Starlink Internet – Episode #2

Josh
(0:00) All right, let’s blast off into the world of Starlink internet in the UK, you know, satellite internet. (0:08) Yeah, the kind promising, crazy fast speeds, even in the most out there places. (0:13) We’re going to dig into a recent article about it, especially for those of you, well, maybe you’re in the countryside or maybe you’re just tired of your current internet plan.
(0:20) This one’s for you.
Chloe
(0:22) This isn’t just some far off thing either. (0:23) This article from September 24th, 2024, it really lays out how Starlink’s already shaking things up in the UK.
Josh
(0:29) Okay, so what’s got everyone buzzing about Starlink? (0:32) Why all the hype?
Chloe
(0:33) Imagine this, no more contracts, you’re finally free. (0:37) And no more waiting ages for a page to load. (0:40) It’s all thanks to this network of satellites, but they’re close, low earth orbit, which means faster speeds, way less lag, that annoying delay, you know, like on video calls.
(0:51) Starlink set to fix that, especially for rural areas that traditional internet kind of forgot about.
Josh
(0:56) So streaming your favorite show from a cottage in the middle of nowhere, no problem.
Chloe
(0:59) Exactly.
Josh
(1:00) That does sound pretty idyllic, not going to lie, but okay. (1:02) How’s it actually work? (1:03) Like, what’s the magic here?
Chloe
(1:05) Satellites, but closer. (1:07) Being closer to earth, that’s the key. (1:09) Means faster speeds, less of that lag.
Josh
(1:12) Music to my ears, lag is the worst. (1:15) The article mentions download speeds up to 150 millibps. (1:19) Is that like good for those of us who weren’t tech wizards?
Chloe
(1:23) Oh yeah, that’s seriously fast. (1:24) Think about it. (1:25) Average broadband in rural UK, around 80 millibps.
(1:29) This is almost double, which is a huge GE difference if you’re downloading large files, streaming, anything like that.
Josh
(1:35) Okay. (1:35) So it’s fast. (1:36) I’m with you.
(1:36) But what about the cost? (1:38) No contracts. (1:38) That’s amazing.
(1:39) But I saw the article mentioned pretty big upfront cost for the equipment.
Chloe
(1:43) You’re right. (1:43) It’s about $439 for the dish and the wifi router. (1:47) It’s an investment.
(1:48) No getting around that. (1:50) But the article argues you actually save money in the long run. (1:53) Think about it.
(1:54) Especially in rural areas, people are already paying a ton for internet that barely works. (1:59) Starlink’s monthly fee, it might be cheaper than what you’re paying now.
Josh
(2:02) Good point. (2:03) So it’s less about the upfront cost, more about what you’re getting for your money in the long run.
Chloe
(2:07) Exactly. (2:08) And speaking of getting your money’s worth, the technology itself, they’ve got this Gen 3 wifi router. (2:14) It can handle a ton of devices all at once, no problem.
Josh
(2:17) So the whole family’s online, no fighting over the bandwidth.
Chloe
(2:20) That’s the goal. (2:21) This new router, it’s made for that. (2:23) Streaming, video calls, gaming, it can handle it all without slowing down.
(2:27) The article also said it’s super easy to install yourself. (2:30) You just point the dish at the sky, basically.
Josh
(2:33) Okay. (2:33) Now this is starting to sound too good to be true. (2:36) What’s the catch with the installation?
Chloe
(2:38) Just one thing they mentioned, trees. (2:40) Don’t put it near any tall trees. (2:42) Apparently even satellites need a clear view of the sky.
Josh
(2:45) Ha ha. (2:47) So much for that secluded woodland cabin. (2:49) Yeah.
(2:49) Unless you’ve got a clearing. (2:51) Speaking of, what about coverage? (2:53) How much of the UK can actually get Starlink?
Chloe
(2:57) They’ve got this coverage map and it’s actually pretty impressive. (3:00) Most of the UK is covered, even some really remote places. (3:03) They’re definitely trying to get everyone connected.
Josh
(3:05) So no matter where you are in the UK, there’s a good chance you can get Starlink.
Chloe
(3:10) For the most part, yeah. (3:12) Although the article did say the very, very top of Scotland. (3:15) Might be a bit tricky for now.
