Ep. 354: Starlink RV Internet in 2024 | travel camping rvlife rvliving rvlifestyle

Starlink satellite Internet is rapidly evolving, both in terms of service and equipment. Our earlier videos on Starlink were videos were outdated almost as soon as they were released, so we're updating the state of Starlink for RV travelers in 2024 as the best solution for maintaining connectivity on the road.
Filmed: April 4, 2024
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CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
1:18 The advantages over cellular data
3:02 SPONSOR: RVmattress.com by Brooklyn Bedding
4:47 The advantages over other satellite providers
6:22 Starlink Gen 3 vs. Gen 2
8:34 Starlink service plans
10:27 Wrap-up and what's next
FOR MORE INFORMATION
* www.Starlink.com
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We're based in Salt Lake City, Utah during the winter months, and invite you to come along as we travel all around the U.S. My wife Patricia and I, and dog Zoe are avid boondockers, so while you'll occasionally find us in RV parks or even dry campgrounds, we're usually camped in some of the most remote and beautiful spots that you could ever pull a travel trailer into. We've now transitioned from "long-timing" for six months a year, to living and traveling in our RV full-time.
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[@rd4660]

Wouldn't be without ours. We go way into the boonies and having the ability to communicate is priceless.

[@GrandAdventure]

No doubt about it. Thanks for sharing your feedback and experience!

[@utahiker]

I have Starlink and love it. Works great in the Utah desert miles away from cell towers.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thanks for sharing your experience, Lyn. Yes, it certainly does. It eliminates that question of whether you'll have cell service, and how good it will be.

[@laughingram7287]

Although it’s not for us, I found the information very interesting. It’s amazing the number of satellites up in the air. Thanks, Ram 👍🏼👍🏾

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you both!

[@brettwhitley2576]

Talk about evolving! I remember your video about Star link and having to search the map for an available cell where you were wanting to go. We've been growing right with you on the Star link. We aren't full time campers, but we camp about 6 months of the year. One thing to note, if you pause service for a couple months, be sure and turn it on and get updated before you head out on the trip. Sure saves a lot of frustration at the camp site!

[@GrandAdventure]

Good advice, Brett. Thank you for that! Glad to hear that it's working out for you.

[@brettwhitley2576]

@@GrandAdventure another good tip on using WiFi calling, if you're in a remote location with little or no cell service, turn off mobile data. Text messages will send and receive a lot faster if the phone doesn't try mobile data first.

[@shaggywagshaggywag]

That’s very pricey for internet service! I’d rather do without before paying those prices, must be a better solution. It’s justified if service is tax deductible/work expense, otherwise… Love the channel!

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you! Of course, we justify it because I work from the RV. Regardless, it's less than Comcast used to charge me for home internet service.

[@normgibson6565]

Love my Gen 3 from BIG BEND NP

[@GrandAdventure]

Nice Norm! You didn't have the Gen 2 previously, did you? I'd love to hear from folks who have had both, and therefore can compare.

[@GrandAdventure]

Forgot to mention, too, how much we love the whole Big Bend area.

[@normgibson6565]

@@GrandAdventure No Gen 2 got the Gen 3 in the Q.

[@bobanddangsjourney]

Great explanation of the current status of starlink. We are happy with v2 and from what i understand it uses a bit less power, so we will be sticking with that. Sure does open up those remote areas to us working folks :). Thanks for this one!

[@GrandAdventure]

Our pleasure, thank you Bob! We've heard the same thing about Gen 3's power consumption. Although we've measured Gen 2 at ~35W @ 120V we haven't had the opportunity to measure Gen 3 ourselves.

[@daviscrt]

I remember some of your old video's when you had to leave because of poor cell service. Not anymore. Thanks Don

[@GrandAdventure]

Exactly, Don. Plus, what you never saw behind the scenes was finding cell towers on a map and trying to guesstimate what the service would be like at a particular location before we got there. This eliminates a whole bunch of guesswork and anxiety. We pretty much don't even have to think about it anymore.

