Starlink direct to cell (was SpaceX & T-mobile event 25 Aug 2022)

[raptorx2]

FCC adds Erratum to SCS Diect to Cell rules.

https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DOC-401934A1.pdf

[raptorx2]

FCC Request for Comments   "Request For Comment On Petition For Rulemaking By Space Exploration Holdings, LLC, Regarding Revision Of The Commission's 1.6/2.4 GHZ "Big LEO" NGSO MSS Sharing Plan.

7 Comments lodged.

Apple Computer provided no Comment.

https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/search/search-filings/results?q=(proceedings.name:(RM-11975))

[gongora]

FCC permit request for testing in Japan

[raptorx2]

Omnispace provides "evidence" of interference into it's 23 year old MEO satellite Omni-F2 from Starlink Direct to Cell Operations over CONUS.

FCC document

[zubenelgenubi: edit]

[zubenelgenubi]

Some background; as I did not know that this satellite was still operating:

Omnispace provides "evidence" of interference into its 23 year old MEO satellite Omni-F2 from Starlink Direct to Cell Operations over CONUS.

ICO F1, ..., F15

SN Thales Alenia Space to build two prototype satellites for constellation venture, 9 April 2020

Ram Viswanathan, Omnispace CEO:

Omnispace holds an S-band spectrum license obtained by purchasing the assets of ICO Global, a defunct company that sought to create a medium Earth orbit constellation in the early 2000s. Tysons Corner, Virginia-based Omnispace has mobile network operator partners in Asia and Latin America, and is in talks with others around the world, Viswanathan said.

ICO Global launched one of a planned 12 satellites in 2001 before going bankrupt. Omnispace owns that 19-year-old satellite, the Boeing-built ICO-F2, and plans to use the spectrum filing ICO Global once held with the International Telecommunication Union to create a new constellation of a to-be-determined size, Viswanathan said.

[RedLineTrain]

Omnispace provides "evidence" of interference into it's 23 year old MEO satellite Omni-F2 from Starlink Direct to Cell Operations over CONUS.

FCC document

[zubenelgenubi: edit]

Does this evidence seem weak to you?

[FutureSpaceTourist]

https://twitter.com/spacex/status/1792981845296160791

First video call on @X completed through @Starlink Direct to Cell satellites from unmodified mobile phones!

We’re excited to go live with @TMobile later this year 🛰️🌎

[CoolScience]

Omnispace provides "evidence" of interference into it's 23 year old MEO satellite Omni-F2 from Starlink Direct to Cell Operations over CONUS.

FCC document

[zubenelgenubi: edit]

Does this evidence seem weak to you?

Seems weak to me, a minimal amount of additional noise that should not be harmful, taken with a geometry where the old satellite's presumably broad beams would effectively be looking right at it. They then try to generalize that to a much closer satellite  scaling up the power to claim harm while ignoring that the closer satellite would be either pointed completely away or literally below the horizon. They also complain about the high number of satellites while continuing to ignore the geometry considerations limiting the number above the horizon and thus viewable if they tried, and that SpaceX's satellites by necessity would not be keeping their energy directed in different directions to avoid interference with each other.

SpaceX apparently agrees this is a bad analysis:

https://www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-pokes-holes-in-cellular-starlink-interference-claims

It is worth being extra skeptical when such complaints come from a company whose business model is simply out-competed by SpaceX's.

[raptorx2]

Omnispace's "business model" is simply that as a "spectrum speculator". 

Their goal is to force SpaceX, or another operator  to purchase Omnispace at some extreme valuation.

In their FCC exhibit.  They state...

"Repeated requests by SpaceX to “coordinate” have no legal basis as the Starlink DTC satellite G block use is not compliant with the ITU Radio Regulations, thereforeoperational systems like Omnispace that are compliant with the ITU RR do not have an obligation to coordinate"

[raptorx2]

SpaceX reply to Omnispace "Interference claims"

"Could Omnispace also place on the public record evidence of its
actual service and service interruption? SpaceX has been unable to find any evidence that
Omnispace provides service to date."

[raptorx2]

Has anyone found any proof, one way or another that the Group 8 DTC satellites have Ku Starlink User Payloads?

