Starlink’s new rectangular satellite tv for pc broadband dish is smaller and lighter than earlier than – TechCrunch

Starlink has launched a brand new person terminal clients can get with their starter equipment. As first reported by The Verge, the corporate now presents an oblong choice (PDF) that’s smaller and lighter than its unique round one. Customers have to put in that antenna on their rooftop or anyplace excessive up with a transparent view of the sky to have the ability to entry its satellite tv for pc web.

The unique model is a regular dish that’s 23-inch large, however the rectangular model is barely 12 inches large and 19 inches lengthy. It’s additionally solely 9.2 kilos, which is nearly half the load of its round counterpart. The brand new terminal’s smaller type issue may give customers extra choices in relation to potential areas the place they’ll set up it. As well as, the oblong terminal comes with extra accent choices, together with an extended pole customers can merely stick within the floor in order that they not should mount the antenna on their rooftop.

SpaceX launched Starlink as a beta service in late 2020 and supplied clients entry to its satellite tv for pc web for $99 a month. Customers must pay $499 on prime of that for its {hardware} equipment, although, which incorporates the antenna, its stand, energy provide and a WiFi router. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell mentioned in August that the unique dish value $3,000 to provide, and whereas the corporate was in a position to get that all the way down to $1,300, it was nonetheless promoting the equipment at a loss.

Shotwell additionally mentioned on the time that the terminal it’s releasing this 12 months “will value roughly half” of what its present person terminals value and that the corporate might be able to minimize that in half once more. The Verge notes, nonetheless, that the {hardware} equipment continues to be being offered for $499 even with the oblong antenna, and SpaceX has but to disclose whether or not it will likely be offered at a cheaper price sooner or later. Potential new clients who don’t thoughts paying the identical worth for it may get the oblong terminal after they order a equipment, as long as they’re within the US.

Editor’s word: This text initially appeared on Engadget.