starlink

[rosiebaby]

is the starlink mini a good option for internet on boat or do I need something different?

[matty40s]

If you have a permanent mooring , £40 a month isnt bad for 100mb speeds, and this rarely drops off..

If you are moving about, then the roaming contract is around £100 p month which is very expensive and you might struggle to get the full signal under trees.

[robtheplod]

21 minutes ago, matty40s said:

If you have a permanent mooring , £40 a month isnt bad for 100mb speeds, and this rarely drops off..

If you are moving about, then the roaming contract is around £100 p month which is very expensive and you might struggle to get the full signal under trees.

I've often wondered how Starlink know you've roamed?

[GUMPY]

A place I was at yesterday had Starlink for their internet, it was ok but slower than my 5g system at home.

However the big question is, would you want to finance a fascist,  no matter how good his product might be.

£40 a month 😱

My 5g system costs £5 a month for more data than I can use even when streaming 4k video 

[Chris John]

5 hours ago, rosiebaby said:

is the starlink mini a good option for internet on boat or do I need something different?

Are you permanently moored or do you cruise?  Permanently moored there are data sim options if you can get 5g and a good signal at your mooring. 
If you cruise and need high speeds enroll to the Nazi starlink but it’ll cost you £100 a month 

[MtB]

5 hours ago, rosiebaby said:

is the starlink mini a good option for internet on boat or do I need something different?

 

 

Its difficult to advise without knowing what you'll be using it it for, and if you are static or CCing. And if static, where you are.

 

As you may have noticed, there have been a lot of "if"s in the answers so far.

 

 

[rosiebaby]

static

 

[MtB]

2 minutes ago, rosiebaby said:

static

 

 

Chatty aren't you! 

 

Starlink then. £40 a month. 

 

 

 

 

[Rob-M]

5 minutes ago, rosiebaby said:

static

 

Get a router and SIM for mobile provider that has good coverage in your area.

[Sub Divo]

4 hours ago, GUMPY said:

My 5g system costs £5 a month for more data than I can use even when streaming 4k video

 

Do you mind me asking what SIM\plan you're using please?

 

I just bought a 1PMobile Unlimited data SIM (500gb pm fair usage) for £25 pm.

 

Testing it at home is showing far superior speeds than my home broadband (even on an average 5G signal with the standard router stick aerials)

 

PS: Sorry to the OP for going off-topic.

 

4 hours ago, robtheplod said:

I've often wondered how Starlink know you've roamed?

 

I'm guessing triangulated location data is a core component of any satellite system like this. So it's very easy for backend services to determine if the signal is moving or not.

 

Paid for a fixed location but the signal moves a set distance over a set time, they'll likely send a 'polite' mail explaining it's not allowed.

 

What I often wonder is, why charge extra for roaming? I mean (as far as I can tell) it adds next to no cost overheads to the service. It ultimately just feels like another way to extract money out of customers to me.

Edited August 25 by Sub Divo

[MtB]

3 hours ago, GUMPY said:

My 5g system costs £5 a month for more data than I can use even when streaming 4k video

 

What would you suggest for me in a flaky location with no 5g and flaky, unreliable 4g and even my fibre landline drops out regularly?

 

Starlink is my only option, as far as I can work out.

 

 

[Momac]

4 hours ago, robtheplod said:

I've often wondered how Starlink know you've roamed?

GPS ?

[Tony Brooks]

I suspect that just as a GPS receiver can work out where you are from the satellite positions the satellites can work out where the receiver is by similar techniques, and Starlink must be a two-way system. In that way they would not be relying on your receiver sending them GPS data showing its position. However, just my theory, so if anyone knows for sure the answer would be of interest to some of us.

[GUMPY]

25 minutes ago, Sub Divo said:

Do you mind me asking what SIM\plan you're using please?

 

It's a 500gb/month 3 SIM from a company called Scancom

Best deal at the moment is about £5.80 a month

https://amzn.eu/d/0fdNdzyB

Ignore the fact that it says business, I have several and it's never been a problem.

I've used up to 450gb one month when streaming 4k F1 and other sports but usually use about 375gb/m

[Sub Divo]

2 minutes ago, GUMPY said:

It's a 500gb/month 3 SIM from a company called Scancom

 

Thanks @GUMPY

 

I'd seen that (a while back) but was reluctant (as it uses Three) and always found their coverage spotty. But with the recent Vodafone merger (and network linking) I suspect it's improved greatly.

