Starlink and Smartlink usage

w5ap

Is anyone using Starlink satellite ISP with Flex (Smartlink) to access their equipment remotely?

Any comments appreciated ie. can you do Smartlink without a fixed IP etc.

Or is it even possible as Starlink uses IPv6 ?

KD0RC

SmartLink does not work with Starlink.

https://community.flexradio.com/discussion/8024042/smartlink-and-starlink

Mike-VA3MW

Maybe

I describe it here: https://helpdesk.flexradio.com/hc/en-us/articles/4414672618267-Remote-Operation-Working-around-CGNAT-is-it-possible-

However, it seems that StarLink has a Business version that will give you an actual WAN address that 'should' work with SmartLink, but I don't know anyone who has it yet.

And, there is an upcharge for it.

73

w5ap

Tnx Mike

I also read some comments from Tim about using a special VPN.

However, it looks difficult to implement and Starlink has no real support other than questions/answers.

So I've decided to stick with my current ISP and hope they improve

fhmassey

there is a port forwarding for starling available from remote.it. Would that work?

Fred

AE4ED

Mike-VA3MW

No, there is no Port Forwarding on StarLink due to the type of network configuration they use which is called CGNAT.

Craig Williams

Our local cafe in east San Diego mountains switched their internet to Starlink. Connected my iPhone to it and ran my flex 6400 just great.

Mike-VA3MW

@Craig Williams

From a user end, there will be no issue. Now, if the radio you were attempting to use was hosted in the Cafe, it would not work.

Dave W5UN

I encourage Flexradio to develop a means to operate remote (with acceptable latency, eg. less than 100 ms/second) over cgNAT. I know about vpn Azure, but that method proves unacceptable due to extreme 400 to 500 ms latency. There are methods described by HB9VQQ, and HB9CAT posted here on the community that supposedly result in acceptable latency, but these methods are too complex for a guy like me to implement.

Dave, w5UN

Alan

Alan

I use PepWave products for my LAN and WAN access. I have said before, that the hardware based PepVPN will do level two bridging, necessary for the Flex UDP packets to pass. This will give you direct access to your Flex, from a remote location.

Also, many have asked about using StarLink for FlexSmartLink, but...because StarLink uses carrier grade IP, the public IP address is not accessible. Some have asked for work arounds for this.

Having commented on these two option, using PepWave Routers, here is a link to a forum where on integrating StarLink and PepWave Routers is discussed, including several "use case" examples.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Z_6eNEhkA

Alan. WA9WUD