Great question, didn't think of that. I just tried it out. Yes, it works great with the lid shut and locked. I just ran an advanced speed test and got 197 Mbps down, 12 up with the lid closed! Really impressive stuff!
@@StarlinkHardware of course the advanced speed test also reports the WiFi link speed between your device and the router. But you're saying the 197 Mbps was from the Internet?
@@greatguy2003 Yes that was the Starlink to internet speed. I was inside about 30-40 feet away so the WiFi speed and regular speed test was pretty slow.
@@StarlinkHardware hey not trying to be rude or anything, but I think you might have it backward. If the WiFi speed is slow, there's no way the Starlink to Internet test can be faster. Again, respectfully. Thanks for your videos. I'd love it if you can stand right next to the unit, then try one "regular" speed test with it open and one regular test with it closed! Or use the Speedtest app to avoid the Starlink app confusion altogether!
No one would have imagined this 20 years ago. Capability like this uses to only be available to military personnel with expensive hardware... Now everyone can own several of them
When I worked for the cable industry in 2016 I warned them that their plan to become an internet pipe when apps replaced TV wouldn't work with Starlink. I tried to set up meetings with Comcast but no one listened to me. The most I got from them was, "What's Starlink". I'm just a web designer and developer so what do I know.
Ok, you sold me. Ordered the case from Pelican direct, since Amazon was dragging their heels. StarLink Mini and DC wire came today, already have the Anker battery. We be in business boys😎 (P.S. The Pelican case direct from Pelican , was $186 and took 5 days shipping from East Coast to Calif.)
I'm using mine right now in a power outage to continue working from home and streaming this video. It works perfectly fine for this purpose. No need to stow it away and hope you never need it. Also great for camping. You can get a similar hard case from Harbor Freight for $60. Currently getting 100mbps with 23ms latency supporting two laptops and my entire home network.
I picked up a Mini a short time ago for camping and photography excursions. Just this past weekend (New Years Eve day, no less), construction activity severed the fiber trunk line to my area. Figured what the heck, let's see if the Mini will get us by. I set it up about 30 feet from the house and was able to connect two desktop Macs, two iPhones, and our TV (just in time for the college bowl games). My wife also had airline tickets on 'hold' that needed to be confirmed by a deadline. Ran effortlessly all day long, with no buffering of the TV broadcast, and the wife managed to lock in her airline tickets. Pretty impressive, to say the least.
OK I pulled the trigger on this. This kit was so well done I didn't even have too think about it. Also picked up auto power adapter from Starlink, a little spendy at $45 but it is engineered for the Mini. No sense trying cables that may or may not work. Mini on Black Friday sale for $449 as well as the Pelican 20% off.
Same Anker power bank and cord I bought. I bought a $15 15.6 laptop bag for storage. I also pack a 100w pd car charger and a 5521 to 12v cigarette lighter cord.
I like a cigarette lighter socket to Ryobi 18V tool battery socket adapter. It makes the cig socket 18V, but the 100W PD car charger that plugs into it takes 12-24V without issue. Then I can run laptops and phones off tool batteries. Also, you could run Starlink directly off the 18V from the tool battery, I think, given that it accepts 12-48V DC input.
Only thing I would add would be a wall adapter so you could use it pretty much anywhere whether you had wall power or not. Probably also include a charging cord for the power brick as well.
With a slightly larger suitcase, perhaps a foldable solar panel would fit. And Starlink Mini would have to have a quick connect feature or something like that because those 5 to 15 minutes of inactivity are valuable minutes consumed from the battery.
Same idea but a pelican 1490 off ebay for $35. Slightly larger but works perfectly and has a little extra room for the normal starlink power cable and brick as well as the power bank and that cord.
Also a ham and use Winlink, however with the mini I think I would pack a VOIP phone with a very low recurring cost ($1 a month range) for voice comms, and a laptop for digital/email comms.
I like the overall concept. However I think a $175 case is way overkill. There are tons of absolutely great, waterproof case options out there for under $50. I'd get one of those and a larger power bank.
If this should be an emergency kit, than it also should contain a wifi capable phone or tablet just sain. You know in emergency you should imagine if you have nothing just this case/box/bag nothing else. And it should be able to help you no matter what. IT could be a cheap something what ever just it should also hold one. But other than that Great Video and Concept!
Should have a cheap grand stream or linksys SPA ATA using the Ethernet of mini starlink. Then a oldskool corded telephone plugged into the ATA. Now you have an emergency satellite phone in a case lol
Maxoak has a 99Watt hr power bank with built in inverter for 40$. The Anker 99 Wh is $170. I tested the MaxOak, ran a 45watt light for over 2.5 hrs plugged into the AC port.
Decided to try to run my Mini from my EGO leaf blower battery. Get approx 12hr instead of 3 hr. The EGO battery is 56 v so I need a DC-DC converter to get the voltage under 50 volts. They make an EGO Battery Adapter, I plan to mount the DC to DC converter on the adapter. I have two EGO batteries and charger so no added cost there. Expect to always be close to my RV, so added size is not that big of a deal. The batteries will fit in my RV Starlink drawer.
Great review! But I won’t have the extra cash to have an emergency kit with a service tied to it. In other words, I rather just use the mini kit as a daily ISP no matter where I’m at. All good, love the Pelican box and power source. Thanks for the details! Great review.
Right NOW...10/10/24 Hurricane Milton has just rolled through Florida from the west coast straight thru the East coast....Of course Power is out for over 3 million residents and that foes for most of the Communications and "Internet dependent" systems.... They are hurting right now as are the folks in the Carolinas after hurricane Helene....Thank you for this.vid.
