Using Starlink Mini Where Verizon Hotspot Has No Coverage

[jymbee]

I use a small GL.inet router ...

I used the same router for similar purposes. However, the darned thing just died this last trip. Had only used it for a few months. Ended up buying a cheap Netgear replacement.

 

[DonTom]

. The wifi built into the SL is good when it's close, but degrades quickly when positioned farther away.

I was on the opposite side of Sac Pass Park when I was using Ben's system on Wi-Fi. If he had an external router, he never mentioned it to me. His Wi-Fi signal was strong even that far away. And that was probably more than 100 meters away.

Is this the router you're using? If I find there is an advantage to me, I will order one.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[davismills]

I was on the opposite side of Sac Pass Park when I was using Ben's system on Wi-Fi. If he had an external router, he never mentioned it to me. His Wi-Fi signal was strong even that far away. And that was probably more than 100 meters away.

Is this the router you're using? If I find there is an advantage to me, I will order one.

-Don- Auburn, CA

Here's current one I'm using. This is my third router of this series and all the Gl.Inet routers are fantastic.
Amazon.com

This video illustrates pretty much the same system I have now:

 

[DonTom]

Here's current one I'm using.

Thanks for the info., but I am not clear on what the advantage is of the router on such a system.

BTW, does it have a guest Wi-Fi PW and can the Wi-FI signal level be adjusted or have different level outputs?

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[jymbee]

Thanks for the info., but I am not clear on what the advantage is of the router on such a system.

BTW, does it have a guest Wi-Fi PW and can the Wi-FI signal level be adjusted or have different level outputs?

-Don- Auburn, CA

The main advantage of using your own router is more control. When my Gl.Inet router died this trip I simply reset the SL router to factory defaults and used the SL router.

When I bought a replacement router I just went into the SL app and set their router to "Bypass mode" and plugged in my replacement router to the SL router.

That basically just does what it sounds like, passes the signal through their router to my router. With your own router you have quite a few more flexibility, if you're comfortable configuring the various options. With the SL router you basically just set up “Wi-Fi name (SSID) + password and that's about it.

Advantages of using your own router include apt to be better speed. Many other options including VPN options (most routers), multiple SSIDs including a guest login, and if you're into it, setting up a mesh system, firewall. etc. etc.

If all anyone wants to do is plug and play then nothing wrong with using the SL router, most people probably do. If you want to have more flexibility and quite probably better speed, use your own router and configure it to suit.

 

[davismills]

Thanks for the info., but I am not clear on what the advantage is of the router on such a system.

BTW, does it have a guest Wi-Fi PW and can the Wi-FI signal level be adjusted or have different level outputs?

-Don- Auburn, CA

It does have guest wifi capabilities. In your case, I think all you would need is the built in SL router. I would avoid the "extra" router and just go with the SL router for a few camping trips. If it works for you, your decision is made.

If not, you could circle back to a more controllable router. I spent 20 years as a network engineer with classified systems for the military, so I tend to nerd out over control of the network that I'm on.

 

[DonTom]

It does have guest wifi capabilities. In your case, I think all you would need is the built in SL router.

Yeah, I guess if I find I need or want to add a router, I will know why when the times comes.

I just now got done downloading and installing the Start Link app to my Chromebook, Smartphone and another tablet.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[DonTom]

It does have guest wifi capabilities. In your case, I think all you would need is the built in SL router. I would avoid the "extra" router and just go with the SL router for a few camping trips. If it works for you, your decision is made.

If not, you could circle back to a more controllable router. I spent 20 years as a network engineer with classified systems for the military, so I tend to nerd out over control of the network that I'm on.

I will probably nerd-out when I find some real small need that I will probably need or want once per year or so. I own a lot of junk I rarely or never use.

Were you in the military or only working for them?

I was an army grunt (11B )in the Central Highland Jungles of Vietnam in 69/70.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[DonTom]

, if you're comfortable configuring the various options.

