Starlink RV Internet – Is it the Internet Solution RVers Have Been Waiting For?

You may have seen our post on our RV internet solutions which we created to update our readers on the upgrades we made to our tech cabinet. But, while our internet solutions are working very well for us, like many RVers we’re keeping an eye on the developments associated with Starlink RV Internet.

Starlink is an interesting option for RVers, especially those who live and work full-time from their rigs. But despite the many intriguing aspects of Starlink, there are some drawbacks to be aware of.

With that said, let’s take a look at Starlink RV Internet — what it is, how it works, and the pros and cons based on the most recent information.

What Is Starlink RV Internet?

Starlink RV Internet is a low-earth orbit satellite-based internet service. The idea behind it is to create an entire constellation of thousands of small satellites in a low-earth orbit to deliver high-speed internet across the globe, including low-cost internet to remote areas.

Conceptualized by entrepreneur Elon Musk’s aerospace company SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies, Corp.), the goal was to ultimately have 30,000 – 42,000 satellites in the Starlink mega constellation.

Supporters have called the project the greatest innovation of the century, while critics have referred to it as a menace at best. Astronomers fear that the brightly lit satellites will interfere with critical observations of the universe, and flight safety experts see Starlink (the name of the satellite network) as the greatest collision hazard in Earth’s orbit. Scientists have also expressed concerns that the amount of metal that will burn up in the atmosphere from old satellites could cause unforeseeable changes to our climate.

Satellite internet isn’t a new concept. In fact, many RVers (ourselves included) have used satellite internet at some point. But to date, it has been notoriously slow and expensive, and not the best solution for most RVers.

Starlink Internet is very different from the traditional satellite internet many of us have used, though. So, let’s take a look at how it works.

How Does Starlink RV Internet Work?

The most recent version of each Starlink satellite weighs 573 pounds (260 kilograms). A single satellite has been described as being the size of a table – (a HEAVY table!)

Ultimately, SpaceX’s vision is to deploy thousands of satellites in three orbital shells that provide worldwide coverage — perfect for RVers and other travelers. Instead of sending internet signals through cables that need to be physically laid in various places, satellite internet beams information through space, and the information travels 47% faster than it would through a fiber-optic cable.

The satellite internet that we’ve accessed in the past (and perhaps you have as well) worked using large satellites that orbit over 22,000 miles above a particular spot on the planet. However, due to the distance, time delays are experienced while sending and receiving data.

By contrast, Starlink’s satellites, which are situated in much lower orbits closer to the Earth’s surface, can carry information very rapidly to any point on the planet, including over oceans and in highly remote areas where the laying of fiber-optic cables would be cost-prohibitive (or impossible).

As of March 2024, SpaceX has 5,504 Starlink satellites in orbit, providing broadband service in select areas. Reports show download speeds of between 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps, and latency (the delay between when a signal is sent and when it’s received) as low as 20 milliseconds.

On the ground, users access the broadband signals using hardware sold by SpaceX. In other words, you can’t just point your phone at the stars and grab a connection (yet!). Patrons of the service require a receiver disk (roughly the size of a pizza box) and a mounting tripod. A WiFi router, cables, and a power supply are also included.

By the way, Starlink satellite dishes are different from other dish antennae that need to be very precisely aimed. Starlink receivers simply need to be aimed at the sky. And that’s a pretty big target!

Let’s take a look at the benefits and disadvantages of Starlink RV internet.

What Are the Benefits of Starlink RV Internet?

There are some very promising features that many RVers will surely find beneficial:

Internet Anywhere

Foremost is the ability to connect to the internet from anywhere. As avid boondockers who’ve been known to boondock for weeks at a time in some pretty remote locations, this is an especially intriguing benefit from our perspective. In fact, it was our favorite feature of our old Hughes Satellite Internet dish (which was FAR slower than Starlink with much higher latency due to higher-altitude satellites). Cellular has improved dramatically over the years, but there are still many places where the signal is weak to non-existent (and that’s usually wherever WE want to be, LOL!).

Single Plan for Home and On the Road

You can have a single Starlink plan that you use both at home and on the road. Buy one access kit from SpaceX and mount your dish at home. Then, when you’re ready to hit the road, you simply move it to your RV and continue to access the internet as you travel. That can provide some significant cost savings to having to have two plans, one for home and one for the road.

