Starlink

[ultrarunner]

See some Starlink in my semi rural area of where I am in Washington.

For my 20 years of ownership this spot has had no cell or over the air tv except the previous owners did place a tv antenna over a 100’ up a fir tree.

SAT HD was a no go because too expensive to keep cutting trees that blocked signal.

ATT no signal as well as Verizon… but T-Mobile now has signal… I don’t know what changed but it’s better here than in Oakland CA

 

[WM75Guy]

See some Starlink in my semi rural area of where I am in Washington.

For my 20 years of ownership this spot has had no cell or over the air tv except the previous owners did place a tv antenna over a 100’ up a fir tree.

SAT HD was a no go because too expensive to keep cutting trees that blocked signal.

ATT no signal as well as Verizon… but T-Mobile now has signal… I don’t know what changed but it’s better here than in Oakland CA

T-Mobile can use Starlink for cell service, depending on if it is included in your plan.

 

[LouNY]

Interesting ad from Starlink tonight;

Mini Kit now included with your Residential plan​

As a thank you for being a loyal Residential customer, you'll receive a $0 Starlink Mini—so you can take the same fast, reliable internet you use at home anywhere you go. Click below to redeem and keep reading for more details.

Redeem $0 Mini Kit​

How it Works​

• Free Mini: You'll receive a Starlink Mini for $0, provided as a rental bundled with your active Residential plan.
• Built-in WiFi: Mini has an integrated router, so you get online without extra equipment.
• Always Ready: Upon arrival, your Mini will be on Standby Mode for $5/mo, which includes unlimited low-speed data for backup and emergency messaging.
• 50% Off Roam: When you are ready to travel, you can switch anytime to high-speed Roam plans at half the price.

• Travel anywhere: Bring your Mini on road trips, camping, or boating across 150+ countries, territories, and markets.

Note: Redemption guaranteed through November 17, 2025. By redeeming, you agree to pay a monthly recurring fee of $5/mo for Standby Mode or upgrade to Roam. If you cancel your Residential service plan or the service plan on your Mini, the Mini must be returned or its cost will be charged to your payment method. Normal wear and tear is expected upon return.


Learn more here.


Thank you for being part of the Starlink community. We’re excited to bring you more ways to stay connected.

 

[kf4uda]

I got that as well. I first thought it would be great since my Wife and I plan to do some RV traveling next year. When you start doing the math it doesn’t look as appealing. Residential is $120 +$5 for the standby mini. When you go active with the mini it would be $82.50 for it. Add that with $120 and you are paying $202.50 per month for internet.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I got that as well. I first thought it would be great since my Wife and I plan to do some RV traveling next year. When you start doing the math it does look as appealing. Residential is $120 +$5 for the standby mini. When you go active with the mini it would be $82.50 for it. Add that with $120 and you are paying $202.50 per month for internet.

Yep, Hard Pass Here...My phone has unlimited internet.

 

[riptides]

Yep, Hard Pass Here...My phone has unlimited internet.

Until you cannot get a cell signal.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Until you cannot get a cell signal.

There is a place close to me without access, but that's where I fish so it's better to not have cell service there

 

[BigBlue1]

There is a place close to me without access, but that's where I fish so it's better to not have cell service there

Then you're not a target customer of Starlink. Starlink is intended for those without access to any decent terrestrial ISP options.

 

[bdhsfz6]

Interesting ad from Starlink tonight;

Mini Kit now included with your Residential plan​

As a thank you for being a loyal Residential customer, you'll receive a $0 Starlink Mini—so you can take the same fast, reliable internet you use at home anywhere you go. Click below to redeem and keep reading for more details.

Redeem $0 Mini Kit​

How it Works​

• Free Mini: You'll receive a Starlink Mini for $0, provided as a rental bundled with your active Residential plan.
• Built-in WiFi: Mini has an integrated router, so you get online without extra equipment.
• Always Ready: Upon arrival, your Mini will be on Standby Mode for $5/mo, which includes unlimited low-speed data for backup and emergency messaging.
• 50% Off Roam: When you are ready to travel, you can switch anytime to high-speed Roam plans at half the price.

• Travel anywhere: Bring your Mini on road trips, camping, or boating across 150+ countries, territories, and markets.

Note: Redemption guaranteed through November 17, 2025. By redeeming, you agree to pay a monthly recurring fee of $5/mo for Standby Mode or upgrade to Roam. If you cancel your Residential service plan or the service plan on your Mini, the Mini must be returned or its cost will be charged to your payment method. Normal wear and tear is expected upon return.


Learn more here.


Thank you for being part of the Starlink community. We’re excited to bring you more ways to stay connected.

I received the same ad.

I have no use for a portable unit but it might come in handy if my aging Gen1 system fails.

Anyone try the mini yet?

 

[NoTrespassing]

Then you're not a target customer of Starlink. Starlink is intended for those without access to any decent terrestrial ISP options.

We were talking specifically about the Mini offer. I have the dish at home.

 

[ponytug]

I received the same ad.

I have no use for a portable unit but it might come in handy if my aging Gen1 system fails.

Anyone try the mini yet?

