Starlink Mini

Yes, it's the plan I went with. For my expected infrequent use, I should be fine and if I do go over the 50gb allotment, an additional dollar per gigabyte means it would take 115 extra gbs over the alloted 50gb to break even with the next plan, the $165.00 per month residential/roam plan.

I currently have my plan paused and it will remain so until I head south January 2nd. My billing cycle date is the 10th of each month and when I reactivate the Mini, the first month will be pro-rated, something one rarely sees with other things like satellite TV or cell carriers.

@R&V Spiker posted:

Yes, it's the plan I went with. For my expected infrequent use, I should be fine and if I do go over the 50gb allotment, an additional dollar per gigabyte means it would take 115 extra gbs over the alloted 50gb to break even with the next plan, the $165.00 per month residential/roam plan.

I currently have my plan paused and it will remain so until I head south January 2nd. My billing cycle date is the 10th of each month and when I reactivate the Mini, the first month will be pro-rated, something one never sees with other things like satellite TV or cell carriers.

Dish TV does pro-rate my “outdoor” TV.  I own the Wally receiver and I can paused and turn it on at will and the extra $7 I pay each month for it gets pro-rated both ways.

Zoleo does the same thing with my Satellite communicator, I can change plans at will or suspend my account.  When suspended it’s $4 a month instead of $20 or $35 depending on the plan I‘m on.

Seems like the mobile outdoor devices are more likely to be more flexible since they’re designed for RVers, backpackers etc.  

We purchased a mini this summer.  Really like it.  Just got in the mail today a flagpole buddy so it will be higher up in the sky and nobody is going to steal it or trip on it. Also we think it will have less obstructions being higher.

Bonnie

@Doug n Bonnie posted:

We purchased a mini this summer.  Really like it.  Just got in the mail today a flagpole buddy so it will be higher up in the sky and nobody is going to steal it or trip on it. Also we think it will have less obstructions being higher.

Bonnie

Yep, totally agree. If I wasn't able to elevate the Mini at Berlin Ichthyosaur SP, the dish would have been obscured big time from the dense Pinion Pine forest.

As far which plan to get - it depends on your usage.  I think for most people the 50GB for $50 and paying an occasional overage makes the most sense.

I have the unlimited roaming plan so could pause it (but I never do).  When I saw the limited plan, I went back to see what my usage really was for the past 6 months.  I had to go back to April to find a month that was below 200GB, and over the summer I used close to 400GB twice (to be fair, I was sharing with two other people occasionally).  So for me, as a big user, sticking with the unlimited plan makes the most sense - I use it all the time.  It’s my main source of internet when I’m away from Apache Junction, but I don’t seem to stay here continuously for a month, so pausing it doesn’t make sense.  Plus the much faster cable internet that’s included with my site fee (yes, it’s cable internet, not WiFi) isn’t 100% reliable so I’ve ended up leaving Starlink up even when I’m here.  There’s nothing worse than being 15 minutes from the end of an exciting movie and have the internet go out.

We've had our MINI, with the 50gb plan for just over a month now.  The first half of the month we were still traveling and using Starlink when we didn't have a strong cell signal, or when the DW wanted to stream a TV program.   We started on Sept 28, and by Oct 20, when we returned home, we had used 42gb of our 50gb plan.

So, for us, and for the way we travel, I fully expect us to be exceeding 50gb on a monthly basis when out and about.   How much more over?  Well, the nice thing about Starlink, is their 50gb plan allows you to choose to go over and pay for the overage by 1gb increments.   Next year we'll see what happens..

Doug

Got the Mini and have used it on one three nighter. Burned the 50GB already. Sports! Very useful equipment and I look forward to using it in Mexico without dealing with slower roaming cellular data.

I got a 12 > 24VDC booster and rigged some wiring for boondocking.

After reading everyone's responses and a lot of research I'm pretty sure I will purchase the mini.  Hopefully will go on sale soon.  Two questions for those with Starling:

1. How did you run the connection cable into the trailer?

2. If mounted on a pole attached to the ladder, can it be left on the pole and lowered to the trailer roof surface while traveling?  Or does it need to be removed completely and stored inside?

Don’t expect the mini to go on sale any time soon - it just came out.

With the mini, the router is inside the antenna, so all you need to do is run a power cord to the antenna, not a data cable.  That changes the way you can install it over the Gen 2 and 3 versions.  If I were to get a mini, I’d probably start with just plugging it into the outside 120V outlet on the side - no need to run a connection cable inside at all.  But eventually I’d probably do something like what Randy did so I could run it off of the batteries directly, rather than through the inverter.  If you do the 12-24V up-converter, then all you need to do is have a way to run the power cord into wherever you put the up-converter (front pass-through?).

I would not leave the antenna on a pole lowered down to the trailer roof surface.  It would stick out away from the roof if you use a ladder mounted pole.  The pole mount isn’t the strongest in the world, so there’s no way I would trust it when I was driving on the freeway.  So yes, you would have to remove it when you are traveling.