(3:17) Even satellite internet has its limits, it seems.
Josh
(3:20) Fair enough. (3:20) So for those of us lucky enough to be in Starlink’s reach, what kind of plans do they have?
Chloe
(3:25) They’ve got three main ones, according to the article. (3:28) Standard, business, and RV. (3:31) Each one’s for different needs, different budgets.
(3:34) We’ll get into the nitty gritty later, but they all come with unlimited data. (3:38) That’s a big difference from those other plans with data caps.
Josh
(3:41) Unlimited data. (3:42) Seriously, that feels like a relic from the past. (3:45) But that’s got to come with a hefty price tag, right?
Chloe
(3:47) You’d think so. (3:48) But actually, it’s pretty competitive, especially considering the speeds we’re talking about and the whole unlimited data thing. (3:53) Plus, don’t forget about that upfront cost for the equipment.
(3:56) It means basically no hidden fees, no surprises.
Josh
(4:00) Okay, I’m starting to see the appeal here. (4:02) So we’ve got speed, coverage, and price. (4:05) But what about the actual experience?
(4:07) Is Starlink really this revolutionary internet everyone’s saying it is? (4:10) Or is it more hype than anything else?
Chloe
(4:12) That’s the million dollar question, isn’t it? (4:15) And while this article paints a rosy picture, there’s always more to the story. (4:20) We need to look at the potential downsides, you know, the fine print and what people who actually use Starlink are saying.
Josh
(4:27) You’re right. (4:27) There’s always another side to the story. (4:29) So let’s dig a little deeper.
(4:30) Yeah. (4:30) This article, it’s all sunshine and rainbows about Starlink. (4:34) But what about the downsides?
(4:36) What are they not telling us?
Chloe
(4:37) One thing that jumped out at me, they don’t really talk about the downsides of satellite internet in general.
Josh
(4:42) Downsides?
Chloe
(4:43) Yeah.
Josh
(4:43) Besides needing a clear view, obviously.
Chloe
(4:45) Yeah. (4:45) Besides the whole no trees thing. (4:47) Think about UK weather for a second.
(4:49) Not exactly known for our sunshine, are we?
Josh
(4:51) True enough.
Chloe
(4:52) The article says the dish is weather resistant. (4:54) Okay. (4:55) But heavy rain, clouds, that can still mess with the signal.
(4:59) Slower speeds, maybe even outages.
Josh
(5:01) So even space internet isn’t safe from our lovely British weather. (5:06) I guess it’s a trade off, isn’t it? (5:08) Faster speeds, unlimited data.
(5:10) But maybe a few rainy day glitches.
Chloe
(5:13) That’s it. (5:13) You got to weigh your priorities. (5:15) And while we’re talking about things, this article kind of glossed over.
(5:18) What about customer service? (5:20) Setting up the dish, fine. (5:21) But what if something goes wrong?
(5:23) Who do you call?
Josh
(5:24) Right. (5:24) With regular internet, there’s usually a local company you can yell at. (5:28) But Starlink, that’s a whole global thing.
Chloe
(5:30) Something to think about, especially if you really need reliable internet for work or whatever. (5:35) Another thing they barely touched on, competition. (5:38) Yeah.
(5:38) Starlink’s cool, but they’re not the only ones, right?
Josh
(5:41) So who else is in the running for our internet attention?
Chloe
(5:44) Well, 5G is getting bigger. (5:45) That’s super fast. (5:46) Low latency too, especially in cities.
(5:48) And then there’s fiber optic. (5:50) Crazy fast, super reliable, but not everywhere has it yet.
Josh
(5:54) Okay. (5:54) So how does Starlink compare to all that?
Chloe
(5:56) Tough to say. (5:57) Honestly, the article doesn’t really get into it. (6:00) It depends where you live, what you use the internet for, your budget, all that.
(6:05) If you’re out in the sticks with no other options, Starlink could be amazing. (6:09) But if you’ve got fiber or good 5G, might not be worth it.
Josh
(6:13) Sounds like that’s a whole other deep dive waiting to happen, but let’s stick with Starlink for now. (6:19) Interesting article. (6:20) Definitely got us thinking, but you’re right.
