Starlink Internet for RVers November 13, 2020, 02:03:54 pm Expensive and still in the development stage, but could this be RVers' dream come true?Starlink Internet Provides Access Anywhere For RVers - Do It Yourself RVChris 2 Likes
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #1 – November 13, 2020, 03:26:33 pm I always check out connectivity developments on Technomadia:SpaceX Starlink Public Beta - Pricing and Details Announced! - Mobile... 1 Likes
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #2 – November 13, 2020, 03:57:55 pm Darn, I was hoping for more.Starlink will require a wide and unobstructed view of the northern sky to track satellites passing overhead. Unlike with satellite TV - you will not be able to aim through gaps in the trees.will the system be geo-locked to only work at your designated home address?
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #3 – November 13, 2020, 06:34:36 pm I remember starlight from back when I was in Seattle. It was sold to replace cable, but it was pricey (no real savings), so I never tried it. It was local at that time - looks like they are trying to cover more areas at this time.Jane
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #4 – November 13, 2020, 08:37:50 pm "I remember starlight from back when I was in Seattle."Are you sure we're talking about the same thing? This thread is about Starlink, a satellite-based internet service owned by Elon Musk that is just entering beta testing. 1 Likes
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #5 – November 13, 2020, 09:01:01 pm And probably not related to this either:STARLINK In-Vehicle Technology | Subaru 2 Likes
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #6 – November 14, 2020, 10:45:15 am Quote from: Joan - November 13, 2020, 03:26:33 pmI always check out connectivity developments on Technomadia:SpaceX Starlink Public Beta - Pricing and Details Announced! - Mobile...If I may quote "And - even once fully deployed, keep in mind that Starlink will NOT be well suited for serving congested areas."I find the two folk at rvmoblile at best interesting ,at worst a tad off in the editorial views. They, the Technormals, just use personal observation not science. In a word if you live and use the same space and stuff they use then it will work for you but it you live in a different space and use different equipment then no joy. I live in Portland Oregon. I got an invite from Starlink. I'd say I live in a congested area. I have no plans (too $$$$$$) to join the beta program. <smile> I try not to pay do beta testing. We all do that too much as it is. glen 2 Likes
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #7 – November 14, 2020, 10:54:31 am Andy - it was internet from satellite, not towers, no dish required. Sold to cut you free from that physical cable (cable tv internet / DSL) at faster than cell phone speeds. Smart phones were just starting to be popular at that time but most people didn’t have one yet and they didn’t run at today’s speeds.The company advertised A LOT (we got something in the mail every two weeks or so) but it never took off. I don’t know anyone who got it but I also didn’t ask around. I was interested in the idea but decided it wasn’t ready for prime time yet.Name sounds like the same one - or very very close, but produce seems much evolved.I did a quick search and didn’t come up with any results for satellite internet in seattle that looked right (but only spent 30 seconds max).Would have been around 2012.There is a large handful of registered Companies in Washington state with the name starlight and not something else specific like auto or farm in the name.Jane
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #8 – November 14, 2020, 12:21:32 pm Speaking of Elon Musk and Starlink, the launch of the first commercial four-person crew SpaceX spacecraft has been pushed back to Sunday. I’ll be watching on NASA TV:NASA Updates TV Coverage for First Commercial Crew Rotation Flight | NASA 1 Likes
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #9 – November 14, 2020, 12:21:40 pm Jane, it's unlikely this was the same company. Starlink began product development in 2015, but only began to deploy systems (small dish required) a couple of months ago, after launching hundreds of satellites (with thousands more to come) using Musk's SpaceX rockets. It's currently in invitation-only "Better Than Nothing Beta Test" mode, and there's no advertising that I'm aware of. I don't know what technology Starlight was using in 2012, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't using swarms of thousands of satellites.
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #10 – November 15, 2020, 04:40:24 pm Really interesting subject for me. Where we live we just barely get internet and its very slow and frustraing. We cant stream movies like everyone else and still do the snail mail DVD Netflix thing. I always thought someday technology would get to us and that time may be approaching.Further research on this shows one flaw for us and for RV use . It uses 50 to 70 watts which would suck batteries down pretty fast. Not sure I want to start up the generator to go online. Always a fly in the ointment. 1 Likes
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #11 – November 15, 2020, 09:51:09 pm By the way, in a recent tweet Musk mentioned mobile uses including RVs, so it sounds as if Starlink won't be geo-locked.
