Starlink mini (3 Viewers)

[kong24680]

I use a Roamsat case for my mini and absolutely love it. Built in power and it’s weatherproof. The case comes with options for either suction, magnet, or rubber nubs. The built in battery powers the Starlink for about 7 hours on a charge (plenty for my use cases) and can also be run through a charge cable that bypasses the battery. Had it on my truck hood at highway speeds exceeding 100mph and it was absolutely rock solid. Downside is the cost, but it’s an extremely well built and engineered product.

 

[FrazzledHunter]

I use a Roamsat case for my mini and absolutely love it. Built in power and it’s weatherproof. The case comes with options for either suction, magnet, or rubber nubs. The built in battery powers the Starlink for about 7 hours on a charge (plenty for my use cases) and can also be run through a charge cable that bypasses the battery. Had it on my truck hood at highway speeds exceeding 100mph and it was absolutely rock solid. Downside is the cost, but it’s an extremely well built and engineered product.

View attachment 3900288

View attachment 3900289

I missed this brand when I was out shopping for mounts.
I love the fact that it's self contained and no wires to mess with!
Are the wire connections to it weather resistant/proof if one wanted to run it with wires for power to keep it charged while traveling or in camp, ?

 

[kong24680]

I missed this brand when I was out shopping for mounts.
I love the fact that it's self contained and no wires to mess with!
Are the wire connections to it weather resistant/proof if one wanted to run it with wires for power to keep it charged while traveling or in camp, ?

Yes it is. If you zoom up on the first photo I posted, it has the charger plugged in and running out my window. You have options to either run a line fhat charged the battery or bypasses the battery to directly power the unit.

I believe the product is run by a dude out of SoCal who engineered and builds the products out of his home. Marketing is definitely lacking, but i can’t stress how high quality and well made the case is. Also works great when I go backpacking, traveling abroad, or using at my cabin in the boonies.

 

[xeuxaz]

Yes it is. If you zoom up on the first photo I posted, it has the charger plugged in and running out my window. You have options to either run a line fhat charged the battery or bypasses the battery to directly power the unit.

I believe the product is run by a dude out of SoCal who engineered and builds the products out of his home. Marketing is definitely lacking, but i can’t stress how high quality and well made the case is. Also works great when I go backpacking, traveling abroad, or using at my cabin in the boonies.

Wow - that looks really well thought out/high quality.

 

[xeuxaz]

I wanted to show what I’ve done with mounting Starlink Mini in preparation for our upcoming trip. I’ve never owned one of these things before so I couldn’t make up my mind how I might use it, so I opted for the commercial mount that appeared to give me the most options and that was a Satgear SM3 - 5-in-1. Whatever the mount, it had to be secure from movement and theft but at the same time easy to remove. The handle looked like a convenient place to place a cable or chain. Securing it from theft also means easily removing it and placing it in the truck, if desired. I also wanted a mount that provided a wind faring or deflector for wind and debris. I also wanted to get a mount in white to match, more or less, the truck’s color. I could have ordered it unfinished and powder coated it to match the Blizzard Pearl but, alas, not this time.

It can be ordered with or without suction cups and magnets for mounting. I ordered it with both. Since obstructions can be an issue with Starlink, I wanted to be able to mount it to the roof on or near the sunroof, on the roof rack and with a tripod or stand if all else fails again, due to location or obstructions. I’m not interested in a permanent roof rack mount at this time, but the mount’s design is so flexible I can change my mind.

Overall, I’m really happy with the mount; it’s sturdy and well machined.
SATGEAR SM3 - 5-in-1 Starlink Mini Roof Rack Mount - https://satgear.com/products/satgear-sm3-starlink-mini-roof-rack-mount

With the magnets and suction cups shown below this thing DOES NOT MOVE: tested at 80 MPH.

Roof mount:

I was able to mount it 2 ways:​

​

Suction cups per the original purchase. Two cups fit nicely in the front of the sunroof and 2 on the glass. The suction cups are really strong and held for 2 days without losing suction. I probably could have stopped here. But nooooo…I don’t completely trust suction cups.​

View attachment 3900230

View attachment 3900231

​

Four 35lb magnets with 1/4-20 threaded base purchased separately and screwed to the mount in lieu of 2 of the suction cups. This required 1 3/4 inch 1/4-20 bolts (from Home Depot) to get the proper clearance with the suction cups on the sunroof.​

View attachment 3900243

View attachment 3900247

​

I’m not currently using the magnets that came with it although they would work fine on a completely flat roof, hood or trunk without the suction cups or extra magnets I bought. For now, they’re doing nothing.​

Roof rack mount:

I got RAM C ball mounts (that attach to the roof rack and to the mount’s 1/4-20 thread):​

