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Overland Calling
United States
Приєднався 23 вер 2023
Working from the road when adventure can't wait for retirement. We share our adventures, lessons learned, gear recomendations, and best practices for travel overland and working remotely while camping. Hopefully we can offer some entertainment and helpful information. Please check out the intro video for the details on the method behind the madness for the channel. We hope you enjoy the ride!
Favorite Camping Near Amherst Virginia
Forest Road 63 near Amherst Virginia has 10-15 just amazing stream side camping spots. It has some of the best sites to dispersed camp I have found in Virginia and it costs nothing. Easily accessible by any vehicle and nearby Overland Expo. location in Amherst Virginia. Come check out this Virginia Gem!
Visit us on our website: overlandcalling.com
About Overland Calling:
Our goal is to share adventures, overland remote work practices, gear reviews, and lessons learned in the hope that it will inspire others or aid them along the way.
We are just starting out, so please subscribe if the topics interest you. Every like and subscriber help immensely. If you have any questions about something in a particular video, please let us know. We are just starting out and it is not always easy to figure out what people want to know or see the most.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:50 My Site highlights
02:39 Mini Waterfall
03:15 Talking about FR63 while I camp
04:35 Site coordinates
05:00 Checking out other sites
06:15 Trail and camping info
06:34 Wrap up
06:49 End
Visit us on our website: overlandcalling.com
About Overland Calling:
Our goal is to share adventures, overland remote work practices, gear reviews, and lessons learned in the hope that it will inspire others or aid them along the way.
We are just starting out, so please subscribe if the topics interest you. Every like and subscriber help immensely. If you have any questions about something in a particular video, please let us know. We are just starting out and it is not always easy to figure out what people want to know or see the most.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:50 My Site highlights
02:39 Mini Waterfall
03:15 Talking about FR63 while I camp
04:35 Site coordinates
05:00 Checking out other sites
06:15 Trail and camping info
06:34 Wrap up
06:49 End
Переглядів: 15
Відео
Bald Mountain Jeep Trail / Big Levels, Virginia
Переглядів 10816 годин тому
Bald Mountain Jeep Trail (also called Big Levels) holds a special place in my heart. I really like this trail and camp here multiple times per year. I am starting this from the Blue ridge Parkway side. Key change I saw this year was the addition of a bypass around the largest mud hole. I really like that now you have an option to dodge it if you would like to. In my opinion this makes it much m...
Peters Mill Run and dispersed camping in the area
Переглядів 17914 днів тому
Peters Mill Run near Edinburg Virginia is not what I would consider a hard trail, but it seems more washed out than last year making it more difficult and rocky than I remember. If you are thinking of taking a motorcycle on this trail the loose rock will make some sections pretty tough going. For me it just slowed things down a bit and made the ride more bumpy. Overall a bit harder and a great ...
Starlink Mini USB-C car adapter power over 55 ft away
Переглядів 8 тис.14 днів тому
Yes USB-C PD 100W can power the Starlink Mini over 55 feet away! Testing with two different brands using 12V Car Adapters, 6 ft USB-C to 5521 connection bridged into the ~49 ft starlink mini cord. This totaled over 55 feet of power cord. Both tests passed with flying colors. I like to camp in the shade and getting the Starlink Mini away from trees gets better reception. Please see the Amazon li...
Scales…..Damascus Virginia
Переглядів 30921 день тому
The trail up to The Scales (Forest Road 613) near Damascus Virginia was a great ride with nice scenery along the way and some awesome destination camping at the top. It is listed on GAIA as Pine Mountain Road, but it seems mostly known as Scales. It will make sense after you get to toward the end of the video. Visit us on our website: overlandcalling.com About Overland Calling: Our goal is to s...
Starlink Mini Overland and Camping Power Testing
Переглядів 10 тис.21 день тому
This is my power testing for various methods to power StarLink Mini by USB C, AC, and 36V. I was wondering about power consumption. If you were too I hope this helps. Not as polished as I would like, but I wanted to get the info out there quickly in case anyone is like me and scrambling to find good options before an upcoming trip. I will be doing updates on long term use on a long overland/cam...
