Starlink was offered for free to those hit by Hurricane Helene. It is not entirely free

[highplainsdem]

Source: The Register

The free Starlink service Elon Musk and SpaceX so graciously promised for communities devastated by Hurricane Helene in the US is not actually entirely free, according to those living in the aftermath - and the satellite operator's own signup page.

There is a significant caveat: You are still expected to foot the bill for the hardware.

Starlink's Twitter account declared last week, in a post with tens of millions of views, that "Starlink is now free for 30 days." The world's richest man, with a net worth of approximately $260 billion, followed up by saying, in quite the PR coup, that all Starlink terminals would now work automatically "without [the] need for payment in the areas affected by Hurricane Helene."

But try to sign up for the ostensibly "free" service in an area Starlink has designated as a Helene disaster zone, and surprise: You still have to pay for the terminal (normally $350, but reportedly discounted to $299 for disaster relief, though that's not reflected in Starlink's signup page), plus shipping and tax, bringing the grand total to just shy of $400.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/08/free_starlink_hurricane_helene/

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Damn Elon and the MAGAts who've been touting this on Twitter as if it was completely free.

After the "free" month, people are switched to a $120/month plan.

If you already have the Starlink hardware and you're in the disaster zone, you MIGHT get a month free, if Starlink approves it after you apply for it.

The article says delivery can take a few weeks, and by that time regular internet might be back.

[2naSalit]

10. Unless...

You have tracfone or some prepaid set up, they disabled that capability, I've tried many times.

[brewens]

2. I think I saw the words "no cost" come out of his mouth. Can they sue him for that? No cost means no cost.

I think he said anyone in the disaster zone. I would hold him to a Starlink set for every single person, but all they need and everyone that already had Starlink should be courtesy of Elon for a short time anyway. People that already had the sets were being asked to help out and probably are.

[SheltieLover]

3. Likely only free to ruskies.

[GB_RN]

4. Almost $400?!? Oof.

Eloon has made a mint in government contracts just with SpaceX alone. Add in what we’ve been paying him for the Starlink coverage for Ukraine, and you’d THINK the bastard could come off a few units of hardware. I mean, the cost of giving the hardware away wouldn’t even be a blip on his personal balance sheet. Christ, the asshole would even get a tax deduction for it, I’m sure.

Fucking “American” oligarch. Fascist prick. If his antics hadn’t already turned me off from EVER buying a Tesla, this definitely would have. Eloon can fuck all the way off. And when he gets there, he can keep right on fucking off. And ingest a satchel of Richards while he’s at it.

Don’t think too hard about that last line. 😁

[flying_wahini]

5. They can always reset their phones to get a direct satellite link.

[LauraInLA]

6. How do you do that???

[canuckledragger]

7. I've learned that it's a feature of Pixel 9 cell phones.

Something to do with it being an emergency backup when cell service isn't available, but that's all I know about it.

[LauraInLA]

14. Ooh, thanks! I'll check it out.

[lapfog_1]

18. apple starting with 14

now google with the pixel 9

and samsung "someday"

The Google Pixel 9 and other Pixel 9 models have a satellite SOS feature that allows users to contact emergency services and share their location in areas without cellular or Wi-Fi

The pixel is using different very limited bandwidth old satellites like the iridium ( those still in service ) and another satellite. Not exactly a wifi service for calling your friends or family, but text messages are possible. on both Apple and Pixel it apparently comes for free. sort of like Onstar.

[4lbs]

8. It reminds me of that "FREE" testosterone they advertise everywhere, especially on TV.

The first 30 days are "free", but you must supply a credit card or debit card (why, if it is FREE?)

Then you will automatically be charged, what $30 to $50 per month for a re-supply of them, until you manually unsubscribe. That's right, you are automatically subbed for an auto ship every 30 days.

Also, they seem to make "quitting" very difficult. You almost need to call them and tell them to stop charging, and that you might even need to threaten them with calling your credit card co / bank and denying/disputing the charges.

My father got roped into that several years ago. He got a FREE first month of that testosterone (he was in his 80s then and fell for such things easily until I had to take control of the family finances), but then found he was charged $40 for another month. I had to call and tell them to stop it, and we would send that second 30 days back (it was even unopened, so there should have been no complaints.) It cost maybe $5 once at the time to send them back, instead of being charged $40 every month.

So, anytime I see "FREE" being advertised, I always ask, "Umm.... what's the catch? Where's that fine print, man?"

[2naSalit]

9. This info...

Needs to get a lot of attention. Talk about gouging.

[3Hotdogs]

11. My iPhone has free emergency satellite service.

It is probably Starlink.

[CloudWatcher]

16. Um, no. The iPhone doesn't use Starlink! n/t

[3Hotdogs]

19. Then what is it using?

[CloudWatcher]

20. GlobalStar satellite network

GlobalStar. Good for text messages but not for watching movies or high speed anything. Same as any of a dozen different SOS devices that have been sold to hikers for years.

From Outdoor Gear Lab iPhone Emergency SOS

Apple uses the GlobalStar satellite network for the iPhone 14 SOS functionality. This is the same network that one of the longest-running companies in the outdoor communication game uses. GlobalStar offers coverage throughout all low to moderate latitudes (below 62 degrees). Technologically, Apple Satellite SOS could work anywhere there is GlobalStar coverage (within normal satellite communication limitations). However, logistically, emergency response is locally administered. Because of this, Apple Satellite SOS is only available in approved areas. Coverage for US and Canada rolled out in November of 2022. We tested in Southern Argentina in December of 2022. We were in a location with GlobalStar coverage, but the “SOS” icon on the iPhone was not visible. Nor was the demo mode or Find My satellite location service. Testing of other devices employing GlobalStar in Alaska has indicated some functionality, but GlobalStar calls that coverage “marginal” at best.

[3Hotdogs]

21. Thx. I have the hiking emergency beacon and now, iPh 14. I had to use the beacon, two years ago.

I encountered a person on the trail.... flat down. Heart attack. I deployed the beacon, left the guy with my friend and walked three miles to where there was cell phone service. At that point, my cell phone went off with a live conversation from Pensacola Naval Air Station to inquire about the emergency. They had already forwarded the alert to local assistance.

The guy was still alive when help arrived. Beyond that, I don't know if he made it.

[FakeNoose]

12. That's an even worse deal than buying a new car and getting Sirius "free" for 30 days

At least when you buy your car, there's no additional hardware you need to purchase. Just sign up for the "free" Sirius satellite feed and then they start billing your credit card after the first month. It's a heck of a lot cheaper than $120 per month though. It used to be $15 per month but ... that was a while ago.

[Klarkashton]

13. And you have to give up all your info to use that shit.

And what happens after that? You get recurring charge and all that. funk that guy and fuck shitlink.

[SunSeeker]

15. Starlink sure wasn't free to fire ravaged Lahaina, Maui. nt

[C Moon]

17. What else is new? So many of the apps on iPhone are like this now.

Disgusting. They make a lot of money on people who either don't read the fine print, or forget about it when the month is up.
It's no surprise Musk is using this tired old tool—BUT AFTER A MAJOR HURRICANE?! What a piece of shit snake oil salesman.

[Wonder Why]

22. We live in the disaster zone and Eloon offered us nothing but his

worthless support of MAGAtman.