Technology: Reliable broadband connection with Starlink in the boat office
Boote Redaktion
· 02.03.2023
Using the ship as a boat office, simply surfing the Internet, watching films, receiving reliable weather reports and even telemedicine at sea - the need for high-performance, reliable and economically viable access to the Internet has become increasingly important in recent years.
The trend is not new; the topic of working on board has already been raised with us several times. However, the coronavirus pandemic has significantly increased its acceptance. The desire to be able to work from anywhere has virtually arrived at the centre of society. Whether temporarily or permanently on your own ship or a charter yacht hardly plays a significant role.
In our medical informatics company, mobile working is a long-standing practice. What began in the mid-1990s as e-mail retrieval with a modem on telephone sockets now requires completely different bandwidths, and Internet access must also be reliably available. A requirement that cannot be met everywhere with LTE or 5G. It was therefore an obvious choice to install Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet system on board and put it through its paces.
Starlink promises enormous data rates and is inexpensive
In the tested version, which is actually intended for motorhomes, it costs around 100 euros per month. The hardware comes at a one-off cost of 460 euros.
Since August 2022, the Starlink RV system has been used alongside an LTE router for day-to-day video conferencing work. RV stands for Recreational Vehicle. Unlike the original versions, this version of Starlink is not tied to a fixed address and can be used at different locations.
In contrast to the Maritim version, which is also available, the Camper version comes with a simpler antenna and must not be used while driving. This would invalidate the warranty or could result in the account being blocked. Nevertheless, you can read in Facebook groups that some people use the RV version while travelling without any problems. We have limited ourselves to use at anchorage or in the harbour. Concentrated video conferencing and travelling at the same time is not an option anyway. In addition, there is often very good LTE or 5G coverage near the coast. Problems usually only occurred directly in anchor bays when mountains shadowed the mobile phone signal. Orders can be placed online at www.starlink.com just as uncomplicated as the delivery within a few weeks. The scope of delivery includes a router, which is connected to the antenna, the dish, via a sufficiently long cable and provides a WLAN network.
This is what Starlink will cost
As mentioned, the RV variant currently costs 460 euros. An additional 100 euros per month is added for the data flat rate. In Europe, it has actually been an unlimited flat rate up to now; for American users, the operator introduced an upper limit of one terabyte per month last November. If the data volume is exceeded, the speed is now throttled. Whether and when such a limit will also be introduced in Europe is unclear. However, one terabyte of data per month is hardly achievable even with extensive video conferencing. Important information: The subscription can be paused on a monthly basis, for example outside the boating season.
If you really want to use the system on the move, you have two options: Firstly, the flat high-performance antenna can be ordered. This is explicitly designed for permanent outdoor installation on motorhomes and should also withstand motorway journeys, which means it should also be able to withstand storms. However, Starlink charges around 2,500 dollars for this package. Another option is the "maritime" boat version, which includes two high-performance antennas in the system. However, at around 10,000 euros to purchase and around 5,000 euros per month, it is also very expensive and is intended more for oil rigs and mega yachts.
However, it is clear that from a purely technical point of view, Starlink also works at sea, at least as long as you stay on the same continent. In our experience, the low-cost camping version is sufficient for fast satellite Internet at anchor or at a mooring.
Commissioning only takes minutes. Configuration takes place automatically via the app
Once the dish and router are connected by cable, start the Starlink app, which will automatically take care of the rest of the configuration. Anyone who can operate a smartphone should have no problem with the installation. The package includes a base for setting up the dish when camping. This is unsuitable on board, as you won't want to hammer pegs into the deck. The combination of a stainless steel fishing rod holder and the so-called Pipe Adapter from Starlink is much more seaworthy. The adapter costs 60 euros and fits various pipe diameters and therefore any standard fishing rod holder. The bracket can be installed at the stern or, as in our case, on the bimini. The antenna is then simply plugged in at the anchorage.
