Starlink

[sofmerc]

Few pounds can mean a lot of things. Here are my numbers, directly from the references provided below:

• 13 lbs for the dish
• 15 lbs for dish with 25 ft cable. Now, of course, not all of the cable needs to be hoisted up.
• The wedge mount - the only one available for the flat high-performance dish - 4.4 lbs. This is attached to the dish and I presume would need to be hoisted up if on a pole/pipe.
• Pipe mount adapter - attaches to the wedge mount - 2.4 lbs.

So, I get 15 + 4.4 + 2.4 = 21.8 lbs. Let's drop it to 21 lbs, given that the entire cable does not need to raised up the camper roof. So, we have 21 lbs - without counting the weight of the pipe itself to raise it above the camper roof.

https://api.starlink.com/public-files/Starlink Product Specifications_FlatHighPerformance.pdf

https://api.starlink.com/public-files/Accessories_Guide_Flat_High_Performance.pdf

Please feel free to clarify where I have it wrong.

ours is the new version... Listed weigh is 9.2 lbs...we mounted it on an existing pole on our tugboat..

 

[kavm]

ours is the new version... Listed weigh is 9.2 lbs...we mounted it on an existing pole on our tugboat..

New version of which dish? There are 3 -

1. Standard - weight with wire listed at 8.2 lbs, may be that’s what you have.
2. High Performance - Discontinued. Doesn’t look like Starlink is selling any, though it might still be available in BestBuy, etc. It comes with a stand - so I am considering going this route.
3. Flat High Performance - for which I gave the weights for. This is now the only high performance version that Starlink is selling directly.

 

[sofmerc]

New version of which dish? There are 3 -

1. Standard - weight with wire listed at 8.2 lbs, may be that’s what you have.
2. High Performance - Discontinued. Doesn’t look like Starlink is selling any, though it might still be available in BestBuy, etc. It comes with a stand - so I am considering going this route.
3. Flat High Performance - for which I gave the weights for. This is now the only high performance version that Starlink is selling directly.

ours was purchased directly through Starlink last year at this time. We also got 4 nodes at the same time. I wasn't involved in the purchase....just enjoying the benefits of it

 

[EscapeBoulder]

Here's a good video about how Starlink works. There's some very smart folks out there!

 

[kavm]

Just a quick note - we went with the smaller (and cheaper) standard disk - mainly because of weight concerns. And, it worked well for us.

I do have a question for the Starlink owners: How does power consumption works for you when not hooked up to shore power? I bought a 200 watt inverter and used that - instead of using the larger wattage inverter installed in the camper. It worked fine. But, when we left the whole setup on overnight - it discharged the batteries (2 100 Ah lithium) and we had to charge them from our built-in generator/invertor in F150. This is an area that we are looking to improve on.

 

[gklott]

Just a quick note - we went with the smaller (and cheaper) standard disk - mainly because of weight concerns. And, it worked well for us.

Same here. Works well. Do you have Gen 1 or Gen 2 standard antenna and MODEM?

How does power consumption works for you when not hooked up to shore power?

Watching the EMS, our Roam Gen 2 standard antenna seems to draw about 75W when active. There are a few higher wattages toward 120W, such initially as the antenna is moving or the antenna heater is on. You can turn off the heater, but I do not know what the performance impact is.[/QUOTE]

I bought a 200 watt inverter and used that - instead of using the larger wattage inverter installed in the camper. It worked fine.

200W inverter should be fine.

But, when we left the whole setup on overnight - it discharged the batteries (2 100 Ah lithium) and we had to charge them from our built-in generator/invertor in F150. This is an area that we are looking to improve on.

To prevent this, reducing the idle power and other apps doing things at night, we invoke StarLink’s sleep schedule under SETTINGS-STARLINK to reduce nighttime consumption.

73/gus

 

[kavm]

Thank you so much for the quick response. We bought the equipment from Starlink in late November, so it should be the latest version.

 

[alanmalk]

...
I do have a question for the Starlink owners: How does power consumption works for you when not hooked up to shore power? I bought a 200 watt inverter and used that - instead of using the larger wattage inverter installed in the camper. It worked fine. But, when we left the whole setup on overnight - it discharged the batteries (2 100 Ah lithium) and we had to charge them from our built-in generator/invertor in F150. This is an area that we are looking to improve on.

Perhaps this could use a bit of elaboration:


The drain on the batteries, in this case from the Starlink device, is directly related to the wattage required by the device (75 Watts was mentioned above). The size of the inverter used to provide this power is more-or-less irrelevant. The larger installed inverter might pull a fraction of an Amp more than the smaller inverter but not enough to make a difference in 1 night. Probably the most important thing to remember is: Turn off the inverter when not in use.

 

[TranquiLiza]

We deploy the antenna on the ground where it'll have the best view of the sky, particularly the NW sky. We run the antenna wire out of a small hatch I put in the side of the Escape. The router sits on our dinette table.

Would you happen to have a link of the port that you used for the cable?

 

[alanmalk]

Would you happen to have a link of the port that you used for the cable?