Lost power for a week in Milton. I ordered Starlink 2 days before hurricane arrival, hoping it would arrive. Starlink didn't get back to me for 3 days on my urgent request. Arrived just after my power went back on/internet went back on. damn! Now I need to see if it's worth keeping for all of the time vs internet company that was SO frustrating to deal with. Many still don't have service, 9 days later. I survived fairly well (along with neighbors I shared my power with) with my Anker Solix and solar panels. So glad I geeked out on emergency gadgets!
I was hoping it would have a couple of unifi Nanostaton Loco's and some ethernet so I could put it at a client site if their network goes down and make a PtP bridge between the Starlink Mini outside and their router/firewall inside. Essentially, a temporary portable WAN replacement without a need to string wire.
Great video! Informative and well done. This would be GREAT to have if you live in an area that is subject to hurricanes and other storms. It would be one of the many things you need to have on hand when you can't depend on grid.
It wasn't so bad. With the same purpose. It is for emergencies and if one goes to places where there is no internet, electricity or water. It works in case of emergency.
Thanks - I'm using a slightly longer Anker unit and it works well but I'm just to the point in my testing where I want to take it somewhere and it's great knowing it fits in that size Pelican. I was kind of not looking forward to having a lot of random bits bouncing around the car or whatever.
Is there a set up that has the Anker battery and also a small solar panel that folds up inside of the same case that would assist in longer battery life? It would be great to see that as well.
I think the main issue is that people have so many types of USB-C devices. Starlink says the requirement is USB-C that can deliver 20V at 5 amps. That's 100 watt output. Only more recent USB-C devices can output that much. I've heard from several viewers that 60 and 65 watt USB-C ports aren't working with the Mini. It's probably not the cable itself, because it's extremely simple. It's that people are trying to use power sources that aren't compatible with the Mini's requirements.
Mount batteries. Used in the film industry to power cameras and lights. Small but capable of holding a TON of power. Not all are USB compatible, so pay attention when shopping All the best
I can confirm that the cable he lists in this video works perfect! I bought a different one and it did not work but this one is awesome! I even bought a 10 foot and 20 foot usb-c extension cables. I was able to use one or the other extension cables to get some extra cable length, just couldn’t use both extension cables at the same time.
Thanks for showcasing your Pelican and Starlink Mini. I know the importance but can you share the option to PAUSE the service? It's 50 dollars a month for ROAM, so if you don't use it you are definitely is money out of your pocket. If you don't go camping for 1-2 months for example. Thanks
Pausing is as simple as pressing a button in the app. The same is true for unpausing. So you can keep your subscription paused until needed so you aren’t paying for it every month. With Starlink you can unpause and manage your account using the dish connection even on an inactive/paused dish.
@@StarlinkHardwarecan you unpause service without another internet source? Unpausing service in no cell coverage areas would be great specially during emergencies
Thank you for the warning of not being able to stream movies for 3 days. Who makes a power bank to power a mini, a couple of tablets and phones for a holiday weekend? 3 to 4 days minimum.
with the Mini and the plan options, can you pause your service and not get billed until you need it and then unpause your service? Only other thing i would add would be a Mini Solar Panel Under the foam padding if it fits.
Yes, you can either wait to activate it, or activate it now and put the service plan on pause. Either way, the dish can provide internet access to Starlink.com so you can manage your account and unpause/activate the subscription if needed.
@@StarlinkHardware In using this for an emergency such as hurricanes, will this connect to Starlink and then prompt us for unpausing/activating service?
This is a great kit. I think I will build something similar but using the Jackery Explorer 100 Plus if it can fit in the case. It's 99wh which would be about 30'000mah giving a little more run time per charge and it has LiFePO4 batteries with a 100w solar charge controller built in. It's not really much bigger than the Anker at 4.9"x3.4"x3.4" so should be another good option. I have a 60w portable solar panel so I can see all this working well together.
Thanks for comment about Jackery Explorer 100. I'm just in the planning stages, and this seems to solve a few more scenarios: 1) Passthrough: Most USB power banks do not have passthrough. It's unclear if the Anker referenced does passthrough (alternatively, the Anker 737 24k seems to allow it). I can imagine a scenario where you are charging it in the car but want to use it simultaneously. 2) Solar: The Jackery Explorer 100 certainly can have solar charging while using it. With a solar panel (say 40w+), you could be completely off grid much longer (not 100% of course). Certainly a bigger power station could run it 100%, but that is not as portable.
@@jamierichardson46 Yeah I agree, great points. Using an actual solar generator rated power station like the little Jackery opens more options especially if you want to run nonstop with solar during the day. The Jackery is rated for 100w USB PD so if the Starlink mini was doing a lot of work pulling close to its max of 60w that might limit the amount the overall USB charge input or taking in solar. Not sure exactly how that would work out but could be another condition in that setup.
Excellent, my idea is the same. I bought the Starlink Mini. and the Anker which has more capacity. The Anker Prime 27,650mAh Power Bank (250W) Black. And this cable on AmazonUSB C to DC power charging cable 0.217 in x 0.083 in for laptop (5521), 20V male USB type C input to DC 0.217 x 0.083 in, male power charging cable up to 100W,. Hoping someone would come out with the video. Thank you very much.
Do you know if you could use it to connect if you didn’t have a plan, and something happened to warrant its use, if you could then create a plan? Our home internet is cheaper for normal use, but would love to have this as a backup, and don’t want to pay for a plan beforehand.
Yes, you can access the Starlink app and the Starlink website directly through the dish connection, even if you don't have a plan. The main problem is logging in to Starlink or creating an account. They have 2FA enabled, so you need to get a login code by email or SMS to log in. That requires cell service or internet, and can't be done through the Starlink connection without active service. The workaround is to set everything up first, then pause the Starlink service. Keep yourself logged in to the app and check it periodically. Then, when needed, you can use the app to reactivate service through the dish connection.
I'll wait for the new wireless router Starlink with rechargable battery and solar panel to keep the battery going. Plus that cable is not going to stay dry in the rain, Tesla uses a special waterproof connector.
Don’t you need the router as well or does the Starlink directly transmit WiFi signal? I think the case needs a clear lid so the dish can see the sky. It’s interesting though
How is mini shown under the x-ray machine?for example in backpack near laptop or in luggage?for crossing border and import it can you test it in airport x-ray machines?
Bought the Pelican 1470 and it is an extremely tight fit. I would say it actually doesn’t fit. So not sure what the difference is but I’ll have to cut out some padding in order to make this work. If I force it closed it is extremely difficult to open back up. Wonder what I’m doing different?
With the thicker foam pad installed, you do have to kind of press down on the lid while disengaging the latch. Otherwise the upward pressure from the foam makes it difficult to open the latch. Try the thinner piece of foam that comes in the case and take out the thicker one, see if that helps. Might have to trim down the thicker foam piece if there is too much wiggle room with the thin piece.
I wonder if it's possible to activate the mini if I'm offshore? Considering this as an emergency back-up for my boat when I'm crossing oceans, so wondering if I'd need to activate it first (I really hope note), or if I could activate it IF I need it in an emergency if I'm 100's+ of miles offshore.... any ideas?
All Starlink units provide access to Starlink.com and the Starlink app through the dish, without active service or cell signal. However, it's best to have it already set up with Starlink, with your service plan paused. With the new 2-step login system, you need an email or SMS code to log in to Starlink.com. If you are already logged in through the app, you can get around this, but it's still risky if you ever get logged out for whatever reason. I hope Starlink fixes this soon and allows some way to bypass the 2 step login process in certain conditions. Also keep in mind, you will need Mobile Priority for ocean access. Roam plans don't work more than 12 miles from shore.
This pack lasted about 2 hours. They have a slightly bigger pack than goes more than 3. I did a full test of them with the Mini here: th-cam.com/video/P2r9ucPurSc/w-d-xo.html
Can you buy the hardware and not a subscription, then when you actually need it, activate it? Is it possible to activate without external communication?
So how are you paying for the access? Do you have to pay every month while it sits on your shelf waiting for an emergency? I have heard you can pause the service for when not in use. Is there a limit on how long you can pause it? I mean if you bought this for emergencies and paused the service immediately after setting it up, then did not have an emergency need for 4 years, would you still be able to unpause and use it?
You can pause service to avoid paying monthly until you need it. And then unpause when needed via the app. Like any other emergency item, it’s best to plan for some period maintenance. For example, plan to get it out and turn it on every year to check the battery bank and allow Starlink to update software. These kinds of routine preparations can help avoid issues for when you actually need it.
Haven't purchased the mini yet, but I like the anker brick. depending on space, I'd go for the harbor freight 3800 case. it is thicker but I wonder if you could simultaneously charge the anchor with a small, folding solar panel that would also fit into 3800 case at same time
Great video! The first thing I did was click on your links and buy the Ankler power bank and then realized when I bought it that you need the charger base to charge it, which your link was for the bank only. After purchasing it I then got a link for the newer model so I ended up sending it back for that one which included the power base. I don't know how you would work it without the power base?- as it has to be charged up and then there is the issue would there be room in this case for the base as well?
You can charge it from basically anything you can plug a USB-C cable into. I have a USB-C phone charger that I use. The USB-C ports on the power bank can either output or input power.
Great videos! I have a question: What if i buy the starlink mini, get a powerbank and put it in the box for emergency purposes. What if my cell phone provider and my home internet provider go offline at the same time, i have no connection to the internet, is it possible without internet connection to subscribe to starlink mini subscription being completely offline? And also if i have no free test period on it.
Starlink allows people to access Starlink.com and use the Starlink app through the dish connection, so you can activate your service without other internet if needed. My recommendation is to activate your plan, test your dish to make sure it works, and then pause the subscription. That way it will be ready to go if you need it, with a simple “unpause” swipe in the app.
@@owelzi tried it but you will only have 1 hour to activate and subscribe to starlink upon First boot of the mini and First satellite connection.If its not your First boot and First satellite connection and you already used the free 1 hour internet, you will need another internet source in order to subscribe to Roam plan on the mini. Whats unknown to me is , if you can subscribe to the Roam plan without another internet source after the Unpaused Service is clicked as I have not subscribe yet. Can anybody can post here if they are able to unpause service without another internet source.
This doesn't help if it's raining out like crazy. The OEM starlink cable has a rubber grommet built into it, so in my opinion you should use the cable that it comes with for use in outdoor wet environments, and then run a female to female coupler to go to usb-c to whatever your power bank is
I have a new 12V conversion video for the Standard dish. Once converted to run from DC you could use just about any battery system with it: th-cam.com/video/67jolgTfaLU/w-d-xo.html You could also just get a portable power station that has AC outlets and run the Standard unmodified from that.
Yep at the time I made this, they hadn’t released it yet. But I just did a test with this battery bank and the Starlink USB-C cable and it works great.
Hi Colby Could you please check the effect of high voltage electriciy cables being near on the performance of Starlink. I have moved to a place which is near such cables and the download speed has come down to 70 mbs. I've it installed and moving it some other places for testing is difficult. I wonder if you can do such test
@@AVMAR Yes. Ocean data is very expensive. Note: Starlink doesn't consider offshore/coastal waters as ocean. The exact buffer is unknown, but if you are within 10ish miles from the coast, Starlink considers it land, and you could use the regular Roam or Mini Roam plans.
@@badtoro Yes, and I've seen one TH-cam video of someone doing that. But I believe it is against their policies and you stand the chance of not being allowed to take it on board (competes with their selling Starlink at huge prices).
