Having trouble accessing your streaming TV or other service from your boat while travelling and using services such as Starlink for Internet?  You’re definitely not the only one noticing streaming issues, such as in the Bahamas, lately when using Starlink. Internet services use your public IP address to determine the region in which you are located.  For traditional ISP's, the IP Addresses are well known and mapped fairly directly to location.  However services like Starlink use large blocks of IP addresses that are not related to any particular region, or related to regions that aren't actually the same as the region in which the user is located.  Starlink maintains a mapping list of IP addresses to locations that internet services/apps can use to determine a users location, and over time, Starlink updates this list to be more accurate.  Starlink also periodically adds new download stations and point-of-presence locations which can change a users mapped location — One example is that Starlink users in Bahamas appeared to be in Florida until recently and now services like YouTube TV can tell that your connection is no longer in Florida, but actually in the Bahamas. That can cause region-locked streaming services to block or restrict access.

🎯 Step One: Device Type Matters

The first thing we need to consider is what type of device you’re using to stream YouTube TV — Smart TV, Laptop, or Tablet — because the way streaming services check your location varies:

• Tablets (like iPads): These are the hardest to trick. Even if you use a VPN to spoof your location, the tablet itself can still report GPS location directly to the app. So even if the internet traffic looks like it’s in the U.S., the GPS tells another story — and many apps will block the stream anyway.

• Laptops and Smart TVs: These typically rely only on your internet IP address to determine location. That means we have more flexibility, and a VPN or other solution to mask your location can work much better.

🌐 How to “Appear” Back in the U.S. from the Boat

With a Peplink router onboard, you have a powerful tool: SpeedFusion VPN. This lets you create a secure tunnel from your boat to another location — and route all your traffic through that tunnel. There are three main ways to do this:

Option 1: Peplink SpeedFusion Cloud (Easy Setup)

Peplink offers their own SpeedFusion Cloud service with several U.S. locations you can connect to.

• ✅ Pros:

1. Easy to configure
   
2. Built into your router
   
3. Inexpensive usage fee.
   

• ❌ Cons:

1. Streaming services know many of these cloud IP addresses belong to VPN providers, so they may still block services like Disney+, YouTube TV, etc.
   

This can work for general browsing and some streaming, but it’s hit or miss depending on the platform.

Option 2: Dedicated FusionHub in the Cloud

We can set up a dedicated virtual Peplink router, called FusionHub, in the cloud. Your boat router connects to this FusionHub using SpeedFusion VPN, and all your traffic is routed through it.

• ✅ Pros:

• ❌ Cons:

This is a more advanced and flexible option, but still not perfect for streaming.

Option 3: Home-Based Peplink Router with SpeedFusion Relay (Best for Streaming)

If you have a home with cable or fiber internet — even if it’s just a vacation property — we can install a Peplink router at the house and set up SpeedFusion Relay.

Here’s how it works:

• ✅ Pros:

• ❌ Cons:

This is the most seamless and consistent option for accessing all your usual streaming services while aboard.

🧭 Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a reliable way to stream U.S.-based services while cruising, especially in areas like the Bahamas where geolocation is more strictly enforced, Option 3 is your best bet — though it does require some upfront setup at home.

Let us know which option you’d like to explore further, or if you’d like help getting a home router or FusionHub configured. We can set this all up for you!

Note: FusionHub in the Cloud incurs a monthly fee for hosting, Speedfusion VPN Cloud service incurs a relatively small data usage fee, both of these fees are in addition to any Internet access costs.