Currently, I use an LTE wifi router. It uses the same signals as a cell phone, boosts it and converts it into wifi which my other devices use. It doesn’t work well, sometimes not working at all. A few people have recommended Starlink, so I decided to give it a try. It costs a bit more than my current wifi, $160 per month and I’d also have to buy the hardware - currently at a discount for rural addresses.
Me and My Dumb Principles
As mentioned in ‘Off-Grid and Offline’, Starlink wigs me out. Thousands of satellites orbiting the globe - currently over 5,000 with plans for more. It delivers high-speed internet to the whole planet. It’s cool - but to me, it’s a bit intrusive.
The skies here are exceptionally clear, and watching shooting stars is a favourite pastime. As we watch the night sky, we can see the Milky Way galaxy, and note how fast the moon moves through the sky. The occasional satellite moves along on a solo mission, and we wonder what it might be for. I enjoy sitting in calm silence, without a person around for miles.
Enter - Starlink. One satellite appears on the horizon, soon followed by another, then another. The Imperial March plays in my head.
The night sky is changed. Suddenly we’re not in the middle of nowhere, enjoying a connection with the natural world. Suddenly there’s a skyscraper worth of lights charging across the sky. Intrusive, it is.
Give it a Try
I can be very stubborn and hold strong to my principles, but I decided to give it a try. Everyone’s raving about it, it’s only a bit more money than my current wifi, and there was a deal for the hardware. I read that it requires a fair bit more power to run than my current wifi but, might be manageable? The only way to know for sure is to give it a try.
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