With adapters, I've tried to power my Starlink Mini direct to 12 volts (truck battery), also to a 100 watt USB C source, neither worked. I see on a TH-cam video that someone boosted the 12v to 36v, is this necessary? Doesn't Starlink say the voltage range is 12-48?
It’s not necessary, but with 12V you can’t use the included 50ft cable. Too much voltage drop. You need a shorter 10-15ft cable. As for the 100W USB-C, make sure it outputs 20V at 5 amps, as that is the spec Starlink gives. Could also be an incompatible cable. The one linked in the description is verified working with the Mini.
Same here. Didn't work. I used the cable and power bank from the links above. Starlink actually offers their own USB-C to 2.1mm cable so I'm going to try that once it arrives.
Yep! It requires some modification, though. I just did a Gen 3 Standard 12V tutorial you might want to check out: th-cam.com/video/67jolgTfaLU/w-d-xo.html
Direct to cell will be just basic text messaging for at least the first year. Starlink and T-Mobile plan to slowly add more bandwidth as more DTC satellites are launched. They will add voice call support in 2026, with slow data speeds after that. The Mini, on the other hand, is available now and will have much higher data performance compared to using DTC. They are for two very different use cases.
Some say the service can be paused indefinitely while others argue that the service can only be paused for a limited time, even as low as 90 days. Can someone provide the definitive answer to this question?
You would need to use some kind of battery system to deliver stable power and voltage, like a portable power station or power bank. Plug the solar panel into an input and the Mini to an output. For regular usage I would recommend a power station that is larger, has more capacity, and more input options for solar.
can it be used without opening box?
Great question, didn't think of that. I just tried it out. Yes, it works great with the lid shut and locked. I just ran an advanced speed test and got 197 Mbps down, 12 up with the lid closed! Really impressive stuff!
@@StarlinkHardware of course the advanced speed test also reports the WiFi link speed between your device and the router. But you're saying the 197 Mbps was from the Internet?
@@greatguy2003 Yes that was the Starlink to internet speed. I was inside about 30-40 feet away so the WiFi speed and regular speed test was pretty slow.
@@StarlinkHardware hey not trying to be rude or anything, but I think you might have it backward. If the WiFi speed is slow, there's no way the Starlink to Internet test can be faster. Again, respectfully. Thanks for your videos. I'd love it if you can stand right next to the unit, then try one "regular" speed test with it open and one regular test with it closed! Or use the Speedtest app to avoid the Starlink app confusion altogether!
@@StarlinkHardware suddenly $200 for that case/box seems a lot more reasonable
No one would have imagined this 20 years ago. Capability like this uses to only be available to military personnel with expensive hardware... Now everyone can own several of them
When I worked for the cable industry in 2016 I warned them that their plan to become an internet pipe when apps replaced TV wouldn't work with Starlink. I tried to set up meetings with Comcast but no one listened to me. The most I got from them was, "What's Starlink". I'm just a web designer and developer so what do I know.
Maybe add a flexible solar panel that can fold open to charge the power bank.
Ok, you sold me. Ordered the case from Pelican direct, since Amazon was dragging their heels. StarLink Mini and DC wire came today, already have the Anker battery. We be in business boys😎 (P.S. The Pelican case direct from Pelican , was $186 and took 5 days shipping from East Coast to Calif.)
Could you provide the link where you purchased it?....tks much
Northern tool strongway 16” case works great for the mini and it’s approximately $25. Fits the Anker 737, cables and pole mount stand.
Harbor Freight has these cases for a quarter as much $.
I'm using mine right now in a power outage to continue working from home and streaming this video. It works perfectly fine for this purpose. No need to stow it away and hope you never need it. Also great for camping. You can get a similar hard case from Harbor Freight for $60. Currently getting 100mbps with 23ms latency supporting two laptops and my entire home network.
Nice. I got a Harbor Freight 3800 Apache case for $39 for my Mini.
Same here, perfect for travel storage.
Thank you for this recommendation. So much more affordable than Pelican.
Thats what i was thinking. Harbor freights cases are pretty good and way less then pelicans prices.
HFT for the win.
You're paying for the brandname with Pelican. Super popular in broadcasting.
Awesome setup! I would just throw an extra power cord in for my iPhone in case of emergencies. What a perfect combo!
I picked up a Mini a short time ago for camping and photography excursions. Just this past weekend (New Years Eve day, no less), construction activity severed the fiber trunk line to my area. Figured what the heck, let's see if the Mini will get us by. I set it up about 30 feet from the house and was able to connect two desktop Macs, two iPhones, and our TV (just in time for the college bowl games). My wife also had airline tickets on 'hold' that needed to be confirmed by a deadline. Ran effortlessly all day long, with no buffering of the TV broadcast, and the wife managed to lock in her airline tickets. Pretty impressive, to say the least.
Glad to hear it worked out for you, definitely a nice little backup plan!
OK I pulled the trigger on this. This kit was so well done I didn't even have too think about it. Also picked up auto power adapter from Starlink, a little spendy at $45 but it is engineered for the Mini. No sense trying cables that may or may not work. Mini on Black Friday sale for $449 as well as the Pelican 20% off.
How much is your monthly subscription fee for Starlink mini?
Same Anker power bank and cord I bought. I bought a $15 15.6 laptop bag for storage. I also pack a 100w pd car charger and a 5521 to 12v cigarette lighter cord.
Add a 5521 to alligator clip cord
I like a cigarette lighter socket to Ryobi 18V tool battery socket adapter. It makes the cig socket 18V, but the 100W PD car charger that plugs into it takes 12-24V without issue. Then I can run laptops and phones off tool batteries. Also, you could run Starlink directly off the 18V from the tool battery, I think, given that it accepts 12-48V DC input.
