Any updates on Starlink? Given the recent outages in Spain/Portugal, I am thinking about getting the roaming version. The whole purpose is to have satellite internet connection for communications if the grid and/or cell towers were to go down. However, the unit has to have external power. I asked Grok about power back ups. Grok said the following:
- Backup Power Options:
- To use Starlink during power outages (e.g., when cell towers are down), you can connect the dish to an external rechargeable battery or power station. Popular options include:
- Portable Power Stations: Brands like Jackery, EcoFlow, or Anker with capacities of 500Wh or higher can power a Starlink dish for several hours. For example, a 1000Wh battery could run a Starlink Mini for ~20–30 hours.
- 12V Batteries: You can use a deep-cycle battery with an inverter or a compatible DC-to-DC converter to power the dish. Starlink’s Mini, for instance, supports 12V DC input with specific cables.
- Solar Panels: Pairing a battery with solar panels can extend usage indefinitely, provided there’s sunlight.
I looked up reviews on Jackery, EcoFlow, and Anker on Amazon. Reviews are deceiving. It looks like they have good reviews, but you have to go to the negative ones for the truth. It seems A LOT of people have problems with the units holding charges. Many say customer service is horrible. (i.e. customer service claims they will send replacement in cases of bad units and they are never sent) Many say after they have stored it in between camping trips, it no longer works.
I specifically want internet connection so that I could *maybe* get information from outside world.
Minimum for power back up looks starts around $500. Starlink setup is around $550 with taxes, then $50/month. For a good solar power bank (not necessarily full scale generator), price goes up substantially. Researching before I make a decision.
Thoughts? Recommendations?
