Re: Starlink Install Reply #100 – May 05, 2022, 01:35:50 am Roaming or in Starlink world portability is official now and is a additional $25/month option. For my use for at least a year, it is well worth it but if I am stationary, perhaps $50/month Verizon instead of $150/month Starlink may not fly. Just FYI
Re: Starlink Install Reply #101 – May 05, 2022, 09:06:59 am Quote from: Muhammad - May 05, 2022, 01:35:50 amRoaming or in Starlink world portability is official now and is a additional $25/month option. For my use for at least a year, it is well worth it but if I am stationary, perhaps $50/month Verizon instead of $150/month Starlink may not fly. Just FYIMuhammad,Here is a link to an RV Mobile Internet article StarLink Portability that explains in detail about StarLink’s new policy. There was an earlier article that came out a few hours before this one that kind of misfired. The one I linked is the later article and goes into roaming on the same continent and prioritizing network speed. According to this article, it doesn’t look like you will be able to roam outside of North America with a US account. Hopefully this policy will change before your South America and Antarctica cruise.- John 1 Likes
Re: Starlink Install Reply #102 – May 05, 2022, 02:44:12 pm Thanks John,Not even thinking about SA/Antartica right now, preparing for Alaska trip full time. We took long cruises before and they do not take much of preparation compared to DIY road trip, a dedicated professional team is doing every thing and we just get fat with pampering. If Starlink will not be useful for me in six seven months I will simply stop the service. For now I am not turning off home internet and my cell service anyway. I don't think I signed any long term contract with the Starlink, only investment is initial hardware which I know is subsidized anyway.I hope Starlink definition of North America include Canada. I was going to look for alternative to our Visible cell service as in Canada we can get the calls but cannot initiate calls. I was not aware that we can change the sim card in iPhone but now I am hearing eSim and will be looking at it, that will be plan C now and one thing more on my to do list.Starlink moved from $90/month to $110 and now $135 and if it works and we continue to travel at the current pace I think it is worth it much more at least for us. I just wounder why government is not getting involved in providing this type of services, they helped with the internet and GPS .... Thanks again John, Starlink is just a tool and I will not pay more attention to their policies as long as it helps I am happy. I must say crazy founder is very focused on vision and execution and I am very impressed ... Startlink was just the proof of concept that satellites can communicate with each other for long term Mars project and now it seems like it may fund Mars project ...Regards,Quote from: JohnR - May 05, 2022, 09:06:59 amMuhammad,Here is a link to an RV Mobile Internet article StarLink Portability that explains in detail about StarLink’s new policy. There was an earlier article that came out a few hours before this one that kind of misfired. The one I linked is the later article and goes into roaming on the same continent and prioritizing network speed. According to this article, it doesn’t look like you will be able to roam outside of North America with a US account. Hopefully this policy will change before your South America and Antarctica cruise.- John
Re: Starlink Install Reply #103 – May 05, 2022, 02:59:14 pm Quote from: Muhammad - May 05, 2022, 02:44:12 pmI hope Starlink definition of North America include Canada.Yes, both Canada and Mexico are considered part of North America. According to the linked article: Portability enables use in a different country for 2 months within the same continent as your Service Address, but to permanently move to a different country, you must create a new Starlink account. So you should be good for your Alaska trip.- John 1 Likes
Re: Starlink Install Reply #105 – May 05, 2022, 10:47:47 pm There are still no satellites over Alaska. Load the Starlink watch app.Here it is without the app:Live Starlink Satellite and Coverage Map
Re: Starlink Install Reply #106 – May 06, 2022, 01:01:42 pm Quote from: hbn7hj - May 05, 2022, 10:47:47 pmThere are still no satellites over Alaska. Load the Starlink watch app.Here it is without the app:Live Starlink Satellite and Coverage MapI noticed and better half knows the reality but Alaska is part of US and hoping Visible will work at least in populated areas and if not I am sure there are other options as well in terms of buying pay as you go service ... one of the reason to go for MB instead of TK was hoping for kids to come and join us for few days and it seems like we may get some visitors as well at different part of the trips thanks to remote work arrangements :-) and in that case need for connectivity will diminish.Starlink is the bonus on top of what we already have and I will take whatever it will offer ... I have high hopes for the potential it has ... I am 62 and if health permit hope we have 10 more years of travelling (we may slowly switch to