- Stephane Plihon
STARLINK FOR BOATERS - How to Get Started...
Starlink is a satellite internet provider enabling high-speed, low-latency broadband internet in remote and rural locations across the globe. Starlink enables video calls, online gaming, streaming, and other high data rate activities that historically have not been possible with satellite internet. SpaceX provides two-way satellite-based internet service, receivable with a Starlink dish, Wi-Fi router, power supply and mounts.
The comparison table below is to help boaters get started with their Starlink evaluation. Last updated December 2022.
| RESIDENTIAL WITH PORTABILITY (tripod dish) | RV STANDARD (tripod dish) | RV FLAT HIGH PERFORMANCE IN-MOTION (flat dish) | MARITIME 2 HIGH PERFORMANCE STARLINK KITS IN-MOTION (2 flat dishes) |
PRICING & SUPPORT | | | | |
HARDWARE COST ($)* | $599 | $599 | $2,500 | $10,000 |
MONTHLY COST ($/month)* | $110/month +$25/month for portablity | $135/month | $135/month | $5,000/month |
BILLING & PAYMENT TERMS | - Subscription can only be canceled, not paused. - Ability to add or remove Portability at anytime | Pay as you go - Ability to pause and un-pause service at any time - Billed in one-month increments | Pay as you go - Ability to pause and un-pause service at any time - Billed in one-month increments | Pay as you go - Ability to pause and un-pause service at any time - Billed in one-month increments |
CONTRACT | No long term contracts 30-day trial | No long term contracts 30-day trial | No long term contracts 30-day trial | No long term contracts 30-day trial |
PERFOR- MANCE (Mbps) | Priority access is enabled when being used at the service address, regardless of ‘portability’ being enabled. | ‘Best effort speed mode’ for portability (depends on local traffic congestion) | ‘Best effort speed mode’ for portability (depends on local traffic congestion) | ‘Best effort speed mode’ Up to 350 Mbps |
IN-MOTION SUPPORT | Portable but NO in-motion support (Reported by users: 'ok swinging at anchor or at slow speed up to 6 knots' ) | Portable but NO in-motion support (Reported by users: 'ok swinging at anchor or at slow speed up to 6 knots' ) | YES | YES |
SERVICE LOCATION | Within the same continent | Within the same continent | Within the same continent | Within the same continent - Currently approved for use in the US territorial waters. - All other countries are pending regulatory approval or coverage. - Will eventually support open water ocean |
SOLAS | NO | NO | NO | NO Not intended or registered for use as a SOLAS service at this time |
TECH SPECS | | | | |
POWER CONSUMP- TION | 45-75W Idle: 20W | 45-75W Idle: 20W | 110-150W Idle: 45W | 220-300W Idle: 90W |
POWER INPUT | 100-240V 50-60Hz ~2.0A | 100-240V 50-60Hz ~2.0A | 100-240V 50-60Hz ~4.5A | 100-240V 50-60Hz |
SIZE | 11" x 20" 28cm x 51cm | 11" x 20" 28cm x 51cm | 22" x 20" 56cm x 51cm | x2 22" x 20" x2 56cm x 51cm |
INSTALL- ATION | Easy set up with provided tripod or on a pole. | Easy set up with provided tripod or add a pole, ideally with an adapter for easy removal. Some cruisers have modified the dish to a flat mounting (warranty voided) for better water and wind resistance. | Hardware designed for a permanent installation. Mounted flat on a mount with a slant. | Need 14’ (4.3m) separation between the 2 devices to avoid interferences |
ETHERNET CONNEC- TION TO 3RD PARTY ROUTER | - No built-in Ethernet port - Need to purchase the Ethernet adapter from the Starlink Shop | - No built-in Ethernet port - Need to purchase the Ethernet adapter from the Starlink Shop | Cable option to connect power supply to an external RJ45 port (Ethernet) | |
OPERATION | Built-in motor for self-orientation | Built-in motor for self-orientation | No built-in motor. The ‘high performance’ model can see 35% more sky | No built-in motor. The ‘high performance’ model can see 35% more sky |
WATER RESISTANCE RATING | IP54 Protection from water spray in any direction | IP54 Protection from water spray in any direction | IP56 Protection from high pressure water jets from any direction | IP65 Can withstand up to a pressure of 1.5m of water for 30 minutes |
WIND RATING | 50mph | 50mph | 174mph | 174mph |
* The pricing above is in US Dollars, however the hardware prices and plan prices vary by country and fluctuates quite a bit so check the Starlink website for the most up to date pricing in your country.
