Decoding Starlink's Ku-Band Downlink for Future Positioning and Timing
Signal Structure of the Starlink Ku-Band Downlink (2023) [pdf]
We developed a technique to blindly identify the Starlink downlink signal structure in the Ku-band. Our analysis reveals exact synchronization sequences that enable precise pseudorange measurements. This understanding is vital for repurposing Starlink signals for positioning, navigation, and timing, offering greater accuracy than current Doppler-based methods.
Such an understanding of the signal is essential to emerging efforts that seek to dual-purpose Starlink signals for positioning, navigation, and timing, despite their being designed solely for broadband Internet provision.