Soon after SpaceX opened accepting applications for connecting to Starlink satellite Internet, and the network got images of ground-based repeaters reminiscent of UFOs, the FCC regulator also revealed the first details about branded routers of the “space” brand. Judging by the leak, the company once again relied on the original equipment design - Starlink routers were made in the form of a pyramid.
The production of "space routers" will deal with the Taiwanese corporation Wistron NeWeb. A fragment of the circuit diagram of the device, as well as a photograph of the lower part of the gadget's body, has already been noticed in the FCC database. According to published documentation, SpaceX routers will have the shape of an isosceles triangle with a base size of 38.5 millimeters and sides of 72.5 millimeters.
The documentation also indicates that Starlink routers are equipped with two antennas, and the maximum data transfer speed through the air will reach 866 Mbps. The list of supported wireless standards indicates Wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n / ac (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz). When operating in the 2.4 GHz band, the maximum output power of the device will be 990 mW.
As a rule, registration with the FCC usually indicates the imminent start of sales of the relevant equipment. It is noteworthy that SpaceX turned to the regulator with the requirement not to disclose the detailed characteristics of the router for 180 days. This means that in the next six months, the company will have to sell the maximum number of routers, or extend the application to hide commercial secrets.
According to a recent statement by Elon Musk, Starlink satellite Internet will work in the United States at the end of 2020 or at the beginning of 2021.