Comments on: MonkeyBrains seeks $350,000,000 for its own satellite http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 26 May 2013 04:01:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Rhyolite http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1619323 Rhyolite Wed, 02 Jan 2013 23:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1619323  Exactly.  Exactly.

]]> By: Rhyolite http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1619322 Rhyolite Wed, 02 Jan 2013 23:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1619322  :)  Thanks, but I have a couple of my own satellites that I need to finish which will probably keep me busy through 2016.  Always happy to talk shop with new satellite ventures though.  Good luck.  :)  Thanks, but I have a couple of my own satellites that I need to finish which will probably keep me busy through 2016.  Always happy to talk shop with new satellite ventures though.  Good luck.

]]> By: MonkeyBrains ISP http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1618371 MonkeyBrains ISP Tue, 01 Jan 2013 07:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1618371  Rhyolite -- we will hire you upon securing our Indiegogo funds.  Contribute now toward your own future employment.  Rhyolite — we will hire you upon securing our Indiegogo funds.  Contribute now toward your own future employment.

]]> By: fuzzyfuzzyfungus http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1618123 fuzzyfuzzyfungus Mon, 31 Dec 2012 21:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1618123 Specifically, start reading at the "buy the orbital assets of the bankrupt suckers who tried it, for pennies on the dollar, then succeed!" step and go from there. Specifically, start reading at the “buy the orbital assets of the bankrupt suckers who tried it, for pennies on the dollar, then succeed!” step and go from there.

]]> By: fuzzyfuzzyfungus http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1618121 fuzzyfuzzyfungus Mon, 31 Dec 2012 21:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1618121 Yeah, check them out. Who wouldn't want to pay $6/gig for an internet connection with permanent high ping? There is a reason why almost all the satellite internet customers are in areas where the only competition is dialup and (sometimes) the neglected edges of a cell network. Anywhere else, even DSL is preferable. Yeah, check them out. Who wouldn’t want to pay $6/gig for an internet connection with permanent high ping? There is a reason why almost all the satellite internet customers are in areas where the only competition is dialup and (sometimes) the neglected edges of a cell network. Anywhere else, even DSL is preferable.

]]> By: r109 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617939 r109 Mon, 31 Dec 2012 18:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617939 DEMO DEMO

]]> By: euansmith http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617936 euansmith Mon, 31 Dec 2012 18:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617936 Okay, I'll try to think up some fresh stereotypes. Okay, I’ll try to think up some fresh stereotypes.

]]> By: C W http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617882 C W Mon, 31 Dec 2012 17:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617882 These days I'd just go with a tethered cellphone. Satellite "tends to get used", but it isn't a very good deal for the consumer. These days I’d just go with a tethered cellphone. Satellite “tends to get used”, but it isn’t a very good deal for the consumer.

]]> By: nixiebunny http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617862 nixiebunny Mon, 31 Dec 2012 16:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617862 As an example of how to do this sort of thing successfully, read up on Iridium. As an example of how to do this sort of thing successfully, read up on Iridium.

]]> By: Felton / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617858 Felton / Moderator Mon, 31 Dec 2012 16:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617858 So if Boing Boing were to hatch such a plot from the safety of our lair, we could count on your support?  I'll have one of the minions make a note of that. So if Boing Boing were to hatch such a plot from the safety of our lair, we could count on your support?  I’ll have one of the minions make a note of that.

]]> By: PhosPhorious http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617855 PhosPhorious Mon, 31 Dec 2012 16:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617855  My God!  If I thought THAT' what they were planning. . . I'd totally donate $10.  My God!  If I thought THAT’ what they were planning. . .

I’d totally donate $10.

]]> By: jackbird http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617836 jackbird Mon, 31 Dec 2012 15:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617836 A wild Cognitive Dissonance appears!  SPOING! A wild Cognitive Dissonance appears!  SPOING!

]]> By: millie fink http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617826 millie fink Mon, 31 Dec 2012 14:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617826 Fortunately, the expiration date of your tired, stale stereotype is almost here. Think harder, please. Fortunately, the expiration date of your tired, stale stereotype is almost here.

Think harder, please.

]]> By: Bottlekid http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617817 Bottlekid Mon, 31 Dec 2012 12:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617817 Does that price include the rust-proofing? Does that price include the rust-proofing?

