From Newsgroup: rec.outdoors.rv-travel
On 6/16/2026 9:43 AM, Ted Heise wrote:
On Mon, 15 Jun 2026 16:59:02 -0500,
sticks <wolverine01@charter.net> wrote:
On 6/15/2026 9:54 AM, Ted Heise wrote:
My 2023 Acadia Denali came with OnStar service and data when
new, but it expires this month. I've looked at extending it,
as well as Starlink, but both seem to expensive for the few
times we would actually use it. Our primary connectivity when
travelling is wifi with my Samsung S25 (on Verizon) as backup.
If the Verizon coverage isn't good enough (e.g., for us to
watch Jeopardy!) I have used the Acadia's hotspot (on AT&T) as
a third option. This has drawbacks, not least because the car
has to be running.
I haven't had to use the Starlink yet this year because I get
good enough coverage with my phone that I can use it as a
hotspot for the laptop. I have hooked up to the tv just to see
if it works, and it is just fine, but I almost never watch tv.
We tried one time out in Utah when a debate or something was
on, but other than that it never gets turned on.
Have you tried just using your phone as a hotspot? I don't see
why you would need another sim card if the phone has signal.
Yeah, I probably wasn't clear enough that my Samsung as backup to
wifi is as a hotspot. It works well when there's enough signal,
but there are places with nearly none. Hence, my considering a
second SIM (physical or e) as a third option. The likelihod tho
is that if I'm in a remote area with no Verizon signal neither
AT&T nor T-Mobile will be strong.
Yeah, that's what I was thinking, and with Verizon you've got probably
the best overall coverage. There are some places where this is not
true, but it is hit or miss on which one would be better. For example,
I've heard US Cellular is good in parts of Wisconsin my T-Mobile gets no signal. But everywhere else, T-Mobile is much better.
I really do like having the Starlink option though. I had
upgraded to unlimited, but they raised the cheaper mobile plan
from 50 GB to 100 GB now. That will probably work just fine
for what we do. You pause it when not in use, and I pay $5 for
that. the !00 GB plan is $55, and now they added a 300 GB that
is $80, or the unlimited which is up to $175 now.
I read about the pause option, how much of a hassle is to actually
do? And how much trouble was it to get and install the equipment?
I might consider this option as a backup.
Nothing to it. You just log in to Starlink and pause the service. Same
for starting up. Log in, and either resume the plan you have or change
to a different plan with the click of a mouse. That part is easy. I
take it all with me when I go, it's in a closet now, and if I don't have
good wifi I can resume service and use it. Around here, I probably
don't need it much as I get enough cell service. Out west is another story.
As far as the equipment, it would depend on how you wanted to go. I got
mine from a special on Home Depot, but you can also order directly from Starlink, I think. Before you purchase though, there are different
kinds of panels and you'd have to decide what you want. I went with the standard size because I knew I would be mostly pole mounting it for use,
but they do make the smaller portable ones. I have mine set up so I can
mount it over the top of the View and rotate it on a pole for proper alignment. I don't think you would need to do this, but you could. You
often see people at campgrounds with these simply on their stands on the ground. You can move the panel around to a spot with a better clear
sky. They provide the router and all the special cables. You plug in
the router power supply and power up the router. Your provided ethernet
cable goes from the panel to the router. Once you power up the router
and that's about it. I keep all mine once I get it out in one of my
storage compartments that has a power outlet inside it.
<
https://i.postimg.cc/25rYMthj/Starlink.jpg> <
https://i.postimg.cc/dQkwD85m/Starlink-Router.jpg>
BTW, with mine I did have issues with heavy tree cover not getting good
enough signal to use. But, when I was in Missouri the camp host had his
right under the trees with what looked like no clear sky at all. I
asked him how his signal was and he said it worked just fine and they
never had any issues. Really surprised me on that.
--
Science DoesnrCOt Support Darwin. Scientists Do
--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
