Starlink mini

[kcjaz]

This has to be an EcoFLow issue. With Starlink WIFI on but no sat connection for internet, I can ping my iPad and iPhone using a network analyzer (I used Fing). Fing shows the Starlink router, my iPhone and iPad and also tells me there is no internet (because I moved the antenna inside the garage).

 

[Sajan]

This has to be an EcoFLow issue. With Starlink WIFI on but no sat connection for internet, I can ping my iPad and iPhone using a network analyzer (I used Fing). Fing shows the Starlink router, my iPhone and iPad and also tells me there is no internet (because I moved the antenna inside the garage).

Def an ecoflow issue. they are being weird when they lose internet.

 

[MCtree]

This is the response from EcoFlows AI assistant.

I understand frustration with the EcoFlow devices switching to Bluetooth when the Starlink internet connection is lost. Based on the information available, here are some insights and suggestions:

Understanding the Connection Behavior When your phone and EcoFlow devices are connected to a Wi-Fi network that loses its internet uplink (like Starlink), the app may lose its cloud connection. The devices might then revert to a local Bluetooth connection for control, as this is a common fallback mechanism.

Potential Solutions & Workarounds

1. Local Network Communication: Some EcoFlow systems support local area network (LAN) communication for device control without requiring an active internet connection. Please check your specific device settings in the EcoFlow app:
   
   • Navigate to your device's settings and look for network options.
   • See if there is a setting related to "Local Network" or "LAN" communication that can be enabled. This would allow the app on your phone to communicate directly with the devices over your local Wi-Fi network, independent of an internet connection.
2. Router Configuration: Ensure your Starlink router does not have features like "AP Isolation" or "Client Isolation" enabled. These settings prevent devices on the same Wi-Fi network from communicating with each other, which would break any potential local LAN control.
3. App Functionality Limitation: Please note that certain advanced app features, such as remote monitoring from a different location, firmware updates, or cloud-based energy management (like TOU), require an active internet connection and will not be available during an outage.

Recommendation First, check the network settings within the EcoFlow app for each of your devices (Delta 2, River 2) to see if a local LAN mode is available and enable it. This is the most likely way to maintain app control via Wi-Fi without an internet uplink.

Note: The above content is intelligent assistant generated and for reference only. Please verify the accuracy of the information carefully.

This is what it said to the same prompt the second time:

I understand your frustration with the connectivity issues when Starlink loses internet connection. Let me help you troubleshoot this step by step.

Network Configuration for Local Control:

1. Local Network Communication:
   
   • EcoFlow devices can communicate locally over Wi-Fi even without internet access
   • Ensure all devices are connected to the same 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network (Starlink router)
   • The app should maintain local connection through the router's internal network
   • Confirm your Starlink router doesn't have AP isolation enabled
   • Disable any firewall settings that might block local device-to-device communication
   • Ensure multicast/broadcast traffic is allowed on your network

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Force close and reopen the EcoFlow app when connection drops
2. Check if devices appear as "offline" or disconnected in the app
3. Try accessing device controls directly through local IP addresses if supported

If these steps don't resolve the issue, there may be limitations in how the app handles pure local connections without any internet gateway available.

Note: The above content is intelligent assistant generated and for reference only. Please verify the accuracy of the information carefully.


I understand your frustration with the connectivity issues when Starlink loses internet connection. Let me help you troubleshoot this step by step.

Network Configuration for Local Control:

1. Local Network Communication:
   
   • EcoFlow devices can communicate locally over Wi-Fi even without internet access
   • Ensure all devices are connected to the same 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network (Starlink router)
   • The app should maintain local connection through the router's internal network
   • Confirm your Starlink router doesn't have AP isolation enabled
   • Disable any firewall settings that might block local device-to-device communication
   • Ensure multicast/broadcast traffic is allowed on your network

Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Force close and reopen the EcoFlow app when connection drops
2. Check if devices appear as "offline" or disconnected in the app
3. Try accessing device controls directly through local IP addresses if supported

If these steps don't resolve the issue, there may be limitations in how the app handles pure local connections without any internet gateway available.

