I too have the Canadian Residential service with portability. We’ve been 5 weeks traveling down through central WA, ID, NV, eastern CA, western and south central AZ; as long as we have clear view we experienced excellent fast no buffering service. Although now, in Casa Grande, AZ we too are noticing reduced capacity and speed during the evening, but absolutely no issues during the day. Happy traveling Ray!
So to use portability. all you have to do is put the dish out and turn it on and it will work? I have standard + portability. I don't have to set any map settings in the app or other to have portability work? its automatic basically?
It’s so nice to see you guys back in the desert in the USA!!! Always enjoy your videos! You always inspire me to keep our fifth wheel and continue to repair it and not give up and trade it in!
Thanks, we sure missed it when we had to spend a winter up in BC during the Covid border closure. It was interesting because of the novelty of it, not having spent a winter there in the RV, but hope to not have to do it again. ;)
As of a couple of weeks ago, one could not order a residential unit over a large area northeast, east, and southeast of Sacramento. The service map on the Starlink website clearly shows the problem area. I was also told that the problem would be taken care of in 2023 presumably by more satellites.
Yeah, Starlink is mostly aimed at rural users with little other options for high speed data. Good for RVers in the boonies too as we don't have to worry about which cell carrier may serve an area. Just need a clear sky. :) Currently outside Ajo, AZ with often weak cell coverage but Starlink working great. Usually people living in urban areas already have equal or better alternatives like cable, fiber or 5G wireless service. But I guess enough people are ordering it anyway.
We just got an rv starlink a couple of weeks ago and love it. Have it mounted on a Harbor Freight flagpole. We'd been depending on our Weeboost to give us a signal and have been pretty disappointed with it. Most of our travels are like yours...out in the middle of nowhere. Now we have full phone and internet nearly everyplace (depending on a clear view of the northern sky).
Just a small tidbit- upcoming software update adds the ability to turn off starlink at different times of the day to save energy. Might be a good way to conserve energy during night time if you forget to power it off. Also, the more satellites SpaceX launches and more so once they start launching starlink v2 satellites, you should see improvement in bandwidth, even in congested areas - though there might still be areas where there are so many subscribers there’s just a limit to how much aggregate bandwidth would be available. Thanks for the update!
Thanks, I saw that new feature in the app. Doesn't seem to turn everything off though, just the dish so still some power usage but good to have I guess. What I did was buy a wireless remote AC switch that came with a remote fob. amzn.to/3Jo5wKi When my wife is done using the dish at night she turns it all off and in the morning we turn it all back on. Or during the day when not using. Doesn't seem to hurt it at all reboots in just a minute or so
Awesome update! There is a version for ships now I hear. My understanding is after SpaceX fully populates its fleet of starlink satellites that they will most likely guarantee service pretty much anywhere. I think the continental limitation has to do with pricing. In several poorer European nations the cost of starlink is reduced. They probably don’t want you to buy it there then use it somewhere that has higher prices for the same item. However I think they will eventually have to settle on a worldwide price and the service terms will be amended.
Just hearing the word 'desert' has a freeing, soothing effect on me. Being a Canadian snowbird is hands down the best life. Anyhow, have you been able to determine at around what Mb/sec does buffering/loss of resolution start being an issue? I don't know if many people are like me, but 'Mb' doesn't paint a clear pic in my head, I always need to do the conversion to Mo' *after* I've Googled the conversion number. :)
I find if the download is speed is consistently 5Mb/sec or higher the streaming looks pretty good with minimal buffering. I once used a campground premium WiFi service that was capped at 6Mb/sec and we could consistently stream TH-cam and Netflix with decent clarity on our 43" TV
Oh, cool! I didn't know you had bought the $2500 USD unit designed for in motion use The standard portable use one is $599 www.starlink.com/rv I have the one that is OK for portable but not in motion use. The Standard Starlink is designed for portable use at any destination where Starlink has active coverage. With an easy setup and break down, Starlink delivers high-speed, low latency internet access within minutes, and packs up quickly when its time to move to your next destination. The Standard Starlink is not made for in-motion use. For more information on Starlink coverage areas, see the Starlink Coverage Map.