Unlimited Usage

Starlink’s Roam plan for RVers is a truly unlimited plan! Starlink Internet doesn’t (currently) count your data (or throttle it!) – you’re simply always connected and able to download, upload, and work as necessary without limitations.

In periods of peak demand, you may see slow-downs in your connection speed on the standard Roam plans. So, for those who have higher-speed needs, they also offer “Mobile Priority” plans with varying amounts of “priority” data, so you can pick and choose what works best for your needs.

No Service Contract

Starlink’s mobile data plans don’t come with service contracts, which means that you can pause your plan at any point to avoid paying when you no longer need the service. This option is great for seasonal RVers who may only need access to the service for set periods of time. Activate it before you leave, and put the plan on hold when you return.

In-motion Capable

The standard Starlink hardware is designed to be deployed once your RV is stationary. Which, for many people, is just fine. Cellular service can provide for your connectivity needs when on the road, and once you’ve arrived at your campsite you can setup your Starlink dish.

But for those who want their Starlink service to work while they’re in motion, the “Mobile Priority” plans (starting at $250/month) work in conjunction with different (more expensive, $2,500) flat-mount in-motion hardware. This enables you to use your Starlink Internet connection while driving down the road AND while parked.

Completely Separate from Your Cellular Plan

Your Starlink internet package is completely separate from your cellular plan. So, this means that not only are you not using up your cell data, you don’t need to increase data allotment on your cell plan when you travel.

Moreover, you can use your phone’s plan as a backup should you need it (for example, when you’re parked under trees in a forest).

For a primer on RV internet options see our post on mobile connectivity explaining the difference between cellular and WiFi.

What Are the Drawbacks of Starlink RV Internet?

Currently, there are several issues preventing Starlink RV Internet from being an RVer’s dream. Let’s take a look at what those are:

Expensive

Starlink Roam plans start at US$150 a month, with an upfront hardware fee of US$599 + shipping/handling (which for in-motion use, as mentioned above, goes up to $250/month with an initial hardware cost of $2,500). So, if you only camp on weekends (and/or for a couple of weeks in the summer), Starlink’s internet access will probably not prove to be the most reasonable option for you. Not only would it be an added expense, but your cell coverage may also serve your purposes just fine.

For those RVers who live and work full time in our RVs, Starlink may be more worth the cost IF it can truly provide constant reliable coverage just about anywhere.

This takes us to another drawback…

Requires a View of the Sky

Starlink internet does (of course) require a view of the sky to work. So again, parking under large trees (like if you want to help keep your RV cool in the summer) renders your Starlink internet insufficient at best.

Using the standard (stationary) hardware, this isn’t TOO much trouble since the kit comes with 50′ of cable (and you can be longer, if you need it). This allows you to park under the trees, but position your satellite dish fairly far away where it can get a clear view of the sky.

NOTE: the in-motion system uses a flat-mount dish that is installed on the roof of your vehicle. In this situation, you’d have to move your RV out from beneath the trees to get service.

Satellite Constellation is Currently Incomplete

Because the Starlink internet satellite constellation is not yet complete, there are some “blips” in coverage when enough satellites aren’t in view. This will eventually be resolved but is currently considered a drawback for Starlink RV internet hopefuls. Especially if you HAVE to have a reliable, always-on connection for whatever it is you’re doing over the internet.

In our experience, the blips aren’t long enough to be too concerned about… but if you need always-on, uninterrupted internet connectivity, you may have some issues.

Latency

Latency (the delay between when your computer sends a request and when it arrives at its destination and vice versa) is currently greater with Starlink than it is with cellular (which, of course, is transmitting signals over much shorter distances), so for truly time-sensitive applications (like real-time trading applications), it may not be ideal.

Is Starlink the Internet Solution You’ve Been Waiting For?

So, tell us – have you been waiting with bated breath for the availability of Starlink internet? Are you one of many who’ve put down a deposit for regular service at home (when it becomes available) or for the premium Starlink service at your business, perhaps?

Let us know in the comments section below!

For us, so far, the best option for RV connectivity is our current setup (Note: we did end up adding Starlink to our arsenal for a trip into remote parts of the Baja in Mexico… and we loved it so much we’ve kept it):

But, that doesn’t mean we don’t have our eye on the skies for possible future upgrades! ???? Plus, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer for internet connectivity. So, as your needs change, the solution you use may need to change, too.

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