]]> By: Richard Kirk http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617814 Richard Kirk Mon, 31 Dec 2012 11:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617814 A similar sum would get you a Skylon. See penultimate slide on... http://www.stfc.ac.uk/RALSpace/resources/PDF/Presentation_13.pdf This gets you a re-useable SSTO craft with good physics. You also get a bitchin' wikkid-hot riiide. If you fancy kickin' serious Mekon ass, you could pimp it with some worthy laaasers, pew pew pewpewpew neeeeyouuurrr... Ahem. Sorry about that. Got a bit carried away there. And that sum doesn't actually get you a whole working Skylon. But if they pass the hat around, I'm in. A similar sum would get you a Skylon. See penultimate slide on…
http://www.stfc.ac.uk/RALSpace/resources/PDF/Presentation_13.pdf

This gets you a re-useable SSTO craft with good physics. You also get a bitchin’ wikkid-hot riiide. If you fancy kickin’ serious Mekon ass, you could pimp it with some worthy laaasers, pew pew pewpewpew neeeeyouuurrr…

Ahem. Sorry about that. Got a bit carried away there. And that sum doesn’t actually get you a whole working Skylon. But if they pass the hat around, I’m in.

]]> By: euansmith http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617811 euansmith Mon, 31 Dec 2012 11:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617811 A string of small satellites in low Earth obit? Your not thinking of threatening to deorbit them over major cities (San Francisco appears to be the prime target) and blackmail the world's governments from the safety of your volcano-base? A string of small satellites in low Earth obit? Your not thinking of threatening to deorbit them over major cities (San Francisco appears to be the prime target) and blackmail the world’s governments from the safety of your volcano-base?

]]> By: euansmith http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617810 euansmith Mon, 31 Dec 2012 11:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617810 I thought that in Rural Areas, the main connectivity issues involved close family members and livestock. I thought that in Rural Areas, the main connectivity issues involved close family members and livestock.

]]> By: Rhyolite http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617801 Rhyolite Mon, 31 Dec 2012 10:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617801 PAAs are fine for the satellite but get spendy for mass-market earth stations.  I was primarily concerned the earth stations, which you have addressed in another sub-thread. PAAs are fine for the satellite but get spendy for mass-market earth stations.  I was primarily concerned the earth stations, which you have addressed in another sub-thread.

]]> By: Rhyolite http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617800 Rhyolite Mon, 31 Dec 2012 10:10:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617800 Getting a constellation of non-GEO, non-equatorial satellites to ascribe the same track trough the sky as viewed from a fixed point on the ground is a non-trivial problem.  (GEO and other equatorial orbits are ruled out by the 10 ms latency requirement.)  None of the existing LEO constellations (Iridium, Global Star, Orbcomm) does that.  They rely on omni or minimally directional earth station antennas.  Have you actually worked out the set of orbits (inclination, # planes, # sats) that would be needed to meet this requirement? Getting a constellation of non-GEO, non-equatorial satellites to ascribe the same track trough the sky as viewed from a fixed point on the ground is a non-trivial problem.  (GEO and other equatorial orbits are ruled out by the 10 ms latency requirement.)  None of the existing LEO constellations (Iridium, Global Star, Orbcomm) does that.  They rely on omni or minimally directional earth station antennas.  Have you actually worked out the set of orbits (inclination, # planes, # sats) that would be needed to meet this requirement?

]]> By: HubrisSonic http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617793 HubrisSonic Mon, 31 Dec 2012 09:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617793 This seems really well thought out. This seems really well thought out.

]]> By: MonkeyBrains ISP http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617792 MonkeyBrains ISP Mon, 31 Dec 2012 09:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617792 Visualize: many satellites along a path beaming down at SF... many clients (all on the ground) watching that narrow path in the sky that all the satellites will track.  The 'eye' of the antenna will see the width of the path (plus 1 degree) and 90 degrees of the sky (when a satellite leaves that window, another one will enter on the other end).  If economical, the ground stations will have a 'phased band' instead of a 'phased array' to pick out the satellite in that 90 degree window. Visualize: many satellites along a path beaming down at SF… many clients (all on the ground) watching that narrow path in the sky that all the satellites will track.  The ‘eye’ of the antenna will see the width of the path (plus 1 degree) and 90 degrees of the sky (when a satellite leaves that window, another one will enter on the other end).  If economical, the ground stations will have a ‘phased band’ instead of a ‘phased array’ to pick out the satellite in that 90 degree window.

]]> By: Rhyolite http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617791 Rhyolite Mon, 31 Dec 2012 08:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617791 That still sounds like it would need to be steered in one dimension to track the satellite. That still sounds like it would need to be steered in one dimension to track the satellite.

]]> By: MonkeyBrains ISP http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617788 MonkeyBrains ISP Mon, 31 Dec 2012 08:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617788 The radiation pattern of our earth station antennas will be approximately 90 degrees north-south and 1 degree east-west.  Orbit will be higher -- things tend to fall back to earth at 87 miles up -- closer to 10ms round trip.  Youtube/netflix/your email will be cached in orbit. The radiation pattern of our earth station antennas will be approximately 90 degrees north-south and 1 degree east-west.  Orbit will be higher — things tend to fall back to earth at 87 miles up — closer to 10ms round trip.  Youtube/netflix/your email will be cached in orbit.

