Starlink Antenna - how are you mounting?

[mvweebles]

I know there's an active Starlink thread and maybe the answer is embedded somewhere in the 600 posts, but I have some basic questions on the antenna (my Starlink just shipped). I have just the standard antenna, not the mobile RV one (not available in Mexico yet).

First, how are folks physically mounting the antenna? I found some adapters to 1" x 14 standard marine base (example pic attached). Thoughts?

Second, are folks mounting these flat, or at an angle? If at an angle, do they require adjustment towards a different part of the sky? If so, how frequently?

Finally, assuming I don't need to adjust orientation, my preferred mounting location is fairly close to my radar dome. I'd planned on raising SL antenna above the dome. Any concerns with the two antennae be within a few feet of each other as long as their beams do not intersect?

Any other comments would be welcomed.

Thanks in advance.

Peter

 

[tpbrady]

Peter,

A friend of mine in Ketchikan has mounted several on boats using the little stubby roof mount Starlink sells on their web site. You could also use their pipe adapter on on a larger piece of tubing to get it higher. You are kind of stuck using their antenna with the short pole attached due to how the pre made cable attaches, unless you want to get into electronic and mechanical surgery.

Tom

 

[ksanders]

I just used the Starlink rooftop mount that is available from the starlink store.

I did not disable my motors or any other modification, and get great performance, even while underway.

 

[BCRyan]

I bought a length of aluminum tubing and welded on a round flange (all 1/4" thick) to the bottom. Four through bolts secure it to the top of my fiberglass radar arch. I 3D printed an adapter to fit inside the top of the tube and marry up with the SL pole end, then waterproofed that joint with tape. (I've also seen others simply wrap enough tape around the antenna's pole to make up the difference.)

The cable is fed down through the tube and then inside the boat from there. Cutting off the large SL proprietary connector made running the cable down a lot easier, and then I installed a regular RJ45 connector (also eliminating the SL router in the process). If you don't want to cut the cable, feed the antenna end connector up (vs the router end down), as it's a lot smaller.

You asked about radar interference. This positioning between the two allows both to work together without issue. Much lower and SL shuts down as soon as the radar is turned on and needs to be rebooted in order to start working again.

No special positioning. The antenna has the ability to both rotate and angle itself. Our experience is that it generally works fine underway unless there is a lot of boat movement. It also almost always goes offline as we dock or anchor, probably because of all the changes in boat orientation during those times. SOP for us is to reboot SL after we're set for the evening. My advice is to be sure to have a convenient way to power cycle it.

 

[mvweebles]

Here's what I ended up with. Being installed as I write. Adapter fitting to 1x14 standard marine antenna base.

Peter

 

[tozz]

[snip]
First, how are folks physically mounting the antenna? I found some adapters to 1" x 14 standard marine base (example pic attached). Thoughts?

View attachment 134295

We went with simple fishing rod holder mounted on rail up on boat deck. Couple wraps of rescue tape keeps it plenty secure in the rod holder.

-tozz

 

[Sababa]

The outward facing bolts of Mantus rail-mount clamps slot perfectly into the Starlink wall mount bracket.

 

[GoneFarrell]

We used a scotty mount on a horizontal davit tube.
Plugged a scotty rod holder into that. A pvc pipe spacer, 3 hose clamps. Did all this at the dock in Ensenada, works good.

 

[bowball]

Here’s mine.

 

[Sababa]

Just completed the flat high performance install with the Seaview mount. Voila! (Anybody want to buy my residential antenna?)

 

[O C Diver]

Just finished the flat install. It's not for the faint of heart, but everything worked and I have satellite internet now.



Ted

 

[BCRyan]

Just finished the flat install. It's not for the faint of heart, but everything worked and I have satellite internet now.

Looks great! I suspect that you'll be very happy with the flat orientation. Likely worth all the work it apparently turned out to be... : )

 

[mvweebles]

Just finished the flat install. It's not for the faint of heart, but everything worked and I have satellite internet now.



View attachment 136213



Ted

Ted - I see a quarter-sized hole cover. Did you disable the servo motors? If so, care to share what approach you used?

I have this vision of bomb squad diffusing a bomb - one guy reading as the other is doing the work. "Cut the red wire......." Snip "........but not before cutting the blue wire...."

Peter

 

[O C Diver]

Ted - I see a quarter-sized hole cover. Did you disable the servo motors? If so, care to share what approach you used?

I have this vision of bomb squad diffusing a bomb - one guy reading as the other is doing the work. "Cut the red wire......." Snip "........but not before cutting the blue wire...."

Peter

Yes, I disabled the servo motor.

If you Google "disabling the Starlink motor" there are a number of articles and videos. I used these 2:

https://m.facebook.com/groups/starlinktogo/posts/409284207818149/

If you want to cut the cable to pass it through a bulkhead gland, this link is very good for understanding the wiring. It also covers replacing the router and powering the unit from a 48 volt booster:

Musings About Internet & Starlink on a Boat

Would also like to thank TF member BCRyan for his invaluable help and pointing me in the right direction!

Ted

 

[mbevins]

When I did this I received a stuck motor notice , a big red bar across the app screen. In the video it doesn't appear. Anyone else get the notice when they disconnected the motors?

 

[O C Diver]

When I did this I received a stuck motor notice , a big red bar across the app screen. In the video it doesn't appear. Anyone else get the notice when they disconnected the motors?

