Starlink Mini Roam $50.00 a month

[Mike and Carol]

1 hour ago, jd1923 said:

I believe I will be next.

I’m thinking we’ll pick one up as well.  My son has SL for his camper and they love it, both he and his wife do a lot of remote work, email and video calls, it checks the block.  We’ll be traveling west to northern CA, OR and WA in August and September, looks like some sparse cell coverage in some areas.  Mike

[Patriot]

I mentioned this portable mount/protective case early on in this thread. After using it last fall on our 48 day trip out west we were really glad to have it. Besides being built to withstand storage travel and use, it gives a little added weight for stability which was welcome and important on windy days. 

In our field use, we never found a reason to secure the Mini in one location such as a roof top of a TV or the Oliver. For best satellite connectivity you must have clear northern exposure with little to no obstructions. Some campsites you get lucky and can deploy on a table while others your usually deploying on the ground. We prefer no trees especially sappy pine trees.

The optional handle to carry the Mini was a good addition and adds an anchor point if we needed to secure it on a picnic table on windy days with a small bungee cord.

When does the wind and dust not blow out west? 😄

Camp On! 🇺🇸🇺🇸

https://www.strikerfab.com/products/starlink-mini-mount-for-overlanding-van-rv-boat-sxs-starlink-mounting-options

A Frosty 30 degree morning while camped at Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone.  

Edited March 24 by Patriot

[bugeyedriver]

Has anyone here deployed the SL Mini inside the trailer, for expediency during very inclement weather,  I realize it has an IP67 waterproof rating for heavy rain.  This issue is my personal waterproof rating is somewhat less.

The Ollie is fiberglass, and transparent to radio signals.  Do you think the internal electronics, stored pots and pans, and the  A/C unit above would muck it up?

Edited March 24 by bugeyedriver

[jd1923]

3 hours ago, Patriot said:

When does the wind and dust not blow out west? 😄

The "windy season" is starting soon! 🤣 Yes, it can be windy out west anytime and often, but you can count on it Q2 of the year (Apr-Jun). The wind makes things dry out and by June there are usually fires somewhere. Late July through early Sept is monsoon season, some break in the winds, patchy rains and you hope a monsoon or two hits your property to water the trees!

We moved out here from VA leaving end of June 2005 (20th anniversary)! We thought New Mexico was the worst as far as being WINDY. We had all our family belongings packed tight in a 26' "race car trailer" purchased just for the move, pulled by a brand-new Ram 2500 HD. The trailer had an awning. The NM winds in the open valleys, known for their dust storms, blew the awning wide open. It was like we had a sail attached to the trailer, pushing us down the highway! I had to tie it up to finish the trip, then rewound it when we got here in Arizona.

Thanks @Patriot for first starting this thread, bringing the Mini with the $50 plan to our attention. I had remembered that you purchased a carry case. I did not realize it had an aluminum frame, made in the USA, add-on features like magnet mounts, etc. I need to look at this seriously vs. the Trio product I mentioned.

Has anybody purchased the "Polycarbonate Shield" (both companies offer one)?  Instead of storing the mini in a case, I want ours magnet-mounted to the roof of our tow vehicle when driving (then you don't need room somewhere else to store it and you could hook up to Wi-Fi when needed while driving). The shield may help with the pine sap too. Thanks again. JD

Edited March 24 by jd1923

[jd1923]

41 minutes ago, bugeyedriver said:

Has anyone here deployed the SL Mini inside the trailer, for expediency during very inclement weather,  I realize it has an IP67 waterproof rating for heavy rain.  This issue is my personal waterproof rating is somewhat less.

The Ollie is fiberglass, and transparent to radio signals.  Do you think the internal electronics, stored pots and pans, and the  A/C unit above would muck it up?

Pete, I believe it must be outside. The technology does not use radio waves that follow the curvature of the earth, etc.. Instead, think of microwaves that are directional, "line-of-sight." This is why trees are an issue, like the upper shells of the Oliver would be.

