SpaceX recently released the newest addition to the Starlink lineup – a Starlink package that’s tailored specifically for mobile vehicles, like boats and RVs.
Interestingly enough however, is that these dishes can be shipped straight away, even if you live in an area where Starlink is currently at capacity.
So, if you’re on a waitlist for residential Starlink, you may be wondering – can you simply order the RV package, and use it at home?
In this article, we’ll cover everything that you need to know!
Can You Use Starlink RV At Your House?
Yes. Starlink’s RV offering can be used anywhere that Starlink is available, as long as it is on the same continent that you’re serviced from.
This includes your home address, even if you intend to keep the Starlink dish there permanently and not actually use it to travel.
In fact, over 40,000 Starlink RV dishes have been ordered, and it’s speculated that a large number of these orders are for people that intend to do exactly that.
Because waitlisted areas are being told that it may be until 2023 when Starlink may become available to them, many people are using this opportunity to ‘jump the line’ so to speak, and get their Starlink kit delivered straight away.
While this is certainly a feasible option, it isn’t without its drawbacks.
More on that in a moment!
What Is The Difference Between Starlink Residential, And Starlink RV?
There are a number of differences between the residential, standard version of Starlink, and the much newer service aimed for RV users.
The first and most notable difference is that RV users are deprioritized, and are more likely to experience slower internet speeds during peak hours and in congested areas.
While Starlink claims that residential users should expect between 50 and 200 mbps of download speed, RV users may experience as low as 5 mbps in congested areas due to the deprioritized service.
Therefore, this is a pretty big drawback if speed is a priority to you.
However, it’s not all bad.
Unlike the residential service, Starlink for RVs allows you to pause and resume your service at any time, while also using it away from your primary residence without any extra fees.
This makes it perfect if you actually use it for traveling, and only travel during a few months of the year.
This has attracted a lot of new Starlink customers who already have high-speed internet at home, and would otherwise have no real use for Starlink.
Considering the alternative is a different painfully slow service like HughesNet, Starlink’s offering is incredibly appealing!
Is It Worth Ordering Starlink RV To Skip The Line?
Here comes the ultimate question – is it worth ordering Starlink’s RV plan, for the sole purpose of using at home?
Ultimately, this comes down to your personal choice, and how eager you are to get Starlink internet. However, there’s a few things to keep in mind.
First of all, there appears to be no way to switch from their RV plan to a regular residential plan later on. Although the kit is made up of the exact same hardware, you will need to buy a second one if you want to get residential service later.
Because of that, you are locked into their deprioritized, potentially slower service forever unless they change this policy in the future.
Secondly, the areas that currently have a waitlist for Starlink are already over capacity, meaning they are the ones likely to experience a slowdown in service. So, your internet speeds may not be as great as you’re hoping.
That being said, one of the unique benefits of Starlink for RVs is that you can pause and resume service at any time.
So, even if you end up ordering residential service later, you will only be out the cost of the hardware – and you can still use your RV Starlink if you ever plan on traveling.
Conclusion
Starlink for RVs is shipping immediately, allowing people who are currently on a waitlist to get their Starlink kit now.
However, the service is primarily meant for RVs rather than being used at your house. Because of that, you do face a number of drawbacks – including deprioritized service and potentially lower speeds.
That being said, if you are in an area with few options for internet, it may still be worth it for you.
I hope that you’ve found this article helpful. If you have any other questions about Starlink, please ask them using the comment form below.
Wishing you the best,
– James McAllister
My Starlink home system points nnw a has obstructions. I ordered an rv system and set it up at home. It points nne with no obstructions. Tho it is slower. Seems odd that they point in different directions
Dan DeForest(Quote)
That’s really interesting Dan, I never knew that. Thanks for sharing!
I’m about to go the opposite route (started with RV, and about to get the residential service.) Very curious to see if mine also ends up pointing at a different direction too!
James McAllister(Quote)
Question for you– Does the Starlink RV version come with a way to plug right into the internet? Like an ethernet cable?
Keelee(Quote)
Hi Kellee, that’s an excellent question!
By default, the Starlink router does not have any ethernet ports, nor does it ship with an ethernet cable. However, you can purchase an ethernet adapter from Starlink, and an ethernet cable from Amazon or a local retailer like Walmart or Best Buy.
I wrote more about this in the article here, which also gives instructions if you want to plug multiple devices in via ethernet:
https://jamesmcallisteronline.com/starlink-have-ethernet/
Hope this helps!
– James
James McAllister(Quote)
thanks for this only internet for my area is viasat or Hughes net viasat download is 1mb per second so at worse case scenario it's 5 times faster and viasat doesnt do unlimiteted high speed and scam you I'm actually taking them to court but I appreciate the time you took to make this article it really helped me solve a big problem couldn't find any answers.
Raven(Quote)
Hey Raven, my pleasure!
You will definitely experience a huge jump, it’s actually crazy how much faster Starlink is when you compare it to something like HughesNet or Viasat. I have additional articles here if you want to learn more:
https://jamesmcallisteronline.com/starlink-vs-hughesnet/
https://jamesmcallisteronline.com/starlink-vs-viasat/
It’s worth pointing out that even on the RV internet, I regularly get speeds over 100 mbps, web pages load near instantly and my household has no problem streaming 4K video either. You will certainly notice the difference!
In any case, thank you for your comment and good luck with your court case!
James McAllister(Quote)
Great article, I really learned a lot from reading it. Basic question, I currently have wireless internet in a rural area for my residence. I have a Travel Trailer I'd like to be able to use Starlink RV for in summer. Can I mount the dish on my trailer and still get signal in my home? I imagine I would put the modem in the trailer when traveling, and put the modem in the home when at home. any idea how far away the dish can be from the modem?
Thanks again James for your solid reporting…So helpful !
Mark Johnson(Quote)
Hey Mark, thank you! I really appreciate your kind words.
This is certainly something that’s possible, depending on how far away the trailer is from your home. Your idea to put the modem inside the house when using it at home and moving to the trailer is a good one.
The cord that comes with the Starlink cable is 75 feet, though you can buy them up to 150 feet. The cord has no problem at all being outside in the weather since it’s meant to run directly from the dish to the modem anyway, so if it’s long enough to reach, it should work perfectly. For reference, mine is currently under a foot of ice, haha.
The modem / router is what actually sends out the internet signal to your devices, so it doesn’t matter how far the dish itself is placed – the data is still traveling through the 75 / 150 ft of cable regardless.
So, long story short, if the cord reaches, than there’s no difference at all whether it’s mounted on your trailer or your home! Hope this helps, and please let me know if you have any other questions.
– James
James McAllister(Quote)