Traveling and living full-time in our orange van, and working mainly on our computers, having a stable internet connection in our camper has always been a priority for us.
After trying many different things, we found Starlink to be the ultimate solution.
In this article, I’ll show you all the options for getting internet in a camper (Mi-Fis, Sim, Esims, Satellite etc.), their pros and cons, and finally, I’ll show also show you how Starlink works and our DIY setup to install it on the roof of our camper van.
How to Get Internet in Your Camper Everywhere?
What Solutions Are Available?
How Much Do They Cost?
You’ll Find All the Answers You’re Looking for Here!
INTERNET IN A CAMPER: MANY OPTIONS AND LOTS OF CONFUSION!
Mobile Hotspots, Sims, Esims Mi-Fi, Signal Boosters, Satellite Internet, Starlink… there are many solutions on the market to improve your camper’s internet connection, and just as much confusion!
But the real question is: which one is best suited to your needs and your project?
In this article, I’ll explain how each option works in simple terms: we’ll look at prices, speed, reception, pros and cons, and installation methods.
In the second part of the article, I’ll explain why we decided to install Starlink on our camper and show you how we lovingly gutted and modified it DIY-style to be permanently positioned on our van’s roof 😉
Happy reading!!! 😀
BONUS: Deep-Dive Video 🙂
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Internet in Your Camper with Starlink
How to Stay Connected Everywhere
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Happy reading and have fun with your project!:) 😀
Dani
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1. Internet in a Camper – The Theory!
You want internet in your camper, right?
If the answer is yes, it probably means that having it on your phone isn’t enough, and you want something more.
After all, having internet in a camper is increasingly useful and necessary today: Smart TVs, Smart Radios, digital alarms, laptops… everything runs on internet!
And if you plan to travel while working remotely on a computer (like us!), having internet access wherever you are becomes a real necessity!
Let’s start with the theory and look at the most common problems with internet on the road.
1.1 IN REMOTE PLACES, THERE’S NO RECEPTION
You’re in the car, listening to the radio.
Then you enter a tunnel and the music disappears. Why?
Well, it’s obvious: radio waves are transmitted by a radio station (usually a tower with repeaters); when you enter the tunnel, the radio waves are blocked by the surrounding rock, they no longer reach your radio, and so the music disappears.
The phone data you use to get internet on your phone when you’re out and about is essentially radio frequencies (electromagnetic waves) communicating with a tower.
Just like with radio waves, if you enter a tunnel, hide behind a rock face, or otherwise go out of range of these towers, you’ll see your phone’s internet signal drop bar by bar until it hits zero.
When traveling in a camper, you often find paradise spots with no one else around, only to realize there’s no internet.
For some, it’s a golden opportunity to disconnect from the world, but for others (like us who work online), it’s a huge disappointment!
1.2 INSIDE A CAMPER – RECEPTION IS WEAKER
If you already travel in a camper, you’ll have noticed: the phone gets better reception near the windows!
Campers or vans are essentially sheet metal boxes that partially block electromagnetic waves from the outside.
Sometimes you might have a signal outside, but none inside the living area: really, really annoying! 😛
1.3 ABROAD, YOUR INTERNET CONTRACT IS LIMITED
Thanks to recent changes in EU regulations, if you have a mobile data contract in your home country, you can use part of your Gigabytes in other EU states at no extra cost.
This is great for an occasional trip of a few days, but certainly not a cheap solution for those who need internet all the time or if you don’t want to give up the luxury of watching HD movies while traveling.
In fact, the Gigabytes available abroad, even if you have an unlimited offer in your country, are still limited by the following formula:
Gigabytes available abroad (EU) : ( [Monthly Offer Cost – VAT (21%) ] / 1.8 ) x 2
To give some easy examples, if you pay 10 Euros a month, you’ll have about 8GB available in the EU, while if you pay 20 Euros, you’ll have about 17GB.
Is it enough? For some, yes; for others, no. For some trips, yes; for others, no.
