Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, particularly SpaceX’s Starlink, have quickly gained popularity and have become a viable alternative to traditional terrestrial Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in recent years. However, due to their novelty and unique architecture,
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Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, particularly SpaceX’s Starlink, have quickly gained popularity and have become a viable alternative to traditional terrestrial Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in recent years. However, due to their novelty and unique architecture, research into their performance is limited, especially one comparing LEO and terrestrial internet. This paper will demonstrate how user-initiated active measurements can be used to both gather new data about LEO internet and assess and compare the performance of individual networks. First, performance metrics that reflect typical internet usage scenarios, such as web browsing and video streaming, are chosen. Next, a test suite is developed to collect data about one’s network. It also augments this data with location information to aid in later comparison. This data can then be used for comparisons between individual networks as well as in further research. The last step integrates the suit developed into a web based platform that aims to provide a wide variety of information about Starlink’s performance, architecture and allow users to gauge the potential benefits of transitioning from terrestrial to LEO internet could provide them.