#1 StarLink is here!!! Best effort option and speed tests. Better than I thought.

SpaceX’s StarLink satellite internet constellation is put to the test.

[@Kilroy_5150]

The issue i've got a problem with is: We're paying for "full speed" while only getting their lower end. Basically, until we're bumped to residential, we should be paying half the price. I know there are services out there that, pretty much, "rape" people financially but if Starlinks telling us we're getting less than promised, we should pay less than expected. It's not that i don't appreciate the service it's just that you should pay for what you get especially if they lay out the prices and tell you how much of that service you're getting.

[@brainhomestead6]

I get that too and it’s very valid. I’m paying $70 per month for AT&T DSL and StarLink is at least 5 times faster, so although not full speed, its still a better deal than the alternative.

[@terryeharris]

Got my 'best effort' box today. Loving it so far. Does go from 5 to 185. Currently have an unlimited WiFi for 135/mo, which is a 25/5 plan. I must reliability over speed for work reasons. So far, think I'll be happy until I get the full upgrade. As far as paying full price,,,,,they recommend you wait. IIt was my decision to give it a try at the quoted price. Hard to complain about a decision I made for myself. Thanks for the video, and yes, there is an Ethernet adapter for less than $40. Do wish they had kept that feature from the round Gen1 dish.

[@brainhomestead6]

If your work hours are during the daytime, you should have no problem. The only time I have problems is between 6pm and 11pm, but during the middle of the day, I’m usually over 80Mbps.

[@AlexDutyBMXMTB]

Not sure if you mentioned this but you can get the Ethernet adapter to make it wired 😊

[@brainhomestead6]

I had someone else post about that as well. I should have looked a little better.

[@codykeith952]

What Ethernet adapter would you need to buy for it?

[@brainhomestead6]

@@codykeith952 if you go to StarLink website, login, then go to “Shop”. Scroll halfway down and find “Ethernet Adapter”. You can buy it from them directly. Amazon sells them too, but I’d bet the quality is lacking.

[@dr_pollywog]

Watched this because I just got that email. Currently have CenturyLink DSL at 3mbs(actually 1.5) I think I'm going to have to switch. Thank you.

[@brainhomestead6]

No problem. I had both StarLink and AT&T DSL for a couple of months to make sure StarLink was good, then I dropped AT&T.

[@dr_pollywog]

@@brainhomestead6 I'm disabled so I was a bit nervous about taking the leap(can't afford to have both services) seriously, much appreciation. Thankfully my family has and old TV antenna and grounding rod that I can have to put the starlink antenna high enough to clear my trees. Just have to get the concrete and save up the $500-600(considering adapters and such) 👌 happy new year as well!

[@TEA_TX]

Yes you get buy an adapter from Starlink to add an Ethernet adapter. I have a switch plugged into mine so I can use a wired connection for our NAS unit.

[@brainhomestead6]

Very nice. I will need one for my mining computer when I cancel my DSL service.

[@TEA_TX]

@@brainhomestead6 $25

[@theyrcrazykids]

Just got mine and trying to decide where to install it. I have a lot of trees so I'm wondering which ones are coming down first! I put my deposit down May 2021 and I've been watching my email ever since. I also accepted the "Best Effort" plan, and happy to do so because we have been paying - *gulp* (I'm embarrassed to admit) $280 - $350 f**kin / month to Viastat so I can work from home with the speeds I need. Thank you for this video! Big help!! Did you purchase the roof mounting bracket from them direct? I'm wondering about aftermarket options. Did you explore that? I have a metal roof and not sure that's even an option. Glad you're enjoying yours!

[@brainhomestead6]

I didn’t explore aftermarket options, I bought direct from StarLink for the roof mount also. I’m not sure if you have used the app to check for obstructions in the sky yet or not, but just remember, you need more open sky to the north than to the south.

[@theyrcrazykids]

@@brainhomestead6 "You may want to find a better spot" is the devistating results I get from every spot I tried, so up on the roof it goes. I'll advise back when I'm fully installed with some speed test results. Again, thanks!

[@brainhomestead6]

@@theyrcrazykids yeah I got that message a lot too. I finally found a place and I hope you do too.

[@brainhomestead6]

@@LonePeak247 I’m so glad StarLink is going to put them out of business!

[@jathumb1705]

I was offered Best Effort service yesterday and I immediately ordered it. How long did it take to arrive after you placed your order? I've been stuck with no (viable) land service and just a 4g hotspot for years. After streaming for a couple days I get throttled to 600 Kbps, so I'm pretty excited to get rid of the data caps.

[@brainhomestead6]

It took 4 business days from the time I ordered it to the time it got delivered, but they claim it can take up to 2 weeks. Remember you only get a ground mount so it you need any other type of mount, you need to order that as well.

[@austinrebecca]

@@brainhomestead6 how hard was it to install?

[@brainhomestead6]

@@austinrebecca not hard to install. I bought a roof mount so it took me a little longer than most. I screwed it down to roof, ran the cable along the roof peak, then drilled through an exterior wall and filled it in with caulking afterwards.

