WiFi Vs Cellular Tablets for EFB

[Pinecone]

13 hours ago, Hank said:

But I miss the little Flight Guide book, it was certainly handy. Now I can't look up FBO details in the air if I decide to change my destination.

I loved the Flight guide also.

BTW, StarLink is coming out with new plans, so inflight internet access will be $65 per month for up to 50GB of data.

[TangoTango]

28 minutes ago, Pinecone said:

BTW, StarLink is coming out with new plans, so inflight internet access will be $65 per month for up to 50GB of data.

Where did you see this? All I can find is the overpriced "Starlink Business" aviation plans starting at $2,000/month...

They used to have a good plan for us called "Roam", but they recently enforced a 100mph speed cap, and final approach isn't when I need in flight internet 

Edited March 19 by TangoTango
Added links

[toto]

5 minutes ago, TangoTango said:

Where did you see this? All I can find is the overpriced "Starlink Business" aviation plans starting at $2,000/month...

They used to have a good plan for us called "Roam", but they recently enforced a 100mph speed cap, and final approach isn't when I need in flight internet 

Yeah, removing the 100 (knot) speed cap requires the $250/mo plan.

They did announce a $10/10g plan yesterday for occasional roaming - which would be great for aircraft use. But the 100kt limitation is still in place for now. 

[TangoTango]

If you click on the link I posted for Roam, they indicate the speed limitation is "100mph / 160kph". 

Do you have a link to the $250 plan that doesn't have the speed limitation? I can't find anything on their website except a $165 "Roam Unlimited", but it appears to have the same speed limitation as the cheaper Roam plan.

 

[LANCECASPER]

 

Supposedly what they announced yesterday via e-mail to existing customers is that on the new Local (meaning within your country) Priority plan, speeds will be allowed up to 350 mph. The new plans are supposed to take effect in 30 days, so as @Pinecone mentioned, if that's the case it will be $65 for up to 50GB per month. Existing customers will be switched to those plans automatically in 30 days. New subscribers after the plans start will be on the new plans. (Global (outside your country) plans stayed the same or went up a little).

If this all proves to be true, someone who was paying for a basic or higher XM plan plus XM music could pay about the same or a few dollars more and have a lot more capability. It wouldn't be integrated into panel avionics yet, but getting a faster update on the weather on the tablet would be great.

[PaulM]

Starlink Business:

https://www.starlink.com/service-plans/business

GLOBAL PRIORITY - 50GB    $250

Reliable Fixed & In-motion Use

For smaller General Aviation aircraft or for aircraft that we do not have an STC for yet, Starlink Mini may be used as a Portable Electronic Device (PED), on the interior of an aircraft only. 

Supports aircraft ground speeds with <250kts, land and ocean:

Mobile Priority at $250/mo.

https://www.starlink.com/support/article/36fcdd07-e552-3dec-c6cc-bf8b8bb669cd

[LANCECASPER]

Just now, PaulM said:

Starlink Business:

https://www.starlink.com/service-plans/business

GLOBAL PRIORITY - 50GB    $250

Reliable Fixed & In-motion Use

For smaller General Aviation aircraft or for aircraft that we do not have an STC for yet, Starlink Mini may be used as a Portable Electronic Device (PED), on the interior of an aircraft only. 

Supports aircraft ground speeds with <250kts, land and ocean:

Mobile Priority at $250/mo.

https://www.starlink.com/support/article/36fcdd07-e552-3dec-c6cc-bf8b8bb669cd

From what I understand they haven't updated their website yet with the new info.

[Pinecone]

Long thread on BT.  @LANCECASPER posted the meat of the new plans.  They are supposed to start next month.

The Local plan allows up to 350 MPH and the Global plan is good for 550 MPH.

Walmart supposedly has a few StarLink Minis for $350 - 370.  

[toto]

31 minutes ago, Pinecone said:

Long thread on BT.  @LANCECASPER posted the meat of the new plans.  They are supposed to start next month.

The Local plan allows up to 350 MPH and the Global plan is good for 550 MPH.

Walmart supposedly has a few StarLink Minis for $350 - 370.  

350 would be a steal. The ones I see on Walmart now are not that great, but maybe there are some locally available for less 

[PeteMc]

7 hours ago, TangoTango said:

Do you have a link to the $250 plan that doesn't have the speed limitation? I can't find anything on their website except a $165 "Roam Unlimited", but it appears to have the same speed limitation as the cheaper Roam plan.

I don't have the link for the plan, maybe it's when you go in the "Order" or if you're logged in as a User. 

But in the help section they do state: Supports aircraft ground speeds with <250kts, land and ocean: Mobile Priority at $250/mo.

[Pinecone]

Again, this is a NEW plan and their website is not yet updated.

[PaulM]

Plans are now documented:

>Business LOCAL PRIORITY - 50GB  $65/MO

>What is the maximum speed the Priority plans will operate at?

>Local Priority: 350 mph

>Global Priority: 550 mph

Data will be limited to 1Mbit/sec if you run out of data and don't "top off" 

[Fly Boomer]

I pay a little more than that for 100 mbps, but never get close to that bandwidth.  I wonder if Starlink could be used both at home and in the airplane?  Would it work up against a window at home?

[TangoTango]

Just now, Fly Boomer said:

I pay a little more than that for 100 mbps, but never get close to that bandwidth.  I wonder if Starlink could be used both at home and in the airplane?  Would it work up against a window at home?

Data caps are annoying for home service, and a 50GB cap is pretty low. 

For mobile use in the Mooney though, 50GB should be adequate for the limited hours we fly. This pricing is pretty great in the context of that mission, too. I'm excited to hear feedback on how well it works. Even the 1Mb "overage" speed is pretty sweet. The passengers may not like it, but I remember when that's all the speed I got at home. I could definitely download a satellite image over that connection in a pinch.

[hammdo]

You’ll also likely need one of these 100w USB adapters 

https://www.mcico.com/truebluepower/6430360-37

https://www.mcico.com/truebluepower/6430360-31

-Don

[PaulM]

1 hour ago, Fly Boomer said:

I pay a little more than that for 100 mbps, but never get close to that bandwidth.  I wonder if Starlink could be used both at home and in the airplane?  Would it work up against a window at home?

Yes, 50GB is very low for home use (given TV streaming).. I get 100-200Mbits consistently, but I use about 1TB/month with all of the TV/Video.  Especially where I went to 4K when I had the available bandwidth.  

As for a window in a house, no, you really need a good view of the sky (roof) 

Also, if I am flying somewhere away from home, my wife is not going to be without internet.   So the home starlink stays at home..   A flying starlink is on a "I don't really need it" in a Mooney.