Starlink mini (2 Viewers)

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I just got the mini today and set it up - it took all of about 10 minutes.
170Mbps down and 20Mbps up.
Antenna pointed in a heading of 30 deg (turned just to the right of true North) and on its factory stand.

Assuming a view of the sky, we'll be able to do this in the middle of the wilderness such as Arches, Bridger Teton or Yellowstone where we'll be headed in June.

Incredible.

We have a Satgear SM3 mount for the LC on order so that we can hopefully get reception while on the move :

So we'll be able to read ih8mud while on our trip after all.🤣
 
speakout525 said:
Maybe someone else has a better technical explanation, but the mini doesn't seem to have any particular need to face in a specific direction. You can use the app as recommended to do that if you want, and I assume it would get better speeds, but I never do. I just turn it on and within seconds it's locked and loaded and as fast as I need it to be. The only obstacle seems to be total coverage block above. I designed my mount to easily release the mini so I could move it, but I've not needed to do that yet. Its super impressive in a static position and while moving.

With that all said, I'm still keeping my weboost and satellite device. :)
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The mount angle evolved from two separate criteria and for most users neither one is needed. First the original tilt was to point south as the Starlink constellation was still being filled in. Today with so many thousands of satellites across the globe directionality is not needed. In fact, flat, gives you the widest coverage assuming open sky. The other reason for the slanted mount is the shed snow and ice when using the heating element. Of course this is only useful if you were actually in winter conditions and even then the flat Sheds on a moving vehicle. Additionally, make sure you turn the heating element off if not needed to cut back tremendously on the power consumption. I have my mini mounted on the savage mount that I'm modified to fit my roof rack and I went with the polyethylene cover to protect from hail, rocks or tree branches. This cover would also help shed snow.
 
FrazzledHunter said:
I just got the mini today and set it up - it took all of about 10 minutes.
170Mbps down and 20Mbps up.
Antenna pointed in a heading of 30 deg (turned just to the right of true North) and on its factory stand.

Assuming a view of the sky, we'll be able to do this in the middle of the wilderness such as Arches, Bridger Teton or Yellowstone where we'll be headed in June.

Incredible.

We have a Satgear SM3 mount for the LC on order so that we can hopefully get reception while on the move :

So we'll be able to read ih8mud while on our trip after all.🤣
Click to expand...
Even with obstructions it’s a very functional and powerful tool. Literally just last night I was awoken at camp by wind, I fired mine up at midnight to check the weather to see the weather cell had drastically shifted its path and turned mad as hell. We packed and left. I’ll screen grab the obstruction map later and share it, lots of tree cover.

The ability to be remote and still have accurate real time weather is worth every red cent to us. Route planning and recon at camp before a day in unknown terrain is icing on the cake. I’ve found myself back on Facebook joining far away 4x4 rescue groups for upcoming trips and it’s been extremely helpful in getting trail updates a day or sometimes hours before we get there. Not hugely importing for everyone but we drag a camper to places we are sometimes possibly too ambitious to attempt… it’s nice to hear about the tree that’s down before we get there and have to deal with that or back out.
 
I have an all aluminum camper, including the roof, walls, and floor. Four largish plastic windows. Does anyone have experience getting the WiFi from a mini inside a camper with a similar set up?

And if both you and the mini are outside, how close do you need to be to the mini to get a usable WiFi ?
 
Artie said:
Even with obstructions it’s a very functional and powerful tool. Literally just last night I was awoken at camp by wind, I fired mine up at midnight to check the weather to see the weather cell had drastically shifted its path and turned mad as hell. We packed and left. I’ll screen grab the obstruction map later and share it, lots of tree cover.

The ability to be remote and still have accurate real time weather is worth every red cent to us. Route planning and recon at camp before a day in unknown terrain is icing on the cake. I’ve found myself back on Facebook joining far away 4x4 rescue groups for upcoming trips and it’s been extremely helpful in getting trail updates a day or sometimes hours before we get there. Not hugely importing for everyone but we drag a camper to places we are sometimes possibly too ambitious to attempt… it’s nice to hear about the tree that’s down before we get there and have to deal with that or back out.
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Interesting post. :cheers:
You mentioned a few scenarios I hadn't thought of.
We're very similar in our concerns and camping endeavors. We've been in a tent when storms hit Hatteras. So we're concerned about all the things you mentioned plus a couple of other things.

My grandparents used to tell me how a telephone was once a luxury but today we can't imagine being without one for simple safety reasons like calling 911. I think Starlink and its future competitors will one day be thought of that way: today's luxury but tomorrow's necessity.

