Are you looking for the best Starlink RV mounting options? Well, this guide will cover them!
If you’re an RV owner wondering about the subsequent tasks after your equipment arrives, this guide will help you decide.
Here we’ll discuss which is better, roof or portable Starlink mounting, the best and safest steps to install your Starlink dish, and help you set an obstruction-free setup.
The general options for Starlink RV mounting are permanent or portable, involving many surrounding factors.
Just because your Starlink dish is on the roof, it doesn’t mean the mount has to be permanent, providing you with options such as a pole or ladder mount.
There is much more, so let’s decide which is better!
Starlink RV Mount: Permanent Vs. Portable?
The main difference between permanent mounting and portable mounting is the installation and the ability to change the location of your dish without moving your RV.
Installing your Starlink dish higher, above your RV’s roof, is very beneficial, allowing you to bypass many obstructions, such as trees, other vehicles, and much more.
However, there is a way to have your dish portable and still be able to mount and unmount the dish from the roof.
About Starlink RV Roof Mount
The Starlink RV dish roof mount is undeniably the best mounting option for the Starlink Roam plan.
The speeds with this subscription are incredible, but they allow you to access the internet on the go, anywhere from your recreational vehicle.
So, let’s determine what makes the Roof mount better and the downsides of having it…
Roof Mount Advantages:
- Elevate the dish above obstructions.
- Better and faster signal/internet speed.
- Wind and vibration-resistant dish mount.
- The dish is out of reach for kids and pets.
Roof Mount Downsides:
- Additional cost for a non-permanent mount.
- More complicated than portable installation.
About Starlink Portable Mount
The portable Starlink RV mount is the more flexible option.
If you’re not on the go all of the time, you may want to be able to bring your dish to your home.
This way also allows you to switch between Starlink Roam and Starlink Residential anytime and relocate your dish from your RV to your home’s balcony.
The primary tool is the tripod base that arrives with your Starlink equipment. For a permanent RV installation, some people attach the base to the roof of their RV using recreational methods.
Well, for a portable mount, you can’t use this method; instead, you need a pole or ladder mount.
Portable Mount Advantages:
- Unlimited portability of the Starlink dish.
- Freedom to switch between Starlink plans.
- The dish can be on the roof or the ground.
Portable Mount Downsides:
- A portable roof mount must be very secure.
- The tripod ground mount is always within reach.
- The tripod mount is not secure against theft.
Conclusion: The best Starlink RV mount option is a portable roof mount, allowing flexibility, strong signal, and if installed correctly, excellent security.
Starlink RV Roof Mount Installation Steps Guide!
The RV roof mount is typically up to the user. You can permanently attach the dish to your RV’s roof using any recreational but secure method.
If you want to switch between the Starlink roof mount and the metal base (tripod), you can’t; however, go with a permanent mount.
1. Select Mounting Option
The most crucial step in mounting your dish is to decide whether you want a permanent or a portable solution.
Obviously, installing your Starlink dish onto the metal roof of your RV is the easier option since portability means more effort into security, and DIY methods may not work.
There are four general ways for Starlink RV roof dish mounting:
- Starlink RV Pole Mount
- Starlink RV Ladder Mount
- Starlink DIY Mount Ideas
- Starlink DIY with Tripod
Note: Some DIY methods do not provide portability!
2. Mount Your Starlink Dish
We now know several ways to mount your Starlink dish to your RV roof; some may require additional purchases.
So let’s discuss the installation of all options:
Starlink RV Pole Mount
The Starlink pole mount for RV is one of the most efficient portable roof mounts since it elevates the dish above your RV’s roof.
This provides even faster signal speeds, overcoming most obstructions, and many Starlink pole mounting kits will get the job done.
Using a flagpole, you can attach it to the hitch of your camper!
However, in other cases, you must solder and install the pole securely to the base of your RV to prevent wiggling.
This might represent a challenge for specific vehicles, so it’s best to design an installation plan before purchasing.