This would be great for campers truck, drivers and people who are living off grid
Only thing I would add would be a wall adapter so you could use it pretty much anywhere whether you had wall power or not. Probably also include a charging cord for the power brick as well.
Excellent and simple kit! Nice job! I ordered the Striker mount/protective case and will store everything in a similar Harbor Freight hard side case.
A solar powered power bank would be good.
Are they not a lot bigger? I think he chose this one due to the size and capacity and high quality of Anker.
Great piece of gear as we learned from the hurricane Helene disaster. Thanks!
With a slightly larger suitcase, perhaps a foldable solar panel would fit. And Starlink Mini would have to have a quick connect feature or something like that because those 5 to 15 minutes of inactivity are valuable minutes consumed from the battery.
I've never had it take more than a couple minutes to connect with a clear sky.
@@FleshGolem420 That's good because 15 minutes is too long.
Thanks for sharing. I’d add a foldable 30w solar panel off of Amazon. That particular Anker also comes in 2800 milliamps. Also flying approved.
I am sold. The only thing I am going to add to my kit is a 2nd cell phone and a charger for it. This was great - thank you.
Thanks for actually adding a link to the working cable... This was oddly hard to find and i didn't want to buy a bunch of non-compatible cables
Anker makes a nice foldable solar panel as well that you could use to charge the Prime power bank.
Same idea but a pelican 1490 off ebay for $35. Slightly larger but works perfectly and has a little extra room for the normal starlink power cable and brick as well as the power bank and that cord.
What a good idea. Great job 👍
Imagine this and a Yeasu FT991A ham radio with set up for Winlink and EMCOMMS use ... Mike AD7VV
Now there’s a great idea, Mike!! Going to look into this for sure. Jim K7NJL
Also a ham and use Winlink, however with the mini I think I would pack a VOIP phone with a very low recurring cost ($1 a month range) for voice comms, and a laptop for digital/email comms.
I like the overall concept. However I think a $175 case is way overkill. There are tons of absolutely great, waterproof case options out there for under $50. I'd get one of those and a larger power bank.
I just ordered mine, can’t wait!!!
I created my own Starlink mini emergency kit in a pelican case also.
If you have your service paused, don't you need internet access to your phone to reactivate the service?
You can manage your account and visit Starlink.com through the paused dish connection.
Very good question
The starlink gives you a limited time setup the service so it should work for unpausing a service.
It can’t be paused indefinitely
@@kerplunk38880 Yes it can.
If this should be an emergency kit, than it also should contain a wifi capable phone or tablet just sain. You know in emergency you should imagine if you have nothing just this case/box/bag nothing else. And it should be able to help you no matter what. IT could be a cheap something what ever just it should also hold one. But other than that Great Video and Concept!
I love that idea. Throw in an inexpensive little tablet so you literally have everything you need to access the internet.
I have an extra Galaxy Note 20. I might make one of these where the mini, battery pack, foldable solar panels and the Note 20.
Should have a cheap grand stream or linksys SPA ATA using the Ethernet of mini starlink. Then a oldskool corded telephone plugged into the ATA. Now you have an emergency satellite phone in a case lol
Good idea. Put an old phone in the with another cord to charge it.
@@tapetwo7115in practice would that actually work? kind of a neat idea tbh.
I have a milwaukee packout with with foamthat I had planned on using. I wasn't sure about power source. Thanks for the tip. I have one ordered.
Thanks. Please add the USB-C supply power specifications needed to charge-up the Anker power bank.
Excellent kit and review. I was add recharge capability from both a 12v car and a 110v outlet. Those are small/cheap but useful.
Maxoak has a 99Watt hr power bank with built in inverter for 40$. The Anker 99 Wh is $170. I tested the MaxOak, ran a 45watt light for over 2.5 hrs plugged into the AC port.
Decided to try to run my Mini from my EGO leaf blower battery. Get approx 12hr instead of 3 hr. The EGO battery is 56 v so I need a DC-DC converter to get the voltage under 50 volts. They make an EGO Battery Adapter, I plan to mount the DC to DC converter on the adapter. I have two EGO batteries and charger so no added cost there. Expect to always be close to my RV, so added size is not that big of a deal. The batteries will fit in my RV Starlink drawer.
Would this work with any leaf blower battery? Like Ryobi?
You just answered all my questions in under 3 min. Thank you for sharing!!
You're welcome, glad I could help!
Great review! But I won’t have the extra cash to have an emergency kit with a service tied to it. In other words, I rather just use the mini kit as a daily ISP no matter where I’m at. All good, love the Pelican box and power source. Thanks for the details! Great review.
Right NOW...10/10/24 Hurricane Milton has just rolled through Florida from the west coast straight thru the East coast....Of course Power is out for over 3 million residents and that foes for most of the Communications and "Internet dependent" systems.... They are hurting right now as are the folks in the Carolinas after hurricane Helene....Thank you for this.vid.
Lost power for a week in Milton. I ordered Starlink 2 days before hurricane arrival, hoping it would arrive. Starlink didn't get back to me for 3 days on my urgent request. Arrived just after my power went back on/internet went back on. damn! Now I need to see if it's worth keeping for all of the time vs internet company that was SO frustrating to deal with. Many still don't have service, 9 days later. I survived fairly well (along with neighbors I shared my power with) with my Anker Solix and solar panels. So glad I geeked out on emergency gadgets!
Ryobi also make a Power Source unit that will fit on the 18 volt batteries that has USB ports as well as a 12 volt cigarette style socket.
I was hoping it would have a couple of unifi Nanostaton Loco's and some ethernet so I could put it at a client site if their network goes down and make a PtP bridge between the Starlink Mini outside and their router/firewall inside. Essentially, a temporary portable WAN replacement without a need to string wire.
