My Sister Mary Asks . . .

Tom… what a find!!! I’m wondering if this would work for Patty & Brad .. in Whitewater and in Waupaca ?? Is there a monthly fee or what ??
Mary

Short Answer – You betcha!

But first, Starlink is a satellite Internet service created by SpaceX and Tesla’s Wonderkind Elon Musk. His plan is to eventually offer worldwide Internet service using over 40,000 (yes, Forty Thousand) low-orbit satellites.

As of today, there are only about 1,200 Starlink satellites aloft . . . so Internet coverage is currently limited to folks living between latitudes 36.9 and 54.9 degrees. Our latitude in Mariposa, CA is 37.4 – so we “just” made it. However, as more Starlink sats are launched, this range of coverage will increase. By the way, use this link https://www.get-direction.com/address-to-lat-long.html?place=whitewater,%20wi to check your city’s latitude.

Or, just go to the Starlink web site (https://www.starlink.com) and enter your address. Be advised, you may have to try different variations of your address.

NOTE: Starlink is intended to be a rural Internet service as large cities would provide traffic congestion problems. Besides, city dwellers typically already have access to high-speed Internet service.

Cost?

The Starlink kit (Dish, power supply, router, mount, cabling) costs about $500.

Starlink Internet service is $99/month.

Starlink Internet service is Unlimited. There are currently no data caps.

Starlink Internet service is Fast. Users report speeds over 100 Mbps. Just tested my speed: 100 Mbps.

For More Information

I was going to include a bunch of links, but just Google (or YouTube) “Starlink”. There’s plenty of info out there.

Thank You, Elon Musk, for Starlink!

Starlink looks to be the high-speed Internet service rural folks like myself need.

After placing my Starlink beta test order a month ago, I received the kit today and installed it immediately. A few hours after the kit arrived, Starlink was up and running with Internet download speeds like this . . .

Here’s the poop . . .

VIDEO SUMMARY

UNBOXING

MOUNTING DISHY MCFLATFACE (aka the Starlink dish)

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

During setup it took several minutes for the dish to connect to the satellites. At times I thought it wasn’t going to connect because the sky was heavily overcast, it was raining, and I had set up fairly close to our house:

My takeaway is that you need a clear view of the northern sky, but not necessarily the whole sky.

Finally, when we changed our TV streaming to Starlink, the video quality changed dramatically. We’re watching those 4K YouTube videos now. Glorious and no buffering.

WHAT’S NEXT

If after a few months Starlink continues to impress, we’ll say goodbye to the microwave Internet service (unWired Broadband). However, as long as we have the RV, we’ll keep the AT&T Mobley and Verizon Cradlepoint hot spots as we need these when we travel away from home.

Unless, of course, Elon Musk delivers on Starlink for RVs. Can’t wait.

Snow!

File this under always expect the unexpected.

Shed with Door & Inside Light

Our New Roof

The Walkers

And Now This . . .

Excerpts from the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Daily Log, March 1 – 7, 2021 . . .

March 1 – There was a loose donkey on Crystal Cove in Mariposa. There was a tree on fire on Bullion Street in Mariposa.

March 2 – Someone on Blackberry Creek had questions about a pregnant cat. Ok, I’ll bite. What were those questions?

March 3 – There was a missing orange cat reported on Triangle Road in Mariposa. There was a out of control juvenile reported Fiske Road in Greeley Hill.

March 4 – A mountain lion was reported at Stockton Creek in Mariposa. A dog versus skunk incident was reported on Hospital Road in Mariposa.

March 5 – A female was reported laying near the roadway on Highway 49 South in Mariposa.

March 6 – A loose steer was reported on Hornitos Road in Mariposa. Low flying planes were reported over Ponderosa Basin.

March 7 – Illegal dumping was reported on Highway 49 South in Mariposa.

This is the kind of local news I can get used to. Wonderful.

News from the Home Front

A photo roundup of recent Mariposa happenings . . .

We Need a New Roof

It’s like finding out your new used car needs its transmission replaced. C’est la vie.
Then it rained last night on our partially done new roof. Woke up at 4 am to a drip dripping near my nightstand. You betcha, we sprung a leak in our bedroom. Since we may not be fully shingled for a few days, and, of course, there’s rain in the forecast, I’ll be performing some “redneck” roof repairs on my own. More to follow.