It’s Official! Starlink adds “Portability” for Starlink Mobile Internet [RVs, Campervans and Boats]

In early May, Starlink made an announcement that “Portability” is now an add-on feature for users. This makes official what many RVers, van lifers and boaters have known for a couple of months: that Starlink’s Dishy works away from its service address.

For its first years in service, Starlink only worked within a specific area close to your service address. This meant Starlink mobile internet for RVs, vans and boats was just a pipe dream, way out of reach for nomads.

On 2/18/2022, RVers started noticing a Starlink firmware update that sets Roaming=True, which means the unit is allowed to roam. People reported that their satellite internet was working hundreds, if not thousands of miles away from home. Starlink officially said nothing on the matter, which has now changed.

In an email sent on May 4th, here’s what Starlink announced:

“Portability enables customers to temporarily move their Starlink to new locations and receive high-speed internet anywhere where Starlink provides active coverage within the same continent. You can enable Portability for $25/month on your account page. Once enabled, Portability will take effect immediately, and you can disable Portability from your account page at any time.”

This is great news for RVers, van lifers and boaters who work remotely and need internet when off-grid. For me, it’s been a total game-changer with cruising on my sailboat in the Sea of Cortez.

In this blog post, I’ll tell you more about how to get Starlink internet even if your service address is full, and what exactly Portability means.

Starlink Portability: What is It and What Does It Mean?

Portability means you can take Starlink mobile internet anywhere, beyond the boundaries of your service area. However, as a roamer, your internet might be degraded in areas of high congestion. Starlink puts people using the internet at their service address first.

Here’s what Starlink says about service on their FAQ page if you’re using the Portability feature:

• Best Effort Service: Portability service is provided on a best effort basis. Stated speeds and uninterrupted use of services are not guaranteed. Starlink prioritizes network resources for users at their registered service address. When you bring your Starlink to a new location, this prioritization may result in degraded service, particularly at times of peak usage or network congestion.
• International Travel: Starlink can only be used within the same continent as the registered Service Address. If you use Starlink in a foreign country for more than two months, you will be required to move your registered service address to your new location or purchase an additional Starlink to maintain service.
• No In-Motion Use:  We do not support Starlink use in motion at this time. Using the Starlink Kit in motion will void the limited warranty of your Kit. While our teams are actively working to make it possible to use Starlink on moving vehicles (e.g., automobiles, RVs, boats), Starlink is not yet configured to be safely used in this way.

Even though Starlink doesn’t support in-motion use, plenty of people are still mounting their satellite dishes on RVs, campervans and sailboats. Just keep in mind that altering your Starlink, mounting it, or damaging it while in motion will void your warranty. Do so at your own risk.

I have heard rumors that Starlink will be developing a mobile dish, but we don’t know when that will be available or exactly what it will look like.

You can check out Starlink’s Service Map to see if it’s available where you are traveling or if there’s a waitlist.

What is Starlink and How Does it Work?

Starlink deploys low-orbit satellites to provide broadband service for people all over the globe. While most satellites orbit the planet at around 35,000km, Starlink satellites orbit at only 550km above the earth’s surface, a very low earth orbit.

Because the satellites are so low, there is barely any latency with Starlink internet service, which allows for activities like online gaming, video streaming and Zoom calls. Latency is the time it takes for information to travel between a satellite and the person using internet on the ground.

Starlink satellites work in conjunction with ground stations around the world. If a particular area doesn’t have a ground station, the internet service won’t work.

In 2020, Starlink started offering beta service to users and has been expanding ever since. As of January of 2022, Starlink has 145,000 users in 25 countries around the world. One of my writers uses Starlink at her home in Italy!

Starlink’s goal is to provide an interconnected network with thousands of satellites into low earth orbit overhead for global coverage. They use SpaceX’s Falcon Rocket to blast more satellites into space all the time.

How to Order Starlink Even When Your Service Address is Full

To get a Starlink dish and router, you first need a service address where Starlink works. Starlink is divided into “service cells”, and sometimes, those cells fill up if there are too many users in a particular area.

So, you’ll need to find an address where Starlink is available. Click here to input a Starlink service address and order your dish.

I started by typing in the addresses of friends and family members in Arizona, California, Oregon and Minnesota. I even tried my mailbox service in South Dakota. Every time the message was the same: Starlink service expected in 2023 or later.

There was no way I wanted to wait that long for Starlink internet.

I started studying posts in the Facebook group, Starlink for RVers and Other Mobile Users, to see how people were getting their units for mobile Starlink.

