Starlink Mini Install, Operation, and Lessons Learned

[srgjigpog]

What mount are you using if any? Can you put the Starlink Mini between the sunshade and the moonroof to keep it from falling down? Is that a good option? Does the Starlink interfere with opening or shutting the Sunshade? Any problems with heat build up next to the moonroof turning off Starlink, or ever loosing suction from the suction cup if that is what you are using?

I guess for those of us without a moonroof the way to go for inside the cab location would be the dashboard, but it would probably have slightly more signal obstacles.

I'm curious to hear more about the lessons learned from folks that went the inside the cab route.

I just got a mini. I’ve only tested it in the bed of the truck. It worked great even under a closed vinyl tonneau cover. It does fit the dash nicely all the same but I will run mine in the bed under the cover.
I’m getting a fiberglass cap in a few weeks so will try it under that then.

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[Str8Shooter]

Curious about antenna alignment

Impractical for driving. It's a phased array antenna with many tiny radiating elelements spread across the face of the antenna. That means most of the alignment is done internally. The antenna chooses the radiating elements to use to form and electronically steer the beam. The beam has a 110 degree field of view.

If you are looking for the very best alignment then you will need to stay stationary and use the alignment tool. If the antenna is laid flat it should not make a difference. If the antenna is angled, that is when you will see a difference.

The anti theft mount I am using puts my antenna at an 8 degree tilt. 0 degrees would be better on wide open roads, and for 8 degrees I get better signal coverage with forest in front of me.

 

[Str8Shooter]

I just got a mini. I’ve only tested it in the bed of the truck. It worked great even under a closed vinyl tonneau cover. It does fit the dash nicely all the same but I will run mine in the bed under the cover.
I’m getting a fiberglass cap in a few weeks so will try it under that then.

The plastic cover and fiberglass top should work about identical for signal. I think the only negative on the fiberglass is that it can get about 50F hotter than outside temperature compared to about 20F hotter than with the vinyl cover.
The Starlink mini has a max temperature rating of 122F. So, that should work fine on a 100F day with Vinyl and 80F day with fiberglass. it would be nice to hear your real world experience.

 

[srgjigpog]

T

The plastic cover and fiberglass top should work about identical for signal. I think the only negative on the fiberglass is that it can get about 50F hotter than outside temperature compared to about 20F hotter than with the vinyl cover.
The Starlink mini has a max temperature rating of 122F. So, that should work fine on a 100F day with Vinyl and 80F day with fiberglass. it would be nice to hear your real world experience.

Thanks for that info. I’m in Labrador Canada so rarely are there days over 30 deg c/86f and even then only a handful of days a year. Our winters are cold, with temps down to -40c in the coldest part of the winter.
I’m doing a 2100km trip in a few weeks, 1100 of those kms with no cell phone reception so will give it a good test. On the way out under the tonneau. On the way back under the cap.

 

[Str8Shooter]

Thanks for that info. I’m in Labrador Canada so rarely are there days over 30 deg c/86f and even then only a handful of days a year. Our winters are cold, with temps down to -40c in the coldest part of the winter.
I’m doing a 2100km trip in a few weeks, 1100 of those kms with no cell phone reception so will give it a good test. On the way out under the tonneau. On the way back under the cap.

I think your solution is going to be perfect.

I worry a little about severe weather and lack of protection related to wind knocking down branches or hail. Since I have an aluninum tonneau cover that will be much worse if not impossible for a signal, I plan to put some heavy duty velcro on the plastic kickstand and bottom back edge of the antenna and at the same locations on the dashboard for an inside the cab configuration. This should work to keep it from being a missile hazard inside the cab.

 

[powerboatr]

I used the code in forsc a n..we tried last year
You can turn the 12 v outles on all the time..
But you need to manage power usage

 

[Larry Irwin]

AA is running on a USB cable, and everything is working great so far! Thanks so much, Str8Shooter, for the advice.

