SpaceX has received FCC clearance to operate a mysterious “wireless module” device that might be a new Starlink router.On Tuesday, the FCC issued an equipment authorization for the device, which uses the 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi radio bands. A document in SpaceX’s filing also says it features antennas along with Wi-Fi chips apparently from MediaTek. Another document calls the device by the codename “UTW-231,” and defines it as a “wireless router” supporting IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ax for Wi-Fi 6 speeds up to 1,300Mbps.But perhaps the most interesting part is an image SpaceX attached, which suggests the router is relatively small and can fit in a person’s open hand. Meanwhile, a separate PDF includes a difficult-to-parse antenna specification.
(Credit: SpaceX/FCC)
The document doesn’t reveal much else. SpaceX has filed to keep the external and internal photos and the device’s user manual confidential for the next 180 days. But it’s possible the router is linked to SpaceX’s plans for a portable dish for its Starlink satellite internet service. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has said the “Starlink mini” dish is slated to arrive later this year and that it’s small enough to fit in a backpack. A previous FCC filing also indicates the mini dish is about the size of a laptop.
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Since then, the company’s firmware releases for existing Starlink equipment have included mentions of “mini1_proto0,” “mini1_proto1” and then “mini1_prod1.” On Wednesday, PCMag also spotted the official Starlink.com site referencing the name “Mini” in a specification page for the satellite internet system.
(Credit: Starlink.com)
The FCC authorization and website tweak suggests SpaceX will announce the router device soon. A year ago, the company also received FCC approval to sell its latest “Gen 3” Wi-Fi 6 router for Starlink. A week later, SpaceX then announced the product, which is currently bundled with the new V4 Starlink dish.
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