Starlink Update: We're Dishing Out REAL FACTS.

Our internet journey in the RV has been almost as dramatic as the RV journey itself. Having reliable internet is critical for us so we can work from the road, monitor the weather, and keep an eye on Lily and Tanner when we're out. Before we launched, I spent months researching every type of setup possible and bought what I felt was the best quality equipment out there at the time. But one thing about technology is, it's always changing. Since we launched, we’ve already replaced every single component of our internet setup. We’ve written about all the pieces before, but we now have two ways to stay connected: Starlink for satellite internet, and a hotspot that uses all three major cell networks, along with a signal booster.

We jumped on ordering Starlink early on, even though the technology was new and we didn't know what to expect. We had done lots of research and got answers from RVers who had already begun using it, and ultimately we decided that it would be a good addition to our connectivity, even if just for a backup when cell signal was low. It quickly won us over. Even under partial tree cover, we saw faster uploads and downloads for large files. Where it really proved its worth, though, was the first time we had a spot in a field with no cell connectivity whatsoever: Blazing fast speeds with no interruptions. We could upload, download, stream, and video call without any worry. And, despite Starlink having a reputation for poor customer service, when our dish got damaged last fall, they replaced it at no charge. Throughout 2022, it was a thoroughly positive experience and has given us tremendous peace of mind. We can now book sites anywhere we want while remaining assured that we can stay connected.

For the past few months, though, there has been a flurry of news about Starlink. Plan changes, price increases, and new equipment have all made for a confusing mix of announcements, opinions, and reporting. It seems like the service is being upended every other week. We've been staying on top of the news because, as current Starlink owners, we have had many RVers turn to us for advice on whether or not they too should jump on the satellite internet bandwagon. An updated blog post was imminent, but what really lit a fire for us to write one sooner than later, was this:

A couple weeks ago, a popular influencer in the RV community posted a YouTube vlog announcing that he was "dumping Starlink" for a new "unbelievable" internet solution, new for 2023. The vlog drew viewers in with a clip of this influencer throwing his Starlink dish into a dumpster. To the discerning viewer, it was clear that the new solution was hardly a solution at all. Perhaps he said it was "unbelievable" because there's nothing to believe...as it doesn't actually exist. Turns out this vlogger was paid to tout a 5G cellular internet device, not unlike the ones we've been using for the past year. The only difference is that this device supposedly has a built-in cell signal booster. We have our separate one anyway, and it won't help if there is no cell service. There are still lots of remote areas that have zero cell service, even more that don't have 5G, and many of these places are out west where there's lots of desert and no tree cover. This is where Starlink really shines, and we have more than made up for its cost being able to work productively during our travels in the Southwest.

We're not going to say who this influencer is and we'll certainly not link to the video because the last thing we need is for this farce to get extra views, but we immediately unsubscribed from his channel. RVers need accurate, truthful recommendations on internet setups. For many of us, our livelihood depends on it. This vlogger not only lied about a new game-changing internet solution, but he also faked throwing away his Starlink dish. In a comment on Instagram, he said he didn't throw the dish away, but he did pause his Starlink service indefinitely. If that's true, then he made a big mistake, and we can only hope that his viewers who already have Starlink don't follow suit.

So let's break down what's actually going on with Starlink. First, it’s important to remember that this is a new company that only started selling its service in 2021. It began with only one option, geared toward residential addresses, because there were few satellites at that time, which limited how many people it can serve in a given geographic area. A few dedicated nomads used it anyway, changing their service address every time they switched campsites, but we didn’t bite until they announced a “portability” feature. For an extra $25/month, we could use it anywhere, but if we weren’t home and the network got congested, we’d be deprioritized. So far that’s only happened once, when we were at an RV rally with hundreds of other Starlink dishes in use, and even then we were only bumped down a handful of megabytes per second. There’s enough satellites launched now that it’s mostly a non-issue.