And if you have non-European contracts (USA, Asia, Latin America) and decide to cross a border: well, it’s even more of a jungle there, and you have to check the coverage in your SIM contract!
1.4. INTERNET IN A CAMPER: WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?
Now that we’ve seen the main problems with internet reception in a camper, let’s look in detail at the various options to improve signal and speed:
- Mobile Hotspot with Your Phone
- Mi-Fi
- Signal Booster
- Satellite Internet
- Starlink
Extra note: depending on the country you’re travel to, your internet access might also be restricted by local laws and geo-localization (no matter which system you’ll use to amplify your signal!). To get free internet from anywhere, we would recommend to use a VPN, there are many good ones around nowadays 🙂
One we can definitely recommend as we found convenient and easy to use is Veepn (you can check Veepn services here) which allows you to choose any country in the world (and even states!) to access from 🙂
2. Mobile Hotspot with Your Phone
The most obvious solution, the most used, and the one that works for the needs of 99% of people!
Nowadays, all smartphones have a Hotspot mode (also called “Personal Hotspot” or “Wi-Fi Router”) that allows you to share your phone’s data connection with other nearby devices.
In this case, no extra equipment is needed, just a data contract that allows sharing (some operators block it on purpose!) and with enough speed and data to meet your needs.
To give you an idea, today a basic contract for standard 4G speed data can cost as little as 10 Euros, while unlimited data at the maximum available speed is around 40 Euros.
On most modern mobile phones you can also choose the convenience of eSims (such Saily Esims for example!), which can help you booking data packages easily from everywhere in the world! Personally, I LOVE not having to deal with old SIM and the hassle of switching them!
Last but not least, the phone, if placed near a camper window, can amplify the signal and retransmit it to all other devices inside (e.g., TV, PC, Radio, etc.).
PRO
- Economical Solution
- No Installation
- Where Your Phone Works, You Have Internet
- The Phone Amplifies the Signal Inside the Living Area
- Great for Most Campers
- You can easily get data packages from anywhere by using Esims
CONS
- Doesn’t Work in Remote/Rural Areas
- Weak Reception Compared to Alternatives
- Most Phone Contracts Limit Speed
- If You Travel Abroad, You’ll Have to Change SIMs Frequently
FINAL HOTSPOT VERDICT:
Convenient, cheap, and simple to use, the phone hotspot is the best internet option for those who use their camper for weekends and holidays and don’t need internet all the time.
All you need is a smartphone and a data contract. Connection speed varies depending on the plan, location, and operator.
3. Mi-Fi
A “Mi-Fi” (an acronym for “Mobile Wi-Fi”) is essentially a portable device that allows you to create a wireless Wi-Fi network to connect other devices (like smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.) to the internet through a mobile data connection.
The Mi-Fi works like a home router, but instead of using a wired connection, it connects to a mobile data network, like the one provided by a phone operator, through a SIM card inserted into the device.
I know what you’re thinking: isn’t that the same thing a phone hotspot does? What’s the difference if I still have to put a SIM card in it?
The main advantage of Mi-Fi devices over a phone is their better reception (better antennas!).
For months, we used the Netgear Nighthawk 4G and I can confirm it got a signal where the phone had zero, while where the phone had 1 bar, this had 3.
The Mi-Fi is also a great solution for when you leave the camper, as it’s lightweight and can be taken anywhere.
That said, if you plan to venture into REALLY remote areas (deserts, high mountains, etc.), the Mi-Fi might not be much help (it gets better reception than a phone and is faster, but it still relies on signals from towers/antennas).
PRO
- Low Monthly Price (Phone Contract)
- Better Reception Than a Phone
- The Mi-Fi Amplifies the Signal Inside the Living Area
- Saves Your Phone’s Battery
- They’re Portable, So You Can Take Them Outside the Camper!