(6:22) Lots of unanswered questions.
Chloe
(6:23) Tons of them. (6:24) And those unanswered questions, they’re just as important, maybe even more so than what the article does say. (6:29) And I see the whole picture, not just the marketing stuff.
Josh
(6:33) What do you mean the whole picture?
Chloe
(6:34) Well, they don’t really talk about long-term costs. (6:37) Right now the prices seem okay, but what about a year from now? (6:40) Five years?
Josh
(6:41) True. (6:42) No contracts. (6:42) That’s good.
(6:43) But it also means they can change the price whenever they want.
Chloe
(6:46) Exactly. (6:47) And unlimited data, it sounds great until you’re stuck with slow internet during peak hours, which some people are saying is happening. (6:55) Something to keep in mind.
Josh
(6:56) So even unlimited has its limits.
Chloe
(6:59) Gotcha.
Josh
(6:59) It’s all about knowing what you’re signing up for.
Chloe
(7:02) That’s it. (7:03) And speaking of which, the installation, they say it’s easy, but easy for who?
Josh
(7:08) What do you mean? (7:09) Like harder than it looks?
Chloe
(7:11) Maybe. (7:12) The article makes it sound like you just plug it in and you’re good to go, but what if you’re not a tech person? (7:16) Will their customer support actually help you?
(7:19) And what about maintenance?
Josh
(7:20) Those are good points. (7:22) Getting it set up is one thing, but what about keeping it running smoothly? (7:25) The article doesn’t really cover that.
Chloe
(7:27) And that’s why you got to do your own research. (7:30) Don’t just read the marketing stuff. (7:31) Find real reviews from people using Starlink.
(7:35) See what they’re saying about the installation, if it’s reliable, if customer service is any good.
Josh
(7:39) So take this article with a grain of salt, do your own homework, and don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions before signing up for anything, right?
Chloe
(7:47) Exactly.
Josh
(7:47) So we’ve talked about a lot, the good, the maybe not so good things. (7:52) Starlink article, it doesn’t really tell you.
Chloe
(7:55) Like you get a taste of the cake, but you don’t know all the ingredients, right?
Josh
(7:58) And as internet consumers, we got to be savvy shoppers. (8:02) You can’t just go off the pretty picture on the box, right?
Chloe
(8:05) Exactly. (8:06) Got to read those labels front and back.
Josh
(8:07) So for our listeners, anyone out there thinking about Starlink, maybe after this, they’re a bit unsure. (8:14) What are the big takeaways here?
Chloe
(8:16) Don’t just believe the hype. (8:18) That’s number one. (8:19) This article was a good starting point, but you got to dig deeper, especially when you’re talking about spending this much money.
Josh
(8:25) Because a good deal on paper doesn’t always mean a good deal in real life. (8:28) Yeah.
Chloe
(8:29) Don’t get blinded by the fast speeds, unlimited data. (8:32) What about the weather? (8:33) What about if their customer service is terrible?
(8:36) What if they jack up the price next year?
Josh
(8:38) And don’t forget, Starlink’s not the only game in town anymore.
Chloe
(8:41) Exactly. (8:42) Look around, see what other internet providers are offering, compare prices, ask questions.
Josh
(8:48) By choosing the right shoes, what works for your neighbor might not work for you, you know?
Chloe
(8:52) And you wouldn’t buy shoes without trying them on, would you? (8:55) Same with internet. (8:56) Read reviews, talk to people who actually use Starlink, see if you can test it out yourself.
Josh
(9:02) Great advice. (9:03) All right, so wrapping up this Starlink deep dive, is it the future of the internet? (9:09) Did it live up to the hype?
Chloe
(9:10) The most annoying answer, it depends. (9:13) Depends where you live, what you can afford, how much you use the internet, all that.
Josh
(9:16) No easy answer, so?
Chloe
(9:18) Nope. (9:18) It’s a good option for sure, especially for people who haven’t had good internet before, but it’s not perfect. (9:23) Don’t be afraid to be a little skeptical.
(9:24) Do your research.
Josh
(9:26) So to our listeners, stay curious, stay informed, and most importantly, stay connected.
Chloe
(9:30) And until next time, happy surfing.