[@bobb9541]

Have you had any issues from any live streaming services, like KZbin TV, regarding IP geolocation problems. I have a telco DSL that assigns me a random IP that sometimes is located several counties away. KZbin TV thinks I'm out of my home service area when this happens. I'm wondering if Starlink users have had similar issues? I just received the best effort email from Starlink.

[@brainhomestead6]

Hey, I know what you mean but I got Best Effort when it went live and I haven’t had that happen to me, but all of my services are country-wide. I have Netflix, Hulu, HBOMax, Prime Video, Disney+, Vudu for movies, and Fubo for sports. I was having a lot of problems downloading games at first and streaming during peak hours, I no longer have those issues.

[@Sargnort]

You could try raising on a pole to get better clearance.

[@brainhomestead6]

I was looking at that but after a little testing, I discovered that I wasn’t getting any big network drops, so I’m leaving it for the time being.

[@tvguide4khv]

@@brainhomestead6 and it can change point of interest any day ))

[@DavidFlores-du3rm]

Can you mount to pole or something else so don't have to put on roof?

[@brainhomestead6]

They have a couple of different pole mounts you can buy and two different roof mounts.

[@kddaw68]

Brian were in the Valdosta area and we just got our best effort dish in. I’d love to make contact with you and ask a question or two about finding the best location.

[@brainhomestead6]

Ok, what do you propose? I have Steam for gaming that has a messenger in it, but I can’t put any personal information here.

[@kddaw68]

Brian I’ll create a Google voice number and post soon for a call at your convenience.

[@kddaw68]

Brian did the number post? I added it twice but it seems to not be in the thread later.

[@brainhomestead6]

@@kddaw68 no, nothing showing in the thread.

[@Young937phoenix]

I get 2 mbps upload and 12 mbps download on my current internet and I just got email to get this best thing and I'm hoping it won't be any slower than my current internet and I put deposit down when it was lower so I kept that price for dish so I went for it. I'm in Ohio in country where internet sucks bad. And I'm surrounded by fields so I have no trees anywhere close for like 300 acres so I'm hoping that helps and Imma mount it ontop of the old 1950 metal satellite thing that's on the side of old farm houses so it's up 30ft above my house even so it will have a clear view forsure.

[@brainhomestead6]

I see upwards of 200Mbps in the morning, but drops pretty drastically from 6pm to midnight. Even in this time range, I can still stream pretty reliably. StarLink will always beat 2Mbps upload speed.

[@pigandbub]

I'm going to need an update on this lol. I'm in Ohio too and have frontier. 12-14 Down and 0.5-1 Up. I'm undecided on whether or not to get the best effort. Lmk how it goes for you

[@brainhomestead6]

@@pigandbub no problem. I’m going to do these weekly since SpaceX is launching these all the time.

[@brainhomestead6]

@@pigandbub once they start launching satellites in Starship, the speed will improve insanely fast. I’m going to keep doing these so the results are always current.

[@xyexz]

While they are ramping up the deployments, the existing Leo’s will burn up in the atmosphere at end of life. Wonder if the burn rate exceeds the deploy rate.

[@thecommunityofpeace6905]

Is a mesh network available for starlink?

[@brainhomestead6]

I think they do sell the hardware, but I also believe you can use aftermarket as well.

[@kawaja1]

Working fine plugged into DECO m5 mesh (TP-Link)

[@brainhomestead6]

@@kawaja1 that’s good to hear. Mine has gotten substantially better in the last two weeks.

[@Diy_Mike]

I think it's interesting how Starlink says they are for offering internet to rural areas but, they offered it to cities first. Atlanta has fiber, why do they need Starlink?

[@brainhomestead6]

I think it just solely came down to a monetary reason. More people in Atlanta to sell more subscriptions to generate more money in the short term. I don’t have a problem with it as they had been launching satellites for over a year straight without generating any income, that’s really rough.

[@Diy_Mike]

Yeah, it's all about the dollar. Can't be helped but, dang I've been waiting 2 years.

[@brainhomestead6]

@@Diy_Mike I thought they opened Best Effort up to everyone now?

[@Diy_Mike]

I'm expecting an email.... any second now. I've heard people in my area getting their email so should be soon.

[@brainhomestead6]

@@Diy_Mike StarLink is definitely worth it if you have a rural service even though it does have some issues occasionally.

[@jake238-]

I just got mine today I was blown away by how fast it is. Viasat you suck!! Starlink feels like I’m living back In the city

[@brainhomestead6]

Yeah, that’s why Viasat was trying to sue StarLink. They knew their days were numbered.

[@W4BIN]

The up the nose shot up on the roof was so shaky I got dizzy. (and some more inside) You do not say if your WiFi is being shared by others. There is a ~20. adapter available that gives you an Ethernet connection. U Tube no longer shows when any video is made. So I have no idea how obsolete this video is. I pay ~$50 / month for a 200 Meg-a b/s connection in west central Florida from the cable company and I get ~341 . Meg-a b/s down and ~ 11 Meg-a b/s for ~$50./Mo. They are advertising 1 Gig-a b/s for ~$70. / Mo. Ron W4BIN

[@brainhomestead6]

I’ll take your critique under advisement. It sounds like your connection is better than StarLink right now. I don’t have access to any non-DSL connection except for StarLink.