Starlink

We’ve been in some remote places in our National Park Adventures. In Shenandoah National Park last fall, we were up at Loft Mountain Campground, with little to no cell service. Here in Arches National Park, we’re at the Devils Garden Campground, where one can sort of get one bar of cell service if, if, you go to the amphitheater, the weather is clear, you stand on one leg, and lean towards the La Sal mountains haha!

So we use Starlink for connectivity. (You think I send these posts in by pony express?!)

We use a standard Starlink receiver and the Gen3 router. (There’s a Mini Starlink out now, with integrated router.) It comes in nice, iPhone-like packaging.

Here was our setup in Shenandoah National Park. We mounted the receiver on top of an optional tripod in front of the trailer. Setup is easy: plug it in, point it at the sky, and you’re online in minutes. It does require, however, a relatively unobstructed view of the sky, especially to the north or notheast.

The router and power supply keep dry in this plastic bin, nestled under the trailer.

Here’s the Starlink receiver outside our cabin in Arches National Park.

The results — in terms of bandwidth and latency — are impressive, and it’s very reliable, only glitching in the heaviest of rain.

Say what you will about Elon Musk, he’s built a world-class product and service that works!