Internet

Background

There are probably countless videos and articles on the internet covering internet access for vans/campervans/motorhomes. We watched some of those and came to the conclusion there is no such thing as “the best” solution. Most van lifers seem to recommend to run a cellular router and Starlink in tandem.

Initially we figured that is overkill and opted for Starlink on its own. Especially with Starlink Mini the setup is easy and quick and the speeds are more than sufficient. However, we overlooked an important factor: Starlink requires perfect access to the sky especially when you run many video calls. For streaming, uploadind and browsing the odd obstruction is no issue, but for video calls obstructions mean interruptions.

Since our style of travel includes staying in forests, in the shade etc we are bound to face many obstructions. In the end we opted to install a 5G antenna and a proper 5G WIFI6 router that will handle both cellular as well as the Starlink WAN signals.

Our setup

• Starlink Mini.
• Starlink Mini magnet mount
• Teltonika RUTC50 5G Router (Selfsat-Version)
• 5G antenna (Satco)
• 1 simple power switch
• An external RJ45 outlet
• An external 100W USB-C outlet (with a switch inside to turn off/on)

Starlink statistics

Average time to set up: 5 mins (including booting Starlink and aligning it – which is probably not even necessary).

Average power draw while in use with 2 laptops: 15-20 Watts.

Teltonika RUTC50 5G router statistics

The router draws around 4.5W (0.38A @ 12V) when idle and with a maximum power draw of 13.5W (1.12A @ 12V).