For us, Starlink was NOT about the need to be on something like Facebook (we actually don't have any social media accounts like that) or streaming video although I find the fact that we now can very amusing. Kind of like how we felt tent camping eating Klondike bars under an oscillating fan amongst a bunch of envious, bug bitten, sweltering tent campers. That was also enabled by technology, our Yeti1500X. :p

It's mostly the fact that we are planning to be out months and reservations for EVERYTHING are now online. What if something totally unheard of, like getting a flat tire, happens and we lose a day? Well, all of a sudden you have several campsites that need to be notified with new reservations and how will that happen if you're in a dispersed site in the wilderness?

My guess is this thing is going to go everywhere we do.
 
FrazzledHunter said:
Interesting post. :cheers:
You mentioned a few scenarios I hadn't thought of.
We're very similar in our concerns and camping endeavors. We've been in a tent when storms hit Hatteras. So we're concerned about all the things you mentioned plus a couple of other things.

My grandparents used to tell me how a telephone was once a luxury but today we can't imagine being without one for simple safety reasons like calling 911. I think Starlink and its future competitors will one day be thought of that way: today's luxury but tomorrow's necessity.

For us, Starlink was NOT about the need to be on something like Facebook (we actually don't have any social media accounts like that) or streaming video although I find the fact that we now can very amusing. Kind of like how we felt tent camping eating Klondike bars under an oscillating fan amongst a bunch of envious, bug bitten, sweltering tent campers. That was also enabled by technology, our Yeti1500X. :p

It's mostly the fact that we are planning to be out months and reservations for EVERYTHING are now online. What if something totally unheard of, like getting a flat tire, happens and we lose a day? Well, all of a sudden you have several campsites that need to be notified with new reservations and how will that happen if you're in a dispersed site in the wilderness?

My guess is this thing is going to go everywhere we do.
Click to expand...
You’re come up through the camping ranks sounds similar to ours. I’ve laid tents down all over the place and have the good, bad, and ugly tales to tell. We went with Starlink mainly as a tool and comms convenience. We don’t post on the socials but do utilize the handier aspects of them where applicable.

Phones are now gaining the ability to connect to Starlink, the dedicated dish will eventually be legacy equipment found only in museums, grandpa’s garage, and land fills.

We still use HAM but Starlink is flat out changed the game. All the online reservation stuff you mentioned is all valid. We’re looking at some spots for summer and Christmas break, the lack of first come first serve in the big parks is a major bummer. Thankfully, we prefer to boondock and can get remote and off the beaten path but sometimes it’s nice to grab a good spot at a place like Bryce or Zion where your right there and won’t have to deal with the gate entrance.

Here’s my obstruction map. It will drop signal here and there but weather radar is no problem and scrolling X before bed for a few is not a problem. I may have even chimed in on some head gasket talk on here as well… gotta get that mud fix.
IMG_3143.png
 
Artie said:
You’re come up through the camping ranks sounds similar to ours. I’ve laid tents down all over the place and have the good, bad, and ugly tales to tell. We went with Starlink mainly as a tool and comms convenience. We don’t post on the socials but do utilize the handier aspects of them where applicable.

Phones are now gaining the ability to connect to Starlink, the dedicated dish will eventually be legacy equipment found only in museums, grandpa’s garage, and land fills.

We still use HAM but Starlink is flat out changed the game. All the online reservation stuff you mentioned is all valid. We’re looking at some spots for summer and Christmas break, the lack of first come first serve in the big parks is a major bummer. Thankfully, we prefer to boondock and can get remote and off the beaten path but sometimes it’s nice to grab a good spot at a place like Bryce or Zion where your right there and won’t have to deal with the gate entrance.

Here’s my obstruction map. It will drop signal here and there but weather radar is no problem and scrolling X before bed for a few is not a problem. I may have even chimed in on some head gasket talk on here as well… gotta get that mud fix.View attachment 3881903
Click to expand...
"Phones are now gaining the ability to connect to Starlink, the dedicated dish will eventually be legacy equipment found only in museums, grandpa’s garage, and land fills. "

I for one will not shed a tear if the day comes when Verizon, our current cellphone, TV and internet supplier files for bankruptcy following their entire revenue stream going to Starlink or something like it.
 