Working While Camping and Overlanding FAQ Guide
Переглядів 23528 днів тому
Working while on Overland trips has made a world of difference in my life. If you work remote and enjoy getting out of house I would highly recommend it. I have been able to work from the beach, mountains, trailside, desert, and stream side. Having that backdrop gave me the diversion to turn a relatively mundane job into a life experience. Please don't hesitate to let me know any questions you ...
How to find the best beginner off-road trails
Переглядів 92Місяць тому
Looking for the best beginner off-road or overland trails near you? Here are the things that I recommend you look for and my tips on how to find them. I hope this helps you get out there and enjoy this amazing world we live in. If you have questions or just want to see if I have any info on beginner trails near you please let me know in the comments. Visit us on our website: overlandcalling.com...
Beginner tips and Amazon budget overland/camping gear
Переглядів 813Місяць тому
For those just starting out camping/overlanding or anyone in the market for some affordable gear camping, car camping and overland camping options from Amazon this video is for you. 270 degree awnings are quick to set up, but they weigh a lot and cost a lot as well. For example, if you are looking for an awning tarp setup for under $75 check out this setup. It takes a bit longer, but if you are...
Stone Gap Trail Guide, Virginia *With Camping Locations*
Переглядів 183Місяць тому
I had a blast on Stone Gap in the George Washington National Forest portion of Virginia. Stone Gap is an outstanding trail, but if you are a beginner I would recommend bringing an experienced person with you. I actually like Meadow Knob better than Flagpole Knob for camping since it is much less traveled and a bit more protected from the wind. If you have a capable vehicle I would highly recomm...
Union Springs Trail Guide *With Camping Locations* Virginia
Переглядів 413Місяць тому
Union Springs seems pretty much the way I remember it from 2 years ago and an easy rating in my opinion from running it in June 2024. Trailhead GPS (38.47253, -79.06074) and it is located off of Robinson Road NE of Bridgwater, VA . It is super scenic and has two great camping spots. I don't hold camp spot locations hostage, so the GPS is in the video. If you are looking for a scenic and relaxin...
I Found an Overland Hotel!! Green Ridge State Forest, MD
Переглядів 564Місяць тому
This was an unsuspected find as I was traveling through Maryland. I landed at the Green Ridge State Forest and just could not leave! What was planned to be a stop for a few hours turned into a 5 night stay. It is awesome and if you are in the area I highly recommend stopping over. Visit us on our website: overlandcalling.com Our goal is to share adventures, overland remote work practices, gear ...
Mountain Mat Review *After months of use*
Переглядів 2202 місяці тому
I love this camp mat! The Mountain Mat just makes my awning room feel like a home. It provides cushion on rocks to protect my feet and the awning room floor. You will need to have space to store it, but I felt it was worth the space and I think it would make a great addition for anyone using an awning system or just looking to create an outdoor lounge space. I hope this helps you with your deci...
Dispersed camping overnight in Vermont
Переглядів 1162 місяці тому
The thought of driving from Boston to Virginia in Friday afternoon traffic lead me to find some dispersed camping and exploring in Vermont. Beats the heck out of fighting traffic any day of the week. Visit us on our website: overlandcalling.com About Overland Calling Our goal is to share adventures, overland remote work practices, gear reviews, and lessons learned in the hope that it will inspi...
