Satellite or Ground: Key Factors to Compare Starlink vs EarthLink Internet

Hi friend! Choosing home internet providers often feels overwhelming…too many options with fine print and hidden fees. You just want simple, honest advice helping you decide if fast-emerging satellite internet from Starlink suits your needs better, or proven and budget-friendly ground networks like EarthLink.

Well, you’ve come to the right place! I’ve carefully analyzed both Starlink and EarthLink based on their technology, performance metrics, contract terms and real-user reviews. My goal is to provide everything you need weighing satellite vs cable/DSL internet to make the choice crystal clear for YOUR home and budget…

Let’s get started!

Ground Internet vs Satellite: Key Differences Upfront

Traditional internet providers like EarthLink utilize existing ground infrastructure – telephone lines (DSL), coaxial cables (for Cable internet) or direct fiber optic wiring to homes and buildings in their service regions. Infrastructure builds out from central hubs in a hub-and-spoke model.

In contrast, revolutionary providers like Starlink beam internet data using thousands of small Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, orbiting much closer to the Earth’s surface than old-fashioned providers.

This leads to three GAME-CHANGING advantages for satellite internet consumers:

1) Consistent speeds and latency anywhere – Satellite signals aren’t limited by aging telephone wires or obstructing terrain in remote areas. So rural users can finally get fast, modern internet on par with urban dwellers!

2) Quick setup without Cable runs – Gone are the days of waiting weeks for technicians pulling fiber/cable to your home before going live. Starlink ships plug-and-play antenna kits for DIY installs in minutes.

3) No long-term contracts – Satellite internet means NOT getting locked into lengthy 2-3 year agreements you resent later. Starlink offers month-to-month flexibility unheard of from Big Cable and DSL.

But satellite tech has downsides too – sensitivity to extreme weather disruptions, large coverage dead zones near oceans, and heavy reliance on expensive rocket launches expanding costly satellite arrays over time. Plus data caps may limit bandwidth hungry families one day.

That’s why savvy consumers consider BOTH emerging satellite AND traditional ground internet players when choosing providers long term. Let’s explore how early pioneer Starlink stacks up to old guard ISP EarthLink on critical decision factors.

Company History Comparison: The Young Upstart vs the Acquired Veteran

Founded originally in 1994 as one of the earliest consumer ISP’s on the public internet, EarthLink enjoyed early success competing nationally with internet pioneers AOL and Compuserve.

After the dot-com crash wiped out many young ISP’s, EarthLink survived by expanding through numerous acquisitions – growing from just 200,000 subscribers in 2000 to over 5 million by 2006 and a peak of 7 million in 2009.

Growth leveled off in recent years as cable monopolies slowed subscriber switching, but prudent acquisitions built an established customer base across 45 states relying on its hybrid DSL and fiber optic internet services.

Starlink took a far more revolutionary approach by launching its own fleet of global broadband satellites. Formed in 2015 under Elon Musk’s SpaceX banner to extend its rocket launch business, the smart capitalized on lower cost reusable rockets to begin populating Low Earth Orbit with internet relay satellites.

From just 122 operating satellites in 2021, Starlink has accelerated launches to over 3,300 satellites as of February 2023. But why such aggressive expansion in its early years?

Because beaming internet from LEO requires THOUSANDS of relay nodes rather than the handful of distant geosynchronous satellites used by early sat internet providers stricken with painfully slow performance.

By maintaining growing fleets of satellites just ~350 miles overhead, Starlink promises lag-free broadband that rivals or exceeds peak speeds from residential fiber hookups. Even better, availability could soon extend virtually everywhere on the globe!

But this expensive infrastructure requires ongoing investment – $5-$10 billion more raised just in 2022 amidst a tricky economic climate. It also hinges on SpaceX continuing its run of successful lower cost rocket launches, now over 200.

Can fledgling Starlink maintain its breakneck pace deployingenough satellites to cover high maintenance and user expansion costs? How might an economic downturn impact its future funding and growth?

Comparing Satellite and Ground Internet Performance

Let’s move from history to hard performance numbers. When it comes to download speeds, latency and connectivity essential for modern internet activities like streaming HD video or competitive gaming, HOW do Starlink and EarthLink actually compare?

Independent testing provides insights checking REAL user experience metrics using tools like Speedtest.net rather than just marketing claims. And the numbers reveal tradeoffs to satellite architecture plus ground infrastructure variables worth noting.