Great video! Informative and well done. This would be GREAT to have if you live in an area that is subject to hurricanes and other storms. It would be one of the many things you need to have on hand when you can't depend on grid.
It wasn't so bad. With the same purpose. It is for emergencies and if one goes to places where there is no internet, electricity or water. It works in case of emergency.
Thanks - I'm using a slightly longer Anker unit and it works well but I'm just to the point in my testing where I want to take it somewhere and it's great knowing it fits in that size Pelican. I was kind of not looking forward to having a lot of random bits bouncing around the car or whatever.
Is there a set up that has the Anker battery and also a small solar panel that folds up inside of the same case that would assist in longer battery life? It would be great to see that as well.
So you purchase the Starlink mini and have it for emergencies, but you still need a monthly service plan to use it.
Correct, but the monthly plan billing can be paused so you don't pay until you need to use it.
It seems like the link for the cord has a lot of returns and mixed reviews for whether or not it works for the starlink
I think the main issue is that people have so many types of USB-C devices. Starlink says the requirement is USB-C that can deliver 20V at 5 amps. That's 100 watt output. Only more recent USB-C devices can output that much. I've heard from several viewers that 60 and 65 watt USB-C ports aren't working with the Mini. It's probably not the cable itself, because it's extremely simple. It's that people are trying to use power sources that aren't compatible with the Mini's requirements.
Mount batteries.
Used in the film industry to power cameras and lights.
Small but capable of holding a TON of power.
Not all are USB compatible, so pay attention when shopping
All the best
i took those parts to Greece recently and used it on the islands - that Anker device ran my Starlink for about an hour and a half
The 27k mAh version? Good to know. I have an upcoming video where I run a battery life test for the Mini on various power sources.
I can confirm that the cable he lists in this video works perfect! I bought a different one and it did not work but this one is awesome! I even bought a 10 foot and 20 foot usb-c extension cables. I was able to use one or the other extension cables to get some extra cable length, just couldn’t use both extension cables at the same time.
Starlink should sell this.
Neat concept, but with SOS satellite communication on iPhone, you're already covered for emergencies
Interesting. I was looks at that power bank this morning wondering if that would work on my mini. Nice to know it will. Nice. Thanks.
They have an even larger capacity one as well if you need a bit more capacity. I believe it's 27,650mAh vs 20,000mAh.
Nice way to store the dish. Not sure about it being for emergencies. If I'm paying for service and the hardware it's gonna be used all the time.
Ouch, that neat case would cost me half as much again as the mini. I'll be holding on to its original box.
I just use a cheap laptop backpack😊
Thanks for showcasing your Pelican and Starlink Mini. I know the importance but can you share the option to PAUSE the service? It's 50 dollars a month for ROAM, so if you don't use it you are definitely is money out of your pocket. If you don't go camping for 1-2 months for example. Thanks
Pausing is as simple as pressing a button in the app. The same is true for unpausing. So you can keep your subscription paused until needed so you aren’t paying for it every month. With Starlink you can unpause and manage your account using the dish connection even on an inactive/paused dish.
@@StarlinkHardwarecan you unpause service without another internet source? Unpausing service in no cell coverage areas would be great specially during emergencies
Great video excellent idea simple easy kit I’m ordering the bits and pieces to make up my own kit, Thanks for sharing 😃👍🏻
Thank you for the warning of not being able to stream movies for 3 days. Who makes a power bank to power a mini, a couple of tablets and phones for a holiday weekend? 3 to 4 days minimum.
Goal zero. Their power banks are all solar powered.
with the Mini and the plan options, can you pause your service and not get billed until you need it and then unpause your service? Only other thing i would add would be a Mini Solar Panel Under the foam padding if it fits.
Yes, you can either wait to activate it, or activate it now and put the service plan on pause. Either way, the dish can provide internet access to Starlink.com so you can manage your account and unpause/activate the subscription if needed.
@@StarlinkHardware In using this for an emergency such as hurricanes, will this connect to Starlink and then prompt us for unpausing/activating service?
It cannot be paused indefinitely
I like the M4 Starlink Mini case sold by SatGear better. It has better foam protection and a large pocket for a battery.
I wouldn’t have called you crazy. Just would’ve wondered what secret branch of military you swiped the tech from 😅
This is a great kit. I think I will build something similar but using the Jackery Explorer 100 Plus if it can fit in the case. It's 99wh which would be about 30'000mah giving a little more run time per charge and it has LiFePO4 batteries with a 100w solar charge controller built in. It's not really much bigger than the Anker at 4.9"x3.4"x3.4" so should be another good option. I have a 60w portable solar panel so I can see all this working well together.
Thanks for comment about Jackery Explorer 100. I'm just in the planning stages, and this seems to solve a few more scenarios:
1) Passthrough: Most USB power banks do not have passthrough. It's unclear if the Anker referenced does passthrough (alternatively, the Anker 737 24k seems to allow it). I can imagine a scenario where you are charging it in the car but want to use it simultaneously.
2) Solar: The Jackery Explorer 100 certainly can have solar charging while using it. With a solar panel (say 40w+), you could be completely off grid much longer (not 100% of course). Certainly a bigger power station could run it 100%, but that is not as portable.
@@jamierichardson46 Yeah I agree, great points. Using an actual solar generator rated power station like the little Jackery opens more options especially if you want to run nonstop with solar during the day. The Jackery is rated for 100w USB PD so if the Starlink mini was doing a lot of work pulling close to its max of 60w that might limit the amount the overall USB charge input or taking in solar. Not sure exactly how that would work out but could be another condition in that setup.
how many outputs volt on the power bank produce?
Excellent, my idea is the same. I bought the Starlink Mini. and the Anker which has more capacity. The Anker Prime 27,650mAh Power Bank (250W) Black. And this cable on AmazonUSB C to DC power charging cable 0.217 in x 0.083 in for laptop (5521), 20V male USB type C input to DC 0.217 x 0.083 in, male power charging cable up to 100W,. Hoping someone would come out with the video. Thank you very much.
Nice Anker ad.
Do you know if you could use it to connect if you didn’t have a plan, and something happened to warrant its use, if you could then create a plan? Our home internet is cheaper for normal use, but would love to have this as a backup, and don’t want to pay for a plan beforehand.
Yes, you can access the Starlink app and the Starlink website directly through the dish connection, even if you don't have a plan. The main problem is logging in to Starlink or creating an account. They have 2FA enabled, so you need to get a login code by email or SMS to log in. That requires cell service or internet, and can't be done through the Starlink connection without active service. The workaround is to set everything up first, then pause the Starlink service. Keep yourself logged in to the app and check it periodically. Then, when needed, you can use the app to reactivate service through the dish connection.
@ ok cool. Thank you for the very detailed answer! Much appreciated!
Is the case a Faraday box? Should be an option…
No. The case is nonconducting plastic.
Do you get two minis and one account? Do you switch devices when you use this one instead of the one at home?
I have multiple dishes on one account. They all have separate service plans that can be paused when not used (except Residential).
I'll wait for the new wireless router Starlink with rechargable battery and solar panel to keep the battery going. Plus that cable is not going to stay dry in the rain, Tesla uses a special waterproof connector.
Don’t you need the router as well or does the Starlink directly transmit WiFi signal?
I think the case needs a clear lid so the dish can see the sky. It’s interesting though
The router is integrated in the dish. This plastic and foam is radio transparent, it wouldn’t make a difference if it was clear or black.
How is mini shown under the x-ray machine?for example in backpack near laptop or in luggage?for crossing border and import it
can you test it in airport x-ray machines?
Bought the Pelican 1470 and it is an extremely tight fit. I would say it actually doesn’t fit. So not sure what the difference is but I’ll have to cut out some padding in order to make this work. If I force it closed it is extremely difficult to open back up. Wonder what I’m doing different?
With the thicker foam pad installed, you do have to kind of press down on the lid while disengaging the latch. Otherwise the upward pressure from the foam makes it difficult to open the latch. Try the thinner piece of foam that comes in the case and take out the thicker one, see if that helps. Might have to trim down the thicker foam piece if there is too much wiggle room with the thin piece.
What is the monthly cost for a Starlink, to sit in a case and hope I never need it?
The plan I use is $50/month, but I keep it paused until needed. So really $0/month and I only pay for the months in which I turn it back on.
@@StarlinkHardware Do you have to have Internet to turn it back on? Or will it let you link up it's system to turn it on?
Nice! But the newer iPhones can text to satellites already in emergencies!
We are entering an age where basic communication is available anywhere. Kind of amazing compared to just 5-10 years ago!
With the Ankler battery, how long is the Starlink usable for? This is a great kit you put together!!
Around 3-4 hours would be the runtime for this portable power bank.
I wonder if it's possible to activate the mini if I'm offshore? Considering this as an emergency back-up for my boat when I'm crossing oceans, so wondering if I'd need to activate it first (I really hope note), or if I could activate it IF I need it in an emergency if I'm 100's+ of miles offshore.... any ideas?
All Starlink units provide access to Starlink.com and the Starlink app through the dish, without active service or cell signal. However, it's best to have it already set up with Starlink, with your service plan paused. With the new 2-step login system, you need an email or SMS code to log in to Starlink.com. If you are already logged in through the app, you can get around this, but it's still risky if you ever get logged out for whatever reason. I hope Starlink fixes this soon and allows some way to bypass the 2 step login process in certain conditions.
Also keep in mind, you will need Mobile Priority for ocean access. Roam plans don't work more than 12 miles from shore.
For how long you can run the Mini with this battery?
This pack lasted about 2 hours. They have a slightly bigger pack than goes more than 3. I did a full test of them with the Mini here: th-cam.com/video/P2r9ucPurSc/w-d-xo.html
Can you buy the hardware and not a subscription, then when you actually need it, activate it? Is it possible to activate without external communication?
Just read that yes, you can basically do this.
So how are you paying for the access? Do you have to pay every month while it sits on your shelf waiting for an emergency? I have heard you can pause the service for when not in use. Is there a limit on how long you can pause it? I mean if you bought this for emergencies and paused the service immediately after setting it up, then did not have an emergency need for 4 years, would you still be able to unpause and use it?
You can pause service to avoid paying monthly until you need it. And then unpause when needed via the app. Like any other emergency item, it’s best to plan for some period maintenance. For example, plan to get it out and turn it on every year to check the battery bank and allow Starlink to update software. These kinds of routine preparations can help avoid issues for when you actually need it.
Haven't purchased the mini yet, but I like the anker brick. depending on space, I'd go for the harbor freight 3800 case. it is thicker but I wonder if you could simultaneously charge the anchor with a small, folding solar panel that would also fit into 3800 case at same time
Great video! The first thing I did was click on your links and buy the Ankler power bank and then realized when I bought it that you need the charger base to charge it, which your link was for the bank only. After purchasing it I then got a link for the newer model so I ended up sending it back for that one which included the power base. I don't know how you would work it without the power base?- as it has to be charged up and then there is the issue would there be room in this case for the base as well?
You can charge it from basically anything you can plug a USB-C cable into. I have a USB-C phone charger that I use. The USB-C ports on the power bank can either output or input power.
@@StarlinkHardware Thankyou!
Good Boy - Great Job !
Can this power bank be allowed on planes?
Yep! It’s small enough for carry on.
does it work with POE splitter for data and power over one ethernet cable?
It should if the POE splitter can provide enough power for the Mini, which can use up to about 60 watts.
