Starlink in Diamond

[nickname]

Another PIREP from me, flew to CYBW over the Canadian rockies and not a hiccup, used it the entire duration and had 100mbps+.

[ememic99]

I just ordered it... idk if it will work at 145 knots or not for da42/62...

It will 100% - I just used it for a trip from FL -> PR in my DA42NG (will post a PIREP later). You need the $250/m plan, and to turn on priority mobile data.

You really have to have business case to pay $250/m for having internet in the air.

[michael.g.miller]

Business case? No. Safety use case, absolutely!

An example from a flight I did over the weekend from Ft. Lauderdale to my home in San Juan, PR (though I originally planned to overnight in the DR…).

I started off by monitoring the Bahamas storms in Windy. They seemed not too bad, mostly over land, and concurred with what I saw out the window.

Then, as I got closer to my original intended destination (MDST in the DR), I saw lightning flashes off my right. Yeesh… not good. Glad I have Starlink:

I heard airliners asking about conditions, deviating trying to get into Santo Domingo. I had way more information than them, even with their fancy onboard radar. I gave myself a wide berth around the satellite picture, and watched the lightning flashes comfortably from a distance.

I then sprang into action making a plan. I used my G1000 to plan out my fuel reserve, figuring I’d have a 1h20m reserve landing in PR at TJBQ. Then, I was able to WhatsApp the guys at the FBO and advise that I was coming in and would need gas.

I arrived uneventfully, and the JET truck was standing by as I pulled in.

It’s pricey for $250/m… but worth every penny to me.

[ememic99]

I started off by monitoring the Bahamas storms in Windy.

Once you're in the air whatever you can get over the internet related to radar, you can get via ADS-B, at least in the USA. In Europe we have Golze ADL, getting data over Iridium, providing radar and IR images as well as lightning, wind and temperature (approximately $30/m). Both solutions deliver delayed images (same as radar data you get over internet) and can be used for strategic rather than tactical avoiding which is in reality only possible with airborne weather radar.

[dmloftus]

For those who are using it, is it possible to turn your service on and off on a monthly basis, ie use it only when you really need it? Or is there a long term commitment?

[michael.g.miller]

Yes it's month-by-month, no activation fee. You can pause once per month, and it takes effect at the end of the billing cycle.

Honestly once you start using it, you will wonder how you ever lived without it, and never want to cancel/pause.

[jast]

Yeah, since I had/have a couple of trips planned in the next 4 weeks I also upgraded to the 250Eur Mobile Prio plan. Works perfectly, even yesterday in IMC over the alps. 99.8% ping coverage over 30mins. Instant weather, radar with 5-7mins delay, great quality phone calls… Once you get used to it it’s hard to not have it, especially on longer trips. On the weekend we had a family meetup in a remote location and everyone enjoyed Starlink 100Mbit/s instead of the 5Mbit/s WiFi for 30 people

You can stop the plan anytime, even with the Starlink Antenna offline through the app with the next payment cycle of 4 weeks. I think I can easily get it down to 6 months per year, so 120Eur/month in average. Compared to the 20K which the Irridium GSR costs only in installation it’s still a very good price. And there is still hope that it goes down over time…

[ememic99]

If it was $50/m that would be comparable to what I currently pay for in-flight delayed radar images. Do I need phone/video calls, browsing internet, watching Netflix? In reality no because while flying I usually don’t have time for such stuff. As a source for weather information - there are cheaper and more reliable products.

[av8sj]

Another PIREP from me, flew to CYBW over the Canadian rockies and not a hiccup, used it the entire duration and had 100mbps+.

How fast are you going? I’m in a DA62 and keep getting disconnected due to fast travel. 175 knots. I have the $50/month option.

[michael.g.miller]

Another PIREP from me, flew to CYBW over the Canadian rockies and not a hiccup, used it the entire duration and had 100mbps+.

How fast are you going? I’m in a DA62 and keep getting disconnected due to fast travel. 175 knots. I have the $50/month option.

The $50 a month option no longer works above 100 mph. You need the $250/m plan, and you also need to turn on priority mobile data.