It was our first trip using Elon Musk’s Starlink system for internet access. In the past when we travelled outside the EU we had to purchase local data-only SIM cards. Sometimes we spent almost £100 a month – plus the time and effort we wasted in sourcing. 
So we found the Starlink system convenient and reliable and, as there was no limit on the amount of data we could use, I was even able to catch up on “Strictly Come Dancing”.
Initially we had to invest several hundred £s for the Starlink hardware and we also paid a subscription of £70 per month during the months we were on the road. The subscription could then be paused until the next trip.
In Portugal one clear night we were thrilled to see a neat line of lights travelling across the sky, they were a group of Starlink satellites on their way up to their orbit. There were currently 5,000 satellites circling 500 km above the earth, the number was due to increase to 12,000. In comparison, the Inmarsat system had 13 satellites circulating at 35,000 km which meant the Starlink system was more immediate with less delay – and considerably less expensive than Inmarsat.
Our Starlink antenna lived on the truck roof, providing connection when we were on the move. When we were parked up, if the signal was blocked, say, by trees, we could relocate the antenna to get a clear signal. We enjoyed watching the little antenna, sitting on its own 20 metres or so away from the truck, searching the skies for a signal. It hasn’t let us down – so far!
