StarLink Mini on USB-C

After some delay I finally received Starlink's Ethernet cable. I connected it to the Starlink Mini dish and to an old Apple Airport Extreme router I have inside my house. My data rates are faster than before but vary greatly, from about 20 Mbps to 90 Mbps. A more modern router inside would help, I think.

In order to use the Starlink Mini with an Ethernet connection you have to disable the Mini's own wifi router via the Starlink app. To re-enable the Mini's router you have to do a hardware reset on the Mini itself. I haven't tried this yet.
 
I connected my laptop (a MacBook Air) via Ethernet to the Apple router and turned off the laptop's wifi. Then I got 141 Mbps download. That's more like it. So the Airport Extreme's wifi is the bottleneck.
 
Speed results seem to be all over the map. This morning I got 150 Mbps download! Then I moved the antenna closer to my office where my computer is. The speeds were slower, but better than yesterday.
I have a fancy metal roof that is good for hurricanes but bad for wifi. I need to use the Starlink Mini's Ethernet port to route the signal inside to a switch. Has anyone done this?

Which subscription have you got? The 50Gb/month option is bandwidth throttled depending on how busy your local area is with other Starlink users.

I've just brought the Mini as it just came out in Canada. My next project! Think I'm going to mount this on the roof of my F150 with a removable option.

Anyone know if you can remove the insert sockets in the dual external 12V/USB plugs? I want to remove the dual USB socket and replace it with a 12V-20V step up USB socket.
 
USB voltages are negotiated, by the device and source, initially the voltage is low power 5V, the device has to ask the supply for more power and voltage, which the supply can only output if its capable, otherwise the device stays in low power mode. You can't just tie a higher voltage to it.
 
USB voltages are negotiated, by the device and source, initially the voltage is low power 5V, the device has to ask the supply for more power and voltage, which the supply can only output if its capable, otherwise the device stays in low power mode. You can't just tie a higher voltage to it.
So this 65W adapter won't work off the internal 12V supply? Not sure what you are saying.

 
That would work to power USB C devices,, but what were you saying about changing connectors ?
I've got the dual external 12V sockets on the trailer, one is the 12V cigarette lighter, the other is dual USB. I want to replace the dual USB with this new plug so I can power the Starlink Mini. Just not sure how I get the existing dual USB plug out.
 
generally those things are indeed mounted with a ring nut, its often 'toothed' rather than hex on the outside. But sometimes those panels have things molded into them, which can't be changed. worse case, replace the plate, if its the same dimensions as...

plus
plus your USB adapter.


oh hey on the starlink site, the USB C charging cable for the mini says it needs a 100W source... that dual outlet you linked is only 45W of USB C and 18W of USB QC3.0... I'm having some trouble finding a USB C PD 100W charger in this form factor.
 
I've just brought the Mini as it just came out in Canada.
You caught me by surprise. I'd mentally put it aside thinking that it wouldn't be available in Canada yet.

I'm not understanding the pause feature for 50GB. On one hand it seems to say the service can be paused and then that it can't.

Let us know how it works for you.

Ron
 
You caught me by surprise. I'd mentally put it aside thinking that it wouldn't be available in Canada yet.

I'm not understanding the pause feature for 50GB. On one hand it seems to say the service can be paused and then that it can't.

Let us know how it works for you.

Ron
The roam subscription is per month, which starts when you first activate it. If you then pause the subscription you get service for the remainder of your month and then you get cut off until you resume your subscription.
 
  • The pause feature is available for orders purchased under "Roam" on Starlink.com with Roam 50GB or Roam Unlimited service plans. The pause feature is not available with the Roam 50GB (Bundle) plan. To enable the pause feature, you can upgrade your service to Roam 50GB, Roam Unlimited, or Mobile Priority.
Haven't figured out what the Roam 50GB bundle is and why pause isn't available. Of is that because .com is different than .ca?

Ron
 
A USB-C to USB-C (both male) that fits a PD (power device) socket, has a chip built into it that tells the PD how much current it can handle and that limits the output of the PD socket.

If you have a 100w PD output and a 40w USB-C to C cable, then all you will get is 40w, as the cable is talking to the PD output asking to be restricted.

If you have a 100w cable, and a 65W PD socket, then it will put out the max 65w if the device being charged needs it.

Almost all new chargers have either capacitance switches or rubber dome switches. In either case, these chargers draw current even when switched off, so I installed a rocker switch to positively shut off the power to the chargers.

Charles
 
If you have a 100w PD output and a 40w USB-C to C cable, then all you will get is 40w, as the cable is talking to the PD output asking to be restricted.

to be clear, the optional cable E-marker chip identifies it as capable of 5A current. all USB C cables should handle 3A, which gets you up to 60W (20V * 3A = 60W) and doesn't require an e-marker. The e-marker says the cable can handle 5A or more, which gets you into the 100W+ range (20V*5A = 100W)

for extra fun, USB PD goes even higher, all the way up to 240 watts, but this uses voltages as high as 48V (48V * 5A = 240 watts).

this is, indeed, a big mess, as there's no obvious way of identifying 100W cables... I have a couple, I specifically got the bright yellow ones, so i wouldn't confuse them with other cables.
 
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oh hey on the starlink site, the USB C charging cable for the mini says it needs a 100W source... that dual outlet you linked is only 45W of USB C and 18W of USB QC3.0... I'm having some trouble finding a USB C PD 100W charger in this form factor.
Sorry, linked to the wrong one. It's this one.


Upon further research I'm actually going to install an internal Victron DC to DC converter (12-24/30V) with a dedicated weather proof Starlink port on the trailer (sourced on ETSY). The convertor will crank upto 30V which will allow me to run the mini upto 50ft away with the supplied power cord.
 
  • The pause feature is available for orders purchased under "Roam" on Starlink.com with Roam 50GB or Roam Unlimited service plans. The pause feature is not available with the Roam 50GB (Bundle) plan. To enable the pause feature, you can upgrade your service to Roam 50GB, Roam Unlimited, or Mobile Priority.
Haven't figured out what the Roam 50GB bundle is and why pause isn't available. Of is that because .com is different than .ca?

Ron
It's this one.


Pause is available.
 
Which subscription have you got? The 50Gb/month option is bandwidth throttled depending on how busy your local area is with other Starlink users.

I've just brought the Mini as it just came out in Canada. My next project! Think I'm going to mount this on the roof of my F150 with a removable option.

Anyone know if you can remove the insert sockets in the dual external 12V/USB plugs? I want to remove the dual USB socket and replace it with a 12V-20V step up USB socket.
I have the 50 GB / month "roam" subscription. I just finished my first month on the service. I used 41 GB, which is more than I anticipated, as I didn't use it for several days and I don't watch video in general. I guess I'll need to keep an eye on it. It seems to work okay for the most part. A bad rainstorm messed with it one day.
 
Sorry, linked to the wrong one. It's this one.


Upon further research I'm actually going to install an internal Victron DC to DC converter (12-24/30V) with a dedicated weather proof Starlink port on the trailer (sourced on ETSY). The convertor will crank upto 30V which will allow me to run the mini upto 50ft away with the supplied power cord.
I’d be interested in seeing the port you are installing and hearing how the DC to DC converter works out. We are planning on using starlink for working from the road and I’d want to be sure we have maximum data capability (I do video conferences all day long) and flexibility for our needs! Thanks 🙂
 

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