CONS
- There Are Rural/Mountain Areas Where Even a Mi-Fi Won’t Get a Signal
- Most Phone Contracts Limit Speed, and the Mi-Fi Can’t Exceed It
- If You Travel Abroad, You’ll Have to Change SIMs Frequently
- If You Want to Use Your Number on Your Phone, You’ll Need a Separate SIM for the Mi-Fi
FINAL MI-FI VERDICT:
Choosing a Mobile Wi-Fi is a great, relatively cheap idea for those looking for better reception than a phone and who perhaps travel in a camper with multiple devices (e.g., two computers, two phones, TV, radio, etc.).
Compared to a simple phone hotspot, a good Mi-Fi gets a better signal, even in the mountains, and can provide higher speeds to all connected devices (if the phone plan allows it).
After the initial cost, the monthly cost is the same as a phone contract.
BEST MI-FI ROUTERS FOR CAMPERS
HUAWEI E5576-320
A budget router that supports internet speeds up to 150Mbps.
Suitable for those who want to power all their camper devices without using their phone.
D-LINK DWR 933
An excellent router with great battery life, lightweight and portable.
This 4G router model can reach speeds of 300Mbps.
NETGEAR NIGHTHAWK 4G
Netgear is the top of the line when it comes to portable routers.
This router was my companion for almost a year: it squeezes everything it can out of a phone contract and, combined with an omnidirectional antenna, has excellent reception! (it works where the phone doesn’t)
NETGEAR NIGHTHAWK M6 – 5G
A real BEAST of a router with 5G reception and a maximum speed of 4Gbps (!!!).
It’s probably overkill for any camper. Personally, I only recommend it to those who need hyper-fast internet for work (or have the money to afford it! haha).
4. Signal Booster
Let’s step it up a notch and look at Signal Boosters.
Camper “signal boosters” (amplificatori di segnale in Italian) are devices used to improve cellular signal reception (from phone company towers) inside the living area.
A camper signal booster usually consists of three main components: an external antenna that receives the cellular signal, an internal amplifier that boosts the signal, and an internal antenna that transmits it inside the camper.
The signal is thus captured and amplified to cover a larger area and improve reception inside the camper.
Compared to Mi-Fi, this is a step up: the external antenna (to be mounted on the camper roof) has better reception than both smartphones and most Mi-Fi devices.
Furthermore, by taking the signal from outside the camper and bringing it inside via a cable, signal boosters avoid the “tin can effect” (metal camper walls) that weakens the signal.
PRO
- Low Monthly Price (Phone Contract)
- Suitable for Remote Areas
- Adds 1-2 bars of signal where there is one (if there’s none, it’s useless)
- Signal Amplified to the Maximum Possible Inside the Living Area
- Permanent Solution
CONS
- High Purchase Cost
- Requires Drilling the Van Roof to Connect the Antenna
- Amplifies the signal but doesn’t create it. In an area where it’s totally absent, even a booster can’t do anything.
- If You Travel Abroad, You’ll Have to Change SIMs Frequently
- If You Want to Use Your Number on Your Phone, You’ll Need a Separate SIM for the Mi-Fi
FINAL SIGNAL BOOSTER VERDICT:
The Signal Booster is an option suitable for those traveling in really remote places and high mountains who want to capture every last faint signal from internet towers.
Working with a SIM card, it has the same (cheap) monthly cost as a mobile hotspot and a Mi-Fi, but better reception (due to the large antenna).
Going abroad still requires changing the SIM card every time.
BEST SIGNAL BOOSTERS FOR CAMPERS
MAXVIEW ROAM 4G
High-quality 4G signal booster, consisting of an omnidirectional antenna and a router.
It easily attaches to the camper roof in an aerodynamic way and, once mounted, you can forget about it; no maintenance is needed.
MAXVIEW ROAM – 5G
The top of the line. At the moment, 5G isn’t widespread enough to make it a life-changing product, but it’s certainly a good option for those looking for a solution for years to come.
5. Satellite Internet
Now let’s leave conventional connections (via towers/repeaters) behind and move into space!
