(Credit: Starlink.com)
Starlink's new Wi-Fi router, the "Router Mini," is a $40 mesh-compatible device to help customers fill wireless dead zones in their homes.
SpaceX last night updated the official Starlink store to add the Router Mini for US customers. It's much cheaper than the existing Gen 3 router, which arrived at $199 before dropping to $120.
Router Mini is a lower-performance device that will provide "basic Wi-Fi needs" in smaller spaces, including wireless dead spots within a home, SpaceX says in a support page.
(Credit: Starlink.com)“It works well in most basic residential setups and is a good option for extending coverage. However, in homes where rooms have multiple barriers between them (mirrors, multiple walls, brick or stone walls), you may notice a drop in performance unless you use wired connections,” the company adds.
In contrast, the existing Gen 3 router is more powerful and can better serve multiple devices over a wider Wi-Fi range.
The standard Starlink dish already comes bundled with a Gen 3 router, which is mesh-compatible. So, it looks like SpaceX is offering a cheaper way for customers to form a mesh network inside their homes, rather than solely relying on the Gen 3 model.
"If you need simple, reliable Wi-Fi and want to keep costs down, the Router Mini is a solid option. But if you’re looking for stronger, more consistent performance across a larger or busier home, the Gen 3 Router is the way to go,” the company adds.
(Credit: Starlink.com)Both routers support Wi-Fi 6 speeds and can operate in wired or wireless mesh mode. However, the dual-band Router Mini features fewer antennas, specifically “2x2 2.4 GHz, 2x3 5 GHz MU-MIMO.” The tri-band Gen 3 router can transmit and receive more than four antennas.
The Router Mini first appeared in an FCC filing earlier this month. SpaceX then updated the Starlink app to mention a new “mini mesh” device. Its support pages confirm the Router Mini can also connect to a Starlink Mini dish, giving the device a boost to its limited Wi-Fi range.