FYI Peplink's new BR1 Pro 5G with x65 5G chip

[Neal]

 

[turbopilot]

It seems to me the era of the cellular modems is drawing to a close. With the current and new versions of Starlink, cellular communications will become less and less relevant for fixed and mobile data needs.

With TOAD or tow vehicle based Starlink and recent improvements in obstruction handling, I am finding it increasingly rare not to get a good download connection with Starlink. Major obstructions? Just move the TOAD or tow vehicle to a new location and WiFi as WAN back to the RV. You only need a router with a good WiFi antenna on the TOAD or tow vehicle for that functionality. Power can be supplied via a portable power station on the TOAD or tow vehicle.

 

[Neal]

Not for me. Cellular is primary. 2 out of 3 locations on last trip were SL unusable due to obstructions. SL is my backup only activated when needed. I have two unlimited plans and one 100 GB plan. Two of those are 5G.

 

[turbopilot]

2 out of 3 locations on last trip were SL unusable due to obstructions.

I can see that if you limit your Starlink mount to a fixed location on top of an RV. When necessary I have been able to move the tow vehicle, sometimes no more than 10 or 20 feet from a pad to get a good connection. With the new Starlink beam switching changes I have seen a significant increase in the ability to maintain a consistent stream with a very small hole in the canopy. This will continue to improve as the Starlink constellation builds out. There are currently 8,600 satellites with a short term goal of 12,000 and a long term goal of 42,000. The more satellites the smaller the hole you need in the canopy.

But more importantly the new "beam switching" technology by Starlink just started two months ago. If you have not tried it with obstructions since it started you will be surprised at the difference.

 

[Neal]

True I could relocate the antenna. I have that option. But it comes down to geography too such as more forested east vs out west. One of my locations was deep in the forest which I prefer. Cellular works very well for me. And half the cost. But yeah for most SL is probably the answer now unless internet is critical to you as it is for me.

 

[turbopilot]

True I could relocate the antenna. I have that option. But it comes down to geography too such as more forested east vs out west. One of my locations was deep in the forest which I prefer. Cellular works very well for me. And half the cost. But yeah for most SL is probably the answer now unless internet is critical to you as it is for me.

Two examples of the impact of beam switching that started in August. I did the setup for my tow vehicle Starlink in my garage early in the Summer. When I completed the setup and turned it on, of course I did not get any internet in the garage with the door open. Since September sitting in the same garage Starlink will now go online with the tow vehicle in the garage just looking a small slice of sky through the open door.

Second example. Every few months we drive round trip with the tow vehicle (no trailer) 300 miles between Prescott, AZ and La Quinta, California. My wife likes to watch Netflix for the 5 hour trip. Before beam switching we would get pauses in the stream. Since August we can now drive the entire distance without any interruptions in the video stream, including passing under overpasses and moving through narrow mountain valleys in Arizona.

Of course it will not work with a dense, 100% canopy like you find in the East. But out West where cellular towers are further apart and some large areas still don't have cellular service, Starlink has now totally replaced cellular modems for me.

 

[Neal]

New Pepwave/Peplink looks nice, it's tempting, but probably not worth replacing my existing two BR1 Pro 5G's which work great. I'm just curious of the 5G speed improvements. Maybe next year when I can get out on the road more.

 

[turbopilot]

New Pepwave/Peplink looks nice, it's tempting, but probably not worth replacing my existing two BR1 Pro 5G's which work great. I'm just curious of the 5G speed improvements. Maybe next year when I can get out on the road more.

Agree. I still have my BR1 Pro 5G as backup to Starlink in the Max S enclosure with a 30 gb T-Mobile plan but I never see more than a 1 gb a month coming from the modem. Even less since Starlink Beam Switching was turned on.

 

[turbopilot]

From Grok for those who may not know the details of Starlink's new Beam Switching technology:

Starlink Beam Switching is a core technology in SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet constellation that enables user terminals (commonly called "dishes") to automatically and seamlessly switch communication beams between multiple overhead satellites. This ensures reliable connectivity by dynamically selecting the best available satellite signal, particularly in environments with partial obstructions like trees, buildings, or mobile scenarios such as RVs or boats. The feature has been part of Starlink since its early beta phases but received a significant software upgrade announced on July 30, 2025, which enhances its algorithms and leverages the growing satellite density (over 8,000 in orbit as of mid-2025) for better performance.How It WorksStarlink dishes use phased array antennas, which electronically steer narrow beams toward satellites without physical movement. At any given time, a dish can "see" tens of satellites passing overhead at speeds of about 17,000 miles per hour, providing multiple options for connectivity. Beam switching operates in two primary modes:

• Proactive Switching: Ideal for stationary (fixed-location) installations. Over days of operation, the dish builds a real-time obstruction map—visible in the Starlink mobile app—that identifies blocked sky areas (shown in red). Using this map, the system anticipates when a satellite will enter an obstructed zone and preemptively hands off the connection to an alternate satellite before any signal degradation occurs. This minimizes interruptions entirely for predictable blockages.
• Reactive Switching: Used for mobile setups or unexpected changes (e.g., sudden weather or movement). If the current satellite's signal weakens due to an obstruction, the dish detects the issue and rapidly switches to another visible satellite. This handover happens in as little as 10–100 milliseconds (up to 10 times per second in demanding conditions), often multiple times per minute, to restore the link almost instantly.

The upgrade improves both modes: proactive mapping is more accurate, and reactive handoffs are faster, reducing the overall time users experience any dip in service. No user intervention is required—the process is fully automatic across all dish models (Gen 1, Gen 2, and Mini), though newer models with wider fields of view benefit more.Benefits

• Enhanced Uptime and Reliability: Achieves up to 99.9% uptime even with partial obstructions, dramatically cutting outage frequency and duration. For example, users report drops shrinking from 15–30 seconds every 5 minutes to just 2–3 seconds every 10 minutes in moderately obstructed areas (e.g., 14–15% sky blockage).
• Better Handling of Real-World Challenges: Routes around brief or intermittent blocks like tree branches, making it more viable for rural, forested, or mobile use without needing a perfectly clear sky view.
• Improved User Experience: Supports latency-sensitive activities like video calls, gaming, or streaming with fewer interruptions, especially as satellite numbers grow for more switching options.

LimitationsWhile highly effective, beam switching doesn't fully eliminate drops in severely obstructed environments (e.g., >50% sky blockage or central red zones on the app map), where prolonged outages (15+ seconds) can still happen. Starlink recommends scanning for obstructions via the app before installation and optimizing dish placement for the best results. Overall, this technology underscores Starlink's design for resilient, high-speed internet (100+ Mbps downloads) in imperfect conditions.

 

[Neal]

Off topic for the thread. Please create a Starlink info thread if desired.