Tech Talk video with Captain Douglas Meier from “The Bottom Line – Yacht Industry News” and Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions.
Filmed December 2022
Starlink FAQ
Starlink FAQ, Updated 5/12/23
⭐ What is the purpose of this Starlink FAQ?
-This FAQ is written to assist potential Starlink Yachting clients, with the details that are not readily available from Starlink. Marine Data Solutions is your mobile internet provider for our Yachting clients, we want you to have the details that will help you make the best purchasing and upgrading decisions. Starlink is a great system but it does have limitations that you should be aware of, before making your decisions..
Click here to request a price list.
⭐ What Starlink antenna should I order?
The only Starlink antenna we recommend is the Mobile High Performance, currently $2500 in USA. The less expensive ($600) fixed site antenna is not rated for use in motion, and we do not recommend this antenna. This antenna gives you access to all available Starlink plans, and will work properly in motion.
If you do purchase the $600 antenna, it will (currently) work in motion, but Starlink equipment warranty will be voided. We are speculating that Starlink will shut down the ability for this antenna to work underway. There is no way to know.
⭐ Does Starlink have Data Caps or Internet Data Limits?
– Yes, Starlink has now introduced new Data Caps and Overages charges.
– $5,000 per month Maritime version is now capped at 5TB of Priority Internet Data per month, with $2 per GB overage
$1,000 per month Maritime Version is capped at 1TB of Priority Internet Data per month, with $2 per GB overage.
$250 per month 50Gb Mobile Priority (new plan) gives you 50GB of priority offshore High Speed Internet, with Unlimited “inland”, “best effort” service. With the ability to pay $2 per GB anytime you need more priority service.
– Starlink Fair Use policy here: https://www.starlink.com/legal/documents/DOC-1134-82708-70
More info at this link: https://www.starlink.com/legal/documents/DOC-1020-91087-64?regionCode=US
⭐ What are the listed performance specifications for Starlink Systems ?
– Maritime system performance: Latency less than 99ms, Expected Download 60-220Mbps, Expected Upload 10-30Mbps (always “priority” service)
– Mobile Systems performance: Latency less than 99ms, Expected Download 5-220Mbps, Expected Upload 2-30Mbps. (there are now several options for service on this antenna, including priority speeds) We only recommend the Mobile High Performance in-motion antenna option, ($2,500) recommended for any moving platform (has a much wider view of the sky, provides less service interruptions than “standard” Mobile antenna)
– Per Starlink web site: Stated speeds and uninterrupted use of Services are not guaranteed. Users may experience higher latencies in regions that are far from Starlink ground stations, or during periods of high load on their user terminal. Actual speeds will likely be lower than the maximum speeds during times of high usage. Starlink may temporarily reduce speeds if our network is congested.
– More info on Starlink web site: https://www.starlink.com/legal/documents/DOC-1002-69942-69
⭐ How well does Starlink really work?
– There are significant interruptions in Starlink service when its raining, as in no service at all, until the rain stops.
– It has been reported that, after the latest software update, the standard antenna RV system will no longer work with vessel in motion.
– In our everyday use of the Starlink system in Fort Lauderdale, it has been observed that the system stops working, several times per hour, even with no rain. Using the system with our cloud based desktops, we lose the internet connection to the desktop and must log in again, when the service becomes available again, usually in a few minutes.
– As more clients are using the Starlink systems, we are seeing many Starlink internet service interruptions related to weather and lack of Starlink satellites in view of vessel. These service interruptions are happening multiple times per hour. The service interruptions cause secure web sites to “disconnect” requiring the users on board to log in again when service becomes available. We are seeing Zoom type meetings and gaming sessions disconnect, and the onboard user must reconnect to the Zoom meeting when Starlink service becomes available. We also see steaming audio and video services stop, so that the streamed program can “buffer”.
⭐ How can we reduce the Starlink Internet service interruptions?
– Marine Data Solutions has released New Hardware that will blend 5G and Starlink service to reduce the Starlink Internet service “drop outs”. The new hardware will “Bond” 5G and Starlink together, to make an even faster connection. When Starlink Internet service is interrupted, for whatever reason (Rain? Blockage? Vessel motion?), the new hardware will instantly switch to the vessel 5G connection, so that the onboard user has an uninterrupted internet session. Click hear to read about the Marine Data Solutions Blender. https://marinedatasolutions.com/blender/
⭐ What do I need to know before deciding to purchasing a Starlink system for my Motoryacht?
