Featured Image Source: TTTHEFINEPRINTTT via YouTube
SpaceX rolled out Starlink for RVs on May 23rd and it already received over 30,000 orders in just a couple of weeks. The pay-as-you-go service enables internet connection at any destination with active Starlink satellite coverage. "Starlink for RVs is ideal for customers travelling to locations where connectivity has been unreliable or completely unavailable," the company said. Starlink for RVs enables users to access reliable internet through the constellation of around 2,500 satellites in Low Earth Orbit.
Starlink for RVs is useful for customers who go camping often at a particular location or who have a vacation home. SpaceX offers a 'Portability' add-on feature that enables users to take their dish anywhere across the country where Starlink is available [See Starlink Map]. However, "Starlink for RVs is not designed for use while in motion," according to the company's website. SpaceX founder Elon Musk has plans to release a fully-mobile service in the future but it will require regulatory approval to use on moving vehicles.
On June 9, SpaceX shared a video of a gamer testing Starlink Internet on top of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. "Awesome to see how people are using Starlink for RVs! 30,000 orders and counting," the company said via Twitter (video linked below).
Awesome to see how people are using Starlink for RVs! 30,000 orders and counting → https://t.co/tWDPs3ruIChttps://t.co/m3TOmHXv0b
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) June 9, 2022
The gamer is Trent Arant, who has a YouTube channel called 'TTTHEFINEPRINTTT' where he uploads vlogs about traveling in a small RV van and playing competitive video games. He made a cool video demonstrating how easy it is to install a Starlink user terminal atop the mountain with a solar power generator. He tested the Starlink internet service outdoors while playing 'Overwatch' and performed a couple of internet speed tests. The Starlink network speed atop of the Rocky Mountains was a download speed of 165.5 Mbps (megabits per second), upload of 7.35, and latency (ping) of 79 ms (milliseconds). The second test provided a download speed of 77.72 Mbps, upload of 7.45 Mbps, and latency of 55 ms, which is quite impressive given the remote location. It "[...] is good enough to livestream on, you need at least 6 megabits per second. So, I mean, for me being in the middle of nowhere, this is freaking incredible!" he said. "I'm super happy with it! I cannot believe these numbers exist! [...] I am like freaking blown away right now!" You can watch TTTHEFINEPRINTTT's full YouTube video linked below.
Featured Images Source: TTTHEFINEPRINTTT via YouTube
About the Author
Evelyn Janeidy Arevalo
Evelyn J. Arevalo joined Tesmanian in 2019 to cover news as a Space Journalist and SpaceX Starbase Texas Correspondent. Evelyn is specialized in rocketry and space exploration. The main topics she covers are SpaceX and NASA.
