Photo: @olegkutkov via X
SpaceX will soon launch the Starlink Mini, a portable satellite dish that features built-in Wi-Fi and can fit in a backpack. At half the price of the standard dish, the new antenna can still stream multiple 4K video streams simultaneously.
Starlink satellite internet has been a life savior for people in remote areas where a physical connection is not possible and mobile (phone) connections offer limited bandwidth. Following subsequent improvements and new satellite deployments, Starlink internet got so good that many preferred it over landline communications. SpaceX even offered special packages for RV and boat owners, providing a lifeline connection to the internet almost anywhere on Earth.
However, the satellite dish is not exactly portable, being slightly oversized and heavy. Unless you're with a bigger vehicle, it's not very practical to carry it around. People wanted a Starlink antenna small enough to fit in a backpack they can take when they go hiking, for instance. Elon Musk's company was working on such portable satellite equipment, as revealed by an earlier FCC application.
Based on the documents it filed with the Commission, the new antenna would measure 29x25 cm (11.4x9.8 inches), making it about the size of an Apple MacBook. This compares favorably with a regular Starlink dish, which is double the size at 51x30 cm (20.2x11.9 inches). The best part of the new Starlink Mini dish is that it has an integrated Wi-Fi router, so you won't need a separate router that attaches to the current Starlink dish.
Although the application didn't include other data, Elon Musk wrote in an X post that not only the size has been cut in half, but also its price and the subscription. This makes the Starlink Mini the ideal connection for people on the move. Based on a speed test screenshot Musk shared, the Starlink Mini offers 100 Mbps download speed and 11.5 Mbps upload speed with 23 ms latency. This beats some landline and mobile connections, being good enough for streaming and surfing the net. Some casual gaming is also possible, although hardcore gamers might not be impressed.
The integrated Wi-Fi router supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11b/g/n/ax) and has 3x3 MIMO built-in antennas. The Starlink Mini has only two connectors: a DC barrel for the external power source and an RJ45 network connector. If you need to extend coverage to a wider area, you'll be happy to know that the Starlink Mini is compatible with Starlink mesh. You can thus pair it wirelessly with another Starlink router.
It's unclear what the power requirements for the Starlink Mini are, but it should be significantly less than the 75-100 watts of the regular Starlink kit. However, it doesn't seem it's low enough to use a USB-C connector. This would've made it much more portable, as you only need one USB-C charger/power bank for your phone, laptop, and Starlink Mini.
However, the satellite dish is not exactly portable, being slightly oversized and heavy. Unless you're with a bigger vehicle, it's not very practical to carry it around. People wanted a Starlink antenna small enough to fit in a backpack they can take when they go hiking, for instance. Elon Musk's company was working on such portable satellite equipment, as revealed by an earlier FCC application.
Based on the documents it filed with the Commission, the new antenna would measure 29x25 cm (11.4x9.8 inches), making it about the size of an Apple MacBook. This compares favorably with a regular Starlink dish, which is double the size at 51x30 cm (20.2x11.9 inches). The best part of the new Starlink Mini dish is that it has an integrated Wi-Fi router, so you won't need a separate router that attaches to the current Starlink dish.
Although the application didn't include other data, Elon Musk wrote in an X post that not only the size has been cut in half, but also its price and the subscription. This makes the Starlink Mini the ideal connection for people on the move. Based on a speed test screenshot Musk shared, the Starlink Mini offers 100 Mbps download speed and 11.5 Mbps upload speed with 23 ms latency. This beats some landline and mobile connections, being good enough for streaming and surfing the net. Some casual gaming is also possible, although hardcore gamers might not be impressed.
The integrated Wi-Fi router supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11b/g/n/ax) and has 3x3 MIMO built-in antennas. The Starlink Mini has only two connectors: a DC barrel for the external power source and an RJ45 network connector. If you need to extend coverage to a wider area, you'll be happy to know that the Starlink Mini is compatible with Starlink mesh. You can thus pair it wirelessly with another Starlink router.
It's unclear what the power requirements for the Starlink Mini are, but it should be significantly less than the 75-100 watts of the regular Starlink kit. However, it doesn't seem it's low enough to use a USB-C connector. This would've made it much more portable, as you only need one USB-C charger/power bank for your phone, laptop, and Starlink Mini.
I just set it up right now and am writing this post through space.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 17, 2024
Took less than 5 mins. Easily carried in a backpack.
This product will change the world.
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