– Starlink Mobile ($2500) version is approved for use in motion, and approved for international use, the other versions of Starlink are NOT approved in motion, and not approved for extended international use.
– Starlink does not have phone tech support.
– Starlink tech support is email only.
– Starlink does not cover any onboard labor for warranty issues.
– There are no Starlink certified repair centers, Starlink will send warranty replacement parts to your account shipping address only.
– Starlink is NOT currently enforcing many of their listed Terms of Service. The enforcement of these rules could start at any time, with no notice. The key rules NOT being enforced, at this time, are:
– Starlink terminals are not supposed to function with vessel in motion. (except High Performance Mobile version)
– Starlink is currently allowing some user terminals to function in areas that are not officially approved for Starlink service. Starlink Terms of Service require that you do not use the system in a country that is not approved for Starlink service.
– Starlink RV units are NOT supposed to function when NOT on same continent as Starlink account billing address. (RV system with USA billing address should not work in Bahamas or Caribbean)
– Starlink terminals (except Mobile version) are allowed a maximum of 60 days use when outside of “home” country, as decided by account billing address.
-The following are copied directly from Starlink terms of service:
– Best Effort Service for RV Users. Network resources are always deprioritized for Starlink RVs users compared to other Starlink Services, resulting in degraded service and slower speeds in congested areas and during peak hours. Stated speeds and uninterrupted use of the Service are not guaranteed. Service degradation will occur most often in “Waitlist” areas designated on the Starlink Availability Map during peak usage hours. See the Starlink Specifications for expected performance of the Starlink for RV Services.
– You acknowledge and agree that you are solely responsible for (a) understanding and complying with all applicable laws and regulations associated with your use of Starlink for RV Services and the Kit; and (b) stopping use of the Starlink for RV Services or Kit if you are in an unsupported geographic location. You can view Starlink active coverage on the Starlink Availability Map.
– IN-MOTION USE PROHIBITED. (Maritime version is approved for use in motion)
SERVICES IN-MOTION ON A VEHICLE OR VESSEL (e.g., CARS, VANS, RVs, BOATS) IS PROHIBITED, WILL VOID THE LIMITED WARRANTY OF YOUR KIT, AND MAY BE GROUNDS FOR TERMINATION OF YOUR AGREEMENT WITH STARLINK PER SECTION 12 OF THESE TERMS. AT THIS TIME, STARLINK IS NOT CONFIGURED TO BE SAFELY USED IN-MOTION OR INSTALLED ON A VEHICLE OR VESSEL.
– ASSUMPTION OF RISK. YOU AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES AND THE STARLINK KIT, AND SUCH USE BY ANYONE USING YOUR ACCOUNT, IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. SERVICES ARE NOT SUITED OR INTENDED AS A MISSION-CRITICAL OR SAFETY-OF-LIFE SERVICE.
– Starlink, as with all internet providers, will eventually reach a saturation point where a geographic area reaches a maximum number of users that the satellites can handle. Once this saturation is achieved, service speeds for that geographic area will decrease, and systems like the Starlink RV on a “best effort” plan, will see reduced speeds first.
Other satellite operators are able to move capacity as needed, to busy geographic areas, by adjusting the satellite spotbeams. Unfortunately, with Starlink, the only way to increase capacity in a busy geographic area, is by adding more satellites to the system. This type of system upgrade could take months, or even years, and be extremely expensive. Click here to request a price list.
⭐ Where can I purchase a Starlink system?
– Starlink is a Direct to Consumer Brand, however, in addition to being able to purchase direct from Starlink, there are now lots of Starlink resellers (as of 1/1/23)
– Starlink resellers are usually only able to provide the maritime versions. Usually the resellers are bundling the Starlink airtime with “value added” services such as phone and onboard warranty support. Prices for equipment and airtime are the same, regardless if purchased direct from Starlink or from a reseller.
– Purchase Starlink equipment here: https://www.starlink.com/
– Click here to request a price list.
⭐ Who can install a Starlink system for us?
– Our techs have already installed many systems, and we keep inventory of the required installation parts.
– Please contact us today to schedule your Starlink installation. Click here to request a price list.
⭐ What is the difference between Starlink antennas, and which ones are recommended for use on Yachts?
Recommended Starlink antenna Option # 1
– Mobile High Performance (formerly Roam High Performance) antenna…… equipment $2500, service from $150 per month to $6000 per month. This antenna works in motion, and with all available Starlink Service Plans.