DIY Easy Access Storage 60% Rear Seat Delete
Переглядів 292 місяці тому
DIY Easy Access Storage 60% Rear Seat Delete
Defeat Exploring the Jefferson National Forest *SE Adventure Part 8*
Переглядів 1332 місяці тому
Defeat Exploring the Jefferson National Forest *SE Adventure Part 8*
Exploring Daniel Boone *SE Adventure Part 7*
Переглядів 1722 місяці тому
Exploring Daniel Boone *SE Adventure Part 7*
Exploring Big South Fork and Daniel Boone *SE Adventure Part 6*
Переглядів 2362 місяці тому
Exploring Big South Fork and Daniel Boone *SE Adventure Part 6*
Hurricane Creek, NC SE Adventure Part 5
Переглядів 7373 місяці тому
Hurricane Creek, NC SE Adventure Part 5
Exploring Sarah’s Creek, GA and a Journey to Hurricane Creek, NC *South East Adventure Part 4*
Переглядів 4523 місяці тому
Exploring Sarah’s Creek, GA and a Journey to Hurricane Creek, NC *South East Adventure Part 4*
EXPED Megamat 10 *After 90 Nights of Use*
Переглядів 7 тис.3 місяці тому
EXPED Megamat 10 *After 90 Nights of Use*
Exploring North Carolina and Georgia *South East Adventure Series Part 3*
Переглядів 3223 місяці тому
Exploring North Carolina and Georgia *South East Adventure Series Part 3*
*Trailer* South East Adventure Series
Переглядів 1043 місяці тому
*Trailer* South East Adventure Series
Ignik 12v Electric Blanket Real World Review (power usage data included)
Переглядів 7364 місяці тому
Ignik 12v Electric Blanket Real World Review (power usage data included)
South East Adventure Series **Part 1** Prep and getting to Old NC 105
Переглядів 1124 місяці тому
South East Adventure Series Part 1 Prep and getting to Old NC 105
DIY Beginner Custom Overland Power Station Tutorial
Переглядів 3004 місяці тому
DIY Beginner Custom Overland Power Station Tutorial
Virginia Free Camping Pines Campground and Peaceful Valley
Переглядів 5944 місяці тому
Virginia Free Camping Pines Campground and Peaceful Valley
Can you use an electric pump to inflate the mattress? Thank you
Yes you can, Exped recommends using their Widget Electric Pump to not run the risk of over inflation. I bought a cheap one from Walmart and used it for a while to test it out and it worked just fine. I was just careful not to over inflate.
@@OverlandCalling Thank you for your response😎
@@tallenallen5679 My pleasure! Being able to help people out is what keeps me going on this UA-cam adventure.
We sure like our Ironman Awning Room too!!!
yeah it is a great product! I have been enjoying the heck out of it. When the mosquitos start swarming I duck inside and laugh at them.
@@OverlandCalling Haha!!!
Thanks for doing the testing with the different power sources! I found all the information I needed and I also appreciated the links you provided to the other cables! 👍
Glad it helped you out!
Please video how to join up
you got it. It did take a while to figure out how to get it together. I need to do an update video on how it is doing after me using it a lot anyway. Spoiler alert….it is still going strong.
I’ll be in the area at the end of the month with my Jeep and overland trailer. Not sure if I want the pinstripes like that
Stay off those side trails for sure. God that was brutal. Like fingernails on a chalkboard the whole way. Main trail was not too bad, but it tends to get more narrow later in the year as things grow.
10:22 I just learned why ARB was made awning with aluminum case 11:20 Oh no this is the worst thing that happens to me when I go camping Especially when I pass a place with a lot of thorny trees, sharp as a needle 27:14 Just try You may regret not trying🤣
Bought the awning because it looked cool, but it turns out that there were a few other features that I liked. Durable and it actually goes back in the case easier than the 6.5 ft awning packed in the bag. I had been stuck on those two rocks on a previous trip. 🤣
The Starlink Mini specification sheet indicates a 5.5mm x 2.5mm connector. Why are you using a 2.1mm connector?
Wow I just checked the spec sheet on Starlink.com and sure enough it says 2.5 now for the cord. I am certain that when I first checked it was 2.1mm for the inside dimension. I have a friend that just ordered a mini. I will check with them to see if the cord connections have changed.
I put a request into Starlink for clarification on the pin size on the dish and confirmation of the cord size. Of course no answer yet. I had a buddy that just got his Starlink and the 2.1 size USB C cord and adapter piece worked. If I hear back from Starlink I will post it up.
@@OverlandCallingany update?
@@benjaminschneider Starlink gave me the run around and wanted a bunch of pictures of things that didn’t matter when all I asked was if the drawing was correct and what size pin the dish had. That cord seems to work just fine. I have been using it for about 1000 miles on my roadtrip testing it out. Also the USB C cord in the Amazon link has a 2.5 adapter. Of course all the adapters are sitting at home since I didn’t bring them on this trip.
