Star link It’s been a long way since the launch of the first Starlink satellites in 2019 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Since then, SpaceX has been sending new batches of satellites to ensure its product is as strong and reliable as possible. In the meantime, service availability has increased and plans have been upgraded offering more options for various needs. There are currently three plans: Residential, Roam and Boats. Each comes with different features and prices.

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Starlink and its Roam plan have changed the way nomads like me, people who travel for work, and outdoor adventurers can use the internet. In fact, it has almost become a essential gadget. We don’t need to scour towns looking for cafes with decent wifi to connect to. Instead, we can simply connect Starlink to a power source and go.

That said, when you look at the Starlink website, you’ll see multiple dishes as well as more than one Roam service plan. Without having to dig through tabs and discussion forums, here are the best plan and meal options for different types of camping and traveling. I’ll also share a bit of my own experience with Starlink and tips for using it for your mobile adventures.

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Unlike the standard residential plan, which only includes one unlimited plan priced at $120 per month, Roam offers two service plans to choose from depending on your needs. The first is the 50 GB plan for $50 per month. Starlink states that 50GB is approximately 20+ hours of high-definition video streaming. However, if you plan to use Starlink only during the camping weekend to search the Internet and stay connected during wilderness safety for purposes, then 50 GB should be enough. That said, if you find that you need a little more and want to pay per GB, you can. Starlink doesn’t specify what the cost per GB is, but according to users and other articles it’s $1 per GB, which isn’t bad.

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To put things in perspective, while camping in Colorado in June 2024 with no service, I used Starlink to search for work, watched hours of Netflix, scrolled on Instagram, and spent several hours on video calls. All of this activity led to me using well over 100 GB. That said, the 50 GB plan would not meet my needs. If you have such a need for Internet or if several people use the service, the unlimited plan may be the best option. It costs $165 per month. It’s more expensive than the residential unlimited plan, but it comes with convenient features that can benefit any type of traveler or camping enthusiast.

Roam has a handful of features that make it perfect for camping and living life on the move. First, Roam offers nationwide coverage in the country of the account address, which includes inland waterways and marinas. However, if you plan to travel outside the country, you can get up to two months of coverage per trip in available markets including North America, Australia and most of the world. Europe and South America. Be sure to check out Starlink Availability card before traveling.

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Roaming also includes on-the-go usage, meaning you can travel up to 100 mph while remaining connected to the internet. This feature is ideal for traveling through areas without cell service or if your family needs to use the internet while resting in the camper while you take the wheel. You can also benefit from coastal ocean coverage up to 12 nautical miles offshore in areas where Starlink provides active coverage. This lasts for up to five consecutive days at a time and a total of 60 days over a one-year period.

Finally, with Roam, you have the ability to pause and resume your service. Keep in mind, however, that you are billed in monthly increments. This means that if you suspend your service after paying for a month, you will continue to receive service until the end of the paid month. Starlink does not offer refunds. However, it’s a nice feature if you don’t plan on traveling all the time or if you only need it for long weekend camping trips every now and then.

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Typically, campers and travelers pack light and only bring items that will fit in their car, backpack, or RV. Additionally, if you’re not constantly connected to shore power, low power consumption is a necessity. That said, the Mini is a great option for this type of lifestyle due to its size and low power consumption. It’s about the size of a standard laptop and only consumes 25 to 40 watts per hour on average. It comes with the dish, a kickstand, a hose adapter, and accessories to connect it to a power supply for $599. You can also purchase a mobility mount or roof rack mount for on-the-go service.

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Another option that can benefit people who do more streaming, video calls, online gaming, and other demanding applications is the Standard dish. This antenna comes with a router and is a bit larger, but it’s also cheaper than the Mini at $349. On the Starlink website, it is advertised with the Residential plan, but it can still be used with the Roam plan. This is a good option if you have a decent power plant, as the setup averages 75 to 100 watts per hour. You can also use it year-round between home and travel if you don’t plan to permanently install it anywhere.

Personally, I own the older Standard Actuated dish, which was purchased and used regularly since 2022. It is a bit larger than the two newer dishes mentioned above and uses between 50 and 75 watts per hour. To add, I’ve never had a problem with it other than taking up more space. Unfortunately, Starlink no longer sells this version, but you can purchase a used one from a private seller like at Facebook Marketplace. Just make sure you transfer the information correctly to set up your Starlink plan. Each of these dishes offers a 110 degree field of view and snow melting capability. They can also operate over a wide temperature range.

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The most important part of using Starlink is that you need a lot of open sky to ensure the satellite dish can connect to the satellites. When looking for a location for Starlink, I recommend using one of the several camping apps. Personally, I use iOverlander more than anything else and when I find a place, I plug the coordinates into Google Maps in satellite mode to look at the landscape of the area. If there are a lot of trees, it will probably be a no-go for Starlink and even my solar panels.

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Additionally, a vast source of energy will be required. In my mini camper van I live in for a good part of the year I have 400 watts of solar panels powering 3,600 watts of battery. Starlink is a hungry machine and can drain me from 100% to 65% on cloudy days. That said, I usually had it running all day because of work. If you plan to use your Starlink Mini only in small steps, a Jackery Explorer 1500 may work very well for your needs.

I also want to point out that traveling with Starlink can be a little stressful. This is expensive equipment and you don’t want it lying around. Personally, I found that the Project Source Commander 27 Gallon Tote fits perfectly in the packaging that comes with the Standard Actuated dish, so everything is in place when I’m on the move. It takes up a little space, but it gives peace of mind.

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The biggest benefit is the overall experience. I’ve used Starlink during crazy storms in Kansas and the windiest days in Arizona, and the service was always amazing. In my opinion, it is essential for any digital nomadtraveler or camper who needs Internet services. However, I noticed that if there are a lot of Starlink users in the area, speeds can drop a bit during peak hours, but honestly it wasn’t enough for me to complain unless I was trying to do it. download a YouTube video.

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Plus, it can be a bit expensive, especially if you pay for Roam Unlimited. Over the past two years of usage, Roam prices seem to continue to increase for convenience, while Residential has remained the same. It started at $120 per month, regardless of what plan you had.

Additionally, it’s good to keep in mind that while Roam’s coolest feature is the moving capability, only three flats support it: Mini, Standard, and Flat High Performance. This means you could save money by buying an old, standard-operated dish from someone, but it won’t have the upgraded features. However, in my experience, I don’t feel like I’m missing out and it’s still a good investment. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which dish and plan will work best for improve your campsite or travel adventure.

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