Starlink on a GB42C?

[Bongi]

Thinking of putting a starlink mini on our GB42C and wondering:

1. Where have others located the starlink receiver?

2. Did you use a DC-DC charger to uplevel voltage of the 12v supply?

3. …if so which unit did you use?

4. …how long approx. is your cable run?

5. Any issues during operation?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Airstream345]

Hey Bongi,
Any of the Starlink units will work. The larger the dish, the more phased array it has to stay connected, but many people report that the Mini is perfectly adequate.

In general, mount it as high as possible and minimize mast obstructions. We have ours mounted on top of the pilothouse and, as you can see from our avatar, we have both a main and a mizzen mast. We’ve had no issues for nearly four years using a Gen 2 dish.

The Mini runs natively on 12V. You can wire it directly, though using a DC-DC charger isn’t a bad idea to ensure clean, stable power—it’s just not strictly necessary.

We run ours 24/7. I work remotely, and we’ve stayed connected everywhere from Ballard, WA to Haines, Alaska and back for years.

 

[Blue Yonder]

We just "upgraded" our system from a Gen 2 dish + Peplink Max BR1 Pro 5 G router to a Mini mounted in a peplink max s antenna. The main reason to switch was to use less power. This antenna mounts the router right under the Mini and also includes cellular/wifi antennas (that plug straight into the router). It cleaned up a bunch of wiring and runs cooler. The Mini download speeds are only slightly less than the Gen 2 dish with uploads a little quicker I'd say.

You can see in the photo foreground the new mini + antenna.

 

[Sanford Gentry]

I used this clamp setup for my Mini. It has some rust spots after 5 months in the salt. Other than that, has worked great. I did 'glue' the plastic connector to the dish with a EPDM Dicor caulk. That looked like the weak point to me. The red string is a safety backup incase it comes loose.

 

[Xlantic]

Here my Starlink antenna:

I bought second hand and it came with a custom attachment which I had welded to piece of SS tubing which I then riveted to the fly-bridge railing.

The guy I bought it from replaced it with a Starlink mini which he just shoves between the tubing and canvas of his Bimini top.

 

[tpbrady]

Blue Yonder,

Does operating the radar affect the mini?

Tom

 

[Tsuru]

Thinking of putting a starlink mini on our GB42C and wondering:

1. Where have others located the starlink receiver? Cabin top. In our case we can adjust the rotation for best reception although not required.

2. Did you use a DC-DC charger to uplevel voltage of the 12v supply? Yes, a simple booster although I don't know if it was required. This inexpensive unit has operated well and doesn't heat up in use.

3. …if so which unit did you use? Amazon.com

4. …how long approx. is your cable run? The cable is overly long (50' ish) and most of mine is coiled up in the head liner. The long cable is the main reason I added a voltage booster, as I was concerned about voltage drop due to line loss.

5. Any issues during operation? None. Lost signal when we were over 10 miles offshore, but no problems. In our case no loss of service after 6 months in Mexico, although I feel we were lucky.

Thanks in advance.

We just returned to the PNW spending last winter in Mexico and installed a Mini prior to leaving. Worked flawlessly. I used our Iridium Go for weather along the west coast because the Mini was untested (by us) at the time.

 

[mvdunwaitin]

Blue Yonder,

Does operating the radar affect the mini?

Tom

Don't mount it in line with the Radar and you should be fine

 

[Blue Yonder]

Blue Yonder,

Does operating the radar affect the mini?

I haven't had any problems with radar interfering with starlink so far. It's a bit hard to tell from the photo I posted earlier but the Furuno radar is mounted about 8" higher than the Peplink Max enclosure.

 

[l00smarble]

Thinking of putting a starlink mini on our GB42C and wondering:

1. Where have others located the starlink receiver?

2. Did you use a DC-DC charger to uplevel voltage of the 12v supply?

3. …if so which unit did you use?

4. …how long approx. is your cable run?

5. Any issues during operation?

Thanks in advance.

1. Where you have a clear view of sky in all directions down to about 20 degrees above the horizon.

2. Yes but no. Yes you want to up the voltage if you are a 12v boat. But NOT a with a DC-DC Charger. You just want a 12/24 DC-DC Converter. You could use a charger in power supply mode but more expensive and you don't need the charger functionality.

3. Victron Orion-Tr 12/24-5A (120W) Isolated DC-DC converter part number ORI122410110 will do and only costs like $65.

4. Doesn't matter on a 42ft boat if you use the recommended 24v power supply. If you want longer than the 50ft it came with just add marine duplex cable (12/2 AWG would be more than large enough.). Even better is run 12v on 12/2AWG part of the run, then install 24v converter at a convenient place along the way and then the Starlink cable up to the antenna. But it really doesn't matter. As long as 12.0v reaches the antenna under 60w of load you are fine. You can crank the voltage of the Orion to 30.0v. You would have to have a thousand feet of cable before your voltage drop will be from 30v to 12v.

