Starlink for Overlanding Connectivity

[KBabione]

Okay - this thread prompted me to jump to the Starlink website to look at it again. The Starlink Standard had been $350 as long as I've been considering it. Elmo must be hurting, because I just bought it for $175!!! I added $10 for the roof rack mount and my total cost, with tax, was less than $200! Free shipping too!

I'll have two home games to try it out within my 30-day return window and see how it does...I'll report back by mid-September at the latest.

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[SeaGeo]

Update on the Starlink mount inside of the R1T...

The ContronX Design suction mount is proving to be rock solid. Last weekend, I drove on bumpy forest service roads for three hours and the suction cups did not fail. Here's a 55-second video that I took showing the road conditions:

I have a very similar suction cup mount that is oddly frustrating. It's a giant pain in the ass to remove (I have to like... peel the suction cup back off as if it had an adhesive) but it also tends to eventually lose a cup or two and eventually all three over the course of a day or overnight.

 

[webfootdawg]

I have starlink that I use in my plane, works great at nearly 200 mph. I bought short cord with barrel plug on one side and USB-C on the other that I use with a 100W anker cigarette lighter plug. Also bought a short USB-C to female barrel plug so I can use the 50 ft cable that came with the mini. At a campsite can park with dish and run off the RIvian.

 

[Thedude]

Okay - this thread prompted me to jump to the Starlink website to look at it again. The Starlink Standard had been $350 as long as I've been considering it. Elmo must be hurting, because I just bought it for $175!!! I added $10 for the roof rack mount and my total cost, with tax, was less than $200! Free shipping too!

I'll have two home games to try it out within my 30-day return window and see how it does...I'll report back by mid-September at the latest.

The standard dish is huge though.

 

[KBabione]

The standard dish is huge though.

You scared me! It's 24x15 - I thought I had checked that before. I'm good, for my use case, with that size. I'm not mounting it in my R1S - I'm planning to mount it to a roof rack that will only be on the Rivian for tailgating and will then come off to go inside when it's time to head home.

So - "huge" compared to the mini, but small compared to a Direct TV satellite dish (call that Plan D).

 

[SwampNut]

The standard dish is huge though.

Ahahahaha, you clearly have never dealt with older satellite tech. Anyway, it's huge for a backpack, not at all huge relative to using it on/around a vehicle/camp/etc. I bought the standard, since it's cheaper and faster, and my days of tent camping off a motorcycle are past.

 

[Thedude]

Ahahahaha, you clearly have never dealt with older satellite tech. Anyway, it's huge for a backpack, not at all huge relative to using it on/around a vehicle/camp/etc. I bought the standard, since it's cheaper and faster, and my days of tent camping off a motorcycle are past.

It’s pretty huge compared to the mini or the 2nd gen dish. Friend got one and wanted to put it in the roof of her jeep and it takes up half the space. Definitely not compact for storage or portability by comparison.

 

[waitingonanr1s]

Just mounted my Starlink mini using their crossbar mount. Easy to install and seems solid.

Debating whether I should flip it so it’s angled the other way for wind dynamics or if it even matters.. Might be a project at my next charging stop.

 

[KBabione]

Just mounted my Starlink mini using their crossbar mount. Easy to install and seems solid.

Debating whether I should flip it so it’s angled the other way for wind dynamics or if it even matters.. Might be a project at my next charging stop.

Starlink newbie here...I just set it up and tested it in a local park yesterday before its "debut" tailgating at the Penn State game tomorrow. As I was setting it up the graphic clearly showed that the bottom edge of the dish (I have the Starlink Standard) should be facing north. I can't imagine that would matter, but wanted to ask.

Also - Do they sell a shorter cable to connect the dish to the router? I don't need 50' to go from my roof to the interior of the R1S.

 

[waitingonanr1s]

Starlink newbie here...I just set it up and tested it in a local park yesterday before its "debut" tailgating at the Penn State game tomorrow. As I was setting it up the graphic clearly showed that the bottom edge of the dish (I have the Starlink Standard) should be facing north. I can't imagine that would matter, but wanted to ask.

Also - Do they sell a shorter cable to connect the dish to the router? I don't need 50' to go from my roof to the interior of the R1S.

I've only used mine twice before I finally decided to take it out of my frunk and mount it so it could be useful. I have used it at a couple of offgrid airbnb's and I haven't found it particularly fussy on direction. I think the most important thing is that it has a clear view of the sky. Likely will have problems if something large is between you and the satellite, but I've had no problems.

I'm amazed at how easy to use and efficeint the technology is. I left my garage in downtown San Diego after I took this photo and actually connected it for the first time in almost 2 months (last used in Canada). Even winding around through downtown SD (surrounded by high rise buildings) on the way to the freeway, it established connection in less than 5 minutes and welcomed me to the United States (lol).

I have noticed the signal will occasionally drop out, but it's usually very brief and doesn't happen enough to bother me (it was most noticeable on long zoom calls). That likely could be reduced if I took the time to align it properly, but I'm always on the move when I'm using it, and it doesn't bother me enough to care.

Not sure about a shorter cable. I always have something covering my floor because of dogs, so I just left the extra coiled under my floor covering. It ran really nicely in between the trim pieces and through the tailgate. I just need to strategically place a couple of strips of black ducktape to make it disappear on the crossbar.

 

[SwampNut]

Also - Do they sell a shorter cable to connect the dish to the router?

Yes, and longer ones too. I just velcro cable management to tie it all up, and 3D printed connector covers to protect them in travel.

 

[babock]

Now that we no longer have the free pause and have the $5/month standby mode, I did a few experiments yesterday. The 500KB/s that comes with standby is plenty to do the Starlink updates(although takes a little longer). It also has plenty of bandwidth to do two phone calls with two different phones simultaneously. Also had no problem doing some internet cruising using my phone. Internet use doing a laptop may be another story. I typically just go on the $50/50GB plan when going on a 7 day camping trip but my trip I am leaving on Sunday will be 2 weeks so may have to switch to Roam eventually. Will be interesting how long we just stay on Standby until we really need to do higher bandwidth.

 

[SwampNut]

Starlink does updates even with no plan at all. I'm fully cancelled and just did an update. The speed cap probably doesn't apply to any service related downloads and data. Phone calls are only 80k typically, for either uncompressed or high-quality compressed CODECs. You can do basic SD video on the standby plan. It will serve a lot of people well for basic needs. When I camp I don't do video, and mostly just need a little work time (low bandwidth). Do note that Starlink reserves the right to cancel you if you stay on standby for over 12 months. They clearly state this is not a USAGE plan but just a backup/standby.

Edit to add, be sure to do updates on a cancelled dish, if you need it, you don't want to fight that at the time. Sometimes you have to engage them to fix it, if your software is very old.

 

[babock]

Starlink does updates even with no plan at all.

Good to know..thanks.

 

[SwampNut]

I don't know if this is coincidence or was triggered by me updating the system, but I got this three days later...

Enjoy Starlink Free Until September 30
We just gave you free Starlink service! Over the past year, SpaceX has launched more than 2,300 new satellites, expanding the constellation and delivering faster speeds, lower latency, and more reliable service worldwide.

We’re inviting you to try Starlink again—free until September 30. Just plug in your Starlink with a clear view of the sky to get back online. Use it anywhere in your country, at home or on the go.

Learn about our beam switching technology and the latest network update.

To keep enjoying Starlink after September 30, switch to your preferred plan from your account. This free service applies only to your canceled service line(s).

This one-time free service ends on September 30, 2025. Services are provided pursuant to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

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