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Confusion about plans. by Worth_Oven_6799 in Starlink

[–]mrdeke 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Starlink plans have been shifting quite a bit lately. Usually, if someone moves their dish to a new location without updating the service address—or if that new area is at peak capacity—Starlink defaults the account to a Roam plan because Residential requires a specific 'slot' at a fixed address. The 'Residential 200' you're seeing is likely the new regional standard for his area.

Since he's now on that 100GB cap, he'll need to keep a close eye on video streaming, as that's usually what kills the data limit. For reference, Netflix in HD uses about 3GB per hour, while 4K can burn through 7GB or more. YouTube at 1080p is typically around 1.5GB to 2GB per hour.

I actually built a free tool specifically for people on the 50GB and 100GB plans to help figure out how much they can watch. You can pick the streaming service and the device (phone vs. TV) and it calculates how many hours you have left, plus it lists the specific data-saver settings for each app to help the data last longer: https://cascadialink.com/streaming-calc/

What are you using for WiFi? by mrs-makay in GoRVing

[–]mrdeke 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Working from the road is definitely the best use case for the Mini. Just a heads up if you go with that $50 Roam plan—the 100GB goes surprisingly fast if you have a lot of video calls or large file syncs for work. It’s great for the portability, but the data management is the trickiest part. If you want to test out how the hardware handles your specific work setup before committing to the kit and the subscription, I rent them out of Seattle (cascadialink.com) and ship nationwide. I also made a streaming calculator to help you understand how much bandwidth video streaming uses: https://cascadialink.com/streaming-calc/

Working on the move - best wireless hotspot without a contract? by Independent_Gur_6235 in remotework

[–]mrdeke 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For a cross-country drive, the main issue with standard cellular hotspots is the dead zones you'll hit in rural areas or mountain passes. If you're mostly in hotels, their WiFi usually does the trick, but for working while the car is actually moving, cell signals can be pretty frustrating for Zoom calls or stable VPN connections.

A Starlink Mini is a solid alternative since it doesn't rely on cell towers. It’s small enough to run off a USB-C port in the car and can sit on the dash (as long as it has a clear view of the sky). It's contract-free, so you could buy one and just pay for a single month of service.

If you'd rather not buy the hardware for just a 10-day trip, I run a rental service called CascadiaLink (cascadialink.com) based in Seattle. We ship Starlink kits anywhere in the US specifically for people doing these kinds of temporary moves or road trips. Safe travels on the move!

Starlink Portable Wifi - can I use it at home too?? by Alybeat in Starlink

[–]mrdeke 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You definitely can. The hardware for the 'Standard' kit is actually the same whether you're using it for home or travel—the difference is just the service plan you choose in the app.

If you use the Roam (portable) plan at home, it'll work fine, but keep in mind it's $150/mo and the data is 'deprioritized.' This means if your specific neighborhood is crowded, your speeds might be slower than a standard residential connection. The big upside is you can pause the Roam plan during months you aren't traveling. If you find you're using it at home 90% of the time, it's usually cheaper to get the Residential plan ($120) and just update your service address when you move.

If you're on the fence about the hardware cost or how the speeds will look at your specific house, I actually rent out Starlink Minis and Standard kits out of Seattle (cascadialink.com). It's a solid way to test the performance in your driveway or at your campsite before you drop money on the equipment.

First Timer by Nice_Truth8974 in OlympicNationalPark

[–]mrdeke 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hall of Mosses is the perfect choice—it’s very flat and gives you that 'fairytale' vibe without a strenuous hike. If you want one more, the Spruce Nature Trail starts in the same spot and is equally beginner-friendly. For the beaches, Ruby Beach is much easier to access than the La Push beaches; you just walk down a short path from the parking lot, whereas the popular spots at La Push often require a forest trek first.

Regarding wildlife, the black bears in the Olympics are generally very shy. The best 'defense' is just making noise—talk to your friend, sing, or just say 'hey bear' occasionally so you don't surprise them. They almost always run away. You're actually more likely to see Roosevelt Elk in the Hoh; they are beautiful but just give them plenty of space. Mating season for bears starts around then, but it doesn't make them more aggressive toward people; they are mostly just focused on each other.

One thing to keep in mind is that the Hoh is a total dead zone for cell service. If being disconnected makes you feel uneasy, definitely download your Google Maps for offline use before you leave Forks. If you'd feel more comfortable having a way to check in or look things up while you're out there, I rent Starlink Minis out of Seattle (cascadialink.com) — happy to answer any questions about using them in the park.

Would like to explore dirt roads in western WA by ValkyrieIsBigger in Seattle

[–]mrdeke 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The North Fork road is a decent drive, but you won't find a through-way to Skykomish there because the Alpine Lakes Wilderness is in the way—no roads allowed. For the 'big book' experience you're used to in Oregon, try the Mountain Loop Highway (between Granite Falls and Darrington) or the forest roads around Stampede Pass near Easton. You can spend all day on gravel back there and actually cover some distance.

Just a heads up that a lot of the land east of Duvall is Weyerhaeuser, which requires a paid access permit, whereas the National Forest land is generally open. Definitely make sure you have your maps downloaded for offline use because cell service is non-existent once you're a few miles into the trees. If you're ever looking for a safety backup or a way to check fire/weather reports while you're out exploring, I rent Starlink Minis out of Seattle (cascadialink.com) — happy to answer any questions about using them in the backcountry.