Note: The above content is intelligent assistant generated and for reference only. Please verify the accuracy of the information carefully.

I'll try again today to figure it out. The AI responses potentially helpful but are AI and using more general knowkedge than EcoFlow specific knowledge. What you want is a AI specific product engineer that knows all the details of the product line but of course, no tech company is going to let that be on the internet.

@FrazzledHunter, all I meant by mt DCHP comment was a static vs. dynamic IP address issue.

Wow. That’s actually a pretty helpful AI response. Thanks for sharing.

 

[kcjaz]

Wow. That’s actually a pretty helpful AI response. Thanks for sharing.

Helpful in a generic sense but when it tells me to look at each devices network settings in the app, but there are no network settings for my devices listed in the settings, it frustrates me. EcoFlow has locked all of that down but the AI doesn’t just tell me that.

Anyway, I’m going to let it go for now and see how much it’s a real problem. The starlink seems to tolerate a lot of poor placement and still maintain an internet connection. I’ve been just throwing it flat out on the driveway under trees (no leaves yet) and sorta kinda pointed using the little kick stand but not bothering to align it in any way and then to test what happens when the signal is lost I bring it into the garage and lay it face down. I get terrible speed just in the driveway but 6 mps is plenty for run the EcoFlow stuff and to bitch about my first world problems to y’all on Mud.

 

[FrazzledHunter]

Helpful in a generic sense but when it tells me to look at each devices network settings in the app, but there are no network settings for my devices listed in the settings, it frustrates me. EcoFlow has locked all of that down but the AI doesn’t just tell me that.

Anyway, I’m going to let it go for now and see how much it’s a real problem. The starlink seems to tolerate a lot of poor placement and still maintain an internet connection. I’ve been just throwing it flat out on the driveway under trees (no leaves yet) and sorta kinda pointed using the little kick stand but not bothering to align it in any way and then to test what happens when the signal is lost I bring it into the garage and lay it face down. I get terrible speed just in the driveway but 6 mps is plenty for run the EcoFlow stuff and to bitch about my first world problems to y’all on Mud.

Well at least it's been figured out.
Your devices are trying to do the right thing which might be right some but not all of the time.

First world problems!?!? Indeed.
When we're parked I have to get out the Starlink app and utterly anally retentively point the antenna so the app says it's perfectly aligned.
In my case it's probably some other kind of problem.

 

[kcjaz]

Does the mini need a clear view to the north sky? My standard actuated Starlink really likes a north sky view for best speeds. I’m considering a mini for its lower power draw when I’m at an off grid campsite I use, but there is no clear north view.

Does the mini need a clear view to the north sky? My standard actuated Starlink really likes a north sky view for best speeds. I’m considering a mini for its lower power draw when I’m at an off grid campsite I use, but there is no clear north view.

I’ve been just putting the antenna outside the garage door on the ground so it has trees in the garage itself. In the way. I still get a connection though poor speeds like 6 to 9 MPS down and worse up.

I just went for a drive to see how it worked in motion and everything works very well. Speed seem to wildly very from low teens MPS to 300. As a test, I pulled into the street area by my house to see how it would do in the middle of trees. There aren’t any leaves yet so it would be very different in the summer, but I was still able to get 46 mps down and 16 up. I then shut the cell service off on my phone and was able to FaceTime with my wife to simulate no cell service and not very good satellite connection and could I still communicate home. The answer was yes FaceTime worked with video and audio.

 

[kcjaz]

I’ve been just putting the antenna outside the garage door on the ground so it has trees in the garage itself. In the way. I still get a connection though poor speeds like 6 to 9 MPS down and worse up.

I just went for a drive to see how it worked in motion and everything works very well. Speed seem to wildly very from low teens MPS to 300. As a test, I pulled into the street area by my house to see how it would do in the middle of trees. There aren’t any leaves yet so it would be very different in the summer, but I was still able to get 46 mps down and 16 up. I then shut the cell service off on my phone and was able to FaceTime with my wife to simulate no cell service and not very good satellite connection and could I still communicate home. The answer was yes FaceTime worked with video and audio.

