Starlink is an innovative new satellite internet service taking Australia and much of the world by storm. With the right equipment and a subscription to the service, you can access the internet from literally almost anywhere on the planet!
All you need is the right Starlink kit as part of your camping essentials. You just need to factor in the costs of the hardware, the monthly subscription rate, and other accessories like the Starlink Pole.
What Is Starlink?
Starlink is an extension of Elon Musk’s Space X. Its foundation is a network of satellites in orbit that use a wireless signal to provide reasonably fast internet access. It’s available in over 100 countries including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United States and much of Europe.
It has fast enough upload and download speeds to let you send emails, use social media, share videos, and even stream your favourite shows. However, you need to understand its capabilities and technical details before deciding if its right for you.
Starlink’s Coverage In Australia
Starlink’s coverage in Australia has improved significantly since its initial launch.
Starlink will work well anywhere in Australia. Actually, the more remote the better as there is less chance of interference. If you don’t have mobile phone reception, no worries! Starlink connect to satellites so you just need to make sure you have a clear view of the sky.
Starlink’s Performance & Signal Strength
Starlink’s signal clarity can suffer in built-up urban areas. This is due to the high density of signal interference from other devices and radio frequency noise. This is something you need to keep in mind if you’re thinking about using Starlink at home in built up areas.
Just like other satellite dishes Starklink’s signal can be affected by tree cover and weather. You need to keep this in mind if you’re camping in the bush or near the coast.
How to Get the Best Starlink Reception In Australia
Starlinks network of satellites tends to have a southern orientation throughout Australia and the rest of the Southern Hemisphere. However, it is important to remember that any potential interference will affect its performance. Ideally, you want to position the dish so that it has a clear south-facing view for the clearest signal.
This can be tricky if you’re camping in the bush, and your designated campsite has a lot of tree cover to the south. This is where mounting the dish on Starlink pole might increase signal clarity.
Starlink Speed
Starlink’s speed in Australia is better than 4G cellular, and in some areas better than 5G signal. However, the weather, tree cover, and network congestion can also affect speed.
We recently travelled to Coober Pedy and stayed outside of town where there was no phone service. We used the Starlink to do some online work and steam movies for the kids. When running the speed test it was over 200Mbps which was twice the speed of our home internet in Brisbane – just WOW! However, at Ayres Rock Camp Ground we had a huge gumtree on the southern side of our caravan. This interfered with the satellite connection and made our steaming of the State of Origin freeze a few times – unfortunately Queensland lost but lets move on…
On average, Starlink offers download speeds that range from 50 Mbps to 200 Mbps. With upload speeds of 10 Mbps and 40 Mbps. The latency ping of Starlink typically ranges between 20 MS and 50 MS. This is better than other satellite internet services.
Starlink’s Power Requirements
Before committing to Starlink for your caravan internet, you need to also consider its power requirements. This can be a factor if you go camping off-grid and need to rely on your caravan batteries. You will need an inverter as it runs on 240v power and might even need to add extra batteries to your camping equipment to cope for the power draw.
Starlink’s satellite dish draws between 75 to 100 watts (Gen 3)of power to operate. It isn’t technically engineered for direct DC wiring (12v), though there are products like the DishyDock 12v conversion kit to reduce power consumption and negate the need for an inverter without sacrificing performance.
August 2024: Starlink have just released its mini version in Australia, which is designed to work off 12v power, with additional cabling (not yet available), and uses 60% less power compared to the full-sized versions. It is also the size of a A4 piece of paper and has a built-in router so is designed to put on the back of your backpack when hiking.
Starlink Cost
The cost of Starlink service for RV use starts with the hardware kit, which starts from around $400+. This includes the dish, stand, and the router. Any sort of special mounting arm or other camping accessories are extra.
Starlink also has a monthly service fee of $174 AUD on roam (use anywhere in Australia), or the new mini plan for $80 AUD (capped at 50gb, only available with the Starlink mini dish), with no annual or long-term contract required.. The plans can also be paused when not in use.
It is also possible to use your Starlink in your home. In this case the plans are $139AUD per month for unlimited data. A great option if you live remotely.
Starlink Accessories & Storage
There are some accessories that might help optimize Starlink’s performance while on your camping adventure.
- The Starlink Arm lets you mount the dish on a telescoping arm for better internet signal. You should strongly consider buying it if you frequently camp in areas with a lot of tree cover. You can mount it on the drawbar or rear bar of your caravan/camper or your vehicle’s tow hitch to find the ideal position.
- The Starlink Buddy gives you a convenient Starlink storage space to keep everything together and protected.
- The DishyDock Starlink system
- Enables you to convert your Starlink to 12v power significantly reducing power consumption. This is perfect if you don’t have an inverter.
Conclusion
Starlink can be a convenient way to get reliable internet access in your caravan. It allows you to access high speed internet anywhere including areas without mobile reception.If you are a frequent traveller or live on the road, Starlink is a must have. If you are causal camper then there is the benefit to pause your subscription when not in use
If you live in a suburban or rural area where there’s very little signal noise, Starlink might be a viable option for home internet service as well.