– Designed and approved for mobile users on boats, Yachts, and recreational vehicles.
– Can turn service on/off as needed, in 30 day increments.
– Mobile High Performance (was Roam High Performance) can now access the $250, 50gb Maritime Plan, in addition to the $1000 and $5000 Maritime plans. When the 50gb or higher plan is selected, you then have access to priority data.
Option # 2
-Mobile High Performance dual antenna system …. Equipment $5,000, service $5,000 per month, Speeds to 60-250Mbps (Recommended for Yachting)
– Designed and approved for mobile use on Yachts/Ships.
– Can turn service on and off as needed
– Always priority service in any geographic area. (however, this does not guarantee top speeds at all times)
– Starlink Maritime system has 2 external antennas and 2 modems that need to be connected together for full speed operation. Requires additional equipment not provided. Starlink Maritime Dual antenna system can be connected together as a single network with the Marine Data Solutions Blender. Click this link for more info on the Marine Data Solutions Blender: https://marinedatasolutions.com/blender/
Click here to request a price list.
⭐ Where does Starlink high speed internet service work?
– Starlink coverage changes constantly, as new satellites are launched.
– Starlink coverage maps are available here: https://www.starlink.com/
– As of this writing, Starlink has been reported to work in USA, Bahamas, most of the Caribbean, and most of the Mediterranean. Service is reportedly working in those areas even though the Starlink coverage maps show some areas as not yet available.
– Starlink must meet the regulatory requirements of each country where the service is broadcast, many countries are still in the “legal approval” phase, so even though the service is physically working, the coverage map shows “coming soon” due to pending regulatory approvals.
– Starlink knows exactly where each user terminal is geographically located, and can easily shut off the Starlink terminal if the Starlink terminal is being used in conflict with the Starlink terms of service. Click here to request a price list.
⭐ How do I contact Starlink for tech support?
– Unfortunately, there is no Starlink tech support by phone, unless you are working with a reseller that will provide phone support. All Starlink direct tech support is email only, on Starlink web site, or the Starlink app.
⭐ How can I get warranty support for my Starlink?
– After communication with Starlink tech support by email, Starlink will ship refurbished parts as needed, as they are available, for “Do it Yourself” repairs and replacements.
– Starlink parts are shipped to the account billing address.
– The is no “onboard/onsite” labor coverage by Starlink for warranty issues. Click here to request a price list.
⭐ What will negatively affect the speed and quality of Starlink internet service?
– If the Starlink antenna is on the same horizontal plane as vessel radar beam, Starlink system will NOT work when radar is transmitting.
– Starlink satellites are always moving at high speed across the sky, any obstructions (Rain, heavy cloud cover, Mast, Boom, Radar, Tuna Tower, Tall Buildings, Mountains, etc.) will negatively affect Starlink system performance. Usually the blockage will cause intermittent internet loss, or significant internet speed loss. Click here to request a price list.
⭐ How can I connect the 2 Starlink Maritime antennas together to make a single network?
– Marine Data Solutions Blender can easily connect up to 4 different internet sources, and bond them all together for greater speeds on a single network output.
⭐ What is the difference between Viasat and Starlink ?
– Viasat is Enterprise Grade, Superyacht Quality, Satellite Internet Service with 24/7 phone tech support, and worldwide local technical support. In addition to that, Viasat is able to quickly adjust their spotbeams to add more bandwidth to any areas with user congestion. As an example, St Barths and St Martin during Xmas and New Years 2022 was so congested that $5,000 per month Starlink Maritime users were only getting 5Mbps down. We had several Viasat yachts in the same congested area, that enjoyed uninterrupted high speed service.
– Starlink is a different quality of service and support. At this time there are about 4,000 Starlink satellites in low earth orbit. The full constellation of Starlink satellites is slated to be 40,000 satellites. Because Starlink is currently operating with a minimal number of satellites, there are several times each hour where there are no Starlink satellites in view of your vessels antenna, during that time (could be seconds, could be minutes) you will have NO INTERNET. In addition to these differences, the only way Starlink can increase bandwidth in any particular area, is to launch more satellites. There is no quick and easy way to add or adjust bandwidth for Starlink user congestion issues. Starlink is also very different from Viasat when it comes to support. The only way to receive support from Starlink is to send an email, and wait for an emailed response. There is no tech support number to call for Starlink assistance, and no local Starlink technical support.
