Starlink or 5g? Best for mobile computer lab?!

[FawnaFox]

I'm a bit of a computer nerd, so I need good, high speed internet, via Ethernet. I want to run my fileserver, game server locally. I have the power wattage and equipment already spec'd, all except the outside connection. I was going to use a DMZ with 2 routers so I can share my server for my friends to access. Should I go with Starlink or a Verizon hotspot? Or something else completely different? I won't be using the Wifi on the Starlink/other, because I'm going to use my own WAP (Yes I know it would be 10x easier to just do it the "easy" way, but I like playing with networks) Any help is appreciated!

 

[s2mikon]

Starlink. I have already been places where there was starlink and no verizon.

 

[nikitis]

As a tech bro myself. I'm with you on your own WAP. Never use default. pfsense or opensense ftw.

Take control of your routing.

As for connection, it's a tough one. Starlink is going to give you the bandwidth you'll require for youtube and other stuff. But it's not going to give you the ping rates you desire. A Verizon Hotspot is going to give you a better ping rate, but neither are as good of a ping rate as at home. You'll probably get better heavy bandwidth usage out of Starlink and it is in more places. (Should be in all places technically).

Your local LAN games will be just fine, but if the games aren't truly LAN but connect to online servers elsewhere (WAN connections) then you'll notice issues and delays. Steam connections for validating your games is no issue on either of them, and if you're hosting the online server on your bus, people from the WAN will suffer playing on your server. Verizon is going to be better for the ping rates by far and if you plan to be within a verizon network for most of where you stay, it'll be fine.

Might also want to consider T-Mobile hotspot too as they operate on a lower hertz frequency than Verizon which gave them better coverage than verizon as of 1.5 years ago, and T-Mobile just started selling their Internet brick.

The lower the frequency the better the coverage distance wise, but if they go too low you suffer on bandwidth but T-Mobile isn't so low it's an issue.

 

[FawnaFox]

As a tech bro myself. I'm with you on your own WAP. Never use default. pfsense or opensense ftw.

Take control of your routing.

As for connection, it's a tough one. Starlink is going to give you the bandwidth you'll require for youtube and other stuff. But it's not going to give you the ping rates you desire. A Verizon Hotspot is going to give you a better ping rate, but neither are as good of a ping rate as at home. You'll probably get better heavy bandwidth usage out of Starlink and it is in more places. (Should be in all places technically).

Your local LAN games will be just fine, but if the games aren't truly LAN but connect to online servers elsewhere (WAN connections) then you'll notice issues and delays. Steam connections for validating your games is no issue on either of them, and if you're hosting the online server on your bus, people from the WAN will suffer playing on your server. Verizon is going to be better for the ping rates by far and if you plan to be within a verizon network for most of where you stay, it'll be fine.

Might also want to consider T-Mobile hotspot too as they operate on a lower hertz frequency than Verizon which gave them better coverage than verizon as of 1.5 years ago, and T-Mobile just started selling their Internet brick.

The lower the frequency the better the coverage distance wise, but if they go too low you suffer on bandwidth but T-Mobile isn't so low it's an issue.

The WAN, is (Mostly) going to be for the filesharing, maybe a Minecraft server but both aren't primary. I was leaning towards starlink, simply because of it not having the problems of relying on the cell network, although on the other hand, my bus was never going to be a Boonedock in the sticks kinda build. It's a highway, grid to grid kinda build, the solar and wind turbine is more as a supplement to decrease grid costs. Does starlink have a Ethernet connection? If so is it good?

 

[nikitis]

Starlink provides ethernet from it's router yes, but again still limited to ping rates from the sat connection.

 

[s2mikon]

You can also set the starlink to pass through mode to a pfsense router to strip ads and other crap. In the last 3 years we have been to 3 camp grounds all blm, that has piss poor cell service to 1 that had none. The starlink worked just fine.

 

[Bjorkinman]

How are you mounting the starlink? to the roof, ground deploy, or on an extendable pole? Also, what service plan do you have? I'm in the early phases of researching starlink and haven't really considered using anything else. Not a computer nerd.

 

[s2mikon]

At first I was ground deployed and I had a deer step on it or tangled in the cable because it was upside down in the morning and pulled about 10 foot away with deer crap on top of it. I now have a multi section pole that I deploy from a bumper mount that I use. It has to point north and if my coach is not in the way I use a 2 foot section and aim it. If the coach is in the way I add an 8 foot section. I have one of those old fashioned dashboard compass in the drivers cab and it is visible through the windshield. I just read it backwards. That is quicker than using the app and has always been within the app's parameters. I have large P clamps that go down the side of the bus and run the cable through them and keep it off the ground. I can mount it to the front or the back of the coach. It works fine with 6 inches of snow on top of it too. I installed cat 6 cable from one end of the coach to the other end and to the outside at both ends and use that to feed to the house. I have the roam plan so it works where I go. If I am on the road my house does not need internet. My phone works on its wireless so I have phone in non phone areas too. I have been very happy with it. Just tested it 250 Mbps down 22 up low 30's latency up and down. I had a power supply fail and they sent a new one overnight, no hassle.

