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  • 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.

Starlink Maritime Coverage
Starlink Maritime Coverage

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

RESIDENTIAL WITH PORTABILITY

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

YouTube video



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.

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