Can I Use Starlink In My Motorhome? Starlink Roam Pros & Cons

The Starlink constellation consists of thousands of tiny satellites in low-Earth orbit. The ultimate goal of Starlink is to provide lightning-fast satellite internet access everywhere in the world. And it’s already on its way to accomplishing this — Starlink satellites are far closer to Earth than other satellite systems, contributing to their blistering speeds.

For caravanners and motorhome users, this sounds like a dream come true. And Starlink Roam is now available for caravans, motorhomes, and other recreational vehicles. 

But the Starlink satellite internet setup is still in its infancy, meaning the technology is expensive and still relatively untested. It also has notable flaws users should be aware of before they invest. So is Starlink an effective way to access the internet in your caravan?

How does Starlink work?

In several respects, Starlink is different from typical satellite internet. Compared to regular communication satellites, their satellites have a much lower orbit above Earth.

Starlink internet satellites are around 340 miles above the Earth, compared to the 22,000 miles of traditional geostationary communication satellites above the Earth. The advantage of having the satellites in a lower orbit is reducing latency, or the time it takes to receive a response.

Traditional satellite systems take between 550 to 650 milliseconds for users to receive the signal, which might not seem a long time. Still, it is when you compare it to 100 milliseconds for ground-based and cheaper internet. For browsing the internet or sending email, it’s good enough.

But if you enjoy gaming, streaming, or video calling, latency is a crucial factor.

Starlink satellites orbiting at just over 300 miles have considerably lower latency. Additionally, the response times are much faster because each satellite is equipped with lasers that quickly send information from satellite to satellite.

Do I need Starlink for my motorhome?

Starlink is an excellent solution for planes or ships in the middle of the ocean, where locations are so remote any other type of signal is virtually impossible.

And with theoretically quick internet speeds, Starlink is a tempting prospect for people who spend a lot of time travelling to remote areas in their campervan, caravan or motorhome.

But ultimately, Starlink doesn’t currently seem to be worth its high running costs. With reports of high latency, substantial power demands, and lower speeds than it promises, it’s a big investment to make on technology that doesn’t (yet) meet user requirements.

This is especially true if you plan to work from your vehicle, and need access to Zoom and other live streaming services.

Caravan WiFi alternatives to Starlink

There are excellent WiFi alternatives for your motorhome that you can use right now.

Unless you’re taking your motorhome or caravan to a completely remote spot, there’s no need for Starlink. You might think you’re in a dead area because your mobile phone doesn’t pick up any signal.

But with a system like Maxview Roam, which uses 3G or 4G mobile data to create a WiFi hotspot, you can access the internet even when your mobile phone can’t. Plus, the Maxview Roam 5G enables you to access even faster speeds than before.

Utilising a powerful 4G/5G antenna and a router, the Roam can connect your motorhome or caravan to the internet. As a result, the data on a SIM card is only used when essential — and it’s far cheaper than the minimum £85pm cost to access the Starlink network. 

With the Starlink Standard Antenna (Does not apply to Flat High Performance Antenna), you have to constantly take the antenna outside and inside when you want to utilise your internet service.

In addition, you have to find a suitable area for the antenna and the weather conditions have to be decent enough to pick up a reliable enough signal, whereas the Maxview Roam is hands-free once it is set up and can be used constantly. 

By being mounted to the roof of your vehicle, you don’t even have to move out of your vehicle to receive a strong WiFi signal as the omnidirectional Maxview Roam antenna can automatically pick up signals, no matter the weather.

Furthermore, because the antenna is set up in this way, you can use your WiFi whilst you’re in motion to e.g. use sat nav on your mobile phone, listen to music etc.

Take a look at the table below to see how the Maxview Roam Wi-Fi systems match up against Starlink’s satellite internet:

Starlink Router Vs Roam 5G Router

• Maxview Roam 5G has twice as fast average speeds (Maximum Speeds – 3.3GBps/Dependant On Coverage) than the base model and service of Starlink (Roam Average Speeds 75-250MBps/ 25-100MBps : ‘promised’ speeds by Starlink).
• The Maxview Roam 5G has 5 ethernet ports, Starlink’s router has 0 and requires an ethernet adapter (Additional £25).
• Both systems use Dual Band Frequencies; 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz.
• The Starlink’s base/standard hardware uses 50-75 watts, whereas the Roam 5G only uses 3.21 watts.
• The Roam 5G has WPA3, a newer and more secure system that can protect your device better than Starlink’s router which only utilises WPA2.

 

Starlink Router Vs Roam X Router

• Maxview Roam X has average speeds of 50-80MBps (Maximum Speeds – 300MBps/Dependant on coverage & Network Provider), which are very similar to the average speeds you will experience with the base model and service of Starlink (25-100MBps : ‘promised’ speeds by Starlink).
• However, when you’re in more rural areas, getting close to that 100MBps with Starlink will be extremely difficult. (Streaming apps like Netflix only require 4MBps)
• Maxview Roam X has 4 ethernet ports, Starlink’s router has 0 and requires an ethernet adapter (£25) to connect an ethernet cable.
• Both systems use Dual Band Frequencies; 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz.
• Starlink’s base/standard hardware uses 50-75 watts, whereas the Roam X only uses 1.43 watts.
•   The Roam X has WPA3, a newer and more secure system that can protect your device better than Starlink’s router which only utilises WPA2.

