This week billionaire Elon Musk’s Starlink released the Mini, a portable device that can deliver internet access virtually anywhere in the country. Its release came just in time for those struggling in Hurricane Helene’s aftermath.
“The Mini is a satellite dish and Wi-Fi router all in one that’s about the size of a laptop,” according to CNET. “This is the first time that high-speed internet will be available on the go in areas that aren’t reached by cell towers.”
“You could backpack the Appalachian Trail or take your RV on a cross-country road trip and still watch the latest House of the Dragon at the end of the night,” CNET notes.
It’s already begun to receive rave reviews, including from popular podcaster Joe Rogan:
NEWS: @joerogan and @chamath discuss SpaceX’s Starlink.
“I should say I used the Starlink Mini this past week in Utah in the mountains – It’s amazing!” pic.twitter.com/wDPO0anxiu
— ALEX (@ajtourville) September 29, 2024
“I used the Starlink Mini this past week in Utah in the mountains,” Rogan said in the clip above. “It’s amazing. It’s the size of this book. It’s crazy. It literally fits in a small laptop case. My friend couldn’t believe that was it. I was like, ‘This is it. All you gotta do is plug it in.'”
Rogan’s guest, venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya, was just as impressed with it.
“I got a very early one,” Palihapitiya said. “And I used to carry it around in a laundry basket. It was incredible. And then when you see what they’ve done in a couple of years, from this thing was a little bit bulky. It is so beautiful and simple.”
“You just plug it in, and it auto starts to rotate, figures out where it is. The app comes up and it shows you this speed and then you’re just going. And I’ve used it in all kinds of situations, where I’m traveling, and I bring it with me, and it’s never failed,” he added.
Other Starlink Mini users have reported similar experiences:
The Starlink Mini hardware is an investment for most folks at 599$. But, the fact that you can pay 50$ a month, on-demand with no contract, makes this very versatile. Only turn it on and pay when necessary. Almost perfect backup Internet.
— cyanide (@cya9nide) September 29, 2024
Right now, rural counties in WNC are facing unprecedented tragedy. Many are without power, water, or connectivity. Thanks @Starlink for being reliable. I only have a mini generator, but I can run Starlink for me & my neighbors & father-in-laws nebulizer.
— Omi Salavea (@LeftOverJunk) October 1, 2024
@Starlink The Verizon outage impacted my service today, and was stuck in SOS mode. My elderly Father gets really worried when he can’t contact me. I set up my new Starlink Mini and in 10 minutes I was able to call him and let him know what was going on. This is awesome!
— Te5laLi5a (@Te5laLi5a) September 30, 2024
Starlink is the only thing running now in parts of NC.
A portable Starlink mini with battery and solar panel will connect with your phone for instant sat phone.
I had a strange outage with my regular ISP. Tossed my Starlink mini in the backyard and was running in 3 mins.
— Beyond Science (@Beyond_Science) September 30, 2024
My Starlink Mini has already saved my bacon a few times when cell & power went out (and I still had plenty of work meetings to tackle). pic.twitter.com/8BKQ4bVtXu
— Dan Burkland (@DBurkland) September 30, 2024
As noted by some of the X users above, Starlink Internet has been especially useful for victims of Hurricane Helene.
Since the Hurricane Helene disaster, SpaceX has sent as many Starlink terminals as possible to help areas in need.
Earlier today, @realDonaldTrump alerted me to additional people who need Starlink Internet in North Carolina. We are sending them terminals right away.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 1, 2024
The devastation seen today was unreal in Western North Carolina Thanks to @Starlink for providing these Black Mountain residents with the first contact they’ve had with their families in days thanks @elonmusk for a great thing pic.twitter.com/07EujpjpGZ
— Greg Biffle (@gbiffle) September 30, 2024
That said, it is pricey under normal circumstances, reportedly costing $599, in addition to a monthly fee for data.
“The Mini Roam costs $50 a month and gets you 50GB of portable or in-motion data each month, or about 20 hours of HD streaming,” according to CNET. “The Roam Unlimited plan costs $165 and provides unlimited mobile data, in-motion use, and two months of international use.”
I was on the fence on getting one, but after seeing this it’s really easy for me to justify the purchase. Having my Amateur Extra Ham license is great during emergencies, but is severely limited when it comes to my friends and family. @Starlink mini will add another arrow to my… https://t.co/spiApUptXo
— Jason Discher (@JasonDischer) September 29, 2024
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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