SpaceX unveils backpack-sized 'Starlink Mini' internet antenna for $599 | Hacker News Reader

SpaceX unveils backpack-sized 'Starlink Mini' internet antenna for $599

cnbc.com

16 pointsbelter13 comments

Less parts, smaller size, lower speeds and capped data for a higher upfront and monthly price?

I get that it’s convenient depending on your use case but it doesn’t look really that good of a deal versus the standard one. Unless I’m missing something?

Might be useful when you are not allowed to have a dish on your house due to the HOA or city council?

Most fixed wireless satellite dishes less than a meter in diameter are protected under the FCC's OTARD Rule.[1]

[1] https://www.fcc.gov/media/over-air-reception-devices-rule

I really hope if you live somewhere with HOA you also got decent internet..?

Nope, the HOA doesn't control the quality of the internet available. I have pretty poor internet. Waiting to get fibre connection, suggested to come between 2024-2026.

My impression was that HOA is usually controlling suburbs and suburbs would have fiber.

NZ suburbs have similar sprawl to US and if you are rural with VDSL it is basically getting shut down and replaced with 5G.

Does anyone have any insight on what “lower power consumption” means in concrete terms?

https://www.starlink.com/specifications?spec=5

Power Consumption - Average: 25-40W

Not clear if this includes snow melting activated or not...

Snow is 60W

Maybe not for mini, but they def missed a chance to add 802.11ah.

> $150 per month for 50 gigabytes of data

$3 per GB is insane.

First, reread the article. This is add-on for existing Starlink customers at $30/mo for 50GB with additional data costing $1/GB.

> In addition to the upfront hardware cost, service for a Starlink Mini is effectively $150 per month — as SpaceX is offering the service for a Mini as an additional $30 per month bundle on top of a $120 per month Residential service. The “Mini Roam” service “can be used anywhere in the United States” but has a cap of 50 gigabytes of data per month, with Starlink charging $1 per gigabyte for additional data.

Second, this is early release pricing for enthusiasts. Pricing will decline to "about half the price of the standard dish to buy and monthly subscription" which imply something like $60 a month for unlimited data un the US and much lower rates in the rest of the world, say $15/mo in Zambia.

So, I'm not holding my breath on service plans standalone being $30/month, just an add-on for existing residential subscribers.

I did try to ask for clarity from Starlink about buying a unit standalone in the future and they accidentally revaled "Colombia, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Panama - Mini available for purchase with Mini Service or Mobile - Regional Service plans", which heavily implies that in the future buying the Mini only would require a $150/mo regional package (or again, buying residential + mini package).

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