I get a small banner (maybe 10 to 15% of the total height of the screen) notifying me the motor is stuck, but it doesn't appear to affect the app in any way. Other than diagnostics if I have a problem, I'm not planning on using the app.

Ted

 

[ksanders]

Ted - I see a quarter-sized hole cover. Did you disable the servo motors? If so, care to share what approach you used?

I have this vision of bomb squad diffusing a bomb - one guy reading as the other is doing the work. "Cut the red wire......." Snip "........but not before cutting the blue wire...."

Peter

Just yesterday I disabled the motors on my starlink.

The results were amazing. I went from about 60 mbps to 160 mbps immediately.

I have no clue why. I am stable in a slip and I would have thought that the starlink would have optimized for speed.

The modification was simple.

I drilled a 1" hole using a forstner bit exactly 5" X 5" from the edge measures with a flexible tape.

Then I took a pair of needle nose pliers and removed the cable from the socket.

Super duper easy

 

[GoneFarrell]

Kevin,
The story I've been told on that is there is some agreement to direct these antennas towards higher latitudes to minimize interference with sat comms at lower latitudes, even though there are more star link satellites at lower latitudes. Hence, your improved performance with a flat orientation.

We saw data rates over 200 mbps offshore going south, with antenna oriented north, go figure.

We put it in a bucket and it wound itself up on the stem, fell out of the bucket! So much for that idea.

 

[O C Diver]

When I did this I received a stuck motor notice , a big red bar across the app screen. In the video it doesn't appear. Anyone else get the notice when they disconnected the motors?

I get a small banner (maybe 10 to 15% of the total height of the screen) notifying me the motor is stuck, but it doesn't appear to affect the app in any way. Other than diagnostics if I have a problem, I'm not planning on using the app.

Ted

My banner is now gone. Guess it's come to terms with the new reality.

Ted

 

[SteveK]

My banner is now gone. Guess it's come to terms with the new reality.

Ted

Maybe software update to be more like the fixed flat one? Good to hear it goes away.

 

[Simi 60]

When I did this I received a stuck motor notice , a big red bar across the app screen. In the video it doesn't appear. Anyone else get the notice when they disconnected the motors?

I get it on occassion as ours decides to have a rest and goes into flat mode for several weeks at a time all by itself, no butchery required.

Then one day it decides enough of the laziness and spins like Linda Blair's head in the Exorcist.

 

[mbevins]

I get a small banner (maybe 10 to 15% of the total height of the screen) notifying me the motor is stuck, but it doesn't appear to affect the app in any way. Other than diagnostics if I have a problem, I'm not planning on using the app.



Ted

That's very good to know. Thanks!

 

[Snapdragon III]

I just placed and order for the RV high performance starlink. I am super excited.

 

[koliver]

Seems you can use whatever works:

 

[boater3]

Here's what I ended up with. Being installed as I write. Adapter fitting to 1x14 standard marine antenna base.

Peter View attachment 134468View attachment 134469

which adapter is that? seaview? thanks

 

[mvweebles]

Not sure, but I think I found it off Etsy. Aluminum vs 316SS. Was around $80 at the time. Looks to be closer to $100 now. Seaview is 2x.

Given how quickly starlink is changing, not sure I made rhe right choice. Glad I went cheaper though.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1294335347/gen-ii-ultralite-aluminum-1-14-starlink

Peter

 

[oceancrosser]

Hello,

Are there videos or information on how people are mounting their RV antennae with their 3D printer mounts?

Thanks,

Rusty

 

[Mako]

Seems you can use whatever works:

My coworker hired a company to mount a Starlink for him exactly like that at his remote cabin up on the Cascades, where the forest cover is too dense. Very ingenuitive and common in that area. The company actually specializes in those exact installations.

 

[Ken E.]

Not sure, but I think I found it off Etsy. Aluminum vs 316SS. Was around $80 at the time. Looks to be closer to $100 now. Seaview is 2x.

Given how quickly starlink is changing, not sure I made rhe right choice. Glad I went cheaper though.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1294335347/gen-ii-ultralite-aluminum-1-14-starlink

Peter

I'm also using one of these. The 1" / 14 threads work nicely with Shakespeare antenna masts. I'm using a 2' mast with a rachet....works good. I'd post a picture but I'm not near the boat presently.

 

[Delfin]

I know there's an active Starlink thread and maybe the answer is embedded somewhere in the 600 posts, but I have some basic questions on the antenna (my Starlink just shipped). I have just the standard antenna, not the mobile RV one (not available in Mexico yet).

First, how are folks physically mounting the antenna? I found some adapters to 1" x 14 standard marine base (example pic attached). Thoughts?

Second, are folks mounting these flat, or at an angle? If at an angle, do they require adjustment towards a different part of the sky? If so, how frequently?

Finally, assuming I don't need to adjust orientation, my preferred mounting location is fairly close to my radar dome. I'd planned on raising SL antenna above the dome. Any concerns with the two antennae be within a few feet of each other as long as their beams do not intersect?

Any other comments would be welcomed.

Thanks in advance.

Peter View attachment 134295

Proximity to radar can be a problem. My son had to move his away from his array to keep from dropping the signal. Doesn't have to be far, as mine is only about six feet away from my array and it works without a problem.

You can't mount it flat without disabling the motors, afaik. Not necessary in any case.

For my mount, I had an aluminum post mounted to a flat base, powder coated, then used their pipe adapter for attachment of the antenna.