Try this search text on Amazon. It comes up with a good number of generic cable ports, useful for a variety of cables.
"valterra White Electric Power Cord Small Round"


For a specific satellite input try this search on Google (not Amazon):
"RV Satellite and Cable Hookup Wall Plate"
You will get a number of hits that are for television cable input in addition to a few for satellites. Take a very close look and you will see that the cable fittings are not quite the same. There is a good reason - they are not interchangeable. Matching a fitting to your satellite cable is tricky and may take a number of attempts.

 

[John in Santa Cruz]

I think I would stow the cable in my exterior storage hatch and just leave the hatch loose when the antenna is deployed...

 

[Mike Lewis]

Starlink Mini

Is anyone using the new Starlink Mini in their Escape? I'm interested for two reasons:


1. It takes low-voltage power, and can use USB-C PD with an adapter.


2. The Mini antenna appears to also contain the wifi router, or whatever it's called, all in one unit.


ML

 

[LRL]

Is anyone using the new Starlink Mini in their Escape? I'm interested for two reasons:


1. It takes low-voltage power, and can use USB-C PD with an adapter.


2. The Mini antenna appears to also contain the wifi router, or whatever it's called, all in one unit.


ML

I just upgraded to the Mini. I’ve set it up and used it around home to get familiar with it, and have indeed run it off of a power pack. I also set up my old gen 2 router as a mesh node (essentially a booster) for when the mini and its internal router are far away from my Escape. So far: it seems great. it connects much more quickly than my old Starlink, it is very lightweight, and yes, it uses way less energy to run.

 

[Ron in BC]

Is anyone using the new Starlink Mini in their Escape?

ML

Not available in Canada yet but I'll be tempted when it is. Looks good at first blush but the plus is by the time it's available in Canada I'll have lots of first hand experience reports from you guys.

Hope you didn't have any storm damage.

Ron

 

[Mike Lewis]

Hope you didn't have any storm damage.

Ron

No, no damage. The outermost rain band from Hurricane Helene passed just to the east of me. I got 15-20 kn winds from the north, that's all. My neighbors were able to pick their peanuts and get them and the hay in.


thanks for asking.

 

[gklott]

Mini is our StarLink now

Is anyone using the new Starlink Mini in their Escape?ML

Yes. Switched from v2 antenna and router to the mini. Works well, and we don’t notice any performance difference in normal use. Doesn’t work properly yet on 12Vdc as advertised. We use Mini on the AC adapter or via USB-C 100W. You see it in the grass next to our E19. Mini is easy to carry, and we bought a small case for it. Have not tried it while mobile, but we got the roof rack mount.

73/gus

 

[Ron in BC]

Do you think that the 12V issue is basically just for you or do others report having issues running on 12V?

Ron

 

[gklott]

Common issue

Do you think that the 12V issue is basically just for you or do others report having issues running on 12V?

Lots of threads on StarLink forum and Reddit on this issue. Appears the voltage drop on the 15m and 30m cables is too much. I tried it on my 12 VDC plug on the outside of our E19 with a short adapter cable. No luck. Tried it on the 12 VDC plug on my EcoFlow Delta. No luck.

See this video.
https://youtu.be/aPvW_Fyj8as?feature=shared
Notice that the cable he gets to work is a short 16 or 14 AWG wire. I can confirm that the 12VDC works with a larger, shorter wire.

Mine works fine using the 30V AC/DC adapter that comes with the Mini, on a 100W USB-C plug in supply, and 100W USB-C port on EcoFlow Delta.

Many Reddit and other forum users are using a 12V in:24V out, 5A (120W) converter.

73/gus

 

[BritCanuck]

Is anyone using the new Starlink Mini in their Escape? I'm interested for two reasons:


1. It takes low-voltage power, and can use USB-C PD with an adapter.


2. The Mini antenna appears to also contain the wifi router, or whatever it's called, all in one unit.


ML

I’m planning on getting the Mini once it’s released in Canada. Mainly because of the cheaper monthly plans (if it follows the US pricing model).

You need a decent gauge cable to run it on 12V over any distance.

I’m also considering having it mounted on my truck somehow, so we have connectivity where ever we are when away from the trailer.

Btw it works thru fiberglass! (And glass)

It should work inside your Escape.

 

[Mike Lewis]

Gus- I have a few comments and questions:

- The video was pretty good, thanks. I didn't know those barrel connectors were called "5521". They are almost-but-not-quite standard for small 12V gizmos, which is a bit annoying. I wish everyone would get on board with them, or standardize on *something*.

- Am I correct in assuming the router is built into the Mini antenna housing?

- How are you going to use the roof rack mount? Are you going to attach it to your trailer's solar panel frame?

- I will need a power cable about ten or twelve feet long for the Mini. If I find or build one that is AWG 12 with the appropriate connectors do you think that will work?

- I talked to you at Quartzfest without realizing who you were until later. You said then that you were returning for the Quartzsite fiberglass trailer rally two weeks later. Did you? I didn't see you there but the weather was lousy so I didn't wander around much.


Mike KB3SHN