Starlink for Overlanding Connectivity

[JM.]

FWIW Iphone: You can text anyone from anywhere with the free Satellite SOS feature on iPhone 14+ (personally verified it worked without a hitch on a backpacking trip to the Canadian Rockies last year).

https://support.apple.com/en-us/105097

Also T-Mobile on iPhone 14+ has more comprehensive starlink connectivity (voice, multimedia text, etc.). Beta is free.

https://www.t-mobile.com/coverage/satellite-phone-service

Also, Amazon Kuiper starting to launch next month (launch last week scrubbed by weather). Will offer a competing service to Starlink.

Several current and upcoming options depending on your needs.

This is why I got rid of inReach. This is awesome and has gotten even better now that you can also use the Starlink service directly on the phone. Makes the dedicated devices mostly obsolete.

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[comtns]

This is why I got rid of inReach. This is awesome and has gotten even better now that you can also use the Starlink service directly on the phone. Makes the dedicated devices mostly obsolete.

As a former member of a search and rescue unit, I still use my Garmin InReach Mini. It's more rugged than a phone, and the battery lasts longer. We rescued a number of people whose battery went to a few percent then zero while trying to seek rescue (via 911). (I also program mine to leave a "trail of breadcrumbs"...GPS locations every ten minutes uploaded automatically by satellite, which family members can access.)

 

[JM.]

It's more rugged than a phone, and the battery lasts longer.

The only reason I said "mostly" replaces it.

 

[babock]

The only reason I said "mostly" replaces it.

Agreed

This thread is talking about use using your Rivian which is NOT backpacking!

 

[JM.]

Agreed

This thread is talking about use using your Rivian which is NOT backpacking!

Exactly. I'm confident that I am covered when I have an iPhone on a boat or in a truck/Jeep. I am very slightly less covered if I'm on a motorcycle (some chance of breakage). I'm not as covered if I am out hunting, although I mitigate it with a hard case and spare battery.

Add Starlink to the boat and truck...pretty damn well covered.

 

[comtns]

Agreed

This thread is talking about use using your Rivian which is NOT backpacking!

Sure. But a lot of our rescues were of people whose truck got stuck, somewhere a bit remote. (In fact, none of our rescues in county were backpacking related.)

 

[JM.]

Sure. But a lot of our rescues were of people whose truck got stuck, somewhere a bit remote. (In fact, none of our rescues in county were backpacking related.)

Right, that's where the phone is at least 99% as good since you have power and protection. And my phone had far better battery than my last inReach because it was the marine unit with GPS, which chewed battery like crazy.

 

[SeattleSteve]

Wrapped up the Starlink Roam Mini installation today, tested, and am pleased with this connectivity solution. The gear tunnel wire management is a bit of a mess, but will suffice for now.

Shout out to @jjswan33 for sharing instructions on rear seat removal: https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/removing-back-seat-from-r1t-step-by-step.17188/

 

[babock]

Will be interesting if you have much luck with those suction cups. I have the same one used to hold a solar panel on my 3/4T pickup and they pretty much let loose after a few days.

I plan on replacing them with the ones that have a builtin vacuum pump that you press.

 

[SeattleSteve]

Will be interesting if you have much luck with those suction cups. I have the same one used to hold a solar panel on my 3/4T pickup and they pretty much let loose after a few days.

I plan on replacing them with the ones that have a builtin vacuum pump that you press.

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:

 

[freis]

I've got a full-sized, and have used it to camp but not while moving. A friend picked up a Mini in Mexico and the cost was less than half, along with the plan being cheaper. We don't know what will happen long term when he's back in the US later in the month. He's been using it mobile with a windshield suction mount, works great.

do ou know what mount so i can do the same ?

 

[JM.]

Sorry no, but it was just what popped up when he did an Amazon search. They are made to go on a glass roof, but works fine on the windshield.

 

[AdvancedApe]

Starlink mini is great. I keep mine mounted to my crossbar and power routed to the bed when off roading and camping. The $10/10GB a month roam plan is ideal for me as most of the time I’m just using it to stay connected with family while out In the woods. It’s easy to add more data or change the plan temporarily if needed.

This setup looks great! Could you point me in the direction of that mount you are using for the crossbars?

 

[KBabione]

I'd forgotten about this thread and hadn't bothered to search...Thanks @AdvancedApe !

I'm about to pull the plug and get the Starlink Standard with the Roaming package. Here's my rather pathetic use case...Tailgating and being able to stream other football games before and after the game. I'm going with the Standard (versus the Mini) because I understand it gives better download speeds AND the router covers a larger area - Here's the reference.

When we're at a Penn State home game, even sending texts can be painful because you end up with 120,000 or more people in a small area around the stadium - all of whom understandably want to use their phones. I'm hoping that the Starlink will allow me to watch live sports AND give those around me (with whom I choose to share the security key), use their phones as much as they want.

I'm holding off buying it until a little closer to the first game (August 30th) so I can get as many trials tailgating while I'm within the 30-day return period. If it doesn't work for me I'll simply send it back and go on to Plan C. In case you're wondering, Plan A was to use the Rivian's hotspot. Did not work. The Starlink is Plan B. Plan C is to go rather old-school and get a decent HDMI receiver like this and build something out of PVC pipe to mount it high enough to be above the other vehicles around me.

 

[SeaGeo]

Wrapped up the Starlink Roam Mini installation today, tested, and am pleased with this connectivity solution. The gear tunnel wire management is a bit of a mess, but will suffice for now.

Shout out to @jjswan33 for sharing instructions on rear seat removal: https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/threads/removing-back-seat-from-r1t-step-by-step.17188/

If you want to save some energy, you can get a 12v adapter for your starlink. You won't need to turn on the 120v outlets other than when parked then.

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