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

Hey Marc, great points for anyone having good internet while camping. Yes turn on Wi-Fi, calling. We recently switched to consumer cellular for phone, $55 a month for both us, so cheap. We have used our starlink in canada for the last two summers, no problem at all. How heavy is the bed, we need something lighter. Thats be best BB, integration that i have seen. I have noticed a big improvement in speed and latency over the last year. I would love the new cables, I have made custom cables for my system to extend over 300 feet. I will stick with my gen 2 system, i like the self align. You hit all the important parts of using starlink, im always surprised when i meet a full timer who does not have starlink, im like why? Elon needs to sponsor GA! Daffodils in spring! Great job, i Need to do a similar video but im not as organized as you. Cant wait to see what happens on your next season of adventure. larry

[@GrandAdventure]

Hey, bud! Thanks so very much. We were long overdue putting out a Starlink update, especially because every time we put one out they changed the program again within a week. This time they did it to me again by offering refurbished Gen 3 dishes in the US for the first time ($399). Our choice ended up being the heaviest BB mattress they make, 100 lb. Other models are substantially lighter.

[@cirrus820travelers9]

Really found how useful our starlink & off-grid power system works for emergency communications! Last summer when we were camping near Mirror Lake SP (UT) cell service was terrible, spotty & totally useless. We pulled over, set up our starlink & minutes later on the phone with wifi talking to friends back in Florida facing life altering surgery. We then cut our trip short and drove back home. Certainly, Starlink is pricey! But very effective with clear skies.

[@GrandAdventure]

Wow, that made a tremendous difference in your situation. We were nearby there several years back, boondocking up near Bald Mountain Pass when I had a medical emergency. Mrs. GA would've been grateful to have had Starlink and been able to have placed a phone call from there at the time, as we had zero cell signal whatsoever.

[@jeffhenry5153]

My wife’s mother is in assisted living after a stroke in 2020. We camp on CO and mostly boondock. But, we are limited to places with cell service so we can get emergency calls if needed. I am looking at Starlink as a WiFi calling option. How do you power it when boondocking? Pure sine wave inverter? We have solar so can charge, so that’s not an issue. Thank you for your help! Mark, GREAT info as always! Love your channel and have been a subscriber and fan for years! Jeff

[@GrandAdventure]

@@jeffhenry5153 thank you so much! I just power it off the inverter. There are ways to power it off 12V, especially for Gen 3 as that just uses a PoE injector, but it's a bit more complicated to convert Gen 2 to 12 VDC.

[@robhebbs7960]

Good info Mark. We dont work online so the verizon jet pack is enough. and way less money. Love your videos , the graffics and information about where you travel is the best. Big thumbs up.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thanks Rob! We'll have a whole new season of those travel videos coming up for you momentarily.

[@danlindey7368]

Good video with great information. Thanks.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Dan!

[@oldguybiking7438]

Good stuff, thank you so much! Can’t wait to see more

[@GrandAdventure]

We try to update Starlink info on a regular basis, as it's evolving so quickly.

[@robertnasser9937]

Mine is on roam and used when RVing.

[@GrandAdventure]

And how has your experience been, Bob?

[@robertnasser9937]

@@GrandAdventure excellent except back east in Virginia and SC as there were to many trees in a few of the sites. We have a ATT data plan and our T-Mobile phones for backup

[@texmcs9588]

Great update on SL. See you out there. Tim Mc.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thank you Tim! We truly do hope to see you and Kaye out there this season.

[@rickskidmore3075]

Great informative video. We don't have Starlink, but have thought about getting it. We're still weekenders so we cannot justify the cost at this time. However, the month to month subscription does sound good when we don't need it. And you're right, they are popping up everywhere.

[@GrandAdventure]

Thanks Rick! We can understand that it's not very cost effective if you're only going out every month or two, but if you're using the RV on most weekends, the cost isn't too bad with being able to turn it on and off at will. It mostly just depends on how much you need it.

[@TheSnakeman3]

I have had Starlink for over a year now. I have 2, gen 2 setups. One for home, and one for RV that’s paused when not in use. I have not had any issues with either.

[@GrandAdventure]

That's terrific feedback, Robert. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@untetherednomad6393]

Great video. I am on my second year with SL roam/mobile. Great value $$ for me as a FY nomad.

[@GrandAdventure]

As a full timer with a full-time job, we understand about getting our money's worth.

[@rvfuntimes6144]

We were at Apgar in Glacier NP and it work at a site where we only had one little bitty hole in the trees.

[@GrandAdventure]

That's very impressive! It seems to use that the more birds they launch into the sky, the better the system becomes at dealing with obstructions, which only makes logical sense. They've gone from barely over 2,000 satellites just a couple of years ago to over 5,000 today.

