# software & services (blogs) — RSS Amplifier Recent posts from the 4 feeds in the RSS Amplifier directory that cover software & services. Page: Feed: --- ## [How an Extreme Storm Chaser and 6 Other Innovators Are Using Starlink to Pull Off the Unthinkable](https://uk.pcmag.com/networking/166797/how-an-extreme-storm-chaser-and-6-other-innovators-are-using-starlink-to) _2026-08-19 · Brian Westover · PCMag UK networking_ Whether it's broadcasting from inside a 190-mph tornado or surviving high-seas squalls on the Indian Ocean, these users are pushing SpaceX's satellite technology to the absolute limit. On June 20, 2025, near Enderlin, North Dakota, veteran storm chaser Reed Timmer was tracking a severe supercell, streaming real-time video via Starlink from Dominator 3 , a Ford F-350 that he and his team have… ## [Comcast's Xfinity Pushes Wi-Fi Routers for In-Home Motion Detection](https://uk.pcmag.com/wireless-routers/166792/comcasts-xfinity-pushes-wi-fi-routers-for-motion-sensing) _2026-08-18 · Michael Kan · PCMag UK networking_ Although Comcast is pitching 'WiFi Motion' as a home security solution that requires opt-in, the same capability is raising questions about privacy. Comcast is stirring up some privacy concerns after the company announced an Xfinity home internet feature that can turn a customer’s Wi-Fi setup into a motion detector. The feature, called WiFi Motion, is part of several components in Comcast’s new… ## [FCC Retracts 7 Million US Starlink Subscriber Figure](https://uk.pcmag.com/networking/166789/fcc-retracts-7-million-us-starlink-subscriber-figure) _2026-08-18 · Michael Kan · PCMag UK networking_ The US regulator has issued a correction when the 'over 7 million American subscribers' claim for Starlink seemed abnormally high. Oops: The Federal Communications Commission says it mistakenly claimed SpaceX’s Starlink had reached over 7 million subscribers in the US. The FCC has officially issued an “ erratum ” to correct the number, which appeared in the Commission’s Section 706 report… ## [A Rural ISP Takes a Dig at Starlink By Pointing To 'Hidden Costs'](https://uk.pcmag.com/networking/166782/a-rural-isp-takes-a-dig-at-starlink-by-pointing-to-hidden-costs) _2026-08-18 · Michael Kan · PCMag UK networking_ The Virginia-based Shentel posted the article after it lost some customers to Starlink. A traditional ISP in Virginia that’s been losing rural-area customers to Starlink is hitting back by pointing out the “hidden costs” of the satellite internet service As Light Reading reports , the ISP Shentel has published an article warning local users that adopting SpaceX’s Starlink can be … ## [Warning: Add These 6 Characters to Your Wi-Fi Network Name Immediately](https://uk.pcmag.com/wireless-routers/166772/warning-add-these-6-characters-to-your-wi-fi-network-name-immediately) _2026-08-18 · Neil J. Rubenking · PCMag UK networking_ Your phone is secretly broadcasting your network's unique ID. Type these six characters into your router settings to go off the grid. Your smartphone remembers every Wi-Fi network it has joined. As you move through the world, it listens for available Wi-Fi nodes with an eye to reconnecting with known sources. At any time, you can peek into settings and see all the networks around you. But… ## [Broadband Bills Have Increased for Nearly Half of Americans. Most Say Service Still Stinks](https://uk.pcmag.com/networking/166771/broadband-bills-have-increased-for-nearly-half-of-americans-most-say-service-still-stinks) _2026-08-18 · Mark Yarm · PCMag UK networking_ A new PCMag survey finds that two-thirds of those whose monthly fees have gone up report unreliable home internet. If you’re fed up with your ISP, here’s what you can do about it. Reliable high-speed internet is a necessity for most Americans. So why does it feel like we're paying more for a service that's become less reliable? Maybe because nearly half of us are. A recent PCMag survey finds that… ## [Starlink's New Gigabit Gateways Face Interference Complaint From Iridium](https://uk.pcmag.com/networking/166766/starlinks-new-gigabit-gateways-face-interference-complaint-from-iridium) _2026-08-17 · Michael Kan · PCMag UK networking_ 'A fair number of SpaceX’s gateways would cause unacceptable interference,' Iridium tells the FCC, citing the company's ongoing tests. SpaceX’s effort to upgrade Starlink with gigabit speeds is facing resistance from rival satellite communications provider Iridium, which argues the proposed “gateway” stations risk creating radio interference. On Monday, an attorney for Iridium sent a letter to the… ## [iPhone Satellite Provider Globalstar Finally Gets Some New Sats After Delays](https://uk.pcmag.com/wireless-carriers/166763/iphone-satellite-provider-globalstar-launches-8-new-sats-after-delay) _2026-08-17 · Michael Kan · PCMag UK networking_ The iPhone satellite communications provider Globalstar is hinting the replacement satellites will also 'strengthen' the company's current offerings. Ahead of its pending acquisition from Amazon, iPhone satellite feature provider Globalstar has launched eight new satellites to both maintain, and “strengthen” its existing constellation. This past weekend, Globalstar successfully deployed eight… ## [The Best Gaming Routers for 2026](https://uk.pcmag.com/wireless-routers/96497/the-best-gaming-routers) _2026-08-14 · John R. Delaney · PCMag UK networking_ Have a household full of digital devices—and online gamers? Your network needs a router that's ready-made to give gaming traffic the right of way. Check out the best we've tested. Gaming Router vs. Regular Router: What's the Difference? Among the biggest differences between a gaming router and a typical consumer router is how they handle quality of service (QoS) or bandwidth prioritization. Almost… ## [FCC Says Starlink Has Over 7 Million US Subscribers. Wait, What?](https://uk.pcmag.com/networking/166734/fcc-says-starlink-has-over-7-million-us-subscribers-wait-what) _2026-08-14 · Michael Kan · PCMag UK networking_ UPDATE: The FCC has issued a correction after PCMag reported the possibility the number was wrong. UPDATE 8/18: The FCC has retracted the over 7 million figure. Original story: A new report from the Federal Communications Commission suggests that Starlink’s growth in the US has somehow tripled, reaching over 7 million subscribers. The 7 million figure is in Friday’s “Section 706” \