Turns out these RVers were searching for addresses in rural areas across the country, trying to find an address that worked. You’ll know a service address works if Starlink.com lets you pay for the entire unit, instead of just putting down a $99 deposit with expected delivery sometime way off in the future.

One thing to know is this: you can make your shipping address different than the service address.

Armed with this knowledge, I tried an address near me on a whim: The Why Not Travel Store in Ajo, Arizona.

It worked!

I set my shipping address to Lukeville, Arizona, which is an easy place to pick up packages when stationed in Puerto Penasco, Mexico at Cabrales Boatyard with my sailboat and my van. Then, I waited with fingers crossed for my Starlink package to arrive.

Setting up my Starlink Satellite Internet Service

I was initially worried about finding a big list of setup instructions inside the box but only found a cardboard cutout with a few images showing how to set up Dishy. I was also worried that Starlink might not work in Mexico, so I started the setup process with some trepidation.

I opened the Starlink app and scanned the sky for obstructions, which is like playing a Pac-Man game where you “eat” all the dots on your screen, which covers the entire sky around your dish. The app tells you if it thinks a location is suitable for setup.

The best locations are those with a wide-open view of the sky. If there are too many trees, tall buildings, etc., this may be too many obstructions for your satellite internet to work properly. You might experience intermittent signal.

This is what Starlink says in its FAQ section:

• While tree branches often cause intermittent service by disrupting the connection between Starlink and satellites, many Starlink customers live in an area with a lot of trees. Prior to order, we recommend downloading the Starlink App and using the “Check for Obstructions” tool to assess your field of view. If your setup location has obstructions, consider an elevated install as the height improves the chances of clearing nearby obstructions.

Once I found a good location according to the Starlink app, I set Dishy pointed north, plugged in the router, and waited for the app to do its magic. I followed the prompts to connect to Starlink WiFi and create my own network name and password.

After doing all this, it only took the Starlink system 5-10 minutes to scan the sky and find a satellite. It first points up to detect satellites, then stays in a stationary position pointed toward the north if you’re in the northern hemisphere, and south if you’re in the southern hemisphere.

Dishy automatically points in the direction that has the highest density of satellites, and it doesn’t need to move to track satellites across the sky.

I was up and running with blazing fast speeds in no time.

Does Starlink Mobile Internet Work on Boats?

When I first got Starlink, I mostly used it in the boatyard in Puerto Penasco, Mexico, while we finished getting the sailboat ready for Sea of Cortez cruising. While on the hard, it worked amazingly well, even though it was partially obstructed by a large paint shed.

I saw download speeds around 250+ Mbps with 90-99 ms Latency and upload speeds around 18 Mbps. I’m not a tech person, but I know it is fast enough for me! There are also no data caps on Starlink service, which is a big problem with cellular data hotspots.

A couple weeks ago, we ventured out into the Sea of Cortez with our sailboat, excited to test Starlink in the northern part of the Sea, where there isn’t cell signal for over 100 miles in every direction.

Our first anchorage was Puerto Refugion on Isla de la Guardia. I plugged Starlink in and waited with anticipation. It worked! It does experience more outages than when on land as the boat spins around at anchor. Starlink loses the satellite and then has to reposition itself to find another one. It works best the more still the boat is.

Part of the problem is that we put the Starlink in the cockpit which is covered by a bimini top. Starlink gets fairly obstructed under there, but we are still having fast enough internet. While it wouldn’t be great for video calls, it works for everything else.

Next cruising season we expect to have a more permanent mount for Dishy, possibly halfway up our mizzen mast. With a clearer view of the sky it should work even better.

But even with it partially obstructed I can’t complain. I am writing this blog post while anchored in the Bahia de los Angeles out at Isla la Ventana. Without Starlink, I would have been without internet for our five weeks of cruising. Starlink feels like a miracle for me, giving me the opportunity to work on my sailboat.

Starlink is also working on boats across the U.S. and some use it underway. In fact, there’s an entire Facebook group called Starlink on Boats where you can see how it’s working and mounting ideas for boats.

Using Starlink Satellite Internet in Mexico

For the past couple months, Starlink has been working great for me here in Mexico. However, due to the new Portability announcement, I’m afraid next year it will only work for a couple months before going offline.

Starlink’s verbiage about this on their FAQ page is confusing, as it says “continent” instead of “country.” I will need to write to Starlink support to see if I have to change my service address to Mexico for next cruising season, or if I will need to buy another dish just to use in Mexico.