 

[FawnaFox]

At first I was ground deployed and I had a deer step on it or tangled in the cable because it was upside down in the morning and pulled about 10 foot away with deer crap on top of it. I now have a multi section pole that I deploy from a bumper mount that I use. It has to point north and if my coach is not in the way I use a 2 foot section and aim it. If the coach is in the way I add an 8 foot section. I have one of those old fashioned dashboard compass in the drivers cab and it is visible through the windshield. I just read it backwards. That is quicker than using the app and has always been within the app's parameters. I have large P clamps that go down the side of the bus and run the cable through them and keep it off the ground. I can mount it to the front or the back of the coach. It works fine with 6 inches of snow on top of it too. I installed cat 6 cable from one end of the coach to the other end and to the outside at both ends and use that to feed to the house. I have the roam plan so it works where I go. If I am on the road my house does not need internet. My phone works on its wireless so I have phone in non phone areas too. I have been very happy with it. Just tested it 250 Mbps down 22 up low 30's latency up and down. I had a power supply fail and they sent a new one overnight, no hassle.

I'm not very experienced with starlink, would it be possible to mount it on a swivel mount on the roof of the bus? The mount would lock when moving the bus.

 

[s2mikon]

I don't know if the mount is robust enough for the air speed encountered. They do make a mobile unit. Mine is not one of those.

 

[nikitis]

While I don't have the link, there is a guy making 3D printed mounts and extender poles for starlink devices. They aren't cheap though, but they work. You could make your own if you were crafty enough with CAD and 3D Printers.

 

[s2mikon]

I used military fiberglass camo net poles and a small amount of PVC pipe. Real cheap.

 

[s2mikon]

I know that every likes bus porn so here goes. The V shaped thing is the mount for my starlink and my crossband repeater when I put it up 20 foot. The green poles are the mil surplus fiberglass camo net poles that I painted to match the coach so as not to offend others. One shows it deployed on a trip last summer where I mounted it low. T-Mobile and AT&T was awol there and the park wifi was poor. But I had 250+ internet and wifi calling in and around my coach.

 

[nikitis]

Nice pics. Never seen your rig beyond your avatar. Interesting use of the bumper there, and it folds and locks under when traveling I assume?

 

[s2mikon]

The piece on the corner is like a hitch receiver at a 45 degree angle.The V shaped piece is held in with that bolt dropped in from the top. If you look close you can see it. The other end of the bumper is the same way. I can mount an antenna for a GMRS repeater on one side and a ham cross band repeater in the other side. I use the ones on the rear for HF. All of that stuff goes in the Jeep or the back of the Nissan pick up. Some trips I just take the starlink setup.

 

[Tejon7]

I have an older (v2?) dishy that I ground deployed a handful of times before realizing that was too much work for my lazy self. I bought a roof mount kit from Starmounts (or something like that). I had to cut the dish apart with a Dremel, which was pretty nerve-wracking. I also converted the power supply to 12v so that I wouldn't need to have my inverter constantly on. It's worked great for 3 years. The farther out in the boonies the better, since you're sharing bandwidth with everybody in your local area. It's sooo nice to be about to use it in motion to check satellite imagery when looking for a good campsite way out in the desert.

The new dishys (v3? and/or mini) don't need to be cut apart in order to permanently roof mount them. I've seen plenty of them on vehicle roofs when no modifications.

 

[FawnaFox]

I was thinking about making my own mount, although I like s2mikon's pole idea, I was going to have a pole mount for a wind turbine to generate electricity, so adding starlink to that wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

[Marceps]

If you go with Starlink, sign up using someone's referral link. Doing so gives you each a free month.

If you are not close with anyone who has a referral link, I can share mine. Feel free to send a private message.

Perhaps we should get the ball rolling on a referral pool to spread the savings. Everyone could get a turn.

 

[Bjorkinman]

s2mikon, looks like we may have the same bus!
I was thinking about the idea with a pole as well, and I would prefer to be able to move it if I'm parked on one side under trees.
Tejon7 - genius idea looking for spots.

 

[s2mikon]

I woke up to slow internet today 66 Mbps with a little snow on the Starlink and heavy cloud cover and its heater is in the process of trying melting it off. At 14 degrees outside it has its work cut out for it.