 

Starlink Router Vs Roam Router

• Maxview Roam has average speeds of 15-20MBps (Maximum Speeds – 150MBps/Dependant On Coverage), which is slower than the base model and service of Starlink (25-100MBps : ‘promised’ speeds by Starlink).
• However, it is significantly cheaper and when you’re in more rural areas, getting close to that 100MBps with Starlink will be extremely difficult.(Streaming apps like Netflix only require 4MBps)
• The Maxview Roam has 2 ethernet ports, Starlink’s router has 0 and requires an ethernet adapter (additional £25).
• The Starlink’s base/standard hardware uses 50-75 watts, whereas the Roam only uses 0.8 watts.
•   The Roam has WPA3, a newer and more secure system that can protect your device better than Starlink’s router which only utilises WPA2.

With the Roam systems, 4G and 5G networks are already built to accommodate millions of users, so you won’t experience slow speeds or high latency during peak hours. You can also pitch up wherever you like, without needing to adjust your antenna to get optimum speeds.

If you’re currently using/were to use Starlink’s system and you find yourself receiving subpar internet speeds, your options are very limited. This is because you are constrained to a single network provider: Starlink.

Even if you upgrade your current plan with Starlink, there is no guarantee that they won’t cap your internet speeds or that they won’t increase the cost of plans. 

Contacting Starlink’s customer service for help might not be very helpful either. Users who have tried to receive support have to put in a ticket and wait patiently, with some people waiting up to 3 weeks to get a response, which may or may not have actually resolved their issue.

Despite paying a substantial amount for the service, if you are a customer you have no way to receive direct support from Starlink. On the other hand, Maxview has great support/technical staff, is open 5 days a week and is ready to help you with any query or issue that may arise.

With the Maxview Roam, you’re in control. If your current data SIM provider isn’t delivering optimal internet speeds, you have the option to switch SIM card providers. By effortlessly replacing your existing SIM card in the Wi-Fi system with one from a different provider, you can enhance your connectivity.

Furthermore, with the Maxview Roam X and 5G, you have the capability to accommodate two SIM cards simultaneously, allowing you to house two providers, enabling effortless transitions to a different network at your discretion.

To find out which motorhome WiFi system is best for you and your internet needs, use our WiFi selector tool.

Starlink for motorhome: Pros and Cons

So is it worth getting a Starlink for motorhome or your leisure vehicle? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons.

Pros of Starlink for caravans

• Rapid speeds generated by low-orbit satellites.
• Uninterrupted internet connectivity.
• Pause and unpause access as needed.
• Available for UK and international travel.

 

Cons of Starlink for caravans

• High monthly cost for continuing internet access.
• High hardware costs (especially if you need add-ons).
• Internet speeds will reduce as more users join the network.
• Fully unobstructed view needed for reliable internet access.
• Lots of power is needed to run Starlink.
• By default, it can’t be used in motion (i.e. while driving).
• Limited satellite numbers mean internet speeds are unlikely to reach their potential (for now).
• Notable bugs and flaws in the Starlink system that need to be fixed.

How much does Starlink cost?

As of November 2023, the most basic Starlink Roam package costs £449 for the satellite dish and hardware, plus £85 a month for ongoing internet access.

This is a pretty high starting cost — and as you add extra features or add-ons, the price quickly ramps up. For example:

• High-performance satellite dish and hardware: £2,470
• Mobile Priority plan (giving you in-motion functionality): from £247 per month
• Ground mounting pole: $55 (approx £45)

Prices for other accessories aren’t available until you’ve purchased your Starlink package, so just how much it’ll cost you is up in the air.

Some users also recommend buying a separate lithium battery to run your Starlink system, due to its high power requirements.

Can Starlink be powered by 12v?

By default, Starlink runs a 48 volt system, so you can’t run it directly off your 12v power supply in your caravan or motorhome.

You may need to buy a third party adaptor or converter kit to run your Starlink satellite internet in a vehicle.

How much power does Starlink off grid need?

Estimates suggest a Starlink system consumes around 50-70 watts on average. With no network power, it uses around 20 watts. The high performance version requires approximately twice as much power as the standard Starlink Roam.

Power consumption can be affected by factors including:

• Weather — More power is needed in rainy or snowy conditions.
• Network activity — The more you use the internet, the more power will be needed.
• Obstructions — The satellite will consume more power as it tries to find a signal.

What do UK Starlink users think?

Starlink for motorhome users seem to agree that while the system has potential, there are some limitations that render it less reliable than it first appears.

Some users have become frustrated with the service as they have started experiencing issues when switching between plans. In recent months many users have had severe drops in internet speeds and even very frequent outages:

Others also report issues when staying in cities or forested areas, where buildings and trees can cause obstructions and internet outages: