jamesyql Posted Monday at 01:49 PM Report Posted Monday at 01:49 PM Tap the brakes if you are about to purchase a Starlink mini for your plane. Starlink has ever changing in motion speed and pricing structures. Email from Starlink this morning stating that the new speed limit on Roam plans (which is what I assume most of us use) is 87kts The suggested new aviation plan is $250/month for 20GB data. https://starlink.com/ca/support/article/50e933eb-54f5-1a77-cc85-c6c8325564cf 1
Fly Boomer Posted Monday at 01:55 PM Report Posted Monday at 01:55 PM 2 minutes ago, jamesyql said: Email from Starlink this morning stating that the new speed limit on Roam plans ... is 87kts Fortunately, they jerked those numbers around so much before the last drop, I was gun shy, and stayed away. Apparently, GA isn't a significant source of revenue.
Ryan ORL Posted Monday at 02:10 PM Report Posted Monday at 02:10 PM It was $250/mo when we had to be on Global Priority, then they created Local Priority and semi-unofficially supported aviation on that for $60/mo, but seems we're back to $250. But it is officially an Aviation plan now. Sad... I wonder if they will at least let me do seasonal pause w/ that plan.
NickM20F Posted Monday at 02:10 PM Report Posted Monday at 02:10 PM Pretty bummed about this I really enjoyed internet in the cockpit, so did my passengers. Wish I could get my money back on the hardware 2
bradcarr Posted Monday at 02:55 PM Report Posted Monday at 02:55 PM bummed is an understatement for me at this point I'm probably going to get stuck with having to upgrade as I really don't see 500 hours a year in a plane with zero internet, communication, weather etc. Its also beyond sad the difference in a 100mph and 300mph plane. one is a kite and the other is a rocket. The amount of folks falling into the 100-150 range are probably 80% of the folks using and needing this service. Soul crushing honestly.
NickM20F Posted Monday at 03:36 PM Report Posted Monday at 03:36 PM 36 minutes ago, bradcarr said: bummed is an understatement for me at this point I'm probably going to get stuck with having to upgrade as I really don't see 500 hours a year in a plane with zero internet, communication, weather etc. Its also beyond sad the difference in a 100mph and 300mph plane. one is a kite and the other is a rocket. The amount of folks falling into the 100-150 range are probably 80% of the folks using and needing this service. Soul crushing honestly. @bradcarr Think there are any other options out there? I'm still borderline on keeping it. I'm just hopeful in another few months there will be an alternative or maybe the policy will change again. On that note- given so many hours a year I bet you might have a good solution worked up for this. Where do you put the antenna? Just throw it on the dash? Or you come up with some sort of mount for it? Previously I've gotten a suction cup mount and put it on the side window - and i just live with the mediocre reception. Still works OK even pointing practically horizontal. I was planning to come up with some sort of 3D printed mount to put it on the dash for long term usage, and invest in some avionics work to add a power supply. Right now I've just been using a big battery bank. Of course now that might be all out the window.
exM20K Posted Monday at 03:37 PM Report Posted Monday at 03:37 PM They sent me the mini for free. It will go back to them this week. I’m just glad I didn’t buy more accessories or waste the money to install a power outlet. -dan
bradcarr Posted Monday at 03:50 PM Report Posted Monday at 03:50 PM 3 minutes ago, NickM20F said: @bradcarr Think there are any other options out there? I'm still borderline on keeping it. I'm just hopeful in another few months there will be an alternative or maybe the policy will change again. On that note- given so many hours a year I bet you might have a good solution worked up for this. Where do you put the antenna? Just throw it on the dash? Or you come up with some sort of mount for it? Previously I've gotten a suction cup mount and put it on the side window - and i just live with the mediocre reception. Still works OK even pointing practically horizontal. I was planning to come up with some sort of 3D printed mount to put it on the dash for long term usage, and invest in some avionics work to add a power supply. Right now I've just been using a big battery bank. Of course now that might be all out the window. Well first let me say 500 hours is my goal. I've only been flying 63V since Nov 12 of 25. My goal is 10 hours a week. As of today I've flown 156.5 hours so I'm about 4 hours behind my goal to this point. No issue, weather good this week, working on my IFR so should be all caught up. During those hours I've just gone with the Dash method. I really considered side window mounting it but just can't seem to pull the trigger. I have power right side of my panel, but still use a battery bank in the back seat. Primarily because #1 My son can use the same bank to keep his ipad or phone charged. #2 I didn't want the starlink to pull my batter to zero and me fall out of the sky. #2 obviously isn't a real concern but something in my mind just said not to add anything else to the battery or alternator if I didn't have to. (probably stupid logic but o well). To this point its been great. Popup storms, notam changes, alerts etc made life really easy. My 10 year old isn't traveling with me without internet. We spent the whole trip from Dallas Saturday with him looking up his baseball cards and talking to me about all the "money" he was gonna have when he sells them. I wouldn't trade that for $190. The problem is, as I see it, options are limited and costly. However the value of all that information and communication in the plane is just so powerful to me. Torn as to the next step. 1
dzeleski Posted Monday at 03:57 PM Report Posted Monday at 03:57 PM (edited) I opened a ticket to complain stating that I will not be a paying customer with those restrictions. $250 bucks in gas gets us a long ways away from home. I have used it a few times now in the air and its fantastic, but im not paying 250 bucks a month for 20GB. Edit: whats worse is you need to contact support to enable it, meaning you cant just easily put it on standby and then re enable when needed. Might need to see what LEO ends up doing. Edited Monday at 04:09 PM by dzeleski
dzeleski Posted Monday at 04:05 PM Report Posted Monday at 04:05 PM 28 minutes ago, NickM20F said: @bradcarr Think there are any other options out there? I'm still borderline on keeping it. I'm just hopeful in another few months there will be an alternative or maybe the policy will change again. https://leo.amazon.com/ Is coming soon, but who knows when. Their smallest antenna is even smaller then the mini (at least thats what they are saying). 3
1980Mooney Posted Monday at 04:14 PM Report Posted Monday at 04:14 PM 36 minutes ago, exM20K said: They sent me the mini for free. It will go back to them this week. I’m just glad I didn’t buy more accessories or waste the money to install a power outlet. -dan Sounds like a classic drug dealer strategy. Almost got you hooked…..