Today Starlink has over a million customers, which means SpaceX can start to offer a wider range of plans and equipment customized for different types of users, instead of being one-size-fits-all. Last year they started a “Starlink for RVers” plan, which was the same price as what we had, same portable usage, but without the preferred data at a home address. Strictly worse for the same price. So, it really should have been no surprise when earlier this year, SpaceX announced it was no longer letting residential users add portability. The demand for nomads was ever increasing, and so now, the price for service for RVers (now called “Roam”) was raised by $15, to $150/month. Existing portability users like us were grandfathered in, as long as we never halted our service.

Though most Starlink users saw an increase in their monthly price, due to setting up their home address in a saturated area, our price actually dropped $20/month, because relatively few people in Massachusetts have Starlink and they want to encourage more residential uptake there.

While yes, it’s annoying for new customers to have to pay a higher price, or for part-time RVers to not be able to use the same plan at home and when traveling, some of the reactions to these changes are way out of proportion. The communication and rollout weren’t great, but ultimately, none of these announcements are costing anyone more than an extra $15/month. And again, this is all still in flux as the company figures out what makes sense for what is still a very new technology. With any big development such as this, there will be growing pains. At the same time, Starlink now has a high performance dish option that gives better speeds, can be used in motion, and doesn’t need as clear a view of the sky, as well as a smaller dish option that’s easier to travel with. They have a global plan for $200/month for people traveling outside their home country for extended periods. They also offer very expensive, high performance, more reliable equipment for use on ships and planes. Even the US Air Force is testing it for use in Europe and Africa on bases and in aircraft because it’s more resistant to jamming than other options.

This is a service that is good today and getting better, as SpaceX continues to launch more satellites. The plans and equipment are likely to get better too, especially since the company knows it won’t be the only game in town for long, with Amazon planning a competing service in the next couple of years. Despite working full-time on the road, we're very happy with our current plan and are glad we jumped on purchasing portability before the service was discontinued. When RVers ask us about our Starlink now, we let them know that our service is not available anymore, and then we give the run-down of what the new options are. They won't be for everyone, depending on your internet needs, travel locations, and budget. Doing your own research is imperative, but if you're unsure now and don't need the internet solution immediately, it might be worth waiting for things to settle down and an option to come out that really fits your travel lifestyle.

One piece of advice we can most certainly give, however, is that if you're already a Starlink user and have the residential + portability plan, DO NOT pause or change it, because you won't be able to get it back. We don't know if the YouTube influencer was telling the truth when he said he paused his service; we have reason to think that sooner or later, one of his viewers will see him at a campground and his dish will be proudly pointed toward the north sky. But, to insinuate to nearly 200K subscribers that they too should pause their Starlink, is extremely poor influencing. All for a pay-off from a company that has no hand in the satellite internet game. This just goes to show, if you're researching internet solutions or anything else to improve your RV travel experience, make sure that your sources of information are reputable. There are plenty of YouTubers and bloggers who tell it like it is, and we aim to do the same, to the best of our ability. And, unless an actual game-changing development is created in the upcoming months, we are more than content with our current set-up. The problems we had last year with lagging internet are practically non-existent this year, and as people who have used Starlink in the east, west, and in between, we can vouch that it is workable anywhere, as long as you have realistic expectations. It's not a magical solution, but it's a darn good one, and we can't wait to see how this service grows and improves.

Update 4/9/23: Since we released this post, there has been a lot of drama in the RV community regarding influencers getting paid to advertise a new cellular modem by a company that has been known to not ship out purchased orders. The vlogger that we mentioned in this blog has since taken down his video endorsing this 5G product and has also issued a new video warning people of this potential scam. While we appreciate his attempts to make things right, it just goes to show how important it is for everyone - RVers and RV influencers - to really vet companies before endorsing or purchasing from them. Many RVers have now ordered the product because of an influencer endorsement and have not received their item. It's a real shame and we hope that this situation puts everyone on higher alert to scams, as well as to influencers' advertisements.