Discover the transformative power of Starlink's satellite internet for rural communities. The hosts delve into personal experiences with various internet setups and the benefits of high-speed connectivity for remote work. From discussing the installation process to optimizing performance amid weather challenges, they cover it all. Anecdotes about smart home tech improvements and enhanced streaming experiences add a personal touch, while also addressing the ups and downs of billing in off-seasons.
21:16
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Wes's Internet Struggles
Wes uses LTE routers and antennas at his cottage due to spotty cell service.
The slow speeds and high overage costs led him to explore Starlink.
insights INSIGHT
Importance of Rural Internet
Rural internet access is crucial for remote work and information access.
It opens up job opportunities and impacts home values.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Starlink's Value Proposition
Starlink's cost is high, but its unlimited bandwidth is beneficial for high-usage households.
If regular internet access is available, Starlink isn't the best option.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In this Hasty Treat, Scott and Wes talk about Wes’ new satellite internet setup — best use-cases and how to set it up.
Sentry - Sponsor
If you want to know what’s happening with your code, track errors and monitor performance with Sentry. Sentry’s Application Monitoring platform helps developers see performance issues, fix errors faster, and optimize their code health. Cut your time on error resolution from hours to minutes. It works with any language and integrates with dozens of other services. Syntax listeners new to Sentry can get two months for free by visiting Sentry.io and using the coupon code TASTYTREAT during sign up.
Freshbooks - Sponsor
Get a 30 day free trial of Freshbooks at freshbooks.com/syntax and put SYNTAX in the “How did you hear about us?” section.
Show Notes
04:06 - Rural internet is huge for:
Access to information
Remote work
Opens up job opportunities for many residents who can’t relocate due to family
Home values
Big city folk moving into rural areas and driving prices up is another issue altogether
Smart rural home
05:46 - Previous setup
We have a cottage
LTE Routers
Yagi Antennas
Worked well, but slow
$4/gig over 100gb
Grey market - one went up/down
Alternatives
WISP - no access
XPLORNET @ (hughesnet) - BRUTAL
Bell LTE - $$$ - slow
08:35 - The signup, install, price
$129 CAD Deposit ($100 USD)
$650 for the dish
$120/month
Unlimited bandwidth
Needs a clear view of the northern sky
Clear from obstructions is key
Every 1 foot up is 2 foot of obstructions cleared
I put it on a 25ft piece of wood
Bought a pipe adaptor from Starlink
09:59 - The performance
These numbers are not impressive to anyone with fiber, but are LIFE CHANGING to rural folks
From 30mbps - 200mbps down - some users posted ~350 down
Upload from 25mpbs - 80mbps (better than you can pay for where I live in the city)
Ping is around 40ms
Downtime is measured in seconds
Youtube streams super smoothly
Zoom works great
Facebook + Instagram issues
Many reported changing DNS fixed it
14:21 - The equipment
Starlink comes with a router
Does not support bridge mode
Doesn’t have WPS
Only one hard-wired port
POE-only
UniFi Dream Machine
Three access points
POE switch for Starlink Router
Gives you stats
The ethernet is hard-wired into the dish, so you have to drill a huge hole in the house
Syntax - Tasty Web Development Treats