[Boudicca908]

On 3/22/2025 at 5:08 PM, Mike and Carol said:

looks like some sparse cell coverage in some areas

Sparse cell coverage was my primary reason for buying Starlink last year. I wanted to be able to contact someone if I needed help, and I found a lot of areas without any cell coverage, even within 5 miles of nice sized towns in Utah. It was great for security, but expensive considering I don't watch television or stream videos or anything; I used it for checking email, making phone calls and communications via Winlink (digital ham radio software). At the time, the 'standard' size was the only option. I developed my own method of 'stowing' the unit when under way -- securing the router and loosely coiled cables in a med sized plastic case with a lid, and tucking the dishy under the comforter on my bed. Never had an issue with it moving around under towing. I never left it outdoors if I wasn't there. I used the 'cord out the window' method to deploy it, choosing the best window location for access to open northern skyline. Once you use it a few times, you will know what clearances you need from trees and other potential blockage that could interrupt your signal (and it doesn't like any blockage in the signal). Since I want it for security, I never paused (you pause for a month at a time). I'm looking forward to the better price point of the mini for my camping, and probably leaving the standard with my brother -- he can use it for internet if systems are taken out by a hurricane or other issues. 

EDIT: Here is the link to the Starlink Resellers -- a lot more than I expected. https://www.starlink.com/support/article/9b7746f8-e2ee-0fd4-7ffb-3bbe0ab35cbc

Edited March 24 by Boudicca908
added info

[bugeyedriver]

38 minutes ago, Boudicca908 said:

 I used it for checking email, making phone calls and communications via Winlink (digital ham radio software).

Great idea.  I've used Winlink via VARA HF when the "shack" is operational.  I think the idea of direct web interface will be useful for Winlink   

[Patriot]

3 hours ago, bugeyedriver said:

Has anyone here deployed the SL Mini inside the trailer, for expediency during very inclement weather,  I realize it has an IP67 waterproof rating for heavy rain.  This issue is my personal waterproof rating is somewhat less.

The Ollie is fiberglass, and transparent to radio signals.  Do you think the internal electronics, stored pots and pans, and the  A/C unit above would muck it up?

I have not tried deploying the Mini inside our Oliver. When I deploy it outside the operating system requires a quick scan of the sky to locate satellites holding your iPhone up in the air in a scanning motion. This scan allows me to see how good or bad the Mini connectivity is by identifying the satellites via your phone and whether or not you have limited or slower service due to obstructions. 
I do know that the Mini will work through a truck wind shield or sun roof as long as you have good northern exposure with little to no obstructions. The key to the mini operating at its peak connectivity  is no obstructions. My final thought is that it might be a real challenge to get useful connectivity with the mini from inside the Oliver. As this reviewer says, consider the SL signal as a beam of light, if it’s blocked it won’t work.

A decent video of a Mini set up and around the 8:10 min mark you will see how this reviewer scans the sky for satellite reception.

 

Edited March 24 by Patriot

[Mike and Carol]

5 hours ago, bugeyedriver said:

Has anyone here deployed the SL Mini inside the trailer, for expediency during very inclement weather,  I realize it has an IP67 waterproof rating for heavy rain.  This issue is my personal waterproof rating is somewhat less.

The Ollie is fiberglass, and transparent to radio signals.  Do you think the internal electronics, stored pots and pans, and the  A/C unit above would muck it up?

Pete, I installed a SiriusXM receiver in our trailer 7 or 8 years ago.  The only way I could get it to work was to put the small antenna between the insulation and the hull back in the attic.  I don’t know what the frequency difference is between SXM and SL so not sure if this applies.  Mike

[Patriot]

20 hours ago, jd1923 said:

Pete, I believe it must be outside.

Correct for best tracking of satellites in my field use. 

