Galactic Adventures

ISSUE 04 | AUGUST 16, 2024

Camper Vans gathered at a campfire at sunset

STORY MENU

Starlink for Storytellers

Blueberry Festival

Happenings @ HQ

Upcoming Events

Starlink for Storytellers

Happenings @ HQ

Blueberry Festival

Upcoming Events

🚀 Hello Storyteller Overland community! We hope this email finds you hitting the road, going beyond the pavement and saying “yes” to life’s grand adventures!

While our Evolution Tour continues on, we have been most inspired by the excellent community-managed meetups y’all have been coordinating and gathering around. A friendly reminder that while we may not be able to physically be at every awesome event, we do want to support you and help celebrate your coming together. So if you are coordinating a Storyteller meetup and would appreciate some support from our side of things – please send our Chief Engagement Officer, Summer, a note! She’d love to hear from you! summer@storytelleroverland.com

This issue’s header image was taken by 2023 Beast #81 owner, Kahlil Barnard as he was catching a sunset in Twin Falls, Idaho.

📡 Starlink for Storytellers

Written by Rob Kikta, 2023 Stealth MODE

Most STO owners have heard of Starlink at this point. Starlink was built by SpaceX to provide high-speed internet around the world, currently providing service in over 100 countries. Starlink enables you to stream videos and support Teams/Zoom calls from your STO with home-like performance.

My wife and I have used many different internet solutions over the years to support van life. Living in the Pacific Northwest, cellular has never been a reliable option in unpopulated or mountainous areas. Today, we use Starlink exclusively in our STO. Our phones are available as hot spots for the rare occasions when Starlink is not a viable option, and we have reliable cellular coverage.

Installation Options

There are many ways to install and use Starlink with your STO. I will describe two options that install all hardware on the exterior. I prefer this approach for a few reasons. First, there is no need to make a physical penetration into your STO. Second, with internet solutions improving all the time, I can easily change my configuration without impacting interior cabling. Finally, an outdoor router provides better coverage around camp. When I can, I prefer to work outside, and often find myself working at a table away from the van.

Fixed / Starlink Standard – Always Ready

Permanently installing Starlink on the roof is the perfect complement for the STO. It is always available and does not signal to anyone that you are camping or working. The Starlink Standard will provide you with the best speed performance. This kit includes a 200W AC power supply, a WiFi router, and a Starlink terminal.

With the Starlink Standard’s Mobility Mount and some M8 bolts, you can easily attach the Starlink terminal to the Front Runner rack. A typical installation will route a cable from the Starlink terminal into the STO interior, where the power supply and WiFi router are installed. An alternative approach is to utilize the DC port on the roof, which is controlled by the “AUX 1” switch inside the van. The DC port uses a standard Deutsch DT connector which STO sells if you do not want to deal with obtaining the various parts and tools. To make this work, you will need a small inverter capable of supporting 200W, and an enclosure or box to hold the components. The router and power supply are IP56 / water-resistant. SpaceX makes a Router Mount and a Power Supply Mount which make mounting in an enclosure easy. It has been rumored that SpaceX will soon ship a DC power supply. This will make the Starlink Standard setup much easier. But for now, a small inverter is an easy option.

Portable / Starlink Mini – Unlimited Flexibility

The newer Starlink Mini is a compact and lightweight option that combines the smaller Starlink terminal and WiFi into a single package. By plugging the included AC power adaptor into the outlet on the side of your STO, the included 50-foot (15m) power cable provides flexibility for placing the Starlink in an optimal location.

In recent weeks, SpaceX has introduced the Mini Mobility Mount, and added a note to the specifications page indicating that an additional power cable will be available soon. The power cable will support direct 12 volt / DC operation. The Mini also supports meshing with the Starlink Gen 3 Mesh Router, enabling you to extend your coverage when needed.

Starlink Kit Comparison

The table below captures the primary differences between the Starlink Standard & Mini. The Mini offers a great mix of features, making it a solid choice for most STO owners.

Table

Helpful Hints for Using Starlink

1. When selecting your campsite in North America, look for a location with an unobstructed view to the north. You can use the compass on the Sprinter console display to help.

2. The term 'unobstructed' refers to a clear, direct view of the sky. For optimal placement of your Starlink or when situating your vehicle, you can utilize the Starlink mobile app to assess any potential obstructions at the location. Minor obstructions may not interfere with basic email activities; however, for activities that require robust connectivity like Teams or Zoom calls, a site free from obstructions is essential.

3. Make sure to place your Starlink terminal in a spot where it is obvious to passersby when installing it on the ground. There are numerous photos on internet forums showing Starlink units that have been accidentally crushed by vehicles.

4. It can take five to ten minutes for Starlink to startup and stabilize. If you have not used your Starlink recently, the app may indicate there is a software update available which could add time if you choose to install it.

