Re: Surviving Milton and Starlink
Reply #5 –
"I wonder if the models using greater power have better connectivity or download speeds."
Good point. I found a comparison review that confirms that the standard model has faster connection speeds, a router with longer range (although if it's sitting inside an RV, that's not a significant advantage), and does better in rain and snow. So yes, the standard model has its advantages. That said, I've seen speeds as high as 150 Mbps with my Mini, and I have no complaints about that. :-)
"With the router built into the Mini, this could be a problem if needing to use a very long connecting cable the router may be too far away for a strong WiFi signal. We have used up to 150' of cable to find a clear view of the sky; trees are a nuisance."
You're right; the Wi-Fi range of the Mini's built-in router is a potential drawback. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be able to connect to it from 150 feet away. But the Mini does have an Ethernet jack as well as the power jack that's normally used, so it could be used with an indoor router, just as you use the standard Starlink unit. Of course, that would entail an extra cost for the separate router, and the hassle of setting it up. One of the appealing things about the Mini is its simplicity. Yes, the first time you use it, you have to give its built-in router a name and password, but the Starlink software makes that easy.
I put my Mini on the ground for the first week or so I had it, and even in a clearing in the San Isabel National Forest it worked just fine. But there were cattle wandering around, and I worried that it might be trampled. So I bought a flagpole, a frame-mounted 2" hitch receiver, and a flagpole holder that fits a 2" receiver. So far, that has worked well.
(A Lazy Daze wouldn't need the frame-mounted hitch receiver, of course, but the flagpole and flagpole holder could fit nicely in the LD's rear hitch receiver. Just a thought.)
One nice thing about the Mini is that its power cable uses a standard 5.5 x 2.1 mm barrel connector, rather than the unusual connectors of the standard Starlink model. That means you can get a cable with a USB-C plug on the other end, and power the Mini from a 12V to USB-C adapter such as this one.
P.S. - One note about that flagpole I linked to: although very sturdy and reasonably priced, it's 2 3/16" in diameter, whereas most flagpole holders including the one I linked to accept only 2" flagpoles. That's easily solved by removing the bottom section of the flagpole. The remaining section is 2" in diameter, and still gives you 15 feet of height, which is enough to get the Starlink well above the roof. At least, that's been my experience.
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