We spend winters in Mexico on our sailboat and summers in the U.S. in our campervan.

When I looked at the main Starlink FAQ, this is what I found what it comes to using the Starlink network abroad:

• Country Moves – We do not support Starlink use in a different country at this time. To use Starlink in a different country, you must create an account in the desired country.

I have read in the Starlink for RVers Facebook group that plenty of people are reporting it working up and down Mexico, from here in Puerto Penasco all the way down to Mazatlan.

I guess we will keep learning as more and more people try Starlink mobile internet across borders.

How Much Does Dishy Cost and How Much is Starlink Monthly?

When I purchased my Starlink service, the satellite dish and router cost $499 with an annual monthly service fee of $99 for unlimited data. However, within days of ordering, Starlink notified subscribers of a rate hike due to inflation.

Now, it costs $599 for the dish and router, plus a $110 monthly fee. I’m glad I bought the dish when I did as I saved $100. But still, I’m okay with paying the monthly fee for unlimited data.

Then, I now pay another $25 for the Portability feature, which brings my total bill to $135 per month. Even though plenty of people are complaining about the price, I still see it as a bargain for high-speed satellite internet service. When I priced this out several years ago it cost many thousand of dollars for satellite equipment and a huge monthly bill.

Starlink makes satellite internet affordable and I couldn’t be happier with the service.

What Does the Starlink Kit Come With?

The unit arrived in a gray box with Starlink emblazoned across the front. I opened it and pulled out my rectangular satellite dish, named Dishy McFlatface by Starlink (no joke.) The rectangular dish is 19″ by 12″ and weighs 9.5 pounds, which is lighter and smaller than the first generation dish, which is round, is 25″ tall and weighs 16 pounds.

The dish contains all the technology needed to interact with the low earth orbit satellites and provide internet.

The Starlink kit also comes with a router and 75′ of cable between Dishy and the router. The router has a 6′ power cable.

Can You Use Starlink Satellite Internet on a Moving Vehicle or Boat?

Starlink’s official stance is that mobile use is not supported and will void any warranty, but that’s not stopping people (including me) from doing it anyway.

I have seen some reports in the Facebook group Starlink on Boats that people are having some success in marinas, at anchor and even underway. So far, we’ve had success at anchor and in a marina, but have not tried using it underway as we don’t have a permanent mounting system yet.

Also, I have seen a couple of posts where RVers have had success using Starlink while driving, and I saw at least one post when someone used it while sailing. But there hasn’t been enough data to know if it will work when in motion.

Some people are disconnecting Dishy’s motors and mounting it on top of a pilothouse or bimini so it points directly at the sky, and having success. This seems easier with the round Dishy and harder with the rectangular one. Of course, none of this is officially sanctioned or recommended by Starlink at this time.

Here is what the Starlink website says about using Dishy in motion:

• In Motion Use – We do not support Starlink use in motion at this time and mobility use is currently prohibited until we have obtained all necessary approvals. While our teams are actively working to make it possible to use Starlink on moving vehicles (e.g. automobiles, RVs, boats) in the future, Starlink is not yet configured to be safely used in motion.

When reading Starlink’s Terms of Service, here is another point they make about using Dish in motion:

• Starlink does not support in motion or mobility Services. Using the Starlink Kit in motion will void the Limited Warranty of your Kit.

Can Starlink Mobile Internet Be Suspended When Not in Use?

One question I see a lot in the Starlink for RVers Facebook group is whether or not satellite internet service can be suspended. Some people travel in their RVs, sailboats or campervans only part of the year.

Here is what Starlink says about suspending service:

• At this time your Starlink subscription can only be canceled, not paused or delayed. Your monthly billing begins 14 days after your Starlink Kit ships.

You can cancel service and return everything for a full refund within 30-days of receiving your Dishy.

Starlink internet might not be the best option if you only RV a couple months out of the year. For that, there are other options including cellular data hotspots, like the one I use from Reliable Internet Services, which operates using the AT&T network.

Starlink’s Power Consumption for Mobile Use

Right now, I am plugged into the grid here while using Starlink in Mexico. So, I haven’t personally tested the power draw of Starlink’s dish and router.

However, I’ve read from other mobile Starlink users in RVs and boats that they’re seeing a 40-watt power draw with the rectangular Dishy, which only works with 120-volt AC power. While that isn’t huge, it’s not tiny either.

You’ll need a robust solar system, battery bank and inverter to run your Starlink terminal the entire day. Another option is to use a portable power station like a Jackery or Yeti Goal Zero. In our Sprinter van, we will have 400 amp hours of Battleborn Lithium-Ion batteries plus an array of solar panels on the roof.

