Show me your Starlink mounts (or ones you’ve seen)

[MrFancypants]

On the fence about the Standby plan. I agree for $5/month it is good to have basic emergency connectivity, but the bait and switch is super annoying too.

Regarding voltage, I had all kinds of issues getting it to work at 12V and the 100W charger was not the issue. It would power my MacBook Pro no problem but the Mini was super flaky and kept rebooting. Once I installed a 24VDC converter in my trailer it ran like a charm. The truck has a 400W AC inverter plus the ProPower so I don’t see a need to mess with 12V. StarLink also pulled their car charger from the online store so I suspect they no longer want to mess with it either.

I have tested my Mini with my BMV and it draws a consistent 20W which includes the small losses from the 24VDC converter. Pretty awesome to get >200Mbps in the boonies on just 20W, but makes no sense why they can’t support 12VDC. It is clearly just software that is preventing it.

 

[MT N8IV]

I looked at and briefly considered the Standy mode as it was unlimited low speed, the actual speed was either 300K U/D or 500K U/D which isn't great but will work in a pinch for WiFi calls, SMS and such. However, for $10 you get pretty much full speed and 10GB of data per month. A typical VoLTE call is between 1MB to 6MB per minute so for emergencies you are looking at 1500 to 2500 minutes plus you can just up to unlimited on the fly if you think you'll need it. I'll just stick with the $10 but I can see where the $5 unlimited low speed standy would be useful too.

 

[McE]

I looked at and briefly considered the Standy mode as it was unlimited low speed, the actual speed was either 300K U/D or 500K U/D which isn't great but will work in a pinch for WiFi calls, SMS and such. However, for $10 you get pretty much full speed and 10GB of data per month. A typical VoLTE call is between 1MB to 6MB per minute so for emergencies you are looking at 1500 to 2500 minutes plus you can just up to unlimited on the fly if you think you'll need it. I'll just stick with the $10 but I can see where the $5 unlimited low speed standy would be useful too.

The $10 10GB plan appears to be gone.

 

[Optimus🤖]

The $10 10GB plan appears to be gone.

View attachment 221646

Yep, it went bye bye. They probably went through the date and figured they could make more money this way. Oh well...

Great article here:

Starlink Mini users just lost their beloved pause feature | The Verge https://share.google/SjgyUHAuiNZICyZ5r

 

[mattagc]

Yep, it went bye bye. They probably went through the date and figured they could make more money this way. Oh well...

Great article here:

Starlink Mini users just lost their beloved pause feature | The Verge https://share.google/SjgyUHAuiNZICyZ5r

That’s my suspicion; the terminals are sold at a loss, so StarLink isn’t making any money with Roam users that only activate it a month or two outta the year for camping season. Pretty shitty bait’n’switch, but not entirely unexpected. Especially given that they supposedly added in wording saying if you stick on Standby for more than 12 consecutive months, you may have your services terminated or be forced onto a larger plan. Gotta make their money back…

I see it as a benefit to residential customers, especially those in high demand areas so they save money versus paying a reactivation demand fee, but shitty for us Roam users. Given my main case use so far as a better cell booster, I could probably switch to it and be fine, save myself $8/month (maple syrup monies), but for us north of the border, the $15/month 10GB plan still exists, we now just can pause or go on Standby.

We can’t get our Tremor Reserve up here, but at least we get 10GB of full speed data…amiright?

 

[Optimus🤖]

That’s my suspicion; the terminals are sold at a loss, so StarLink isn’t making any money with Roam users that only activate it a month or two outta the year for camping season. Pretty shitty bait’n’switch, but not entirely unexpected. Especially given that they supposedly added in wording saying if you stick on Standby for more than 12 consecutive months, you may have your services terminated or be forced onto a larger plan. Gotta make their money back…

I see it as a benefit to residential customers, especially those in high demand areas so they save money versus paying a reactivation demand fee, but shitty for us Roam users. Given my main case use so far as a better cell booster, I could probably switch to it and be fine, save myself $8/month (maple syrup monies), but for us north of the border, the $15/month 10GB plan still exists, we now just can pause or go on Standby.

We can’t get our Tremor Reserve up here, but at least we get 10GB of full speed data…amiright?

Great points as you are correct my Megatron-loving enemy!

 

[HeavyAssault]

So just to be sure I fired up the SL and ran all the updates. Might have to start a routine.

Pretty much what I do right now. I just roll down the window, drag an 110V extension cord to the truck, plug in the SL. Let it do everything on it's own. I wish I had better WiFi into the house to check the status, but it's no big deal.

Other note : Sometimes when booting up on truck power (AC inverter) the SL will not show the router on the app, just shows the antenna. Weird part is the SL system still allows WiFi connection and internet access isn't an issue. SO the router doesn't go into "pass through" mode.....it's weird as I just don't understand what's going on.

 

[JTredway]

On the fence about the Standby plan. I agree for $5/month it is good to have basic emergency connectivity, but the bait and switch is super annoying too.

Regarding voltage, I had all kinds of issues getting it to work at 12V and the 100W charger was not the issue. It would power my MacBook Pro no problem but the Mini was super flaky and kept rebooting. Once I installed a 24VDC converter in my trailer it ran like a charm. The truck has a 400W AC inverter plus the ProPower so I don’t see a need to mess with 12V. StarLink also pulled their car charger from the online store so I suspect they no longer want to mess with it either.