different mode of easy/pampering travelling style) and I am seeing Starlink as a real game changer to stay in touch while on the road. Our adult kids are happy that we are travelling but I do see worry on their face whenever we go for long trip and staying in touch release some of the stress. I was in the same situation when my Dad was travelling and do understand the anxiety.I worked in telecommunication for quite sometime and am fascinated by what Starlink has accomplished in last two years and have some visibility in their plans .... In late 80s I think it was Motorola which put few satellites in higher orbit with big fanfare and common person like me never saw any benefit from it. My previous employer had big dreams but most of them never go beyond fancy presentations, we never recovered from utility/monopoly mind set and were selling long term plans for short term shareholder gain (and management bonus). Since I left the workforce S&P has jumped up 200+% compared to this my previous employer lost 25% of it's value (means my dreams for cashing on options are just the dreams).Sorry long answer ... got carried away as usual.Take care,
Re: Starlink Install Reply #107 – May 06, 2022, 03:59:48 pm "In late 80s I think it was Motorola which put few satellites in higher orbit with big fanfare and common person like me never saw any benefit from it."You may be thinking of the Iridium satellite constellation. It was a commercial failure at the time (too expensive and too limited), but it has since become a useful resource for emergency communication. We talked about it recently in the thread "Sad story".
Re: Starlink Install Reply #108 – May 06, 2022, 07:18:48 pm Thanks Andy.Good information in the thread and I will use this information when Starlink is not allowed or will not work .. I was not aware of high orbit satellites are still alive and working after 30 years.When we go with a group land tour we do have to buy travel insurance and tour company will dictate policy terms and I do not recall a single instance when they do not insist on evacuation/air lift clause. Not happy with travel insurance price tag and I also know it will keep going up with the age. I can complain about the price but I have see it in action many many times during our six month long cruise around the world. Ship can accomodate around 600 passenger and out of 600 about 200 were around the world passengers and rest will change after each segment (trip was divided into six or seven segments). Average age of around the world traveler was 78 years, this is few years ago and we were one of the youngest couple !!!!! Ship will not announce any person passing away (latter I found out that they keep dead body in basement in the same fridge where they store flowers which we see on the table each day). On each port we will see ambulance and folks leaving in stretcher. I was on disabled room right next to the ship clinic and saw perhaps more then I should, lot of older folks falling in the ship and having serious issues. Quote from: Andy Baird - May 06, 2022, 03:59:48 pm"In late 80s I think it was Motorola which put few satellites in higher orbit with big fanfare and common person like me never saw any benefit from it."You may be thinking of the Iridium satellite constellation. It was a commercial failure at the time (too expensive and too limited), but it has since become a useful resource for emergency communication. We talked about it recently in the thread "Sad story".
Re: Starlink Install Reply #109 – May 09, 2022, 11:49:30 am I have moved from my service address, activated the portability feature, and all is well. It took a few minutes. It would not work without “portability.”
Re: Starlink Install Reply #110 – May 11, 2022, 04:04:31 am Larry, Andy, Ron and othe experts,If you have some time I want to pick your brain on this topic ...I am looking at 175W Monocrystalline Solar Panel | Renogy and hopefully there is enough space to put one and if there is enough space why not two. If you know better flexible panels please let me know, I will be putting lot of time installing them and will not mind spending some extra money getting a better product.I understand short life span of flexible pannel but they are cheap enough that I will call a victory if they last for 3-5 years and we are able to benefit during that time. When motorhome is not on the road, it is under the cover at home .... we discussed me being scary cat of screwing anything on the roof and woundering if I can use valcro or yet better 3M 5400 fast sealent to afix solar pannel to the roof? In the worst case these panels will loosen away or fly away and as long as they do not hurt anybody I am fine taking that risk (please understand that I called number of places in Elkhart, IN and I kept driving short while in that area to get solar installation done but guess folks are too busy for this small job. I do not want to goto any shop which do not have enough google reviews.I am not sure what type of wiring is done on the roof (never been there, so far, better half took charge of cleaning the rood while I am working on the walls) but based on your input I think I do need to