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document updated 47 minutes ago, on Mar 21, 2026

Starlink for emergency communication

Costs

Enclosure

Relevant standards are a NEMA 3 or NEMA 4 enclosure, and IP codes which is relevant when you see things like a 'IP67' rating.

Plastic enclosure

Pros: Antennas can stay inside the enclosure, which simplifies weatherproofing.

Cons: Heat dissipation is a real problem.

Metal enclosure

Pros: Heat dissipation isn't a problem.

Cons: Antennas have to be placed outside the enclosure, which complicates weatherproofing.

The Starlink Mini is already weatherproof (it can be mounted on a pole or on top of an RV, as-is), so you don't have to worry about that as much. But you do have to deal with cable entry points.

Open your home's window and stick a pole-mounted Starlink Mini out

Presumably you'd only do this for a limited time, during emergencies.

Pros: This makes it much easier to provide power and to connect it to your home's network.

Cons: Landlords / condo building associations may not like this. You may want to pull it inside when you leave, so you can close the window, unless you can guarantee that rain won't come in through the window.

Mount the Starlink Mini inside a car window

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Cons: This is very weather dependent; if it's warm out, then heat-dissipation becomes an even bigger problem.

Pros: It's less likely to get stolen, and neighbors and building owners are less likely to complain.