# Factory-fitting Starlink Mini: what caravan manufacturers should plan for

Fitting Starlink Mini at the production line is not a plug-and-play decision. Here is what OEM manufacturers need to think through before the first unit rolls out.

The interest from caravan and motorhome OEMs in factory-fitting Starlink Mini has grown steadily. The appeal is clear: buyers want connectivity that works in remote terrain, and a factory installation looks cleaner than a dealer or owner retrofit. But the production integration decisions are more involved than they first appear.

## Power supply: 12V and 24V realities

Starlink Mini is designed around a DC power input. Most European leisure vehicles run a 12V house battery circuit, though some heavier units use 24V. The integration question is which circuit feeds the dish, and what happens to it when the vehicle is moving versus parked.

The dish draws around 25W at idle and spikes during acquisition. That is manageable on a healthy leisure battery, but the production team needs to decide whether the unit is always-on, switched by the user, or tied to a shore power condition. Each choice has a different wiring harness implication and needs to be locked in before production tooling.

For 24V systems, a step-down converter is required. The converter adds cost and a heat source, both of which need a location in the wiring plan. Not a blocker, but a variable that should not be resolved at the prototype stage.

## Cable routing from roof to interior

The cable that runs from the dish to the router is not trivial to route in production. It has a minimum bend radius, it is thicker than a standard coax, and it needs to pass through the roof skin without compromising the water seal.

Most manufacturers already have roof penetrations for TV aerials or ventilation domes. Sharing a gland is possible in principle but creates interference risk and makes future service harder. A dedicated, properly sealed penetration at the right position on the roof is the correct solution. That means updating the production BOM before the first run.

Inside the vehicle, the router needs a fixed position with ventilation clearance and access to the 12V feed. Mounting it behind a panel with no service access is a common mistake at the prototype stage. Service teams will need to reach it.

## Roof position and sky view

Starlink Mini requires an unobstructed view of the sky, at least 100 degrees of elevation arc in the direction of the satellite constellation. On a caravan roof, the antenna needs to sit clear of the ridge, the TV aerial, the solar panel framing, and any roof rack that a dealer might add later.

A centre-rear position on a flat roof usually works well, but the exact location should be verified against the vehicle's own obstruction profile before it is locked into the production jig. Moving the antenna position after the first production run means redoing the cable routing.

## Subscription stays with the end buyer

Factory-fitting the hardware is a separate decision from who activates the service. Starlink Mini subscriptions are tied to an individual account, not to the hardware serial number in a transferable way. The manufacturer installs the hardware. The end buyer activates and pays for their own subscription.

This is worth communicating clearly in the sales documentation. A buyer who assumes the subscription is included in the vehicle price will be surprised. Setting the expectation at the point of sale avoids a common complaint.

## Homologation: the OEM's responsibility

TerraLink supplies the hardware. Any assessment of whether a factory-fitted Starlink Mini installation affects the vehicle's type approval, its radio equipment declaration, or its compliance with the relevant directives is the OEM's responsibility. We do not provide regulatory guidance, and we would be skeptical of any supplier who claims to offer a blanket homologation answer for all markets without a specific technical analysis.

In practice, OEMs working through this for the first time typically commission a brief technical assessment from their existing type-approval partner. That is the right approach.

**Can Starlink Mini be used while the vehicle is in motion?** Starlink Mini supports in-motion use, but the OEM integration needs to account for the antenna's field of view and the power state during driving. This is a design decision, not a hardware limitation.
**Does TerraLink supply Starlink Mini in volume for production integration?** Yes. Volume supply for OEM production runs is a core part of what we do. The conversation starts with volume requirements and delivery schedule.