⭐ What Starlink service plan options can be selected with the High Performance Roam antenna?
– The Roam standard antenna does not allow me to select the $1000 or $5000 maritime plan (at this time) If you want the option to upgrade to those more expensive Maritime plans, we suggest you get the Maritime High Performance, In Motion antenna.
– Here are the service plan options available on our account page of the Starlink web site, with our Roam Standard antenna. This is direct copy from Starlink web site on 5/2/23:
CHANGE SERVICE PLAN
By changing service plans, you are accepting the terms of service of the new plan. Read more here.
REGIONAL ROAM
Use Starlink at any location on land in your continent with best effort service. Pause and un-pause at any time. All services will be best effort and are not permitted for use on the ocean. Please note: by switching to Roam, you may not be able to change back to Residential at your service address.
$150.00 /Month
ACTIVE
RESIDENTIAL
Standard service for residential customers at one location.
$120.00 /Month ($0.00 Due Today)
Service will change on May 19, 2023
CHANGE TO
GLOBAL ROAM
Use Starlink at any location on land across the globe with active service coverage. Pause and un-pause at any time. All services will be best effort and are not permitted for use on the ocean.
$200.00 /Month ($29.00 Due Today)
Service will change on May 2, 2023
CHANGE TO GLOBAL
MARITIME / MOBILITY – 50GB
Use Starlink on the ocean or land across the globe with network priority and faster speeds. After using Priority data, continue receiving unlimited best effort data on land anywhere Starlink has service globally. In-motion use is only designated for Flat High Performance hardware and in approved countries.
$250.00 /Month ($58.01 Due Today)
Service will change on May 2, 2023
MOBILE PRIORITY – 1TB
Use Starlink on the ocean or land across the globe with network priority and faster speeds. In motion use supported with approved hardware, see Starlink Specifications. After using Mobile Priority data, continue receiving unlimited Mobile data on land anywhere Starlink has service globally. By switching to a mobile plan, you may not be able to change back to a fixed plan at your address. Use on the ocean or in motion is dependent on country authorization.
$1,000.00 /Month ($93.40 Due Today)
Service will change on May 16, 2023
CHANGE TO 1 TB
MOBILE PRIORITY – 5TB
Use Starlink on the ocean or land across the globe with network priority and faster speeds. In motion use supported with approved hardware, see Starlink Specifications. After using Mobile Priority data, continue receiving unlimited Mobile data on land anywhere Starlink has service globally. By switching to a mobile plan, you may not be able to change back to a fixed plan at your address. Use on the ocean or in motion is dependent on country authorization.
$5,000.00 /Month ($532.94 Due Today)
Service will change on May 16, 2023
⭐ What additional parts are needed to install Starlink?
– Measure your required cable length, and order as an accessory, after you order your Starlink system
– Always get 1 ethernet adapter per Starlink antenna, so you can hardwire the Starlink system to your existing vessel network
⭐ What is Starlink?
– Starlink is a new satellite internet service provider.
– Starlink’s stated objective is to provide high speed, low latency, internet to remote areas of the world.
– When completed, the Starlink system is projected to have about 30,000 satellites circling the earth, in Low Earth Orbit. As of this writing, there are less than 5000 Starlink satellites in orbit. Click here to request a price list.
⭐ How does Starlink work?
– The constellation of Low Earth Orbit Starlink satellites communicate directly with your Starlink user terminal, and relay your internet needs to the closest Starlink ground station.
– Maximum range from Starlink terminal to Starlink ground station is about 400 miles.
– Next generation Starlink satellites, some already in orbit, will communicate with each other by Laser, to extend coverage distances more than 400 miles from the Starlink ground stations. This will enable truly global coverage, including full coverage of oceans. Click here to request a price list.
STARLINK, VIASAT and INMARSAT Satellite News
By Susan Jobe, The Triton
No discussion about the future of yacht internet is complete without addressing the increasingly critical need for reliable, high-speed broadband service at sea. As technology evolves and the virtual world grows ever more inextricable from the functions of modern life, constant internet access is quickly becoming more than a luxury or even an expectation – eventually, it will be a nonnegotiable necessity for owners, guests, and crew alike. How do we get there from here? How do we unlock that potential? Could Starlink hold the key?