Edited March 25 by Patriot

[Zodd]

On 3/21/2025 at 7:51 PM, jd1923 said:

To me the $50 for 50 GB plan is good enough with $1/GB when over 50Gb. Then I read where you can pause the 50GB plan, use it for a few days or weeks, pause your access and then use it later. Can any current Starlink Roam plan user confirm if this is indeed true?

You have this wrong based on how I read this. Yes, you can pause your service, but that does not mean you can pick it back up and use the rest of your 50GB plan 2 months later. You will be charged a pro-rated amount for the rest of the month (based on the first activation) when you activate the plan again. So if you first activated on the 10th of the month and deactivated at the end of your 30 days and then two months later activated starting on the 20th of the month, your billing would be pro-rated based on a 30-day billing cycle that begins on the 10th.) So you can't make your $50 and 50GB stretch out over 2,3 or 4 months. 

It is easy to activate and deactivate. We have even forgotten to activate our plan until we got to the campsite where we had no cell coverage. You can fire up the Startlink and use limited connectivity to activate your plan on the spot and with in a few mins, your plan is active, and you have full connectivity. 

[GaRambler]

I purchased the SL Mini after following Patriots exellent write  up & review started  back in July. I purchased in December when they offered a discount that seems pretty often.  I am a newbie. and learning so much about camping with the Oliver. My wife still works fulltime remotley. So I wanted SL so we could still get away some and still meet her work obligations and seemed the MIni would meet the need. I want to do alot of Boondocking once I get up to speed (With the help of the Oliver family)  Things I have learned by only one 12day trip to South Fla. The Mini worked  great but only had minimal tree coverage at the campsite that has been stated affects coverage. Some have shown trees with small opening to sky and still worked though not optimal as no obstructions. I left it hooked up 24/7 to a adjustable extention pole I had at home temporarly mounted to the front bumper and no major thunderstorms. (Thanks again to Snackchasher Tacky flag pole article). I bought an adapter attached to the mini that attached to the pole. (Just experimenting with different ways for fun and used other mounts near the ground.) all worked fine. The speeds do go up and down I guess to the way the satalites cross the sky but never interupted abilty to work or have internet acess. It was also used for You Tube TV no issues. I tested its connectivity all the way back to home in NE Ga from South Fla sitting on Truck dash ( I know not optimal just experimitng) even after being off interstate going backroads still kept connectivity everytime I would test speeds though they would go up and down. Im sure it would drop off here and there. The pricing and pausing was always a grey area and never could get exactly how it worked. What I have experienced is this. You get roam $50 for 50GB with option to pay per GB  after that or $165 Unlimited  after day and half needed more GB as Patriot also expericed. I elected Unlimited after it turned me off. Whenever you purchase your data that is your aniversiry date each month. You can pause at anytime but it will continue to work until end of your month you pay in advance. You only get prorated when you turn back on for that next month not when you turned off. (Say if your date is the 1st and you turn back on the 15 your prorated for days left in that month only theres no rollover and will continue until end of the month or date originally signed up. Hope this helps some thinking of purchasing SL its a gamechanger in connectivity everywhere as long you can get some open sky more the better of course.

It gets even better with Mods by Snackchaser(12v hookup) and others which save battery power or longer runs from camper or signal strength if needed by using the 12 cord or the ethernent and remote router if needed. I will leave that discussion to them Snackchaser JD1923 and many others which are wizards with there knowledge in this area. 

 

[jd1923]

3 hours ago, Zodd said:

You have this wrong based on how I read this. Yes, you can pause your service, but that does not mean you can pick it back up and use the rest of your 50GB plan 2 months later.

Thanks Zodd. It appears you can pause but each activation costs at least $50 for one month service. This makes more sense than what I had written which would be too good a deal! I found this on Starlink.com:

https://www.starlink.com/support/article/37bb3b47-9525-7224-5f0a-6d016ce26975

[jd1923]

1 hour ago, GaRambler said:

You get roam $50 for 50GB with option to pay per GB after that or $165 Unlimited  after day and half needed more GB as Patriot also experienced.