Well done . You steered me into buying the Ironman awning and awning room. Can't wait till it arrives. Seriously...nice video...Thanks
Thank you for the kind words and I am glad it helped! I have been using mine quite a bit since making the video and it is still going strong.
great review! loved the poses 😂
Thanks! I keep waiting for a modeling agency to call me for work, but nothing yet 🤣🤣.
@@OverlandCalling major missed opportunity tsk tsk
Great video! You are correct that the trail changes quite a bit. Every couple years the Forest Service comes out and grades it, so right after that it's almost just a flat gravel road. Then over time it gets rougher again. Right now it's definitely a little more beat up than average, but still not quite as gnarly as it was right before they graded it last time at the end of Covid. That's the "problem" that this trail causes - somebody will have run it right after it's graded and easy, and they tell people it's a "West Virginia driveway" and you can do it stock, 2wd, aired up, full speed. Obviously bad advice. There have been two rescues up there just in the last year, presumably from folks being overconfident and under prepared.
Ahh nice to know I was not loosing my marbles. I am kind of glad it was rougher. made it more fun, but I don’t know if I would just blindly send someone there for their first trail.
Great video, Peter Mill Run is on my list to visit once my 2008 JKU Sahara 3.8L (215K miles) in great condition after many parts had been replaced in the last three years. Rocky condition trail is similar to Drummond Island - South Marblehead Trail in my home state Michigan. I am getting closer to finishing working on it because it's almost brand brand-new ish Jeep once again, lol. Greetings from Michigan!
Sounds like nice restoration you have going! Crazy number of miles! Hope ya enjoy your trip down to VA. My Virginia playlist has quite a few trails if you want to check out some more while you are down.
This was fantastic, showing all the different ways to hookup. The DC barrel connectors were exactly the way I need to go. I appreciate you taking the time to make this video. Great work.
Thank you. I am glad to hear that it helped you!
Love GR try getting site 65
that one is on my list for sure my next trip that way. I have heard it is great.
Great info! Got the items from Amazon. It worked? Only issue was the cigarette plug in got warm. Not hot but warm. Didn't trip any things. But I wouldn't probably leave it on long periods. Next project is to do the 12v to 24v converter and see how that works. Thanks again!!
Thanks for the info on heat. I was testing in the middle of a heatwave, so didn’t notice it. Once I am out camp working I will check both out for long interval use.
Hello sir Are you looking for a processionl UA-cam thumbnail designer and video SEO experts?
No thank you. I am not planning to go pro. I just want to help people out.
3:48 Since this bad surprise occurred on my way to camping, I will not be angry with it even if it causes serious damage to my car 😁 What is the appropriate tire pressure for these places? 12:07
I probably should have been paying more attention to the trail than was my camera lol. Pressure will vary more with tire size and specifically how much sidewall you have. I usually mine at 18-20 psi. A good general rule is to stop when you see it start to bulge just a little bit where it meets the ground. If you go too low you can dent your rim when going over rocks.
Another great test showing all the ways to have StarLink up and running! Thanks.
you are most welcome and thank you for the kind words!
Not sure I understand why you needed to boost to 36v?
I boosted above 12V to be able to use the 49ft cord that came with the mini without the voltage dropping below 12 over the long distance and thin wires. For power the mini can accept 12V-48v. I could have gone with 24V but I didn’t know that for sure at the time. The AC plug that comes with Starlink mini converts to 30V and I chose 36V because it was slightly higher than the voltage used with the AC adapter and I knew it would work. Once I got my next Amazon shipment in I was able to test and find out that USB C at 20V would also work using the 49ft cord. With that new knowledge I put out the second video on using USB C with the long cord.
@@OverlandCalling Makes sense... thanks! You saved me some mystery and some hassle.
13:14 yeah it's understandable the uploads speed drops. This tiny thing is sending 5-14 mbps equivalent signal to a satellite hundreds of km in space. Just impressive. The standard model has somewhat higher upload speed because of the antenna size and power.
yep pretty impressive especially with a car blocking half of the sky.
