u/steevereeno

I just wanted to share a recent experience ( and apparent solution) re: my Starlink V4 terminal:

Over a year ago, I dumped my WAN internet service and satellite tv system in favor of Starlink v4 terminal and Residential service. Im using Starlink gen 3 router plus 2 Starlink gen 3 mesh nodes. I’ve been getting pretty good performance out of the system, with unobstructed sky. Some lags and dropouts, and the event log was filling up with network interruption alerts, more than 120 per day.

Dropouts reduced slightly when I replaced the wireless backhaul with wired. But the 120+ network interruptions per day persisted.

After opening a ticket with Starlink, they indicated the terminal is detecting excessive RF interference due to microwave ovens, cell equipment or other RF emitters, and suggested I move the terminal.

I was puzzled at first, as the terminal is in the center of my home’s flat roof, and certainly there’s no microwave ovens or cell antennas up there, or even below.

But wait a minute, I had installed the dish on the mast previously used by the satellite tv antenna, and within 5 feet of the dish are several solar panels, with micro inverters.

So as an experiment, I temporarily moved the dish as far as the existing cable would permit; now the closest solar panel is more than 16 feet away.

And now I observe network interruptions averaging less than 1 per hour, when it used to be one every few minutes.

With that, I’ve identified a site even further from the panels, and if these latest results hold, will permanently relocate the dish there.

Just something to keep in mind if you are fighting interference issues.

When switching plans mid billing cycle, I understand that your bill is pro-rated for the remainder of the month. However, it seems to me that depending on how far you are into the month, you may end up paying more than if you just upgraded at the beginning of the month.

For instance, on a Roam 300 at $80/month, and then upgrade Roam Unlimited plan ($175/mo) on day 10. Upon upgrade, I’d be charged for 20 days of the Roam Unlimited, which would be around $116. Making my total cost for the month $196.

For a scenario where I upgraded on day 25, pro rated unlimited plan would be about $30, making total cost for the month to be around $110.

Thus the need to be careful on when to take an upgrade as opposed to just making the transition at the start of the billing cycle.

Have I got this right?

Over the last few days, I have experienced several internet dropouts with the Starlink Mini, each lasting a minute or two, and then restoring itself with no intervention. Interestingly every case, WiFi connectivity is stable, there are no obstructions or overheating or local issues. Starlink app reports “Starlink is unreachable “

Interestingly, once connected back up, the event log reports nothing of significance, only the usual “device switching WiFi band” messages. Nothing abnormal in the debug data as well.

Has anyone else experienced similar issue? USA Denver area.

For those of you who operate robovacs in multi-floor situations- I have a question on the ease of managing those situations…

I am considering procuring a fairly high end unit, like Roborock QRevo Edge 2 of Dreame X50 Ultra. Our Golden Retriever is essentially a food-to-fur converter, and she is very efficient at scattering it throughout the house.

Much of our home is one level, with one step down to the kitchen area, and a second step down to the living room. Thus, 3 distinct zones, and we will have to move the vac periodically from area to area.

Is it a simple matter of picking the unit up and moving it to another area, and then moving it back to the main area to recharge/maintain itself?

Or do you need to additionally go into the app to tell it that it’s in a new zone, or place it in specific landing spots so it can orient itself in the new zone?

When it finishes a zone which does not have the charger, does it always return to a specific (hopefully programmable) spot?

In short, how easy it is to manage 3 separate zones? I’d rather not buy 3 units!

Thanks for any info of experience you can relate..