In Motion Starlink for the Tow Vehicle

[goldenchase]

The combination of a Ford F-150 PowerBoost with a 7.2kw ProPower Onboard generator opens up several new options for mounting the new Starlink In Motion antenna. I have detailed my electrical conversion of a 2022 Globetrotter in this thread. The F-150 PowerBoost with a 7.2kw ProPower Onboard makes this conversion possible but it also opens a new way to support the Starlink In Motion system.

I have mounted the In Motion Starlink system in the F-150 rather than installing it on the Airstream. The F-150 Starlink system is fully contained to the F-150 and powered by the F-150 7.2kw generator or optionally plugged in when parked. I have substituted the Starlink WiFi router with a PepWave Max BR1 Pro 5G cellular router that is connected to a PepWave antenna in back of the cab.

The Starlink system is fully self contained in the F-150 so full internet is available any time the truck is in motion or parked remotely from the AirStream. In a camping area with overhead obstructions near the trailer, the F-150 can be moved somewhere nearby away from obstructions using WiFi as WAN back to the Airstream for internet. If the camping area is free of obstructions the F-150 can operate near the trailer using power from the trailer if it is not convenient to run the Propower Onboard generator. While operating on the Ford generator the draw from the hybrid battery is so low the engine briefly starts every 30 minutes running for a few minutes to top off the battery.

Two routers support this system. A Pepwave BR1 Max Pro5G is mounted with the Starlink power supply in the truck bed. In the Airstream there is a Pepwave Transit Duo with its own Pepwave antenna. Both systems are joined via WiFi as WAN connection operating via the high frequency WiFi 6 radios in those PepWave devices so there is little chance of campground interference.

The other advantage of the StarLink In Motion system installed in the F-150 PowerBoost with ProPower on board is that it can become a full back up system for power and internet for your house. With the current run of California storms I have been making use of that feature lately.

Here is the current installation. As I finish up the install I will post more images and specifications.

[goldenchase]

Version 3 Starlink In Motion on the TV. Aerodynamics over the moon roof not good for antenna placement in the F-150. It is an ideal position to keep it out of the way but turbulent airflow over the antenna is quite loud in the cab moving along at 65 mph. Also getting the electronics out of the bed is much better. With that black tonneau cover the bed air temperatures get very high in the desert southwest.

[FredWilma]

A little difficult to see. Have you now installed the Pepwave router in the box ? Is that a 5g antenna on top of the box? How do you run power? Thanks Goldenchase!

[goldenchase]

Originally Posted by FredWilma

A little difficult to see. Have you now installed the Pepwave router in the box ? Is that a 5g antenna on top of the box? How do you run power? Thanks Goldenchase!

Yes, Peplink in the box, power coming from ProPower Onboard.

Current working some bugs between Starlink modem and Peplink Router. WAN randomly is going off line. Same problem has been reported with other router brands so it appears to be Starlink ethernet bug. Mostly it works. Works fine with the Starlink WiFi router which is also in the box.

[goldenchase]

Starlink in Motion Version 4

With thousand of miles of experience I have continued to refine Starlink in Motion on my F-150 PowerBoost. The system is now running on a 2023 Platinum PowerBoost powered by PPoB. With the latest version I have now attached the Starlink High Performance dish directly to the equipment box housing the Starlink power supply and the Peplink MAX BR1 - Pro5G cellular router. I have also moved the Pepwave cellular/WiFi antenna inside the equipment box with the high performance Starlink antenna mounted flush to the case.

Previously I was worried than having the Starlink antenna close to the Peplink cellular router could cause interference. This appears not to be a problem.

I also changed the attachments to the rack so that all I need to do is unlock the equipment box, loosen 4 bolts and the entire unit slides off the rack. It all takes about 2 minutes. That means I can quickly redeploy the unit to another location and have full broad band internet wherever I place the box and integral antenna.

I am on the Starlink $150/month plan and have seen speeds continue to increase as more satellites have launched.