]]> By: MonkeyBrains ISP http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617786 MonkeyBrains ISP Mon, 31 Dec 2012 08:11:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617786 Our plans call for a phased array.  Using beam forming techniques (activate different antennas and/or activating multiple antennas with signals slightly out of phase) we can accurately aim our beam at San Francisco.  Also, we will be able to zap other cities in the future that fall along the satellites' pathway. Our plans call for a phased array.  Using beam forming techniques (activate different antennas and/or activating multiple antennas with signals slightly out of phase) we can accurately aim our beam at San Francisco.  Also, we will be able to zap other cities in the future that fall along the satellites’ pathway.

]]> By: MonkeyBrains ISP http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617780 MonkeyBrains ISP Mon, 31 Dec 2012 07:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617780 Ha!  The first step in solving any problem is declaring: I don't know what's wrong, and then looking at what you do understand and working forward from there. Ha!  The first step in solving any problem is declaring: I don’t know what’s wrong, and then looking at what you do understand and working forward from there.

]]> By: Rhyolite http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617776 Rhyolite Mon, 31 Dec 2012 07:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617776 Another point...$350M is a reasonable price for a big GEO satellite like ViasSat-1 or Jupiter-1, which cover all of the densely populated areas of the US.  A more limited GEO project could be done for half that.  LEO projects, on the other hand, tend to be much more expensive.  Many more satellites are necessary and those satellites spend most of their time doing nothing - 70% of the Earth is covered in water while only a few % of the Earth is densely populated, so only a few minutes out of each orbit is spent operating at capacity.  As a result, the total amount of hardware required to provide a given amount of throughput is much higher at LEO than GEO.  Another point…$350M is a reasonable price for a big GEO satellite like ViasSat-1 or Jupiter-1, which cover all of the densely populated areas of the US.  A more limited GEO project could be done for half that.  LEO projects, on the other hand, tend to be much more expensive.  Many more satellites are necessary and those satellites spend most of their time doing nothing – 70% of the Earth is covered in water while only a few % of the Earth is densely populated, so only a few minutes out of each orbit is spent operating at capacity.  As a result, the total amount of hardware required to provide a given amount of throughput is much higher at LEO than GEO. 

]]> By: Rhyolite http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617771 Rhyolite Mon, 31 Dec 2012 07:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617771  Ummm...LEO satellites need tracking antennas, which makes them much more expensive and failure prone, or omni antennas, which have poor performance.  Ummm…LEO satellites need tracking antennas, which makes them much more expensive and failure prone, or omni antennas, which have poor performance.

]]> By: Lemoutan http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617772 Lemoutan Mon, 31 Dec 2012 07:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617772 We are proposing a chain of condominiums (à la Manchester) in a geostationary orbit that will sit directly between communications satellites.  Basically, we would have a 'string of users' orbiting around the globe to consume services over IP via satellites.  This will eliminate latency issues and line-of-sight issues traditional residents have as all dishes will be pointed straight ahead (no need to drill a drain hole as there aren't too many birds up there). We are proposing a chain of condominiums (à la Manchester) in a geostationary orbit that will sit directly between communications satellites.  Basically, we would have a ‘string of users’ orbiting around the globe to consume services over IP via satellites.  This will eliminate latency issues and line-of-sight issues traditional residents have as all dishes will be pointed straight ahead (no need to drill a drain hole as there aren’t too many birds up there).

]]> By: Peter Brülls http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617755 Peter Brülls Mon, 31 Dec 2012 05:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617755 Is this code for „We want to five Earth a pearl necklace“?  Is this code for „We want to five Earth a pearl necklace“? 

]]> By: Xof http://boingboing.net/2012/12/30/monkeybrains-seeks-35000000.html#comment-1617754 Xof Mon, 31 Dec 2012 05:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=203193#comment-1617754 <blockquote>My favorite downtime was due to someone at MB mysteriously unplugging something that apparently needed to be plugged in.  My least favorite involved someone in the background shouting "I don't know what's wrong with it!"</blockquote>I've never had Internet service with MB, so I can't really comment on how their total experience is compared to other providers. But in these two cases, the only difference between MB and any other ISP (including Comcast and AT&T) is that you knew of it, not that it happened.

My favorite downtime was due to someone at MB mysteriously unplugging something that apparently needed to be plugged in.  My least favorite involved someone in the background shouting “I don’t know what’s wrong with it!”

I’ve never had Internet service with MB, so I can’t really comment on how their total experience is compared to other providers. But in these two cases, the only difference between MB and any other ISP (including Comcast and AT&T) is that you knew of it, not that it happened.

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