I got in on one of the Beta tests and have seen steadily decreasing outages (practically zero now) and increasing up/down speeds with an average 25 to 40 ms latency.
No problems with movies, email, and VOIP telephone. It is subject to rain fade, and has a built in heater to melt snow/ice off of it. I'm a household of one; multiple high demand devices operating at the same time might be an issue for those with families.
So easy to set up: literally aim at the sky and plug it in. You can connect a switch/router to the unit with one of their accessories and run your whole home network with it.
Handy to have for the "10 Days of Darkness". And you get peace of mind knowing you are helping Elon get to Mars and not supporting a bloated internet provider like Comcast, Spectrum or Google.
It does require AC (120 volt wall outlet); if you have an inverter that plugs into a car cigarette lighter or connects directly to a battery you're in business. Hopefully the people of NC are able to salvage batteries from their cars if they don't have power.
multiple high demand devices operating at the same time might be an issue for those with families.
talked to a cable internet installer while he was setting me up. told me about this call he got where a lady was complaining about slow internet speeds. when he gets there, he checks everything, and he can't figure out why it's running so slow, then he notices an ipad that's updating it's software.
On a hunch, he asks how many tablets she has.
Spoiler alert: she had 6-8 of them, and she was updating all of them at the same time. 🤣
In the Philippines, in 2017 we were using a WiFi hotspot device in the Bukid (Mountain) where we have a house. Barely good enough to check e-mail, it suddenly wasn't even able to do that. Come to find out there were at least ten people leeching off my internet. Everyone near our house is related...
I just changed the password, note: They are still using that WiFi Hotspot gadget in the Philippines, all these years later. It was only 30 bucks or something...
There are 3 people in my house, and we are all hooked up, my son streams games and downloads, uploads at the same time two of us are streaming news, weather, programs, movies, it never lags. My son got it for the house 4 years ago, never looked back.
Planning on the Portable Kit that allows you to use mobile. I'll be living off and on abroad, and I don't like the iffiness of local internet in the Philippines.
Great info!
This is also about to roll out fully soon.
"STARLINK DIRECT TO CELL Seamless access to text, voice, and data for LTE phones across the globe.
NO EXTRA HARDWARE NEEDED.
Works with any phone with LTE capability. The Starlink Direct to Cell launch campaign is underway."
I'm going to tmobile when I get back to NC to get an iphone. I could use your guy's help in choosing the right one. Starlink says they use 802.11ax so for compat sake I prob will get a 2 gen older iphone that's 802.11ax and not the newer wifi protocol
yes yes backwards compatible, except when that fails
The concern is more about the efficiency of 12v dc conversion to 120ac. The excessive conversion/loss of 12v dc for something that would be active for a very long time, makes you want to make sure it's as efficient as possible.
Thanks for the info. I've been thinking about getting one because my internet just gets spottier and spottier as time goes on. I need a good backup plan!
I have the mini and a linux laptop but no cellphone. I can connect to the wifi but that's it. I can't get it to work. I am sure this has to do with not being able to aim it correctly, but there is no administrative panel, and can't connect to the gateway like a normal wifi access point for some reason. I think it's going to requiire a cellphone with the starlink app to aim the thing. This is sad.
If I'm wrong, please correct me. I'm trying to get it up and running and about to go and buy an iphone. This is already costing me a fortune.
Ok correction someone said in comments they can use a computer 'with one of their accessories'. I think they mean the mini ethernet cable adapter (adapter requried because waterproof on the mini side). I just ordered it and I'll connect to the starlink via ethernet and report back if maybe it allows this level of access. I can see why connecting to admin panel via wifi is disabled. That makes sense. Physical access implies much more strongly that you own it. It's how I have my access point set up. I wish I had ordered it from the get go because there is no where to buy these things.
Starlink needs to be in stores. Its not. "Buying from best buy" means they will buy it from starlink and ship it to you. I caught best buy lying about having 3 minis in stock when they did not. (went there...people were like 'um no we havent ever had a mini)
microcenter should be selling these for goodness sake
look into Speedify. It lets you aggregate your connections so you can use your starlink with your current service. I have lte internet and cable. Just check it out. Www.speedily.com
Thank you for this post. I ordered 3 Minis from West Marine this morning. I ordered from West Marine because I won't get charged in a month for the Roam plan, unlike ordering from Starlink directly who does charge you for a plan.
The plan is to have this as a sitting in the closet as a SHTF backup for myself and 2 kids (that live elsewhere).
We have had it for 4 years, up in the mountains in Vermont, the dish sits out there, through snow, (3ft), ice, wind hail and rain, the entire household is running their internet on it, streaming, gaming, 3 people hooked up, wow is it worth it!
I'm using Starlink to send this message.
I got in on one of the Beta tests and have seen steadily decreasing outages (practically zero now) and increasing up/down speeds with an average 25 to 40 ms latency.
No problems with movies, email, and VOIP telephone. It is subject to rain fade, and has a built in heater to melt snow/ice off of it. I'm a household of one; multiple high demand devices operating at the same time might be an issue for those with families.
So easy to set up: literally aim at the sky and plug it in. You can connect a switch/router to the unit with one of their accessories and run your whole home network with it.
Handy to have for the "10 Days of Darkness". And you get peace of mind knowing you are helping Elon get to Mars and not supporting a bloated internet provider like Comcast, Spectrum or Google.
It does require AC (120 volt wall outlet); if you have an inverter that plugs into a car cigarette lighter or connects directly to a battery you're in business. Hopefully the people of NC are able to salvage batteries from their cars if they don't have power.
Me too, Starlink IS my internet connection. I LOVE IT. I don't even think about it, as it works perfectly. EVERY SINGLE DAY.
