Starlink ordered… I feel it’s the only sensible option now..

[autorouter]

So, the solution (I hope) is a Starlink Roam

Another option 'coming soon' is a OneWeb connection, they just completed their planned quota of satellite launches this week. They still have to complete the ground station network to talk to them, but that is supposed to be finished by the end of the year. And apparently they won't let users connect directly, they'll have to go through another company like O2 or Vodafone.

The 'dishes' ie aerials are flat, so presumably they are the electronically beam-steered 'phased array' types, as already used by the military. I presume the Starlink ones are also like that.

OneWeb launch completes space internet project

The London firm part-owned by the UK government puts up its final batch of broadband satellites.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[monzer]

Another option 'coming soon' is a OneWeb connection, they just completed their planned quota of satellite launches this week. They still have to complete the ground station network to talk to them, but that is supposed to be finished by the end of the year. And apparently they won't let users connect directly, they'll have to go through another company like O2 or Vodafone.

The 'dishes' ie aerials are flat, so presumably they are the electronically beam-steered 'phased array' types, as already used by the military. I presume the Starlink ones are also like that.

OneWeb launch completes space internet project

The London firm part-owned by the UK government puts up its final batch of broadband satellites.

www.bbc.co.uk

That's good to know. I thought that project was dead in the water.

 

[Carpmart]

Apparently the Starling kit has arrived… so much for me planning ahead with their quoted 2-4 week delivery. I’m not home until 24th April.

 

[Riverbankannie]

Yeah i was paying the 2.00.per.day then realised I could get the lot for a tenner a month from the addons menu

I got free roaming as an incentive when I said I was going to leave EE, had to ask for a PAC code though, saying I was leaving, and wait for a more senior person to call me back.

 

[MisterB]

I am currently in France and am using the Free (network name NOT free to use) SIM only service. It works out at just under €30 for 210gb of data, non renewable. It has been fine for TV streaming. Added to my phone allowance it has worked out quite well last year and so far this year.

My only downsides are that you need to go into a 'Free' store to get the SIM and it only lasts one month. No idea if it includes roaming throughout the EU.

I'm sure there must be similar or even better options but until someone posts the details then I will continue using the 'Free' service.

Both starlink and oneweb sound interesting options but as I don't actually need that level of service then I dint think they are for me ...

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[Realist]

Interesting……. I’ve a caravan that’s sited 12 months of the year and currently use Maxview Roam and two different providers SIM cards.

The signals are hit and miss so Starlink may be a great option.

I’m currently paying £29 a month for two sims and Starlink would be £75 so for an extra £46 a month for quality internet.

Plus I’ll most probs 3D print a surround and fit it flat and fix it to the roof so again it’s a win win.

Happy days.

 

[chaser]

I am late to this thread, but can I just ask why you need all this gubbins when on holiday?
What does it do that a data SIM won't?
We have a phone each one on O2 the other on Vodafone and over a month in France have never run out of signal or got anywhere near our limit.

 

[Realist]

As a side note, does anyone know if anyone has modified their Vision Plus Tv Ariel and fitted the Starlink to the actual pole/mount itself?

Reason I’m asking is I have a to antenna that’s not being used so was thinking why not remove the antenna, Mount the Starlink on that and use the pole so the feeds go back into the van.

This way the Starlink can still move and you can then lift and lower the pole/Starlink from inside the van just like the original Ariel system.

 

[brysee]

I am late to this thread, but can I just ask why you need all this gubbins when on holiday?
What does it do that a data SIM won't?
We have a phone each one on O2 the other on Vodafone and over a month in France have never run out of signal or got anywhere near our limit.

I thought the same I understand if you got a couple of teenagers on board
But on holiday do you really need a telly and all the Internet

 

[chaser]

I thought the same I understand if you got a couple of teenagers on board
But on holiday do you really need a telly and all the Internet

Exactly, we haven't even got a TV in the van and never missed it.
We have a small laptop that we hotspot off one of the phones if need be, but just don't seem to have the time to watch anything when on holiday.
Although I suspect the op might be working from his van.

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[Realist]

I thought the same I understand if you got a couple of teenagers on board
But on holiday do you really need a telly and all the Internet

Simple answer is yes. We all have different needs technology wise and with streaming services quality quick internet access is vital in todays society.

Not everyone needs it but I assure you that 85% even I would say 95% of motorhomers or caravaners will need some sort of internet access.

It’s not for all but for me and others yes it’s a vital part of peoples holidays.

Me, my van is sited 12 months of the year so net access is needed.

 

[Speve]

Sadly from the end of the month it is no longer available.