***Failed after a month*** This was in place about a month and it got whacked pretty good causing the ball on my grab handle to strip out. It would no longer hold my iPad in position after that. I think I found a work around, but I am testing for a few months before posting a video about it. If you are thinking of purchasing this please be aware this is a possibility. If you already have this problem and are looking for a fix let me know and I will give you the details of the fix I am currently using.
Useful vid, thanks, short and to the point but full of information. Could you test out the wifi range, would be interesting to see if there is any significant drop in wifi speed or increase in packet loss, when you are 50ft away from the dish/router. Sometimes you will need to do this to get the dish away from obstructions out in the wild. Thanks.
Backyard testing using Starlink app Speed test and the Speedtest 3rd party app showed no repeatable loss of speed at 50ft with no obstructions. I could not test past 50ft in my yard, but will do a full video on speed with different distances once I get out camping next week.
@@OverlandCalling Thanks, 50ft sounds reasonable as that is the max practical distance anyway, if I am running power from my camper.
@@AmandaandAustinC cool. I have seen videos where people are over 100ft away getting usable signal. I can’t think of anytime when I will actually need to go that far either.
yard work at night because it's too hot during the mid day
True 😆 . I had been filming around noise or waiting for a few hours. it was starting to drive me nuts when I hit the 9:00PM mark.
I’ve been following two facebook groups for weeks trying to get an answered to if this could be done this easily and not one person suggested this. This is perfect. Thank you!
You are most welcome. I have to admit that I was not sure it would work. When I was buying the stuff I was already planning to use it to charge my laptop if it didn’t work.
You sold me I just ordred the Mini. Now have to use your affiliate links to set my 12 volt up.
Thank you and glad I could help!
@@OverlandCalling I think it was a combo of not having a connection and me telling my wife your story that did it for her. Also, we opted for the 50 bucks a month plan for now to try it out. But she did say I know by next year your going on a long trip and I want a way to connect. So that was helpful.
@@mtnmnchronicles ahh nice! My wife was pretty supportive as well especially since I could check in better when really remote. I only get 10 texts a month with my emergency satellite communicator. That goes quick when you have a teenage daughter 😂
Perfekt timing when you plugged it in and a car revs up in the background ua-cam.com/video/LIXfTO4DGh4/v-deo.html
ha I wish I could say I was good enough to plan it!
Is this the latest version of Starlink? When are you going on the two-month trip?😍 I'm excited for it
yes this is the newest version. I hope to leave later this week. Waiting for my Jeep to get out of the shop and then I hit the open road. I am itching to go!,Other than Wyoming I don’t really have much of a plan. Figure I will just go with where the wind takes me.
probably a dumb question, but here goes. Could you simply plug it into the cigarette lighter on your jeep?
Not a dumb question at all. I can’t test it in my Jeep (since it is still in the shop waiting for a part), but I just finished running it for 20 min in my wife’s Nissan Rogue and it worked just fine with the usual 10 min initialize time and 10 min streaming video.
I was looking for a way to hardwire a USB-C port into my RV for use with the Starlink Mini. I haven't had any luck finding one that can deliver 100W. I don't want to install a cigarette lighter plug and use a 12V car adapter.
I would recommend my other video linked at the end of this one. At about the 11 min mark I go over how I wired up a 12-36v boost converter into my Auxillary battery system and test it out. It worked like a champ and was drawing an average of 24W. It also used the stock 49 foot Starlink cord to keep costs down and the total system was very affordable.
oops I never actually answered your question about the USB C. Sorry about heading off on a tangent. I ran across the Coolgear ChargeIT 100w PD while I was looking at options for different power options. They are currently not available on Amazon, but likely it can be sourced direct. It looked pretty cool, and exactly what you are looking for. They also come with the option for a second port if you want to also charge a computer or something. www.coolgear.com/product/chargeit-100-watt-usb-type-c-charger
@@OverlandCalling Thank you! That’s exactly what I was looking for. I checked their website and I can get one direct.