It doesn't seem financially prudent to launch an entire constellation (840) satellites of only DTC functionality. (perhaps VHF beacons).  After all, these DTC only satellites would count towards their approved 7,500 Gen. 2 totals.

Perhaps we will see a more complete rounded (V2.5Mini) before they begin launching in mass later this year?

[RedLineTrain]

Has anyone found any proof, one way or another that the Group 8 DTC satellites have Ku Starlink User Payloads?

The ultimate proof is that every licensed satellite has to be able to exercise the frequencies specified in the constellation license.

[Asteroza]

Has anyone found any proof, one way or another that the Group 8 DTC satellites have Ku Starlink User Payloads?

The ultimate proof is that every licensed satellite has to be able to exercise the frequencies specified in the constellation license.

But does that actually require a full proper RF payload, or can you cheat a bit by abusing the phased array with an SDR though? We are in the age of the software defined satellite. Barring absolute limits for a given phased array, you can do a lot with an SDR for marginal purposes (it won't be pretty, side lobes be damned, etc).

[FutureSpaceTourist]

Crosspost:

https://twitter.com/michaelnicollsx/status/1796839969656537382

Quite a month for @Starlink thanks to Falcon’s accelerating launch pace!
+ 11 launches
+ 221 Ku satellites – over 20 Tbps of fronthaul capacity
+ 26 direct to cell satellites – over 8% of the sats needed for initial direct-to-cell service

[raptorx2]

Has anyone found any proof, one way or another that the Group 8 DTC satellites have Ku Starlink User Payloads?

The ultimate proof is that every licensed satellite has to be able to exercise the frequencies specified in the constellation license.

But does that actually require a full proper RF payload, or can you cheat a bit by abusing the phased array with an SDR though? We are in the age of the software defined satellite. Barring absolute limits for a given phased array, you can do a lot with an SDR for marginal purposes (it won't be pretty, side lobes be damned, etc).

Incoming!  New Group 10? New iteration of Starlink satellites v3.0 Mini? Perhaps finally achieving a combined FSS/DtC commercial payload.  Ka/Ku/V/E/DTC/VHF

[gongora]

https://twitter.com/longmier/status/1798195077841637597

Q: Hey Ben, are you guys ever going to combine dtc and regular starlink service into 1 satellite?
A: We really thought about it. The dtc payload is just such a beast, that it takes up the whole belly of the sat plus a large deployable, and it uses the same power as the broadband payload.

Q: Thanks Ben. Just to confirm, these are dedicated DTC satellites that don’t provide service to starlink dishes?
A: Yeah 51 dedicated DTC sats to date.

[RedLineTrain]

https://x.com/longmier/status/1798195077841637597

Q: Hey Ben, are you guys ever going to combine dtc and regular starlink service into 1 satellite?
A: We really thought about it. The dtc payload is just such a beast, that it takes up the whole belly of the sat plus a large deployable, and it uses the same power as the broadband payload.

Q: Thanks Ben. Just to confirm, these are dedicated DTC satellites that don’t provide service to starlink dishes?
A: Yeah 51 dedicated DTC sats to date.

And I stand corrected...

My guess is that once Starship starts launching full-size V2 satellites, the payloads will be combined.

[gsa]

My guess is that once Starship starts launching full-size V2 satellites, the payloads will be combined.

Not a direct confirmation, but still.

Will be interesting to see if V2 non-mini starship sats will be combined. Not sure if you can comment or not but either way cool stuff!

https://twitter.com/longmier/status/1798198223133343988

I’m super excited for all the mass that Starship will be able to deliver to orbit.

[raptorx2]

Ben Longmier
@longmier
·
Jun 4

We really thought about it. The dtc payload is just such a beast, that it takes up the whole belly of the sat plus a large deployable, and it uses the same power as the broadband payload.

https://twitter.com/longmier/status/1798192619698422159

[gsa]

Ben Longmier
@longmier
·
Jun 4

We really thought about it. The dtc payload is just such a beast, that it takes up the whole belly of the sat plus a large deployable, and it uses the same power as the broadband payload.

This answer is about V2 minis.