We will most likely choose to just use Starlink’s satellite connection a few hours per day, and leave it off otherwise. I usually don’t need internet 24/7 when I’m in a remote beautiful place ripe for exploration, hikes, paddleboarding and windsurfing.

Getting a Refund on your Starlink Kit & Cancelling Service

If you order Starlink and then decide it isn’t for you, you only have 30 days to return Dishy and the router for a full refund. After that, you can return your equipment within the first year for a partial refund, but only if you’re in the United States or Canada.

Within that first year, Starlink will refund you 200USD or 260CAD.

It is possible to transfer your Starlink kit and service to someone else with the help of the Starlink team. Here is what Starlink says about service transfers:

• Transferring Services. You may have the option to transfer your Services to another responsible party if (a) the account is paid-in-full and in good standing; and (b) the Service address is the same or the requested Service address has network availability. Service transfers are subject to Starlink approval. Please visit https://support.starlink.com/ to learn more about transferring your Services

You can also cancel service at any time and hold onto your equipment in case you want to restart in the future. However, this will be based on availability and where you want your service address to be.

So, Starlink is a commitment. If you get it just for roaming and find it doesn’t work for you, you’ll be out a few hundred bucks if you don’t return your equipment within the first 30 days.

Moving your Starlink Service Address

If you don’t want to gamble that you’ll have roaming, another option is to change your service address to where you’ll be parked or moored most of the time. For example, if you’re a snowbird who goes to one particular RV park or marina during the winter months, you can try to see if a cell is available there, and move service.

You will do this at the risk of losing service at your original service address, so if you also have a house that relies on Starlink, you might not want to do this.

Here’s more info about moving your service address from the Starlink FAQ:

• You will be unable to change your address if the new area does not have current service availability.
• By changing your location, you may not be able to return to your original address based on service availability. Once updated, service at your previous address will be disconnected, and the spot will become available to new customers.
• Deposit holders can update their service address at any time before Starlink ships. Orders are fulfilled based on the date of your initial Starlink order within your coverage area. Your place in the queue at the new location will still be based on your initial order date.

What if Your Starlink Kit is Stolen?

If you’re planning on using your Starlink kit while traveling around with your RV, you may be wondering about theft and what happens if someone steals your Dishy.

Here is what Starlink says about that:

• If your Starlink Kit is stolen, destroyed or otherwise removed from your premises without your authorization, you must provide notice via the Starlink Customer Portal immediately, or else you may be liable for payment for unauthorized use of the Services. You are liable for any charges or fees incurred by the use of the Services and Starlink Kit by anyone else.

It’s recommended that you don’t leave Starlink out when you leave your RV to go on a hike or bike ride. Some RVers do permanently install their Dishy on their rig’s rooftop, which makes it not as easy to steal.

Should You Get Starlink Service for Mobile Use? Final Thoughts.

So far, I am extremely happy with using Starlink mobile internet down here in Mexico, at the boatyard, marina and at anchor in the Sea of Cotez. Before, I was using a TelCel SIM and purchasing 2-hour increments at 15 pesos each to get through my workday. This ended up costing around $5 per day, not to mention the data I used through my Google Fi phone. Not an economical or easy way to work remotely here in Mexico.

Starlink is a blessing compared to using that TelCel SIM.

So far, Dishy is working very well here at anchor in the Sea of Cortez. I will also take it to the U.S. during the summer months and will test it in various locations, including while out boondocking and in campgrounds.

This device could really change the way I am able to travel and do remote work in remote locations. I’m imagining being at anchor in a beautiful cove without having to travel into town just to get online. Or being on a mountain peak in my campervan, able to work without driving closer to a city.

Starlink is definitely opening doors for nomads, especially if roaming keeps working, and as more and more low orbit satellites are launched into the sky.

Starlink is great for mobile use if you’re okay with a little risk. If Starlink doesn’t work for you, you won’t be able to get a full refund after 30 days. After a year, Starlink doesn’t offer any refunds at all for hardware.

Also, if you’re traveling in mostly populated places where a cellular hotspot is available, that might work better for you as it’s not limited by trees or other obstructions. And new 5G service is blazing fast.

When in the U.S., I will most likely couple my Starlink service with my Unlimited AT&T Hotspot through Reliable Internet Services.

I am hopeful that service and Starlink capabilities will keep expanding as SpaceX works toward worldwide availability. For now, I couldn’t be happier with the service.