Starlink & Ham Radio - WaveTalkers LIVE 118

***NEW*** Learn Morse Code: The Basics

***NEW*** Wavetalkers Amazon Shop
Curated lists for Emergency Communications, Family Preparedness, and Amateur Radio gear.
WaveTalkers earns a commission on sales through the shop. Thanks for your support!

WaveTalkers Curated Ham Radio, Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Deployment gear that we use and love. We are sorting through Amazon to find the most helpful equipment that has proven itself in the field to save you time and money. Check it out our new Affiliate Shop on Amazon.

Starlink & Ham Radio
Please Join Us this Sunday for WaveTalkers LIVE: Episode 118
This week the WaveTalkers crew deploys a portable Starlink system and connects it to our Tactical Winlink Gateway. We demonstrate sending Winlink traffic using VARA FM into the gateway and watching it get relayed out via Starlink. This system blends high speed data with the flexibility of ham radio operators in the field.

Learn how to set up a Starlink system and discover the reality of running Starlink in the field.

We have heard many people asking if Starlink is going to replace ham radio and Winlink. Join us this week to see what an integrated system looks like to maximize the effectiveness of Starlink, Amateur Radio, and Winlink.

We will wrap up Episode 118 with an after party for all of those joining us in the Zoom. Due to the ongoing response efforts related to Hurricane Helene, please DO NOT Send a Winlink Check in this week, instead, let us know in the chat on our YouTube page if you have used Starlink and what your experience has been with that system.

Starlink & Ham Radio (Episode 118)
October 6, 2024
1pm Pacific / 4pm Eastern / 2000 UTC

73!
Chris Mattia de W6AH

Amazon Affiliate Links of tools shown in this episode and used by W6AH:
Starlink Systems:

Starlink Cases and Accessories:



Please consider supporting WaveTalkers:

[michaeldavidheit]

This video is a great example of how critical prior planning, training, and communication within the team is for mission success ….

[bobave]

Just got Starlink standard and fired it up and tethered my digi voice hotspot and was active on Dstar. I was able to sync my Android as well. Did this today. I have a Starlink Mini ordered as well. I live in Florida and my wife is from Western North Carolina. It's a no-brainer for us.

[LoganKDLLB]

I was fortunate enough to get to join Chris, Dan, and David for this particular field test. As always, I learned a lot by watching them set up and work through the technical issues that came up. They are an amazing team. And just in case it isn’t obvious from their videos, I’ll say that they work hard to do these kinds of field tests and bring us the lessons they learn.

[donaldsmith]

Very good! I just went through Hurricane Milton! I am in Fort Pierce! We were VERY Lucky! Our ARES was holding nets every 4 hours! I sent a VHF Winlink in the storm! I will tell others of your work! 73 W4DES

[wbdhc]

Awesome video and great testament to Winlink with that pic at the end. I was in Bay St. Louis a couple of weeks after Katrina with a Southern Baptist DR Comm Unit. Winlink HF was our email link to rest of world. Very reliable and even when I couldn't hear the gateway, the Pactor modem delivered!

[TriNguyen-hloz]

We are using Starlink for one of our remote offices in South Texas. We have learned that the business class is a more stable connection compared to the residential class. The business class has less than .5% pack drops and guaranteed low latency. The residential class can drop packets up to 40%. There is a monthly and equipment cost difference between the two service classes.

[spacemountain]

I help step up Star Link Gen3 standard for my best friend in his RV. Got it for $299. The Gen3 uses Cat 8 cable with 568B ends.. It came with a 50ft. I made a custom 100ft. They both worked was getting about 300 to 500 MB download speed.. Just need northern horizon clear.. He is able to use his laptop, phone, network printer at the same time. The setup was Star Link as a Wan to his RV WIFI router. Use it from Alaska, through Canada, to Kansas.. Was able to watch YouTube and Netflix and other steams.. It was way better than cellular if we had cellular service. The Gen 3 does have an internal heater for snow.. Didn't run into any snow...

[ericwilliams]

Good to see ham in the filed with recovery. You need the Starlink app will give you amazing tools to play with. I -power my go kit with a yeti 3000.73, from W7EMW….good luck

[KathyAustin-pvok]

Great demos, as usual! I learn so much from these! Thinking about needing to change settings (computer and radio) when switching to say Digirig -- is that something that you could use the SD card for -- either on radio or computer or both? I know some who share HF radios save their settings on the SD card so whoever is operating goes to "their" setting and the radio is configured the way they want. Please know how much the community appreciates the time you spend putting these together and editing -- and then addressing the "challenges" and ways to cope with them as well.👏👏👏

[onlythebestsound]

i've been building a starlink mini gateway for emergency deployment. Have had no problems with the starlink.

[iBBQLunch]

Great real world program. I was at a function in September where we were given a Starlink to use. No instructions, delivered day of event so there was no time to practice. It had a password that was not provided. We finally boxed it up and went to plan B.

Regarding the equipment heat, that was interesting. I wonder if that why marine radios are painted white? I know for a bike ride event they made a foil covered shield for a radio that had overheating issues. Maybe I need to throw in a roll of aluminum foil in the go kit.

Sorry I missed the Zoom call, we had a SAR mission. We also noticed RFI as well during the day. 73

[CIA_Alien]

By far the best video I have ever seen on YouTube regarding Commnications!
I have been wondering for quite some time now it was feasible to bridge HAM communications via Starlink, and you all did a fantastic job showing operations in person that answered ALL of my questions. An added plus for me was using the chameleon which I also was wondering how well it worked as well. I cannot say with words how much I appreciate all of you doing this for all of us and getting the word out. The masses have no idea how important communications are in times of crisis!

I have a few questions if you will entertain them for me. One likely much easier than the other.
1. What radio would you recommend between the Icom 705 and the Xiegu X6200?
2. Do you think it is possible to run communication relays via a drone / or more than one drone?
3. Are you using any protective devices for your coms or have any that you recommend?

I know this is asking a lot and I appreciate you all every much either way.
Thank you again!
-H

[bhamptonkc]

I have a starlink Mini and I use it on SAR missions in central Washington, in a big disaster the mini is rated at 100mbs so not a ton of band width so i decided that only authorized users, I have tested adding an O2surf type access point works at the far end of 300ft of cat6 so you have the wifi bubble of the mini then you can have another 300ft away, also this allows the antenna to be outside with the AP inside. the configuration has the POE near the mini so the power runs the full length.

[michaeldavidheit]

Have you done a video about that cradle point unit? I'd like more specific information on that unit, what all is needed to build / buy one, etc. thank you very much. da Mike AD7VV

[hawkeyeCHE]

Why did you the larger power pole connectors on the batteries? Looking to do similar connections on my RV coach battery. Thanks

[cbernad]

OK, one thing has been sticking in my head since this episode. You have two 120W solar panels running 240 W total. But the Buddipole PowerMini has a maximum of 150w. Did you only have one panel feeding the PowerMini or does it actually allow more than the stated 150W.

[donaldturnbull]

I would love to join an organization like this to provide communications in disaster areas.

[bhamptonkc]

Everyone needs to run a speed test, give it at least 15 min to get best performance

[cbernad]

I cannot find those specific Bioenno 12V 60Ah batteries on their site. Are those discontinued?

[dougdukes]

Really wondering if the Chameleon TDL is worth it as a NVIS Antenna. Trying to find a fairly easy NVIS antenna. Thoughts?