[Starlink] Debugging connection through Starlink (POINTR)

Ulrich Speidel u.speidel at auckland.ac.nz
Tue Feb 28 08:14:06 EST 2023


I think you may find this difficult to reproduce unless you actually go 
and see your customer.

Starlink isn't the same as Starlink. How it works depends on:

  * Where your dishy is and where the closest gateway(s) is/are. This
    determines the number of options that the system has to route
    between you and the gateway. The closer, the more options,
    generally, as the number of sats that both you and the gateway can
    see decreases, as a rule of thumb, with distance between you and
    gateway.
  * Where you are also matters. Satellite density is highest at 53 deg
    north and 53 deg south. Starlink units between these parallels will
    look in the direction of their hemisphere when looking for a
    satellite. Units at higher latitudes ... well someone tell me where
    they look!
  * How many other Starlink users there are (a) in your cell and (b) in
    the neighbourhood of your cell. This determines the share of
    capacity you'll get off the system. The fewer competing users, the
    better.
  * What sort of backhaul the gateway is on. I only see IPv4 here in NZ
    but some folk are on IPv6, and I guess the backhaul network beyond
    Starlink's control also matters in terms of bufferbloat etc.
  * Weather
  * Obstructions (Starlink can works pretty well with a moderate degree
    of obstruction, but obviously, as stated above, the more options the
    system has...)
  * Available bandwidth (did Starlink get all the frequencies that it
    would have wanted at your customer's site or just some?) - that's a
    regulatory issue.

Basically, you could be comparing apples and pears here.

On 1/03/2023 12:53 am, Sauli Kiviranta via Starlink wrote:
> Thank you for the testing so far!
>
> Special thanks to Nathan for the test call yesterday, looks like
> everything works. I was shocked how good the Starlink performed, I was
> in disbelief how well it worked since on my side I was also on 4G and
> the performance was spectacular. Not the usual
> 8000km-and-sat-inbetween feeling.
>
> So far we have not been able to reproduce the errors, if the call is
> initiated from US it will route through the local infra. So this could
> be one issue, if someone wants to make another test call we can route
> it through EU.
>
> Anyone in Canada capable of making a test? Even to just run the
> network analysis.
>
> I will meanwhile have to point the finger at the customer if there are
> no signs of failure in any of the tests, I hate that. Fixing a juicy
> bug is better than having configuration when things just fail "without
> reason".
>
> I can also provide additional test tools if someone is interested in
> more bolts and nuts testing. Send me an email with platform preference
> and I will share the test kit.
>
> Best regards,
> Sauli
>
>
> On 27/02/2023, starlink-request at lists.bufferbloat.net
> <starlink-request at lists.bufferbloat.net> wrote:
> > Send Starlink mailing list submissions to
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> > Today's Topics:
> >
> > 1. Debugging connection through Starlink (POINTR) (Sauli Kiviranta)
> >
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
> > Message: 1
> > Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:58:53 +0200
> > From: Sauli Kiviranta <smksauli at gmail.com>
> > To: starlink at lists.bufferbloat.net
> > Subject: [Starlink] Debugging connection through Starlink (POINTR)
> > Message-ID:
> > <CAJbqEYCDQOqqfpt4=gEpGV37URRh2UvGLjKV1XEpNPm1bxMu3Q at mail.gmail.com>
> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
> >
> > Dear Starlink users,
> >
> > I have a request for help on debugging a customer issue. We have users
> > in Canada who are using our industrial remote collaboration tool
> > POINTR (www.pointr.com 
> <http://www.pointr.com>) 
> and have issues connecting through Starlink
> > (Standard HTTPS). We cannot reproduce their case as we have no
> > Starlink at our disposal.
> >
> > If you would be kind enough to download POINTR (either from the app
> > stores or from our website: https://www.pointr.com/downloads/ 
> <https://www.pointr.com/downloads>). 
> The
> > app itself follows standard SMS validation loop, if this is an issue I
> > can provide you with virtual number with email validation.
> >
> > Problem 1: Can you connect to the servers?
> > - Once you try to complete registration loop, you should get an error
> > that you are offline indicative that servers cannot be reached (AWS,
> > Ireland/US/Brazil/Japan).
> >
> > Problem 2: What is the perceived network quality within the app?
> > - Considering the outlined server distribution, if you run the network
> > analysis, can you take a screenshot and share it? (Example attached).
> >
> > Problem 3: What is the call quality between your devices?
> > - If you can run network analysis, can you register another device of
> > yours (same mobile number is ok) and call between your own devices to
> > test how the video streaming goes through and what type of delay you
> > experience? I will be also available for test calls if you want to
> > establish a call between your location and Finland: +358 40 357 3272
> > (group calls up to 7 users).
> >
> > Additionally any technical feedback on the behavior will be
> > appreciated specially if you experience issues.
> >
> > Best regards,
> > Sauli Kiviranta
> >
> > www.deltacygnilabs.com 
> <http://www.deltacygnilabs.com>
> >
> > Downloads:
> >
> > Android:
> > 
> https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.DeltaCygniLabs.Pointr 
> <https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.DeltaCygniLabs.Pointr>
> > APK:
> > https://www.pointr.com/downloads/#pointr-android 
> <https://www.pointr.com/downloads/#pointr-android>
> >
> > iOS:
> > 
> https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pointr-easy-remote-support/id1073131903 
> <https://apps.apple.com/us/app/pointr-easy-remote-support/id1073131903>
> >
> > UWP:
> > 
> https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/pointr-easy-remote-support/9NBLGGH52R41 
> <https://apps.microsoft.com/store/detail/pointr-easy-remote-support/9NBLGGH52R41>
> >
> > Windows:
> > https://www.pointr.com/downloads/#pointr-windows 
> <https://www.pointr.com/downloads/#pointr-windows>
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-- 
****************************************************************
Dr. Ulrich Speidel

School of Computer Science

Room 303S.594 (City Campus)

The University of Auckland
u.speidel at auckland.ac.nz  
http://www.cs.auckland.ac.nz/~ulrich/
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