Starlink

[otherclive]

It is more likely that poor signal is not the problem, rather too many signals. The radio frequencies used for cellular are repeated at much shorter distances than you might think so often there is a battle between sites when your mobile is getting even a good signal from both. It is very often found when you are on a hilltop. Also don't forget that most (but not all) cell sites use directional aerials which doesn't help the situation either.

Also do remember that EE is (when??!) the infrastructure supplier for the new Emergency Services Radio Network which should have replaced the dedicated Airwave system (originally) a decade ago. The issue is that the cellular providers work on a statistical model based on population, whereas the ESRN needs geographical coverage. The last I saw of it I can't remember how long ago was that the ESRN required (from memory) 348 extra sites to cover no-zones largely in Wales and the North of England even before testing could begin!

Irrespective of the reasons I tend to find our phones have worked better in overseas remote areas such as eastern Turkey borderlands and Bhutan than they seem to in too many places in UK.

 

[Buckman]

Thats TV signal, this thread is about Internet access. Chalk and cheese.

I was replying to DD post.

 

[Woodentop]

Irrespective of the reasons I tend to find our phones have worked better in overseas remote areas such as eastern Turkey borderlands and Bhutan than they seem to in too many places in UK.

Because outside most of the UK your phone will go to the best signal from ANY provider, whereas within most of the UK you are stuck with your single provider. I have found exactly the same issue when touring in France and Germany over the last 25 years or so.

 

[birdman101]

I don’t know where the 3 hub connects to,but know many parts of the country with no Landlines it is used and that we get better download speeds than we did with BT Landline. Has been used all over the the UK ,North,South ,East and West

 

[Dustydog]

eastern Turkey borderlands and Bhutan

That’s a long way for Clairey to tug her caravan for a signal🤪

 

[birdman101]

eastern Turkey borderlands and Bhutan

That’s a long way for Clairey to tug her caravan for a signal🤪

That’s a good signal strength then to me in the UK.

 

[otherclive]

eastern Turkey borderlands and Bhutan

That’s a long way for Clairey to tug her caravan for a signal🤪

Guess so, but roaming charges might not be too bad😂

 

[ProfJohnL]

It is more likely that poor signal is not the problem, rather too many signals. ...

How is the user to know if its a weak signal or too many signals, their metric is the fact their device is unable to receive enough coherent or strong enough either way there is not enough good signal to work satisfactorily.

Whilst the problem may be the receiver not having enough discrimination to filter out the unwanted signals, it's also the service providers problem about broadcasting so many conflicting signals in the area such it confuses customers compliant equipment.

The net effect is the customer has a poor signal.

 

[GUMPY]

How is the user to know if its a weak signal or too many signals, their metric is the fact their device is unable to receive enough coherent or strong enough either way there is not enough good signal to work satisfactorily.

When faced with bad connections I disable channels within the router software forcing it to ignore ch20 (often the strongest) and to connect to ch1 or 3 which have greater bandwidth. This often results in the router connecting to another mast with a weaker signal but higher throughout. I will admit that on days when I can't connect to anything it could become a bit difficult.😱
I have yet to find anywhere where I have not been able to get some internet but have had the odd day where streaming has been a bit hit and miss but that can usually be cured by reducing the resolution of the picture.

JTA it's all done with software on my phone controlling the router, no extra kit required. I also carry Sims from more than one network just in case.

 

[Buckman]

Thats TV signal, this thread is about Internet access. Chalk and cheese.

I was replying to DD's post and not the OP.

 

[Islander31]

Hi everyone. We have an autistic son who, whilst happy to come away with us in our ageing Swift Archway, but only if theres reliable internet/ phone coverage (no judgement please) so he can have his gaming time at the end of the day. It is becoming more and more difficult finding sites that have reliable internet so are seriously thinking of buying a starlink mini and would welcome your thoughts. It would only be used for when we are away in the caravan and wouldnt need it at home so wondered if theres any cheaper alternatives?

We have used Starlink for a few years now and find it fantastic. We have a Gen 2 dish with seperate router but the mini would have been far better if they had been available at the time. We only use it in the 'van so are on the roam plan. Speeds are fantastic (we are usually around 130-150mbps) however you need a decent view of the sky. Trees will lower your speed (even though you can actually use the dish in the caravan if there are no trees so go figure) so as long as you have a decent clear sight above you the speeds will be fine. I think the mini is max 100mbps but that may have changed since the last time I looked at them.

We mount the dish on the van roof and there is a multitude of brackets and mounts available for them. Takes me less than 5 mins to set it all up.

The biggest change has been the tarrifs recently. When we got it first the roam unlimited was £90 per month but could be paused when not in use with no charge. It is also pro-rata in order to reactivate so if you restarted part way through the billing cycle you only paid the remaining part of the month. They have changed their tarrifs recently and its now £4.50 per month to have the dish paused, however this will still give you a connection but only enough to update the dish / send messages / make wifi calls - it wont support streaming or gaming. The roam unlimited plan is still around £90 per month and pro-rata. They also do a 100gb download plan for £50 per month but if you use that up you are either on low speed (same as detailed for the pause above) or need to pay the extra for roam unlimited.

We love it as we always have good internet, particularly as we go to the highlands every year in February and there is no real usable phone signal at the site on any network. Its certainly not the cheapest thing to use - upfront cost plus £60 per year to be on pause. But its also there in an emergency if the home broadband goes out. Realy depends on how you weigh up the cost vs benefit. I know most people dont see the benefit and prefer mobile data however for us it wasnt the right solution

 

[Woodentop]

If you want to know about StarLink ask the resident staff at The Sandringham Estate CAMC site - they use it for TV and broadband and are highly impressed.