bradcarr Posted Monday at 04:32 PM Report Posted Monday at 04:32 PM 26 minutes ago, dzeleski said: https://leo.amazon.com/ Is coming soon, but who knows when. Their smallest antenna is even smaller then the mini (at least thats what they are saying). wowza 7x7 inch dish. This could be the ticket.
IvanP Posted Monday at 05:09 PM Report Posted Monday at 05:09 PM Just as I was thinking about adding Starlink
201Mooniac Posted Monday at 05:49 PM Report Posted Monday at 05:49 PM 1 hour ago, bradcarr said: wowza 7x7 inch dish. This could be the ticket. From what I’m hearing it will be next year before you can get service with the 7x7 in dish in the US. I’ll try to find out more to see if there is any possibility of earlier availability from Leo.
exM20K Posted Monday at 06:29 PM Report Posted Monday at 06:29 PM At $50 / month, it was almost a push with Sirius XM WX and Entertainment at $575-ish per year. I fly 150-200 hours per year. That is $3.28 / hour for Sirius XM. Fine. This is $17 per hour. Nope. I can read my emails when i'm on the ground. Maybe time for a new iPhone to do the satellite texting. -dan
Greg Ellis Posted Monday at 06:39 PM Report Posted Monday at 06:39 PM https://avbrief.com/starlinks-restructured-pricing-disappoints/ This just came through my email on Avbrief.com
1980Mooney Posted Monday at 07:00 PM Report Posted Monday at 07:00 PM You may idolize Elon, but someone has to pay his ridiculous salaries/paydays. It's YOU......
MikeOH Posted Monday at 07:05 PM Report Posted Monday at 07:05 PM 2 minutes ago, 1980Mooney said: You may idolize Elon, but someone has to pay his ridiculous salaries/paydays. It's YOU...... WOW, of all the people to whine about capitalism and, IIRC, defend LASAR’s pricing, I find this comment astoundingly hypocritical
Justin Schmidt Posted Monday at 07:15 PM Report Posted Monday at 07:15 PM Still don't understand why people even need it. It's an obvious distraction causing problems and close calls because people eyes and minds are no longer outside. People reaction says a whole lot 5
1980Mooney Posted Monday at 07:19 PM Report Posted Monday at 07:19 PM 1 minute ago, MikeOH said: WOW, of all the people to whine about capitalism and, IIRC, defend LASAR’s pricing, I find this comment astoundingly hypocritical Huh? I don't whine about capitalism - I just point out that is what our economy is built upon. Maybe some don't like capitalism and prefer something more socialistic like subsidized (i.e. "free") air traffic control or riding on the coat tails of the commercial operators. But this pricing should not have come as a surprise. SpaceX can't support its market valuation or Elon's compensation by giving it away cheap.... And once they have everyone signed up thinking they will get the lower cost plans, that is when they jack prices up. up , up... Starlink Surpasses 10 Million Active Users Worldwide
McMooney Posted Monday at 07:50 PM Report Posted Monday at 07:50 PM 30 minutes ago, Justin Schmidt said: Still don't understand why people even need it. It's an obvious distraction causing problems and close calls because people eyes and minds are no longer outside. People reaction says a whole lot second, this, no idea why... I'll never understand GA probably me, maybe due to only flying about 100hrs per year. 2
Ragsf15e Posted Monday at 08:02 PM Report Posted Monday at 08:02 PM 46 minutes ago, Justin Schmidt said: Still don't understand why people even need it. It's an obvious distraction causing problems and close calls because people eyes and minds are no longer outside. People reaction says a whole lot I’m with you. I keep picturing teenagers driving (or walking) down the road with their phone in front of their face. 1
Tom F Posted Monday at 09:24 PM Report Posted Monday at 09:24 PM https://www.change.org/p/request-reinstatement-of-starlink-roaming-plans-for-pilots?cs_tk=AzyzykufuRIzUac2r2kAAHicq64FAAF1APlhNjNmOGE0ZTRkNDFhYWMwMGZmOGVhZTQxYWEyYWQ5YTk4NTVkZTYxYWMyMTBmZjJiNTNjNTU4MmJiYWJjOWRm&utm_campaign=057db8fa415a450081bfd0af0a66be30&utm_content=20251205_supporter_milestone_sunrise_1000&utm_medium=email&utm_source=633943_supporter_milestone_1000&utm_term=itbl Over a 1000 signatures in a few hours. The Pilots are pissed 1
bradcarr Posted Monday at 09:29 PM Report Posted Monday at 09:29 PM 2 hours ago, Justin Schmidt said: Still don't understand why people even need it. It's an obvious distraction causing problems and close calls because people eyes and minds are no longer outside. People reaction says a whole lot Please don't take this as me being a smart rear as I'm honestly interested in the thought here. Do you fly all 6 pack? Do you fly all paper map? Having nexrad in the plane is keeping me from looking outside? I'm all for, "if it aint broke don't fix it" but I also don't see how advancements in avionics and technology are seen as a negative. Sure I can throw up a 42 inch plasma and watch some netflix and create a real issue, but that also isn't what we are talking about here either. 2
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