Staying connected with loved ones is essential during our extensive travels, and we’ve tried various means of communication over the years. Our journey began with the search for international payphones and evolved into utilizing local operators, SIM cards, and even a satellite phone that never saw the light of day. However, the absence of a reliable GSM cellular network has often left us feeling disconnected, especially in remote locations.
One particular incident occurred when we found ourselves stuck for five days at the Aral Sea in Uzbekistan. Unable to inform our family and friends, we realized the importance of having a dependable communication method.
Recently, we encountered technical difficulties with our truck near the picturesque Son Kul Lake in Kyrgyzstan, facing a grueling 3-5 hour hike to reach cellular coverage.
Starlink mini for internet while overlanding
This situation prompted us to look for better options, and that’s when we discovered Starlink Mini Roam. Designed for overlanding, this compact device offers internet connectivity and works seamlessly with our Unimog’s 12 or 24 volts power supply, avoiding the need for inefficient voltage converters. Priced at €422, including tax and shipping, the subscription can be turned on and off as per our needs. To the Netherlands it was shipped from a German Starlink Warehouse.
We can still rely on local SIM cards for daily use and reserve Starlink Mini for emergencies, allowing us to stay connected throughout our journey.
The Starlink can be used with a normal 3.5 mm jack and 24 volts, perfect for us. We plug it straight into a 24 volt socket we made. The Starlink app shows it uses 20 Watt average, peak 25 Watt.
The mini is IP54 which means it is splash water and dust proof. It is not made to clean with a power cleaner.
Starlink Roam subscription for overlanders
We bought our Starlink from Starlink direct for euro 422,- incl VAT and shipping. and it arrived in the mail Netherlands within a week.
We signed up for the Roam 50GB subscription which costs euro 40,- / month. It works on land within the same continent as the registered shipping address as well as up to two months per trip on land or coastal waters anywhere there is active service coverage.
The rumor has it Starlink is not checking this, but they have the right to do so. A workaround could be to update our “home address” to our current continent. Unfortunately.
Check also the latest news down below this post
Coverage in middle Asia
Starlink coverage Kyrgyzstan
As we traverse, in 2024-2025, the breathtaking landscapes of Kyrgyzstan, our experience with Starlink Mini Roam has been limited but promising. We look forward to sharing more updates on our journey to stay connected in Middle Asia and welcome any tips or recommendations from fellow travelers.
At arrival in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan I setup the unit and within minutes an update was done and I had my first WhatsApp video call. It worked perfect, the speed test shows 145Mbps and latency 104ms. Later at Lake Song Kul the same results.
Starlink coverage Kazakhstan
We travelled the central part of Kazakhstan and Starlink works just fine. From Almaty to Astana via Shimkent-Tashkent and Baikonur. Starlink worked everywhere in 2024-2025.
Starlink coverage Uzbekistan
In 2025 we did border hopping from Kazakhstan to Tashkent in 2025 and Starlink worked fine. The rumors have it that satellite communications are forbidden in Uzbekistan, but we ignored this.
Other notes
The Starlink Mini dish is small and light. It makes a very light humming noice. So in a range of 3 meters I can hear it. Maybe if we mount it on the roof it is note audible. We mounted it in the truck a a wardrobe against the inside of the roof and we do not hear the Mini.
Be aware. I paused our subscription so I could downgrade it from euro 70,- back to 40,- a month. Then Starlink stopped working and I needed to login to reactivate. Although all internet is blocked, the Starlink website worked fine, but then I needed to login with a security code which can be semd to my email, not working – not internet, or SMS text to my phone numer, NO cellular coverage. The Starlink chatbot advised me to find other means of internet and for Starlink support I needed to login…
Mounting our Starlink
I have a starlink mini mounted on the inside of the wardrobe against the roof for testing. The speed is less, but still 70Mbps. More than enough for everything. So nothing on the roof but safely inside.
Of course, there should not be a solar panel or something else mounted on the roof.
Downside of mounting it inside is that there is no angle and rain and snow will still on top of our cabin and block the signal.
Also when parked under a tree, between high buildings or within a gorge the signal is blocked. Therefore it is good to have the Mini mounted flexible so you can use a power extension cord to place it with a clear view on the sky.
This is the material of our living unit
I have a starlink mini mounted on the inside of the wardrobe against the roof for testing. The speed is less, but still 70Mbps. More than enough for everything. So nothing on the roof but safely inside.
Of course, there should not be a solar panel or something else mounted on the roof.
Free wifi
We travel in very abandoned areas we want to share our internet. since the Mini has no hotspot or guest network and we do not want guest users to drain our internet by updating their pho es or syncing video libraries, we turned of the Mini wifi function and connected it via a LAN cable to the wan port of our Teltonika RUTX11 gsm router.
News on our subscription
We hear some overlanders getting blocked after 2 months. So I asked Starlink support what is the work around on this. This is the replay:
Hi Vincent Kuiper,
I would be glad to explain how our Roam subscription works!
Starlink Roam is perfect for short-term travel, allowing you to use your service internationally in available markets for up to two months per trip. If you use it in a different country for more than 60 days, you may need to return to your home country to reset the restriction.
If you use Starlink Roam in a country different from your shipping address for over two months, Starlink may require you to return to your account’s home country (with your Starlink active for at least 24 hours). Customers using Starlink in a location that is not an authorized territory (marked “Available” or “Waitlist” on the Starlink map), may be subject to having services suspended immediately.
If you plan to stay longer, consider switching to the Global Roam plan, which offers continuous service outside your home country. This way, you can enjoy seamless connectivity without needing to return home to reset the restriction. If you choose to switch to Global roam, you will pay the difference of 59.57 EUR and then the rest of the billing cycles will continue to 450 EUR/mo.
Added 25. Februari 2025 after I asked about the counting of the 2 months and a second Mini.
If you use your Starlink in Mongolia for one month and then turn it off, the service period will continue to count down even if the device is powered off. So, after 20 days, you would only have 10 days left of the initial period.
Yes, you can register a second Starlink in the same name and activate it for the first time in Nepal. You can pause the service on your first Starlink while using the second one.
Added 30.march 2025
So I bought a second Starlink 1 march 2025 and we took it with us to Kazakhstan together with the old Starlink so I can activate it as soon in case the old one actually stops working after the 2 months period.
To my surprise the subscription on the new Starlink is automatically activated on month after purchasing it. So the month April we pay to subscription, euro 70,- and euro 40,-
So it might be a good advice to not buy your second Starlink from Starlink direct so they do not have your credentials and can not activate automatically.