I have tested my Mini with my BMV and it draws a consistent 20W which includes the small losses from the 24VDC converter. Pretty awesome to get >200Mbps in the boonies on just 20W, but makes no sense why they can’t support 12VDC. It is clearly just software that is preventing it.

this is wild, do you guys have the other services like snow/ice melt and crap turned off? I run mine both off 12v and usb c and havent had any issues. I run the cable down the back wall rear pillar, so its over the HL and sunshade behind the seat and up between the middle to plug into the cig lighter/outlet at the back of the center console.

Have you guys seen these upconverters, might be more simple?

Amazon.com: Starlink Mini Car Adapter, Car Charger 12V/24 to 36V Step Up Converter Starlink Mini Accessories, 1M/3.2ft Mini Cigarette Lighter Adapter for RV Truck/RV/Car, USB-C 45W/USB-A 18W Dual Ports : Cell Phones & Accessories

Amazon.com: Starlink Mini Car Adapter, Car Charger 12V/24 to 36V Step Up Converter Starlink Mini Accessories, 1M/3.2ft Mini Cigarette Lighter Adapter for RV Truck/RV/Car, USB-C 45W/USB-A 18W Dual Ports : Cell Phones & Accessories

www.amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FFMVD3X4/ref=sspa_dk_detail_5?pd_rd_i=B0FFMVD3X4&pd_rd_w=UWmTr&content-id=amzn1.sym.8c2f9165-8e93-42a1-8313-73d3809141a2&pf_rd_p=8c2f9165-8e93-42a1-8313-73d3809141a2&pf_rd_r=GM322TSWQ5D2MAW79N87&pd_rd_wg=4Uoqs&pd_rd_r=3c2b9099-dea8-42fa-8021-1fb1ffbf4965&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&th=1

Amazon.com: DAIERTEK Starlink Mini Adapter, 36V 1.67A Output, 12V-36V Input, Black, 19 AWG Power Cord, Car Charger, Waterproof, Portable : Electronics

Amazon.com: DAIERTEK Starlink Mini Adapter, 36V 1.67A Output, 12V-36V Input, Black, 19 AWG Power Cord, Car Charger, Waterproof, Portable : Electronics

www.amazon.com

 

[HeavyAssault]

I made sure to turn off the Snow melt in the app. I'm about to go down the road to hard wire the SL to my #5 or #6 up-fitter.

 

[Modman]

but the bait and switch is super annoying too.

Totally. One of the reasons I got the Starlink and ditched the Verizon puck was the ability to pause and only use it when we need it for 3-4mos each year.

The $10 10GB plan appears to be gone.

Probably would have just gone to this if it was available.

The mini is still a better option for us vs. the Verizon solution but it's irritating, nonetheless.

 

[WV4Life]

 

[McE]

I was on the 10GB plan and switched to unlimited for our trip last month. It was pretty much useless at the lake due to the amount of SL congestion up there. Got maybe 1Mbps down if we were lucky. Went to switch back to the 10GB plan when we got home and saw it’s gone. Mostly use it for communication out of cell range when riding the dirt bikes so I guess we’ll try standby mode.

Up until this trip, the performance had been great, but the congestion issue was a major problem and now this

 

[MT N8IV]

Well poop, I guess I can stay on it as long as I don't change it. That absolutely sucks major heiney. I like the 10 for 10.

 

[McE]

Well poop, I guess I can stay on it as long as I don't change it. That absolutely sucks major heiney. I like the 10 for 10.

Cherish it...

 

[McE]

Careful with this style of mount - picked one up on a recommendation but most of them have narrow plastic suction cup studs and they tend to fail after a few months in my experience. Luckily my older boys noticed and caught it before it fell on my 3yo's head in the back seat. When the replacement broke, there was no one back there to catch it and it fell to the floor which cracked the housing on the satellite. Still works but not waterproof anymore.

Switched to this style which is much stronger but won't allow the sunshade to close. The strain relief for the cable is nice as well.

https://www.amazon.com/XFlexVida-Starlink-Mini-Satellite-Mount/dp/B0DT1G3B9L?th=1

 

[AZsurveyor]

I switched to unlimited after we burned through the first month's usage and haven't regretted it since.

The suction cups are awful but I mostly blame that on the heat. Plus, as @McE mentioned, it lets you close the sunshade, and half the time she just sits on the sunshade anyway since they tend not to want to hold.

No reason to open it when its 120F outside.

I do need to crack the sunshade some so it can get some ventiliation because she will overheat, naturally.

What doesn't overheat in this dreadful desert?!

Even our GPS carbon fiber rods are scorching hot when you leave them out in the sun for 5 minutes!

 

[NMElkHunter]

Careful with this style of mount - picked one up on a recommendation but most of them have narrow plastic suction cup studs and they tend to fail after a few months in my experience. Luckily my older boys noticed and caught it before it fell on my 3yo's head in the back seat. When the replacement broke, there was no one back there to catch it and it fell to the floor which cracked the housing on the satellite. Still works but not waterproof anymore.

View attachment 221727

Switched to this style which is much stronger but won't allow the sunshade to close. The strain relief for the cable is nice as well.

View attachment 221728

Can you post a link to your new style? I have the old one and need to replace it.

 

[McE]

Can you post a link to your new style? I have the old one and need to replace it.

https://www.amazon.com/XFlexVida-Starlink-Mini-Satellite-Mount/dp/B0DT1G3B9L?th=1

 

[rayw72]

I leave a SL at our hunting lodge in Texas. We only use it 4 times a year for 10 days at a time. I pack it up and stow it away while we're gone. It seems like the standby mode would only make sense to those who leave it set up full-time. Am I right? Does that make sense?

 

[NMElkHunter]

https://www.amazon.com/XFlexVida-Starlink-Mini-Satellite-Mount/dp/B0DT1G3B9L?th=1

Gracias