HOW TO: Adding Starlink Mini to Our Van

In this video we add a Starlink Mini satellite Internet system to our van, a Winnebago Solis Pocket 36A (Promaster 1500). We walk through how we use 80/20 aluminum rails to build a frame for the antenna that will mount on our roof rack (Flatline Van Company Low Pro roof rack), then utilize an antenna mount provided by Striker Fabrication to mount the antenna to this frame. We utilize the roof access port on our Solis Pocket to feed the power into the interior of the van. We were unable to use the Starlink-provided power source and cable, which required 120V, so we utilize replacement components we identified to run the system off one of the 12V automobile ports available in the van.
#solis #vanlife #outapocket #solispocket #starlink #8020 #starlinkinternet #strikerfab
Products utilized in this video:
Starlink Mini
www.starlink.c...
80/20, 1010, 10 Series 1 Inch x 1 Inch T-Slotted Aluminum Extrusion Extruded Linear Slot Bar Rail (47" Long, Black Anodize)
amzn.to/3MPgkSa
80/20 Black 1010 Series Aluminum Extrusion Connectors
amzn.to/4etFr8O
Striker Fabrication Startlink Mini Roof Mount Kit for 80/20
www.strikerfab...
Starlink Mini DC Power Cable with Cigarette Lighter Male Plug
amzn.to/3XTh52Z
Starlink Mini DC Power Cable (2M)
amzn.to/3ZypWrZ
5.5mm x 2.1mm DC Power Connector Adapter, 12/24V Female to Female
amzn.to/4diWUzI
Cable Tie Mounts Self Adhesive
amzn.to/3zrsCgm

[@Liimpy]

I ordered a star mounts, magnetic mount ,its encapsulates the dish in a sturdy case with 4 magnetic feet, i can toss it on my van roof, then move it to my toolbox on my work truck, set it on my table while camping, it makes it very convenient to use anywhere, im using the DC type c coord amd powering it with a bluetti eb70, in my van, i installed a permanent power coord via a roof jack, and installed a 100w pd outlet from cool gear.. i love it, even working on oil rigs in remote places, our crew of 5 can all connect and have internet and phone.. amazing technology 👏 🙌

[@Outapkt]

That's great! Thanks for watching and sharing the details of your install. Sounds like a great fit for your needs.

[@michelle_pw]

You guys have done a great job adding to the van and making it your own. Enjoy!

[@Outapkt]

Thanks so much for the feedback! We are having fun customizing the van.

[@karenwood584]

Great helpful video. After we purchase our 59PX next spring, I’ll be getting the Gen3 and a 90 ft cable and mounting the Gen3 to a magnetic mount. I’ll be working full time while we travel and need to additional download/upload speeds the Gen3 provided. If we’re camped around trees, I can move the Starlink out 90 ft from the van to get the utmost northern view of the satellites. Keep us posted how your mini works for you. ✌️

[@Outapkt]

Thank you for watching and for the great feedback. Good luck with your Gen3. That setup seems to make a lot of sense in your case. And yes, we are planning a follow-up on the Starlink Mini after we see how it performs on the road. Happy travels!

[@tm510a]

I suggest your next upgrade be an inverter....

[@Outapkt]

Thanks for watching and for the suggestion! At the moment, that is not a priority. We use a Goal Zero Yeti in the van for 120v on the road, which we recharge after use from solar or when driving through the van 12v system. I would not want to place additional drain on the coach batteries with an inverter. Maybe if we upgrade to lithium in the future that could be an option. Thanks again for watching.

[@debraroth4724]

Do you get enough data with the $50/month plan? How many hours of use?

[@Outapkt]

Hello! Thanks for the great question. For $50 per month, you get 50GB of data. If you go over, extra data costs $1 per GB. Is it enough? It should be for our needs. We plan to do a follow-up and will share our experience with service on the road and data usage.

[@bobk381]

I don’t know much about the operation of StarLink. Does it require a separate router to connect devices?

[@Outapkt]

No, the starlink mini has that built in. Thanks for watching and for your question!

[@bolero5000]

Excellent job. How's the signal when you're inside the van? Does the metal roof cause any interference?

[@Outapkt]

Hi! Thanks for watching and for the question. So far, we have not noticed interference. We will post a follow-up once we have used it for a while.

[@Anutushara]

Does it working goong down the road or do you have to get out and adjust it eqch time you stop?

[@Outapkt]

You don't have to adjust anything. We will report back after we use it for a few weeks including testing it when driving. Thanks for watching and for your question!

[@homeofinventions]

You need a better camera.

[@Outapkt]

Thanks for watching and for the feedback. We are working with what we have for the moment and hoping to upgrade down the road.

[@orange13]

the camera is fine but there is something wrong with the audio in this video. these Rode mics provide much better audio than what we have in this video. way too much ambient "noise", I would experiment with the gain settings of the mic vs. the input gain setting of the camera. typically, a higher gain on the mics and lower gain in the camera works better as most mic amplifiers are better than most camera amps. as for the install itself, I can almost guarantee these cable tie pads won't hold up over time, the roof gets way too hot and the glue will fail. attaching the cable to the roof rack bars might be a better option. good video, though 👍

[@Outapkt]

Hi there, appreciate the clarifications on audio vs video. We will experiment further with the audio settings based on your input. As far as the cable ties, I do have the cable secured to the cross bar in the middle also. I just used those at either end to reduce tension on the roof port and antenna. I'll keep my eye on them for now and come up with a better replacement if they pop off. Thanks and we really do appreciate the feedback!

[@Outapkt]

Hi again, we appreciate you pointing this out. It is odd because that persistent background noise is not obvious during editing but as you shared, it is very pronounced in the final uploaded video, especially when watched on a mobile phone. We are working on investigating further and adjusting our settings. On our camera (Nikon SLR), when the external mics are connected, the internal mic is supposed to be disabled (no separate gain setting). Thanks again.

[@orange13]

@@Outapkt you're not mixing in some external ambient noise in editing, right 🙂. I watched some of your other videos and it indeed sounds as if the internal camera mic is also picking up sound and mixing it in with your external mics. I have no Nikon camera and don't even know if this is possible. If these are the Rode mics, you can set them to record audio directly in the mic and then download it to your computer. this will give you audio tracks that are completely independent from your camera. maybe this can help you pinpointing where the ambient sound (noise) is coming from. you should also make sure - preferably - to NOT add any gain in the editing process because that will obviously increase the gain of the entire audio track, incl. the unwanted background noise. It is better to let the mics add the required gain as they can - hopefully - do it more selectively, especially if you play with the low pass filters and other mic settings. Sorry; didn't mean to lecture you, I am experimenting with several external mics and audio settings for well over 2 years and still haven't fully figured it out (so maybe you should not take advise from me 😀)