Router Mini

Also, since my cat5e cable didn’t work it automatically meshed to my main router after hitting pair. It gives my about 200mbps in the basement this way, otherwise wired should match the main router speed

Both, but wired is better, make sure you use cat6 or higher, I ran cat 5e and it doesn’t work

It’s a full router, and can be used as a mesh node, it can be used wireless as a mesh node or wired as a mesh node, but yes will need to be obviously wired to a dish is using as a router…

A gaggle of Starlink mini-routers is your sollution, I have a quasi-similar situation in Germany, but in an apartment, and one (that was coming for free with the dishy) was enough to get perfect signal wall to wall. Also they mesh wirelessly as well, so no wires and most important no holes, to keep the landlord happy. Did I mention that they are a breeze to setup from the app? You can find brand new ones on KA for prices ranging from 30-80€, that was before the latest price increase. So, viel Spaß.

With the price increase, I’d look at other options for new buyers.  I like the mini I have for travel but I wouldn’t pay for one at today’s price.  Not the worst option, it’s good hardware, it’s just not a good value anymore imho.  

Like others have noted, the Mini Router is not the Mini Kit but I understand your confusion. A rename might be in order. I have two of the mini routers and they form a mesh network with the standard kit (gen 3) router - they work well in an average size home. Use wired Ethernet to the mini routers for best performance (cat5/6+). I have heard they will work with the mini dishy kit as well. HTH

I have one Router Mini connected via Ethernet that reaches out of our house, across a paved area, into the shop, and partway down the driveway. I have another one connected wirelessly that provides service at the other end of the house to the last room that had iffy service. I’m very pleased with them and they are a snap to connect. A popup appears in the Starlink app and asks if you want to let the node connect. You allow it and it’s ready to go. On the other hand, they are not as robust as more expensive systems. Connecting them is about the sum of the configuration you can do with them. I bought my first one when it was $40 USD at the Starlink shop and got the second one with my Residential Max subscription. However, the price jumped  to $100 USD, so while it’s still drop-dead easy to use, it’s no longer so much less expensive than other systems.

You don’t need that Gen 3 Mesh Router.    The Starlink Router Mini is only $40 USD. I don’t know exactly how much it is in the UK, but it’s certainly less than a whole new 3rd party network.  On the other hand, if you want a network where you can fine-tune the settings, you’ll need a 3rd party network.

Are you asking if you can daisy chain Router Minis? The answer is yes, but only if you use an Ethernet cable to connect them.

I just got my 2nd mess node from Starlink and expected it to connect to my other SL mesh router but no, it tries to connect to the main router, which is too far away. I found this mentioned several times in this group but thought I'd repost so hopefully anyone thinking of buying their mesh routers will go with another brand and save their money. For reference, i've had google mesh for another network for years and it works as expected: all nodes connect to the closest node.

I've worked in the networking world for 25 years and to me, if everything connects back to a central point then it is hub and spoke, not mesh.

I have my main router at one end of my house, 1 mesh in the center of the house, and one at the opposite end of the house and the device at the far end of my house will still only connect to the main device and not the mesh in-between, which is what I would expect. I'm sorry but I agree with Google "A mesh network is a type of network topology where devices (nodes) are interconnected, creating multiple paths for data to travel. Unlike traditional networks that rely on a single router, mesh networks use multiple interconnected nodes to communicate with each other, providing redundancy and potentially better coverage." So, I would expect my nodes to all connect to each other, not just each to a single node.

Throughput is reduced with each hop? So, routing protocols like OSPF / ISIS would never work since they calculate "Shortest" path based on number of hops, quality of connection, capacity of connection. If you have 5 hops on 100 Gbs cables and 1 hop on a 10 Mbs cable then the 5 hops would be most likely always be the 'shortest'. Doesn't matter, I'll trash the things and go with another vendor.

I have used three brands of "Mesh" access points in my house with as similar specs as I could tell, no longer a professional WiFi person for a bit so maybe there's some big differences, but Starlink consistently completely failed to relay signals in the exact same locations as other brands, and even when placed closer together. They are all in my garage in a box. I use an Orbital system now. Technically they are a mesh system, but they really try their hardest to not be one so the marketing is disappointing to be polite. You're not the only one. [Imagine the Futurama Bureaucrat - Technically Correct clip here]