5. Even within heavily forested areas, you may be able to find a parking lot with an unobstructed view. A visitor center typically provides a good location for using Starlink, as well as providing picnic tables and clean restrooms to use throughout the workday.

6. There are some areas that are congested, causing Starlink’s service to underperform. Typically, these are in touristy areas where most of the homes are using Starlink. Unfortunately, Starlink roam plans are deprioritized by default, but you can opt to pay additional fees for priority service.

7. It is possible to pause your service temporarily if you will not be needing it for a while. If you choose to pause your service before your current billing cycle ends, you will continue to have access to the service for the rest of the cycle. Upon reactivating your service, the monthly fee will be billed proportionally according to the plan's cost and the time left in your established billing cycle.

Final Thoughts

Starlink is a great option to support working remotely, as well as bringing your favorite shows when the weather turns foul. SpaceX continues to improve the service and the available hardware options, so staying connected will only get easier.

Useful References

Starlink Mini Specifications

Starlink Standard Specifications

Starlink Roam Service Plans & Support

🫐 Mossyrock Blueberry STO Meetup

Gordy Hyde & Dolly Samson, 2020 Classic MODE

A vanlife gathering we had been working on for over a year came together in fine fashion the first weekend of August in the small town of Mossyrock in Southwest Washington state. The three earlier meetups we organized in Central Washington had grown in size yearly and we were interested in having access to a site that could guarantee space for fifty or so vans. We first saw Klickitat Prairie Park in August 2023, and then met with the Mayor of Mossyrock who enthusiastically suggested that Storytellers could camp in the Park at the same time as the town’s annual Blueberry Festival took place.

The idea of integrating our meetup to the Blueberry Festival was pitched to the Festival Committee– emphasizing what good citizens the STO van family is and how a group of vanlifers could contribute to the local community and its economy.

Tori and Summer at the Storyteller Overland Galactic Headquarters jumped on board – providing support and “goody bags” for the attendees. They eagerly took our request and gave the corporate support shown at other van gatherings.

By late April, indications of approval from the Festival Committee coincided with a hastily planned trip we took to the Northwest. The trip presented the opportunity for preliminarily lay out and a parking plan that could comfortably accommodate about fifty vans. The earlier Facebook Event announcement was updated to include some details of costs and activities and people immediately began responding with intentions to attend.

Requests for donations from some generous partners in the van community began getting responses so a “Lucky Draw” such as happened in previous PNW Meetups could be held. Gracious thanks to Backwoods Adventure Mods, Canyon Adventure Vans, Defiance Tools, Nomadlink Upfitters, OWL Vans, Peacevans, Shuksan Vans, and of course Storyteller Overland itself for their donations of over $6,000 of “goodies” supporting the event. The coup d’grace was when Tony Warner, owner of Warner Vans in Salt Lake City offered a cash donation that covered the lion’s share of the fee the Festival charged for “camping” onsite as “vendors.”

Because people had paid the camping fee as part of their registration, Warner’s generous gift was used to “pay it forward” to the Mossyrock area. A local church youth group served a Blueberry Pancake Breakfast on Saturday. The van family enjoyed this breakfast before the parade courtesy of Warner Vans. The purveyors of the beverage and food garden at the Blueberry Festival, conveniently located next to the van camping area accepted handmade vouchers which were later reimbursed, again courtesy of Warner Vans.

Vans and people began arriving around noon on Thursday. Twenty-four of the thirty or so expected vans were in place by evening. Vendors were not allowed to set up until Friday so the van family had the park to ourselves for renewing acquaintances and greeting new friends. It was so hot on Friday that many people went swimming in a nearby lake. In the evening, the van fam gathered near the amphitheater to listen to the local musicians that performed.

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Saturday was the Blueberry Pancake Breakfast, Parade, and Car Show, followed by a discussion about the uses of the Emily Pan Pan. About two dozen people attended to either contribute to the topic or to learn how this newly popular tool could enhance cooking in the vans. Four skydivers landed in the field next to our camp and Civil War reenactments took place. Brian Whidden, visiting the Meetup from Tennessee in his Revel, painted about half a dozen of his new-found friends’ van slider tracks to make them appear more stealth. Thanks Brian!

Then came the gathering for the Lucky Draw. Marianne Allen, a participant in many, many Mode gatherings, was the holder of the first ticket drawn and took advantage of that to snag the $2500 bumper donated by Backwoods Adventure Mods. Much frivolity (and verbal shenanigans!) ensued as ticket after ticket was drawn and sadly neither Raymond Samaha’s nor Jeff Albin’s number was called. When at the very end, Jeff’s ticket was finally drawn, he surmised that somebody had taped or glued it to the bottom of the jar!!

