Starlink Roam Mini

MIGeezer

All due respect...You can't cut the cord and spend some dedicated time with the family?

I am solo camping 90+ % of the time. Sure, I suppose I can talk to myself but I am guessing I will run out of things to talk about with myself after a while. Plus I don't really like myself enough to have any in-depth and lasting conversations. 😂

My solo camping trips are also off-road trips. I get up in the morning, have coffee, listen to a podcast or music while chillin' by the fire and waiting for the sun to rise. After that the entire day is spent on the trails 4 wheelin'. I get back in the evening and have dinner, chill by the fire and listen to music, podcasts or whatever.

I am also a huge hockey fan. Games are almost always on in the evening ( I avoid wheelin' at night if at all possible so I am always back at camp by nighttime ) and I'd prefer to watch them if I can as opposed to, ya know, talking to myself even more..

I am sure there are plenty of people who camp as a family and find value in having service when out in the middle of nowhere..

My Starlink Mini arrived today. It was suppose to be here yesterday but we had legit blizzard conditions..

I also saw in my news feed that Starlink now offers a $10 a month plan with 10GB of data. The downside to the 10GB plan is that if you go over the 10GB, it's $2 per gig as opposed to $1 per gig on the 50GB plan.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/starlink-offers-10-per-month-plan-to-lure-back-inactive-users

Think I'll just use the 50GB plan for a few months and see where my data usage ends up..

raqball

My Starlink Mini arrived today. It was suppose to be here yesterday but we had legit blizzard conditions..

I also saw in my news feed that Starlink now offers a $10 a month plan with 10GB of data. The downside to the 10GB plan is that if you go over the 10GB, it's $2 per gig as opposed to $1 per gig on the 50GB plan.

https://www.pcmag.com/news/starlink-offers-10-per-month-plan-to-lure-back-inactive-users

Think I'll just use the 50GB plan for a few months and see where my data usage ends up..

Mmmm... ya know... $10/mo for 10GB of data is really not bad and is more in-line with what I would need. :unsure:

RagnarKon

Mmmm... ya know... $10/mo for 10GB of data is really not bad and is more in-line with what I would need. :unsure:

If it were also a $1 per gig for the overage, I'd snag that $10 plan. But at $2 per gig, I am gonna take a pass, for now..

raqball

If it were also a $1 per gig for the overage, I'd snag that $10 plan. But at $2 per gig, I am gonna take a pass, for now..

Yeah for me it would be just general internet communication. Don't have any desire to stream video or anything, just not that invested in hockey. 😉 My smartphone plan used to be 8GB, and I don't think I ever once went over ~6GB.

So I was thinking.... hey, if I could just buy a bucket of 50GB of data and use it throughout the warmer months while traveling, that would be great. That would make it worth it for me. Obviously the new $10/mo plan is not exactly that, but it is definitely a lot closer to that than the $50/mo plan.

Where did you get the Mini dish from? May have to go shopping myself.

RagnarKon

Yeah for me it would be just general internet communication. Don't have any desire to stream video or anything, just not that invested in hockey. 😉 My smartphone plan used to be 8GB, and I don't think I ever once went over ~6GB.

So I was thinking.... hey, if I could just buy a bucket of 50GB of data and use it throughout the warmer months while traveling, that would be great. That would make it worth it for me. Obviously the new $10/mo plan is not exactly that, but it is definitely a lot closer to that than the $50/mo plan.

Where did you get the Mini dish from? May have to go shopping myself.

You can also pause and unpause the 10GB plan just like you can with the 50GB plan..

I got mine from Home Depot.. I mainly ordered from them because they have a 90-day return window and I want to make sure it's going to work out with my campers 12V setup..

I went out today and got the Starlink Mini all setup, the firmware updated and tested it for about 20 minutes. I have not activated it yet and will wait until the 1st to do so. I'll mainly wait until then so it's easier for me to keep track of pausing and unpausing billing..

This Starlink Mini 12V Cable - Amazon Link worked great on a 12V - 5AMP setup.

I also got this Daga Starlink Mini Case - Amazon Link case for it and it's high quality. The stock Mini, it's accessories and my aftermarket cables all fit in it like a glove.

I ordered a tripod for it, that said it was for the Mini, but it's not even close to fitting so it's getting returned and I ordered different one.

Starlink gives you one hour of 'free' service. I assume this is so you can get it setup and updated. When I unplugged from the camper I had about 40 minutes of 'free' time left.

The speed test was very acceptable and came in at 226 Mbps down and 31 Mbps upload..

My plan is to have it setup at camp when I am there for podcasts, streaming music and watching hockey games. When I hit the trails, I'll toss it in the Bronco for emergency use (wifi calling, data messaging etc) when out 4 wheelin'..

Starlink is now selling refurbished Mini's for $350..

https://www.starlink.com/shop/products/starlink/8

Select the refurbished option on the webpage..

raqball

Starlink is now selling refurbished Mini's for $350..

https://www.starlink.com/shop/products/starlink/8

Select the refurbished option on the webpage..

This is valuable information for someone who was super close to hitting the "Check Out" button before ultimately distracting myself long enough to skip it.

RagnarKon

This is valuable information for someone who was super close to hitting the "Check Out" button before ultimately distracting myself long enough to skip it.

I have a trip planned for next week and will get to test mine out and see how it goes.. $350 is not a bad price.. I might end up returning my Home Depot one and ordering a refurbished unit direct from Starlink. $150 less is quite the discount..

Update:

The Starlink Mini worked like a champ!