Internet Speed Comparison

(Data Source: Federal Communications Commission)

WOW, nearly 1 Gigabit peak from EarthLink? Their fiber optic services clearly outpace Starlink’s satellite capacity in select regions. But notice EarthLink’s higher variability between average and max speeds – you may fall well below averages if local infrastructure is dated.

Satellite speeds stay consistent across environments given continuous birds overhead. And as Starlink launches more satellites, max throughput is projected to reach 300 Mbps and beyond.

Let’s check another key metric – latency. This measurement of network response time is CRITICAL for modern gaming, video chat, or voice services which suffer as latency rises over 25ms.

Latency Comparison

We see comparable average latency between the services, but Starlink wins out on peak latency which has exceeded 125ms for some EarthLink users. This highlights how local infrastructure drives ground network performance. Fiber optics provide blazing speeds with low consistent latency, but congested node links or telephone based DSL suffers during high traffic.

Satellite’s distance inherently limits latency below 30ms seen for cutting edge fiber networks. But continual overhead coverage from passing LEO satellites keeps latency FAR more consistent than legacy DSL or cable systems reliant on node capacity.

Comparing Geographic Availability Regionally

Internet infrastructure builds out in pieces rather than overnight, so its NO surprise that both Starlink and EarthLink show patchy availability in 2022 as their networks continue expanding. Let’s explore regional access differences to understand who leads as rollout progresses.

Starting with household figures across the United States and Canada where most early subscriptions exist:

• Starlink – Available for 600,000+ households as of October 2022
• EarthLink – Available for 55 million households per company filings

But raw numbers don’t give the full picture. Internet quality depends greatly on population density. Rural regions suffer most from aging telephone based networks, leaving consumers stranded on old infrastructure as cable and fiber deployments focus on metropolitan expansions first.

Analyzing county by county availability paints a clearer picture:

While EarthLink naturally skews towards urban density, Starlink availability extends internet oases across rural America despite still early in its rollout. Even reachable counties show holes in coverage today, but satellite technology promises consistent buildout anywhere home dishes see open sky above.

Don’t forget mobile usage for RVs or remote cabins also relies on satellites having you covered as you roam in and out of wireless tower range.

For the underserved rural American wanting modern broadband today without waiting years for buried fiber buildout, Starlink availability brings real hope IF able to order service amidst continuing waitlists for antenna kits.

Installation and Setup Comparison

I’ll never forget the headache from my last cable internet install – waiting weeks for an open appointment so the tech could pull fiber to my home exterior, then drill holes threading wire inside to setup the modem. What a production for a vital modern utility!

Because Starlink satellites beam straight to your antenna kit without infrastructure running to the building, setup proves MUCH easier for the average consumer. Let‘s contrast what to expect:

Starlink Install

• Shipping container arrives with antenna, mounts, cables and router
• Select location with clear view of sky to place dish
• Mount to roof or pole using provided hardware
• Run cable to interior and connect router to complete
• Total time – 1 to 2 hours

EarthLink Install

• Schedule technician visit based on region availability
• Wait 2-4 weeks depending on demand
• Technician routes fiber/cable from tap to structure
• Drills entry hole if necessary, pulls lines to modem site
• Connects modem, tests speeds
• Total time – 3-6 Hours (if all goes smoothly!)

When comparing the two experiences, Starlink certainly provides more convenience and consistency. But some users may prefer letting professionals handle equipment installation, configuration and testing rather than DIY antenna placement. And in select urban regions with accessible distribution boxes, EarthLink enables quick self-setups more akin to Starlink‘s approach.

But regardless of skill level, Satellite internet wins out for ease of installation and avoiding extended wait times for technicians.

Comparing Network Performance and Reliability

Stability and uptime are gerade-A priorities when picking ideal internet providers for work and entertainment needs. Nothing’s more frustrating than experiencing regular outages disrupting video calls or online gaming marathons.

Both Starlink and EarthLink deliver solid 93%+ monthly uptime per FCC availability data as of mid 2022. But their outage causes and impacts differ:

Starlink Outages

• Momentary blips when satellites switch coverage zones
• Significant weather drops – heavy snow/rain blocks satellite signals
• Rare hardware failure in LEO fleet
• Beta downtime for software updates

EarthLink Outages

• Local equipment failure – damaged lines, router issues
• High winds/weather rarely effect ground infrastructure
• Overutilization during peak hours for congested nodes
• Rerouting during network hardware upgrades

Starlink’s global satellite structure has built massive redundancy and fault tolerance NOT seen in ground networks. But because antennas require direct sky access, heavy storms pose Achilles heel not impacting buried fiber and cable.

