Community Forums

arboldt · 07-24-2022, 07:16 PM

Just got our Starlink dish and router. Since I ordered it I've been thinking how to install it: 2004 Newmar Mountain Aire gas. When we bought the RV 6 years ago I took out the old CRT TVs, replaced them with LCDs. So now I have cabinet space for the router.
I'm thinking of putting the router in the cabinet behind the bedroom TV. Under that cabinet are shallow cabinets opening to the bedroom, and behind them, a space approx 10" x 29" x 49" high, used for storing 2 folding dining chairs.
I can get wires from the TV area to the chair storage area relatively easily (I think). Then I'd need to drill a hole between the chair storage area and the electrical connection bay immediately under it. From there it'll be easy to run the antenna cable outside the MH..
1) does anyone know how far it is from the inside top of the bay to inside the floor of the Mountain Aire?
2) the cable is hard wired into the antenna dish, and has. 90 degree hard bend ending in a micro USB male plug for the router. For those that have already installed Starlink, What size hole will I need to drill?
3) Finally, for those that have installed Starlink in a MH, does anyone have a better suggestion for installation?
Thanks to all.

Nwcid · 07-24-2022, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arboldt

2) the cable is hard wired into the antenna dish, and has. 90 degree hard bend ending in a micro USB male plug for the router. For those that have already installed Starlink, What size hole will I need to drill?
3) Finally, for those that have installed Starlink in a MH, does anyone have a better suggestion for installation?
Thanks to all.

I can not help with most of your questions.

For #2, if you have the new square dish the cable is not hardwired to the dish. It is plugged in with the same style of connecter as the router has, just with a different angle. I believe if you use that end to go through your hole it can be smaller than using the router side.

Also it is not a micro USB, it is proprietary plug similar to an HDMI.

Right now I have mine run though the door on my toy hauler garage. I am thinning about running mine tough a roof vent I have in that area that that is not being used. I have a 15' pole I mount to my ladder the the dish is attached to so it is above the RV.

Camper25 · 07-24-2022, 08:39 PM

My Starlink router runs very warm all the time and needs really good ventilation.

lemodrop9344 · 07-25-2022, 07:42 AM

Running the Starlink cable form the dishy to the modem on any RV is going to be somewhat problematic due the the type of connectors they use.
As Starlink becomes more prevalent, I suspect the aftermarket will develop a variety of devices to make the cable run into the inside of the home/RV/boat a little cleaner.
I will mount my DISHY on a tripod & run the cable either through a slide seal or a window, depending on location.

docj · 07-25-2022, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lemodrop9344

I will mount my DISHY on a tripod & run the cable either through a slide seal or a window, depending on location.

I have 110V power available in the basement of my MH. My plan would be to plug the router into that outlet and leave it in the basement. The WiFi should penetrate the floor to the main cabin without any problems.

arboldt · 07-26-2022, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

I have 110V power available in the basement of my MH. My plan would be to plug the router into that outlet and leave it in the basement. The WiFi should penetrate the floor to the main cabin without any problems.

This works great! This is exactly the better solution I was hoping for.
Thanks!

Mighty_J · 07-26-2022, 09:29 AM

I keep mine in the basement as well. I put a shelf on backside of the cord reel bay back wall (if that makes sense). The unit stays there. I ran an extension cord to a bay with an outlet for power (during set up I just plug it in). For the cord to the dish, I ran it through a pre-existing hole in the cord reel bay wall and keep it coiled up next to the cord reel. When it’s deployed, it fits in the same grommet as the 50amp cord.

USMCRET · 07-27-2022, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docj

I have 110V power available in the basement of my MH. My plan would be to plug the router into that outlet and leave it in the basement. The WiFi should penetrate the floor to the main cabin without any problems.

The elegance of the obvious, yet overlooked.

jondrew55 · 07-27-2022, 08:18 AM

I don’t have a basement in my trailer, but there is a storage area up front where the battery cables feed into. I pull the Starlink cable in thru there and the router just tucks in the compartment and I have an extension cord that goes to a nearby outlet.

Lots of people cut the ends off the proprietary cable and use standard Ethernet cables with external jacks. Eventually I may do this for a cleaner installation, but for now this works fine for me. I can stand the dishy on the Starlink stand , or, I’ve made a pole mount that attaches to my power jack.

Starlink works like a champ with open skies. In my home location, kid the north east sky is open it’s perfect reception. Right now there are lots of trees at my current site and I get lots of drop outs. Fortunately we have good LTE reception here.