That’s why I went with the Flagpole Buddy - I can stand on the ground and put the pole (with antenna attached) up.  No need to climb up on the ladder or get on the roof.  It takes little time to put up and is easy to do.  I don’t have any problems putting up my Gen. 2 by myself, and the mini is even lighter.

Here's a link to my 12v to 24v upconverter power supply thread.

https://community.lanceowners....0-oem-supplied-cable

@fpmtngal Great info.  Thanks!

@R&V Spiker,  Great info thanks.

@fpmtngal, can the Flagpole Buddy be locked to deter theft?

Not that I know of, and if you could somehow lock the pole, that would not stop someone from climbing up to your roof and taking the antenna off the pole.

I don’t worry about the Gen 2 or 3 because the antenna won’t work without the matched router, which I keep inside.  Someone could grab the antenna but they would also have to break into the trailer to get the router since it won’t work without any other one.

I’m not sure that the Mini would be any more usable if stolen - the router (assuming you set it up that way) has a password and I would assume you would notice quickly if it were stolen (within a day).  Once reported as stolen to Starlink, it won’t work again - assuming someone guesses your password, the longest it would work would be until you report it gone.

My personal opinion is that I’d rather have it on a pole up high than down on the ground - less noticeable (lots of people put poles up for flags and WiFi routers).  I’ve done it both ways (ground and pole), depending on the site and don’t worry about theft.  From what I’ve seen, other owners feel the same way with a lot of people leaving their antennas on the ground.

I still tend to lock my portable panels and I’ll possibly lock up my propane ring when I’m boondocking (though I’m not sure why I bother).

@fpmtngal posted:

I still tend to lock my portable panels and I’ll possibly lock up my propane ring when I’m boondocking (though I’m not sure why I bother).

I absolutely need to get a cable and lock for my portables.

We are starting to seriously look at Starlink. I'm finding that we can get by almost everywhere now with just our cellular connections in one form or another, but there are locations - we experienced a couple on this last trip - where there simply is no way to pull in a cell signal.

@sequoia464 posted:

I absolutely need to get a cable and lock for my portables.

We are starting to seriously look at Starlink. I'm finding that we can get by almost everywhere now with just our cellular connections in one form or another, but there are locations - we experienced a couple on this last trip - where there simply is no way to pull in a cell signal.

My plan is to only pull out the Mini when cell data coverage is either weak or non-existent. I have unlimited data for all my devices so as long as it's a good, useable signal, there's no point in hooking up the Mini, especially considering I'm on their 50gb Roam plan. That's not to say I won't use the Mini with reckless abandon when it is hooked up.

There's 5 or 6 places I frequent where cell service is non-existent and Death Valley is one of them. Considering I usually stay there for 3 to 4 weeks in February and March, being able to be connected, especially able to receive phone calls from Viv 24/7 is a big relief to both of us. Alabama Hills is another area where I see the Mini coming to the rescue.

@R&V Spiker posted:

My plan is to only pull out the Mini when cell data coverage is either weak or non-existent. I have unlimited data for all my devices so as long as it's a good, useable signal, there's no point in hooking up the Mini, especially considering I'm on their 50gb Roam plan. That's not to say I won't use the Mini with reckless abandon when it is hooked up.

This is how we use our Starlink as well.  On our last trip we were out of cell range about half the time. We currently have a Gen 3, but are thinking about the Mini for the lower power draw and smaller size. 

@R&V Spiker posted:

My plan is to only pull out the Mini when cell data coverage is either weak or non-existent. I have unlimited data for all my devices so as long as it's a good, useable signal, there's no point in hooking up the Mini, especially considering I'm on their 50gb Roam plan. That's not to say I won't use the Mini with reckless abandon when it is hooked up.

There's 5 or 6 places I frequent where cell service is non-existent and Death Valley is one of them. Considering I usually stay there for 3 to 4 weeks in February and March, being able to be connected, especially able to receive phone calls from Viv 24/7 is a big relief to both of us. Alabama Hills is another area where I see the Mini coming to the rescue.

Yep, we were at Craters of the Moon this last trip, it was getting late in the day and we really wanted to spend some more time in the park, I had some business that needed to be done so we didn't stay. Starlink would have solved that.

The odd thing about Alabama Hills is that when we stay at Tuttle Creek and have a nice T-Mobile signal there, but not at Alabama Hills. There is probably a tower that services the community down from Tuttle Creek.

My favorite locations are state RV parks.  Sometimes cell service is quite good.  But when it's not good it tends be pretty much non-existent.  I don't plan on streaming movies but I will download them before I leave home and then "Cast" them to the TV.  I do like to stay up on the latest news in the world so Starlink will make that a lot easier.

Plus there is the constant need to stay up with LOA for gems and nuggets!

we've been using a GEN 2 for a couple years. Even if the location we're at has wifi I still set it up, since many locations the wifi is fairly slow. Just recently got a GEN 3 standard. It was easy to do a 12V setup for both. The $150 a month wasn't bad, the now $165 is a little harder to choke down, but it now does allow in motion use, I just have to find a decent mounting system in the bed of the truck. I did a test, under the tonneau cover it still works decently, we don't have a Bakflip or hard cover.

So..............

I ordered my Starlink Mini.  It should be here within two weeks.  How exciting.  And I have a trip in early December to Blackwater River State Park in Florida.  The reviews on RV Trip Wizard pretty much all state cell phone connectivity to be pretty dismal.  A perfect place for my first test.  Looking at the pictures posted a clear shot of the sky looks favorable from most sites (I think?).

So final question is Flagpole Buddy.  The one offered on Amazon is not Prime so I want to make sure it will attach to the ladder.  And also which side of the ladder does it attach?

TIA for all the good information I have learned here.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK...c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

@JEG posted:

we've been using a GEN 2 for a couple years. Even if the location we're at has wifi I still set it up, since many locations the wifi is fairly slow. Just recently got a GEN 3 standard. It was easy to do a 12V setup for both. The $150 a month wasn't bad, the now $165 is a little harder to choke down, but it now does allow in motion use, I just have to find a decent mounting system in the bed of the truck. I did a test, under the tonneau cover it still works decently, we don't have a Bakflip or hard cover.

If I understand it correctly, StarLink now offers two roaming plans, $165/mon for unlimited data, and $50/mon for 50 GB download.

We’re not heavy users, so I’ll look into the 50 GB plan the next time I fire up Gen 3 Standard.

HTH,    
Jim / crewzer

@Slotown posted:

So..............

I ordered my Starlink Mini.  It should be here within two weeks.  How exciting.  And I have a trip in early December to Blackwater River State Park in Florida.  The reviews on RV Trip Wizard pretty much all state cell phone connectivity to be pretty dismal.  A perfect place for my first test.  Looking at the pictures posted a clear shot of the sky looks favorable from most sites (I think?).

So final question is Flagpole Buddy.  The one offered on Amazon is not Prime so I want to make sure it will attach to the ladder.  And also which side of the ladder does it attach?

TIA for all the good information I have learned here.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK...c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it

I would suggest ordering directly from Flagpole Buddy.  The Lance ladders are larger than normal and need an extra insert for the brackets to work right on it - you can make sure you order it that way if you order direct.  It mounts on the left side of the ladder (assuming you are at the back of the trailer and looking at it.  Mount it on your left).  The slip-in bracket won’t work right if you put it on the right.  It’s pretty obvious how it mounts if you look closely at it when you receive it - I figured it out with a little thought.

I know this because I had the dealer attach the brackets to my new trailer when I bought it and they didn’t notice which side it was on originally - they put it on the right side.  When I got the trailer to the campground, I realized I couldn’t put the pole up, so I ended up having to move the brackets to the other side.

I use a mast from when I bought a WeBoast, same as what can be purchased from Harbor Freight.

I connect the mast to the ladder. This mast allows more height than the flagpole buddy, when needed, to clear surrounding trees. Also, depending on the spot I'm in, I can put the pole on the front of the trailer on the tongue if the tree clearance is better.

I use worm clamps for the front.

On the ladder I clamps from Amazon.

@JEG posted:

I use a mast from when I bought a WeBoast, same as what can be purchased from Harbor Freight.

I connect the mast to the ladder. This mast allows more height than the flagpole buddy, when needed, to clear surrounding trees. Also, depending on the spot I'm in, I can put the pole on the front of the trailer on the tongue if the tree clearance is better.

I use worm clamps for the front.

On the ladder I clamps from Amazon.

I used those clamps for our flagpole mounts. I welded a tab on a section of chain link fence post in my scrap pile an added some nuts and bolts to secure the pole. It stays on the ladder during travel. I remove the pole, extend it and attach the flag and put it in the mounts from the ground. I believe it would work for a starlink antennae.

The Starlink Mini came in last Friday and the Flagpole Buddy arrived today.  Installed everything this morning.  Including the flag pole installation, took about 1 1/2 hour to setup and dial in my account. Connected the RV TV and my phone. Watched a little YouTube before I stopped for the day. Real test will be when we go to Blackwater River State Park in December. Bad cell connections and no WiFi.

I ordered the Flagpole Buddy directly from the company.  That was probably a minor mistake.  I could have ordered the kit from Amazon and then ordered the Lance Brackets from the company that fit 1 1/2" fat ladder on the Lance.  I would have saved about $15 on shipping.  Oh well.  Everything came in one box this way.

I really like how easy the Flagpole Buddy allows you to raise the dish without climbing on a ladder.  Always a plus.  I may order the 15 meter cable so I don't have a lot of the 30 meter standard cable to keep organized.

The power block the cord fits into fits perfectly in the outside electrical outlet. That's good and bad.  It covers both outlets.

Everything was "Apple" easy on the setup.  I have 30 days to decide yes or no.  I'm guessing this will be a keeper!