If you’re a Starlink user — or thinking about it for your RV — there are some changes that have already rolled out and a few on the way that are worth knowing about.
Starlink Previews Two New Dishes
In a recently released SpaceX video, CEO Elon Musk previewed two brand-new Starlink dish terminals, both of which appear thinner and lighter than current models. Musk confirmed they are “the new Starlink terminals, which we make in much higher volume than the current terminals,” though no specs or pricing have been officially released. Both units look compact enough that one or both could potentially fit in a backpack. Whether that means better performance or simply cheaper production isn’t clear yet — Starlink has stripped features from new hardware releases before, so we’ll have to wait and see what these new versions bring.
A rumored “Starlink Rugged Mini” with its own battery has been circulating online for some time, but the dishes previewed by Musk don’t appear to match that description.
Starlink Is Now Charging a Monthly Rental Fee
The bigger near-term change affects new customers. Starlink has shifted away from one-time equipment purchases, opting instead for a rental plan. According to Mobile Internet Resource Center, all new Residential customers are now provided equipment through a $10 per month rental program. Under the new plan, customers no longer own their Starlink dish and must return it if they cancel their service. There are a couple of workarounds should you want to own your dish, including buying from a third-party reseller like Best Buy or Home Depot. MIRC lists all the details and more in their incredibly thorough article.
And this is where it could get sticky for the part-time RVer looking to purchase Starlink. Most part-timers prefer to pause service during months they’re not on the road — but in order to do that, you would have to go with another plan outside of the residential, and you would have to own your dish. That may make sense for some part-time RVers, but the upfront cost could price out others.
For full-timers, the math may work out fine, and renting may be no big deal. For everyone else, ownership still makes more sense if being able to have the flexibility to pause your account is an important part of why you signed up in the first place.
