Share your Starlink RV install and experiences

[Neal]

Use this thread to share how you setup Starlink in your RV and also share your experiences in your travels and how it's working for you and anything else you care to share. Be sure to include pictures as they always help to show an install or setup.

For sharing your Starlink Internet speed tests please use the Starlink Travel Log which is just like the Cellular Travel Log.

To order Starlink for RV's click here. If you are on the residential waiting list you may need to sign out and use a different email to order as it may show Starlink not available yet in your location which is not the case for the RV orders.

Starlink | Roam

Stay connected on the go, starting at $50/mo.

www.starlink.com

 

[lemondrop9344]

Will be begin the setup today as I think I have everything I need. Tripod, Ethernet adapter & Starlink 'stuff'. Will try to document.

 

[Scotttkd2]

Installed Starlink on the 20ft Harbor Freight extendable flag pole mounted to my ladder with heavy duty off-road light bar mounts and large 60mm truss clamps sourced from Amazon. I was getting adequate service with some obstructions just sitting in its factory tripod mount on my RV roof, but had tree obstructions so went to the flag pole to get over the trees for zero obstructions. I also have a heavy duty tripod to use at ground level if needed in future sites where ladder mount wont work. Starlink is running into my Pepwave max duo WAN port using the network adapter from Starlink. Service has been great with it in central Arizona so far, with average speeds over 100.

 

[Tnedator]

When I get mine, trying to decide if it's worth trying to route an ethernet (or its USB power cable) up to where my peplink is, vs. just using Wifi WAN and hit it's wifi router plugged into a basement bay.

Since I assume I'll still use cellular 95% of the time, not sure it's worth putting a hole in the roof, running USB cable into cabinet where my network stuff is, and then keeping the excess cable coiled up and strapped to the ladder or the like.

What are you guys thinking in terms of how you will run the USB cable and where you'll place the power unit for the starlink?

 

[lemondrop9344]

Will be begin the setup today as I think I have everything I need. Tripod, Ethernet adapter & Starlink 'stuff'. Will try to document.

Well, setup did not go well. While it worked very well at our home office, was advised there was no service available just 15 miles away. Roaming was activated & we tried again, same result.
In looking at the Starlink coverage map, it appears geographical coverage is geared to the less populated areas of the US. If you are east of the Mississippi, it's very noticeable. The coverage map clearly shows my location not yet available.
I will admit I am disappointed I was unable to connect at my location. Based on multiple success stories I was hoping I could test it with my RV's LAN. Integratio/testing of the device into our business will now be accomplished where the device was registered.
By the way, the equipment functioned as designed and was very quick to tell me service wasn't available at my location. For what it's worth...... home location was tried, RV location was tried & home location with roaming was tired.
Please don't interpret this as a negative assessment of the device. We knew going into this test the location I was in was not covered.

 

[Scotttkd2]

Will be begin the setup today as I think I have everything I need. Tripod, Ethernet adapter & Starlink 'stuff'. Will try to document.

Did you buy the RV version or the "home version"??

 

[Scotttkd2]

When I get mine, trying to decide if it's worth trying to route an ethernet (or its USB power cable) up to where my peplink is, vs. just using Wifi WAN and hit it's wifi router plugged into a basement bay.

Since I assume I'll still use cellular 95% of the time, not sure it's worth putting a hole in the roof, running USB cable into cabinet where my network stuff is, and then keeping the excess cable coiled up and strapped to the ladder or the like.

What are you guys thinking in terms of how you will run the USB cable and where you'll place the power unit for the starlink?

Right now I am running the cable through the bedroom slide seal and have placed the router next to my pepwave inside where the bedroom tv used to be. I have ordered a spare Starlink cable to convert to shielded rj45 connectors and will be running a wire up somehow from one of the bays....haven't yet worked out where or how. I wanted to be able to test several install options with the ladder and ground mount options before I start cutting holes and such. The slide seal option works fine for the time being.

 

[lemondrop9344]

Did you buy the RV version or the "home version"??

I was attempting the install with a home version we are using for out home office. I tried to set it up at my RV about 15 miles away. See my post about it not working.

 

[Scotttkd2]

From what I have read, that would indicate that you moved out of your "approved" area, and are being denied service in order to keep the service level up for the subscribers in that area. I am going to have a similar issue in Aug if Starlink hasn't gotten the "I want to change my service to RV" option working yet. Again from what I have read, that ability should drop shortly, but they wont allow a change back to regular status once you change to mobile status (RV) mode. I will take a decrease in speed in order to have access anywhere regardless of home base address. We are temporarily in an "open" cell but will be moving into congested cells frequently in our travel so the RV plan makes the most sense for us.