 

[Sig Oris]

Impractical for driving. It's a phased array antenna with many tiny radiating elelements spread across the face of the antenna. That means most of the alignment is done internally. The antenna chooses the radiating elements to use to form and electronically steer the beam. The beam has a 110 degree field of view.

If you are looking for the very best alignment then you will need to stay stationary and use the alignment tool. If the antenna is laid flat it should not make a difference. If the antenna is angled, that is when you will see a difference.

The anti theft mount I am using puts my antenna at an 8 degree tilt. 0 degrees would be better on wide open roads, and for 8 degrees I get better signal coverage with forest in front of me.

I'm a retired Combat Systems Engineer so I'm familiar with Phased Array Antennas on Ground Based and Surface Ship Installations.

When I use my mini its at home to check for S/W updates before we head out with the RV and then at our destination where I use a China Tool Store Tri-Pod shooting for the White Box around the antenna.

I wasn't aware the mini functioned without it being aligned. Guess its time for an experiment.

 

[Str8Shooter]

I used the code in forsc a n..we tried last year
You can turn the 12 v outles on all the time..
But you need to manage power usage

I timed how long the 12V outlet lasted yesterday in it's factory setting after I turned off the ignition and locked the door. 45 minutes. 45 minutes is perfect for me for just about anything for normal driving. That works great for short rest stops, grocery, and getting gas. Over the last couple days it has lasted about that long several times. I'm a little confused though, because I'm pretty sure it turned off once around 15 minutes. Do you exactly know what the delay is as set by the factory, and are there different delays based on how you exit the vehicle?

 

[mxwrk]

I mounted the starlink supplied roof rack mount to my RCI bed bars, will just be plugging it into the outlet in the bed on my PB for my next trip. Thanks for the tips!

 

[powerboatr]

I timed how long the 12V outlet lasted yesterday in it's factory setting after I turned off the ignition and locked the door. 45 minutes. 45 minutes is perfect for me for just about anything for normal driving. That works great for short rest stops, grocery, and getting gas. Over the last couple days it has lasted about that long several times. I'm a little confused though, because I'm pretty sure it turned off once around 15 minutes. Do you exactly know what the delay is as set by the factory, and are there different delays based on how you exit the vehicle?

Before I set mine to live 24. 7
I tested it with a small led light hanging outside truck
1st few times it went off at 15...I had it locked , I opened with fob it came back on
Then I let it go off. Keys in house and it took 15
But did not come back on until I keyed it on by pressing start button
I assume it also delays based on battery condition
I had it set live to run the back up break for towing it behind my rv
It had a charge line coming in to battery from rv
Its all in a thread here somewhere

 

[Str8Shooter]

Before I set mine to live 24. 7
I tested it with a small led light hanging outside truck
1st few times it went off at 15...I had it locked , I opened with fob it came back on
Then I let it go off. Keys in house and it took 15
But did not come back on until I keyed it on by pressing start button
I assume it also delays based on battery condition
I had it set live to run the back up break for towing it behind my rv
It had a charge line coming in to battery from rv
Its all in a thread here somewhere

Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Blown F-150]

Great info, we just wrapped up a 1700mile trip into the remote areas of BC and Alberta. I rented a mini and mounted it to my bed rack. I was amazed at how stable the connection was while moving and will be getting a mini of our very own here shortly. I have sourced a roof mount and will mount the cable through the brake light like you did.

 

[Brent@ANParts]

Looks good, I've been thinking of getting a mini for my RV. Funny enough I just had a Starlink ad pop up on this post!

 

[us2bram]

I'm running a mini in my tremor too. For those of you who have a moonroof, you can stick it to the underside and it'll get signal right through the glass.

I also had to turn off wireless Android auto for my phone to connect to the mini.

Same setup in my pb f150. Suctioned to the glass in the roof and plugged into the outlet in the back. I use the iphone usb wire to connect carplay when i need to use the starlink wifi. Drawback is cant close the sunshade on the glass roof.

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