Commissioning on board is basically the same as in the garden at home. Only the position of the router needs to be considered. As long as the system is not to run while driving, it is sufficient to place the router in the corner of the sat nav.
We have the mobile power units, tablets, PCs and other devices supplied with 230 volts there anyway. This is because Starlink also requires alternating current. The power consumption is between 25 and 45 watts. In order to have enough energy on board for longer working days, we use two mobile solar panels with a peak output of 100 watts each. With good sunshine and orientation, the panels supply 50 to 60 watts each, which is sufficient for operating L aptop and Starlink.
Keep an eye on the electricity balance due to Starlink
However, as the sun doesn't shine every day and you might have to work a night shift if you're under deadline pressure, you should keep an eye on the power balance. That's why an additional power generator is on board as a backup.
Once set up, Starlink can be plugged in on arrival on board and used in the marina, at a mooring or at anchor. The dish collects data first, so when you switch it on at a new location, you have to wait a little before you can use the full performance. You should allow five to ten minutes' lead time, so it's best not to start the video meeting straight away.
The system works with phased array technology, which means that the antenna can align itself electronically to the signal to a certain extent and does not have to be constantly mechanically tracked to follow the satellites. Motors integrated into the dish therefore only occasionally correct the alignment of the antenna. However, normal ship movements are not compensated for.
In US Facebook groups on "Starlink on Boats", you can read about some people who have deactivated the antenna motor. In view of the infrequent corrections, however, this is unlikely to reduce the system's power consumption, but such tinkering will invalidate any warranty claims.
Ultimate test: video calls at anchor in a bay with mountains in strong winds
Television and video conferencing with common tools such as Teams or Zoom should show in a practical test how Starlink RV works at anchor or in a marina. In the fully occupied ACI Marina Opatija in Croatia, the ship was hardly moving, as it typically should be at berth. However, the direct view of the sky was blocked by the rigs of the neighbouring sailing yachts.
Reports from the camping sector state that similar situations with nearby trees lead to reception problems. In our test, neither the large number of masts nor the neighbouring Mount Ucka had a negative impact on data transmission. Internet television and video conferencing worked perfectly for hours.
The next step was to drop anchor. In order to create a meaningful test, it was helpful that the shifting winds created a swell. In addition, the swell of the morning Tramontana from the bay of Volosko came into the anchorage and caused three-dimensional movement due to wind and waves.
A tolerable but not optimal anchoring situation. Although the antenna only followed the Schwoien with a delay and rolling and pitching movements were practically not compensated for at all, the connection was flawless. Video conferencing and streaming worked perfectly even under these conditions.
The practical test
As the exemplary measurements show, the performance of the Schwoien certainly fluctuates, albeit at a fairly high level, which is more than sufficient for the aforementioned requirements in the boat office.
The result of days of use at anchorages can be summarised as follows: uninterrupted and very fast. No disruptions were detected. This is particularly remarkable, as short fluctuations and associated dropouts in video conferencing are common with LTE connections almost every day. However, the actual bandwidth of the satellite connection depends on the number of users and the utilisation of the network.
In the US media, you can read about significant declines in transmission speeds. However, the user density in some areas there is already so high that Starlink is no longer delivering new fixed systems. These enjoy a higher priority in the distribution of bandwidth. As a mobile user, you are always second in line and therefore have to expect restrictions.
Starlink is recommended, but power consumption must be taken into account
Starlink RV is a real alternative when no LTE or 5G network is available. However, the system is also suitable as the main solution for everyday mobile working. In a direct comparison with mobile phone networks, it even performs better than 5G. Only the power supply via 230 volts and the power consumption of around 40 watts are a hindrance and can limit its use on board.
That's why we only ever use Starlink at anchor when the mobile phone network is not reliable or not fast enough. In the marina with shore power, the satellite connection is now often our main access to the Internet on board. In the compact practical test, which of course cannot yet reflect years of experience, no faults have occurred so far.
