Starlink mini (1 Viewer)

[Julian73]

I'm using a Savage mount. Securely bolted to my rack, is available with a HDPE covering to protect the disk surface from road abrasion, stones, hail etc. I only wish it would mount flush with my rack tops, but that would also require modding my rack (Front Runner) to open up the bar spacing.

 

[speakout525]

I'm using a Savage mount. Securely bolted to my rack, is available with a HDPE covering to protect the disk surface from road abrasion, stones, hail etc. I only wish it would mount flush with my rack tops, but that would also require modding my rack (Front Runner) to open up the bar spacing.

Same here. My victory 4x4 rack won't adjust wide enough between bars to have flush mount as an option or narrow enough if I remove a bar. We considered a cover as well but I was concerned with overheating the unit and creating any disruption in signal. But I have no data to back that up at all.

 

[Artie]

So far so good. I've run it for hours and even overnight accidentally and not had any heat issues to speak of. I'd love to know how the starlink adapter compares though. I was just too impatient to wait 4 weeks for the starlink version to ship.

Will do!

 

[2014 LEX 570 GA]

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://a.co/d/6dy49rb

https://a.co/d/dL2nyJQ

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

Pretty slick set up - do you have any photos of the install? Where are you running the power cord to the interior and which 12v outlet are you using that is controlled by the switch?

 

[speakout525]

Install is pretty straightforward. I have a 12v panel installed on the underside of a kaon attic in this case (i wanted more usb in that area for other uses too). That panel is connected to the switch with power coming through a separate fusebox for accessories powered by two 100ah lithium batteries. The wiring from the mini is just one USB-C and it simply follows the rack back and through the drivers side grommet at the top rear hatch, through the headliner and down to be plugged into the 100w usb-c.

 

[Hudson Bay]

I wonder, how does it hold up in heavily wooded or truly remote spots? Always curious how it balances portability with reliable connectivity on an overland setup.

 

[speakout525]

I wonder, how does it hold up in heavily wooded or truly remote spots? Always curious how it balances portability with reliable connectivity on an overland setup.

Not sure yet about heavily wooded, but the more remote the better in my experience with it.

 

[Julian73]

Heavily wooded, a road though a remote national forest yes. I have a beach house that requires a seventy mile drive through forest before hitting semi civilization near the shore. Place has no cell service regardless of booster as closest tower is maybe 40 miles away, I now have near continuous phone access.

 

[Artie]

I wonder, how does it hold up in heavily wooded or truly remote spots? Always curious how it balances portability with reliable connectivity on an overland setup.

Any amount of obstructions will cause issues. The app can use your phone camera to scan the sky and give you an estimate on obstructions and that can be handy to find a spot while camping but useless while driving. I’ve had some fairly severe obstructions… 40-50% and at that rate you’re fine for text messaging, FB, or X but forget video.

 

[FrazzledHunter]

For mounting a mini it looks like I have 3 options for my LC:

1. Sunroof outside - via suction cups, will they hold ?
2. Sunroof inside - via suction cups, no concerns except bumping my head.
   
3. Roof rack - will the wifi punch through the truck's metal roof well enough?
   1. The roof rack isn't solid metal, it's a basket type.

Any thoughts from someone who's got a mini?

 

[MCtree]

For what it’s worth, in testing my mini I just put it on my dashboard and drove around my neighborhood in Houston - which has pretty heavy tree cover.
To test it, I streamed HD Netflix to my iPad.

Happily, it worked very well. No stuttering or loss of signal.

Obviously, this was just for a test and I don’t plan on keeping such a set-up permanently (or watching Netflix as I drive) but I was happily surprised at the performance.

That said, I will be keeping my garmin satellite communicator because it’s still smaller and easier to carry on a hike.

 

[Artie]

For mounting a mini it looks like I have 3 options for my LC:

1. Sunroof outside - via suction cups, will they hold ?
2. Sunroof inside - via suction cups, no concerns except bumping my head.
   
3. Roof rack - will the wifi punch through the truck's metal roof well enough?
   1. The roof rack isn't solid metal, it's a basket type.

Any thoughts from someone who's got a mini?

View attachment 3845703

1. No real thoughts from me for this option.

2. This would be nice if you could still close the inside sliding thing with the mini up there. Routing power wouldn’t be too bad since you have access to the headliner there. I literally never over the slide or the sunroof so my opinion is a little biased. If you use the sunroof then this may not be the way to go.

3. The WiFi should be plenty strong for the his short a distance. This past weekend my mini was about 50 feet from my majority metal camper and I had zero issues with signal. Routing power will be your challenge here.

