Starlink for RVs

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nickburt

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This is what I'm using and never had a problem with it: https://a.co/d/0PAaFEh

I am also reattempting the 12v system, I found an adapter that converts the starlink plug to standard ethernet, and a poe injector made for dish v2. Both parts are coming from China so will be a couple weeks. I'll keep updated after install on how well they work. I much prefer my own router but dont like the pass through option and additional hardware needed to do so.
Using the 8amp version of the same converter.
Issues turned out to be a faulty wiring connector!!!!
System as it stands at the moment in the attached schematic.
Now being built into a box for fitting in the truck. Photos to follow.
 

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nickburt

Rank VII
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Creator III

5,613
Wallasey, Wirral. UK
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Nick
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Burt
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Final working version. A bit of cable tidying to finish off. I've deliberately left the swapped SL cables a bit long for now, to allow for mods/repairs etc....
But it's working and will be permanently mounted in the truck at the weekend.
Junction box is a bit bigger (400x300x120mm) than I was hoping for, but gives plenty of room internally and is fine for the place it'll be mounted in the truck. Lid is both removable and hinged.

Would be an easy change to run off 24vdc.

IMG_7797 (1).jpg

1684951193219.png
 

nickburt

Rank VII
Launch Member

Creator III

5,613
Wallasey, Wirral. UK
First Name
Nick
Last Name
Burt
Member #

2714

Final working version. A bit of cable tidying to finish off. I've deliberately left the swapped SL cables a bit long for now, to allow for mods/repairs etc....
But it's working and will be permanently mounted in the truck at the weekend.
Junction box is a bit bigger (400x300x120mm) than I was hoping for, but gives plenty of room internally and is fine for the place it'll be mounted in the truck. Lid is both removable and hinged.

Would be an easy change to run off 24vdc.

View attachment 258686

View attachment 258684
If anyone wants to set up the same system, I can let you have a copy of the EdgeRouter config file. There's a couple of steps needed to get it all working - it's not plug and play ......
 

nickburt

Rank VII
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Creator III

5,613
Wallasey, Wirral. UK
First Name
Nick
Last Name
Burt
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Final test - running off a battery with no charging - SL ran fine until battery voltage dropped to around 10v, then the 48v PoE injector wasn't injecting enough to keep SL reliable. Not sure what the 48v side dropped to, but now know what to set a low battery voltage alarm at - 10.5v.
Obviously, duration of operation without charging will completely depend on size of the battery bank it's running off, but low voltage set point is good to know.
 

K12

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Final test - running off a battery with no charging - SL ran fine until battery voltage dropped to around 10v, then the 48v PoE injector wasn't injecting enough to keep SL reliable. Not sure what the 48v side dropped to, but now know what to set a low battery voltage alarm at - 10.5v.
Obviously, duration of operation without charging will completely depend on size of the battery bank it's running off, but low voltage set point is good to know.
Are you running LiPO4 batteries?
 

K12

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as far as continued use it will. I have LiFEPO4 and the voltage doesnt drop below 11.4v even when it got down to 10% charge.
Ah, OK, good point. So in theory, you should never see SL drop out.
Correct. I believe my issue was the way i had it setup.

poe injector > ethernet cable > passthrough to outside of trailer > sl cable > sl dish.

But i never had a voltage problem from the battery, step up converter or POE injector.
 

nickburt

Rank VII
Launch Member

Creator III

5,613
Wallasey, Wirral. UK
First Name
Nick
Last Name
Burt
Member #

2714

as far as continued use it will. I have LiFEPO4 and the voltage doesnt drop below 11.4v even when it got down to 10% charge.
Ah, OK, good point. So in theory, you should never see SL drop out.
Correct. I believe my issue was the way i had it setup.

poe injector > ethernet cable > passthrough to outside of trailer > sl cable > sl dish.

But i never had a voltage problem from the battery, step up converter or POE injector.
Router?
 

nickburt

Rank VII
Launch Member

Creator III

5,613
Wallasey, Wirral. UK
First Name
Nick
Last Name
Burt
Member #

2714

Correct. I believe my issue was the way i had it setup.

poe injector > ethernet cable > passthrough to outside of trailer > sl cable > sl dish.

But i never had a voltage problem from the battery, step up converter or POE injector.
Can you knock up a schematic of your build? Might be something to do with the way/place you're injecting SL ?? Just a thought?
 