Is this an exaggeration, or did you literally use 50GB by day 2? I would think on 50 GB you could stream YouTube or whatever 3 hours a day for 5-6 days. Perhaps your wife's business use is extensive (e.g. Zoom meetings). I found this related article:

https://www.starlink.com/support/article/b3de8ce8-3123-38ab-6061-4f477106a7b4

[Zodd]

22 minutes ago, jd1923 said:

It appears you can pause but each activation costs at least $50 for one month service

It is not that it will cost you "at least $50". I have had months where I activated late in the cycle and only paid $40. But you always pay for the reminder of the billing cycle,e even if you only activate for 4 days. 

15 minutes ago, jd1923 said:

I would think on 50 GB you could stream YouTube or whatever 3 hours a day for 5-6 days

Nope, streaming TV/Movies goes through it fast. An HD movie/TV that is 2 hours long will average about 6GB of data. So, do that every day for 6 days, and you will use up about 70GB of data. 

[Patriot]

5 hours ago, Zodd said:

Nope, streaming TV/Movies goes through it fast. An HD movie/TV that is 2 hours long will average about 6GB of data. So, do that every day for 6 days, and you will use up about 70GB of data. 

Excellent points. For that reason alone, we went with the unlimited plan and love it. 

[GaRambler]

Hey JD1923 maybe a very short exaggration it was no more than 2 to 4 days tested at home that it worked just general hookup internet surfing  and my wifes work computer worked and TV before the trip all systems go. Though all this I tested many times a speed test at home and in Fla. By day 2 it quit in Fla  and I was like what happened and then I was told out of data. I was shocked because I had read should last quite a while and I thought 50GB is alot and should be fine for us.  My wife does have to do zoom meetings and we watched a little You Tube TV no Movies. While in Fla I did many speed test cause I was just playing around with how good it worked in diffrent locations. I am not very technical at all(Understand Basics) and most internet of mine us was just reading news articles and the Oliver Forum daily. Which takes very little data Ive heard, no major long videos  I would not think many speed test would use much data also. It was left on 24/7 but in couple days while sleeping should not use data I would not think. Maybe it was something I did and did not know. But it sure quit and said I was out of data. I really enjoy reading your write ups and wish I could understand all of your knowledge in the articles. I would really like to do DC to DC charger on TV but get lost after reading all that yall talk about doing this MOD. I know basic electronics Ive wired basements put 30amp plug on house for Rv. Understand make sure correct gauge wire for amps/volts. Positive , Neg (Common) and ground. When yall talk about B+ B- solinoid Anderson connector Im lost. Any Way wrong disscusion for that, I really admire yalls knowlege and write ups with this Solar, batteries, Victron etc.

[jd1923]

I believe I will purchase the $50 plan for local trips, a week or less. Understand we have an unlimited T-Mobile Business data plan 4-5G cell with Pepwave router and Parsec Husky antenna that works well by itself on most days, not at the bottom of a canyon! 🤣

We watch news channels and YouTube videos. We're not the download the 2-hr 4K high-rez movie types. Twice a year we go on trips 3-4 weeks. This May-June we're going for 5-6 weeks. Then the unlimited plan makes the best sense for sure.

Ordered our Mini from The Depot yesterday and it will be here tomorrow. Ordered the cabling I need coming by Friday. I will go with the company @Patriot suggested - TYA, the Striker Mount with polycarbonate shield, magnet mounts, carry handle and the front rock/bug deflector, since mainly we will have our mounted top of tow vehicle. I have my shopping cart full. They sent me a reminder but I'm waiting a few days in hope they send me a promo code. This cart adds up to a bit of $$$!

They say Starlink works up to 100 MPH on the road (cool, but we'll keep it under 70). It's going to be fun! 

Edited March 25 by jd1923