That’s not quite correct it’s no longer available for use outside Spain? It will give a max of 18 gb roaming that’s all.
you will still be able to get a 300gb sim but only for Spain and very limited roaming
heres the email from Tiekom :

Dear client,

We inform you that due to the new European regulations on roaming rates, Vodafone has changed the terms of our Data sim 300GB + roaming.
The rate that currently has contracted data sim 300 GB in Spain and EU zone 1 (roaming), will be modified on April the 1st, 2023 and giving 300GB of data in Spain and 18 GB Roaming EU zone 1.
During this month of March, the main telecom providers have applied the new conditions, but Tiekom has kept the service with the terms agreed with you and maintaining the quality of the service.

If you choose to continue with this service ACCEPTING THE NEW CONDITIONS, please contact us to be sure that your service won’t be blocked.

From Tiekom we all thank you for the trust us all over these months and as soon as a new service would be available, we will send you all the information.


Best regards / Beste Grüße / Un saludo

 

[MandP]

Deal with Vodafone has not been progressed. I understand you can still use in Spain, but no roaming, just fair usage roaming, so I would guess 15gb or so.

Carpmart,
We are in Benidorm and bought a Vodaphone Data card from the Vodaphone shop last week, 20 euros 100GB and works well. We were told it will work througout Europe, but haven't yet tried it outside Spain.
Kind regards
Pam

 

[Carpmart]

I am late to this thread, but can I just ask why you need all this gubbins when on holiday?
What does it do that a data SIM won't?
We have a phone each one on O2 the other on Vodafone and over a month in France have never run out of signal or got anywhere near our limit.

Yes I appreciate not everybody needs or wants always on connectivity. I do! I don’t feel the need to justify or explain, it’s just with the world I live and operate in, low latency decent bandwidth connectivity is assumed to be there and available and always on, so when away, why should I compromise!

So, yes not a topic useful to everyone…

 

[Carpmart]

As a side note, does anyone know if anyone has modified their Vision Plus Tv Ariel and fitted the Starlink to the actual pole/mount itself?

Reason I’m asking is I have a to antenna that’s not being used so was thinking why not remove the antenna, Mount the Starlink on that and use the pole so the feeds go back into the van.

This way the Starlink can still move and you can then lift and lower the pole/Starlink from inside the van just like the original Ariel system.

I gave this some consideration before opting for the planned approach, as detailed in the first post.

I will (most likely) flat mount the dish in the future, just not sure when yet.

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[orridge]

I am late to this thread, but can I just ask why you need all this gubbins when on holiday?
What does it do that a data SIM won't?
We have a phone each one on O2 the other on Vodafone and over a month in France have never run out of signal or got anywhere near our limit.

Depends on the need I guess. As I work remotely for a New Zealand company I can be based anywhere so we often have longer trips into Europe during School Holidays where I can work and the family has their break so having a reliable and fast internet connection for customer meetings is a must without eating into valuable leave time.

The upside is the van becomes the mobile office.

 

[Trevor Wbm]

I've just signed up with Popit Mobile, which uses EE in the UK .. £25 a month on a rolling one month contract for 100GB, which can be used anywhere in Europe without being capped. Can also 'pause' the SIM at £1 a month when you're not using it.

 

[Carpmart]

Exactly, we haven't even got a TV in the van and never missed it.
We have a small laptop that we hotspot off one of the phones if need be, but just don't seem to have the time to watch anything when on holiday.
Although I suspect the op might be working from his van.

Work… how very dare you, it’s increasingly a distant memory!

We are out of the country a lot with the Motorhome now. When back in the UK over the summer months, we attend quite a number of the Fun rallies too… this totalled up to 236 nights in the Motorhome last year, UK and abroad… this year will be more like 300…

So, like your house where I’m sure you like to have a TV and internet, we too enjoy that as part of living slightly differently to many people. I therefore need always on, decent bandwidth internet and I’ve now chosen Starlink as the approach.

 

[Carpmart]

I've just signed up with Popit Mobile, which uses EE in the UK .. £25 a month on a rolling one month contract for 100GB, which can be used anywhere in Europe without being capped. Can also 'pause' the SIM at £1 a month when you're not using it.

I’ve got two 100Gb Popit sims that I’ve been using in France and Spain since Boxing Day. You need to be aware that it has limitations. It’s not proper mobile data, as in a proper data sim, it a phone SIM so lots of shaping and poor 4G in good areas. Don’t get me wrong, it’s quite useable 80% of the time, just not the always on utility service I’m after.

 

[Curt]

I have StarLink fitted to my roof, and connected to a peplink router gives me a rock-solid connection where ever I go. I had it working with no issues for seven months now. I use it for work, so I can't be mucking about. I need a decent connection for video calls. I believe you can rent the kit now, so there is no capital outlay.

Count the dishes. Better fixed on the roof.

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[Wh05apk]

Work… how very dare you, it’s increasingly a distant memory!

We are out of the country a lot with the Motorhome now. When back in the UK over the summer months, we attend quite a number of the Fun rallies too… this totalled up to 236 nights in the Motorhome last year, UK and abroad… this year will be more like 300…

So, like your house where I’m sure you like to have a TV and internet, we too enjoy that as part of living slightly differently to many people. I therefore need always on, decent bandwidth internet and I’ve now chosen Starlink as the approach.

