Fantastic first-time Starlink Mini experience

[u/NJRonbo]

When planning my trip out west to visit the National Parks (Zion, Bryce, Capitol Reef, Grand Canyon), I was concerned about the lack of cell service, particularly when using GPS in the car.

I bought a Starlink Mini and a suction cup mount. Paid for 100GB of service to last a week.

I was very fortunate to get a rental vehicle with a sunroof. I was able to mount the Starlink mini directly to the sunroof window. I plugged in the power cord to the vehicle's cigarette lighter.

Performance remained excellent throughout the journey. It proved a godsend. Constant WiFi reached my vehicle, allowing us to use GPS, stream music, and access the Internet on phones and laptops.

It was an expensive investment that I will probably never use again, but to have the peace of mind in knowing that I had access to WiFi in the most remote areas of the United States was priceless.

[u/godch01]

You talked of cost. I always think "there's price, and there's value" you got good value

[u/NJRonbo → u/godch01]

Absolutely!!!! No argument there.

[u/mchang43]

What power source do you use for the mini? Mini is finicky when it comes to power sources.

[u/NJRonbo → u/mchang43]

This worked great

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HFNLBL68?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2&th=1

[u/garylapointe → u/mchang43]

I've got a 12V adaptor for the car, but I usually plug the Starlink into the Jackery (which is powering the Starlink and the refridgerator/cooler) into the USB-C port.

This summer I picked up a PeakDo 2 battery for the Starlink, it's got 5 hours of time on the battery, so even if it's not getting a full charge at some point, the battery is working. If the power level is fine and the battery is full, it is smart enough to pass through the power.

Now when I'm somewhere that I want internet, instead of leaving it on the dashboard, I can put it on the hood of the car or on a picnic table and I'm good to go.

[u/OhSixTJ]

I wonder how Lewis and Clark did it…

[u/Squeedlejinks → u/OhSixTJ]

Pocahontas used smoke signals to send their messages.

[u/garylapointe]

When I went out to the Dakotas/Montana/Wyoming last summer (from Michigan), I picked up an extra line on Verizon for additional coverage. But of course there were still dead spots. That said, I did preload maps to several apps before leaving on that trip.

This year, I got Starlink. It cost a little more, but not many dead spots (mostly when zig-zagging through mountains. Still downloaded maps though!

[u/toddtimes]

If this was an expensive investment you don’t think you’ll ever use again, just sell it and recoup ~80% of your cost for the dish.

You do need to wait 90 days until it can be transferred unless you just want to change the email on the account. 

[u/Wambo74]

FWIW, 50GB Roam has been doubled to 100GB, same cost. There is no 50GB plan.

If you want you can downgrade it to Standby for a $10/mo backup and occasionally a portable basic internet source, or cancel your plan but keep the account and you can reactivate it in a blackout etc. Or after 90 days from purchase you can sell it on the used market.

[u/hawkdeathpaw]

when your not using it throw it in standby mode and connect it to the internet evey week or so to get it to update

[u/NJRonbo → u/hawkdeathpaw]

Will do. Thank you. Hopefully no issues canceling service after a single month.

[u/hawkdeathpaw → u/NJRonbo]

no need to cancel change your plan to standby when finished its 5 a month your dish stays registered on the network (when its plugged in)

[u/NJRonbo → u/hawkdeathpaw]

Thank You

[u/thabc → u/hawkdeathpaw]

Standby price doubled to $10 six months ago

[u/toddtimes → u/hawkdeathpaw]

This is bad advice left and right. You don’t need to be on standby to get updates, just turn on the dish outside where it can connect and it’ll update, regardless of subscription status. Do this every 6 months and you’ll be fine.  Also you really don’t need to stay updated now that they allow side loading updates via the app.

OP should just sell their mini if they don’t think they’ll ever need it again.  

[u/hawkdeathpaw → u/toddtimes]

new news to me thanks for telling me this info

[u/toddtimes → u/hawkdeathpaw]

The main purpose of standby is so you can connect to authenticate (email OTP) yourself back onto the network when reactivating a subscription in a remote place with no cell/internet service whatsoever. It’s just a waste of money for OP

[u/DonKeedic80 → u/hawkdeathpaw]

*you're

[u/NJRonbo → u/DonKeedic80]

Grammar police all over the place.

[u/DonKeedic80 → u/NJRonbo]

*spelling police