Hopefully the Kuiper satellites by Amazon will be priced better. My data plan from our cell services works decently for the most part, but we run out of data within about a week.
Unfortunately Amazon would have to pay SpaceX to put Kuiper satellites in orbit. Blue Origin (Jeff Bezos’s rocket) can only go straight up and straight down. It does not have orbital flight or insertion capabilities…. at least not yet. Indeed competition would be nice but even the Chinese rocket program is unable yo reuse the boosters yet. So even they would have to charge more to put satellites in orbit than SpaceX. Ergo, how would Amazon price their service lower? That could only be temporary. 🤔
I'm debating whether or not to pull the plug on one of these. If I bought one, I think I would use it as my home internet service as well and save that $75 plus the $35 I spend on an AT&T unlimited hot spot. I'm tempted to press my luck with the hotspot before I do and see how much they will let me use before they cut me off or throttle me. I've read somewhere around 500-600 GB?
Sounds like a good idea. For us in Canada Starlink is much more appealing as there the cell providers have a monopoly so cost for data is stupid expensive. Not so much in the USA. where data plans are more attractive.
I’m waiting & letting all bugs worked out. The price should go down & battery last longer in future. *for reference, I recently bought an IPhone 8. I think Apple will stick around as a Company 🤣* fought it as long as I could! Happy Trails Everyone
Thank you for the update! Do you have to give a new address at every stop you mention on the map? Or the portability setting takes care of you moving around, and could you choose portability in Canada too? I am glad you are getting good internet :-0)
Yes portability takes care of it but the speeds may not be as good as moving the registered address when I'm back in Canada, so I'll keep doing that when back there and save the $30 a month fee.
Thanks for the update Ray, one question I have is how in the back-country can you still pick up service? I was understanding that you had a range of maybe 15 miles from a contact point to for your service to lock into your position.
As far as you want, the 15-mile limit was back when it was in beta. Now they have the RV package or the residential+ portability addon. Basically roaming. So it will work anywhere in North America as long as there is a clear view of the sky and the area isn't too congested with other Starlink dishes. Backcountry is actually best for Starlink use. In dense populations, it doesn't work as well because there are only so many satellites overhead at any one time to serve a region.
Yes! So far its been great everywhere except in one location very near Sacramento , it slowed dramatically in the evenings. www.travellerspoint.com/map/#/trip/1363179 My payment date is the 25th so haven't hit my 2 months length yet. I added portability Nov 1st but they didn't start billing until Nov 25th on my normal payment date, so guess we'll see. :)
I decided to not carry the 6 foot metal pole with me for the trip so left it stored at my sisters. When down here I like to have the weather station and often have flag and its pole on the ladder.
Obviously the chain thing works, but if you wanted something more permanent. How hard would it be to have a bolt system so you could just slide it in, and lock it down when stationary?
Not hard to add but I'd still have to climb up there anyway, so chain works well enough without having to add another thing to the roof to keep maintained and sealed. When in thick trees I use the tripod and place it on the ground where there is a good sky view, when stopping for the night I place on the slide. When in an RV parks for extended times I have a pole mount the goes on the ladder. th-cam.com/video/lOMm7yWNA8Q/w-d-xo.html I decided to not carry the pole this trip. Cheers, Ray
Yes but the TOS legalese leaves it a little unclear if a person is good for more than 2 months or billing cycles out of their home country. www.starlink.com/legal/documents/DOC-1020-91087-64 It talks about shipping address. " If you use Starlink for RV Services for more than two months in a country that is different than your shipping address, you will be required to move your registered address to your new location or purchase an additional Starlink to maintain Service."
So, until you go South of Mexico, you are covered. North America is Canada, USA, and Mexico. Same thing with RV. Once South of Mexico, you have two months to register somewhere in the other continent.
