Three things that get lumped together
People ask us to compare these three as if they do the same job. They don't.
- 5G (or 4G). Internet over the mobile network, through your phone or a modem. It works well when you're in range of a tower.
- Satellite TV. A dish that brings in TV channels. It's TV, not internet. You can't browse, message or work on it.
- Starlink. Internet from satellites. It needs a clear view of the sky, not a mobile tower.
Where 5G does the job
In towns and along the main highways, a phone hotspot or a 5G modem is often all you need for maps, messages and the odd video. If you mostly stay in caravan parks close to town, start there.
The catch is coverage. Head off the main roads, into the hills or down a bush track, and the tower can disappear.
What satellite TV does, and doesn't
A satellite TV dish is for TV channels. If that's all you want at camp, it does that job. It won't give you internet.
Starlink doesn't replace a TV antenna or satellite TV either. What it gives you is internet. With internet, you can stream on a smart TV or a streaming stick on the van's Wi-Fi, as well as work, call and browse. Streaming services carry their own subscriptions.
Why Starlink suits a van
- Coverage past the towers. Starlink needs open sky, not a tower, so it can keep you online at camps where your phone shows no bars.
- One kit, two jobs. One connection for the internet and the streaming, instead of a TV dish plus a phone hotspot.
- Plans made for travel. Starlink's Roam plans are built for vans and motorhomes, and you can pause them between trips.
The honest limits: the dish needs a clear view of the sky, so thick trees will block it. And it needs power, from the site or from your van battery through the right unit.
The cost side
Starlink sets its own plan and hardware prices, and they change often. Check current prices on Starlink's site before you order.
We haven't put mobile or TV prices next to these. Those depend on your provider and plan, so compare them with your own bill.
Then there's our part. If the van needs an inverter or DC converter, we can supply the unit, and fitting is quoted to suit the van. Tell us where the van is and we'll show you the price in your quote, mount included. Travel depends on the address, and we show it in your quote. The full breakdown is on what a caravan Starlink install costs.
Starlink kits and plans come from Starlink. We fit the kit to your van.
Parked use
Our standard setup is for use while the van is parked. Starlink only allows use on the move on Roam and Priority plans, in areas it authorises, and never on a Residential plan. We don't set up for in-motion use.
Whether it's a weekend at Inverloch or a long lap that starts in Cranbourne and heads up through Gippsland, the question is the same: where will you stop, and can the dish see the sky there? For the wider choice, including park Wi-Fi, read our caravan internet and Starlink guide.
Questions
Does Starlink replace satellite TV in a caravan? No. Satellite TV brings in TV channels. Starlink gives you internet, which you can use to stream on a smart TV. If you want free-to-air channels, you still need a TV antenna or a satellite TV setup.
Is Starlink better than 5G for a caravan? It depends where you go. Near towns and highways, 5G is often enough. Away from the towers, Starlink can keep you online as long as the dish has a clear view of the sky.
Can I use Starlink while driving? Our standard setup is for use while parked. Starlink only allows in-motion use on Roam and Priority plans, in areas it authorises, and never on Residential. We don't set up for in-motion use.
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More on vans: Starlink for caravans · Caravan Starlink installation · Caravan questions
Where we do this: we're based in Cranbourne and we do this work across Gippsland.