I turned my Starlink Mini into the ultimate off-grid internet setup (and I’d do it again)

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET Follow ZDNET:Add us as a preferred sourceon Google. If you need to be connected to the internet but there’s no Wi-Fi or cellular signal nearby, and not even an Ethernet port in sight, then you have to look up to the skies — to the satellites whooshing 340 miles above your head at…

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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Follow ZDNET:Add us as a preferred sourceon Google.

If you need to be connected to the internet but there’s no Wi-Fi or cellular signal nearby, and not even an Ethernet port in sight, then you have to look up to the skies — to the satellites whooshing 340 miles above your head at dizzying speeds.

I’ve tried anumber of systems, from basic messenger units like theGarmin inReach Messenger Plusto satellite routers like theIridium Go!a portable satellite comms unit that is a dish and Wi-Fi router all built into a small package measuring 11.75 inches by 10.2 inches and 1.45 inches thick. All you need to do is find a clear patch of sky, add power, and you’re surfing the web again (or whatever the kids say these days).

But it’s that “add power” bit that can become a bit tricky when you are miles away from a power outlet.

There are solutions

If you have a vehicle handy, then you can use thecar’s 12V system to power the dish This is one of the better Starlink Mini USB-C-to-DC cable.

This is one of the better Starlink Mini USB-C-to-DC cable.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

My solution is to power the Starlink Mini dish using a power bank and asuitable USB-C to DC cable The cable has a weatherproof grommet like the original Starlink power cable.

The cable has a weatherproof grommet like the original Starlink power cable.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Weird.

Trying more power banks made things a little better. I found that some power banks had no problems powering the dish, while others, for whatever reason (and I’m still investigating this), wouldn’t work despite having the appropriate power rating.

Also:Above the storms: How satellite tech can be a lifesaver during natural disasters

Thinking that my cable might be the problem, I purchased a few more (after all, who doesn’t need half a dozen cables to power a single satellite dish?) and found that the cables make a difference. All the cables I tested were sold as capable of delivering the 100W the dish requires, but some are more effective than others.

Even with the right cable, it can be hit or miss, and that’s because cable length, the thickness of the cable, and the ambient air temperature at which the power bank operates all play a part.

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Also: The best portable power stations you can buy

I also tried several USB-C wall chargers and had much greater success with them. Every charger I tried that could output 65W or more worked fine. It seemed far less cable-dependent. While this kind of defeats the purpose of replacing the supplied wall charger with a different one, it’s good to know as a backup.

I’ve tested quite a few power banks with the Starlink Mini, and while this shouldn’t be considered a comprehensive list, I found that Anker power banks, like the737, or the bigger, beefierSOLIX C300 DCcan give you about four hours of internet connectivity before it needs to be recharged. Smaller power banks will give you less runtime, while larger ones or power stations will give you much more.

You decide.

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