Thank you. This is good info.
talked to a cable internet installer while he was setting me up. told me about this call he got where a lady was complaining about slow internet speeds. when he gets there, he checks everything, and he can't figure out why it's running so slow, then he notices an ipad that's updating it's software.
On a hunch, he asks how many tablets she has.
Spoiler alert: she had 6-8 of them, and she was updating all of them at the same time. 🤣
Kek!
In the Philippines, in 2017 we were using a WiFi hotspot device in the Bukid (Mountain) where we have a house. Barely good enough to check e-mail, it suddenly wasn't even able to do that. Come to find out there were at least ten people leeching off my internet. Everyone near our house is related...
Sounds like you need to change the password every few days. What a bummer.
Set your SSID to hidden or not broadcasted lol.
I just changed the password, note: They are still using that WiFi Hotspot gadget in the Philippines, all these years later. It was only 30 bucks or something...
...I may have bummed unsecured internet a time or two in the past...
There are 3 people in my house, and we are all hooked up, my son streams games and downloads, uploads at the same time two of us are streaming news, weather, programs, movies, it never lags. My son got it for the house 4 years ago, never looked back.
well, this was years ago when I heard the story, and probably before that it happened.
Does it allow for phone service?
Yes, I use it for VOIP. No echo, drop out or dropped calls so far.
Sticking this so frogs can get this in their saved links. Thanks for understanding.
Planning on the Portable Kit that allows you to use mobile. I'll be living off and on abroad, and I don't like the iffiness of local internet in the Philippines.
Great info! This is also about to roll out fully soon.
"STARLINK DIRECT TO CELL
Seamless access to text, voice, and data for LTE phones across the globe.
NO EXTRA HARDWARE NEEDED.
Works with any phone with LTE capability.
The Starlink Direct to Cell launch campaign is underway."
https://www.starlink.com/business/direct-to-cell
I've been following this for a while. It's gonna be a game changer.
I'm told that they already rolled it out for T-Mobile customers in NC
direct-to-cell mode
I'm going to tmobile when I get back to NC to get an iphone. I could use your guy's help in choosing the right one. Starlink says they use 802.11ax so for compat sake I prob will get a 2 gen older iphone that's 802.11ax and not the newer wifi protocol
yes yes backwards compatible, except when that fails
You need Wi-Fi 6, so, anything above the iPhone 11 will do
😭My 100 Dollar I-Phone SE will need replaced.
I'm hoping this will enable using phone as a hotspot. We already use T-Mobile.
Heck, why just for a backup? Starlink is the best!!! Have had mine for a couple years and it is brilliant!
I did - It’s coming in later this week :)
So she takes it with her in the Jeep? That's brilliant!
Sounds heavy!! kek
I see alot about starlink power via 12v, but not with inverters. Any experience there?
I don't see why it would not 'just work' like every other thing.
If you're worried get a true sine wave inverter
The concern is more about the efficiency of 12v dc conversion to 120ac. The excessive conversion/loss of 12v dc for something that would be active for a very long time, makes you want to make sure it's as efficient as possible.
I ordered one, I'll take a look. Thanks
Thank you. Appreciate all this.
Thanks for the info. I've been thinking about getting one because my internet just gets spottier and spottier as time goes on. I need a good backup plan!
I have the mini and a linux laptop but no cellphone. I can connect to the wifi but that's it. I can't get it to work. I am sure this has to do with not being able to aim it correctly, but there is no administrative panel, and can't connect to the gateway like a normal wifi access point for some reason. I think it's going to requiire a cellphone with the starlink app to aim the thing. This is sad.
If I'm wrong, please correct me. I'm trying to get it up and running and about to go and buy an iphone. This is already costing me a fortune.
Ok correction someone said in comments they can use a computer 'with one of their accessories'. I think they mean the mini ethernet cable adapter (adapter requried because waterproof on the mini side). I just ordered it and I'll connect to the starlink via ethernet and report back if maybe it allows this level of access. I can see why connecting to admin panel via wifi is disabled. That makes sense. Physical access implies much more strongly that you own it. It's how I have my access point set up. I wish I had ordered it from the get go because there is no where to buy these things.
Starlink needs to be in stores. Its not. "Buying from best buy" means they will buy it from starlink and ship it to you. I caught best buy lying about having 3 minis in stock when they did not. (went there...people were like 'um no we havent ever had a mini)
microcenter should be selling these for goodness sake
An enterprising patriot should start up a Starlink / My Pillow store (and whatever else Big Corp is denying us at the stores)!
Linux can be terribly "fidley" and small things can roadblock, if your not uber competent in using it, I recommend something like and ipad or iphone..
look into Speedify. It lets you aggregate your connections so you can use your starlink with your current service. I have lte internet and cable. Just check it out. Www.speedily.com
I've had the mobile plan for a few years, so we take it camping with us. It's pricey, but worth it if you can. It's working great.
Are iphones being mentioned because starlink does not work for Android?
If you scroll about halfway down the Starlink home page you will see that downloads for both IOS and Android are possible.
For those in CONUS - How much was the kit & how much per month? 🤔
I have had my setup for 2 1/2 years. Price back then was $500 for the earth station and $100 a month. It's now $120 a month.
Thanks Unk
Thank you for this post. I ordered 3 Minis from West Marine this morning. I ordered from West Marine because I won't get charged in a month for the Roam plan, unlike ordering from Starlink directly who does charge you for a plan.
The plan is to have this as a sitting in the closet as a SHTF backup for myself and 2 kids (that live elsewhere).
We have had it for 4 years, up in the mountains in Vermont, the dish sits out there, through snow, (3ft), ice, wind hail and rain, the entire household is running their internet on it, streaming, gaming, 3 people hooked up, wow is it worth it!