Starlink in Africa: Connected ANYWHERE!

In this episode, we take an in-depth look at SpaceX's Starlink - specifically, how it can be setup and used for overlanding in Africa and the rest of the world. We also make use of Star Mount Systems to flat mount the dish to our Ford Ranger and convert it to 12v, making use of Boondocker's Dishy Dualie DC Power Supply.
Please make use of the time stamps below to skip ahead for parts that most interest you.
00:00 - Intro
01:35 - What is Starlink
03:02 - Starlink for Overlanding
05:17 - Getting the Starlink Hardware
05:53 - How to signup for the service
11:50 - The 12v conversion
16:03 - The flat mount kit
22:34 - Cutting the dish
30:25 - Removing the original cable
38:55 - The vehicle install
44:25 - Speed Test (Static)
47:34 - Speed Test (Moving)
Below are the links to the hardware that made this conversion possible.
Star-Mount Systems - star-mountsystems.com/product...
Dishy Dualie DC Power Supply - boondocker.io/products/dishy-...
Dishy Dualie DC Enclosure - boondocker.io/products/dishy-...
MikroTik hAP ac² Router - mikrotik.com/product/hap_ac2
Tedgetal Waterproof RJ45 Connector - www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Con...
Official Ford Branded Merchandise for the Southern African - ford.sapplive.co.za/

[@buney]

Nice one. Cant wait to mount same on the new Defender..

[@shaunmatthews6889]

Thanks for the info, I have family that live on farms and game farms etc. with only bad cell reception for the internet access, emails, whatsapp etc. This helps so much!

[@EpicAfrica]

Glad to help

[@graham6137]

First class video!

[@EpicAfrica]

Thanks!

[@markoben2043]

Top notch buddy

[@EpicAfrica]

Thanks 🙏🏼

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

Great detailed video 👍. I have a gen 3 flat dish arriving in a few days but unfortunately there has been a change in Starlink's terms - you now have to wait 90-120 days before you can transfer the hardware. You can use it in the interim but you will need to pay for the mobile global plan. If you buy the hardware in Africa, this will not be an issue.

[@EpicAfrica]

Thanks very much for the comment! Yes that Gen 3 looks great!! The 90-120 day thing is a pain but if you can buy just the hardware direct from Amazon or Home Depo like i did then you can avoid that transfer window.

[@SimonSturrockMedia]

Thanks for all the info - so you buying a inactivated unit if you buy from Amazon/home depo ?
How did you fly with it and avoid customs ?

[@toryheaslop9069]

On Starlink website it says
“Activating a Starlink for use in a different country than the country used upon original account sign up is not supported” - I want to bring my dish from oz for a permanent move to Africa but it seems perhaps not possible based on this?

[@morrisdutoit850]

Hi, how much did you pay for the dish box

[@MovingPicturesAfrica]

@@morrisdutoit850 the starlink kit costs $600 in the US. Prices differ in other countries.

[@TheOuboet]

You should re-purpose that back-panel with the motor so that it tracks the sun, then you mount a solar panel to it.

[@jedi201]

Awesome video, can't wait for your Bots trip. When do we see your new Ford setup.

[@EpicAfrica]

Very soon!

[@Thulebeez]

Awesome setup when I get my overlander and starlink will come to you for the rack roof mounting.
I read that Starlink is planning to disconnect South Africans by the end of April ?

[@EpicAfrica]

Thanks very much! Yes saw that info too but lets hope they say but dont do....

[@thebuffalooverlander2587]

Howzit bud, and thanks for the great footage always .. I’m keen to get STARLINK for our truck as well and can buy one in the UK when we go over shortly, but then I’ve heard that you have to buy one specifically for the African continent if you want to use it in Southern Africa ? . Then , I believe there is a ‘ROAMING OPTION’ for access to it, that would be the most suitable as well. Is this payable from a SA bank account ?
Any advice or pointers welcome
Thanks so much and looking forward to your next adventure and hopefully meet up on the road sometime too

[@EpicAfrica]

So the best way is to buy the kit from a retailer in the uk and bring it back subscription free. Then when you get it to Africa sign up for the roan service in an African country that offers starlink. We used an address in Mozambique but Zambia is the cheapest. You can then just use a SA based credit card for the payments. That’s what I have done and it works perfectly 👍🏻

[@thebuffalooverlander2587]

@@EpicAfrica brilliant bud, thanks so much

[@grapgatza]

Awesome tutorial, thanks a lot! I'm a bit paranoid about frying the Starlink by getting the PoE pinouts wrong.
What are the pinouts on the rj45 connector that you attached to the other end of the cable going into the Starlink dish?
And then, on the cable going from the coupler into the Dualie PoE port, what were those two pinouts?
Are there any crossovering, or do you just make sure they all 3 match up?

[@EpicAfrica]

Thanks for the question! So with the Dualie it’s just B standard on all the connections because the dualie has built in switching. I think just two wires are switched around but check the net for a wiring diagram 👍🏻

[@coisjvr777]

Hi great video. How did you connect the power supply to the vehicle? Maybe I missed it?

[@EpicAfrica]

I just hooked it up to my auxiliary battery with an Anderson plug and cable.

[@ZaZa-ra]

@EpicAfrica Huge thanks for putting this together. Can you outline the power consumption with Starlink running on a 12V system. I'm running a lithium 108mAh leisure battery and Namib 240w fold out solar in my truck...wondering if I could power this when stationary.

[@EpicAfrica]

No problem at all and glad to help.
Yes it will run no problem in that battery, it’s what I’m using. In 12v it uses about 30-40w of power (3amps)

[@andreashaag7953]

Hi. Does somebody knows if I buy a Starlink Kit in Germany and bring it to Namibia if I can make a monthly mobile contract anywhere, what will be the price and if it works in Namibia? Thanks!

[@EpicAfrica]

As long as you buy it from a retailer and don’t have to sign up for an account then you should be able to set it up under an address in Namibia and take the road service to use it anywhere in Africa.

[@user-my2bv1ol2t]

I’m bringing my hardware in from AUS. Never been registered or turned on yet. How do I register the hardware in Zambia for use in SA, Bots, Namibia etc. How do I register the hardware in Zambia??? Must the unit be there to register it?

[@EpicAfrica]

You can setup the account with an address in Zambia from anywhere, just use the Starlink app and create an account. You will need to enter the “kit” number of your Starlink hardware when you activate the service and the one you want is “roam” or “mobile - regional”

[@Karnarg]

Where did you buy your kit from in the USA that wasnt already registered there?

[@EpicAfrica]

We got ours from Home Depo but I see you can also get them from Best Buy

[@donlyeducate]

Thank for your video I am in USA so I want to buy starlink and use it when I go back to Africa Zimbabwe how does it work In terms of having an account and address so that I will be able to use it in zimbabwe. Kindly help

[@AlpeshPatel-jh5ti]

Excellent video. Where did you get the Starlink hardware from in SA?

[@EpicAfrica]

Thanks very much. We got it in the US while there on holiday.

[@ihatemybosses]

Elon over promises many of his project. With Starlink he seems to have delivered without having anyhere near the final count of satellites. I am in a similar situation in mountains of Colorado. It is so great having a connection everywhere now.

[@ChadSchrickker14]

Do you guys sell those peak caps?

[@EpicAfrica]

We don’t, but happy to send you one, just drop us your address to [e-mail]

[@FreddieMare]

Will we ever see startling in SA?

[@EpicAfrica]

I hope we will one day but right now it seems to be far off....