Starlink is making news with more satellites launched, and creating better coverage in more areas with faster speeds. However, the word for Starlink RV subscribers is not all good. SpaceX announced higher monthly subscription prices as well.
New generation Starlink satellites
On February 27, after a five-hour delay in liftoff due to space weather, SpaceX launched Group 6-1 with 21 satellites that SpaceX calls the “V2 Mini.” They are an intermediate type, larger than the original Starlink satellites but smaller than the forthcoming full-scale units SpaceX plans to deploy using its Starship launch vehicle.
SpaceX described the V2 Mini orbital craft in a tweet on the day before the launch. “They represent a step forward in Starlink capability.”
Quoting from the SpaceX tweet:
V2 minis include key technologies—such as more powerful phased array antennas and the use of E-band for backhaul—which will allow Starlink to provide ~4x more capacity per satellite than earlier iterations.
This means Starlink can provide more bandwidth with increased reliability and connect millions of more people around the world with high-speed internet. More here.
A price increase and a welter of confusion for RVers
On February 21, SpaceX released an email to subscribers announcing a price increase and a change in service capability for residential customers. The monthly subscription cost for residential accounts will increase $10 to $120 per month in areas with low capacity. At the same time, residential subscribers in high-capacity areas will decrease $20 per month to $90 per month. However, residential customers will lose the portability of the service.
Starlink RV customers will see their monthly subscription cost increase $15 to $150.
Many Starlink customers complained of the price increase and the counterintuitive logic of increasing prices for areas still plagued with low capacity.
On the other hand, some Starlink RV customers lamented the increase in the roaming service, but most took it in stride. A common thread among comments on social media regarding the price hike was that the service was still worth it for the utility and flexibility that Starlink RV provides while working and adventuring on the road.
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Is there any thought of a senior plan that could help us that all are on a fixed income? Maybe a web page to leave ideas, types of needs, access that is needed. It would be nice to even see a AARP or of something the like be able to help provide input. Thanks. I look forward to participating in this adventure in our RV. Del
. I love our starlink thank you Elon..
We’re volunteering in a state park that has horrible cell service, it’s a game changer !! We have 3 tvs,1 laptop, 2 tablets,2 cell phones,our friends and site mates have 2 phones and 2 TV and our starlink never buffers,we use about 600 gig of data a month.
Cell service has worked for us, so far. DW just decreed that we’ll never subscribe to Starlink because of her low opinion of Musk. Oh well, guess that precludes us from ever becoming a customer. 😎
I wouldn’t mind the price increase so much if the service was better. We have found the RV service to be very inconsistent.
As a Residential Service user without Portability I was told by SL tech support to just change my service address each time we move. This means I would NOT need to convert to RV service. But also means I am not guaranteed that there would be available service when I got back to my home address. With the launch of higher capacity satellites it makes no sense to lose Portability since some of us move every day for a week then stay in the same place for 2 weeks. Then start the same cycle over again for 3-4 months. Maybe SL will bring back Portability with the sale of the new laptop sized antenna that was just announced.
We have been very happy with the much less expensive T-Mobile Home Internet. It is however not available, nor does it provide service ‘anywhere’, even if T-Mobile has a 5G signal. That is because T-Mobile prioritizes cell phone service.
Based on T-Mobile Home Internet presence at the recent Austin RV Expo, T-Mobile is now looking toward the (especially seasonally parked) RV crowd to expand its customer base. They are also periodically offering a discounted price for certain T-Mobile cell phone customers.
Not consistently, but we have routinely seen download speeds of 300+mbps. Mind you, this is along a major highway in rural Texas and we are a half-mile, literally line of sight from the tower.
We started using the T-Mobile internet a month or so ago, and we are thrilled!!! Has worked well wherever we have been (East coast), and at $50 a month, a fantastic deal! We just ditched the Verizon hotspot! We got tired of the poor signal and waiting for 5G. I remember when we always had signal, but that has really backed off the last few years….
It’s just supply and demand. Lower prices for the areas with lower demand to encourage new customers while charging more in high demand areas because people will pay. This low cost internet will cost as much as every other company in time.
This is Goomba-licious. So where Elon has too much capacity, the price is dropping and where he has too little capacity the price is increasing. Hmmm, supply and demand. Free Market. Private business. Industry leader. All those in a nut shell.
Price is up for some and down for others. Just like our economy. Gas up 62%, Fentanyl down 62%. Eggs up 52%, solar panels down 52%. We’re even, c’mon man.
I think many people were cutting the line by getting RV Service for a residential address where it was already stretched. I think the price changes reflect that.