The connexin kit which is currently offered by Starlink. © Lemon squeezer
While continuing its international expansion, SpaceX continues to improve its Starlink satellite connection offering. And among the new products that could soon arrive, there is the “Mini Dish”. In essence, it is a new format of connection kit which will be more compact, and which will therefore be easier to transport.
As PC Mag reminds us, Elon Musk announced that the Mini Dish will be available this year. And he also explained that this new connection kit will be small enough to be carried in a backpack. At the moment, it is not clear when the Starlink Mini Dish will be launched. But new clues suggest that launch is imminent.
PC Mag relays a source on the social network X which specializes in repairs and modifications of Starlink kits. He would have noticed that if previously, the Starlink software used the references “mini1_proto0” and “mini1_proto1”, it now uses the reference “mini1_prod1”. And this change suggests that the Starlink Mini Dish has moved from prototype to production.
The upcoming #Starlink Mini terminal should be released soon. The latest internal revision of the PCB is mini1_prod1 (there were _proto0, _proto1), which means it's production-ready.
Two beamformer ICs, 572 antenna elements. Antenna components are similar to rev4.— Oleg Kutkov 🇺🇦 (@olegkutkov) May 1, 2024
Towards more mobility
The interest of this Mini Dish from Starlink is that it could be easier to ship, thanks to its more compact format, while the satellite connection offer is available in more and more countries. On the other hand, for users, it would be easier to move around with the Starlink connection.
Otherwise, it should also be remembered that SpaceX is already developing a completely different service which will allow the user to connect directly to Starlink satellites with 4G smartphones. Called Direct to Cell, this new offering requires a completely new type of satellite, which is already being deployed. Starlink has already conducted successful tests, whether for sending text messages or for mobile data.
However, SpaceX has already been clear that Direct to Cell is not intended to replace carrier networks, but to supplement them in white areas. Moreover, to provide these services, the company collaborates with telecommunications players. Starlink plans to support texting via satellites this year, followed by calls and mobile data in 2025.
- Starlink is preparing a “Mini” version of its connection kit that will be compact enough to carry in a backpack
- New evidence suggests that this “Mini Dish” 'is no longer a prototype and is already ready for production
- At the same time, Starlink continues to develop its Direct to Cell offer which will allow direct connection to satellites with a 4G smartphone
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