Satellite internet is a technology that uses satellites orbiting the Earth to transmit internet to the antenna located on your camper’s roof.
The upside of satellite internet is that it works almost anywhere in the world (with the only exceptions being the North and South Poles, where there are no orbiting satellites).
The downsides of a satellite connection are that the speed is generally very low (up to 20-30Mbps download, and 3-5Mbps upload), and the monthly price is really expensive (100+ Euros a month for 100-200GB).
Who would ever pay for a service like that? Well, until now, only those who strictly needed it to live or work.
Until a few years ago, satellite internet for campers was a real niche, expensive and inefficient, a luxury for those who could afford it.
Luckily for us, what I consider, in no uncertain terms, a true revolution for the camper world (as well as for global connectivity!) is gaining ground: Starlink!
PRO
- Works Everywhere
CONS
- Very High Purchase Cost
- Very High Monthly Cost
- Medium-Low Speeds
- Option Dominated by Starlink and Therefore Now Obsolete
FINAL SATELLITE INTERNET VERDICT:
Slow and expensive, classic satellite internet was a solution for the few and is practically dead today (or will be soon…), far surpassed by the service offered by Starlink (which we’ll look at below).
Personally, nowadays I wouldn’t recommend anyone invest in a classic camper satellite system.
6. Starlink
Starlink is a satellite system designed and created by Elon Musk (the founder of PayPal, Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, and a dozen other companies that are innovating today’s world in one way or another).
Starlink technology is based on creating a network of 12,000 satellites (of which about 4,000 have been launched to date) that allows you to receive internet anywhere in the world.
Satellites can transmit anywhere, while tower range will always be limited in some way.
Compared to the satellite internet available until now, Starlink’s advantage is that it has many more satellites (they launch them using reusable rockets) and can therefore offer an extremely higher connection speed at a relatively reasonable cost (though not cheap!).
To use Starlink, you need a Starlink antenna, a modem, and a monthly contract, all of which can be ordered from the official Starlink website (due to long queues, it can take up to two months to ship the antenna).
PRO
- Works Everywhere
- Affordable Initial Price
- No SIM Card and Can Be Used Abroad Without Problems
- High Speeds (Faster Than Smartphones, Mi-Fi, and Signal Boosters)
- Easy to Install
- Monthly Service Can Be Paused When Not in Use
- Self-Heating Antenna with Snow-Melting Function
CONS
- Monthly Cost Not for Everyone (85 Euros)
- Two Camper Versions That Can Be Confusing
- The Low-Cost Version Has a Terrible Design, and Permanent Installation Requires Creativity and DIY
- The Modem Runs on 230V and Therefore Requires an Inverter and a Battery Bank Sufficient to Support It
FINAL STARLINK VERDICT:
Starlink is probably the future of internet in campers: it works anywhere you can see the sky, has no SIM card, can be used abroad, and the speed it offers at the moment is incredible.
That said, its high monthly cost (85 Euros/month!) currently makes it an expensive option that mainly makes sense for digital nomads who work online, camper owners who cross many borders a month, or hobbyists who want the best and can afford it.
7. Why We Chose Starlink for Our Van Arancino? – Our Experience
If I had to choose two things I detest with all my heart, they would be: having to change SIM cards and slow internet!
Unfortunately, living and working in a camper, these are problems you encounter often!
7.1 WHAT HAVE WE USED UNTIL NOW?
When we’re in Italy, the phone hotspot works great for what we need: it’s fast, convenient, and gets reception almost everywhere!
Since we often travel and stay high in the mountains (I’m from Trentino!), we also decided to invest in a Netgear Nighthawk 4G Mi-Fi with a MIMO Antenna, and reception improved, allowing us to work from there too (though not everywhere I would have liked!).
Traveling abroad, however, is where the problems started: abroad, the data from our national offer (about 8-10GB per month) was totally insufficient for our needs.
