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Originally Posted by tbran53
Hi all, Tim & Jera here,
Had several RV's in my lifetime but just purchased a used 2022 Coachman Sportcoach Motorhome. We need to have in motion Internet so we can work while traveling. Can anyone tell us if Starlink is a good choice? Also my dealer want $4800 to install the equipment. Seems a bit steep to me. Any suggestions would be welcome!
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Dealer's price is madness. You can do it yourself for much less. Just study the many Starlink posts on this website.
However, Starlink would not necessarily be my choice. Driving under trees, bridges, tunnels or narrow gorges could result in signal loss. A good cellular modem with one of the major carriers would be cheaper and not susceptible to shading from trees etc. But, covergage varies and depending on where you go, there may be poor signal or no signal areas with cellular. Some areas work with cell company A but not with B, and vice versa.
Lots of variables to consider, including where you plan to drive and/or camp. In the metropolitan areas cellular coverage tends to be good but not perfect. In the lesser populated western states, cellular coverage is less uniquitous and Starlink might be the better choice as it is available anyplace where you have a view of the sky. But Starlink tends to be much more expensive, and as stated, requires a clear view of the sky. For in-motion use, you will need a roof mounted antenna, but that may not be ideal if you are parked under trees, in which case a portable antenna could see tha satellites where a roof antenna would not.
There is no perfect answer. A lot depends of how imprtant it is to you to have uninterrupted service everywhere? Is it worth spending 2 or 3 times the cost to go from 95% access to 100% access? The website
https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/ is a great place to study the alternatives.
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