StarLink

[Peto]

Starlink sounds like a great option for the off grid RV’er. Has anyone had any experience's in the deep dark outter spaces of Utah? I’m planning alotta time in central Utah, and as you all probably know is very remote. Thanks

More remote than low earth orbit

 

[fchampneys]

Referring to above question about off-grid in Utah. As a beehive resident, I have had Starlink now for almost a year. From Antelope Island to Torrey, the San Rafael Swell, and points in between, as long as you’re not parked under trees, Starlink has worked perfectly. I’ve used both the $50/50 gig and the $165 unlimited roaming plans. I clearly spend too much time streaming in the evenings so I’m opting to pay for the expensive plan during our high use months. But turning it off after camping during winter months helps make it bearable.

 

[Millertyme76]

We can use our phones most of the times but there are times the Starlink works better. We have the 50gb roam plan. So far so good.

 

[Bpeacock3118]

Great insights.
Do any of you campers use Starlink as your home internet and then take the system with you as you travel?
I think the best travel communication/entertainment system would involve internet. TV/Movie streaming. Telephone use internet calling. Internet availability for emails and work
Does steaming use lots of data?
Thanks again.

Been using STARLINK roaming plan for about a year now both on the road (mid-Atlantic New England upstate NY South Carolina and currently in southern Ohio) and at home in south central PA. So far the only problem we’ve had is a lightning strike at the neighbors house blew out my power unit which STARLINK replaced for free in about a week! Other than that we are extremely happy with the service. As for the one comment about must have a clear sky, I’ve had a usable signal in some heavy trees.

 

[Montie]

Can anyone explain how billing works with the roam plan? If you pause and un-pause would that just be a partial payment for what was used that month? We camp almost every month at least for a weekend but paying monthly for a few days of service would be not ideal. A second question my 2025 Montana came with a Wingard air 360 antenna that has a “WiFi” prep. My understanding is that is still a cellular device? So no service and it still won’t work?. I wish OnStar would make a device that could piggyback your GM truck WiFi plan to an rv. My truck has WiFi everywhere I go. So currently went we have no service we turn the truck on to send a text/make a call or look something up real quickly.

 

[GregP1968]

Starlink doesn't do partial month payments, so you are correct that you would pay for a full month of service. If you don't use a ton of data you could try the 50 gig plan, and you'd be able to buy extra gigs if you think you would use up the 50.

Can anyone explain how billing works with the roam plan? If you pause and un-pause would that just be a partial payment for what was used that month? We camp almost every month at least for a weekend but paying monthly for a few days of service would be not ideal. A second question my 2025 Montana came with a Wingard air 360 antenna that has a “WiFi” prep. My understanding is that is still a cellular device? So no service and it still won’t work?. I wish OnStar would make a device that could piggyback your GM truck WiFi plan to an rv. My truck has WiFi everywhere I go. So currently went we have no service we turn the truck on to send a text/make a call or look something up real quickly.

 

[Rhagfo]

Hello, I did tons of research on satellite systems and cell services and decided Starlink was the way to go. At my seasonal site I barely have one bar of Verizon service on my phone, absolutely no over the air tv channels, and I get 2 radio stations .lol. I got the standard Starlink kit, $349 and I'm on the roam unlimited plan..$165 a month. Before you even buy the system you can download the app and it has a check for obstructions test, and you enter your zip code to check and make sure it's available in that area...just about all of the US is available. Setup took about 10 minutes, it is fast, and have had absolutely no issues at all. You can travel anywhere in the country with it and at speeds up to 100mph if mounted

Well we do camp hosting, and our favorite site had terrible cellar coverage for AT&T got a WeBoost helped a bit but still not great. Got Star Link gen 3 great service, we do suffer some buffering but based on the obstructions still very good, we use WiFi calling.

 

[GregP1968]

Wow that is some obstruction! Wouldn't get good service from anything looking at that picture.

 

[Rhagfo]

Wow that is some obstruction! Wouldn't get good service from anything looking at that picture.

Well as I said we do get some buffering, it varies depending on who we are streaming. We do have a couple that are pretty solid.
Right now we have the antenna on a 10’ stick of EMT, looking at a 20’ to 25’ telescoping flag pole to reduce the obstructions.
To say the least I am impressed with the service!

 

[GregP1968]

Oh without a doubt I am impressed with Starlinks ability to pick up signal. Last Friday we had a thunderstorm go thru severe lightning and even hail and it did a super job , service only lost signal once and then it reacquired a satellite within a few minutes. I am very impressed with their technology.

 

[Kzneft]

As we continue to travel more in the future, I am getting more concerned about phone service and entertainment and internet. Often our locations are very limited in all 3 areas. A possible solution is StarLink. Just wanted to get others experience - pros and cons.
Also what would you recommend to help with all 3?
RMH

Keystone Cougar 2024
29RLI
Ford F250 Super Duty

I absolutely LOVE my starlink. Fast speeds 200-400 mbps. I have the RV system, which I was paying $165 a month. You can start service and stop anytime, which was nice to do in the winter. A few months ago Starlink contacted me with a new option. 10gb for $10 a month! I jumped at that offer. If I go over 10gb then its only $2 for gigabyte. What a great plan. Fast setup and great speeds. I connect my Starlink from my Yeti 1500, and it will last for days and days. I have it automatically turn off at 10pm, and start again at 6am. Everyone in our camp can link in and use their mobile phones as well.

 

[jonahex2099]

Well as I said we do get some buffering, it varies depending on who we are streaming. We do have a couple that are pretty solid.
Right now we have the antenna on a 10’ stick of EMT, looking at a 20’ to 25’ telescoping flag pole to reduce the obstructions.
To say the least I am impressed with the service!
View attachment 1318506

I've been using the Harbor Freight 20' extending pole for the last three years...so far it's still holding up, and I've had the dish on top with two flags flying in farily high winds...(I do usually end up taking the flags down when it gets too windy tho). The pole adapter for my dish cost me 8 bucks on amazon I think.

 

[Rhagfo]

I've been using the Harbor Freight 20' extending pole for the last three years...so far it's still holding up, and I've had the dish on top with two flags flying in farily high winds...(I do usually end up taking the flags down when it gets too windy tho). The pole adapter for my dish cost me 8 bucks on amazon I think.

I have looked at flag poles, both HF and Amazon, I have found 25' units on Amazon for less than HF, still researching.

 

[Gamma]

So after using starlink at various campgrounds I am thinking of building something similar to the picture attached. My design will slide into a 4” long square tube that I will weld on the top of the 5th wheel and level it to the ground (you always level the rv!). Think of it as a trailer hitch, slide small tube into large tube, slide in trailer hitch bolt, insert flagpole into outer tube. Reason being is starlink usually ends up at the front, if you back into a site, the tree line is usually at the back end so fastening it to the 5th wheel makes sense.

 

[Gamma]

Personally, never tried starlink but sure used Sat phones all over the states of WY, ID, UT, NV and CO. UT, NV and WY are noted for OPEN sky and open sky is what you need to a sat hookup; therefore would assume Starlink would work great.

Whats odd is that I was just at a campground in IL that had 70-90 foot trees with large leaf canopies everywhere and thought “well, might be using hotspots today”, not so. After 10 minutes of being out there it told me the best alignment position and off we went. No issues. I am becoming a big fan after that.