[@jeffarthur322]

As long as you have access to northern sky. And you have DEEP pockets and the dire need to stay connected. I get it if that’s how you need to survive. Best of luck

[@GrandAdventure]

The northern sky view is critical, Jeff, but we've taken to using Google Satellite to check for campsites without obstructions, both campgrounds and boondocking sites alike. As for deep pockets, it's still less than we paid for Comcast Internet at our house, and that had a 1TB monthly cap on transfer.

[@U72740]

Everyone has their priorities. It's like politics and religion, it can't be discussed. Thanks for the info Mark and I tend to think like you

[@GrandAdventure]

@@U72740 you're most welcome, and thanks for your thoughts!

[@GrandAdventure]

@@untetherednomad6393 we completely agree, especially if you're going to pay half that or more for limited data tied to a cell tower.

[@joemontague217]

I need to get star link before we travel next winter

[@GrandAdventure]

It's a life changer, Joe. Certainly an RV Life changer.

[@jeffhenry5153]

Great info Mark! Thank you! I want to get Starlink as we boondock 90% of the time. Would be nice to be free from cell tower limitations. How do you power Starlink when you’re boondocking?

[@GrandAdventure]

@jeffhenry5153 thank you so much Jeff! I just power it off the inverter. There are ways to power it off 12V, especially for Gen 3 as that just uses a PoE injector, but it's a bit more complicated to convert Gen 2 to 12 VDC.

[@BarbWagner-zx5hv]

Thank you for doing this video on Starlink, it was very helpful. We are planning on getting this for our Motor home Class A. We do not want to mount it on the roof and are looking at setting it up with the long pole. What kind of advise do you have for this option, and do we need additional hardware for this option. thank you Barb

[@GrandAdventure]

You are most welcome! We use a cheap aluminum Amazon telescoping flagpole, The flagpole Buddy bracket to mount it to our ladder, and the pole mount from Starlink to connect the dish.

[@enochhager33]

Mark, we have had starlink for several years now of full-time RVing. The only thing I would add is that we have ours as a residential account and just change my address when we move. It only takes a minute to change your address and runs $90 month.

[@GrandAdventure]

We're also on residential, Enoch, but with roaming enabled (not available anymore). This saves us from changing our service address each time we move, yet we get priority data when we are in Salt Lake City for 5 months each winter. I don't know how you're getting it for only $90 per month, though, but I certainly wouldn't ask any questions. 😉

[@sherifx5122]

I was curious about this. We are looking at SL for a couple of reasons. My wife is able to work from home a majority of the time and our home internet provider keeps going down, so we're looking for something more reliable than what we have, and we are in a major city too. The other is that we own some off grid mountain land and it would be nice for her to be able to work from there in our rv, I get more vacation time than she does so it would be nice for her to get away too. So I was interested in doing the SL for homes but being able to pack it up and take it with us on trips like to our land etc. Is it as easy as you said to change your address back and forth?

[@enochhager33]

@sherifx5122 When we move from one place to another just before I take starlink or before I set it up at the new place, I go online and change the service address. We are charged $90 a month in a low usage area and $120 in a high usage area. In the last 12 months, we have been charged the $90. You can use the app to change the address if you do it before you leave the old address at the new address you will have to go online to do it.

[@CowboyBikerAdventures]

Hi Marc, I agree Starlink is a must. I use about 2 Terabytes my self. I stream everything. LOL FYI: here on the east coast from Maine to Florida it basically points out over the Atlantic. I got a after market router signal extender with ethernet connection, so that took care of that issue. Which I rarely use the extender. Plus I leave my Starlink router in a bay and I still have a good signal in all of the RV plus outside. Don

[@GrandAdventure]

Interesting about the aiming direction back there, Don. We'll be experiencing that ourselves this season. Like you, I keep our Starlink router in our basement. That way I can simply route the cable up into the wet bay alongside our water hose -- easy peasy.

[@CowboyBikerAdventures]

@GrandAdventure Marc, yes I don't get why some run it in a window or side. Too much work for me. But since i've been along the east coast i've got t mobile home internet so I rarely have to use my start link and the t mobile internet is so much faster. And only forty dollars more from my t mobile phone. So $90 totally for both and both have unlimited data.

[@GrandAdventure]

@@CowboyBikerAdventures that's a nice setup you've got going and I've heard good things about T-Mobile's Home Internet. In the East Coast that would be a viable option; not so much here in the West. We have both Visible and T-Mobile SIMs in our Peplink router as failover, for when we stop for a quick overnight and don't feel like setting up the dish, or for those rare occasions that we set up in a forest. That T-Mobile SIM isn't their Home Internet service, but in our case it's the only T-Mobile product we have as our phones are on Verizon.

