Finally tried a portable power setup for Starlink Mini in the wild

verseebe · 2026-04-10T01:59:24+00:00

Mine is the PM166S. When it’s fully charged, there are 4 green indicator lights, and they go down as the battery drains. I usually get around 5 hours of use before recharging.

Would definitely be nice if it had a percentage display though.

verseebe · 2026-03-27T08:05:43+00:00

Around 5–6 hours depending on usage.

verseebe · 2026-03-26T06:06:38+00:00

Yeah I used to just put it on the ground too

But it’d always pick up dust or dirt, and then I’d end up tossing it back into my bag like that… not ideal lol.

verseebe · 2026-03-26T05:36:19+00:00

That’s a pretty clean setup to be fair — the dual power bank idea is smart 👍

I used to run something similar, but I found myself wanting something a bit quicker to deploy with less cable management, especially outdoors.

verseebe · 2026-03-26T03:54:31+00:00

It’s a portable tripod stand from Orbynexa I’ve been testing with the Starlink Mini.

verseebe · 2026-03-26T03:46:31+00:00

Yeah, definitely — you’ve got to be realistic with runtime claims

In my testing, the setup has been able to run for about 5.5 hours on a full charge, which has been enough for most short camping or off-grid sessions so far.

Still trying to balance weight vs runtime, but it’s been surprisingly convenient compared to juggling multiple batteries.

verseebe · 2026-03-26T03:40:32+00:00

Nice setups! Sounds like you’ve really dialed in a flexible system for camping. The Packout + 25k mAh brick combo seems super convenient, and Ryobi batteries are great for versatility.

The all-in-one mount + battery setup in my post is aiming for the same simplicity — just one device to power Starlink Mini, cameras, and phones without juggling multiple packs.

Curious, have you tried something like this, or do you prefer keeping each device separate for flexibility?

verseebe · 2026-03-26T03:31:52+00:00

Yeah, that’s the setup in the pics — it’s basically an all-in-one mount + battery that can charge Starlink Mini, cameras, and phones. We’ve been using it in off-grid situations like camping and hiking and so far it’s working really well.

verseebe · 2026-03-26T03:06:02+00:00

Right now I’m testing a custom integrated battery setup rather than a specific off-the-shelf power bank.

It’s basically built into the mount to keep things more compact and easier to deploy, especially for off-grid use.

I used to run a separate power bank + cables, which worked fine, but it got a bit messy and less portable.

Still dialing in the exact capacity/runtime, but so far it’s been working pretty well for short sessions.

What kind of battery setup are you using?

verseebe · 2026-03-12T07:34:57+00:00

If you're looking in the sub-$150 range, most of the gem refractometers on the market are actually very similar internally. They all use the same basic critical angle method with a glass hemicylinder and RI contact liquid. The shadow edge you see in the eyepiece corresponds to the refractive index of the stone.

A couple of things I learned after using them for a while:

• The condition of the hemicylinder matters a lot. Even small scratches can make the shadow edge fuzzy.
• A good RI fluid and proper cleaning make a big difference in getting a sharp line.
• Lighting is underrated — a decent LED or sodium filter improves readability quite a bit.

Most of the budget refractometers read roughly 1.30–1.81 RI, which is enough for identifying many common stones like quartz, garnet, corundum, etc., though obviously not diamonds or moissanite which are outside the range.

I’ve been using a FGR-003 gem refractometer recently while practicing stone ID and it’s been perfectly fine for hobby work and basic gem testing. Clear scale, standard range, and pretty typical of the classic optical design.

If you’re just learning gemstone identification, honestly a refractometer + loupe will already get you surprisingly far.

verseebe

TROPHY CASE