 

[ehochuli85]

Thank you for the reports, and I hope everyone will keep them coming. Do you mind if I ask the cost - initial outlay for the equipment, and monthly for RV service.

Thank you, Ed

 

[Neal]

Thank you for the reports, and I hope everyone will keep them coming. Do you mind if I ask the cost - initial outlay for the equipment, and monthly for RV service.

Thank you, Ed

Hardware $599, then $135/mo which you can start/stop as desired.

Starlink | Roam

Stay connected on the go, starting at $50/mo.

www.starlink.com

 

[jbasshawk1]

I originally bought the home version. I used it in two dwellings about a half-mile apart and it worked fine. Since then, we've gone on the road in an RV and I changed my plan to include portability (not the RV version), and it has worked fine. So far, we've traveled from northern to southern AZ, NM, southern CO, and have had no problems.

 

[Scotttkd2]

My understanding of what I have read is portability does not guarantee you service in an over crowded cell outside of your "home" cell, where RV service does guarantee you service, just potentially slower than if cell was your home cell....is that your understanding??

 

[jbasshawk1]

My understanding of what I have read is portability does not guarantee you service in an over crowded cell outside of your "home" cell, where RV service does guarantee you service, just potentially slower than if cell was your home cell....is that your understanding??

Here’s an explanation:

There are some differences between the "portability" option available to residential Starlink users that have a registered service address. Portability, which launched earlier this month, costs an extra $25 a month on top of the $110 standard fee, and might be subject to service degradation if it's used in congested areas.

Network resources for Starlink for RV, on the other hand, are "always de-prioritized" compared to other Starlink services, "resulting in degraded service and slower speeds in congested areas and during peak hours," Starlink notes in a support page.

"Stated speeds and uninterrupted use of the service are not guaranteed. Service degradation will be most extreme in "Waitlist" areas on the Starlink Availability Map during peak hours. See Starlink Specification for expected performance here."

 

[Neal]

I came across this PDF for Starlink mounting accessories.

https://api.starlink.com/public-files/Accessories_Guide.pdf

 

[Neal]

I'm really hoping stealing Starlink antennas does not become a thing but it's a concern on my mind.

 

[lemondrop9344]

I am looking for some rather specific information from forum members east of the Mississippi who are using Starlink with either roaming enabled or the RV option. What sort of success/failure have you experienced?
I am presently in a location that is identified as 'Expanding in 2023'. My son, approximately 15 miles away, has had his Starlink device several months & we recently attempted to use it at my location without success (see post on this thread). We were not successful. Trying to ascertain if it there was some sort of operator error, or something we could have tired differently.
Starlink coverage/availability east of the Mississippi (based on their map) seems to strategically avoid the majority of the more densely populated areas. The wording associated with roaming or the RV option talks about the deprioritization, degradation & availability of the signal when one is in certain areas not presently available on their coverage map.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

[Neal]

I figured I'd take the stuff out of the box to start figuring out where and how I'm going to install this. I expected and hope to just see an ethernet cable connecting devices. Nope. Looks like some unique cabling. Going to be interesting figuring this one out when July comes.

 

[Scotttkd2]

Hi Neal, Yay, new toys! The cable is a standard Cat5 with proprietary connectors. The router supplies power via POE, but their POE scheme is also somewhat proprietary. Many are using the Starlink cable for the end connections, and then cutting and installing shielded RJ45's in order to expand the cable length and or have some additional flexibility with connections and cable routing. As much as I hate Fakebook, they have some very good Starlink user groups to get really good and often snarky information from. Many, many hacks detailed there as well.

 

[ehochuli85]

Thank you all for the good info, and please keep it coming! I'm a simpleton on most subjects, including this one, (most of your jargon goes right over my head), but we travel the country pretty much full-time and we're always looking for the best TV streaming options. I've had an eye on Starlink from the outset, and I'm ready to jump as soon as it becomes the best answer.

Right now, we have Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile hotspots, for which I pay a total of $150 a month, (plus the cost of the hotspots), but there are locations in which none of them are good. I am concerned about the amount of "wait listed" areas in the East. Does anyone have any idea how long it's going to be before Starlink "fills out the map"?

Also, as to the antenna/dish. I assume the way to go for an RV is simply to set up the dish on the ground in an area that has a clear sight to the sky . . . but does it have to be "aimed" like a DTV dish has to be aimed at the satellites? If so, how precise, and does the antenna do it, or do you need to dial it in? In short, how does the antenna set up work each time you set up camp?

Thank you!! Ed