is a deputy editor and Verge co-founder with a passion for human-centric cities, e-bikes, and life as a digital nomad. He’s been a tech journalist for 20 years.
The Starlink Mini satellite dish is now even better thanks to the $119 LinkPower 1 power bank from PeakDo. The battery locks securely to the back of SpaceX’s smallest terminal and provides over 4.5 hours of uninterrupted Internet connectivity. The LinkPower’s battery can also charge simultaneously over USB-C from your car, solar generator, or solar panel for indefinite Internet use. Then the tidy little package can be slipped into a backpack or tote for your next adventure.
Starlink is a life-changing Internet service that connects people and villages too remote for towers and cables to reach. My own Starlink Mini has been critical in helping me pursue life as a digital nomad from almost anywhere in Europe. And right now, Starlink’s the only game in town for relatively cheap and fast consumer internet that can be quickly deployed into data dead spots.
My overriding thought after using the PeakDo LinkPower for the last few weeks is this: why doesn’t SpaceX make one of these?
The LinkPower power bank bungs 99Wh right into the slot on the back of the Starlink Mini just like one of SpaceX’s official mounts. It powers the little dish via a short DC-to-DC barrel connector. It makes the Starlink Mini a self-contained unit that can be placed anywhere within Wi-Fi range. That includes on top of your vehicle or shack, or in a distant clearing where it has a clear line-of-sight to satellites overhead — no super long power cable required.
The PeakDo unit has a bi-directional USB-C PD port to charge devices like your phone at up to 65W, or to share 100W of input to simultaneously power the Starlink and charge the LinkPower’s battery. An integrated display lets you monitor the power on both ports.
The 99Wh LinkPower slots right into back just like a standard SpaceX kickstand mount. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge The web app is janky and requires a special browser on iPhones but it’s also very useful for remote management and control. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge Untethering the Starlink Mini makes placement super easy without running long power cables. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge This 50W solar panel could keep the LinkPower charged indefinitely over a USB-C connection. Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge
The single button on the LinkPower acts like an on/off switch for the Starlink Mini. Press it once to turn on the integrated display or hold it down to turn on the DC output that powers the Starlink Mini. The USB-C port is always on standby to deliver power, but I didn’t notice any vampire drain as a result. For example, I put it away with a 98 percent charge, and five days later it still said 98 percent.
Remote monitoring and control are possible over Bluetooth with a web app. This works on Android, Mac (with Chrome), and PC desktops, but iPhones require a special browser that supports Web Bluetooth APIs. It was a little janky regardless of platform, but also useful when the dish was sitting on the roof of my van, for example. It’s the only way to access advanced features such as creating on/off schedules for the Starlink Mini.
I averaged a whopping 4 hours and 35 minutes of battery life over repeated tests, with seven devices active on the Starlink Mini. When I reviewed the Mini back in October, I was only getting about 3 hours from my own 99Wh power bank – a good indication that the continuous stream of firmware updates delivered to my Starlink Mini terminal have improved power efficiency. That runtime can be extended by plugging a USB-C cable between the LinkPower and your car, power station, portable solar panel, or even a standard power bank you might use for your phone.
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