Starlink has been offering satellite internet service since late 2020, but their RV service was just launched in May of 2022. Many customers ordered the Residential kit to use on their RV before the RV-specific service was available.
If you only need to use your Starlink kit for recreational or travel purposes, it might make sense to convert the account type from Residential to RV, now that RV has been launched. The RV service tier has several advantages over Residential for travelers.
In this guide, I will explain the process of converting a Residential Starlink account to RV. I will also answer some of the most common questions, such as being able to switch back, extra costs, and the advantages/disadvantages of RV.
Step 1: Log in to your account dashboard
To convert your Starlink account type to RV, you’ll need to visit the Starlink website. In the menu, select Sign In. Enter your Starlink credentials. If successful, you’ll be redirected to your account dashboard.
If you are already signed in, click on My Account from the website menu to proceed to the account dashboard.
Step 2: Click the Manage button on the account
On your Starlink account dashboard, find the Manage button next to the Residential service that you would like to convert. This allows you to manage account settings such as service address, account type, add ons, etc.
Step 3: Click the edit icon for Service Type
Click on the edit icon next to the Service Type. This is the setting that allows you to change from Residential to RV.
Step 4: Confirm the change to RV
When prompted, check the box to acknowledge your understanding that RV cannot switch back to Residential. Once checked, the Change To RV button becomes active. Click it to finalize the conversion process.
Frequently Asked Questions
The process of converting Starlink Residential to Starlink RV is fairly simple, but I’ve compiled some of the common questions below. If you have further questions or concerns, please comment below or contact us.
Can I ever switch back to Residential if I convert to RV?
No, you cannot switch back to Residential once you have converted your account type to RV. Accounts that were originally opened as RV cannot be converted either.
How much will it cost to convert to RV?
The Starlink RV service uses the same hardware as Residential, but the monthly service price is higher. RV costs $135/month vs $110/month for Residential. When you convert to RV, you’ll start paying an extra $25/month for RV.
Related: Starlink Prices
Can you sell/transfer an RV account?
No, RV hardware and accounts cannot be sold or transferred.
What are the main benefits of RV?
The main benefit of RV is that you can pause the service at any time. If you only use Starlink seasonally with your RV, this allows you to save money by not paying the monthly bill during the off-season. Residential service cannot be paused.
The other benefit of RV is the ability to travel and use it anywhere with active Starlink coverage. Residential service can only be used at a fixed location.
More details: Starlink RV Launched
Can I just add the Portability service instead of converting to RV?
Yes, you can add the Portability feature to any Residential account to enable the ability to travel with Starlink. However, the main disadvantage of Residential accounts still applies – you can’t pause the service.
If you split the usage of your Starlink dish between your home and RV, and never need to pause service, I recommend just adding Portability to your Residential account.
If you only use Starlink for your RV, van, or for other recreational activities, RV is better because it can be paused.
I’m a full time RVr but not on the road but a couple time a year typically north summer south winter, but not at the same park or city typically. I have a SD address that is a mail service and is not on waitlist. It is my domiciled address.
1. Can I use this address even though I’m not physically there? (Assuming it uses GPS?) Would I need to put in a change of address to the physical location?
2. If one is required to do a change of address and I happen to go to say SoCal and the area is on a waitlist what would happen if I put a change in service area? Would it be able to be used?
3. How often can a change of address be put in?
If you’re talking about RV, you don’t need to worry about addresses. RV service doesn’t have a service address, so you can just travel with it and not worry about updating anything. For Residential, you need to set a service address and physically be there to activate the dish. If you purchase Portability for Residential, it allows you to travel with it, but your service address would remain unchanged. The limitation there is that Starlink doesn’t want Portability users to be in one location, away from the service address, for more than 2 months at a time.
Our service originally is residential, beginning of this year (February 2022) we add portability for RV use and did not have any issues putting it back on for residential. Unfortunately, our last trip to Las Vegas hubby changed it to RV service and now we cannot change it back to residential service. It seems he did not add the portability before switching it to RV service. I am now having issues with my other remote jobs because I could not connect. Lastly, my upload is only 7.97 mbps. How can I speed this up?
RV service is deprioritized on the network, which means your speeds will be slower and more inconsistent. Since you cannot covert back to Residential once you converted to RV, you will need to order another Residential dish to restore previous performance at home.
OK, so today is day 30. I like the RV service, but I’m using it at home and speed does vary. It sounds like I need to cancel this service when residential is available again, because I cannot convert the account. So, can I just keep this until residential is offered and then cancel RV?
Yes I would just keep your RV dish, and pre-order to get on the waitlist for Residential. Then you can cancel (or pause) the RV dish.
Can I cancel my RV and then sign up for residential using the same equipment? Why do they have such horrible non existent customer service?
No, RV cannot be converted to Residential.
RV cannot be converted to Residential, ok, but can you resell the RV dish to folks off-market somehow to recuperate that investment, and then buy the Residential equipment on a new account?
Yes. Since the transfer process has changed since I posted this, it is now possible to resell an RV dish. Someone else can activate your old RV dish on a Residential plan, assuming their address is not waitlisted. They can also activate it on an RV plan if their address is waitlisted. I have a complete guide explaining the new process here:
https://www.starlinkhardware.com/how-to-buy-sell-and-transfer-a-used-starlink/
I live in my RV at an RV park. I signed up for Starlink RV abut want
to change to residential. Is this possible, and if so how do I do this?
It’s not possible to change from RV to Residential.
is their a limit to the number of times you can pause and restart. E.g. turn on very second month.
No there is no limit. You will be billed in monthly increments, though. It cannot be prorated.
While it can be paused the otuer big difference is RV will give slower tier service than residential residential/ portability option when network is congested.
Both RV and Portability users that are not at their service address will be slower speeds during network congestion.
How much slower is the best effort service? I bought the unit for service at our cabin in Northern Wisconsin where we do not get cable. In the last 12 months of ownership I’ve actually used it for maybe 10 total days. I’d love to be able to pause and restart service as needed, even for a higher cost, but the de-prioritization is certainly a concern.
It depends on how congested the area is. If it’s in a rural area with few other Starlink users, you might not even notice slower speeds. In congested areas with a lot of Starlink users, speeds might go down into the single digits during peak hours.