I was not in a great location as I had a few talll trees directly to the North of where I setup camp. The Starlink app said I had obstructions preventing optimal service.

I was able to listen to live podcasts, stream SiriusXM music and I watched a hockey game! I browsed the web and uploaded photos here to BN..

Win, win, win...

I took it out on the trails with me and set it up once on a lunch break to test. This was in the wide open and it had no issue connecting. The app said there were no obstructions or issues. I made a WiFi call and my son said I sounded crystal clear. Not bad for being out in the middle of nowhere.

If anything, it could be a great emergency communication tool. I go out solo most times and while I do have a Garmin inReach Mini for life and death emergencies, this can be used to call for rescue when life or death is not an issue.

Not sure how it would do in my old stomping grounds of Washington State's deep, heavy and thick forests but I assume it would not fare well in that environment.

I used a lot of data during my 3 day trip but I was testing the crud out of it so that makes sense.. I used 12GB of data during the trip. Not bad considering I watched a 3 hour hockey game, listened to live podcasts, music and surfed the web all 3 days when not out on the trails. I also uploaded numerous photos here on BN for a few posts I made, and to FaceBook..

Starlink Mini on top of TigerMoth showing tree obstructions:



Speed test at camp with the above noted obstructions:



Live hockey game on iPad connected to Starlink:

I tested the Mini out again on my last camping and off-road trip. I was out for 3 days and 2 nights.

I was in a fairly open area with a few trees in the area, but no matter where I positioned the Mini it said I had an obstructed view. To my eye, it looked completely clear of any but the app said it was partially obstructed.

This didn't cause any issues as the internet was fine for all 3 days., I guess if there is a tree within 7 square miles it's just going to tell me it's obstructed. 😂

I used up about 9GB of data on this trip and used it when a my base camp for listen to podcast, music from the SiriusXM app and I watched a few TV shows.

When out on the trails I loaded it into the Bronco just in case I needed to make an emergency call as the entire area I was in had zero cell service.

Here are the items I am using for it to work on a 12V, 5amp setup..

1. Amazon - 100W 12V Converter
2. Amazon - Barrel Jack to USB C Adapter

12V with a 5 amp fuse will put out 60 watts. The 12 volt converter plug (item 1) will convert that to 120 watt output. My understanding is that it converts the 12V to 24V using the same 5 amps and that = the 120 watt output.

This is important especially if you are running a long cable to the Mini from its power source. The longer the cable, the more wattage loss you'll have at the connection point.

The Starlink Mini comes with a 50 foot cable but it has a barrel jack on both ends as it's intended to be used with the included 110V wall plug. To solve this use item (2)..

The Mini only uses about 30 watts at 1st start up then settles in at about 20 watts for the remainder of the time it's powered on.

I did not test with a multimeter but I assume running a 50 foot cable from a 12V, 5 amp outlet would be problematic. I am no electrician but that is what I gathered from the wonderful internet..

This is pretty cool.. Shows all the active Starlink Satellites and their movement from around the globe. You can zoom in to your specific area..

https://satellitemap.space/

I always appreciate your gear reviews, @raqball. You make it easy for others to buy and get set up.

FYI if anyone is looking at getting one, the mini is on sale for $299 right now.
I've had on mounted to a mille panel under my soft top for a couple months & it works great!

jtgensler

FYI if anyone is looking at getting one, the mini is on sale for $299 right now.
I've had on mounted to a mille panel under my soft top for a couple months & it works great!

Jackpot!

So after reading this I contacted Starlink and said something like "Yo, can I haz a price match refund or some service credit".. I told them I was past their 30 day window but figured I'd ask anyways..

About an hour later I got an email from Starlink saying they gave me a $50 service credit.. I was easily past their 30 day price match window..

I signed in to my account and bingo, I haz the $50 service credit.. Starlink customer support gets an A+++ from me..👍

Thanks for saving me $50 smackaroos @jtgensler 💪

raqball

Jackpot!

So after reading this I contacted Starlink and said something like "Yo, can I haz a price match refund or some service credit".. I told them I was past their 30 day window but figured I'd ask anyways..

About an hour later I got an email from Starlink saying they gave me a $50 service credit.. I was easily past their 30 day price match window..

I signed in to my account and bingo, I haz the $50 service credit.. Starlink customer support gets an A+++ from me..👍

Thanks for saving me $50 smackaroos @jtgensler 💪

Where did you email them? I bought mine at the beginning of April.. I want $50 lol

jtgensler

Where did you email them? I bought mine at the beginning of April.. I want $50 lol

Log in to your account online and send a support ticket. I chose to send mine with the title 'Price Match'..

Starlink.com >> My Account >> Messages >> New Ticket

raqball

Log in to your account online and send a support ticket. I chose to send mine with the title 'Price Match'..

Starlink.com >> My Account >> Messages >> New Ticket

So I tried it, and they denied the price match request, as expected.
So I asked for a service credit & they denied that.
I mean, I didn't even get my free month from using my link a buddy sent me when I signed up.
Oh well. The tech is great & works well, but apparently ole Elon didn't make his billions by cutting anyone any breaks.

jtgensler

So I tried it, and they denied the price match request, as expected.
So I asked for a service credit & they denied that.
I mean, I didn't even get my free month from using my link a buddy sent me when I signed up.
Oh well. The tech is great & works well, but apparently ole Elon didn't make his billions by cutting anyone any breaks.

Dang, I wonder why since they gave me one? I bought mine in March and still got the service credit..

I might have got lucky and my ticket went to a different rep...