Starlink

[CatDaddy]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/oth...S&cvid=0f9cd19130d54f4d82edf03220f9d1b1&ei=44

 

[Btmbncr]

I have the Gen 3 model with Roam package for $160.00 a month. I use it for streaming tv and laptop use. It works great for me. It is a month to month billing cycle. I can cancel and re-instate it as needed. The app on the phone walks you through the process of starting it up. Hope this helps you.

 

[Pigsticker]

Anyone used starling in other countries?

It is being used in a lot of rural areas in Africa. It has done a wonderful job there for connecting the remote areas to the rest of the world.

 

[MSA]

It is being used in a lot of rural areas in Africa. It has done a wonderful job there for connecting the remote areas to the rest of the world.

That's where I want to use it, but it sounds like it's a power hungry little unit, and might not be feasible to bring car batteries into the bush. Even the mini is bigger than I want to put in my pack.

Sounds like they're working on integrating phones to operate on starlink soon.

 

[Rowdie]

If I were the campground host, I'd invest in it and charge a fee to access the wifi. I wonder if there's a way to put up a big antenna to broadcast it further ?

 

[Petras]

If I were the campground host, I'd invest in it and charge a fee to access the wifi. I wonder if there's a way to put up a big antenna to broadcast it further ?

wouldn't be that hard to do, some cat5 or cat6 cable and a couple wifi routers from walmart and you could provide wifi to a 10 acre camp ground pretty easily...

 

[Petras]

That's where I want to use it, but it sounds like it's a power hungry little unit, and might not be feasible to bring car batteries into the bush. Even the mini is bigger than I want to put in my pack.

Sounds like they're working on integrating phones to operate on starlink soon.

Will be interesting to see how the T-Mobil/Starlink beta test goes. If it ends up being successful, I will be switching my fam over to T-mobil.

 

[Pigsticker]

That's where I want to use it, but it sounds like it's a power hungry little unit, and might not be feasible to bring car batteries into the bush. Even the mini is bigger than I want to put in my pack.

Sounds like they're working on integrating phones to operate on starlink soon.

You can pretty much use it like a phone with internet calling on apps like whatsapp and messenger calling, facetime (I think), etc...

But yes, I can imagine that they use some juice. If you have access to a generator it will operate just fine on that as we used a friends all hunting season long in elk camp. Never did try to run it off of just a car battery to see how long it would run...definitely piqued my curiosity now.

 

[MSA]

You can pretty much use it like a phone with internet calling on apps like whatsapp and messenger calling, facetime (I think), etc...

But yes, I can imagine that they use some juice. If you have access to a generator it will operate just fine on that as we used a friends all hunting season long in elk camp. Never did try to run it off of just a car battery to see how long it would run...definitely piqued my curiosity now.

Theres no verizon or AT&T in South Africa, and the wifi is poor if and when the power is on in towns, so my phone is useless for anything other than a camera most of the time. We travel pretty light and too far from the vehicle to bring a generator or heavy batteries.

I may try looking into sat phones or bring a used unlocked phone I can buy a sim card for, with their cell service.

 

[Davey Crockett]

Those little battery jumpers have came a long ways and might be an option. I paid $ 53 for this one because it had good reviews, it has 2 usb ports and handy for charging phones if the power goes out. I actually had my doubts but I was amazed, i've used it to jump a diesel tractor that I forgot the key on and a couple of pickups. It's not very big or heavy .

 

[Petras]

Theres no verizon or AT&T in South Africa, and the wifi is poor if and when the power is on in towns, so my phone is useless for anything other than a camera most of the time. We travel pretty light and too far from the vehicle to bring a generator or heavy batteries.

I may try looking into sat phones or bring a used unlocked phone I can buy a sim card for, with their cell service.

Just a thought, the starlink mini only draws 25-40 watts and can be supplied directly off a 12v battery.... I'd almost be willing to bet a 30ah 12v lithium battery with a small solar charger would probably keep you powered up for quite a long time. Obviously you wouldn't want to keep the SL running when you aren't using it, but I don't think it'd be that bad... Those 30ah lithiums are small and freaking light so traveling wouldn't be too bad. Just for reference, I can run my mini cpap machine that draws a minimum of 27w off a 160 WattHour battery pack and can easily get 35+ hours (manufacturer of pack claims 51+ is do-able but I've not tested it that long) if needed without charging the battery. that 30ah battery would convert to 360 watt hours.

You would have to put the lithium battery in a carry on, but it could be do-able..

eta- The only reason a star link should ever draw a lot of power is if the snow-melt function is turned on....