And so, for months we bought local SIMs, prepaid cards, E-Sims, etc… and that’s when I started to get a bit annoyed…
Remember? I DETEST changing SIM cards!
You have to find the prepaid ones, figure out which one is right for you every time, I lose the PINs, I lose the old SIMs, I forget the phone numbers… I mean… I just can’t do it… I hate changing SIMs with a passion!
Add to that the fact that local internet often has questionable speeds (another thing I DETEST!) and I really get quite stressed.
At that point, I asked myself: isn’t there a better solution?
And that’s when I discovered the technology that would change my life: Starlink! 😀
7.2 ORDERING THE STARLINK ANTENNA
Internet on the move? In the mountains? In the desert? Across national borders? At high speed, wherever you are?
When I first heard about Starlink, I got excited right away.
At the time, we were planning a trip through all the European countries (which we’ve started at the time of writing, yay! 😉 ) and the thought of changing 20-30 SIMs didn’t appeal to me at all.
I looked at the price on the site:
- 410 Euros for the KIT (Antenna, Modem, and Cables)
- 85 Euros for the monthly subscription (with the option to pause it at will)
A bit pricey, yes—not so much the initial investment (which is only once…), but the 85 Euro monthly subscription is definitely a significant recurring expense.
But thinking about it:
- We would have spent 10/20 Euros for a SIM card in every country
- probably for medium-slow internet
- there are two of us and we both need internet
- in remote places, we would have ended up without internet anyway (and those are usually the most beautiful and peaceful spots for wild camping)
In the end, after weighing everything up, we thought that paying about 40 Euros/person per month for fast internet everywhere would be worth it in our case.
So I ordered the antenna, and after about 2 months, the package arrived at the house:
7.3 THE ANTENNA HAS ARRIVED: FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Opening the box, I was met with a bit of a disappointment:
Once I opened the box, I found a very “modern” looking antenna, a “modern” looking stand, a “modern” looking modem, and about 20 meters of cable (yes, you read that right, not 2, but TWENTY METERS!).
Looking closely at the parts, one thing immediately stands out: the “modern” design is aesthetic, yes, but anti-functional and absolutely not suitable for a camper.
The antenna is all curves, the stand can’t be folded (it’s made of rigid metal), and the modem doesn’t have a single 90° angle!
The antenna isn’t designed to be fixed to a camper roof, but simply to be taken out and connected while camping.
We almost never go to campsites.
We built our van to be self-sufficient so we could wild camp without needing electrical hookups and stay in the most remote places.
Taking an antenna out every time we need it is just unthinkable: too much hassle every time, risk of it being stolen, risk of being fined for “camping,” risk of it getting damaged from constant moving.
Also, thanks to the “modern” design (read that with a sarcastic tone and air quotes), the antenna, stand, and cable take up at least a whole cupboard!
In short… Starlink was a fail at this point!
7.4 STARLINK GIVES US A BRILLIANT IDEA!
I went back to the official site to process a return and figure out how they could sell such a contraption as an “RV/camper antenna.”
In the two months that passed while I was waiting for my antenna, Starlink launched another antenna model.
Below, I’ll show you the one I got and the new one that just came out:
Starlink Antenna for RVs
Designed to be Portable for Campers
Has a Motor that rotates the antenna to point it in the best direction
Price 410 Euros
Starlink Flat Model
Designed for Camper Roofs
Doesn’t have a directional motor; it stays still and just works like that
Price 2500 Euros
Yes… TWO THOUSAND FIVE HUNDRED EUROS!! Are you kidding me? Really?
I know the benefits are many, but the price of the new Starlink antenna was, at least for me, beyond all logic!
Seeing how the new antenna worked, however, one thing caught my eye: it has no motor, it doesn’t rotate, but it offers the same performance as the previous one.
This probably means the antenna can pick up the satellite signal even when completely flat, right?
After thinking that, I did some research online and found various UK and US sites explaining how to “gut” the classic Starlink antenna (the one I have) and modify it to fit on a camper roof.