To get real world feedback from Starlink users we recommend joining the Facebook private group 'Starlink On Boats'.
STARLINK PERFORMANCE
See below the expected performance data per Service Plan (as of December 2022). You can find the latest performance details on the Starlink website.
SERVICE PACKAGE | SERVICE AVAILABILITY | LATENCY (ms) | EXPECTED DOWNLOAD (mbps) | EXPECTED UPLOAD (mbps) |
FIXED PLANS | | | | |
STANDARD | >= 99% | 25-50 | 20-100 | 5-15 |
BEST EFFORT/RV | >= 99% | 25-50 | 5-50 | 2-10 |
MOBILE PLANS | | | | |
RECREATIONAL | >= 99% | <99 | 5-50 | 2-10 |
COMMERCIAL | >= 99% | <99 | 40-220 | 8-25 |
RV COVERAGE
High Capacity (light blue): expect high-speed low-latency internet.
Low Capacity (blue): expect slower speeds during peak hours.
No Coverage (dark blue): pending service coverage or regulatory approval.
As of December 2022. Click on the map below for the latest RV coverage
MARITIME COVERAGE
Light blue: covered now
Blue: coverage starting Q4 2022
Dark blue: coverage starting Q1 2022
Grey: inland coverage
As of December 2022. Click on Maritime Coverage for the latest information.
As of December 2022, Starlink is in the process of signing some agreements with some Starlink Authorized Reseller for a $1000/month Commercial Maritime plan with a single Flat High Performance Antenna. Note: There will be some additional fees or mandatory value added services on the monthly Starlink Service fee.
USEFUL STARLINK LINKS
RV STANDARD (tripod dish)
RV FLAT HIGH-PERFORMANCE IN-MOTION (flat dish)
MARITIME WITH 2 HIGH-PERFORMANCE STARLINK KITS (2 flat dishes)
STARLINK Frequently Asked Questions
STARLINK LEGAL
The Starlink Kit and Services are novel, under development, and subject to change. Starlink performance goals will be amended by SpaceX from time to time based on experience and innovation.
Stated speeds and uninterrupted use of Services are not guaranteed. Users may experience higher latencies in regions that are far from Starlink ground stations, or during periods of high load on their user terminal. Actual speeds will likely be lower than the maximum speeds during times of high usage. Starlink may temporarily reduce speeds if our network is congested.
The expected speeds above are based on Priority Access. Users with Basic Access may experience slower speeds and reduced performance compared to Priority Access. Please see our Fair Use Policy (US Fair Use Policy) for more information on Priority Access, Basic Access and the impacts to your Service Plan.
Priority Access definition: "Priority Access usage is prioritized ahead of those with Basic Access on the network at the plan-specific network priority level. Data used between 11pm - 7am will not count towards Priority Access."
HOW TO SETUP AND INSTALL STARLINK
BEST FOR...
If we had to summarize each Starlink option for boaters in one sentence...
Residential with Portability
Recreational weekend boaters with ‘normal’ internet use.
RV Standard
Extended cruisers or liveaboards with ‘normal’ internet use.
RV Flat High-Performance In-Motion
Liveaboards with ‘hardcore’ internet use.
Maritime Two High-Performance Starlink Kits
Commercial offshore usage
This is just our opinion. If you have suggestions on how to refine the above summary or have a totally different point of view please share it in the Comment section below.
If you're looking for a reliable satellite connection offshore for weather data download, email, messaging and some social media updates then check our blog on the NEW Iridium GO! Exec.