The TOS legalese leaves it a little unclear if a person is good for more than 2 months or billing cycles out of their home country. www.starlink.com/legal/documents/DOC-1020-91087-64 It talks about shipping address. " If you use Starlink for RV Services for more than two months in a country that is different than your shipping address, you will be required to move your registered address to your new location or purchase an additional Starlink to maintain Service."
You bet, but the TOS legalese leaves it a little unclear if a person is good for more than 2 months or billing cycles out of their home country. www.starlink.com/legal/documents/DOC-1020-91087-64
If they are stipulating coverage by continent in Canada, the US or Mexico you should not experience any interruptions. All 3 are on the North American continent. If they cut you off then their agreement isn't worth the paper it's written on.
Here is the TOS if you want to have a read www.starlink.com/legal/documents/DOC-1020-91087-64?regionCode=US It says you'll have coverage on your shipping or service address continent but does have clauses that talk spent about time out of home country and limitations. It could be like a lot of legal stuff, only if they decided to enforce it. Guess we'll find out soon enough.
Where were you using it mostly? Canada and the western USA have decent coverage except near metro areas, but the eastern USA is not great I imagine, being so much more populated. Starlink is aimed at rural use.
*View my previous Starlink videos* - www.loveyourrv.com/starlink-satellite-dish-internet-first-look-setup-test-on-the-rv/
EcoFlow Portable Powerstation review videos - www.loveyourrv.com/ecoflow-delta-max-portable-lithium-power-station-review/
Wireless AC Power Switch - amzn.to/3iIkVJV
I too have the Canadian Residential service with portability. We’ve been 5 weeks traveling down through central WA, ID, NV, eastern CA, western and south central AZ; as long as we have clear view we experienced excellent fast no buffering service. Although now, in Casa Grande, AZ we too are noticing reduced capacity and speed during the evening, but absolutely no issues during the day. Happy traveling Ray!
So to use portability. all you have to do is put the dish out and turn it on and it will work? I have standard + portability. I don't have to set any map settings in the app or other to have portability work? its automatic basically?
It’s so nice to see you guys back in the desert in the USA!!! Always enjoy your videos! You always inspire me to keep our fifth wheel and continue to repair it and not give up and trade it in!
Thanks, we sure missed it when we had to spend a winter up in BC during the Covid border closure. It was interesting because of the novelty of it, not having spent a winter there in the RV, but hope to not have to do it again. ;)
As of a couple of weeks ago, one could not order a residential unit over a large area northeast, east, and southeast of Sacramento. The service map on the Starlink website clearly shows the problem area. I was also told that the problem would be taken care of in 2023 presumably by more satellites.
Yeah, Starlink is mostly aimed at rural users with little other options for high speed data. Good for RVers in the boonies too as we don't have to worry about which cell carrier may serve an area. Just need a clear sky. :) Currently outside Ajo, AZ with often weak cell coverage but Starlink working great. Usually people living in urban areas already have equal or better alternatives like cable, fiber or 5G wireless service. But I guess enough people are ordering it anyway.
We just got an rv starlink a couple of weeks ago and love it. Have it mounted on a Harbor Freight flagpole. We'd been depending on our Weeboost to give us a signal and have been pretty disappointed with it. Most of our travels are like yours...out in the middle of nowhere. Now we have full phone and internet nearly everyplace (depending on a clear view of the northern sky).
Will be interested to see what happens after 60 days Ray ... Thanks for the update!
Just a small tidbit- upcoming software update adds the ability to turn off starlink at different times of the day to save energy. Might be a good way to conserve energy during night time if you forget to power it off. Also, the more satellites SpaceX launches and more so once they start launching starlink v2 satellites, you should see improvement in bandwidth, even in congested areas - though there might still be areas where there are so many subscribers there’s just a limit to how much aggregate bandwidth would be available. Thanks for the update!
Thanks, I saw that new feature in the app. Doesn't seem to turn everything off though, just the dish so still some power usage but good to have I guess. What I did was buy a wireless remote AC switch that came with a remote fob. amzn.to/3Jo5wKi When my wife is done using the dish at night she turns it all off and in the morning we turn it all back on. Or during the day when not using. Doesn't seem to hurt it at all reboots in just a minute or so
Awesome update! There is a version for ships now I hear. My understanding is after SpaceX fully populates its fleet of starlink satellites that they will most likely guarantee service pretty much anywhere.