According to them, based on tests done in various parts of the world, signal reception didn’t change significantly.
They gave me hope.
I noticed that you can also find frames online suitable for installing my Starlink antenna on a van roof.
The excitement didn’t last long, however, once I saw the outrageous and imaginative prices of the frames.
The Starlink mounts for sale (here’s an example) actually cost more than Starlink itself! (we’re talking 400-500 Euros plus shipping!).
It would also be possible to 3D print them (here’s a Free Starlink Mount model provided by the YouTubers Everlanders – a fantastic English channel about DIY Campers), but again, too expensive if you don’t have a 3D printer at home.
Thinking and rethinking, I was almost ready to resign myself to swapping SIM cards for the rest of my days…
But then… a stroke of genius!
Below, I’ll show you how we finally managed to install Starlink on our Arancino! 😉
8. DIY Starlink Installation
“He who perseveres, wins,” they say.
And with DIY and a stubborn head, nothing is impossible 😉
That’s why, instead of returning it, I decided (not without anxiety) to gut my 400-Euro Starlink antenna too and risk a DIY installation.
Well, today I’m here writing to you from a remote mountain in Croatia, using our Starlink internet, so I can confirm that everything went well 🙂
Below, I’ll show you step-by-step how we installed Starlink on the roof of our orange van!
8.1 CUTTING THE ANTENNA
The first step to mounting Starlink on our camper van was having to remove the antenna motor from the dish.
The “Starlink” itself, meaning the microchip board used to get internet, is actually a dish only a few millimeters thick, while the rest of the antenna consists of the motor and air.
The motor was initially used to orient the antenna: a few years ago there were few satellites and the antenna had to “aim” at them to receive the signal.
Today, there are over 4,000 Starlink satellites in orbit and new ones are launched every week.
Because of this, “aiming” is no longer as important and a flat dish can still achieve more than respectable internet speeds. Therefore, the motors can be removed to make the antenna flatter and more aerodynamic.
Below, I’ll show you how we cut the antenna.
1. First, we made sure we had enough space to install Starlink on our van’s roof.
2. Then we identified the cutting area: we cut inside the 4 external air vents (yellow dots).
3. Then, we masked the cutting area with masking tape.
4. With a rotary saw, we cut along the line.
NOTE: make sure to cut only the plastic and don’t push the blade in too deep. There’s a cable that you probably don’t want to cut (one less crimp to do ;)).
5. Gently and with the help of a screwdriver, we broke through the plastic. Here you can see the antenna motor ready to be removed.
6. Removing the motor, you’ll find two cables. A double red/black motor cable (which you can cut, it’s no longer needed) and a white one.
5. With the help of a screwdriver, we released the white wire terminal from the antenna leg.
6. With the leg removed, we were left with the white cable and its terminal. The hardest part is done 😉
7. Once finished, we vacuumed up all the dust.
8.2 BUILDING THE ANTENNA MOUNT
At this point, I needed a frame to mount the antenna flat on the van roof.
The frame had to be:
- Waterproof (the chips can’t come into contact with water)
- Slightly tilted (to allow water to flow)
- Securely anchored (our van roof (VW Crafter) isn’t flat, but has protrusions)
To make something custom, I went to a local metalworker (an amazing craftsman!), and explained exactly what I needed: a watertight box to house the Starlink antenna!
Well, he became really passionate about the project and together we designed the ideal structure to support the antenna!
Moreover, in building it he went well beyond my expectations! Here are photos of the mount!
8. The starting mount for the antenna: pieces of stainless steel welded together.
6. At the bottom of the mount there’s a hole to pass the cable through (and through which water can’t rise).
10. Once screwed together, this is the result. We bent the “tabs” to rest what remains of the antenna 😉
11. At the bottom we inserted four magnets with 40kg force each. This way, the mount attaches to the roof without glue, and we also solve the problem of roof protrusions (the thickness of the magnets exceeds that of the van roof ribs).