@@CannedNirvana awesome! Please let me know how it works out for you once you have a chance to use it. I am considering building it I to a future upgrade for my office power box. The one I use now for my laptop power is only 65W and sometimes my computer gets a bit unhappy not getting 100w of power.
@@OverlandCalling I’m heading out to Missouri tomorrow. I’ll probably gone be gone for a few weeks so I won’t be able to do anything in the interim. Once I get back, I’ll order the Starlink and start the installation process. Thanks for the help! I’ll keep you posted.
Does the USB power adapters you're using make any noise? I bought one from UGREEN brand and it makes a high pitched noise when in use.
Nope neither make any sound at all.
I'm the guy that had the problem with the breaker tripping the USB-C port on the Goal Zero 500X :(
Thank you for bringing that up in comments on the last video! You kept me from leading anyone else down what may have been a bad path. I hope the 12V plug solves your problem. I did about 2 hours of testing with everything using the USB-C and starlink cable together with zero breaker trips. Seems like this may be a good way to solve the problem and it actually keeps things at Starlink spec for the 100W.
Next time you cook the steak, render the fat side first. Hold it with tongues for 2 minutes. Get you some kosher salt as well and garlic powder and black pepper. Bast the steak with the butter 🧈 with a spoon. Also you talk about dishes a lot like it’s a big deal. And why didn’t you build a fire? You drove 7 hours… and whoever drove over your panel is an a hole.
Thank you for the tips on Steak! I will give that a shot for sure! I hate doing dishes....mostly just lazy me problem, but I always strive to make them easier on me. It was pretty windy while I was camped on old NC 105, so I didn't want to risk a fire. I still get about 85-100W out of the panel thankfully. I never checked prior to it being run over, so not sure if it is damaged or not. 160W panel, but I know I have never seen any perform to what they list for. Maybe that is when it is in space next to the sun LOL.
@@OverlandCalling sorry for coming across so crass. We own some property about 5 miles from where you are. The service station on the corner near famous Louise’s has a lot to offer. And there’s firewood “that burns” close by too. It’s always windy there but I appreciate your concern about the fire. I still would’ve built a small one. I’m glad you had a good time and your dog Zeus looked adorable. Where did you get your panel from? I still can’t believe someone ran over it. Did you see the person? Most folks would’ve been shot for doing that. Was it far from your jeep? Help me understand.
@@MattyRox no worries at all. I am pretty sure I stopped into that store to pick up some supplies. Great info on the wood. Seems like a no brainer, but finding wood that burns well is harder than most people think. I got the solar panel from Amazon a few years ago. It is an EcoFlow.I had it about 20 feet away from my Jeep catching the last rays of sun, but still well off the road. Someone was using the wide spot in the road to do a U turn by edging into my camp. I ran at them like a crazy person waving my arms. They probably thought I had lost it at first lol. Funny to think back on it now, but I was pretty hot about it at the time. Guess it worked out in the end because I am still using the panel and now I have a story as well.
Naïve question - does your 12V power outlet (before any of the PD rated attachments and cables) need to be to a particular minimum spec ?
Not a bad question as all. I am by no means an electrical expert, but my understanding is that the Starlink spec of 5 amps would make it need a 5 amp minimum requirement for the socket.
The Starlink spec says 100W, and there will be some efficiency loss converting 12V to 20V, so probably a 12V 10A (120W) outlet should be safe. This seems to be a pretty common rating for these ports, both my Pecron E600LFP and Anker SOLIX F2600 have similarly rated 12V outlets.
@@guspaz thanks for hopping in to assist!
@@guspaz there is no need to take 12v to 20v. The Mini can work in 12V to 48v natively.
@@eddy802 The power starts at 12v at the power supply, and it's less than 12v at the other end of the cable. The longer and thinner the cable, the lower the voltage at the other end. That's why people are having trouble powering the mini from 12v power sources, by the time the power gets to the mini, it's under 12v. You can solve this by bumping to 20v so that you're still above 12v at the other end of the cable. It doesn't take much, a 50 foot 18AWG copper power cable doing 4 amps at 12 volts will have roughly 9.5 volts at the other end of the cable. Usually power supplies output a bit more than 12 volts to compensate for this, but it can only go so far. If we assume 12.8 volt output, the maximum cable length (again, 18AWG copper, 4 amps) is only 15 feet before the voltage drops below 12 volts. Resistors drop voltage, and cables are resistors. The longer and thinner the cable (and the worse the material), the more resistance, and thus the less voltage.
