Perhaps only 300 of the 500 satellites are in position and fully active. There will be a need to increase satellites by the end the year for reliable voice and internet service. The power used to transmit signal is increased by 8X. This will enable 3-4 bars of connection most anywhere on earth.

Here is a video of the texting usage. The satellites are not fully deployed. The power upgrade did not start yet.

How to get Starlink everywhere? More satellites, better spectrum, passive antennas and powered antennas.

Regular cell signals—say, from 4G towers—often operate at lower frequencies, like 700 MHz or 1.9 GHz, depending on the carrier. These lower frequencies are great at penetrating walls, windows, and other obstructions because they have longer wavelengths that can bend around or pass through materials more easily. Starlink's Direct-to-Cell service, however, uses frequencies in the PCS band, around 1.9–2 GHz, which are on the higher end of what traditional cell towers use. Higher frequencies tend to struggle more with penetration because their shorter wavelengths get absorbed or scattered by obstacles like concrete, brick, or even dense foliage.

So, does cranking up the power 8X solve this? Power helps, but it's not the whole story. Increasing PFD strengthens the signal arriving at your phone, which can overcome some signal loss from obstructions—think of it like turning up the volume on a speaker to hear it better through a wall. However, penetration isn't just about raw power; it's also about how the signal interacts with materials. At 1.9–2 GHz, Starlink's signals will still face significant attenuation (weakening) indoors. For example, a typical brick wall might reduce signal strength by 10–15 dB, and a concrete wall could knock off 20–30 dB or more. An 8X power increase translates to about 9 dB (since 10 log(8) ≈ 9), which is a solid boost but not enough to fully compensate for heavy losses through thick walls or multi-story buildings.

Passive Antenna (Built into Phone or Phone Case)
A passive antenna doesn't generate power—it's just a piece of metal or circuitry designed to capture and focus radio waves more effectively than the phone's tiny built-in antenna. Think of it like a funnel for signals. If it's small enough to fit in a phone case or be integrated into the phone, it could boost the signal by improving the phone's ability to "hear" the satellite.