keep make new solar panels connection in paralle with existing panels (my voltmeter survived) (negative to negative and positive to positive) and solar pannel will do rest of the trick. Is there any wires or special solar connection hardware or tools I will need? I used to have lot of tools but while I was sick lot of folks were coming in and out of the home to take care of basement flooding issue and I noticed most of tools keep walking away slowly. Now I am keeping a very close eyes and buying tools as I need them.This may not be an elegent or best solution from your point of view but at this point either I have it or nothing additional on top of stock 240W stock pannels. Hope you will understand. Based on the input here I will see if I have enough time to complete the job before leaving in little over two weeks and if not at least I will have soalr pannel at hand and will work on actual installation dring our travel.Regards,Quote from: Larry W - April 28, 2022, 06:38:02 pmAvoid flexible panels, they have short lives.I have installed dozen of solar panels on LDs. There is no need for any roof reinforcement, as Andy pointed out, today's panels are very light. I recently removed two 80-watt panels (one was cracked), installed 18 years ago, replacing them with 100-watt panels. The new panels weigh almost half as much as the old ones and are smaller in size too.Solar panels can be mounted anywhere there is room. Bed the panel's feet into polyurethane, and screw them down with short stainless steel sheet metal screws. I use 1"X #8 screws. The screws get a polyurethane topping. Lots of information about this is in the archives.If adding two to four more panels, you will need to upgrade the lead-in cables, coming down from the roof to the controller and then down to the battery. If not done, much of the extra power will be lost as heat.The alternative is to go to a higher voltage solar controller and wire the panels in series or series parallel. If LD is still installing Sky Blue 3000i, it should accommodate using 60-cell panels, limited to 22-amps total input.https://www.solar-electric.com/lib/wind-sun/SB3000i-manual.pdfWhen traveling, we stream the same radio programs as we do at home. Sirius-XM also provides some continuity.And there is always the LDOF online if looking for something familiar.Larry
Re: Starlink Install Reply #111 – May 11, 2022, 11:31:05 am My suggestion is to make a diagram of your room and find where various size panels will fit.I have used Renergy panels many times, they seem to work fine. I see no advantage to using flexible panels on a flat roof.The panels can be glued down without screws, using a 3M 5200 product or 3M VHS but the result is better with the screws, IMO. AM Solar used 3M VHB double-side tape at one time but has since gone to adhesive and screws. Screws and 3M 5200 are fine as long as the roof surface is clean and the panel's mounting feet and screws are well bedded in the polyurethane. if you have not noticed, your LD's roof has dozens of screw holes, all well sealed.To get maximum efficiency, the lead-in cables from the roof should be upsized or the system run at a higher voltage.Renogy panels50-wattAmazon.com : Renogy 50 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel (Compact...100-wattAmazon.com : Renogy Solar Panel, Single : Patio, Lawn & Garden175-wattAmazon.com: Renogy 175 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Off Grid Large System...200-wattRenogy 200W Watt 12V Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel PV Power High Efficienc...Larry 1 Likes As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Starlink Install Reply #112 – May 11, 2022, 11:44:07 am Muhammad,Here is a link to AM Solar. Solar Power Parts & Supplies, Solar Panel Products & Kits: AM SolarLooking through their product listings you will find their available “mounting hardware” listings.When they installed my system, they did not screw through my LD roof but instead glued everything to the roof. Nearly 800 watts of combined panels in total. Fit nicely. Two 190 watt panels, two 90 watt panels, two 115 watt panels on the roof. No screws and the ability to set each on an angle if I desire. Your available roof space may be a bit different than mine. Flexible panels get hot and reduce their ability to produce energy. Perhaps a suitcase array may work. I’m not sure how practical it would be to set one up on the roof (weights on their legs?) my portable suitcase system is 230 watts. Weighs under 50 pounds and I store it in the overhead while traveling.Here’s a pic of my roof. Kent
Re: Starlink Install Reply #113 – May 11, 2022, 12:21:23 pm I agree with others that flexible panels are a bad idea. But the 175 watt Renogy panel that Muhammad mentioned is not a flexible panel, as the illustrations on Renogy's product page show.Larry's suggestion to make a diagram of your roof is a good one. If you or someone you know has a drone that's capable of pointing its camera straight down, fly it directly above your rig and shoot a photo of the roof to help with your planning.Another thing you can do is to get some large cardboard cartons (available at hardware stores) and use them as material to make life-sized flat pieces the size of the solar panels you plan to install. You can place these on the roof (you can make just one and move it around) to check where the panels will best fit. 3 Likes
