Starlink - anybody finding this the best internet solution for where you're located?

[whoaru99]

There is TONS of info on the 'net about the pros and cons of the bands so plenty of info available to make an informed decision based on your situation which can be much different than someone elses.

And yes, generally speaking, I do trust Speedtest because it aligns well with other methods I've used to check speed like simultaneous multiple downloads of big ISO files, from someplace with huge bandwidth like Microsoft, to saturate the connection and sum the results.

Our connection through coax/cable is very stable and very consistent, as is a DSL connection I have at a different place.

If you are using cellular (you mentioned Verizon?) I guess I wouldn't be surprised to hear about more variance in speed results. As a general rule of thumb, anything wireless is more subject to external influences than something coming down a wire or fiber.

Bear in mind your Internet connection speed and the speed showing for the WiFi link between router and computer (or whatever) are two completely separate things. Can't confound the two, which maybe is part of what you're seeing with some of the numbers you mentioned.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

As noted above, I have Starlink. Verizon is for my phone, and I used to have AT&T wireless Internet for my TV and computers.

Are you trusting Speedtest, which other people say is rigged, or are you actually downloading files and checking the speed?

I just tried two other test sites, and I got 6-7 MBps, or about 1/7 of Speedtest's figure.

Correction: Mbps, not MBps.

 

[whoaru99]

I already answered your question about Speedtest.

Tell us the other speed test sites you used in comparison.

 

[hout17]

I live in rural New Mexico and we're looking seriously at Starlink. We have decent line of sight service from a mountain top antenna 4 miles away, but last winter the antenna blew over in a blizzard. Luckily neither of us work and we still have good internet on our cell phones because Verizon also has their tower up there.

Yeah, they love it still. They stream movies and all kinds of stuff. The receiver has a warming feature that keeps snow melted off of the unit also. For an area without access to comcast cable or something similar it's the next best thing in my opinion. They haven't had any problems with it going down either.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

Sorry; I somehow missed the sentence about comparing Speedtest to file downloads.

Bear in mind your Internet connection speed and the speed showing for the WiFi link between router and computer (or whatever) are two completely separate things. Can't confound the two, which maybe is part of what you're seeing with some of the numbers you mentioned.

Windows says I get about 140 Mbps between the wireless router and PC. Speedtest claims I get 52 Mbps for "download" speed, and of course, "download" refers to receiving a file and storing it on your PC, so it can't refer to my router connection. As you know, people use Speedlink to find out how fast their devices receive data, not how fast their router connections are. Actual measurement of the speeds of files being downloaded gives me around 7 Mbps.

My phone also gives me disappointing scores when connected to Starlink. I have an app that measures both router-PC speed and router-Internet speed.

I don't find Speedtest useful, because either it's wrong or it's measuring something that is irrelevant to download and upload speeds.

Whatever the story is, it's a lot better than AT& T wireless.

 

[whoaru99]

As you know, people use Speedlink to find out how fast their devices receive data, not how fast their router connections are.

A speedtest works by downloading/uploading some data. That data gets to your device through the router presuming, of course, you are speed testing a device connected to the router. So, of course it is not a direct representation of the router "speed" but it is a representation of how fast data gets to your PC, which seems to be your point of contention, various results.

Normally, when someone questions speeds and WiFi is involved, it's prudent to compare results on a wired connection.

What other speed test site or download test site are you comparing to Speedtest?

 

[whoaru99]

What do you think of me making 2.4 the default in my house? I never get real downloads anywhere near the theoretical 5 GHz or even 2.4 GHz maximums, but I want the best range and reliability possible. My guess is that 5 GHz will not download any faster, but it will drop more often and give me shorter range.

Do you really trust Speedtest? It is said to be rigged by ISP's that want to impress their customers. If I were really getting 135 MBps, I would never see 4K buffering. I just got 52 down/13 up, but testfiledownload.com gave me about 5 MBps down.

As noted above, I have Starlink. Verizon is for my phone, and I used to have AT&T wireless Internet for my TV and computers.

Are you trusting Speedtest, which other people say is rigged, or are you actually downloading files and checking the speed?