Starlink RV Ladder Mount
The ladder mount, also known as “tubing,” is a method suitable for RV’s with a ladder, where the dish locks into the ladder, allowing a 45-degree angle.
This option is portable since the tube unlocks and relocates your Starlink dish anytime.
However, DIY solutions here are not recommended, and Starlink doesn’t provide any of that, so third-party merchants typically supply these tubes.
After a thorough review of the aftermarket, quite a few options are available as per your specific circumstances.
Note: The tube also allows a J-mount to a recreational and DIY RV pole.
DIY RV Permanent Mount
If you want a permanent mount for your dish, you can use a DIY method to attach the Starlink dish to your RV’s roof.
Some people screw or solder the Starlink tripod onto the RV’s metal roof, allowing them to secure the Starlink dish.
Alert: With DIY methods, you must always pay extra attention to security!
3. Secure the Starlink Dish
When installing the Starlink dish on your RV, whether on the roof, ladder, or pole, it’s imperative to consider some safety factors.
The RV is a tall vehicle anyway, so sticking your Starlink dish upwards more than 3 feet might represent a problem when driving under some bridges.
Here are a few tips and recommendations for RV roof mount safety:
- The dish should be higher than 3 feet above the RV roof.
- The Starlink dish mount should be securely attached.
- The dish should not be wiggling or moving while driving.
- The mount should be theft-secured by additional support.
Tip: Use a bike alarm for permanent and portable Starlink dish mounts for additional security!
Starlink Tripod Mount Installation Easy Guide!
The tripod installation mount is something that every user is familiar with and provides portability above all else.
Many DIY methods allow you to permanently install the metal plate on the Roof of your RV, as well as more complex ways to relocate the tripod and dish anywhere.
1. Select a Tripod RV Mount
When it comes to a Starlink Tripod RV roof installation, there are again two Starlink RV mounting options – permanent and portable.
The permanent solution means securing the tripod onto the roof, and the portable tripod mount simply means not installing anything.
There are many ways temporal and permanent ways:
- Soldering the tripod legs to the vehicle’s roof or ladder.
- Screwing the tripod to a metal roof stand or other support.
- Using magnets or weights to secure the dish temporarily.
- Taking advantage of the ladder to support the dish tripod.
Let’s next review how the installation works…
2. Tripod Roof Installation
The permanent solution involves screwing the metal tripod to your RV roof, which allows you to keep the dish on the roof almost anytime.
Use support stands to keep the tripod screwed to the roof and avoid wiggling the dish.
In contrast, with the temporary tripod solution, you can use weights, magnets, or anything else to secure the tripod onto the top of the roof, only temporarily.
This, however, requires setting up and removing the dish before driving.
Note: The most significant limitation for temporary tripod installation is uneven terrain!
3. Starlink Tripod Portability
Remember that securing the Starlink dish tripod to your RV’s roof will prevent you from using your dish on the ground or mounting it in your home.
However, the dish is detachable from the tripod, so you can relocate your dish anywhere and anytime if you have a secondary stand.
Tip: The aftermarket provides a wide range of tripod stands for Starlink dishes to match your needs and circumstances.
How to Make Starlink RV Setup Obstructions Free?
When planning to use Starlink Roam with your recreational vehicle, you must also verify that there would be no signal obstructions.
There are some essential tips and tricks to ensure the Starlink RV mount is obstruction-free and the signal and speed will be at their full potential.
- Mount the Starlink dish above the roof of your vehicle.
- Park your RV only in a wide area with a clear sky view.
- Avoid parking your vehicle next to big trees or buildings.
- Point the Starlink dish between 15 and 30 degrees north.
Tip: Feel free to use the Starlink app to check for obstructions and tips after mourning your Starlink dish on your RV.
Quick Recap:
The best Starlink RV mounting options are roof mount by using ladder tubing, RV hitch pole support, or securing the tripod on top.
Also, there are many DIY methods to secure a Starlink dish to your RV, including screwing and soldering for permanent solutions.
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Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.