• RAM Double U-Bolt Ball Base for 1" - 1.25" Rails - C Size Part#: RAM-235U
• RAM Double Socket Arm - C Size Long Part#: RAM-201U-D
• RAM Ball Adapter with Round Plate and 1/4"-20 Threaded Stud - C Size Part#: RAM-202AU

​

View attachment 3900244

View attachment 3900245

Tripod mount:

I usually take a lightweight camera tripod wherever we go so as most tripods come with a 1/4-20 bolt it was easy to attach it directly to the mount's threaded attachment point (same one used with the RAM C ball mount above) without mods:​

View attachment 3900248​

​

I’ll power it using DC with the cigarette lighter cable that came with the mount or the 120 AC plug that came with the Starlink antenna. Here it is with the 120V adapter plugged into my Goal Zero Yeti 1500X and showing the approximate 40W power draw:
View attachment 3900251

Great post, thanks for taking the time to write all that up.

 

[MCtree]

On my recent trip to Wyoming, my Mini power cord gave up the ghost.
Happily because I had heard enough about these wires failing, I had a spare.

So consider this a public service announcement; carry a spare power wire.

As an aside and perhaps not entirely germane to this thread, I also carry a spare dometic power cord since I have also had one of these die on me.

 

[Artie]

On my recent trip to Wyoming, my Mini power cord gave up the ghost.
Happily because I had heard enough about these wires failing, I had a spare.

So consider this a public service announcement; carry a spare power wire.

As an aside and perhaps not entirely germane to this thread, I also carry a spare dometic power cord since I have also had one of these die on me.

Which one failed, the 12v usb or regular 110v?

I also carry a few of these in different lengths so I’m glad/bummed to hear that my supply now serves a dual role.

 

[MCtree]

It was the USB-C to Barrel-jack wire.
I was plugging it into the USB-C power port on my Ecoflow power station.

It worked fine for 6 days of my camping but then stopped working on the 7th day. (As god ordained!)
I was taking the mini out and putting it away about twice a day so the wire was getting a bit of handling.
I would leave the barrel jack inserted into the Mini and would only inplug the USB-C end as I set up and packed up.
So perhaps some of you guys with more permanent set-ups might not need to worry if your wires are handled less. But a wire is cheap and small - I would still carry a backup.

 

[Artie]

It was the USB-C to Barrel-jack wire.
I was plugging it into the USB-C power port on my Ecoflow power station.

It worked fine for 6 days of my camping but then stopped working on the 7th day. (As god ordained!)
I was taking the mini out and putting it away about twice a day so the wire was getting a bit of handling.
I would leave the barrel jack inserted into the Mini and would only inplug the USB-C end as I set up and packed up.
So perhaps some of you guys with more permanent set-ups might not need to worry if your wires are handled less. But a wire is cheap and small - I would still carry a backup.

Thanks for the details, very good to know. Given my experience with USB cables my gut tells me the barrel to barrel would be more robust but I could be completely wrong. I have the usb c cable for when I run off my dewalt batteries but that’s very rare.

We’re on a trip now and have granted the mini a pretty high status ranking for gear this time out. Be it weather, trail recon, or the utter annoyance of recreation.gov it has come in clutch and performs quickly and without issue. Big bonus points for use out west where it can stay mounted on the roof.

 

[MCtree]

Thanks for the details, very good to know. Given my experience with USB cables my gut tells me the barrel to barrel would be more robust but I could be completely wrong. I have the usb c cable for when I run off my dewalt batteries but that’s very rare.

We’re on a trip now and have granted the mini a pretty high status ranking for gear this time out. Be it weather, trail recon, or the utter annoyance of recreation.gov it has come in clutch and performs quickly and without issue. Big bonus points for use out west where it can stay mounted on the roof.

Artie,
It occurred to me that if you are using the barrel to barrel wire, does that mean you are plugging one end of the barrel to barrel wire into the little wall-wart with the three AC prongs?

Where are you getting AC power while camping?
Or are you just okay with the inefficiency of a conversion to AC and then a conversion back to DC?

Or, hopefully, is there a way you are using the barrel to barrel wire with DC?

 

[Artie]

Artie,
It occurred to me that if you are using the barrel to barrel wire, does that mean you are plugging one end of the barrel to barrel wire into the little wall-wart with the three AC prongs?

Where are you getting AC power while camping?
Or are you just okay with the inefficiency of a conversion to AC and then a conversion back to DC?

Or, hopefully, is there a way you are using the barrel to barrel wire with DC?

I’m throwing efficiency to the wind and running my inverter when I need the Starlink. With my amount of Starlink use I can go days without worrying about my camper batteries. More if my roof top solar is exposed.