Starlink may be prepping a battery-powered Mini model for true internet freedom
Evidence points to a new model. No external power would be required for true satellite broadband freedom on the go.
Starlink satellite broadband connectivity has been awesome for people in remote rural areas, but even with the more portable Mini model, web users currently need to plug a dish into an additional external power source.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if SpaceX offered a portable router you could pop into a backpack that could offer the same super fast speeds from low orbit wherever you roamed out in the wild like the Starlink Mini, but without then need for that external power source? Well, according to a new finding within Starlink software, a battery powered option with a USB-C charging option could be on the way.
A PC Mag report reveals information a PhD student in Canada who delved into the most recent firmware update. Jinwei Zhao noticed a battery status function with code strings reading: PowerSource_USBC, PowerSource_BATTERY, and PowerSource_USBC_AND_BATTERY. Others read: “message DishBatteryStats,” and another read “state_of_charge.”
Furthermore, Oleg Kutkov, a well-versed Ukranian Starlink repair expert discovered evidence of a new device via the code string MINI1_RUGGED_PROD1 with the ‘prod’ part potentially suggesting it’s already in production. The model could be of huge benefit for military purposes in aiding Ukraine’s ongoing resistance of Russian aggression.
The model could also offer faster and more reliable service than the previous model according to Kutkov because of a different Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) level. He added: “The main difference from a regular mini1 is slightly lower EIRP per channel and RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) value. Also, this device includes an additional telemetry stream (separate pop) for some special purposes.”
Kutkov has previous here. He spotted evidence that a Starlink Mini device was on the way, and then it went on sale two months later. That device still works out in the wild but needs a constant power source.
Chris Smith