[@CowboyBikerAdventures]

@GrandAdventure Yes in the desert it would not work. I have had good internet with it even when no t mobile cell towers. My t mobile phone would not work but the home internet would using a Verizon tower. So I just did wifi calling. Lol

[@rhondahulland]

How much power do the Gen 2 and Gen 3 setups use?

[@gorrdd]

Thanks Marc... Great update info! What's the deal with the dish with the stand? It looks like you have to manually put it up on the roof every time you park. Is that the case? I like the 'set it and forget it' approach, better. Gord

[@GrandAdventure]

I use the flagpole only when I need to get the dish up above obstructions. That's really no big deal - I can set it up and take it down without ever leaving the ground.

[@gorrdd]

@@GrandAdventure So your current 2.0 dish still has to be set up manually? Then what's the 'set it and forget it' setup? Gord

[@GrandAdventure]

@@gorrdd no, no, I was talking about the flagpole. The dish I just plug in and it uses motors to orient itself.

[@gorrdd]

@@GrandAdventure Got it... Why would they discontinue the motorized self orientation? That seems completely unintuitive.

[@GrandAdventure]

@@gorrdd as I understand it, several reasons including manufacturing cost and a desire to slim the dish.

[@chuckneese1282]

you mentioned adjusting the Gen 3 dish, how hard is it to do and what do you do?

[@GrandAdventure]

We haven't done it ourselves, but from what we understand the Starlink app uses augmented reality to show you the position that it needs to be in.

[@TimRedmond-fg7tg]

We are thinking about getting Starlink for our motorhome. Our home internet is terribly slow and glitchy. Could we also use the regional mobile equipment and plan at home and just take the antenna with us on the road?

[@GrandAdventure]

Yes you certainly could, Tim.

[@paulshannon4576]

I have one from since 1/25/22 and the first try there was no coverage 6 miles from Mexico. But it was a month later. I have my first one permanently mounted at home but purchased a second one for the fifth wheel again. It’s the second generation so I would have the motors.

[@GrandAdventure]

Happy to hear of your experiences, Paul. True, back in early 2022 the service was quite different. Mexico and Canadian coverage was limited, and back then you actually had to have a separate dish to use Starlink in either of those two countries. Thankfully they now treat North America as a whole as one region.

[@paulshannon4576]

@@GrandAdventure That’s good to know because I’m planning a trip to Western Canada, Yukon and Alaska in summer and fall of 2025.

[@GrandAdventure]

@@paulshannon4576 we're actually contemplating the same trip at around the same time.

[@thomashendron4356]

Do you still have the mobile WiFi units from Verizon/ATT and the WiFi switcher box in addition to starlink?

[@GrandAdventure]

Thomas, we have a Peplink 5G cellular router that automatically fails over to cell data when necessary. kzbin.info/www/bejne/imabdZilaJKIpNk

[@akgobears]

Think one would have to be a remote worker or perhaps a youtuber to take on that kind of monthly cost...NOT to mention the up front cost...Luckily for us, we are neither so the wifi hot spot thing is all we need for things like campground reservations or to map out an overnite stay someplace or even online banking...Lookin forward to this yrs Grand Adventures, just do it safely and be well...

[@GrandAdventure]

Same to you! In response to another comment, earlier today I looked up what we were paying Comcast/Xfinity for home Internet: $183.03/month.

[@akgobears]

@@GrandAdventure I PAY roughly the same for my Xfinity but that cost also includes cable TV along with my internet...

[@GrandAdventure]

@@akgobears you have a good price then. Ours was for internet only.

[@shaggywagshaggywag]

@@GrandAdventureWhy is your Xfinity almost $200/month? Mine is under $100 for internet. Wow! Love the channel!

[@jaludwick]

I think that this is expensive for my situation. I’m in a seasonal spot that has Wi-Fi. I just wanna boost it up a little bit. You had a video from four years ago invisible is that still a good option?