As with all things Elon Musk-related, Starlink has been garnering quite a bit of press attention. A division of Musk’s aeronautical company SpaceX, Starlink is also the name of its rapidly expanding constellation of low Earth orbit satellites (LEOs) intended to eventually blanket the planet with high-speed internet access. On Jan. 6, SpaceX sent 49 of the small, mass-produced LEOs into orbit, bringing the total to almost 2,000 satellites launched, with thousands more to come.
The land-based beta service, licensed and available in about 20 countries, uses small satellite dishes that receive signals through large SpaceX-operated ground stations.
While its current top speeds of 150-200Mbps are nowhere near the gigabit speeds of fiber-optic cable, it’s quite fast compared with other satellite internet providers, which use satellites in geosynchronous orbits of about 35,000 km.
Starlink satellites operate at altitudes between 550-1200 km, according to an FCC report, and it’s this low-orbit approach, with less distance for signals to travel, that allows for less latency (lag time in responsive connectivity). Low latency is critical for voice and video calling, gaming, and live content streaming. For those who live in remote areas where internet access has been dial-up slow and unreliable, or completely unavailable, it’s a game changer.
But that’s the land-based system. Could Starlink also be a game changer for service at sea? Musk has declared on Twitter that maritime application would be ((relatively easy,” and that it should work everywhere for global maritime by roughly the middle of this year, once there are enough satellites with laser links launched. SpaceX began adding laser links to satellites planned for polar orbit early in 2021, but now all satellites launched have been upgraded with the links, according to the company. These ((space laser” links are key. They allow a satellite picking up a signal from a boat far from shore to bounce that signal off other satellites until it reaches a satellite within sight of a land-based ground station, where the signal is then connected to the wider internet. According to Starlink, information travels much faster through “the vacuum of space” than even fiber-optic cable. ((Laser links in orbit can reduce long-distance latency by as much as 50%, due to higher speed of light in vacuum & shorter path than undersea fiber,” Musk tweeted.
Global Yacht Internet
Still, there are hurdles that remain to be crossed. One is licensure and regulatory approval. Starlink is currently licensed only for beta testing on 10 ships, two of which are the autonomous spaceport drone ships that SpaceX uses to land its returning Falcon 9 rocket boosters. Some approval has already been granted by the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations agency that coordinates global communication technologies and satellite systems. But with Amazon’s Kuiper, OneWeb, Telesat, HughesNet, 036 mPOWER, and current satellite communication giants Inmarsat, Iridium and Viasat all elbowing for a piece of the pie, regulatory issues have arisen, as well as concerns about growing amounts of “space junk” threatening the visibility of the night sky and raising the odds of collisions in an already jammed orbital environment. It is estimated that the U.S. Space Surveillance Network is currently tracking about 15,000 pieces of space junk, down to as little as 4 inches in size. During July and October of 2021, the Chinese Space Agency informed the United Nations that their Tianhe manned space station had to maneuver to avoid collision with a Starlink satellite.
THE PROPOSED MERGER BETWEEN VIASAT AND INMARSAT PRESENTS AN INTERESTING TWIST
SpaceX has attempted to address those concerns with upgrades designed to reduce the satellites’ brightness during operation, and technology that enables them to autonomously avoid collisions based on uplinked tracking data. The satellites also have been equipped with krypton-fueled thrusters that allow them to leave orbit at the end of their life and disintegrate upon entering the Earth’s atmosphere. In documentation to the FCC, SpaceX stated that their lower orbits will help ensure the satellites re-enter the atmosphere in a shorter time in case of failure, and their closeness to Earth allows the fleet to broadcast signals at reduced power levels that are compliant with limits intended to reduce radio interference with other satellite and terrestrial wireless networks.
Another variable that will have to be addressed is antenna technology. Starlink operates on a flat-panel with multiple high-throughput antennas and a single solar array. Those flat- panel terminals (versus the traditional parabolic dish) need to be stabilized on a moving ship. According to SpaceX’s latest FCC application to deploy ESIMs (Earth Station in Motion) in U.S. and international waters, these specialized, high-performance units have been “ruggedized” for harsher environments and are able to continue to operate at greater extremes of temperature and weather. Only sea trials will tell if they have been “ruggedized” enough.