I just tried two other test sites, and I got 6-7 MBps, or about 1/7 of Speedtest's figure.

Correction: Mbps, not MBps.

You said speedtest gave you 52 down but testfiledownload gave you 5MBps down. Well, 5MB/s is 40Mbps and 6-7MB/s is 48Mbps and 56Mbps respectively.

Frankly, it looks like you're getting mixed up on your different download tool units of measure, thinking one is way slower but they're all in the ballpark. Average you're getting from file download is 48Mbps which is not far off Speedtest's 52Mbps.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

This explains why no ISP has ever tried to recruit me. I thought I had checked that. Forgetfulness is rough. It's like living with a monkey that hides things from you. Sorry to waste your time.

 

[sweetcell]

As a general rule of thumb, anything wireless is more subject to external influences than something coming down a wire or fiber.

... as long as that wire or fiber is dedicated. speed on shared-line devices like cable modems can be just as variable as wireless...

 

[DuncB]

So should I consider my gigabit fibre will be faster than starlink?
But I also have the possibility of catastrophic earthquake where I live and communication will be down with 4G or cable/ fibre for a period of time.

 

[whoaru99]

... as long as that wire or fiber is dedicated. speed on shared-line devices like cable modems can be just as variable as wireless...

Can be? Well... that's pretty wide open. But, typically not.

Regardless, it still remains that wireless, as a general rule, is more succeptible to external influences than wired connection.

But, since the topic is broached, if anyone has a fiber or cable Internet connection that dogs out when there might be high use times of day or night you could be on an oversold/oversubscribed node. File a ticket with the provider. If they don't fix it file a FCC complaint. Hardwired speed coming out of a cable modem or fiber ONT should be pretty consistent. That's why a key step of troubleshooting speed complaints is done hardwire to the modem. It cuts out all sorts of variabilities introduced by router and particularly wireless/WiFi.

But, now we've really digressed from the spirit of the thread.

 

[whoaru99]

So should I consider my gigabit fibre will be faster than starlink?
But I also have the possibility of catastrophic earthquake where I live and communication will be down with 4G or cable/ fibre for a period of time.

Maybe you'll keep connected, I suppose, if you have backup power and you or your gear isn't otherwise damaged/destroyed in the catastrophic earthquake.

 

[Rodent]

yes, I'd like to keep this thread on topic and focused on Starlink please

 

[Rodent]

alrighty - my first hiccup when using Starlink, but not necessarily a Starlink issue.

after 16 months of trouble-free Hulu streaming utilizing Starlink, this morning I was unable to stream due to Hulu service thinking I'm using a VPN to mask my location. I can guarantee I'm not outside of my work laptop, and that's shutdown since Thursday (no issues streaming Hulu on Friday, so I'm sure it's not the culprit)

maybe Starlink reset my IP address with the latest software update?
maybe Hulu is ramping up its war on satellite service providers (do they even have such a war?)
maybe my iPhone listened in on a conversation about me swapping from Hulu to YouTubeTV and Hulu took a proactive strike?

whatever the root, it's a bit frustrating as ALL of my other streaming services are working just fine. if this is Starlink related and I'm able to find a resolution, I'll post it. if the resolution turns out not to be Starlink, related I'll post it in a new Hulu thread

 

[BongoYodeler]

Laying in bed last night around 01:30am pst and I could hear the deep rumble of the nearby Vandenberg Space Force Base launch of a Falcon 9 rocket taking 21 more Starlink satellites into space. Maybe better days ahead for you?

 

[day_trippr]

Doesn't sound like @Rodent was having connectivity problems that more birds in space would solve...

Cheers!

 

[BongoYodeler]

Probably not for this issue.

 

[Rodent]

Update: I brought everything down for 5 min yesterday morning, and then powered back on for a fresh start across the board. All but Hulu was again working shortly thereafter, and about 30 minutes later I tried Hulu again and all has been well since.

Took a drive thru vineyard country yesterday afternoon and saw a couple Starlink dishes. Looks like word is finally getting out to the remote community and people are ditching their CenturyLink DSL for true high speed internet