[@GrandAdventure]

Visible is still a great option, although of course it will do nothing to boost the existing Wi-Fi you're using. But you can use Visible to supplement it. Visible has since effectively neutralized all of my efforts to defeat their 5 Mbps hotspotting speed cap, but we've found that even that limited speed is sufficient for things like HD video streaming. If the Wi-Fi at your seasonal spot is truly insufficient, realize that you can turn Starlink's mobile plan on or off on a monthly basis. So you can pay for the plan during your camping season, and turn it off the rest of the year.

[@gkayser100]

Mark do you have an alternative when starlink does not work? Do trees affect it a lot?

[@GrandAdventure]

We route everything (including Starlink) through a Peplink router kzbin.info/www/bejne/imabdZilaJKIpNk . That Peplink has two SIM card slots, and we have one on Verizon's network (Visible) and one on T-Mobile in that Peplink router. They provide failover if Starlink drops out, or primary service if we're just stopping somewhere quickly for the night -- like we are right now as I'm typing this. That said, Starlink's obstruction handling has gotten exponentially better recently, and I can only attribute that to the dramatic increase in available satellites that the dish has to choose from since we first got Starlink, from just under 2,000 satellites to over 6,000 today. Our site this winter had large cottonwood trees both immediately to our north, and even overhead. But even as those trees began to leaf out this spring, Starlink reported few obstructions and I only had a dropout of

[@bradneuman8329]

We just got the Gen 3 and started using it this week. We plan to head out west again this fall. Do you know if we do not have any cell phone access, will I be able to use the app on my phone to set up the dish? Thanks.

[@GrandAdventure]

You sure will, Brad. As I understand it, with the Gen 3 they use augmented reality to assist with the dish setup. That's not dependent upon Internet data. Congrats on your new setup, and best wishes for a safe and enjoyable Western trip this fall.

[@bradneuman8329]

@@GrandAdventure Thanks you. I held back worrying about spending the setup cost. Glad I did and really like Gen 3.

[@jackieschneider9717]

One more question, where does the cord get plugged into, in/on the RV?

[@GrandAdventure]

Anywhere you want. 😉 Personally, we use a 120 volt power outlet located inside our basement, put the router down there, and then run the cable that connects the router to the dish through the same opening that we pass our water hose through.

[@jackieschneider9717]

Ahh, I was thinking the other end was some sort of unique fitting. Thank you. :)

[@jackieschneider9717]

GREAT info, thanks! I'm contemplating purchasing Starlink for the first time. We are new to RV camping and I need the internet to be able to "work from home" while camping. Would I need to place the Gen 3 on the roof of the RV or can I set it on a table? (I'm assuming only the Gen 2 uses the tall pole, or can I get one for the Gen 3 as well?) HOW will I be able to hook up and find the Starlink satellite with the app, while at a campsite that doesn't have good cell service? Would I need to put my mobile phone on cellular data while connecting to Starlink? Thanks in advance.

[@GrandAdventure]

You're most welcome, Jackie! You'll find that Starlink is exceptional for working from the RV as we do. You can pole mount the Gen 3, I just don't know how tricky it would be to orient the dish on the pole as we don't have a Gen 3 unit ourselves. We only use the pole when we need some extra height to get above nearby obstructions. Otherwise, we just lay it out on its own stand. As I understand it the app uses augmented reality to align the dish, and that does not require cell service or other forms of internet to accomplish.

[@jackieschneider9717]

@@GrandAdventure all good to know, especially since it shouldn't require any cell service to set up. Would you recommend that I set it up at home first, before taking to the campsite? I obviously have home internet, so I didn't know if it would screw anything else up at home.

[@GrandAdventure]

@@jackieschneider9717 definitely set it up at home first. Nevertheless, you will find setup to be super quick and super easy.

[@BrewNomads]

Nice video. I’ve watched various videos of yours over the years and am genuinely curious why you seem to never refer to yourself as I. It’s always “we”, but there’s never anyone else in your videos. You were doing this before the preferred pronoun craze and like me I think you’re too old for that stuff anyway, so I don’t think it’s that. Can you explain? I find myself wanting to count the number of times you say we when “I” would seem more correct.

[@GrandAdventure]

LOL John! Nope, I'm not a pronoun guy and yep, we're definitely a "we". Mrs. GA is most definitely a partner in this whole endeavor, she just steadfastly refuses to appear on camera, aside from those rare moments that I happen to catch her in the background.

[@BrewNomads]

@@GrandAdventure Ah, thanks for the explanation! Now it will seem a little less weird when I watch future videos.

[@GrandAdventure]

@@BrewNomads happy to be able to de-weird that for you. 😁