Yeah, I guess I am as I had to set up the port forwarding and IP stuff for my secuitry cameras at each house.

But I doubt if speed will be an issue to me. I am rarely in a hurry.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[jymbee]

Yeah, I guess I am as I had to set up the port forwarding and IP stuff for my secuitry cameras at each house.

But I doubt if speed will be an issue to me. I am rarely in a hurry.

-Don- Auburn, CA

Yep, as I recall you have quite a formidable security camera system at your estate.

 

[davismills]

I will probably nerd-out when I find some real small need that I will probably need or want once per year or so. I own a lot of junk I rarely or never use.

Were you in the military or only working for them?

I was an army grunt (11B )in the Central Highland Jungles of Vietnam in 69/70.

-Don- Auburn, CA

21 years active USAF and then 11 years as a BSC (blood sucking contractor) with Lockheed Martin.

 

[PancakeBill]

Don, the most surprising element of this thread was the fact you did not already have Starlink. I don’t but a few years back when we traveled more I now I would have.

 

[DonTom]

Don, the most surprising element of this thread was the fact you did not already have Starlink. I don’t but a few years back when we traveled more I now I would have.

Mainly because I never asked anybody about it until I ran into Ben at Sacramento Pass. You will see a Wi-Fi SSID of "Curly Fries" when he is around.

I can only think of a few place where my Verizon Hotspot didn't work. Big Bend Bend of Texas, Giant Redwoods (but the park I stayed at had a good Wi-FI system) & Death Valley (but I could use the hotel's rip off system for 11 bucks per day). And now the lower part of Sacramento Pass.

And I also have satellite coverage with my Spot and inReach for text messaging anywhere.

I am still not sure how much use Starlink will get with me, but I will now be looking for places that have no cell coverage!

I should have the system sometime tomorrow to play around with.

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[davismills]

My Wi-Fi SSID is "FBI Surveilance Van"

 

[jymbee]

My Wi-Fi SSID is "FBI Surveilance Van"

Mine is HackerHub.

 

[PancakeBill]

I tried setting mine up as pornhub, but it was already taken.

 

[PancakeBill]

OK, Starlink, I just received a note from cable that my promotional pricing is going away, coincidentally I received an email from Starlink, special plan and as Don noted a free mini for travel with the max . It can be turned on and off as you need. I am intrigued. Still trying to figure out what part of cable it replaces. I get it, the internet portion, but not sure about TV programming. All the stuff like youtube, but what about news channels, Starz? DVR type functions? I suppose just keeping cable for watching?

 

[jymbee]

OK, Starlink, I just received a note from cable that my promotional pricing is going away, coincidentally I received an email from Starlink, special plan and as Don noted a free mini for travel with the max . It can be turned on and off as you need. I am intrigued. Still trying to figure out what part of cable it replaces. I get it, the internet portion, but not sure about TV programming. All the stuff like youtube, but what about news channels, Starz? DVR type functions? I suppose just keeping cable for watching?

Starlink is simply an ISP provider in that it allows you to view any streaming services you subscribe to. such as Netflix, Hulu, AppleTV, YouTubeTV, Prime Video, etc. etc. Once conntected it's up to you what you choose to view. Again SL is simply an Internet Service Provider, not cable provider.

We used to travel with a Dish satellite system for TV and a Verizon type hotspot. Now we use Starlink and YouTubeTV. That just about covers all we ever want to watch. A number of advantages in our case.

 

[DonTom]

Starlink is simply an ISP provider in that it allows you to view any streaming services you subscribe to.

I noticed there is a different price for stationary, such as for a home. than for an RV that moves around. RVing much more pricy, of course. But how do they know where you're located?

-Don- Auburn, CA

 

[DonTom]

, special plan and as Don noted a free mini for travel with the max .

It sounds like I shafted myself by buying the stuff on Amazon that I could have gotten for free with the data plan, which I will have anyway.

-Don- Auburn, CA