5. Be aware that with the mini the wifi router is INSIDE the antenna so that is where your local wifi network comes from. In most cases on small boats this is not a problem but it can be if you put it on a metal arch or tall mast or somewhere physically or RF signal isolated from where the users are. You can add an ethernet cable to a external router but that is a 2nd cable run and more equipment to buy.

Personally I prefer the Standard antenna kit with the separate WiFi router installed inside the boat near the users and this system is less money. But if using the Standard I recommend using the Starlink DC power supply to power it by 12vdc on board or use a small, dedicated ~375w inverter to plug it into and so it runs 24/7 (if desired) on DC.

 

[Bongi]

Thanks everyone, this info is perfect…and has saved me some cash as well

 

[Figment]

This is somewhat contrary to the "clear view of the sky" requirement. Cloth doesn't count? (or, not enough to matter in actual use?)

... a Starlink mini which he just shoves between the tubing and canvas of his Bimini top.

 

[Nordlund Xpress]

Many Starlink antennas are successfully used mounted inside a KVH or Intellivision dummy dome antenna - or what used to be a SatTV dome but which has had the TV antenna guts removed.

 

[Diep]

How about inside a boathouse with a metal roof?

Bongi, if you get this installed I would love to know if you can get any service inside.

 

[Bongi]

Will do Diep, probably will tackle the install within a month or two.

 

[drewread]

This is somewhat contrary to the "clear view of the sky" requirement. Cloth doesn't count? (or, not enough to matter in actual use?)

My SL-Mini is just tossed on the floor of my flybridge storage cabinet. Worked fine for two months last summer.. Through a decent layer of fibreglass and my flybridge canvas.

 

[Helmsman]

We just "upgraded" our system from a Gen 2 dish + Peplink Max BR1 Pro 5 G router to a Mini mounted in a peplink max s antenna. The main reason to switch was to use less power. This antenna mounts the router right under the Mini and also includes cellular/wifi antennas (that plug straight into the router). It cleaned up a bunch of wiring and runs cooler. The Mini download speeds are only slightly less than the Gen 2 dish with uploads a little quicker I'd say.

You can see in the photo foreground the new mini + antenna.

That is a nice solution. Thanks for posting it. I have a BR1 Pro 5G and a mini, and will look into it. Right now, the BR1 Pro 5G is in a flybridge cabinet. How well does the internet work down inside the boat. Is reception pretty good?

 

[Blue Yonder]

How well does the internet work down inside the boat. Is reception pretty good?

Well, we have an access point (Peplink AP One AX) in the salon that all the Wifi clients seem to love so the only thing I can say for certain is that it gives excellent coverage throughout the boat.

Just for fun I took the dinghy out to measure how far away from the boat I can pick up a signal. Straight line of sight, using my Pixel 7, I got up to around 400 metres.

 

[Helmsman]

Thanks, Blue Yonder! If I go this route, I may look at an access point. Moving it up top would be a better signal for the mini and the TMobile SIM card, which I already have a Pepwave antenna for, but would add a couple of layers of fiberglass to the pass through for the signal.

One more question for you. Are you happy with the Starlink mini reception? Have you had places that you don’t receive “acceptable” service? I am thinking about some of the tree covered sloughs and in the concrete jungle. I also have the high performance dish, not permanently deployed, that doesn’t seem to be too affected by the same conditions.

 

[drewread]

Thanks, Blue Yonder! If I go this route, I may look at an access point. Moving it up top would be a better signal for the mini and the TMobile SIM card, which I already have a Pepwave antenna for, but would add a couple of layers of fiberglass to the pass through for the signal.

One more question for you. Are you happy with the Starlink mini reception? Have you had places that you don’t receive “acceptable” service? I am thinking about some of the tree covered sloughs and in the concrete jungle. I also have the high performance dish, not permanently deployed, that doesn’t seem to be too affected by the same conditions.

I'm on a 1972 Hatteras 48 Yachtfish and my SL-Mini is in a cabinet on my flybridge. I have had no need for any WiFi other than what is built into the SL-Mini - total coverage. Lots of signal a good distance from the vessel when out fishing in the tender even. I doubt you will need a secondary AP.

Lots of thick fibreglass and probably(?) even some damp wood core on the flybridge roof. (Hey, it's a 72 Hatt.. Let's face it there is likely some water in there. )

 

[Helmsman]

I'm on a 1972 Hatteras 48 Yachtfish and my SL-Mini is in a cabinet on my flybridge. I have had no need for any WiFi other than what is built into the SL-Mini - total coverage. Lots of signal a good distance from the vessel when out fishing in the tender even. I doubt you will need a secondary AP.