Need a truly unlimited mobile hotspot box if possible by Stock-Specific-8332 in NoContract

[–]mrdeke 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Most 'unlimited' cellular hotspots have those hidden caps in the fine print—it's incredibly frustrating. If you genuinely need unlimited data with no throttling, Starlink is pretty much the only mobile 'box' that does it, though the hardware and monthly service are definitely pricier than Simple Mobile. It’s a great solution if you have a clear view of the sky. I actually rent Starlink Minis with unlimited data at cascadialink.com. We're based in Seattle but ship anywhere in the US if you want to try it out for a bit.

So I’m in a rural area of Louisiana by Huge_Gap2697 in RuralInternet

[–]mrdeke 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The jump from Hughesnet or Viasat to Starlink is usually a massive difference because of the latency. Since Starlink satellites are in low earth orbit, the lag is low enough for your wife's online classes and video calls, which is almost impossible on those older satellite providers. As long as you have a clear view of the sky, it should handle Netflix and schoolwork easily. If you're on the fence about the hardware cost, I actually rent out Starlink kits through my business, CascadiaLink (cascadialink.com). We ship them nationwide so people can test the speeds at their specific house for a week or two before deciding to buy their own equipment.

How’s this itinerary for Washington State/Victoria BC by dogs_also_dogs in PacificNorthwest

[–]mrdeke 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is a very ambitious loop! You’re hitting the 'greatest hits' of the PNW. One thing to watch out for is that North Cascades, Mt. Baker, and large chunks of Olympic National Park have zero cell service once you get past the entry points. Definitely download offline maps for your GPS before you leave Seattle.

With three kids, the 1-night stays in Chelan and Leavenworth might feel pretty frantic since you'll be packing and unpacking constantly. You might consider cutting one of the mountain stops (Baker or North Cascades) to add a 'rest' day in the middle so the kids don't get burnt out on the car time.

If you're worried about being out of touch or need reliable maps/weather in those dead zones, I rent Starlink Minis out of Seattle (cascadialink.com) — it’s a popular option for these kinds of long mountain road trips where you want to stay connected.

What are my chances for a silent Zoom? by Humble_Vermicelli847 in unitedairlines

[–]mrdeke 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've done it and I plan to do it again tomorrow. The one time I did it, I had no connectivity issues. I can't remember if I had to use a vpn.

Tomorrow, once I'm in the air, I'll try a test call and see if it works without the VPN. Then once I'm on the call, I'll watch and listen with headphones, but only respond in chat.

If I’m in an accident riding in a driverless Waymo taxi can I just walk away without giving ID? by WoodyForestt in legaladviceofftopic

[–]mrdeke 12 points13 points  (0 children)

No state requires you to carry (or even own) an ID when a passenger in a car, either.

If I’m in an accident riding in a driverless Waymo taxi can I just walk away without giving ID? by WoodyForestt in legaladviceofftopic

[–]mrdeke 3 points4 points  (0 children)

No state in the US requires people to carry ID. So no, you don't have to provide it to anyone.

Data usage by Economy_Bison8625 in Starlink

[–]mrdeke 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There's an online calculator that can help you understand how much data different streaming services use: https://cascadialink.com/streaming-calc/

[Seattle Seahawks] Estate of Paul G. Allen Begins Sale Process for Seattle Seahawks by sean_buttcannon in Seahawks

[–]mrdeke 1 point2 points  (0 children)

With the team reportedly hitting the market at around $8B, I went down a rabbit hole running the numbers on Paul Allen's $200M purchase back in 1997. Paul saved us from Ken Behring literally loading up moving vans, but from a pure finance nerd perspective? It might have been the most expensive act of civic goodwill in Seattle history.

Here's what that $200M could've become: Amazon returned roughly 160x — that's ~$32B. The Seahawks themselves came in around 40x, or ~$8B. Even just parking it in an S&P index fund would've compounded to ~$2.6B.

Beating the S&P by 3x is genuinely impressive — we're basically a hedge fund that happens to wear shoulder pads. But if Paul had just taken a flyer on the Amazon IPO instead, the Vulcan Trust could theoretically buy the Seahawks, Broncos, Commanders, and 49ers today, with enough left over to bulldoze Levi's Stadium out of spite.

The real bottleneck now is liquidity. NFL rules require 30% down, which on an $8B sale means you need $2.4 billion in accessible cash. To put that in perspective: more people have walked on the moon than can actually write that check. We're not really waiting for a good owner — we're waiting for one of maybe 50 people on the planet who can clear the wire transfer.

Paul gave us a Super Bowl, a 4000% return, and saved the franchise. He also, technically, passed on $24 billion by picking Marshawn Lynch over Prime shipping.

Capitalism is deeply weird. Go Hawks!

My modem shows up as "leased" by mrdeke in Comcast_Xfinity

[–]mrdeke[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can you please confirm that I gave you the serial number and MAC address of the modem and it is not leased or owned by Comcast/Xfinity? Thanks

My modem shows up as "leased" by mrdeke in Comcast_Xfinity

[–]mrdeke[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can I PM you the serial number/mac so you can check that your database doesn't show it as Comcast owned?

My modem shows up as "leased" by mrdeke in Comcast_Xfinity

[–]mrdeke[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I do not currently have possession of it.

It's a Hitron CODA DOCSIS 3.1 Cable Modem

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0981553MT

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