12. From the center of the base, we brought out the white cable and terminal.
13. We inserted a protective rubber seal on the metal edges and used Sikaflex to fill.
14. Finally, we also used Sikaflex 521 to permanently glue the Starlink antenna to its new metal frame.
Simple, fast, and functional.
The frame is slightly lower than the antenna and slopes slightly to one side: this allows rainwater to flow.
Additionally, Starlink has a heating function where it can heat itself autonomously if obstructed by snow: awesome! 🙂
8.3 WIRING THE STARLINK SYSTEM
All done, you’d say… well NOPE!
In fact, there are still 20+ meters of cable to shorten, finding the ideal position for the “modern” Starlink modem and connecting everything to the electrical system of our camper van.
Below, I’ll show you how I wired the entire system!
16. These are the connections needed to make Starlink work:
17. First, I cut the power supply cable and extended it using a 4mm three-core cable and a Vimar plug.
18. Then we racked our brains and found a place to hide place the “beautiful” Starlink router.
19. At this point we drilled through the cabinet behind the driver’s seat and ran corrugated tubes from the inverter to the router, with the crimper we re-crimped it to the original power cable inside a junction box.
This way we kept things tidy inside the cabinet we had to pass through (we had no other free cable channels to use to reach the seats).
NOTE: if you want to learn how to crimp cables once cut, I recommend reading the article Camper Electrical System: How to Connect Electrical Cables Without Making Mistakes.
21. Once the power cable (220V AC) was sorted, I cut the ethernet cable to the length I needed and removed the cable sheath using a wire stripper
NOTE: Starlink uses an unconventional cable order, different from standard ethernet cables:
- Orange/White
- Orange
- Green/White
- Blue
- Blue/White
- Green
- Brown/White
- Brown
23. To pass the cable to the antenna, I drilled through the roof with a hammer drill and a metal bit.
24. After applying rust inhibitor and paint to the cut metal, I passed the ethernet wire through a single-way roof cable gland, and glued it with Sikaflex 521.
25. At this point, I crimped the 8 colored wires into an RJ45 connector using a special tool: an RJ45 crimper. Below you’ll find the correct cable order:
26. One crimp on the cable coming from inside, one crimp on the cable coming from the antenna, and in between I inserted a CAT6 RJ45 coupler to make everything waterproof.
27. Once everything was wired, we anchored our Starlink with magnets to the roof of our camper van (and added an extra safety wire, because you can never be too careful).
Looking at it, the satisfaction was really immense… but now there was one last step: testing it!
8.4 THE FINAL TEST: DOES STARLINK WORK IN A VAN? EXPERIENCE AND FINAL OPINION
All this work and then?
I swear that trying to turn it on for the first time was a strong emotion: I knew I had wired everything perfectly, but still I had crazy anxiety that I had risked drilling through the van roof for nothing.
Fortunately, that’s not how it went.
I turned on the Starlink app, and a few minutes after finishing the configuration tadaaa: we were already connected to the internet!
And not just “connected,” but really CONNECTED in capital letters, with peak speeds of over 200Mbps download and over 30Mbps upload, speeds that smartphone hotspot can only dream of!
OUR INTERNET TEST
STARLINK APP SCREENSHOT
At the time of writing, we’ve already tested our Starlink for over a month both in Italy and in Slovenia and Croatia: never had a problem. Internet is always fast and above all works everywhere!
For crossing many borders it’s really a definitive and stress-free solution: it turns on when the inverter turns on and poof… the camper is connected! No SIM cards to change, no slow internet, and Dani happy!
Personally, I think Starlink is an excellent solution for those planning to cross many borders and for everyone who lives in a camper and works using a PC.
Mounting it permanently on the camper roof requires some DIY work, but it’s worth it and the convenience is really amazing.
Obviously Starlink, given the price of €85/month, is not a solution for everyone, far from it!
For occasional use, vacations or short trips, certainly a cell phone hotspot or Mi-Fi are more economical and functional solutions: it all depends on how you use your vehicle and your needs!
