Starlink for Cottages, Cabins, and RVs in Canada

Canada has 1.4 million cottages and 500,000+ RVs registered. Most have no fibre, no cable, and weak cellular. Starlink Roam plans + Mini dish + Standby mode pause make it affordable. Here’s the complete playbook.

Why Roam is the right plan

Roam plans aren’t tied to a fixed address. They work anywhere in Canada, immediately, with no waitlist. Three tiers:

• Roam 50GB at $75 CAD/month: occasional weekends, light cottage use
• Roam 300GB at $165 CAD/month (launched May 2026): full-time seasonal cottage, streaming families
• Roam Unlimited at $200 CAD/month: heavy travel, full-time RV, multi-user mobile

The Standby mode trick (huge savings)

Roam plans can be put into Standby Mode at $15/month. Standby pauses your data but keeps your account active. You can switch back to active service instantly when you arrive at the cottage.

Example: a Quebec cottage open May-October. Roam 50GB active for 6 months ($450) + Standby for 6 months ($90) = $540/year. Compare to paying $75 × 12 = $900/year, or cancelling each year and re-paying setup. Standby saves ~$360/year.

The Mini dish: built for portability

For cottages and RVs, the Mini is the right hardware choice:

• $299 CAD at Best Buy (Mini Starter Kit)
• 1.5 kg, 30 × 25 cm — fits in a backpack
• 20-40W power draw — half the Standard
• USB-C PD compatible — power from a power bank, car port, or 12V converter
• Built-in router — no separate Wi-Fi router needed
• Carry case available ($50) for transport between cottage and home

Off-grid cottage setup (solar + battery)

Standard solar + battery setup that runs Starlink Mini reliably 24/7 at an off-grid cottage:

• Solar panel: 200W (e.g., Renogy 200W monocrystalline ~$300)
• Charge controller: MPPT 30A (~$120)
• Battery: 100Ah LiFePO4 (Battle Born, Ampere Time, ~$700)
• Inverter (optional): 500W pure sine wave if you need 120V for other devices (~$100)
• USB-C PD adapter for Mini: 12V to USB-C PD 65W (~$30)

Total off-grid kit: ~$1,300 CAD upfront. Powers Starlink 24/7 + LED lights + phone charging + small fridge. 3-4 days autonomy on cloudy weather (battery only). 200W panel recharges in 4-6 hours of sun.

RV setup recommendations

For an RV (motorhome, travel trailer, fifth wheel):

• Plan: Roam Unlimited ($200/mo) if full-time, Roam 300GB ($165/mo) if part-time
• Hardware: Mini for boondocking, or High Performance ($3,000+) if you want in-motion connectivity
• Mounting: portable kickstand at campsite (5 minutes), or roof-mount with telescoping pole
• Power: USB-C PD from RV inverter or 12V converter
• Internet routing: built-in Mini router covers small/medium RVs. For 30+ foot fifth wheels, add a mesh node ($150)

Real-world Canadian use cases

Muskoka cottage, family of 4 (Ontario): Roam 300GB at $165/month during May-Oct, Standby November-April. Total: 6 × $165 + 6 × $15 = $1,080/year. Real-world: 200+ GB used per month including Netflix Family + Zoom + iCloud backups.

Class A motorhome retiree couple (BC → Florida): Roam Unlimited at $200/month full-time. Uses Mini dish. Works in Canada, USA (covered by Roam), and Mexico (limited). Total: $2,400/year for unlimited everywhere internet.

Off-grid cabin in Yukon (1 user): Roam 50GB at $75/month year-round (no Standby because they live there). Mini dish + 200W solar setup. Total: $900/year + $1,300 one-time hardware.

Common cottage/RV mistakes to avoid

• Buying Standard instead of Mini: Standard draws 2× the power, weighs 3× more, harder to transport
• Forgetting Standby Mode: cancelling each season wastes setup costs and credit history
• Not securing the dish during storms: tie down with a sandbag or storage when away from RV
• Mounting too low: cottage trees grow taller, plan for 5-7 metres pole height
• Skipping the surge protector: rural Hydro is dirty, protect your equipment

Cottage/RV FAQ

Can I use Starlink while driving?

Officially, only High Performance (in-motion) dish + Mobility plan. In practice, the Mini works while driving at slow speeds (under 50 km/h) on the Roam plan. Officially not supported but commonly done.

Does Roam work in the USA?

Yes. Roam covers Canada, USA, Mexico (partial), and 100+ countries. Same monthly fee. No roaming charges for snowbirds.

What’s the best dish for a sailboat?

Mini for inland and coastal waters on Roam plan. For ocean / open seas, you need the Maritime service tier ($250-$5,000/month) with High Performance hardware.

Can I share Starlink with my neighbour at the cottage?

Technically yes via a long Ethernet cable or directional Wi-Fi (Ubiquiti NanoStation). Starlink terms of service allow it. The economics work if you split the $75-200/month: each pays $40-100/month for full Starlink.

*1 month of free Starlink service (equal to your plan) automatically credited 30 days after activation when you order through our official referral link RC-DF-7650727-61403-46. Official SpaceX program. No extra cost for you: same price as starlink.com. FastSat.ca also receives a free month, which funds the site.