After all the prizes had been distributed, some people meandered over to the bandstand while others went to a local Mexican restaurant for dinner. To the surprise of many, Cecilia Castillo and Lance Holly of Nomadlink Upfitters picked up the tab!

Thank you Cecilia and Lance!!!

Sunday morning many were treated to another blueberry breakfast prepared by Cecilia. Also, more of Tony Warner’s donation was used to provide breakfast sandwiches purchased from a local café. This was appropriate as Tony often serves up breakfast burritos at these types of gatherings. Because of the warm temperatures, again some folks took off for a local swimming hole, others played “yard” games, and still others departed for home. A small group of Sprinter owners spontaneously gathered as Tara Hall demonstrated how to properly remove, clean, and replace the EGR valve. Thanks Tara! Later, the van family enjoyed a more relaxed evening at camp with conversation enlivened by shots of Gordy’s “Almost-Famous” limoncello.

With Monday came the final cleanup, packing of the vans and “good-bye, until we meet again”. Some of the group was sticking together to travel to “Whiskey and Reggae” in Toledo, Oregon the following weekend. Scrupulous attention to detail while cleaning up enabled Brian Rhodaback to find Karen Huntzinger’s lost earring!!

There will be another (non-exclusive) STO gathering in the Pacific Northwest in the Summer of 2025. Stay tuned for details!!

HEAR FROM THE ATTENDEES

“The Storyteller Meetup at Mossyrock was my first ever, and I was very thankful for how helpful Gordy and Dolly were in making me feel comfortable and at ease. Their activities and hard work were very much appreciated! Meeting everyone was so much fun, especially Tittee, who was my “docking neighbor.” My pups had such a wonderful time meeting everyone, as well, and Tittee really rolled out the red carpet for them, inviting them to drop in for a visit, and even allowing them to raid her dogs’ toy box. The dogs were quite spoiled, and we all look forward to the next opportunity to get together again!”

Thank you so much and all the best!

Heidi Forchemer, Fina and Felix

“From the fields of blueberries, cannon fire from the civil war and a much needed dip in Rife Lake with the STO family, Mossyrock STO meetup enlightened our senses and enriched our memories of friends new and old. Safe travels to everyone until next year.”

Brian Rhodaback

“It’s always great to spend time with the vanfam! And I love how generous so many of the vendors are with the community. The Lucky Draw was so much fun. The grand prize could not have gone to a more deserving person!”

Sarah Sanchez

“Hi Gordy (& Dolly!),

Thank you so much for organizing yet another unforgettable weekend! Ripley and I had been looking forward to it all year, and it absolutely lived up to our expectations. It was wonderful to reconnect with my van fam and to meet some new faces too.

Looking forward to seeing you and Dolly again soon!”

Best,

Cody & Ripley

📍 Happenings @ HQ: Team Member Spotlight, Matt Bright

At Storyteller Overland, we recognize that our success is driven by the dedication, talent and commitment of each team member. Our values serve as the foundation of everything we do– guiding us in our daily actions and interactions.

To celebrate our incredible team members, the Storyteller Overland People & Culture Team launched the Team Member Spotlight program earlier this year – aiming to shine a light on the individuals who exemplify STO values in their work and embody the spirit of our company culture.

August’s Team Member Spotlight recipient is Matt Bright, Production Quality Manager for Storyteller Overland HILT and MODE!

Matt's leadership, authenticity, and dedication have made a lasting impact on the Storyteller Overland team. His nominator, Daniel Wangel, spoke highly of his influence and the positive energy he brings to the workplace, highlighting why he is so deserving of this recognition.

August’s Team Member Spotlight recipient is Matt Bright, Production Quality Manager for Storyteller Overland HILT and MODE!

Here’s what Daniel Wangel, Senior Process & Quality Engineer had to say about Matt:

"Matt is a role model for myself and several others due to the way he carries himself and guides the team to follow in his footsteps to build the highest quality products on the market. He is very authentic and brings joy to the work environment.

Matt has spearheaded the effort to train people to be true craftspeople who take extreme pride in the work performed and feel a sense of accomplishment no matter what tasks they perform. I believe Matt truly embodies the Storyteller culture and we are beyond fortunate to have him on our team.”

Matt's influence and dedication not only enhance the Storyteller Overland work environment but also inspires us all on a daily basis!

📣 Upcoming Events!

Join the next Beyond the Pavement - hosted by Warner Vans and Voyager Outdoors - for a scenic and educational tour of the Bears Ears National Monument and Manti La Sal forest. It will be held from September 6th – 8th.

Join The Journal of Lost Time crew at Moonlanding III - a moonbase cultural festival of nomads, overlanders, and van lifers will be held October 10th - 14th in Ramah, New Mexico. All vehicles, spacecraft, and tent campers are welcome!

RESERVE YOUR SPOT!

full events lineup