Is Starlink an option for onboard internet access?
You may have read or heard about Elon Musks’ Starlink service which promises high speed internet access almost anywhere on earth. It is therefore obvious that this sounds like a great idea for use onboard when cruising to stay connected and even run your business from. The Starlink constellation of satellites are still in the very early stages of development and release and while the evidence shows exceptional speeds achieved by many already using Starlink onboard, there are a few things you might like to consider before coughing up for the hardware and extremely high monthly charges.
1 – Starlink Versions
Currently the Starlink version used onboard by early adopters is the RV version. It is understood that if you seek technical support while using the hardware onboard a boat that Starlink will no longer warrant the hardware. While there is a maritime version available, this is bundled with the business version and is much, much more expensive and out of the realms of most cruisers.
2 – Starlink Performance
While the advertised performance of Starlink appears impressive at this stage, as more Starlink users come online the performance will drop. Starlink need to launch many thousand more satellites to be able to achieve and maintain the speeds currently being obtained as more users come online. This may never happen or may take many years. Since this service is still very new, there are also opportunities for the service to experience drop outs or speed reductions. Performance during weather events is also questionable. There is also rumors that Starlink may impose data caps or speed caps in the future. As of September 2022 Starlink have stopped the ability for the service to operate while moving. This means that even while at anchor and swinging around at low speed, the Starlink service will cease to operate until stationary again. This appears to be a major roadblock for many now considering the use of Starlink onboard. The marine version of Starlink does not suffer this same restriction.
3 – Starlink Support
This is a topic that is causing a stir online at the moment and it seems may only get worse as more customers come online. Essentially, if you run into any difficulties either with setup of your Starlink hardware, positioning, or troubleshooting it after installation then you are pretty much on your own. There is a growing online user base to assist you, but good luck getting anything from Starlink themselves. There is no email or phone number to call for help or guidance. If you are not tech savvy and have a problem then you will more than likely be on your own, paying a huge monthly amount for no service.
4 – Pricing and Value
Most people will accept paying a little more than the average for a product and service that works consistently and above expectations. While the upfront hardware cost is not excessive, the ongoing monthly charge may be a little harder to swallow, especially if you are not planning to be cruising 100% of the time. While you can pause and restart the service, this may not be convenient for everyone and fraught with complications if a service isn’t paused properly and you end up needing to contact support (see above) to resolve.
5 – Mounting
The Starlink dish is quite large compared to other antennas and radars onboard. It is not enclosed in any protective enclosure suited to the marine environment and mounting options onboard can be very limited. They also require an unobstructed view of the sky. As far as I’m aware there have been no long term results of the hardware being used onboard to determine how it will last in a marine environment.
Summary
While Starlink promises and appears to be delivering somewhat of what they have promised it is still very early days for adoption onboard. If you are a techie person and like to have and try the latest things, then go for it. If you are not as techie and still want reliable internet onboard then perhaps you should wait and in the meantime consider a tried, tested and proven internet solution for marine use and contact us about one of our 4G Marine Internet Kits. Our kits are designed for the marine environment, are confirmed working around large sections of the Australian coastline and out to many NM offshore. We are also Australian based, able to be called up either before you buy or after and will get the support you need.