Off Grid Internet: Homesteader’s Guide to Starlink
Internet has been one of our biggest struggles on this little hilltop homestead. For some, the internet may seem like an unnecessary luxury. Many off-grid folks rely on cell phone service or trips to their local library or coffee shop. However, I work remotely, and having internet access at home makes my business much more efficient than trying to run it from coffee shops. That’s where Starlink ultimately came in, though we first started with other internet. In this post, I’ll run through the types of internet we’ve tried, our experience with Starlink, and tips for using it on an off-grid set-up.
Feel free to skip to the Starlink section if that’s your only option.
Traditional Satelite Internet
When we moved here, we started with a traditional satellite internet service, Hughes Net. The fees were insane; it never worked while it was raining, and we were constantly out of data. They only offered unlimited at crazy hours, between 1 am and 5 am. It made for some early-morning uploads!
I highly recommend against these traditional satellite internet services. They aren’t worth the expense and will often try to stick you with exorbitant fees for breaking your contract, even if they aren’t meeting their promised speeds.
DSL
When DSL became available in our area through Frontier, we were ecstatic! To get the internet up to our homestead, we ran army surplus cable from a pole near our road. Unfortunately, we started having problems. Rain would make it go out, and it wasn’t just on our end. Neighbors experienced similar outages and could sometimes hear each other on their landline phones. The companies promised fixes never came, and we were regularly without service for several days at a time.
The Switch to Starlink
We had heard many good things about Starlink from friends and family who had gotten the service but hadn’t made the jump. It’s incredibly costly. It seems prohibitive for many families at $599 to purchase the starting equipment and then $120 a month after that.
We finally decided to switch after several rate increases, which led to us paying about $120 per month for slow, problematic DSL internet anyway.
Starlink Pros
- Starlink works! It works better and is faster than any internet we’ve ever had. We’ve even tried gaming on it and succeeded with Halo, which was usually too much for our DSL or traditional satellite.
- Starlink is easy to set up. We didn’t need to run cables or have any special experience or expertise and quickly got onto the internet.
- Starlink works even in remote areas, and you can take it with you if you move. This may be especially helpful for van-lifers, folks on rented land, those in rural areas without other options, and those still determining how long they are committed to their living situation.
Starlink Cons
- Starlink is costly. I mentioned this before, but Starlink’s cost may be too much for off-gridders looking to maintain a tight budget, especially the initial equipment purchase.
- Starlink uses more electricity than DSL. Depending on how limited your power is, you may have to turn Starlink off at times, though you can find a few of our tips for limiting the power use below.
- You need a smartphone to use the Starlink app. The app is essential for checking Starlink’s status and managing your system’s settings. Thankfully, you don’t need cell service for the app to function.
- Starlink needs a clear view of the northern sky. Many off-gridders in the northern hemisphere will have prioritized a clear view of the southern sky for solar panels and may need to do a little clearing for Starlink.
How Much Electricity Does Starlink Use?
We actively track our power usage using the app that came with our JK Smart BMS. Starlink uses about 2 to 3 watts during normal use without heat on. While Starlink is asleep, it uses about 1 watt.
Starlink also has a heat feature, which you can control with the app. Unless you turn it off, it usually comes on when temperatures are below freezing to melt any snow or ice off the receiver.
We noticed it immediately as we first booted Starlink and opted to turn it off due to our limited power. Since then, we’ve had some freezing rain and probably about 10 inches of snow. Most of this has melted off on its own, as the Starlink receiver gets somewhat warm during everyday use. Brushing it off also isn’t a big deal for us; we already have to go out to clean our solar panels.
Tips for Using Starlink Off-Grid
It’s important to get the most from your investment. If you have a massive solar array and battery bank, adding Starlink to your system may be no problem. However, if you’re like us and every watt counts, you can limit its power usage in a couple of ways. I also included a couple of extra Starlink tips.
Set Up a Sleep Schedule
The Starlink app allows you to set up a sleep schedule for your system, so it uses less power when you don’t need it. Our is currently set to sleep between 11 pm and 4 am. If you go to work during the day, you could also schedule it to sleep during those hours.
You can always change the sleep schedule with the app, so it’s no big deal if you want to use it later than usual or have a day off.
Minimize Starlink’s Heating Feature
We haven’t used Starlink’s heat feature, but this may not be practical if you live in New England, Alaska, or another colder, snowier climate. Our Starlink receiver is also located somewhere we can access to clear it manually.
However, even if you live in one of those cold areas or can’t reach your receiver, you may need to use the heat selectively. We found that it came on when it was cold but not rainy or snowy. It didn’t need to be on. Turning it on as needed during storms may be a more energy-efficient option than letting it run constantly.
Turn Off Your Whole System When You Can
We currently use a JK Smart Active BMS to manage our battery banks. This BMS allows us to turn off our whole solar system from our phones when it’s not needed. This winter, we’ve been turning off our system at night and when we’re not home.
Note that Starlink may take up to 30 minutes to reboot and connect after being powered down completely.
Protect Your Equipment
Starlink equipment, including the cable, is costly to replace. Be gentle when running it through walls, and make sure your receiver is secure.
Use the App to Set Up Starlink
The app will allow you to see what’s happening while waiting. Starlink will take 20 to 30 minutes to adjust. Then, you can monitor the app for obstructions. You may need to move your receiver to find the best spot.
We’ve had a great experience with Starlink Internet, but I don’t love supporting any large company. If you have other options like fiber, they’re worth researching. However, I think Starlink’s good quality internet in rural, remote areas will make a big difference for many homesteaders. So I decided to write about everything I wish I’d known when we were debating getting Starlink. I hope it helps you on your off-grid internet journey!
Side Note:
We’ve only had the BMS I mentioned above for a few weeks, but it has been incredibly helpful! It balances our batteries and allows us to monitor power consumption and production easily. It was less than $100 and is something I wish we had added sooner, so I’ve linked it below.
As an Amazon affiliate, I may earn from qualifying purchases.
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