Great videos! I have a question:
What if i buy the starlink mini, get a powerbank and put it in the box for emergency purposes. What if my cell phone provider and my home internet provider go offline at the same time, i have no connection to the internet, is it possible without internet connection to subscribe to starlink mini subscription being completely offline? And also if i have no free test period on it.
Starlink allows people to access Starlink.com and use the Starlink app through the dish connection, so you can activate your service without other internet if needed. My recommendation is to activate your plan, test your dish to make sure it works, and then pause the subscription. That way it will be ready to go if you need it, with a simple “unpause” swipe in the app.
@ wow, that’s great! Thank you
@@owelzi tried it but you will only have 1 hour to activate and subscribe to starlink upon First boot of the mini and First satellite connection.If its not your First boot and First satellite connection and you already used the free 1 hour internet, you will need another internet source in order to subscribe to Roam plan on the mini. Whats unknown to me is , if you can subscribe to the Roam plan without another internet source after the Unpaused Service is clicked as I have not subscribe yet. Can anybody can post here if they are able to unpause service without another internet source.
@@s8ultra732 hmm, interesting. @starlinkhardware can you comment on this? Thanks
This doesn't help if it's raining out like crazy. The OEM starlink cable has a rubber grommet built into it, so in my opinion you should use the cable that it comes with for use in outdoor wet environments, and then run a female to female coupler to go to usb-c to whatever your power bank is
what do you recommend for the standard starlink, i live in an area prone to power outages.
I have a new 12V conversion video for the Standard dish. Once converted to run from DC you could use just about any battery system with it: th-cam.com/video/67jolgTfaLU/w-d-xo.html
You could also just get a portable power station that has AC outlets and run the Standard unmodified from that.
I purchased the same USB-C to Starlink and the Ankre battery and it will not power up the Starlink?
Show us a video of that powerbank lasting 3 to 4 hours. I have 2 of those and they last 30 minutes tops
Can you use it a solar panel ? if needed.
It would be best to plug the solar panel into the battery so the Mini has a stable source. Solar voltages and power can vary.
@@StarlinkHardwarethanks for your information
starlink sells that power cable
Yep at the time I made this, they hadn’t released it yet. But I just did a test with this battery bank and the Starlink USB-C cable and it works great.
If you carry a foldable solar panel it can keep it running all day
Hi Colby
Could you please check the effect of high voltage electriciy cables being near on the performance of Starlink.
I have moved to a place which is near such cables and the download speed has come down to 70 mbs.
I've it installed and moving it some other places for testing is difficult. I wonder if you can do such test
Does the mini work in motion in the ocean ?
With the Mobile Priority service plan, yes. With the Mini Roam plan, no.
@@StarlinkHardware Does that also apply to the standard dish? $250 for 50GB is really high.
@@AVMAR Yes. Ocean data is very expensive. Note: Starlink doesn't consider offshore/coastal waters as ocean. The exact buffer is unknown, but if you are within 10ish miles from the coast, Starlink considers it land, and you could use the regular Roam or Mini Roam plans.
You put this Starlink mini near the window of the plane and you get internet on board the plane😅
Limited to 100mph unfortunately
or a cruise ship
@@badtoro Yes, and I've seen one TH-cam video of someone doing that. But I believe it is against their policies and you stand the chance of not being allowed to take it on board (competes with their selling Starlink at huge prices).
With adapters, I've tried to power my Starlink Mini direct to 12 volts (truck battery), also to a 100 watt USB C source, neither worked. I see on a TH-cam video that someone boosted the 12v to 36v, is this necessary? Doesn't Starlink say the voltage range is 12-48?
It’s not necessary, but with 12V you can’t use the included 50ft cable. Too much voltage drop. You need a shorter 10-15ft cable. As for the 100W USB-C, make sure it outputs 20V at 5 amps, as that is the spec Starlink gives. Could also be an incompatible cable. The one linked in the description is verified working with the Mini.
Same here. Didn't work. I used the cable and power bank from the links above. Starlink actually offers their own USB-C to 2.1mm cable so I'm going to try that once it arrives.
Can you run the standard off a battery? Mine just came in, I haven’t opened it yet
Yep! It requires some modification, though. I just did a Gen 3 Standard 12V tutorial you might want to check out: th-cam.com/video/67jolgTfaLU/w-d-xo.html
Do you just power up and play, or does this require a subscription / monthly fee?
It requires a subscription, but you can keep it paused until you need to use it.
Tmobile is gonna start offering starlink connections to any new model phone very soon. I dont think this will have much use after that.
Direct to cell will be just basic text messaging for at least the first year. Starlink and T-Mobile plan to slowly add more bandwidth as more DTC satellites are launched. They will add voice call support in 2026, with slow data speeds after that. The Mini, on the other hand, is available now and will have much higher data performance compared to using DTC. They are for two very different use cases.
Does the battery pack support pass through charging? Like can I use a solar panel to keep the bank charging while it's powering the mini?
Yes it can accept up to 100 watts of input through the USB-C ports.
Any idea how many hours of use I can get from the Anker Power bank from fully charged?
About 2 hours with the 20k mah model, over 3 with the 27k mah model. I did a runtime test: th-cam.com/video/P2r9ucPurSc/w-d-xo.html
@StarlinkHardware thanks
Some say the service can be paused indefinitely while others argue that the service can only be paused for a limited time, even as low as 90 days. Can someone provide the definitive answer to this question?
There is no limit to how long you can pause the service.
Can it be powered directly from a portable solar panel or at least if you added one to this set up you could recharge the power bank
You would need to use some kind of battery system to deliver stable power and voltage, like a portable power station or power bank. Plug the solar panel into an input and the Mini to an output. For regular usage I would recommend a power station that is larger, has more capacity, and more input options for solar.