StarLink In Motion

[Third From Texas]

New piece of hardware from Starlink.

"The Flat High Performance Starlink is now available for in-motion use with the Starlink RV service plan."

The price jumps to $2600 (vs $600 for the portable unit).

Personally, I have zero interest in "in motion" use but this is the first unit that can be hard-mounted to the RV (and *that* I do want).

It also claims that the new hardware is more "rugged" (which is good, because the portable RV units feel like they would rip to shreds going down the highway if you simply bolted them down to something).

*Starlink works AEWSOME down here on the barrier island where there is no cell service, poor HAM repeater coverage

 

[Third From Texas]

I have been considering mounting the standard Starlink RV portable unit into a box and have it on actuators to lift out of an enclosure.

I canned the idea as a waste of space and just more moving parts to break.

 

[chucky]

We used TRACSTAR since the mid 90s for in motion satalite ! KVH was a distant 2nd but not as reliable ! Tracstar used to use a satalite directly over San Antonio that we were using i think SAT 101 and we would start losing reception once we got on up in northern canada like Edmonton from the curvature of the earth Albertaj2oFHT4oDlAQMyhIegUIARCuAg

 

[Third From Texas]

We used TRACSTAR since the mid 90s for in motion satalite ! KVH was a distant 2nd but not as reliable ! Tracstar used to use a satalite directly over San Antonio that we were using i think SAT 101 and we would start losing reception once we got on up in northern canada like Edmonton from the curvature of the earth Albertaj2oFHT4oDlAQMyhIegUIARCuAgView attachment 883554

I'm personally not interested in "in motion". I'm only into it for the Internet connection (gotta pay the bills by uploading that porn). I also like that Starlink can be subscribed to for only the months you are traveling and shut off when not.

 

[ramdough]

I'm personally not interested in "in motion". I'm only into it for the Internet connection (gotta pay the bills by uploading that porn). I also like that Starlink can be subscribed to for only the months you are traveling and shut off when not.

For $2,000 extra, I would gladly pull over and set up to use internet.

I wonder if you could just make an acrylic dome to cover the stationary dish then go mobile?


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[chucky]

For $2,000 extra, I would gladly pull over and set up to use internet.

I wonder if you could just make an acrylic dome to cover the stationary dish then go mobile?


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LOL NO the little dish is under the white bubble turning in a circle while pan and tilt constantly while moving ! I would always have some nitwit on the bus start whining when we would go under a overpass cause it would freeze the screen on the tv for a second till it reconnected and i would have to tell them its a 1 ft circle traveling at 75 mph trying to hit a target 13 thousand mi in space so give it another second ! lmao

 

[Weldman]

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[chucky]

I'm personally not interested in "in motion". I'm only into it for the Internet connection (gotta pay the bills by uploading that porn). I also like that Starlink can be subscribed to for only the months you are traveling and shut off when not.

Yea i wouldnt pay for nothing on tv and ive found that porn leaves me (wanting more) so just take a couple little scrumpetts with ya and be your own porn director !!!!! And hollering for the fluffer to hurry up !

 

[Mullaney]

LOL NO the little dish is under the white bubble turning in a circle while pan and tilt constantly while moving ! I would always have some nitwit on the bus start whining when we would go under a overpass cause it would freeze the screen on the tv for a second till it reconnected and i would have to tell them its a 1 ft circle traveling at 75 mph trying to hit a target 13 thousand mi in space so give it another second ! lmao

.
@chucky ,

There is always some entitled person who thinks they shouldn't ever lose signal.

Amazing how that works...

 

[Third From Texas]

Rather just put a cell phone booster on my vehicle and call it a day or buy the directional antennae and just point in general direction of cell tower when stopped.

Boosting no signal is still no signal. It not a weak signal out on the inland once you head south, it's no signal. No towers to boost.

I do keep a handheld HAM programmed to the ranger's repeater just for emergencies, but that's about the only contact down there.

 

[Third From Texas]

For $2,000 extra, I would gladly pull over and set up to use internet.

I wonder if you could just make an acrylic dome to cover the stationary dish then go mobile?


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Oh trust me, I'm not dropping $2K on it. The $600 version is even a bit more than I can justify but it's not as bad as alternatives for sat internet.

Starlink antennas are actually flat panels, not a traditional dish. With the portables, you set them up on their little tripod and they buzz and hum and the little servos tilt it around while it scans for birds, the it settles in on the best signal overhead.

The design is fine as long as you're willing to stow the unit and set it up with each use. The issue is of course that if you were to bolt the feet down and take off down the highway the thing would simply rip off at the rotation point. I certainly wouldn't call it rugged. It's not designed to carry any stress of load on the rotation point (servos, gears, etc). My fear is that even covered the stress on the rotational components caused by bouncing around would just bust up the drive parts.

So, IMO the unit is best stowed as intended. Else cough up the added $2K.

 

[Third From Texas]

Here's a review of the Starlink RV (not the In Motion) actually done down PINS (Padre Island National Seashore). Keep in mind he's not really further than the typical tourist ventures (he still has cel service, about another 5 miles and he wouldn't). There's some 60 miles (each way) of 4x4-only terrain beyond where he stopped.

