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We have a cottage where we are considering getting starlink at. This service still seems like a game changer to me. If 4g is also available, running a router wi

We have a cottage where we are considering getting starlink at. This service still seems like a game changer to me. If 4g is also available, running a router with dual-wan sounds like a great option to mitigate connection dropouts. We will try that. If you’re really serious about living in the back of beyond and your income depends on your ability to be on zoom calls, then it’s a small price to pay.

nucleardog 4y ago
I live in one of the most heavily populated areas of Canada. Almost 20% of the population of the whole country is within an hour of my house. I live directly on a fairly major highway. Utilities are above ground and right at the end of my driveway. Local internet options are 5mbit DSL, 10 mbit fixed wireless, or 25 mbit fixed LTE. If this were a “cottage” in the vacation home sense I’d say “Starlink is generally reliable enough”, but we’ve got two people working from home here. We’ve got the Starlink as the primary (fast) connection and pay another $60USD/mo for the 25mbit fixed LTE as a backup. Missing a day of work due to an outage would pay for about a year of the LTE connection so it seems like some relatively cheap insurance. I do end up falling back on it relatively frequently when the Starlink isn’t “out” but the service is degraded enough that things like video calls are have a lot of short (1-2s) stutters or high latency. I could do probably live with it, but it’s there anyway so I use it. On the other end though, Starlink _also_ saved my ass when the whole region was without power for over a week. Cell tower dropped after about an hour and the LTE went out. Starlink relies on no local infrastructure so got the generator fired up and worked through the entire week without any real issue. If you’re planning to WFH in the “boonies” you’re basically describing my current setup and it’s been very solid. Can definitely recommend.
chrisco255 4y ago
I do full time RV. I basically do this. I have a 4G router and the starlink. I just switch to 4g during the rare times the Starlink is slow. It works great.
Auracle 4y ago
The only time our Starlink drops is during the heaviest of upper midwest downpours, so I really wouldn't worry about a backup unless you absolutely need 100% instead of 99.999% uptime.

nucleardog 4y ago

I live in one of the most heavily populated areas of Canada. Almost 20% of the population of the whole country is within an hour of my house. I live directly on a fairly major highway. Utilities are above ground and right at the end of my driveway. Local internet options are 5mbit DSL, 10 mbit fixed wireless, or 25 mbit fixed LTE. If this were a “cottage” in the vacation home sense I’d say “Starlink is generally reliable enough”, but we’ve got two people working from home here. We’ve got the Starlink as the primary (fast) connection and pay another $60USD/mo for the 25mbit fixed LTE as a backup. Missing a day of work due to an outage would pay for about a year of the LTE connection so it seems like some relatively cheap insurance. I do end up falling back on it relatively frequently when the Starlink isn’t “out” but the service is degraded enough that things like video calls are have a lot of short (1-2s) stutters or high latency. I could do probably live with it, but it’s there anyway so I use it. On the other end though, Starlink _also_ saved my ass when the whole region was without power for over a week. Cell tower dropped after about an hour and the LTE went out. Starlink relies on no local infrastructure so got the generator fired up and worked through the entire week without any real issue. If you’re planning to WFH in the “boonies” you’re basically describing my current setup and it’s been very solid. Can definitely recommend.

chrisco255 4y ago

I do full time RV. I basically do this. I have a 4G router and the starlink. I just switch to 4g during the rare times the Starlink is slow. It works great.

Auracle 4y ago

The only time our Starlink drops is during the heaviest of upper midwest downpours, so I really wouldn't worry about a backup unless you absolutely need 100% instead of 99.999% uptime.