And being an early stage system, Starlink endures short maintenance windows for frequent software improvements and new capability testing as its grows its fleet.

For EarthLink via leased infrastructure, outage factors concentrate along shared local lines and junction hardware vulnerable to damage. Congestion also creeps up in cities as subscriber bandwidth needs continually increase.

So both achieve solid reliability, but weigh outage triggers against your environment. Storm-prone regions favor buried infrastructure resilience while rural users face fewer overutilization risks.

Contract and Commitment Comparison

Hidden termination fees and painful long-term contracts are common tactics for service providers to lock in subscribers across industries like cable TV and mobile phone access.

But with Starlink taking a fresh approach, internet providers find themselves adapting contract terms to compete with the flexibility promise of satellite internet.

How do Starlink and EarthLink stack up on contract commitments?

Starlink Contract Terms

• No long term contracts
• Cancel anytime with 30 days notice
• Pause service when traveling
• No early termination fees

EarthLink Contract Terms

• 1 or 2 year initial contract
• $100-$200 early termination fee
• Temporary suspension unavailable
• Changing plans resets contract timer

The difference keeps options open if your location demands better fit another provider, or if you want the ability to pause things like when snowbirds head south for winter. No being stuck should life priorities shift.

For those valuing flexibility, Starlink certainly sets itself apart from the industry norm. But EarthLink provides discounted promotional rates to those willing to commit longer term. You decide what matters most.

Comparing Bottom Line Monthly Cost Factors

At the end of the day, delivering solid internet speeds and reliability often carries a HEFTY price tag riddled with taxes, fees and surcharges that bloat advertised sticker pricing. How do costs stack up between our two contenders?

Monthly Cost Comparison

Pricing clearly skews higher for satellite delivery before even tallying steep antenna costs. Butwireless infrastructure means you escape tacked-on fees common from cable and DSL bills. And don’t forget contract flexibility and consistent speeds in rural areas lacking infrastructure carry intangible value too.

Run the full numbers across a couple years when comparing options for your home. Promotions fade while satellites continue beaming!

Provisioning Timelines: Satellite Scales Faster Than Buried Fiber

Need internet access urgently whether moving or fed up with sluggish speeds? Network rollouts favor those unencumbered by trenching fiber or coax to individual structures.

Once sufficient satellites reach orbit, wireless provisioning from Starlink vastly outpaces the week or months required for wired last mile. Let’s contrast typical timelines:

Starlink Delivery Timeline

• Order antenna kit immediately with view of sky confirmations
• Shipped via ground freight within 1-2 weeks
• Self-setup and activate service in 1-2 hours
• Total Wait Time: 2-4 weeks

EarthLink Delivery Timeline

• Confirm serviceable location with customer service
• Select plan and set up billing
• Wait 2-4 weeks for local technician scheduling
• Appointment for site survey and equipment install
• Total Wait Time: 4-8 weeks (or longer!)

Again we see Starlink’s uniform experience mimic an on-demand service rather than the regional variability of wired internet. Even 5G wireless home internet can’t compete thanks to infrastructure sitting idle waiting for consumer sign-ups before lighting fiber or cable runs.

Key Takeaways Comparing Satellite and Ground Internet

Let’s recap satellite vs ground key decision factors after surveying Starlink and EarthLink:

Satellite Internet Advantages

• Consistent speeds and latency nearly anywhere
• Rapid self-installation gets you online faster
• No long term contracts and cancellation fees
• Resilient to regional power grid interruptions
• Scales globally faster than trenching fiber last miles

Ground Internet Advantages

• Higher peak speeds in upgraded regions
• Less impact from extreme weather patterns
• Professional installation assistance
• Tap infrastructure constantly upgrading over time
• Availability in urban areas outpaces satellites

Now you’ve got the complete picture comparing today’s revolutionary satellite internet paradigm against reliable heritage from ground infrastructure.

Neither fit every region and budget uniformly. But having both technology options drives competition and connectivity for all.

I hope surveying Starlink vs EarthLink left you empowered picking whichever suits your lifestyle and location best long term without buyer’s remorse. Let me know if any other questions come up!