Finally, it should be noted that the Starlink satellite system grows week by week with the launch of new satellites, and both speed and coverage increase over time.
We can only hope that in the future, with increasing users, the price might come down.
9. FAQ: Speed, 3G, 4G and 5G
In this last section, I’ll try to answer many questions that normally come up when talking about internet and that often create confusion.
9.1 WHAT ARE 3G, 4G AND 5G AND WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
3G means “third generation,” 4G means “fourth generation” and 5G is “fifth generation.”
By generations, we mean the generation of the communication technology standard (the type of electromagnetic waves transmitted).
3G, born in the 2000s, can reach a maximum speed of 30-40Mbps.
4G, introduced in the 2010s, can reach maximum speeds of 100-150Mbps, is sufficient for 4K streaming and is the most widespread signal in Europe.
5G, introduced in the 2020s, can reach up to 20Gbps (incredible speeds), but only works in large cities and populated centers (as soon as you move away from towers, the signal drops quickly).
WHAT’S A “DECENT” INTERNET SPEED?
Definitely a tricky question, where there’s a lot of confusion.
Here are 5 examples of what you can do with different internet speeds (in megabits per second, abbreviated “Mbps”):
- With 1-3 Mbps: You can browse the internet, send emails and download small files, like documents or images. However, loading web pages might be slow and video streaming might be choppy or low quality.
- With 5-10 Mbps: You can browse the internet, send emails, download larger files and watch streaming videos with good quality. However, loading web pages might still be a bit slow and you might experience buffering during HD video streaming.
- With 25-50 Mbps: You can browse the internet, send emails, download large files, watch HD streaming videos and play online without lag. This internet speed is sufficient for most online activities.
- With 100-200 Mbps: You can do everything you can do with 25-50 Mbps internet speed, but with faster download and upload speeds. This internet speed is ideal for families using multiple devices simultaneously and for online gaming enthusiasts.
- With 1 Gbps or higher: You can do everything you can do with 100-200 Mbps internet speed, but with incredibly fast download and upload speeds. This internet speed is ideal for businesses using large amounts of data or for people who need to transfer large files quickly.
WHAT’S THE BEST INTERNET FOR CAMPERS?
In short, what’s the internet solution most suitable for you and your vehicle?
| CAMPER USE | IDEAL SOLUTION FOR YOU |
| Casual use, short periods and vacations | Cell Phone Hotspot |
| If traveling with 2 or more people | Mobile Wi-Fi (Mi-Fi Router) |
| If traveling in remote areas, keeping monthly costs down | Wi-Fi Booster |
| If you live and work in a camper, cross many borders or want coverage everywhere | Starlink |
10. Internet in Camper – Conclusion
And here we are at the end of this other very long guide.
In this article I’ve taken you through all my research to find an internet option for campers suited to our needs: we’ve seen internet signal theory, mobile hotspot, Mi-Fi, Signal Boosters, Satellite Internet and Starlink.
Finally, I told you about our experience with Starlink and showed you our homemade installation to adapt the antenna to our camper van and our needs.
What do you think? Was the article helpful? Did you find what you were looking for?
Do you still have doubts or questions? Did you find any errors in the article or do you think some information is missing to make it more complete?
Let me know in the comments below!! I always enjoy chatting 🙂
Before saying goodbye, I’ll leave you two links below that could definitely help you if you’re converting a van or renovating your camper 🙂
Thanks for reading, and see you in the next article! 😀
BEFORE YOU GO, CAN I ASK YOU FOR SOME FEEDBACK?
Writing detailed articles like this takes a lot of time and effort..
If you liked it, can I ask you to leave me a feedback message in the comments at the bottom of the page?
For a content-creator, knowing that you are being read and that your efforts are useful to someone is the best motivation to keep writing and doing better 🙂
Let me know what you liked or what you think could be added.
If you’d like, you can also share the article to help other people find it!
Thanks for the help 🙂
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