In a motorhome, you can connect to the internet in several ways, the most common being to use the 4G or 5G connection on your smartphone. An alternative could be Starlink: an internet connection directly with the satellites. Gérare asks us what we think about it.
Here is the question that Gérard asks us: “Following information published on your pages on the Starlink internet service, I would like to subscribe to this service provider. But first, I would like to know if a member of the editorial team had already used it. I would like to know your feelings about the performance of its antenna. Are they related to the price, which is a little high in my eyes?”
The opportunity to test this product has not yet presented itself to the editorial staff. However, we can talk about it through the experience of one of our employees. He has been using it for several months as part of his duties as a photographer to transmit images remotely from isolated locations without a 4G or 5G internet connection. On the manufacturing side, the material is of good quality. In the portable version, its rectangular dish (50 x 30 cm) appears a little bulky when it has to be deployed or stored in a vehicle, but not too heavy (4.2 kg).
Read the brand’s press release on our site
Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet
Performance worth the cost
This service was set up by the American company SpaceX which sends rockets into space. No less than 2,700 satellites orbiting the earth provide excellent global coverage and a rather satisfactory throughput (350 Mb/s) for transmitting or receiving computer data such as images or videos. The purchase price of the equipment (€499.99) as well as the necessary subscription (€100/month for motorhomes) for its use are representative of its effectiveness.
We therefore receive faster than with a usual satellite connection (without latency), and the coverage is wider than with 4G.
Some serious drawbacks
The Starlink problem risks weighing heavily on the minds of motorhome owners. With this device, it is actually not possible to receive internet while driving. The antenna must actually be installed outside the motorhome and reoriented each time it is used. Which limits its use during the stages. Besides, Starlink must be connected to 220 V.
This device is therefore rather intended for users needing an excellent connection during their stops in areas with little 4G coverage.
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