Lots of thick fibreglass and probably(?) even some damp wood core on the flybridge roof. (Hey, it's a 72 Hatt.. Let's face it there is likely some water in there. )

Thank you Drew. That is encouraging. On my Helmsman 38e, we have small cabinets above the PH windows that the Mini would fit in. Wiring from there would be simple. I could wire to the rest of the communication equipment from there, or place it on its own circuit.

 

[drewread]

Thank you Drew. That is encouraging. On my Helmsman 38e, we have small cabinets above the PH windows that the Mini would fit in. Wiring from there would be simple. I could wire to the rest of the communication equipment from there, or place it on its own circuit.

I'd power it up where you want it temporarily off of an extension cord and see if it works.. If it does then wire it in.

 

[Helmsman]

I'd power it up where you want it temporarily off of an extension cord and see if it works.. If it does then wire it in.

Thanks! Yep. That is the plan..

 

[Blue Yonder]

Are you happy with the Starlink mini reception? Have you had places that you don’t receive “acceptable” service?

To be honest, I haven't noticed any performance dip since swapping the Gen 2 for the Mini. Even tucked into anchorages with steep terrain, the reception has been solid, so all good on that front.

I figured out how to toggle the Access Point (AP) to check the internal coverage. Without the AP, the Mini's internal signal actually reaches everywhere, though it’s weaker in the forward cabins. Interestingly, with the AP on, the system intelligently handed off the signal to the internal router's AP for the starboard aft ensuite (where the galley blocks the AP) and engine rooms. It definitely makes the case that a dedicated AP is more of a 'nice-to-have' than a necessity for most areas on board.

 

[Helmsman]

To be honest, I haven't noticed any performance dip since swapping the Gen 2 for the Mini. Even tucked into anchorages with steep terrain, the reception has been solid, so all good on that front.

I figured out how to toggle the Access Point (AP) to check the internal coverage. Without the AP, the Mini's internal signal actually reaches everywhere, though it’s weaker in the forward cabins. Interestingly, with the AP on, the system intelligently handed off the signal to the internal router's AP for the starboard aft ensuite (where the galley blocks the AP) and engine rooms. It definitely makes the case that a dedicated AP is more of a 'nice-to-have' than a necessity for most areas on board.

Thank you!

 

[Gordon GB]

Thinking of putting a starlink mini on our GB42C and wondering:

1. Where have others located the starlink receiver?

2. Did you use a DC-DC charger to uplevel voltage of the 12v supply?

3. …if so which unit did you use?

4. …how long approx. is your cable run?

5. Any issues during operation?

Thanks in advance.

Bongi,
A couple of years ago, I installed a Starlink Gen3 Standard unit on my Grand Banks 42 Classic. There are several posts related to that project on this Forum. I did use a 12-56 volt converter to power the Starlink. I located the power supply and Wifi router inside the flybridge console and ran the cable from the rail-mounted antenna to that location without the need to drill any new holes by utilizing existing openings in the flybridge benches. Hope this link will get you to the prior discussion.

Starlink Gen 3 Mounting options

We installed gen 3 in Dec 2023. We were in Fl at the time. Here is our first experience with StarLink: Installed under the brow of our flybridge laying flat. (starlink says it is partially obstructed, but works fine most of the time) during startup and alignment, it knows it is not tilted...

www.trawlerforum.com

 

[Full Circle Knoxville]

Thinking of putting a starlink mini on our GB42C and wondering:

1. Where have others located the starlink receiver?

2. Did you use a DC-DC charger to uplevel voltage of the 12v supply?

3. …if so which unit did you use?

4. …how long approx. is your cable run?

5. Any issues during operation?

Thanks in advance.

I toss ours onto the bow of our 1989 GB42C and just plug in the included 24v transformer on the flybridge

I’m sure I’ll do something more involved at some point. But IME (which includes a lot of offshore and aviation Starlink Mini use), the Mini prefers the clean stable power that the included transformer provides. So I run it off the genny or inverter starting with A/C almost exclusively.

 

[Cap Steve]

Our Gen2 dish does not work in our covered slip. Heavy wood construction with membrane roofing material. I fabricated a ss swinging arm mounted on our aft deck rail which we swing out from under the roof when in our home slip. Summer mount is on our upper deck rail. Previously mount on our mast, now accessible to move.
It’s served us great for years.

 

[Coastie54]

Our Gen2 dish does not work in our covered slip. Heavy wood construction with membrane roofing material. I fabricated a ss swinging arm mounted on our aft deck rail which we swing out from under the roof when in our home slip. Summer mount is on our upper deck rail. Previously mount on our mast, now accessible to move.
It’s served us great for years.

Same here, no workie under boathouse roof, but in our case not necessary as Marina has wifi...