Starlink Antenna Receiver Mounted on Roof

[PilotPete]

this is the factory available starlink accessory

I’d like someone to help me better understand who needs it, in what applications

O.M.G.!

Ok BOOMER, I’ll like try to, like, explain.

So like when you go, you know, like out and like when you’re like in the like nowhere and like there isn’t like you know real connections to like the internet and stuff and like when you literally like can’t connect to the like real world?

So this like plate thingy literally like connects you to like people and like the rest of the world and like civilization. Like when you don’t have like WiFi or like bars or like any data left on your plan cuz like you literally went with the wrached like cheap plan and like you can’t even? So like this is your literal life line.

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[cvalue13]

O.M.G.!

Ok BOOMER, I’ll like try to, like, explain.

So like when you go, you know, like out and like when you’re like in the like nowhere and like there isn’t like you know real connections to like the internet and stuff and like when you literally like can’t connect to the like real world?

So this like plate thingy literally like connects you to like people and like the rest of the world and like civilization. Like when you don’t have like WiFi or like bars or like any data left on your plan cuz like you literally went with the wrached like cheap plan and like you can’t even? So like this is your literal life line.

don’t put boomer on me - I’m the disaffected Gen-X

I get what starlink does

I don’t get why enough people might install it on the roof that it’s configured as a factory option like this, rather than do what’s already common deploy a standard starlink on the ground when parked

Since a standard deployable starlink is available (as is the standard internal vehicle wifi), it would seem to reduce the TAM for this specific factory accessory roof mounted version to the (seemingly) limited pool of folks who are simultaneously in the wilds AND need this level of connectivity while in motion/transit in those wilds

It’s that sub-group I’m curious about

 

[CyberGus]

this is the factory available starlink accessory

I’d like someone to help me better understand who needs it, in what applications

Some people fill it with hot coffee

 

[Kahpernicus]

don’t put boomer on me - I’m the disaffected Gen-X

I get what starlink does

I don’t get why enough people might install it on the roof that it’s configured as a factory option like this, rather than do what’s already common deploy a standard starlink on the ground when parked

Since a standard deployable starlink is available (as is the standard internal vehicle wifi), it would seem to reduce the TAM for this specific factory accessory roof mounted version to the (seemingly) limited pool of folks who are simultaneously in the wilds AND need this level of connectivity while in motion/transit in those wilds

It’s that sub-group I’m curious about

This seems easy enough to mfg in low run numbers to be a "why not" for tesla / starllink.

Not like tesla hasn't made niche accessories before, and with the t-mobile/starlink venture seems like a no brainer.

 

[JBee]

this is the factory available starlink accessory

I’d like someone to help me better understand who needs it, in what applications

Sorry missed this.

Obviously for us out in the boonies it's essential. Funnily enough our neighbours have fibre across the road, but they won't connect us, let alone the 3km up our driveway to our house. So at first we ran wireless to a friendly neighbour, which the boys now use as dedicated low latency connection for their gaming. That leaves mostly me with my own Starlink connection.

The second unit is going on my Crafter van for mobile use. I'd like to put it on an extendable mast for clearing bush n scrub etc and will remotelydisable the titt motors when driving. So when we go traveling, shopping (1200km round trip) or camping we're still connected that way, second I can still do business any where I go. Out here reception can be patchy, and Starlink seamlessly hands over mobile calls to wifi calls with our network operator. That means I'm reachable, and I can we reach anyone by phone, email, pm etc.

The other thing is that for UAV use other buddies can remote into the UAV remotely via ssh/vnc and configure, change code,grab images to run CV recognition or even fly via starlink from any where else on the planet. We often had guys from UK/CH/Canada log in over 4G on the plane, but in areas with no cell at all, now they still can. Being mobile and always setup on the vehicle roof means you just start the car and follow the UAV whenever you need to, all whilst the guys in the office can continue to work and monitor the UAV, all without ever needing to be physically present themselves. Works wonders for scheduling everyone, especially now I'm in the bush and still do most the flying.

But in general I think having a few vehicles driving around with Starlink is a good idea out here, for safety, security and first responders etc. In WA the cop cars are already trialling Starlink, so they can do all usual urban cop stuff without being in cell range.

Rural health is also already well established with tele-health, so we video chat with doctors and specialists instead of appointments etc all the time. An air ambulance or wheeled one, could patch in a remote specialist etc. Even when I needed to go to the local hospital (40km away) with a venomous snake bite from a Crown head (which happened in town believe it or not) the first thing they did was hook me up and video called the specialist in Perth. After that I was flown to a snake bite ward for tests. Luckily it was a dry strike, so no venom.

So there's definitely a need for it I think, and there's probably a few more examples like for farming automation, livestock monitoring etc where many would benefit from the connectivity.

From a technical standpoint Starlink actually sucks in urban areas, especially if you have a lot of Starlink dishes in a small area, simply because they need to share satellite radio footprint bandwidth. So it's really a rural area and mobile internet technology and in no way meant to or capable of (yet) replacing fibre or cable.

I mean Starlink is essential Mars comm tech, so getting it all to work here on mobile and sparsely populated areas, is all the way up there on EMs agenda. So I'm happy to benefit from that down under too.

 

[Crissa]

Yeah, the 'there's fiber across the street but it's been three years now and no plans to expand' affects several of my urban friends, so rural is just effed.

-Crissa

 

[PilotPete]

don’t put boomer on me - I’m the disaffected Gen-X

I get what starlink does

Just giving you a hard time my friend. Like CyberGus, just “pulling your leg” as our parents say.

 

[JBee]

Yeah, the 'there's fiber across the street but it's been three years now and no plans to expand' affects several of my urban friends, so rural is just effed.

-Crissa

Should try to get someone to put a small ubiquiti wifi setup in on a neighbours place that has fibre, and just beam it from there. You could even subscribe t a second fibre connection at the same neigbour and pay for your own capacity. You can do line of sight up to 20-30km. I've been running a 17km one on our other farm for over a decade. Easy to setup, and then just forget.
If it's just point to point you can use one of these Nanobeam or if you want multi-point for more users, one of these Lite AP on the AP side. Both $99 each.

In our case, I'd either have to install, or pay to install a fibre cable 3km along up our driveway to the house, because that's how far the fibre at the road and edge of our block is. That would be pricey, so wifi link is much cheaper from the neighbors.

Starlink is pretty good in download/upload (up to 180Mbps/55Mbps) but was until about 2 months ago, pretty sucky for latency here, because for some reason it came out at Sydney, 3000km away, instead of at the nearest groundstation, 200km away. So it it ping in the 70-90ms, which is noticeable in gaming because it's also inconsistent. Now it goes through Perth, and we have a bit slower throughput, but ping is down to mid 20ms. Which is pretty good for a wireless connection bouncing over some satellites zooming across the sky. Starlink is not price competitive, but I think we make the most of it and you can only subscribe when travelling if you like.

 

[JBee]

This seems easy enough to mfg in low run numbers to be a "why not" for tesla / starllink.

Not like tesla hasn't made niche accessories before, and with the t-mobile/starlink venture seems like a no brainer.

Technically, Starlink v2 satellites work directly with any existing cell phone, just at low bandwidth, but fast enough for texting etc. And given that is what they really want to have up there, I'd expect a series of much smaller antennas, even mobile device size ones, to come about inside the next few years. Here in Australia, Starlink has signed up with all three main mobile operators already, so coverage will be good with any one of them, especially out in the bush.

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