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Starlink Mini DC power consumption

AntronX

DC Powered
Joined
Oct 24, 2021
Messages
2,647
Location
South FL
Been waiting for detailed DC power consumption review of recently released Starlink Mini. One video shows 40w bootup, ~25w active and 12.5w idle load while running from 13.2v battery. This is great news for offgridders. This thing consumes less power (on idle) than my Comcast XB7 modem. Awesome that it runs direct from 12 - 48v DC and comes with 5.5mm DC barrel connector built in.



 
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Seriously considering selling my v2 and getting a mini. I won't permanently mount and hauling that box around in a truck camper is a bit much.

Reduced power draw is a bonus. The reduced speed shouldn't be a problem for me out camping.
 
The best part the Starlink probably won’t go down like the cable will if grid power goes out.
Before cable got so technical with fiber optic and such if grid power went out cable still worked …that was a long time ago. Now if grid power goes out doesn’t matter if I can run the cable wifi-modem or not the rest of the cable system is down in my area. Cable is tied to the electrical grid for their system power it is not separate anymore.

So win for StarLink. Which seems to be getting better and better. $30 ???? a month after buying equipment is a bargain where how do we get $30 a month think equipment is $499?. It looks to be size of an ipad. 100+ mbps is ok.

This video says $30 a month but on Starlink it says $120 a month for my area. Hmmmm. Commenters say have to get standard $120 a month then $30 extra a month.total $150…. My cable is ~$55 a month 600mbps. Elon is to high. $499 for equipment too.
From video comments the guy doing video is a TOOL.
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Launching sats is expensive. Starlink financially broke even last year. For now there is no equivalent service outside of cell/cable/fiber/wisp coverage. Getting the mini for extra $30/mo will encourage owners renting them out when not traveling. Great deal for me since I only need it for a weekend few times a year.
 
I don't think you can get the mini by itself, only as an add on to a bigger dish, with limited data?
 
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Launching sats is expensive. Starlink financially broke even last year. For now there is no equivalent service outside of cell/cable/fiber/wisp coverage. Getting the mini for extra $30/mo will encourage owners renting them out when not traveling. Great deal for me since I only need it for a weekend few times a year.
Ppl need to know more then $30 If only $30 ppl would be buying a bundle load. I would cancel cable and really cord cut. 😁👀 ‘Cord cutting” was always a dumb saying …. they still had cable internet.
 
Yes, to clarify, this is a $30 add on plan to the regular $120 a month plan, giving you compact size for remote hiking etc, 50GB per month data allowance and $1 per GB excess.
 
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I'm confused now.

If you have a monthly sub at home you can add a mini for portable, for 30 dollars extra

Can you run just a mini for the standard roam package? Which costs I think 30 a month more than a regular plan.

I don't use mine full time and utilize the roam package.
 
Quickly looking it seemed like the 50gb/month mini didn’t have any strings attached.

But I can see if they do it too cheap, who’d buy the full residential.

How’s star link work during rain or heavy thunder showers? Dish/direct tv always seems to go out.
 
Quickly looking it seemed like the 50gb/month mini didn’t have any strings attached.

But I can see if they do it too cheap, who’d buy the full residential.

How’s star link work during rain or heavy thunder showers? Dish/direct tv always seems to go out.
No problems so far for me in rain.
As long as it has unobstructed view of northern sky it just works.

The residential unit tracks Satellite groups.
Mini doesn’t..
 
Keep in mind that a smaller Dish like the Mini will receive less signal and therefore be effected more by Rain fade.
It will also have more dips in speed because it cannot lock on as well to satellites near the Horizon.
These problems should become less of an issue as more satellites are launched.
 
I just go the mini up here in Canada. on sale right now $483 taxes inc., comes with roam plan for $70 CAD /month with pause ability.
Mostly idle, doing some speed tests, I saw 19W using stock DC power source.

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Video on YT shows it can run off POE, but it looks like that injector was only 19v.

Starlink official docs weren't helpful, but now I can confirm the physical dish has 12-48V DC specification printed next to barrel jack. Sadly, doesn't seem like it can safely run off regular POE 802.3af, because that specifies 44V to 57V.

I wanted to run it directly off an EG4 powerpro "51.2v" battery but those run 44-54v, and while some will be lost in the cable, im worried it will fry with oversupply of voltage. Why didn't Starlink design it for up to 60V input :(

I found a DC-DC converter that will work fine, I plan on running the dish at 36V (so it can work even when the battery gets low). Shame its "one more device" to connect in the DC breaker box.
 
I wanted to run it directly off an EG4 powerpro "51.2v" battery but those run 44-54v, and while some will be lost in the cable, im worried it will fry with oversupply of voltage.

Looks like you should be good up to 60V input. Starlink mini uses 100V mosfets (BSZ146N10LS5) for input DC-DC converter. It has 60V TVS diode across DC input jack which will clamp input voltage to 66 - 73V range. Main unknown is the dc-dc controller chip. Since this is 48V class design there's a good chance this chip can handle up to 60V input.

starlink_mini_input_dc-dc.JPG

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Just noticed additional parts that could be reverse polarity protection circuit. Two back to back connected mosfet looking parts give it away. Cannot find datasheet for these mosfets. R005 has to be 5mOhm current shunt resistor. Starlink mini pcb image here.
starlink_mini_power_board2.jpg
 
We just got the Mini Roam with 50 GB at $50 a month and $1 per GB over 50 and pause anytime this Dec. Worked well enough at our off grid cabin in far West Texas. Equipment package $499. In the pic, can see the mini mounted on a FM radio boost 10' antenna on the left side go cabin.
 

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Just got the Mini. Paired it with ecoflow river 3. My old gen2 mobile starlink set up was not very mobile.
Will try to get a barrel plug to usb-c adapter so I can run on DC power.
 

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