Is Starlink Satellite Internet Worth Buying for Boondocking?
Starlink offers a mobile version of its satellite Internet service, which is great for boondockers, but comes with a high price tag.
Starlink, which is a satellite Internet service operated by SpaceX, offers a specialized service just for mobile users. It’s called Starlink Roam. We’ll go over the specifics, but you can visit its website here… https://www.starlink.com/roam
The costs…
$600.00 flat fee to buy the hardware, plus…
$150.00 a month, if you plan to travel exclusively in North America, or
$200.00 a month if you want to travel across the globe, or
$250.00 a month if you want to use Starlink while driving down the road.
What’s the Difference Between Starlink Roam and Starlink Residential?
Starlink Residential costs a little less, $120.00 per month, but the hardware and satellite is the same. The difference is that Residential will not work if you move the equipment outside of your neighborhood. That is, if you wanted to take your Starlink dish on vacation to the Grand Canyon, it won’t work.
Hence, Starlink Roam charges you a higher fee per month so that the hardware will work anywhere you take it.
How Does Starlink Roam Compare to Cellular Data?
Monthly Pricing / Data Limits
Starlink Roam: $150.00 month, unlimited data
Verizon Hotspot Premium: $80.00 month, 150gb
AT&T Dataconnect: $100.00 month, 100gb
T-Mobile Hotspot Plan: $30.00 month, 10gb
Bandwidth
Starlink Roam: 5-50Mbps download, 2-10Mbps upload
Cellular Data (4G) while Boondocking: on average, 1-30Mbps download, 1-10Mbps upload
Does Starlink Roam Truly Work Anywhere?
As long as the dish has an unobstructed view of the northern sky, it will work anywhere. Thus…
It won’t work if the dish is covered under a canopy of trees.
It won’t work if the dish is located in the bottom of a canyon.
It won’t work if the dish is obstructed by other vehicles.
You may need to buy additional Starlink cable (the hardware already comes with 50ft of cable) to move the dish far enough to where it can get a clear view.
Starlink Setup Requirements
Starlink Dish - Has a cable that will be plugged into the Starlink Router. The router will sit inside your vehicle and will be plugged into a standard 3-prong wall-outlet (120v AC). Thus, the router feeds power to the dish, while the dish feeds data to the router.
Starlink Router - Your laptop, phone, tablet, gaming console, security camera, will connect via Wi-Fi to the Starlink Router.
Power Requirements: Both the dish and router will consume between 50-75 watts of power. Starlink recommends at least a 500-watt power station (Jackery, Bluetti, Anker, et al) that outputs pure sinewave power. A Jackery 500 Power Station should provide about 15.5 hours of run time. You could also use a gas generator as long as it has an inverter that produces pure sinewave power.
Dish Mounting - Most boondockers use the included base and let the dish stand on the ground. If your vehicle is parked with an unobstructed view of the northern sky, you can instead let it sit on the roof.
Does Starlink Still Work in Bad Weather?
Rain, snow, and even dust clouds can interfere with the signal, leading to slower speeds, or intermittent outages. The same is true with cellular data because both cellular and satellite equipment transmit radio signals.
Starlink describes its dish as being “Weather Resilient”, meaning it will hold up against rain, snow, ice, and wind. Hail, obviously, is a different matter depending on the size of the hail.
Under hot weather, the dish is designed to withstand temperatures of up to 122F (50C). Above 122F, the dish will shut itself down. Under extreme cold weather, the dish includes a thermal de-icer that will melt snow and ice accumulation.
Another website, Starlink Insider, provides a good discussion of Starlink’s connectivity in extreme weather.
Which is Better, Starlink or Cellular Data?
The case for Starlink…
Best if you’re boondocking with a family. This way everyone gets Internet access, your kid(s) can still get online-learning, play video games, and the family can watch Netflix at night.
Best if you’re a YouTuber and you spend much of your time producing videos.
Best if your job requires you to participate in video conferences frequently.
Best if you plan to stay in cooler weather during the summer, so that the dish doesn’t shut itself down.
The case for Cellular data…
Best if you’re a single camper, you don’t produce videos, but still need to be online for much of the day.
Best if you’re a couple who spends much of their day outdoors, hiking, exploring, etc., but watches Netflix together at night.
Best if your goal is to camp close to cities where 4G and 5G signals are strong.
Use the OpenSignal app (Android Store) (Apple Store) on your phone to see a user-based coverage map for all three major US carriers. Then you’ll know where to camp, and where not to camp.
What About 5G Technology?
Cellular signal strength and bandwidth is getting better year after year. The newest 5G technology is extremely fast, far faster than Starlink.