@Sandroad, here’s a pic of where I got 46 mps. The rear of the 200 points North.

 

[Fisher23]

Im sure this is a stupid question but isn’t the cable just a power cable? How does that affect data speed assuming there is enough power being supplied?

My Starlink came with 2 cables. One with water tight round DC connectors on both ends that uses the AC plug power supply and the other for use with the car charger with round DC on on one end to plug into the Starlink and the other USB C that goes into the round car cigarette charger adaptor.

When I run the Starlink from my EcoFlow battery, I see that it draws anywhere between 20 to 43 or so watts.

No questions are stupid.

It's not a different cable it's a different dish with a different cable.

StarLink makes several dishes and they run at different speeds.
Mini - slower speed
Standard - I use this sometimes medium speed. This can run your house.
High Output - I usually use this one - high speed. Can also run out on the ocean (on you vessel).
Then they also have several Commercial large dishes that run even faster.

The dishes also all draw different amps.

Likely not the Mini but the other dishes all have heating elements in them to melt snow, which also can draw more amps if you don't turn that option off.

The Mini comes with 12 volt hook ups, the others only came with 110 volt plugs. So there are conversion parts to convert the 12 volts to 48 volts. The dishes run on 48 volts.

 

[FrazzledHunter]

I found a reference to STARLINK when following the news of the FCC ban on "foreign-made" routers.
I think there's a few of us posting about travel routers and STARLINK so I posted about it in this thread:

Anyone using a travel router to set up a local LAN in and around their vehicle? - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/anyone-using-a-travel-router-to-set-up-a-local-lan-in-and-around-their-vehicle.1377023/page-2#post-16275548

 

[Thunderbird]

I have mine mounted completely flat and honestly I couldn't ask for faster speeds than avg 120 while on the move.

As it turns out, power draw is variable depending on what you are using to power it.

I watched a bunch of tests and the best for power draw (and ease of setup) was using a usb-c with a 100w 12v charger. I picked up these and they work perfectly together and draw minimum power. These are connected via fuse panel to my 200ah aux bank. Anything less than a 100w charger and the mini will turn on but not boot up and connect.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DD6XCWS5?tag=ihco-20

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B3CSLPZR?tag=ihco-20

Also had to pick up one of these to switch it on and off with style.

CH4x4 Small Push Switch for Toyota – Starlink Symbol – CH4X4 Industries

ch4x4.com

Isn’t the plug in rear cargo area of the 200 series rated at 100w? I have yet to receive my Starlink but was planning on plugging it in there while in use.

 

[kcjaz]

Isn’t the plug in rear cargo area of the 200 series rated at 100w? I have yet to receive my Starlink but was planning on plugging it in there while in use.

It might be 100w, though I think I recall a post about the wires to it don’t look 100w. You would also be going from DC the AC back to DC not that that really matters though. The biggest issue is that the Starlink plug won’t fit but the outlet cover you need a short extension cord or something to plug it in.

I’ve been running mine from my EcoFlow battery with the battery charged from the second row seat cigarette lighter plug. I could of course just run the starlink directly from that plug, but I like the little battery cuz it charges up while I drive when I stop I still have Wi-Fi without doing anything cause it runs off the battery.

 

[FrazzledHunter]

It might be 100w, though I think I recall a post about the wires to it don’t look 100w. You would also be going from DC the AC back to DC not that that really matters though. The biggest issue is that the Starlink plug won’t fit but the outlet cover you need a short extension cord or something to plug it in.

View attachment 4115520

I’ve been running mine from my EcoFlow battery with the battery charged from the second row seat cigarette lighter plug. I could of course just run the starlink directly from that plug, but I like the little battery cuz it charges up while I drive when I stop I still have Wi-Fi without doing anything cause it runs off the battery.

This is the way.

 

[CactusHopper]

I've got a short extension cord (6 inches) with a horizontal plug. Starlink works great with it. Obviously the Starlink shuts off when the car is off though.