Nice video. Was glad to see it can run off of a USB power bank.
Yes you can’t beat simplicity of plug and play even if I did have to buy the extra 12v plug since my particular power station did not have the 100 watt output for the USC C connection it had.
Great info. This has been my recommendation to those wanting to use the 50' Starlink power cable back to a 12V power source. Straight 12V over the 50' cable typically does not work due to the long run. But 12V connected to a USB-C PD adapter will kick the power up to something like 20V and the Mini generally seems to work just fine in that configuration (as you show in your video). I have been able to make straight 12V connections work for shorter runs...say, 10-15 feet.
Great info on that pure 12v testing. I was looking at wiring things up that way, but the cost of larger wire and the added amps needed made me nervous for the long run. Plus I really like that the cord that it comes with keeps it water tight. I know I will fall asleep watching videos and wake up in a rainstorm with it getting drenched 🤣..
Driving through natural creeks and streams is one of the worst things you can do. It completely disrupts the eco system. Just a thought.
I agree that it does pose a risk to the environment. I always check for oil /fluid leaks and only take the legal crossings without stopping mid-stream. My hope is that those smarter than me have run the numbers to keep us from posing a danger to the environment. I love the wild areas and want them to be there for my children’s children.
For reliability have you considered using the 12v cigarette lighter output of the Yeti 500? going into a 12v to 24 or 36v buck and then a female 5.5mm connector? this'll remove any USB PD negotiations.
I didn’t for use with the Yeti, but I did actually wire a 12v to 36v booster directly into my main custom Auxillary 12v lithium battery system I have. I don’t see why wiring it with a 12v plug would not work just as well since the draw only seemed to be only 24W. It worked absolutely perfect and it will be my primary power with this as USB-C option as my portable backup. The video link at the end of this video takes you to the previous video where I show how I set it up (about the 11 min mark). I chose the 12-36 boost since I could only find 2.1 barrel connectors with 18 AWG wire and wanted higher voltage for that. Do they sell pre-wired 12v cigarette style adapters? I could not find any when I was looking, so I ended up just buying the parts and wiring my own.
In motion test, pls
You got it. Any specific use in motion? Video, navigation, speed tests?
Stellar work, fella! I have the mini and was looking to do EXACTLY what you're doing.! Also, what branch were you? lol
Glad I was able to give ya a chance to see it in action. Navy for me. How about you?
@@OverlandCalling Awesome! Thanks for what you do, amigo! I was Army intel. Living out of duf bags for years and it's like home when traveling around and living out of my Jeep with Starlink and a cozy tent. If only we had these for deployments!
@@W177Shogun same here. Did CA for quite a while and spent more time in dirt than the sea.
5:32 🤣
That was when I realized what the fence around the camping area was really for lol.
@@OverlandCalling I remember that several months ago, some wild donkeys came to my camp while I was sleeping and the donkeys walked on my barbecue tongs and broke it.😬
oh please tell me you yelled “hay jackass get out of my camp!” 🤣🤣
@@OverlandCalling He will raise his ears and stare at me Like: you get out of my place😂
so very true!
Pic lick rd is prob your hardest trail but the best site to get it 65 it’s the only one that overlooks the Potomac, it’s super hard to get tho
Thank you for the tip! I am planning to make this a stop over on my next trip out West and will swing by to check out the spot. Fingers crossed it will be open.
Just grabbed a used one of these at REI for 50% off. Tag said “used once, nothing wrong.” Not a bad deal!
Awesome find sooo jealous! I hit the REI returned items section in the store every visit. Their returned item website is also has some great deals.
I have the same setup w the Starlink mini, yeti 500x and usb-c to 5521 cable. The Starlink will boot up but eventually the Yeti circuit breaker trips on the USB-C port as indicated by the red light on the Yeti’s USB button. Have you run into this?