 

1P uses EE and been using them for years (with a phone) and always great coverage. But not roamed the cut with it yet, so we'll see how that goes. Always nice to have an alternative, so thanks for that 👍

[GUMPY]

19 minutes ago, MtB said:

What would you suggest for me in a flaky location

Move somewhere better😱

Before we bought this house I tested the local 4g (as it was then) coverage to check that it was going to be ok as there was no fibre down the street and I didn't want to use BT.

Much the same as I used not to moor the boat where there was no decent 4g, these days same goes for the caravan, no internet no stop.

 

[Alan de Enfield]

 

when we looked at starlink, I'm fairly sure that we came to the conclusion that "roaming" meant different countries - so - we'd sail from England to the USA and have to change to a different satellite (different contract).

 

I may well be wrong, but I don't think it referred to movement within the country.

 

I'll do some research.

 

edit to add - I as thinking of "Ocean"

 

 

there is £20 month difference beteen Residential and roaming

Roam plans include:

• Countrywide coverage, including inland waterways and marinas
• In-motion use
• Ability to pause and resume service with Standby mode (Find out more)

Important notes

International travel

• Roam Unlimited includes up to 30 days of service outside your registered home country at a time.
• All other Roam plans (Roam 50GB/100GB/300GB) are for use within your registered home country or grouped region (US & Canada or Europe). International use requires upgrading to Roam Unlimited or a Priority plan.
• Travel Registration is required before using Starlink outside your registered home country, except for Enterprise accounts.

Find out more about Travelling with Starlink Roam.

Ocean mode
Roam Unlimited users can opt in and pay for Ocean mode to access coverage beyond 12 nautical miles or in territorial waters.

Edited August 25 by Alan de Enfield

[GUMPY]

Just now, Sub Divo said:

I'd seen that (a while back) but was reluctant (as it uses Three) and always found their coverage spotty. But with the recent Vodafone merger (and network linking) I suspect it's improved greatly.

Get a cheap Smarty SIM and test 3 using that before committing.

https://i.smarty.co.uk/blHJxg

 

[Sub Divo]

2 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said:

 

hen e looked at starlink, I'm fairly sure that e came to the conclusion that "roaming" meant different countries - so - e'd sail from England to the USA and have to change to a different satellite (different contract).

 

I may well be wrong, but I don't think it referred to movement within the country.

 

Maybe it's changed.

 

Their plans are specifically named Residential & Roam and the wording very much indicates it means just that.

[GUMPY]

33 minutes ago, MtB said:

What would you suggest for me in a flaky location with no 5g and flaky, unreliable 4g and even my fibre landline drops out regularly?

Having just looked at the coverage in your area 

Assuming Google maps has placed you correctly  then both EE and 3 have masts near the top of Botley Hill just up your road 

[Tony Brooks]

I thought Mike lived in Great Bedwin and there is no 5G coverage and 4G seems to be dead flaky for all carriers, but 3 looks the worst.

[GUMPY]

Vodafone, EE, Three and O2 all share the same site near Botley Hill. 

 

All be it 2.7miles from Bedwyn but all show 4g coverage on various frequencies.

 

What real life is like I can't say 

[Rob-M]

My current Smarty connection moored in Birmingham using a router on internal aerial only

 

[b00ke23]

I'd explore all 4G/5G providers and signal strengths, including a router with external antenna on a pole if necessary before even thinking about Starlink.

 

It's always interesting seeing the Nazi/Faschist comments when someone asks about Starlink. I wonder how many CEO's of big companies are also prats but we just don't know it, as they don't plaster their views all over the internet! 

 

Also the fellow who set up Volkswagen was rather unpleasant but I see plenty of them on the road. 

Edited August 25 by b00ke23

[Sub Divo]

5 minutes ago, Rob-M said:

My current Smarty connection moored in Birmingham using a router on internal aerial only

 

Nice! I was pleasantly surprised to see a good 4G signal (on my phone) inside the boat the first time I ever checked. Quite unexpected.

 

The router I've chosen supports 4x4, so I'm hopeful that strategic placement near a window might mean the standard stick aerials will suffice. It's worth a try anyway.