K12

Rank VII
Member

Pathfinder I

5,863
Idaho, United States
First Name
Beau
Last Name
K12
Member #

28559

Service Branch
Air Force
Correct. I believe my issue was the way i had it setup.

poe injector > ethernet cable > passthrough to outside of trailer > sl cable > sl dish.

But i never had a voltage problem from the battery, step up converter or POE injector.
Can you knock up a schematic of your build? Might be something to do with the way/place you're injecting SL ?? Just a thought?
Im redoing it right now so Im using the sl router, waiting for the new poe injector and the cable converter to come in. The cable converter takes the standard cable plug and conveets it to an ethernet outlet without cutting the cable. The poe injector is the same company and it seems like the most simple way to do it. When i get those in and ill post it up on how well it works.

Here are pictures of how it was wired before. The stepuo to the pow injector, then the passthrough so i could hook it up outside. I believe the passthrough connector was my problem in the whole thing.
 

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K12

Rank VII
Member

Pathfinder I

5,863
Idaho, United States
First Name
Beau
Last Name
K12
Member #

28559

Service Branch
Air Force
Got the 12v system hooked up for the starlink. super simple plug and play. on the initial speed test im getting 112mb download which is about apot on for what I was getting. Best part is I can use my router instead of SL. The two items on the first picture are the converter from the SL cable to standard ethernet. Other is the POE injector that also has surge protection if I had a place to runthe ground wire.
 

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nickburt

Rank VII
Launch Member

Creator III

5,613
Wallasey, Wirral. UK
First Name
Nick
Last Name
Burt
Member #

2714

Got the 12v system hooked up for the starlink. super simple plug and play. on the initial speed test im getting 112mb download which is about apot on for what I was getting. Best part is I can use my router instead of SL. The two items on the first picture are the converter from the SL cable to standard ethernet. Other is the POE injector that also has surge protection if I had a place to runthe ground wire.
Nice work.
Surge protection ground wire could go to the chassis, but it really ought to go to a proper ground spike. I've seen some grounded to the shore power earth connection.
Pretty much finished my "Starlink in a box" build and install. Will get some pics tomorrow.
 

K12

Rank VII
Member

Pathfinder I

5,863
Idaho, United States
First Name
Beau
Last Name
K12
Member #

28559

Service Branch
Air Force
Got the 12v system hooked up for the starlink. super simple plug and play. on the initial speed test im getting 112mb download which is about apot on for what I was getting. Best part is I can use my router instead of SL. The two items on the first picture are the converter from the SL cable to standard ethernet. Other is the POE injector that also has surge protection if I had a place to runthe ground wire.
Nice work.
Surge protection ground wire could go to the chassis, but it really ought to go to a proper ground spike. I've seen some grounded to the shore power earth connection.
Pretty much finished my "Starlink in a box" build and install. Will get some pics tomorrow.
Would love to use the frame. Unfortunately thats a long throught the walls of the rv that I have to go.
 

nickburt

Rank VII
Launch Member

Creator III

5,613
Wallasey, Wirral. UK
First Name
Nick
Last Name
Burt
Member #

2714

Final install - set up and working. Two external RJ45 connections - one for SL dish and one if I want to put the UAP outside. Plus I have 2 ports for direct conn to the router if needed.
IMG_7869 (1).jpg

IMG_7870 (1).jpg

IMG_7873 (1).jpg

IMG_7874 (1).jpg

IMG_7875 (1).jpg
 

K12

Rank VII
Member

Pathfinder I

5,863
Idaho, United States
First Name
Beau
Last Name
K12
Member #

28559

Service Branch
Air Force
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nickburt

Rank VII
Launch Member

Creator III

5,613
Wallasey, Wirral. UK
First Name
Nick
Last Name
Burt
Member #

2714

Update, all still working well, internet wherever and whenever we need it.

Also put to good use at a recent Military Vehicle Show where cell service is poor at best, but when there's several thousand mobile phones trying to use it, it just fails completely.
We used 3 Starlinks (2 on a load sharing/failover router, and 1 as a stand alone) to provide wifi around the show fields for main gate entry, traders point of sale devices, including the all important bar, and comms for the show organisers.
At one point we had close to 1000 users connected, and ended up having to ban the likes of Youtube, Tiktok etc... due to massive amounts of data usage chewing up bandwidth.
The whole system was built using Unifi kit and managed using Cloud Key.

WiFi AP testing
1689203351217.jpeg

Spot the two SL dishes and an AP
1689203763901.jpeg

Initial router, radio link and AP testing
1689203893351.jpeg

Radio Link and AP on the Scaffold tower middle of the entertainments field.
1689204035202.jpeg