 

[FrazzledHunter]

1. No real thoughts from me for this option.

2. This would be nice if you could still close the inside sliding thing with the mini up there. Routing power wouldn’t be too bad since you have access to the headliner there. I literally never over the slide or the sunroof so my opinion is a little biased. If you use the sunroof then this may not be the way to go.

3. The WiFi should be plenty strong for the his short a distance. This past weekend my mini was about 50 feet from my majority metal camper and I had zero issues with signal. Routing power will be your challenge here.

This is great info & thanks.
I don't think the inside sunroof cover will close with the antenna on the inside.
We close that cover to keep wind noise at a minimum.

RE power. Yeah that's a tough one if it's on the roof. I may ham-fist the power for now and run the wire through the rear or side door.

Is security a worry with these antennas?
In other words, are the antennas ID'd/tied to your account so that if stolen they wouldn't work for someone else?
I couldn't get the specific answer for the mini at Starlink's website but the antenna *IS* the modem which *IS* the account so I'm ASSuming that all I would have to do is notify Starlink in the event of a theft.
But, if the antennas are indeed account locked a thief probably wouldn't know that and steal it regardless.

 

[xeuxaz]

For mounting a mini it looks like I have 3 options for my LC:

1. Sunroof outside - via suction cups, will they hold ?
2. Sunroof inside - via suction cups, no concerns except bumping my head.
   
3. Roof rack - will the wifi punch through the truck's metal roof well enough?
   1. The roof rack isn't solid metal, it's a basket type.

Any thoughts from someone who's got a mini?

View attachment 3845703

I just toss it on my hood with a magnetic mount, works great at 85mph and when wheeling. Highly recommend this route if you have a RTT and want the flexibility of moving it around often.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DL2WDTGL?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

 

[CanadianRockyCruiser]

I just toss it on my hood with a magnetic mount, works great at 85mph and when wheeling. Highly recommend this route if you have a RTT and want the flexibility of moving it around often.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DL2WDTGL?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

View attachment 3846387View attachment 3846388View attachment 3846389

Cool. Does this mean you can live-stream your 4x4 adventures?

 

[xeuxaz]

Cool. Does this mean you can live-stream your 4x4 adventures?

Yeah, it pulls 200Mbps+ down while driving. I'm a big fan.

 

[FrazzledHunter]

I just toss it on my hood with a magnetic mount, works great at 85mph and when wheeling. Highly recommend this route if you have a RTT and want the flexibility of moving it around often.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DL2WDTGL?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

View attachment 3846387View attachment 3846388View attachment 3846389

Thanks for the info.
I never thought of putting it on the hood. DUH.
If the magnets hold at speed, well OK, it solves the security issue i.e. just pull it off the hood and stow it inside.
Also can move it to set it up easily in camp.

If I mounted it on the sunroof outside I guarantee that I would be looking up at it every 10 seconds to see if it was about to blow off. This would send my wife into orbit. She already hollers at me to watch the road when she notices I'm looking at the OBDlink temperature gauges.

 

[xeuxaz]

Thanks for the info.
I never thought of putting it on the hood. DUH.
If the magnets hold at speed, well OK, it solves the security issue i.e. just pull it off the hood and stow it inside.
Also can move it to set it up easily in camp.

If I mounted it on the sunroof outside I guarantee that I would be looking up at it every 10 seconds to see if it was about to blow off. This would send my wife into orbit. She already hollers at me to watch the road when she notices I'm looking at the OBDlink temperature gauges.

It is solid as a rock, you won't be disappointed.

 

[Artie]

Thanks for the info.
I never thought of putting it on the hood. DUH.
If the magnets hold at speed, well OK, it solves the security issue i.e. just pull it off the hood and stow it inside.
Also can move it to set it up easily in camp.

If I mounted it on the sunroof outside I guarantee that I would be looking up at it every 10 seconds to see if it was about to blow off. This would send my wife into orbit. She already hollers at me to watch the road when she notices I'm looking at the OBDlink temperature gauges.

I’d trust the magnets over the suction cups. My mount is similar to @xeuxaz and it’s not going anywhere. That type mount does well on the ground or anywhere else for that matter, we have to get creative in the South because of the lack of clear skies.

As for theft… I can’t really say. We’ve never had an issue and we have left the mini and the dishy before that out many times. We tend to camp remote so we would likely put it away if we were atound town or city just to keep a lower profile.

 

[pokerDawg]

Cool. Does this mean you can live-stream your 4x4 adventures?

I used the mini to livestream from King of the Hammers. Actually, there were two of us livestreaming to YouTube.