Yes, I just bought one to get my new gen 3 dish on line. The performance is about the same as our old Gen 2, about 120 down, 25Mbits/s up. Worked great. We are keeping it just to have a backup in case the gen 3 dish dies. FWIW: the gen 3 system is running pretty solidly around 350Mbits/s down and 35Mbits/s up, so if speed is an issue for you on your gen 1, it might be worth the upgrade. Latency (ping times) are also a bit lower.

And, no, we did not get the offer. For whatever reason, we seem to miss most of the offers that I see here.

All the best,

Peter

 

[bdhsfz6]

Might also be useful to get internet in one of my remote barns.
Not sure if you can use a Gen 1 and the Mini at the same time though.
I also don't quite understand the billing. The ad says free but elsewhere, they mention $5/mo extra.

 

[ponytug]

The ad is to get the hardware for free. The mini requires either the full roaming charge or a standby fee of $5/mo. You can have both running.

Again, up thread I covered this, but after powering up a new dish, you have exactly one hour to get a new dish up and running. If you don't get it functional in that hour, you will need to be able to receive an SMS text to activate the system, so some cell coverage, or an active mini. So we had a mini and a Gen 3 running side by side.

All the best, Peter

 

[BigBlue1]

We were talking specifically about the Mini offer. I have the dish at home.

Still the same answer.

Yes, I just bought one to get my new gen 3 dish on line. The performance is about the same as our old Gen 2, about 120 down, 25Mbits/s up. Worked great. We are keeping it just to have a backup in case the gen 3 dish dies. FWIW: the gen 3 system is running pretty solidly around 350Mbits/s down and 35Mbits/s up, so if speed is an issue for you on your gen 1, it might be worth the upgrade. Latency (ping times) are also a bit lower.

And, no, we did not get the offer. For whatever reason, we seem to miss most of the offers that I see here.

All the best,

Peter

Indeed, there is a performance difference. We had the original round gen 1 since mid beta in 2021 and it worked solidly for us for years. But after buying a gen 3 to use for RV camping this spring and noticing the performance difference even without great sky view I decided to upgrade. Have had a new gen 3 on the roof now replacing the gen 1 for about 2 months and it has been equally reliable. But speeds of the gen 1 were often 80-120 Mb/s and with the gen 3 having an unobstructed view of the sky we get 180-420, typically mid 200's.

I actually ended up getting the residential replacement for free because I was asking SL support about some rain fade issues we have experienced and they offered to replace the gen 1 for free. Who am I to turn that down? Anyone want a perfectly functional gen 1 setup?

 

[BigBlue1]

The ad is to get the hardware for free. The mini requires either the full roaming charge or a standby fee of $5/mo. You can have both running.

Again, up thread I covered this, but after powering up a new dish, you have exactly one hour to get a new dish up and running. If you don't get it functional in that hour, you will need to be able to receive an SMS text to activate the system, so some cell coverage, or an active mini. So we had a mini and a Gen 3 running side by side.

All the best, Peter

There are actually various roaming plans you can choose from. $5 standby where you get minimal throughput, $50 data limited at 50 GB/mo, $50 for 50GB but automatically paying $1/GB for anything over 50GB, or unlimited data for $165 (I think) per month.

 

[NoTrespassing]

Still the same answer.

I guess I'm slow, I don't understand. I'm not a target customer because I can get cell coverage? I figured since I was ONLY able to get cell service and not fiber or any other internet at home, I would be a perfect candidate for Starlink as are our neighbors.

 

[BigBlue1]

I guess I'm slow, I don't understand. I'm not a target customer because I can get cell coverage? I figured since I was ONLY able to get cell service and not fiber or any other internet at home, I would be a perfect candidate for Starlink as are our neighbors.

You said:

"Hard Pass Here...My phone has unlimited internet."

Starlink is targeted to people who have no other fast/reliable Internet options. You sound pretty happy with your cell data plan so I don't think Starlink is marketing to folks like you. Starlink will likely never be competitive, cost-wise, with terrestrial ISP options including cellular data/hotspots in places where those are available.

 

[ultrarunner]

Just spent a few work days in rural Thurston County WA where zero coverage is the norm.

Boy was I surprised t-Mobil had solid 2 bars… still zero for ATT and Verizon.

Asked a neighbor and learned the county disaster office raised concerned entire sections were isolated from the system so the push was on to get rural coverage… and t-Mobil stepped up.

I guess not all towers are shared because it’s t-Mobil exclusive and been up two months.

I have better internet in rural Thurston County than in Oakland CA in a city of 450k and a metro over 10 million…

Crazy how that works but nice to not having to wait until I go to town to get messages.

Maybe a Wi-Fi security system is on my future?

 

[buckeyefarmer]

it's an equipment rental for $5, not free. If you stop the $5 month rental, you have to return it.

 

[NoTrespassing]

You said:



Starlink is targeted to people who have no other fast/reliable Internet options. You sound pretty happy with your cell data plan so I don't think Starlink is marketing to folks like you. Starlink will likely never be competitive, cost-wise, with terrestrial ISP options including cellular data/hotspots in places where those are available.

I'm happy with the cell phone internet for traveling. It's not enough for home use. That's why we have Starlink at home. We stream, run 3 xboxes, and a gaming computer on it. Cell won't do that here. We dropped tethering from the 3 phones when we finally got Starlink. Prior to that we carried xboxes to other locations for updates.