SpaceX Updates Starlink Kit With New Rectangular Internet Dish

SpaceX has updated its satellite-based Starlink Kit with a new rectangular dish. Starlink is the internet division of SpaceX, which aims to provide broadband-grade connections to even the most remote locations. At the heart of Starlink’s service are thousands of small satellites traveling around the planet in low Earth orbit. Each unit in the cluster acts as a relay point, capable of passing data back and forth with other satellites.

For Starlink customers, their receiver dishes interface with the orbiting satellites, transmitting data with units as they pass overhead. Starlink promises speeds of 50 Mbps (megabits per second) to 150 Mbps. The company also says users can expect a latency of 20 milliseconds to 40 milliseconds. Though the service is still in public beta, there are already tens of thousands of customers paying for Starlink, connecting to it via a personal satellite receiver. It’s unclear when the service will be more widely available, but to date, more than half-a-million people have shown interest in Starlink.

SpaceX has previously provided Starlink beta users with a circular dish, but the firm is now offering customers a rectangular one instead. While functionality remains the same, beyond shape, there are some key differences between the two receivers. First, the original dish weighed 16 pounds and had a diameter of 23 inches. The new version is much smaller at just over 9 pounds, with a length of 19 inches, and a width of 12 inches.

New Mounting Options

SpaceX is taking advantage of the lower-profile by offering more mounting options for the rectangular dish. These include an angled wall-mount (suitable outside walls) and a fixture to attach the receiver to a sloping roof. It’s of interest that rigs designed for the circular dish do not seem to be compatible with the new design. Also of note is the price – The Verge says the price of the new Starlink Kit seems to be $499, plus a monthly subscription of $99, which is in line with the previous setup.

SpaceX is yet to discuss the reason behind the new, lighter build, but there are some hints that mobility could be key. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has previously suggested Starlink will soon be “fully mobile,” indicating that customers will be able to use the service “on an RV or truck in motion.” Of course, the promise of accessing broadband speeds in a moving vehicle is an enticing prospect – especially in regions without cell service. But as one driver discovered earlier this year, still being able to see the road clearly is a must. This new dish is probably not ready for regular cars, but who knows, maybe the next version will be.

Sources: Starlink, The Verge

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