I think the continental limitation has to do with pricing. In several poorer European nations the cost of starlink is reduced. They probably don’t want you to buy it there then use it somewhere that has higher prices for the same item.
However I think they will eventually have to settle on a worldwide price and the service terms will be amended.
Thanks for the update, we are interested in something like this…
Thanks for the video 😊
Just hearing the word 'desert' has a freeing, soothing effect on me. Being a Canadian snowbird is hands down the best life.
Anyhow, have you been able to determine at around what Mb/sec does buffering/loss of resolution start being an issue? I don't know if many people are like me, but 'Mb' doesn't paint a clear pic in my head, I always need to do the conversion to Mo' *after* I've Googled the conversion number. :)
I find if the download is speed is consistently 5Mb/sec or higher the streaming looks pretty good with minimal buffering. I once used a campground premium WiFi service that was capped at 6Mb/sec and we could consistently stream TH-cam and Netflix with decent clarity on our 43" TV
Yes our has been great mounted ours tight on the rig and drove and used it driving down
Using in motion breaks the terms of service. ;)
See www.starlink.com/legal/documents/DOC-1020-91087-64?regionCode=US
@Love Your RV As of July the 1st he has permission from the FCC approves Starlink use in moving vehicles
Oh, cool! I didn't know you had bought the $2500 USD unit designed for in motion use The standard portable use one is $599 www.starlink.com/rv I have the one that is OK for portable but not in motion use.
The Standard Starlink is designed for portable use at any destination where Starlink has active coverage. With an easy setup and break down, Starlink delivers high-speed, low latency internet access within minutes, and packs up quickly when its time to move to your next destination.
The Standard Starlink is not made for in-motion use. For more information on Starlink coverage areas, see the Starlink Coverage Map.
th-cam.com/video/UC8ndB7ZxQQ/w-d-xo.html
Great info thanks!
I do visible 25.00 a month on my unlocked att night hawk 5g router works great
Hopefully the Kuiper satellites by Amazon will be priced better. My data plan from our cell services works decently for the most part, but we run out of data within about a week.
Competition would be nice. :)
Unfortunately Amazon would have to pay SpaceX to put Kuiper satellites in orbit. Blue Origin (Jeff Bezos’s rocket) can only go straight up and straight down. It does not have orbital flight or insertion capabilities…. at least not yet.
Indeed competition would be nice but even the Chinese rocket program is unable yo reuse the boosters yet. So even they would have to charge more to put satellites in orbit than SpaceX.
Ergo, how would Amazon price their service lower? That could only be temporary. 🤔
I'm debating whether or not to pull the plug on one of these. If I bought one, I think I would use it as my home internet service as well and save that $75 plus the $35 I spend on an AT&T unlimited hot spot. I'm tempted to press my luck with the hotspot before I do and see how much they will let me use before they cut me off or throttle me. I've read somewhere around 500-600 GB?
Sounds like a good idea. For us in Canada Starlink is much more appealing as there the cell providers have a monopoly so cost for data is stupid expensive. Not so much in the USA. where data plans are more attractive.
I’m waiting & letting all bugs worked out. The price should go down & battery last longer in future. *for reference, I recently bought an IPhone 8. I think Apple will stick around as a Company 🤣* fought it as long as I could! Happy Trails Everyone
Thank you for the update! Do you have to give a new address at every stop you mention on the map? Or the portability setting takes care of you moving around, and could you choose portability in Canada too? I am glad you are getting good internet :-0)
Yes portability takes care of it but the speeds may not be as good as moving the registered address when I'm back in Canada, so I'll keep doing that when back there and save the $30 a month fee.
@@LoveYourRV Thank You :-0)
Thanks for the update Ray, one question I have is how in the back-country can you still pick up service? I was understanding that you had a range of maybe 15 miles from a contact point to for your service to lock into your position.