The problem with 5G is that it is still not available in remote and rural areas, which is where most boondockers go. However, if your plan to set up camp somewhere close to a city, then you should consider buying a 5G-enabled hotspot device from your carrier.
What About Using a Cellular Booster?
Cellular boosters like those made by WeBoost or Winegard do indeed improve cellular connectivity allowing you to camp in places with weak signal. However, they don’t improve signal “that much better”, at least not enough to justify the $600.00 to $800.00 price tags, and not counting additional expenses you’ll incur buying your own mounting solution.
Moreover, 4G and 5G signal strength is getting better every year, negating the need for cellular boosters.
If you’re going to pony up the $600.00 to $800.00 to buy a cellular booster, then just buy the Starlink and be done with it.
Boondocking Sites of the Week
[See our Boondocking Map for more sites]
Gooseberry Mesa, Apple Valley, UT, (GPS: 37.1417, -113.1534), Located on BLM land, this is a popular area for hikers and mountain bikers, this mesa hosts dozens of dispersed campsites with spectacular views of red rock canyons and formations. Within 20 minutes to the town of Apple Valley for food and supplies. Read more about this site.
Buenos Aires NWR, Sasabe, AZ, (31.5719, -111.5057), This national wildlife refuge has designated a total of 83 primitive campsites available for free, without reservations. The sites are located in the deep south of Arizona, and are popular with snowbirds. Cellular service is nearly non-existent, making this an area where Starlink Satellite is necessary to get online. Read more about this site.
Gardner Landing, Apalachicola Wildlife Area, FL, (29.8175, -84.9868), This free campground is located on state land operated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. There are only four (4) campsites here, and you must obtain a free permit online. Comes with boat ramp, picnic tables, and bear-proof trash dump. Watch this video for more information.
The National Park Service Exempts Itself from State and Local Laws
Of all the federal land management agencies, only the National Park Service exempts itself from state and local laws. They’ve published a statement regarding this. This means that state and local laws do not apply when setting foot on NPS lands.
The reason why is because of the “Property Clause” in the U.S. Constitution…
The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall be so construed as to Prejudice any Claims of the United States, or of any particular State.
The property clause says that any lands and buildings under the management of the federal government are to be governed by federal law only.
This also means any crimes you’ve been charged with on NPS land must be settled in federal courts.
The BLM and USFS Are Not Exempt
Technically, the Property Clause applies to all federal agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), US Forest Service (USFS), Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), etc.
However, most of these agencies have elected to adopt state and local laws. You can read these agencies regulations regarding this issue in the following article, “Do State and Local Laws Apply to Federally Managed Lands?”
The reason why the NPS has chosen to stand by the Property Clause is because they have their own law enforcement personnel, the park rangers. Meanwhile, other federal land management agencies have contracts with state and local law enforcement divisions to patrol their lands.
Smoking Marijuana is Illegal on NPS Lands
Even if state law makes it legal to smoke or possess marijuana, it remains illegal on NPS lands simply because federal law still classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act.
If a park ranger catches you smoking weed, your medical marijuana ID won’t help you, and you may find yourself answering to DEA agents.
Nude Recreation is a Different Matter
If a state or local jurisdiction bans public nudity, it’s not necessarily so on NPS lands. In fact, the NPS has not addressed public nudity in its laws and regulations. However, they do have a rule addressing “disorderly conduct”, which covers “display or act that is obscene.”
If you want to be naked in a national park, you’d have to act in a way that is not obscene. That itself may not be difficult to do. Courts have generally required some kind of additional qualification to be obscene, such as performing a sexual act or making a vulgar gesture. If you’re just grilling burger patties in the way Nature intended, that may not be enough to be charged as an obscenity.
See, "NPS Rule § 2.34 Disorderly conduct.”
There are However, Exceptions
Firearms - Any state laws pertaining to possession of firearms still apply on NPS lands…
The possession of the firearm is in compliance with the law of the State in which the National Park System unit is located.
Traffic and Vehicle Registration - The NPS allows state laws regarding rules of the road, driver licensing, and vehicle registration, except where the NPS has its own rules…
Unless specifically addressed by regulations in this chapter, traffic and the use of vehicles within a park area are governed by State law. State law that is now or may later be in effect is adopted and made a part of the regulations in this part.
Regarding Starlink. We have the Starlink Mini unit $30 a month. Along with our home service of $120 a month. It is great to phone, text and web out from anywhere we stop. The mini runs on a USB-C PD outlet we have on our three wheel motorcycles (Can Am). Much more affordable and capable than the Garmin or SatPhone options. I'll post some photos on our Substack page 3WTrek.org
Great Post! I reposted on 3WTrek.org