We are all different, I work from my van, so need decent internet (but have managed so far using various sims) someone just going for a few week ends/short holidays could easily live without TV/internet, but if you are practically living in the van as you are I can see good internet is vital, you are not going to want to go out every evening eating/socialising or sitting in the van playing cards/reading.

We all have different priorities, I couldn't justify the expense of Starlink, but would not criticise you at all if that is how you wish to live/spend your money.

 

[chaser]

We are all different, I work from my van, so need decent internet (but have managed so far using various sims) someone just going for a few week ends/short holidays could easily live without TV/internet, but if you are practically living in the van as you are I can see good internet is vital, you are not going to want to go out every evening eating/socialising or sitting in the van playing cards/reading.

We all have different priorities, I couldn't justify the expense of Starlink, but would not criticise you at all if that is how you wish to live/spend your money.

I wasn't criticising, just puzzled why you would spend that sort of money just to watch TV on holiday.

 

[Wh05apk]

I wasn't criticising, just puzzled why you would spend that sort of money just to watch TV on holiday.

effectively they are living almost full time in their van, so presumably need/want to keep up with the world.

 

[gus-lopez]

Why please ?

vodaphone pulled the rug out

but no roaming, just fair usage roaming, so I would guess 15gb or so.

should be 27gb

Surely if you went to them and said I'm willing to part with say £80 a month data

You would think so wouldn’t you…

surley you can get unlimited in the Uk add on the £27day roaming charge & being under £80/month

quality quick internet access is vital in todays society.

don't come here then

It will give a max of 18 gb roaming that’s all.

& anyone using it should make a complaint . there is a minimum that must be supplied based on the EU Directuive & on what you pay.
Each Gb has a value of 3€.
The formula is ;
amount paid ÷ 3€= Z . multiply by 2 = 2Z & then add 1 to arrive at
2Z +1
If you are paying 39€/month then it is 39€÷3€ =13 X 2 =26 + 1= 27 gb is the legal minimum from a Tiekom card.

In fact since last July roaming charges have been techniocally illegal in the whole of europe as by that date all were supposed to be discontinued & you could "Roam like at home"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaming_Regulation_2022

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/QANDA_21_654

low latency

yes we don't have that either

just to watch TV on holiday.

I don't watch tv at home so am like you & the van doesn't have one either.

 

[Carpmart]

I wasn't criticising, just puzzled why you would spend that sort of money just to watch TV on holiday.

When do you stop being on holiday and start living ‘slightly’ alternatively?

Is it number of nights, mindset, how others perceive you? I honestly don’t know, but I do know that I ‘need’ good internet irrespective of what I (or indeed others) think of the way we live.

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[Tombola]

I am late to this thread, but can I just ask why you need all this gubbins when on holiday?
What does it do that a data SIM won't?
We have a phone each one on O2 the other on Vodafone and over a month in France have never run out of signal or got anywhere near our limit.

It can look like that from the outside but I have to be connected for various reasons at all times with a fast secure stable connection.
I still have sim and router as a backup but never needed it yet.

Similar I supposed to why do you all need that lithium etc etc.

When ya know, ya know

 

[chaser]

When do you stop being on holiday and start living ‘slightly’ alternatively?

Is it number of nights, mindset, how others perceive you? I honestly don’t know, but I do know that I ‘need’ good internet irrespective of what I (or indeed others) think of the way we live.

Not interested how you live , you do what you like same as everyone else, but we don't hardly watch TV at home never mind out in the van when we first started we had to have a TV because it seemed that it was the thing, TV ports and aerial already in so go for it.
After the first couple of days, it was never on again.
This converted ambulance has none , never even thought of putting one in.

 

[Carpmart]

Not interested how you live , you do what you like same as everyone else, but we don't hardly watch TV at home never mind out in the van when we first started we had to have a TV because it seemed that it was the thing, TV ports and aerial already in so go for it.
After the first couple of days, it was never on again.
This converted ambulance has none , never even thought of putting one in.

Fortunately people are like a box of chocolates…. All different!

Now’t as queer as folk!

 

[iain26]

Just bought a PREPAID Lebara France sim in Carrefour supermarket for 15E. It has 50GB of Data included and lasts 30 days.
I believe you cna then just renew the plan online for another month etc or let it die.

We had a FREE sim last year that took us 2 months to get cancelled, they just kept taking the money every month until we submitted our cancellation request “in writing” to their head office. Took us 3 days to find their Head Office address to write to! Terrible company to do business with.

 

[Taran_Las]

I thought the same I understand if you got a couple of teenagers on board
But on holiday do you really need a telly and all the Internet

Compared to some of us, Harvey is a teenager.


Meant in the nicest possible way.

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