PSA: Don’t place the Starlink satellite plate in your car

There is a saying that happens: If you see a warning sign, no matter how absurd, it is there because someone takes action suggested to. That’s the case with this new warning against placing a star satellite plate on the exterior of your car, a recent action gets one customer quote a moving violation. 

The California Highway Patrol at Antelope Valley recently distributed two drawings of cars drawn because they featured a large satellite in the hood. These images joined the commemoration of the state highway patrols and seemed surprised it had to explicitly state: You can’t put the satellite dish on your car’s hood.

According to the officers who posted the pictures on the Department’s Facebook account, he asked the driver whether the satellite dish in their hood made it difficult for them to see while driving. The riders allegedly admitted that it happened, but “only when [making] right turn.” That, of course, is a big security problem and also a moving violation, at least in California.

Other countries have no doubt having similar rules about how you are allowed to install the windshield and other areas of your vehicle. Can you get away with installing a satellite dish on the roof of your car? It is probably the most submitted question to your regional law enforcement officials, but there is a better solution.

Assuming you want high-speed internet services in your car (for music streaming, maybe) and your cell phone does not have unlimited data, you can buy LTE or 5G hotspots and mount them in a safe place in your vehicle. This hotspot can be plugged directly into the USB port of your car and will provide high-speed cellular data as long as you remain within the provider coverage area. Even better, you don’t need to worry about a large satellite trimming that weighs and hits the car behind you.