And then there’s cost. According to a filing with the ITU, Starlink is ultimately planning to launch about 42,000 LEO satellites to provide worldwide internet coverage, while the absolute minimum required to make the system fully operational has been estimated at 4,425. Beyond the astronomical costs of launching all those satellites into orbit, the mass-produced Starlink LEOs have a life expectancy of just five years, which means replacements will have to be continually launched into orbit by the thousands. Additionally, not all of them are functional. Some fail and others are intentionally de-orbited, either because of technical problems or because they are being replaced with newer, updated versions. Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, of the HarvardSmithsonian Center for Astrophysics, recently estimated that, of the more than 1,900 Starlink satellites that have been launched to date, there are 1,468 currently providing service. Martin Kits van Heyningen, CEO of satcom service provider KVH, said LEOs are the most expensive way to deliver satellite connectivity. “It’s not a lower cost solution, it’s a lower latency solution.” Of course, KVH is watching closely and preparing. “We’re already developing LEO-ready maritime satcom antenna equipment.”
Yacht Internet at High Altitudes
According to Paul Comyns, senior director of channel sales at Intellian Technologies, it will be three to five years before the satellite constellation fills out. “It will, however, change the architecture of the industry as it opens up IoT [the Internet of Things that allows inter-connected devices to collect and share data without human intervention] and delivers connectivity at extreme latitudes,” he said. That change can’t come soon enough for yacht crew.
“Owner and guest expectations are high,” Dave Johnson, a retired superyacht captain, said of reliable broadband aboard luxury cruisers. “Costs of monthly service, as well as download speeds, are the issue. More creative programs, as well as 24- hour support, are always appreciated.”
While cost and availability of that support (especially to captains) are yet to be determined, it’s the timeline that is the big question. Despite Musk’s ambitious predictions, skeptics say Starlink seems to be years away from fielding enough satellites for service at sea. Also, the recent announcement of the proposed merger between Viasat and Inmarsat presents an interesting twist, since Viasat is marketing speeds that rival Starlink, while Inmarsat is working toward complete global coverage. That merger, if approved, is expected to take place by mid-2022.
BY SUSAN JOBE
Corey Ranslem and Zuzana Prochazka contributed to this report.
Links:
4G/5G Yacht Internet
Viasat Satellite Internet
Marine Data Solutions Provider
The Triton
Tech Talk video dialog with Captain Douglas Meier from “The Bottom Line – Yacht Industry News” and Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions.
Filmed December 2022, some details have been updated in this text version.
Captain Douglas Meier:
This week on Tech Talk, we’re going to be talking about Starlink, what it can do, what it can’t do and where it’s going. We’re going to utilize Mike Robilio’s knowledge. He’s from Marine Data Solutions, and he’s going to give us an update on what’s going on with Starlink.
Hi Mike, so Starlink constellation of low Earth orbit satellites, they’re all spinning simultaneously. They All look like Teslas
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
Right, exactly…. Laughing……The Starlink satellites send Internet to a terminal that’s on your boat. There are two terminals that will work on the boat. Once called an RV, the other one is called Maritime.
Captain Douglas Meier:
How much is the RV one
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
RV is $600.00 for the hardware, and $135 a month for the airtime. Do you want me to explain to the differences right now? Yes. OK, so the RV system has been moved to “best effort” service, which means it does not have any priority service. So when you’re with your RV unit, whether you’re on land or whether you’re somewhere on the water in the Bahamas all the other dishes around you have priority over you. (Residential, business, and Maritime systems)
Captain Douglas Meier:
I heard that a lot of guys were on the RV and a cruise ship pulled into the port like a vacuum and sucked all the Internet out and they were kind of like left with no service.
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
That’s exactly what happened. The cruise ships have the Maritime version, which has priority service.
Captain Douglas Meier:
Can yachts get the Maritime versions
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
Yes, they can. It’s $5,000 for the hardware and $5,000 a month for the airtime, which in the big picture is actually affordable as compared to the cost of traditional marine Vsat.
Captain Douglas Meier:
Now, Marine Data Solutions, your company, you guys put this out. (holds up MDS 242 5G unit)
This is a cellular based yes system, yes, this is good for about 20 miles offshore.
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
Yes, with the correct antennas, yes, 20 mile range.
Captain Douglas Meier:
OK. So if you had this and then you want to go really offshore and you get Starlink, you have those two options, yes. And is the internet service the same? Is Starlink unlimited data like your sim cards
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
The Maritime Starlink version is capped at 5 terabytes a month for $5000. When you go over that 5 terabytes, you have to pay $2.00 per GB.
Captain Douglas Meier:
Per Gig? My son uses 5 Terabytes on Xbox every week !!
