Starlink cable dish to router

[CWSWine]

There is also the MINI that is 12 volts out of the box. It has slightly less performance than the Gen 3, but it only takes 5Mbps to stream 1080P. I don't think you see much performance difference. The negative is the cost. A friend facetime me from the beach in Mexico, running his MINI off a Dewalt tool battery. He says it runs about 4 to 5 hours, and he carries on the plane in a briefcase that fits under his seat.

[corn18]

Originally Posted by Sunnyfalls

Now makes perfect sense. In addition to the RV Inverter (12VDC to 120VAC) efficiency there is also the Starlink Converter (120VAC to 57VDC) efficiency to consider. And if you decide to modify Starlink to use 12VDC directly, then you have the step-up Converter (12VDC to 57VDC) efficiency to consider as well.

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

Yup, I have data on the Mini for that. The 12V to 24V step up converter I use for the Mini consumes 2W. I would guess a 12V to 57V would use more watts but I don't have data to support that.

[Sunnyfalls]

Originally Posted by corn18

Yup, I have data on the Mini for that. The 12V to 24V step up converter I use for the Mini consumes 2W. I would guess a 12V to 57V would use more watts but I don't have data to support that.

I should have also added that we did considerable research on the advantages and disadvantages of using 12VDC to power Starlink. The general consensus is that you will save about 5% power usage when using 12VDC in lieu of 120VAC. The primary advantage of using 12VDC is that you do not need to use your Inverter for using Starlink when dry camping. The disadvantage of using 12VDC is that the Starlink speeds will significantly suffer. Starlink power requirements are very much a function of how much data you are actually moving and a 12VDC power basis apparently doesn’t keep the speeds up as well as a 120VAC basis. And how much speed performance degradation you will actually experience also apparently varies by specifically how you accomplish the 12VDC modification or what 12VDC conversion kit you purchase. Here's one of many YouTube discussions on this subject:

https://youtu.be/WQ6eOQ5JfK4?feature=shared

Of course, whether this performance degradation will adversely affect you or even be noticed will largely depend on how much speed you actually need and use. We would likely be unhappy as we often do 4K streaming to our 60 inch projection screen. And for us when dry camping, our Inverter is always ON anyhow. We use 120VAC for our heated toilet bidet seat and we wouldn't want to find a cold and dark toilet seat in the middle of the night!

So we worked this problem by using low power coffee maker, hairdryer, lighting, microwave oven, toaster oven and vacuum such that we only use 30-40AH overnight and our portable 200 Watt solar panels easily and quickly replenish our 100AH LIFEPO4 battery every day even with poor solar conditions.

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

[corn18]

Originally Posted by Sunnyfalls

I should have also added that we did considerable research on the advantages and disadvantages of using 12VDC to power Starlink. The general consensus is that you will save about 5% power usage when using 12VDC in lieu of 120VAC. The primary advantage of using 12VDC is that you do not need to use your Inverter for using Starlink when dry camping. The disadvantage of using 12VDC is that the Starlink speeds will significantly suffer. Starlink power requirements are very much a function of how much data you are actually moving and a 12VDC power basis apparently doesn’t keep the speeds up as well as a 120VAC basis. And how much speed performance degradation you will actually experience also apparently varies by specifically how you accomplish the 12VDC modification or what 12VDC conversion kit you purchase. Here's one of many YouTube discussions on this subject:

https://youtu.be/WQ6eOQ5JfK4?feature=shared

Of course, whether this performance degradation will adversely affect you or even be noticed will largely depend on how much speed you actually need and use. We would likely be unhappy as we often do 4K streaming to our 60 inch projection screen. And for us when dry camping, our Inverter is always ON anyhow. We use 120VAC for our heated toilet bidet seat and we wouldn't want to find a cold and dark toilet seat in the middle of the night!

So we worked this problem by using low power coffee maker, hairdryer, lighting, microwave oven, toaster oven and vacuum such that we only use 30-40AH overnight and our portable 200 Watt solar panels easily and quickly replenish our 100AH LIFEPO4 battery every day even with poor solar conditions.

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

I'll collect some data on performance of 12V vs 120V. Might be a few days.

[Sunnyfalls]

Originally Posted by corn18

I'll collect some data on performance of 12V vs 120V. Might be a few days.

Awesome!

Yeah, you never know if what is reported on the Internet is fact or fiction. Nearly always need to absolutely prove things for yourself and disregard the rest as BS... That YouTube link I posted and the person doing the testing did seem above board but maybe not.

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

[CWSWine]

I order this adapter for Dewalt Battery to Starlink MINI. I see lots of people on Facebook. give great reviews, and the only problem is running the battery too low and not being able to charge it. Most are limited to 4 hours of use.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGQVDNVQ...v_ov_lig_dp_it

[Sunnyfalls]

Originally Posted by CWSWine

I order this adapter for Dewalt Battery to Starlink MINI. I see lots of people on Facebook. give great reviews, and the only problem is running the battery too low and not being able to charge it. Most are limited to 4 hours of use.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGQVDNVQ...v_ov_lig_dp_it

Wouldn't work for us...4 hours isn't remotely adequate and having to endlessly swap batteries would get very old fast.. Our Starlink is active about 18 hours per day so we can receive/make phone calls, emails and texts, plus surf the web, stream 4K in the evening and maybe download books onto our Kindles. I assume it has some interface for the router too.

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

[CWSWine]

Originally Posted by Sunnyfalls

Wouldn't work for us...4 hours isn't remotely adequate and having to endlessly swap batteries would get very old fast.. Our Starlink is active about 18 hours per day so we can receive/make phone calls, emails and texts, plus surf the web, stream 4K in the evening and maybe download books onto our Kindles. I assume it has some interface for the router too.

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"

That's the same way I use my MINI but plugged into the USB Port. I go offroad, and I throw mine in the back of a Jeep with a battery in case of an emergency. We also travel to the Caribbean Islands, and I can throw it under the seat of the plane and bring it with me and Facetime on the beach. I can also put it in the window of the Jeep and plug it into the accessory plug. If we travel without the RV, we throw it in the back. If we make a quick overnight stop I just put it in the window of our RV and works good enough to stream 4kK TV. Lots of options.

[Sunnyfalls]

Originally Posted by CWSWine

That's the same way I use my MINI but plugged into the USB Port. I go offroad, and I throw mine in the back of a Jeep with a battery in case of an emergency. We also travel to the Caribbean Islands, and I can throw it under the seat of the plane and bring it with me and Facetime on the beach. I can also put it in the window of the Jeep and plug it into the accessory plug. If we travel without the RV, we throw it in the back. If we make a quick overnight stop I just put it in the window of our RV and works good enough to stream 4kK TV. Lots of options.

Well, if it works how you like, that's great! I don't know anything about the MINI. We are still using our Gen 1 for Residencial and our Gen 2 for Roam. Sounds like the MINI doesn't need much power if you can just plug it into a USB port. SpaceX and Starlink are continually innovating. It won’t be long until cell phones will be using Starlink...except they won't be using cell towers...they will be using Starlink satellites...

Gayle & Bob
"Los Gatos Casita"