Satellite in a Briefcase: My Ultimate Mobile Office with Starlink Mini & Tesla Model Y
I tested dozens of cables, briefcases & power banks to be able to use the Starlink Mini from my briefcase and in my Tesla Model Y. Here’s what actually works.
Getting Starlink to work in a Model Y
UPDATES: Right after I made the video above, the Starlink Mini shut off again – pretty sure due to overheating. Here's an update where I tried the front dashboard; that worked for 20 minutes before the Starlink Mini shut off, again likely due to overheating. Here's a final update where I moved the dish to the back of the Tesla Model Y, which worked.
As a startup CEO, I love being able to work from anywhere. I've had a Sprinter van #vanlife for many years, using a converted V3 Starlink (110v to 12v) by to get fast internet from remote regions.
But recently, I was able to downsize that setup to get it to all fit in a briefcase. I had to test a number of briefcases, cables and power adapters to find a setup that "just works," and I'm sharing it all in this blog post to save you the time and trouble if you want to get a similarly minimalist "satellite in a briefcase" setup.
I also figured out how to power it all from the Model Y so I can work from my Tesla instead of the van. Turns out the Model Y's USB ports don't output enough wattage to power the Starlink Mini. And it also turns out that the cables, adapters and power sources you use really matter – many of the combinations don't work at all, or power off after 5 - 20 minutes. It's all compounded by the fact that when the Mini doesn't have enough power, or overheats, it just shuts off, so you're left guessing about what happened. Again, here are the answers to what works so you don't have to figure it out yourself.
Shopping list: What Works
Below I'll also share everything I tried that didn't work, but if you just want to get what does work, here's what to buy:
- ~ $400 Maverick & Co briefcase: Manhattan Double-Zip Leather Briefcase: I've been loving this briefcase. The Starlink Mini fits perfectly in the middle pocket, along with the Anker power brick below.
- Powering the Starlink from anywhere: I tried a number of portable battery packs and found the $119 Anker Laptop Power Bank, 25,000mAh Portable Charger with Triple 100W USB-C Ports to be the best for powering the Starlink Mini.
- It only works when it's not plugged in – if you try recharging the power bank whiel powering the Mini, it won't send enough wattage to the Mini in "passthrough" mode. You should be able to power the Mini for ~3 hours.
- Powering the Starlink in a Tesla Model Y:
- The Tesla's USB-C outlets don't provide enough wattage for the Starlink Mini. You'll need to use the cigarette lighter in the center console, and one of these two power adapters:
- Other Tesla Model Y accessories for working in the Tesla:
- $43 Foldable Car Tray, 2025 Upgraded Car Desk Compatible with Tesla Model Y Model 3
- $46 Portable and Foldable Starlink Mini Sunroof Suction Cup Mount. As per the videos above, I've found that in the California summer sun, the Starlink Mini overheats after about 30 minutes when suctioned to the inside of the roof – its temperature gets up to 150 degrees, and it's only rated to work up to 122 degrees. I'm going to try with a piece of window tint film to see if that works.
What not to buy:
I tried these items and they didn't work. It's really hard to know why, since the Starlink Mini just shuts off when it is under-voltage/current, overheating, etc. It doesn't give any reason; it just stops working so it's a guessing game as to what is causing the issue. I've posted my best guess:
- Power adapters that did not work: I think all of these are just under-powered. Although the Mini only draws 20W - 40W, it seems that the power adapter needs to be at least 100W at 12v in order to work:
- $32 Anker USB-C Car Charger, iPhone 16 Car Charger, 67W 3-Port Compact Fast Charger. I really wanted this one to work since it's smaller than the ones above, but it just isn't powerful enough. The Mini will power on, but then turn off after a few minutes.
- $10 LISEN 90W USB C Car Charger, 2-Port PD 45W & QC 3.0 USB C. Same as above; just not powerful enough.
- Power bricks that did not work: I don't know why these didn't work as they should have enough wattage. The Ankur power bank in the section above is the only one that consistently worked.
- Cables that did not work: My theory is that these cables are too long, and the voltage drops too much for them to work. They might work if a higher voltage (20v+) power source were used.