80,000 hops per second AD9361 measurement confirm Starlink terminal uplink/downlink channel pairing, and surprisingly big RF radiation

· Adafruit Industries Blog · Nov. 6, 2026, 8:48 p.m.
Summary
This blog post discusses new measurements of the Starlink terminal utilizing an AD9361 software-defined radio, noting a significant increase in frequency hopping speed from 10,000 to 80,000 hops per second. It highlights the implications of RF radiation and channel pairing between uplink and downlink frequencies. The findings challenge initial expectations regarding signal settling times and demonstrate substantial off-axis RF emissions from the terminal.