FrazzledHunter said:
"Phones are now gaining the ability to connect to Starlink, the dedicated dish will eventually be legacy equipment found only in museums, grandpa’s garage, and land fills. "

I for one will not shed a tear if the day comes when Verizon, our current cellphone, TV and internet supplier files for bankruptcy following their entire revenue stream going to Starlink or something like it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I hear ya.
 
FrazzledHunter said:
"Phones are now gaining the ability to connect to Starlink, the dedicated dish will eventually be legacy equipment found only in museums, grandpa’s garage, and land fills. "

I for one will not shed a tear if the day comes when Verizon, our current cellphone, TV and internet supplier files for bankruptcy following their entire revenue stream going to Starlink or something like it.
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Yeah I hate supporting that Prince of Destruction
 
Politics aside, aren’t you guys a little sad that going off-road won’t mean “unplugging” much longer?
 
MCtree said:
Politics aside, aren’t you guys a little sad that going off-road won’t mean “unplugging” much longer?
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I'm crying a river. Say, what if my mini breaks while off-road? Maybe I should order a spare.;)
 
gasman4u said:
You've always got control on the power source to your mini...
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Yeah. Last time we went out I got my wife to agree that the mini would be turned off in the evenings. That was nice.

Though I’ve got a solo trip coming up and hope I have the fortitude to keep it turned off in the evenings.
(I mean beyond the turning it on to check-in with the family or to check the weather.)

And I’m not knocking the device. It’s wonderful. Just that being “un-plugged” used to be part of the charm of camping - at least for me it was.
 
It’s a tough balance to maintain. We actively seek out places with no signal just so we can get “out there” and away from people. Most people won’t go where we go because they either can’t get there or won’t go because of the lack of sign and facilities. However, it’s nice to be there and be able to send pics to grandma or check the weather and route plan. We’re already those weird people who don’t turn the tv on during the week and don’t have one in our bedroom so even with the mini on trips we aren’t binging on Netflix or whatever.
 
Unfortunately, my job will not allow for complete disconnect on most trips.
 
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For us, having more internet connectivity means we will actually spend less time online. I know, sounds backwards—like putting on running shoes to take a nap—but it’s true.

We didn’t grow up with smartphones glued to our hands or surfing the internet at all hours. We’re old school. Like, “we know how to fold a map” old school. I remember camping trips with my dad, the YMCA, and the church group—where the hot topic among dads once we got to camp wasn’t GPS or WiFi, it was where is the nearest payphone and how long it’d take to get there. They even made sure we had a pocketful of change, not for vending machines, but in case of emergencies or, you know, needing to call mom.

Back then, no one lost sleep over the phone unless there wasn’t one. And honestly, no one cared—you weren’t checking your mortgage balance or waiting on medical test results by rotary dial.

Fast forward to today: We do literally everything online. Want to pay a bill, check those lab results, or order toilet paper? No problem. The idea of trusting snail mail is laughable. I mean, unless it’s a government document or a jury summons, I’d rather yank the mailbox out of the ground and turn it into a bird feeder.

So yeah, you probably see where this is headed.

When we don’t have connectivity, I hate to admit this our brains go quarter-panic mode. “Is the house on fire?” “Did someone die?” “Did I miss an email from the HOA about the new rules on trash can placement LOL?”

With cell service, we’ve tried to prep: download a couple movies before a rainy camping trip, fire up the WeBoost if we’re feeling optimistic. But we'll be honest—we once drove 50 miles to find a signal under the noble guise of needing a can of beans. Just a can. Maybe two. And definitely some cell or WiFi.

Now enter Starlink. We're predicting once we’ve got stable internet in the woods, we won’t even think about it—it’ll just feel like home. We’ll stop driving to town for fake bean emergencies and stop wondering if our fridge is texting us in Morse code.

So yes, the totally illogical truth is: the more connectivity we have, the less we actually use it. Because finally, we can relax... knowing it’s there if we need it.

And finally, as I alluded, it isn’t a new problem.:cheers:
 
As I mentioned I just took delivery of my mini and am anxiously awaiting the car mount from satgear.
To all those who are connected I thought I'd mention a virtual networking service that I've used to greatly simplify connecting to my home network when afield.

I wrote about it here: Upcoming satellite service for broadband, mobile, low-latency communications - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/upcoming-satellite-service-for-broadband-mobile-low-latency-communications.1219906/page-2#post-15905840

:cool:
 
will it work without a mount, from inside car?

I dont have FB, TV, or netflix


but when i am in middle of death valley or moab, reading MUD is a must - that is my disconnect

I refuse to mount anything on my truck
 
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