Speed Increase? SpaceX's Starlink to Boost Power on V4 and Mini Dish Models
October 23, 2024
SpaceX is working to further increase speeds for the recently released Starlink V4 dish and the Mini dish model.
On Friday, the company filed a request with the Federal Communications Commission to “modestly increase” the maximum power that can be radiated from both Starlink dishes.
Specifically, SpaceX wants to increase the Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP). The standard V4 Starlink dish's EIRP would go from 42.1 to 43.6 decibel watts, and the company wants to increase the Mini dish’s EIRP from 33.2 to 39.2 decibel watts.
“This limited EIRP increase will allow SpaceX to offer faster and/or more reliable service for users of these devices,” SpaceX wrote in the FCC filing, which was first spotted by telecommunications lawyer Ryan Thompson.
According to our tests, the standard “V4” Starlink dish already features better speeds than the company’s older equipment. In contrast, the company’s newly launched Mini dish offers slower speeds, usually under 100Mbps, although the device is far more portable.
So, it’s possible the higher EIRP could help SpaceX narrow the gap between the Mini dish and the more powerful standard Starlink kit models. However, on the downside, the change might increase the Mini dish's power consumption.
Before SpaceX can increase the radio signal output, it needs to receive clearance from the FCC. To do so, SpaceX also submitted a report showing that the elevated EIRP levels “will not result in exposure levels exceeding the applicable radiation hazard limits.” Still, rival companies could claim the modification risks generating radio interference.
