It seems cats aren’t the only animals that are attracted to the dishes.
Getty Images/David Schnell
- Starlink satellites need satellite dishes on Earth to send internet signals.
- These dishes emit heat, which has started to attract cats.
- The issue appears to be caused by a Snow Melt Mode, according to Tesmanian.
Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, is experiencing problems with some of its dishes on the ground — they’ve started to attract cats.
To send signals from its satellites around the world, Starlink needs to install satellite dishes.
They can be installed on the roof or on an outside wall of a building, but many install them at ground level.
The dishes radiate heat and, as parts of the US are experiencing heavy snowfall, the dishes have started to attract cats, looking for somewhere cozy to shield from the cold weather.
To send signals from its satellites around the world, Starlink needs to install satellite dishes.
Hannibal Hanschke-Pool/Getty Images
A report in the Tesmanian suggested that the problem occurs when the “Snow Melt Mode” is switched on.
“Starlink works great until the cats find out that the dish gives off a little heat on cold days,” said one Starlink user, Aaron Taylor, on Twitter.
It seems cats aren’t the only animals that are attracted to the dishes, though.
“Different species, same problem,” wrote another Twitter user with an image of a bird on one of the Starlink satellite dishes.
While it’s not clear if the animals are blocking the signal, they may break the dish itself.
Elon Musk’s company can do little to stop cats attracted by its dishes, except to recommend that its users install them in a place that is out of reach to them.