 

[Third From Texas]

A couple things of note about that video (unrelated to Starlink):

1) It's the Gulf of Mexico, not "the ocean" ;p
2) It's almost always windy here (especially during the day) with very few exceptions (especially in the Spring/Fall). Late Summer is the calmest
3) In several of the edited shots (and overnight) he's parked in the soft sand (rookie mistake and it will track and blow EVERYTWHERE)
4) Check the tide charts online. Ideally, you make your drive down (and back up if possible) at low tide (it's like cruising on pavement)
5) Note where the sand distinctly changes color (that's typically the high tide line)
6) The trick is to park close to the water as possible (let the tide come up). It's why we have 4x4. It will go back down in a few hours unless it's a storm surge (in which case, you're gonna die)
7) If you stay on the hardpack/wetpack (ie: not the soft, dry sand) you won't get constantly sandblasted (and yeah, as he found out it gets EVERYWHERE)
8 ) Keep your door and open windows facing the wind (and again, be in the hardpack). Sand will lift and float in the air on the downwind side
9) People down that way will often drive on the water's edge (day or night) right thru your camp (so watch the dog and leash)
10) A couple fishing poles will help keep any traffic going around the camp instead of cutting between vehicle and water
11) Keep a shallow pan of saltwater at your door (step in it before you track sand all over your interior)
12) Drones are illegal in National Parks (and they will take them from you). You can ask the park admin for an exemption, but they don't grant them here due to anti-drug smuggling operations on the island

I get down that way a couple times a year but it's a lot of fuel to plow thru the soft sand when the tide is up. I typically go to the N side of the State park further N for just day trips or short overnights fishing. The distance between the dune line and waterline is greater and if there is any traffic they have more room to skirt us. But note that I am as far away from the soft. blowing sand as I can get.

 

[chucky]

Boosting no signal is still no signal. It not a weak signal out on the inland once you head south, it's no signal. No towers to boost.

I do keep a handheld HAM programmed to the ranger's repeater just for emergencies, but that's about the only contact down there.

I didnt know you were taking your truck to Epstiens Island no wonder they dont have any signal there cause 911 would be blown up all day and night ! PLAYER !!!!!!

 

[Weldman]

.

 

[chucky]

Here's a review of the Starlink RV (not the In Motion) actually done down PINS (Padre Island National Seashore). Keep in mind he's not really further than the typical tourist ventures (he still has cel service, about another 5 miles and he wouldn't). There's some 60 miles (each way) of 4x4-only terrain beyond where he stopped.

I didnt (believe that or not) understand what the starlink was doing ! I thought it was for like DIRECT /DISH tv ! This is really cool to get internet in BFE via satalite like a sat phone ! GOOD FIND !

 

[Third From Texas]

Just find it odd one can't get a signal with a +65dB directional booster, when I can get a signal 20 plus miles in straight line of sight to nearest cell tower or as a bird flies and it's 50 miles for one to drive to town from here.

Dunno. It's a barrier island off the coast from the King ranch. You don't hit many towers down there unless they are inland along I77 corridor. It's not a populated area. Data drops out on my phone just about right at the "4x4 Vehicles Only Beyond This Point" sign (about five miles past where the pavement ends). We've gone down with people that had boosters, but there was never any adequate data signal to be had (and we'd check at stops). I can make calls once I get closer to the Port Mansfield jetties but I've never tried data down there (I assume there towers servicing Pt Mansfield on the coast).

 

[Guyfang]

I didnt (believe that or not) understand what the starlink was doing ! I thought it was for like DIRECT /DISH tv ! This is really cool to get internet in BFE via satalite like a sat phone ! GOOD FIND !

A lot of people don't like Musk. I have to admit, I would not drink beer with him unless he was buying. But what he has done with SpaceX, Starlink and Tesla is a Quantum leap into the future. And I think he is just getting started. I have been looking into Starlink here in Germany. When prices come down, I just may hop on board.

 

[coachgeo]

well this is interesting. Apologize that many won't be able to see this discussion for it is in facebook in a group you may not be a member of.


Synopsis is.... a fellow redid his starlink to mount on pedestals on his hood LAYING FLAT. He is finding that in general he has full time use of it. He intends to do a video on it and it will appear on below channel.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKrGK0RAtJ1pjNyqs9IMmvQ

https://www.facebook.com/groups/544015526082466/user/1368813958/?__cft__[0]=AZWY_8fnm5oar8m5WtAOYTHkhfcc6xs058_DZM_euRvXYoYNasEgvuI5MCRZmhvD0_dmGuWNmYCEkxLs7e1TP8Z2b1BSaX0Bl456V49ue-p6xyz2Gn8KfJi4dK0XhNiDOsZRBk6bVhudZe8-95u1yGQeGshd32C4lWZVmcZOg4PKfgAcEKusKU-WTuMVwPRsmL8&__tn__=%2CP-R

 

[coachgeo]

well this is interesting. Apologize that many won't be able to see this discussion for it is in facebook in a group you may not be a member of.


Synopsis is.... a fellow redid his starlink to mount on pedestals on his hood LAYING FLAT. He is finding that in general he has full time use of it. He intends to do a video on it and it will appear on below channel.
....

Here is a synopsis of a portion of a discussion that is more telling:

this is the regular dish that I cut the motor off and installed it into a new polycarbonate enclosure. Seems to work without being able to position itself because of beam forming technology. It works just fine without positioning itself. It makes me wonder why the fragile motors were even included at all.

I have the RV plan and they turned the in motion back on. When they do turn it off it doesn’t disable your unit it simply goes offline but currently it is working fine while in motion.