Starlink Mobile deep dive
RVers, backcountry hikers, #vanlifers, digital nomads, and other adventurers, rejoice! Starlink Mobile is here to give you high-speed internet that can go anywhere—if you can afford it.
There’s much to consider with Starlink Mobile service, so let’s get into it, beginning with the difference between in-motion and regular mobile services.
Starlink Mobile vs. Mobile Priority
If you're getting Starlink for an RV, a boat, or another mobile home, you might wonder if you'll get a seamless connection while you're on the road (or cruising along the coast). The answer to that depends on how much you're willing to pay.
If you're on a standard Starlink Mobile plan, you can't use the internet while in motion. You have to stop, establish a new location, and then you can use the internet. But, if you upgrade to Mobile Priority, you'll get the in-motion feature, so you can stream your Lo-Fi Beats playlist while you're off-roading or attend a Zoom call while on your fishing boat.
You'll also need to shell out for the pricey Flat High-Performance hardware, which costs $2,500 (yikes!). Here's a quick breakdown of the two different Starlink Mobile tiers.
Plan | Mobile | Mobile Priority |
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Price | $150.00–$200.00/mo. | $250.00–$5,000.00/mo. |
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Features | Unlimited Mobile Data inland
Portability
Pause Service | Unlimited Mobile, Data inland,
Portability,
Pause Service,
Global Service,
In-motion, Ocean Use,
Network Priority,
Priority Support, plus 50GB–5TB of priority data |
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Download speed | 5–50Mbps | 40–220Mbps |
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Upload speed | 2–10Mbps | 8–25Mbps |
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Latency | <99 ms | <99 ms |
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Equipment fee (for recommended hardware) | $599.00 | $2,500.00 |
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Where can I go with Starlink Mobile?
Starlink is now available across the United States, including all 50 states, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. All Starlink Mobile customers residing in the U.S. can use the service nationwide.
But if you plan to leave the country where you signed up for the service, you'll need to sign up for Mobile Global, which costs $200 a month. If you sign up for any of the Mobile Priority plans, you'll automatically get global access.
Image source: Screenshot from www.starlink.com
But what exactly does global mean here?
Currently, Starlink operates in 40 countries, including all of North America, most of Europe, and much of Africa. The list of countries where Starlink is available is growing rapidly, but be sure to check about coverage before you travel. (You can learn more about Starlink availability in our article.)
Whether for recreation or business, satellite internet is an invaluable tool on the open seas. It's not just for streaming on your yacht, it's a lifeline for navigation and communication.
Satellite phones are useful, but they definitely don't have the capabilities of steady satellite internet. The good news is that Starlink offers a service for boats. The bad news is that Starlink’s maritime plans are some of the most expensive.
Image source: Screenshot from www.starlink.com
To get Starlink internet that will work on a boat, you’ll need to sign up for one of the Mobile Priority plans. This means you’ll pay at least $250 a month and shell out over two grand for equipment. That said, your speeds should be great, with at least 50GB of unthrottled high-speed internet. Plus, it's the only plan that allows you to stay connected while your vessel is moving.
All of Starlink’s plans—including the Mobile plans—are month-to-month. That means you don’t have to pay a bunch upfront or sign year long service contracts.
While U.S. residents used to have to pay a deposit and get on a waitlist, Starlink recently announced that its service is open to all U.S. customers without a wait. So you can order Starlink Mobile plans tonight, get the equipment in a couple of days, and be online by the weekend.
Because there are no contracts, you can pause your service at any time (if you’re traveling to a country where there is no Starlink service or spending a few months at a home with wired internet, for instance).
Starlink Mobile speeds and latency
According to our proprietary data from almost 8,000,000 individual speed tests, Starlink's average download speed in the United States is 48Mbps. That's for both Mobile and Standard plans, and it's plenty of bandwidth for streaming in HD, Zooming into a work meeting, and browsing the web.
What's even more impressive is Starlink's low latency. Our data shows that the average latency for Starlink users in the states is 47 ms. That makes it much better than other satellite internet providers for activities like online gaming.
Remember that several important factors will determine your Starlink speed. For one, your location and dish setup can have a significant impact. In-motion connections will likely never reach the same speeds as static ones. Also, while there are no hard data caps for Starlink service, your speeds can be reduced if you use a lot of data (unless you pay extra for Priority plans).
Note that Starlink's speed and reliability fluctuate depending on your location and satellite coverage, which is continually growing. Those who want faster speeds should compare Starlink to 5G home internet providers and other mobile internet services, like those offered by Verizon and T-Mobile.
Starlink equipment and set-up
Starlink has two different dish options: the standard and the flat high-performance dish. Which dish you get will depend on your specific plan and needs. In either case, the dish will be sent to you with the other needed equipment in your kit.
Image source: Screenshot from www.starlink.com
There are also plenty of extra gadgets you can order from Starlink, like a mesh Wi-Fi router and different dish mounts.
Once your equipment arrives, setting up Starlink on your RV, boat, or other vehicle is relatively easy, and you can always use the Starlink app for guidance. The typical Starlink setup process works like this:
- Find a clear, unobstructed view of the sky. (The Starlink app can help you find the best placement.)
- Plug your Starlink dish into a power source.
- Wait while your equipment establishes a connection with the satellite constellation.
- Connect to Starlink internet from your laptop, phone, or other device.
If you choose the pricier high-performance dish for Starlink Mobile ($2,500), you will need to mount the equipment to your vehicle or home.