Starlink mini

[TJ_Slice]

Is anyone using the Starlink mini in their Bearhawk? I’d love to hear your experience with it.

Specifically, do you use it airborne, and where do you put the antenna, and get the power?

[kuss]

Have not used it in the Patrol but I do use it driving on long road trips. It's amazing and runs fine off 12V with this cable from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DD12LJNF?ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details&th=1

I do bring it with me in the airplane on backcountry camping trips but have only used it on the ground. I run it off the AC port on my Jackery Explorer 1000v2.

Last week we were at Moose Creek 1U1 and my buddies told me that Starlink is expressly prohibited in National Wilderness areas. Seems crazy, but then again wheels are illegal there too so...

One of my buddies experienced a true medical emergency overnight and luckily we had the Starlink and were able to confirm weather for the route home to the hospital... so I think I'm going to keep bringing it. I prefer to beg for forgiveness!

[TJ_Slice]

Have not used it in the Patrol but I do use it driving on long road trips. It's amazing and runs fine off 12V with this cable from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DD12LJNF?ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details&th=1

I do bring it with me in the airplane on backcountry camping trips but have only used it on the ground. I run it off the AC port on my Jackery Explorer 1000v2.

Last week we were at Moose Creek 1U1 and my buddies told me that Starlink is expressly prohibited in National Wilderness areas. Seems crazy, but then again wheels are illegal there too so...

One of my buddies experienced a true medical emergency overnight and luckily we had the Starlink and were able to confirm weather for the route home to the hospital... so I think I'm going to keep bringing it. I prefer to beg for forgiveness!

Thanks. I can't imaging a portable starlink would be banned, but I could see a prohibition on a permanent installation.

I have been looking at a Jackery unit too, and I think one is going to be in my future.

As far as the Starlink, I want to make it a semi-permanent installation. I am thinking that it would have to go underneath the skylight, but there have been several RV guys who have installed it inside their fiberglass wingtips with good results. I imagine if the signal get go through fiberglass, than aircraft fabric should be no issue.

What I am thinking is mounting it above the Cargo area in my 5 with a dedicated power source, but be accessible so that I can unplug it from the airplane power and use an external power source too. I think an off-center location would be best to avoid being under the top stringers. Depending upon how it performs tilted, maybe a mounting system that is adjustable to make it level when you are on the ground?

Also, it looks like they recently removed the 100 mph limit for in-motion use on their roam plan.

[zkelley2]

Fiberglass is transparent to radio signals. Fabric probably isn't bad, but if there's metal in the paint or silver it might not be the best.

[Nev]

My friend has one permanently mounted in his microlight. It works well inflight, with the advantage that anyone flying within about 500m from him can link into it. In NZ the Starlink package allows you to purchase the mini if you already have the normal model and piggy-back on the same plan.

[500AGL]

Talk to Elliot and Melanie Abel. They have it and use it extensively in their new model 5 inflight.
for that matter I’m sure Erin and Paul do as well.

[TJ_Slice]

Thanks, I'll shoot Elliot a message.

[N3UW]

I have had a starlink mini since May. Not using it in my partially completed Patrol but i am using it in my Cherokee. It works great. It is currently in on top of my instrument panel and works great. I also did try it on the ground inside my fiberglass wingtip and it did pickup a great signal. It takes 24v power. You can look on amazon for some great “starlink mini hardwired power adaptor” options.

The thing to remember you need a local priority plan to use at speeds we fly in the air. You can’t order it with that plan when i ordered the roam plan and they when I received it and activated it I was able to change the plan to local priority but it does not take effect for 30 days. Then you can open a support ticket and ask them to activate the local access plan immediately and they will.

I was able to get higher res weather data in the air, stream music, download approach plates i had forgotten to download and place a call to the FBO i was heading to using WiFi calling on my cell phone. I love it.