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #12 – November 17, 2020, 04:02:00 am Quote from: Andy Baird - November 14, 2020, 12:21:40 pmJane, it's unlikely this was the same company. Starlink began product development in 2015, but only began to deploy systems (small dish required) a couple of months ago, after launching hundreds of satellites (with thousands more to come) using Musk's SpaceX rockets. It's currently in invitation-only "Better Than Nothing Beta Test" mode, and there's no advertising that I'm aware of. I don't know what technology Starlight was using in 2012, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't using swarms of thousands of satellites.Andy, likely not then. The company selling in Seattle area were piggy backing upon other satellites (e.g. not their own). If I remember right that did limit them (they didn't have access to as many as they wanted to make the product better).I find it interesting when an idea is born and the first tries don't really work out, but then it finally comes out to a viable product. I was involved in early optical disk development - now better known as CDs/DVDs, back in the early 80s when companies were trying to figure out a process that worked, trying to make write once read many time optical disk. It was easy to write something but it took many years to come up with something that could be reliably read what was written with a handful of companies struggling to create something that actually worked.
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #13 – December 04, 2020, 03:16:31 pm Something to consider: a recent Starlink teardown report mentioned that the antenna/receiver draws 100 watts. That's no big deal if you're plugged into shore power. But if you're out in the boonies and running it from an inverter, it's more than 8 amps at 12 VDC. You probably won't want to be streaming movies via Starlink while boondocking. 3 Likes
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #14 – December 04, 2020, 11:59:20 pm Quote from: Andy Baird - December 04, 2020, 03:16:31 pmSomething to consider: a recent Starlink teardown report mentioned that the antenna/receiver draws 100 watts. That's no big deal if you're plugged into shore power. But if you're out in the boonies and running it from an inverter, it's more than 8 amps at 12 VDC. You probably won't want to be streaming movies via Starlink while boondocking.If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is...Chris
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #15 – December 07, 2020, 06:28:14 pm More info: 4 Things RVers Need To Know About Starlink InternetChris
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #16 – December 07, 2020, 11:33:09 pm Thanks, Chris! That's a good summary. Bottom line: it's promising, but not ready for RVers just yet. 2 Likes
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #17 – December 08, 2020, 04:43:37 pm We were lucky to see the “Train in the sky” last Wednesday after sunset.60 of Musk’s satellites were lined up in a straight line, marching across sky, the progression lasted about five minutes.Larry 2 Likes
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #18 – April 15, 2021, 07:24:22 pm This article doesn't mention RVer's but it's an interesting read for those considering Starlink for home use:What early users of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet think about the... 1 Likes
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #19 – April 17, 2021, 06:36:57 pm OK, this article does mention RV's:Musk: Starlink Could Exit Beta in Summer, 'Fully Mobile' by End 2021
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #20 – April 17, 2021, 06:42:52 pm Starlink Reality Check for Mobile Satellite Internet - What To Expect, And... 1 Likes
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #21 – April 17, 2021, 07:30:29 pm I've been on the beta wait-list for a while. Hope I can get it before heading out to the Balloon Festival! :-)
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #22 – April 17, 2021, 08:10:37 pm So far, everything I have read says I would need a good view of the northern sky. Two of the places I stay, one in the NM desert and one in the Bridger-Teton NF, both have high terrain to the north. So, not for me, I think. Bummer.Ken F in NM
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #23 – April 17, 2021, 08:29:58 pm As Joan links, there is a reality check on this.Yes, they are trying to make mobile happen, but you must change cells as you move. Many cells are maxed out right now just with the beta, so truly mobile is not going to be a reality until at least late 2022.There haven't even been any beta shipments to Tennessee at this point, so no coverage in that state (we are on the waiting list for our homebase). Looking at Live Starlink Satellite Map there are still a lot of coverage gaps.
Re: Starlink Internet for RVers Reply #24 – April 17, 2021, 09:45:19 pm "everything I have read says I would need a good view of the northern sky."That will change in the next couple of years, as they launch more satellites for better coverage at lower latitudes, but right now it's a limitation. 1 Likes