We’re Connected! High-Speed, Low-Latency Satellite Internet on the Farm

When I first moved out to the farm two years ago, Jen warned me.

“I know you’re online a lot, so I got internet (rhymes with Blues Net) but it’s not very fast,” she told me. “Unfortunately it’s the only service I could get at our location.”

This wasn’t a big surprise to me - I’d seen the majority of “blues net” dishes that dotted the majority of small farms and rural residences directly outside of Winlock. I knew what I was in for. We could get “online” but the latency issues that go hand-in-hand with traditional geostationary satellites that orbit the earth at 35,785 km were to be expected. There would be no streaming, zooming, or any other high data rate activities going on here at PEF.

What I didn’t understand was why internet service providers in the area drew the line so many miles outside of “town” and wouldn’t service everyone that wanted service (and was willing to pay for it). I won’t get into the politics of why it’s been so difficult to make sure everyone who wants internet can get it, but it’s been frustrating.

After six months or so on the waiting list, we finally got the notification that Starlink was available in our area. I’m not clear on why we can’t get Elon Musk to pay his taxes, but right now I’m glad he’s got enough expendable cash to send rockets into space and launch satellites at will. I know - it sounds made up, and if I weren’t here to experience the blazing fast speed (thanks to low-orbiting satellites) I’d call you a liar, too.

The technology is fascinating and the equipment, bought and paid for, belongs to us forever. No monthly leasing fees or contracts, just super fast, reliable internet.

Now before you ask, “When do farmers have time to cruise the web?” Well, I work a lot from home so having reliable internet is important for me, and the farm is in a bit of a hollow and so cell service is one tiny bar but only if you stand by the sink. Also, Jen has to feed a growing DIY Tik Tok addiction. Also, none-yo-biznass.

Set up is insanely simple. You download the Starlink app, connect the dish to the router, then point it at the sky. Follow the prompts on the app and the thing sets itself up all by itself. No yelling at partner from inside the house to “turn it a smidge to the left!”. The dish finds the satellite all by itself, thank you very much.

Please don’t make fun of our temporary set-up … yes, our dish is on a table. But we just needed to get it up and running before we decided where to give it a permanent home, so this is our setup for now.

We’re not complaining.

We gotta go put the birds to bed, pop some corn, and binge the first few episodes of House of the Dragon.