 

[Thunderbird]

I've got a short extension cord (6 inches) with a horizontal plug. Starlink works great with it. Obviously the Starlink shuts off when the car is off though.

Plan on mounting it to front runner rack with their mount. I assume running cable through back door will be easy enough.

The eco flow river 2 is peaking my interest tho, uninterrupted usage and ability to charge other things sounds nice. I assume it’ll charge via the rear 110 plug.

 

[kcjaz]

Plan on mounting it to front runner rack with their mount. I assume running cable through back door will be easy enough.

The eco flow river 2 is peaking my interest tho, uninterrupted usage and ability to charge other things sounds nice. I assume it’ll charge via the rear 110 plug.

I have a River 2 and I don’t think it would charge with the OEM inverter plug in the back as it can/will pull more than 100w when plugged into a wall outlet. You can set the charge rate but the minimum is 100w. The cigarette lighter plug is the best bet. I wish there was one in the rear. Actually, I wish there was a higher capacity inverter. My 2025 Taco has a 400w inverter in the bed but it’s only 400w when parked. Moving it drops to 100W. Pisses me off because I can’t run my EcoFlow fridge with the outlet in the truck bed. Come on, Toyota.

 

[prharper]

I have a River 2 and I don’t think it would charge with the OEM inverter plug in the back as it can/will pull more than 100w when plugged into a wall outlet. You can set the charge rate but the minimum is 100w. The cigarette lighter plug is the best bet. I wish there was one in the rear. Actually, I wish there was a higher capacity inverter. My 2025 Taco has a 400w inverter in the bed but it’s only 400w when parked. Moving it drops to 100W. Pisses me off because I can’t run my EcoFlow fridge with the outlet in the truck bed. Come on, Toyota.

I picked up an EcoFlow River 3 Plus and it would not power my Starlink (not mini version) homemade DC kit. Thinking it was a lemon, took back to Costco and got another one. Same problem. Bought an Anker Solix C300 during the holiday and it works fine.

 

[Thunderbird]

I picked up an EcoFlow River 3 Plus and it would not power my Starlink (not mini version) homemade DC kit. Thinking it was a lemon, took back to Costco and got another one. Same problem. Bought an Anker Solix C300 during the holiday and it works fine.

I’ll have to look at that one. Are you plugging it in the rear power outlet or into the cigarette outlet in rear of the console?

 

[prharper]

I’ll have to look at that one. Are you plugging it in the rear power outlet or into the cigarette outlet in rear of the console?

Good question. I have not tried those 12 plugs and avoid running accessories off my starter battery when truck is off. I have dual battery system and Starlink does work w 12v port to secondary battery that powers my fridge.

 

[TeCKis300]

Yes, a portable power station is IMO best way to power the Starlink so it can be run at camp. It doesn't draw much power (~20-40W), but the amount of time run at camp can be a bigger multiplier to consumption.

I prefer my Starlink not not be integrated or hard mounted. I store it trapped between the moonroof and inner cover, with a low profile silicon cover on the starlink. Can run it from there with a partially open inner cover for cooling and the power wire. I also run it with the Starlink just floating on my dash when en route when I have an RTT mounted.

Reasons I keep it free floating is when I'm parked off camber, or camped under trees. I can move things around to find line of site for a signal.

Here's the Starlink sitting on top of my hatch. Might be ghetto but flexibility is key.

I just picked up a new Anker C2000. Excellent unit with so much capacity and power to spare. I don't bother with propane or diesel tent heaters anymore as this thing can power heated mattress pads. Doubles the capacity in the same footprint and weight of my previous Goal Zero Yeti 1000.

 

[CactusHopper]

I was concerned about placing the starlink in the sunroof due to it being close to my head. signals and what not frying my brain... =/

I'm using a magnetic mount on the roof and the cable duct taped and run through the hatch. Works well (haven't driven a very dirty road yet to see if dust gets in the cabin though). I don't yet have a need in camp for a battery pack so that's not part of my setup (we generally have the RV or no starlink).