a big step forward for internet access in rural areas — but it's absolutely not designed for use on the road. This is what one California driver discovered after getting a ticket for mounting a Starlink satellite dish on the hood of their car.
For most people that live in rural America, home internet access is about as bad as it gets. Options are limited, speeds are slow, and prices are often through the roof. To fix this, SpaceX began its Starlink project in 2015 to create a system of low-orbit satellites that provide reliable, high-speed internet service. Starlink customers receive a satellite dish with their purchase, install it on or near their home, and that connects to all of the Starlink satellites hanging above the earth. The $99/month asking price + $499 hardware fee isn't the most affordable, but it's a considerable step forward for the quality of service Starlink offers.
While Starlink is a great option for home internet, it should not be used on a car. That may sound obvious, but it's something the California Highway Patrol recently encountered with one motorist. On the organization's Facebook page, the CHP shared two pictures on July 2 showing a Toyota Prius with a Starlink dish attached to the car's hood. When the CHP officer asked if the dish obstructed the car's view, the motorist said, "Only when I make right turns." The CHP then notes that, under California law, "It is illegal to mount a satellite dish to the hood of your vehicle."
What Musk Has Previously Said About Starlink & Cars
It might seem crazy that someone got the idea to put a Starlink satellite on their car, but this is actually something Elon Musk himself mentioned this past April. Talking to someone on Twitter, Musk said, "Yeah, [Starlink] should be fully mobile later this year, so you can move it anywhere or use it on an RV or truck in motion." He did go on to note that "We need a few more satellite launches to achieve compete [sic] coverage & some key software upgrades," but it's possible this person saw Musk's message, thought they had the go-ahead to use Starlink on their Prius, and off they went.
That's certainly not to say Musk is responsible for what this driver did, but it is interesting an incident like this occurred a couple of months after Musk threw out the idea of mobile Starlink service. It's something that clearly isn't ready with Starlink in its current form, and yet, the above pictures exist. Until Musk or SpaceX makes a proper announcement that Starlink can be used on the road, don't do what this driver did.
Source: California Highway Patrol