As far as you want, the 15-mile limit was back when it was in beta. Now they have the RV package or the residential+ portability addon. Basically roaming. So it will work anywhere in North America as long as there is a clear view of the sky and the area isn't too congested with other Starlink dishes. Backcountry is actually best for Starlink use. In dense populations, it doesn't work as well because there are only so many satellites overhead at any one time to serve a region.
Hey Ray, it’s been more than 2 months since you activated your starlink on November 2, so I am just curious is it still up and running?
Yes! So far its been great everywhere except in one location very near Sacramento , it slowed dramatically in the evenings. www.travellerspoint.com/map/#/trip/1363179 My payment date is the 25th so haven't hit my 2 months length yet. I added portability Nov 1st but they didn't start billing until Nov 25th on my normal payment date, so guess we'll see. :)
Still working. They took my money, including portability, for month number 3, and have had service for 2 days now into the 3rd month
@@LoveYourRV Thats great, thanks for the update Ray!
Section 5.2 shown has a bit about 2 billing cycles and they can change your registered service address??
Yes, that makes me wonder what may happen after the second billing cycle in January.
Ray, why did you move Starlink dish from the ladder.
? I thought this was a nice and clean setup.
I decided to not carry the 6 foot metal pole with me for the trip so left it stored at my sisters. When down here I like to have the weather station and often have flag and its pole on the ladder.
Obviously the chain thing works, but if you wanted something more permanent. How hard would it be to have a bolt system so you could just slide it in, and lock it down when stationary?
Not hard to add but I'd still have to climb up there anyway, so chain works well enough without having to add another thing to the roof to keep maintained and sealed. When in thick trees I use the tripod and place it on the ground where there is a good sky view, when stopping for the night I place on the slide. When in an RV parks for extended times I have a pole mount the goes on the ladder. th-cam.com/video/lOMm7yWNA8Q/w-d-xo.html I decided to not carry the pole this trip. Cheers, Ray
Why is there no permanent bracket on your roof for that Starlink ???
Why should there be?
Isn’t that USA and Canada on the same continent?
Yes but the TOS legalese leaves it a little unclear if a person is good for more than 2 months or billing cycles out of their home country. www.starlink.com/legal/documents/DOC-1020-91087-64
It talks about shipping address.
" If you use Starlink for RV Services for more than two months in a country that is different than your shipping address, you will be required to move your registered address to your new location or purchase an additional Starlink to maintain Service."
So, until you go South of Mexico, you are covered. North America is Canada, USA, and Mexico. Same thing with RV. Once South of Mexico, you have two months to register somewhere in the other continent.
The TOS legalese leaves it a little unclear if a person is good for more than 2 months or billing cycles out of their home country. www.starlink.com/legal/documents/DOC-1020-91087-64
It talks about shipping address.
" If you use Starlink for RV Services for more than two months in a country that is different than your shipping address, you will be required to move your registered address to your new location or purchase an additional Starlink to maintain Service."
You should be okay, North America continent is Canada and U.S.A..
I thought maybe I misunderstood Ray, or he was heading to South America lol.
You bet, but the TOS legalese leaves it a little unclear if a person is good for more than 2 months or billing cycles out of their home country. www.starlink.com/legal/documents/DOC-1020-91087-64
If they are stipulating coverage by continent in Canada, the US or Mexico you should not experience any interruptions. All 3 are on the North American continent. If they cut you off then their agreement isn't worth the paper it's written on.
Here is the TOS if you want to have a read www.starlink.com/legal/documents/DOC-1020-91087-64?regionCode=US It says you'll have coverage on your shipping or service address continent but does have clauses that talk spent about time out of home country and limitations. It could be like a lot of legal stuff, only if they decided to enforce it. Guess we'll find out soon enough.
Not a fan. We had a 50-50, good bad. So I turned it off. 50-50 was too much money. And too much power to run.
Where were you using it mostly? Canada and the western USA have decent coverage except near metro areas, but the eastern USA is not great I imagine, being so much more populated. Starlink is aimed at rural use.