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
Yeah, understandable. The RV version is capped at 1 terabyte, but because you’re not priority service, the speed for RV system is limited to a maximum of 50 megs down. So they’re saying the speed on the Starlink Maritime is between 50 and 260 megs, and on the Starlink RV it’s between 5 and 50 megs is what you can expect for speeds.
Captain Douglas Meier:
There’s talk online about Starlink RV geofencing offshore, and there’s talk online about if you have the RV version and you’re moving, it shuts down. Is there any truth to that
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
Yes. What I hear is that when you’re over 10 knots, the Starlink RV does stop working, but it doesn’t do that everywhere. We hear reports that off of Baja, Mexico, it’s working great at 20 knots, and then there’s people in the Bahamas and it stops working at 10 knots. So some are having Starlink RV shutting down underway, and others are not having that issue. We can’t tell if it’s geographically a problem or if it’s just that the Starlink equipment got a different software update, we can’t tell yet. It’s so new, but there are definitely people with Starlink RV having problems receiving internet with vessel in motion.
Captain Douglas Meier:
For sure. OK. And where do you see Starlink and yachts going, say in the next 12 months? Where do you see everybody? Where are we going to end up? Because it’s like nobody knows, right
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
It’s all it’s the Wild, Wild, West right now with Starlink. They’re changing the rules as they go every day. But my expectation is going to be that the RV units will become less and less usable because they are not a priority system. And the more boats, ships and cruise ships that are out there with the maritime version, they will consume the high priority bandwidth. They’re gonna take the bandwidth that’s available in that location, and it’s not just a maritime version. So if you have a home or a business version in the Bahamas, those people with a home and a business version get their priority service and the RV gets whatever’s left over. So the RV is going to become less and less of a solid option. But there are other things coming that will help.
Captain Douglas Meier:
OK last question, where’s the coverage for this system? You have this wonderful map. (Points at TV screen) This is yours? This is your network? Yes, this is really cool.
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
Yeah, this is our system
Captain Douglas Meier:
OK, but we’re talking Starlink. Where is Starlink available
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
On the Starlink website, they’ve got a coverage map and it changes constantly as they launch more satellites.
Captain Douglas Meier:
In Europe
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
Yes, yes, the Med is completely covered. Some of South America is covered now. I think Australia’s completely covered. There’s a lot of coverage.
Captain Douglas Meier:
Definitely the Caribbean, the Bahamas, yes, New England, Florida, Gulf of Mexico, all that.
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
Yeah, that’s all covered really well now.
Captain Douglas Meier:
So basically, I guess what I’m gathering from this is it’s work in progress, yes, but with the cost involved. And let’s say you’re a Florida, Bahamas, Caribbean.
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
Yes, the Starlink system actually covers a lot of that ground too. It does. It covers all of it.
Captain Douglas Meier:
OK, so maybe a hybrid of both systems
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
So what’s coming is the problem with Starlink is that there’s not enough satellites up there yet. There’s less than 4000 and the constellation is scheduled to be 30,000. So we’re at 10% of coverage right now or a little more. So there’s a lot of times when there’s just not a satellite up there and so you have a 2 minute gap of no service or maybe you have a 30 second gap, which lots of people are currently experiencing.
Captain Douglas Meier:
Right. And that’s what a lot of people are having happened right now. So between losing priority status and being throttled on the RV and you don’t have that quite as many satellites as we need, there’s dropouts in the service.
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
So what we’ve got coming is equipment that will blend the Starlink with the 4G and 5G systems. So the blended internet systems will eliminate those Starlink service dropouts and the user internet experience will be uninterrupted. Will also be faster than both of those systems singly. And when one or the other drops out, the other is going to give you what’s available. So what we’re trying to do is eliminate the internet service dropouts.
Captain Douglas Meier:
OK, so and it’s coming, and over time it’ll be fixed with Starlink, but they’ve got to launch another thousand satellites. Is that what you’re doing
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
Launching satellites? No…. (laughing)
Captain Douglas Meier:
Well, I know you put one up the other day. No, I mean, Marine Data is going to kind of build a hybrid system
Michael Robilio from Marine Data Solutions:
Yes, yes. So we’re working with several manufacturers and we’re testing now to get that equipment ready to go where you’re going to be able to blend Starlink and 5G to have a seamless service. No matter where you go.
Captain Douglas Meier:
Thank you!! All right, gang. That’s Tech Talk. It’s work in progress. There’s no cut and dry answer on what’s going on, but there’s a lot of stuff on the horizon. Thanks, Mike.
