https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/starlink-mini-launched-disappointing-mini-roam-data-plan-dashes-nomadic-dreams/

…but the hardware tentatively looks good for even modest size cruising boats and this is only the ‘preliminary’ launch

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/24/technology/ukraine-russia-starlink.html?unlocked_article_code=1.uU0.MCh8.wtPOB-2_R8-e&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

I routinely see very high data rates in the Pacific Northwest (Anacortes, WA – San Juan Islands) that exceed your results – I suspect that is due to the higher population density of the East Coast and with the expected higher simultaneous demand for bandwidth and data.

We have friends currently cruising in Alaska (Inside Passage from Anacortes starting point) Newtradition.blog, who are using the older “Actuated” version of Starlink on the Mobile Regional Plan with no problems. They never exceed 9Kts so that matches the Starlink stated limitations. At one point in their journey North, preparing to round Cape Caution, BC Canada, they were anchored with 8 other boats, every one of them had Starlink installed. Around here we run out of Cell coverage very fast when heading North into cruising country. Very little infrastructure at all really, so having a relatively affordable form of SATCOM available is very, very important.

We have also used our Starlink 3rd Gen “Kick Stand” hardware underway locally at less than 9Kts also with excellent results. We will be using the system for weather forecasts and communications for a trip to Desolation Sound / Discovery Islands and can report on that experience.

I can say that the new WIFI 6 Router has excellent range and has worked for me while on a dinghy with my phone a decent distance from the boat. Other friends have made the same report.

I do hope that your conclusion about “encouraging” users to leave a particular plan and move to the other Mobile plans is correct. Doubling prices per month on the Mobile / Roam / Regional Plan would be a huge negative impact to long distance trawler cruisers in this part of the country. We have to carry Bear Spray to take a walk in these parts!

WRT the MINI terminal, that will move from Ka Band (13GHz) to the MMW bands in the high 20-30GHz range where Starlink has licensed bands to use for their systems. When you double the operating frequency the antenna area for the same number of phased array elements is also cut in half. By keeping the same number of active array elements, power is not reduced – but may actually increase slightly because the devices that operate near 30GHz can’t use as many low power silicon devices (SiGe) and must switch to GaAs at least on the transmit side.

Propagation losses at the higher frequencies is higher and therefore bad weather will cause drop outs and reduced data rates more frequently. The MINI has the potential to accommodate many more users and provide better throughput in higher population density areas. I’ve been really impressed with the technology of the Starlink Antenna – combining a transmit and receive aperture that operate at different frequencies (Uplink data is transmitted at a higher band than Downlink data) using Dual Circular polarization is not a small thing!!

It remains to be seen how the competing system being developed at Project Kuiper (Amazon) will implement their system components and what performance they will achieve. If indeed Kuiper goes live in the next year or two and draws significant subscribers, then competition will act to help keep monthly fees and hardware costs down. Until another LEO system is operational, Starlink can set its own terms, but that has a limited horizon if Kuiper gets off the ground soon.