[Technology] Anyone use Starlink for the internet ?

[Westdene Seagull]

Been trying to get fibre internet into a place in rural France. Orange have been a nightmare and won't install it unless I pay them 600 Euros to dig a trench. I've been recommended Starlink by an ex-pat there and looking at the specs it looks sufficient for my needs - i.e. work and using video calls.

Just wondering if anyone had any experience of their service and their speeds vs what is promised ?

And yes, it will pain me to pay Musk any money at all !

 

[bigtrigg]

Been trying to get fibre internet into a place in rural France. Orange have been a nightmare and won't install it unless I pay them 600 Euros to dig a trench. I've been recommended Starlink by an ex-pat there and looking at the specs it looks sufficient for my needs - i.e. work and using video calls.

Just wondering if anyone had any experience of their service and their speeds vs what is promised ?

And yes, it will pain me to pay Musk any money at all !

Yep, it was a lifesaver for us, 150k quote for fibre and 1.2mb speed on Openreach, living down a farm track. Consistently 200mb here, 100mb lowest, with a c.35ms ping. Best £450/£75/month ever. I believe it was reduced to £150 recently for refurbed ones, worth taking a look. You cannot have any tree coverage where it is sited so probably needs to go on a ridge or gable end of roof.

 

[dolphins]

I've used it a few times on cruise ships recently, in fairly far flung places in some instances, and it has been superb throughout. A definite thumbs up from me; sounds ideal for your needs.

 

[Nobby]

Yep, it was a lifesaver for us, 150k quote for fibre and 1.2mb speed on Openreach, living down a farm track. Consistently 200mb here, 100mb lowest, with a c.35ms ping. Best £450/£75/month ever. I believe it was reduced to £150 recently for refurbed ones, worth taking a look. You cannot have any tree coverage where it is sited so probably needs to go on a ridge or gable end of roof.

So you can use it for all your internet connected stuff? Pc's \ phones \ Tv's etc?

 

[bigtrigg]

So you can use it for all your internet connected stuff? Pc's \ phones \ Tv's etc?

Yep. Not gonna lie, you will need an improved booster to get it round the house, as the router isn't all that. I use Amazon's eero and it works great. No problem with Zoom plus 4k streaming on it at all, at the same time (it wasn't always so!)

 

[bigtrigg]

Yep. Not gonna lie, you will need an improved booster to get it round the house, as the router isn't all that. I use Amazon's eero and it works great. No problem with Zoom plus 4k streaming on it at all, at the same time (it wasn't always so!)

if it helps, this is today/this week

 

[MTSeagulls]

Yes we use it here in rural Brazil and as said above it's a lifesaver.
Speed varies but hardly ever drops out.
I live on a 1.5 acre small holding and get signal in all areas.

 

[MTSeagulls]

Very easy to set up too. I had it working out of the box in 15 minutes.

 

[HeaviestTed]

I’ve worked with someone who had it and his was always dropping off when it was raining.

TBH if you can get FttP for 600 EUR I’d go with that - will work out much more reliable and cheaper in the long run.

 

[MTSeagulls]

I’ve worked with someone who had it and his was always dropping off when it was raining.

TBH if you can get FttP for 600 EUR I’d go with that - will work out much more reliable and cheaper in the long run.

Ah this is true too but similar to Sky dishes it only happens when it is sheeting down.
We are in dry season now so not a problem until Octoberish.

 

[Canfan]

We jumped in at the beta testing stage. Never had a problem.
Speeds do vary but never drop to the extent where it is unusable (unlike regular satellite internet, which we had for a while).
As other's have said, in a rural area where there are very few alternatives it is a game changer.

 

[PTC Gull]

Currently using it on a boat in the Bahamas. Over 200 Mbps down and around 37Mbps upload. Now and again it loses signal with a thunderstorm but it comes back in minutes. If you download their app you can check your location for reception. Here in the US it 599 for the kit and $150 a month. When you don’t need it you can pause the service. Been a game changer for RV and boaters.

 

[Nobby]

Yep. Not gonna lie, you will need an improved booster to get it round the house, as the router isn't all that. I use Amazon's eero and it works great. No problem with Zoom plus 4k streaming on it at all, at the same time (it wasn't always so!)

Thanks - sounds great.
We’re away a fair bit in a Motorhome so we would use it for home and Roaming

 

[MTSeagulls]

Thanks - sounds great.
We’re away a fair bit in a Motorhome so we would use it for home and Roaming

Not sure if it's the same everywhere but, here in Brazil, the equipment and the plan for roaming is a lot more expensive compared to the fixed address set up.

 

[dazzer6666]

I've used it a few times on cruise ships recently, in fairly far flung places in some instances, and it has been superb throughout. A definite thumbs up from me; sounds ideal for your needs.

This. Celebrity use it…….had no issues at all

 

[MTSeagulls]

This. Celebrity use it…….had no issues at all

MSC moving towards it too I hear

 

[Nobby]

Not sure if it's the same everywhere but, here in Brazil, the equipment and the plan for roaming is a lot more expensive compared to the fixed address set up.

Ok thanks I’ll take a look.

 

[Gazwag]

MSC moving towards it too I hear

Carnival use it in all their fleet, which includes P&O, Princess, Aida etc so nearly 100 ships

 

[MTSeagulls]

Carnival use it in all their fleet, which includes P&O, Princess, Aida etc so nearly 100 ships

Will be good because I like to use MSC for the repositioning between Brazil and Europe but often lose a few days during the crossing.

 

[happypig]

Been trying to get fibre internet into a place in rural France. Orange have been a nightmare and won't install it unless I pay them 600 Euros to dig a trench. I've been recommended Starlink by an ex-pat there and looking at the specs it looks sufficient for my needs - i.e. work and using video calls.

Just wondering if anyone had any experience of their service and their speeds vs what is promised ?

And yes, it will pain me to pay Musk any money at all !

Can you dig your own trench or get a local to mole-plough a duct in, then the telco can blow thier fibre down it ?