The installation is very simple and easier to manage than most router set-ups at home. With the simple combination of a fishing rod holder and the pipe adapter from Starlink, a suitable place can probably be found on any boat. The most important rule is to have as clear a view of the sky as possible - but who regularly anchors under bridges or treetops? We didn't experience any interference from neighbouring boats' rigs. As far as costs are concerned, 460 euros to purchase and 100 euros per month are certainly economical if you can avoid breakdowns and disruptions and anchor wherever you like. And if you can afford the convenience of high-quality Internet on board privately, the crew will certainly thank you for it.
Most powerful solution for remote Ankber Bay
It remains to be seen to what extent the bandwidth will decrease with increasing distribution in Europe and whether the 1 terabyte cap will be introduced here as in the USA. But even with these uncertainties, Starlink is likely to be the most powerful and also the cheapest Internet solution for use in remote anchorages for the foreseeable future.
For charter yachts, it may be an idea to fit brackets in the spirit of "Bring your own Starlink". It is important to note that the RV version must not be used while underway. If this is enough for you, the system is highly recommended.
The author Heino Kuhlemann advises medical facilities and IT providers in the healthcare sector from the boat office in the summer and is therefore dependent on a reliable Internet connection
Starlink at a glance
Starlinkis part of Elon Musk's SpaceX space project and is intended to provide nationwide high-speed internet. The system officially went live at the end of 2021, but has not yet reached its full expansion stage, so coverage is not yet global. The service can already be used in large parts of Europe and North America. A special feature of Starlink is the enormous number of satellites. The system currently operates with around 2,800 satellites, but this is set to rise to around 12,000 when it is fully expanded.
For comparison: Inmarsat works with just four geostationary satellites. Iridium, which relies on polar orbiting transmitters, has 66. The large number of satellites is necessary because the artificial celestial bodies fly in orbits of no more than 550 kilometres. This ensures short signal propagation times and good response times for the data connection. However, the individual satellites can also only cover small radio cells. A side effect of the low orbits is the short service life of the satellites, as they are so close to the atmosphere that increased friction occurs. The orbits therefore have to be corrected frequently and the fuel is quickly used up. The current generation will not last longer than five years. Communication satellites flying at higher altitudes generally last two to three times as long. The satellite chains are another special feature. SpaceX deploys around 50 satellites at a time during each launch, which are then grouped into chains of lights that are clearly visible at dusk before they take up their positions in the network.
Recommended bandwidth
If you look at the bandwidth requirements of the Zoom video conferencing platform, for example, it quickly becomes clear that Starlink does not even come close to reaching its limits here.
The bandwidth used by Zoom is optimised based on the participants' network for the best experience. Adaptation for 4G, 5G, Wi-Fi or wired networks is automatic.
For video calls with two participants for...
- high quality video: 600 KBit/s (upload/download)
- 720p HD video: 1.2 MBit/s (upload/download)
- 1,080p HD video: 3.8 MBit/s or 3.0 MBit/s (upload/download)
For video calls with groups for...
- high quality video: 1.0 MBit/s or 600 KBit/s (upload/download)
- 720p HD video: 2.6 MBit/s or 1.8 MBit/s (upload/download)
- 1,080p HD video: 3.8 MBit/s or 3.0 MBit/s (upload/download)
- Reception of the gallery view: 2.0 MBit/s (25 views), 4.0 MBit/s (49 views)
- for screen sharing only (no video thumbnail): 50 -75 KBit/s
- Screen sharing with video thumbnail: 50 -150 KBit/s
- Audio VoIP: 60 -80 kbit/s
- Zoom Phone: 60 -100 kbit/s
Recommended bandwidth for webinar participants (panellist video)
- ~600 KBit/s (download) for high-quality videos
- ~1.2 -1.8 MBit/s (download) for 720p HD video
- ~2-3 MBit/s (download) for 1,080p HD video
- for screen sharing only (no video thumbnail): 50 -75 KBit/s (download)
- for screen sharing with video thumbnail: 50 -150 KBit/s (download)
- for audio VoIP: 60 -80 kbit/s (download)