Re: Starlink Install Reply #114 – May 11, 2022, 12:42:01 pm "woundering if I can use valcro or yet better 3M 5400 fast sealent to afix solar pannel to the roof?"Don't even think about attaching solar panels with Velcro. When you're driving down the road at 55-65 mph, the wind will get under the panel and lift it right off."In the worst case these panels will loosen away or fly away and as long as they do not hurt anybody I am fine taking that risk"You should not be. A rigid solar panel that flies off your roof at highway speed could easily kill the occupants of the vehicle behind you. And if you think flexible panels (which are actually semi-rigid) are harmless, imagine yourself driving down the road when the vehicle ahead of you sheds a two foot by four foot black object that comes flying at your windshield. Your probable reaction: panic, swerve, crash. 7 Likes
Re: Starlink Install Reply #115 – May 11, 2022, 04:15:52 pm Ken, Larry, Andy and rest of the team,You are keeping me straight .... and thank you. We will be passing with in 5 miles from AM Solars on our way back while going from Seattle to Crator lake. Instead of screwing up the system let me call and see if they can accomodate me .. unfortunately we will be pressing for time due to Crator Lake NP season ending but lets see if with right homework AM Solars can design the system in advance and just install it in matter of hours (may be I am dreaming but who knows). In the mean time I will keep my eyes open for other reputable shops on our way.There are few other issues I am been seeking this teams input and insight: I screwed up generator few days ago, it is fixed now. I found an efficient Cumin sales service center not very far away from home. They prepared me for the worst case senatio but it end up just the nut/bold issue. What surprise me is that service center did not have this bolt in the stock and it took them two days to get it but no complains at all. Been a while since I screwed up this much.Other issue was getting a Ford dealership to fix safety recall. After playing nice and getting polite run around for four weeks, I end up calling chain of command and also wrote not a very nice review on google. I was not expecting much and thought I will find a Ford dealer on my way but to my surprise I got a call two days after writing the review and magically they are able to accomodate me. Hope issue will be fixed tomorrow.I do take few controlled meds ... some of them are in the pump and it last for six months. Getting oral meds will be an issue and I will be fighting the issue while travelling. While in other countries finding the replcement without prescription is very cheap and easy but in US ... we will find out. I hope these chain phamacies and mail order phamacy will talk to each other almost in real time.Life is good and looking forward to start life long dream in two weeks but before that celebrating the youngest ones graduation. No more tuition and boarding bills, YaaaaaCheers 1 Likes
Re: Starlink Install Reply #116 – May 12, 2022, 02:23:47 pm Muhammad, if CVS is an option for you, I’ve had good luck in the past getting my prescriptions filled across the country. They will contact my “home” CVS and temporarily transfer the prescription for filling. Good luck! — Jon
Re: Starlink Install Reply #117 – May 12, 2022, 06:37:43 pm Quote from: Jon & Loni - May 12, 2022, 02:23:47 pmMuhammad, if CVS is an option for you, I’ve had good luck in the past getting my prescriptions filled across the country. They will contact my “home” CVS and temporarily transfer the prescription for filling. Good luck! — JonJon & Loni,Do prescriptions refill work the same way in Canada as in US? I will be in YellowStone for six days and hoping to get refills before crossing the border but guess for few medications pharmacist do not want to refill a day before they are due. One of the doctor will not allow refill and everytime I will have to call and this is university hospital and turn around is not very great. Sometime they just foget that I do have the entire reservoir of hydromorphone inside my skin in case I want to abuse ....Plan is to keep all the prescriptions at the mail in pharmacy and if I need a refill I will goto closet retail chain parmacy and ask them to call mail in pharmacy and get just one refill authorization. Mail in pharmacy gave me a telephone number just for this reaon. Fortunately all the systems are linked now, when I goto mail in pharmacy web site, I also see the medications I received from local pharmacy.Fortunately I do not have to worry about all the medications. I checked and I do have enough meds for six months for all the meds except for three or four.Thanks
Re: Starlink Install Reply #118 – May 24, 2022, 11:15:47 am Starlink for RVs now available with the ability to pause service.Immediate delivery.Just an FYI
Topic: Starlink Install (Read 3412 times)
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