Starlink on Virgin Gorda

First Starlink on Virgin Gorda . Installed today. 61 MBPS download first day . Amazing Technology.

Did you get the RV-Version or the fixed version? I agree that it is a game-changer. No only for cruisers like me (I'm anchored in St. Martin now and using my Starlink RV) but for those in areas with no/expensive internet infrastructure.

I am hearing rumors they are going to geo fence the RV unit to force boats to buy the vastly more expensive maritime units. Anyone heard any updates on that?

This is the RV version which is identical to the residential version. Had it shipped to Vero Beach florida and then it was flow on our plane to the BVI. Going to mount it in one of our gardens on a PVC post filled with concrete and then put into the ground with more concrete. That way it can be removed in the event of a hurricane. It will also have a clear view of the sky

RV is now “Roam”. Lots of rumors about upcoming changes. Suggest joining Starlink for boats FB page. Have friends inside - trying to get some info.

We have (AFAIK) 4 Starlinks running on Anegada. It's a game-changer for the BVI.

I am upgrading my infrastructure to handle the speed of the Starlink unit. It routinely runs at over 150 Mbps. My house network is the weak link.

Check out mesh units. I switched to Google WiFi Mesh router and remote points and it tremendously increased speed and range of home network.

I have Tp-Link mesh. My network is complex, and the mesh network is connected through a switch that I am upgrading to gigabit.

FWIW the version of Starlink router that I have did not include an ethernet port, I had to order a separate pigtail extender cable from Starlink which breaks out an ethernet socket.

Also, if putting together a Google mesh, be aware that while the nodes CAN be connected via a hard-wired connection, they have to first be joined into the mesh in wireless proximity. After that, they can be moved to their desired location and hard-wired.

Ordered the ethernet adaptor.along with 150 ft of connection cable. ordered 2 quick disconnect adaptors, one that connects to the antenna and the other which connects to a 1.5 inch aluminum tube that I had made that connects to sch 40 pvc piping which is cemented into the ground.

We have Starling RV/Roam running in Coral Bay, St. John on our boat. We see 60-80mbps down and 4-8mbps up in a vanilla setup sitting on deck; I have the parts to mount on a mast, but it has not been required. We're heading down the chain to Grenada starting mid-May. Friends ahead of us are having good coverage with the Roam subscription; things could change with the terms and conditions changes. Worst case, we will move to the Global subscription.

We have backups. Viya works better than AT&T at our mooring in Coral Bay. When we get to St. Martin we will get a Digicel 100GB per month mobile plan as backup. Previous years, patching together weekly plans to cover our Internet needs was a pain.

Cheers, RickG

Hopefully they will come up with a marine plan geared to small boats. The current marine plan appears for multi million dollar yachts. It really will change the game!

I'm in St. Martin now, and even the superyachts and the megayachts that I see around me here in the anchorage and at the docks have the normal RV version installed. (Posted from my PC at anchor using my Starlink RV)

Since my unit will have a permanent installation at my villa. I will eventually go to the residential version as soon as the BVI opens up.
I might note that I tried to get the BVI fiber optics cable companies to provide me with internet service but both compares declined . Flow would give me service but only for the business rate which was a lot more. $ To me to turn down a customers is stupid, but then this is the BVI

In Vero Beach, Florida I pay $30/mo for 80 MBPS service.

I guess that’s how they got rich! 1000 a month and 2500 in startup costs or 120 a month and 599! Pretty easy choice.

Unlike Houston, BVI doesn't have a major lightning issue. Still if that long Ethernet cable run is outdoors I'd put data line surge protectors on it.

Just got an updated service agreement from Starlink, looks like they are going to separate marine from RV use, and it will likely be priced higher, like the "high demand" business plan and start at $250 per month (50GB) and top out at $5000 (5TB)

The cable is run underground so maybe some protection. Right now I am getting between 80-140 MBPS Good enough for anything I am doing. We get all the TV stations in the USA as the server is in Atlanta. So I do not have to have a VPN anymore. Also telephone service to/from USA.

The marine plans are for use when under way. Starlink is busy tweaking plans. You can add priority offshore data for $2 per Gb to the Roam plan. We stow our Starlink when we are underway, so no Marine plan for us.

Cheers, RickG

We just received our notice from Starlink that we have only 7 days to use our RV plan on the “ocean”. We have found Starlink to be a game changer for us. We also like being connected while underway. So with that we’ve upgraded to the “Mobile Priority” plan. $100 more per month, but we expected it from the beginning and it still seems like a good deal.

Here is my system at the villa Starlink on a 8 ft PVC pole with connectors to the antenna so it can be removed in the event of a storm. I also have the Ethernet adaptor which gives me 1 ethernet port which is connected to a LAN (Yes LAN) input of my tlplink router. The router has been changed to be an access point and the DHCP has been turned off. There are 3 other LAN ports on my router , one of which I used for a vonage box giving me very low cost telephone service in and out of the bVI. The router has 2 WIFI outputs, one of which is my main output for general use in the villa (2.4 and 5 ) 5 is much faster but does not penetrate walls . I also use the guest output as as a special output for sensitive information.,

The starlink router is left as is with its wifi output as starlink and the DHCP on providing addresses for all devices that connect to the system. Going to put in another device which senses loss of ethernet and turns the power off to the system allowing it to reboot.

I also have several repeaters (2.4) which extend the 2.4 signal throughout the villa and the pool.

Have no needed the reboot system so it has never been put in. Starlink is still working great.

Update: We had a major lightning strike at the villa. Hit the electric pole at the entrance to the villa. Blew out the government transformer and also my transfer switch which is part of my back up generator. The Starlink antenna is about 100 ft from the pole. No damage to it or anything in the villa.

Starlink is still working great. Downlink about 100bmits. No losses of signal. We have a blink system, Vonage telephone system and Roku TV on the system. All working fine.