I have not run into it on Starlink, but I have seen it with my cell modem with the Yeti over the year or so I have been using it. I can’t be certain, but it seems to happen more when the temp is high in the car. So far I have only used the Starlink through the USB C about 30 min, so not a whole lot of long term use. How long does it run before the internal breaker trips for you?
I just finished testing using a 12v plug adapter capable of 100w PD. That was able to work for 45 min straight streaming video using the 6 foot USB C to 2.1 cord connected into the 49 ft cord that comes with the dish. If it can run that long cord setup without blowing the circuit breaker it should work fine with just the USB C cord. Vid coming out for it this weekend, but wanted to let ya know I found a work around if you need it. Costs about $35 for the 12v cigarette to 100w USB C adapter.
Interesting.. Look forward to seeing how it works under tree cover.
I hit the road this weekend for some testing in the wild. Once I gather some data I will put it out along with some info on what it is like for both full day use both for working on the road and streaming video.
@@OverlandCalling safe travels
No cell coverage. Will phone work through WiFi????
Ha! I just texted my buddy the exact same question since he uses Starlink at home and has no cell signal! The answer is yes! Got to phone Settings/Cellular/turn on WiFi for calling. He also recommended putting your phone in airplane mode since if it catches a hint of signal it will switch back to cell instead of Wifi and then it will drop cell connection if it is weak.
Great video dude. Can’t put a price on a good nights sleep though!
Thanks! I agree and don't regret spending the money for this one bit.
Thank you for running this on DC instead of just AC like everyone else!
my pleasure! That was driving me nuts as well when I was scrambling to get ways to power the Mini before it arrived. Plus like I mentioned in the video, I will be using this to work a 9-5 job while camped in one spot for 5 days. I will need every bit of battery power I can get if it is stormy and I can’t get solar recharge.
@@OverlandCalling Mine is going on my sailboat, so every watt counts! It's arrived and I just need to mount it. It looks like I'll be saving an average of about/at least 15 watts (compared to my Standard V2)
@@ShaneEngelman very cool that sounds like it will be an amazing time. I was figuring the same for 15watt savings from my rough testing. I saw another video where they used the ram ball mount system mount a mini. I am going to give that a try, but not sure if I would trust it to be sturdy enough in heavy weather. I would probably get something that held it in from all sides if I were in your shoes.
Can I upgrade 50GB mini plan to unlimited at any time?
I can’t say for sure, but that was my plan. I have the 50GB plan right now and if I need more I planned to change. Based on past plans it will likely require changing at my billing cycle date. If I need more GB I will likely have to pay per GB for overage until my billing cycle date comes around to be switched over to unlimited.
I am considering buying the mini to go camping around the country. I see you're getting great download speeds. What state are you in getting these speeds?
I am in the Norfolk Virginia area. I will be starting my camp around the country trip in about a week! hoping the great speeds keep up for my trip.
@@OverlandCallingappreciate it you would keep us up to date on how it's working and your downloads.
@@kip5588 no problem at all. Happy to do it
@@kip5588 absolutely! I will be hitting the road working 9-5 daily M-F. I will post updates in the community tab. Once I have enough data points I will make a full video on reality for work to include video teams meetings and different weather performance. I can’t wait for the freedom of working off grid and am happy to help others do the same.
@@OverlandCalling I would be interested in knowing what percentage of tree coverage for example that still will allow enough signal to stream video in 1080p?
I've had mixed results with 12v from my powerbank, I've instead opted for the 36v buck converter with a 2.1mm dc jack, saves all the inverter overhead and works great from my 12v source.
Same result for me! Bit of work on the front end, but I think it will pay off in the long run. Do you know how many watts it draws when idle? Wondering if it is about the same as 24 ish for mine.
The USB-C cable he's got is asking for 20V. Not all USB-PD sources support 20V, but both his USB power bank and Yeti power station do. The voltage is high enough that you won't have to worry about cable voltage droop taking you under the 12V minimum, so I'd say that it's a better option than trying to boost the voltage from the 12V port. On newer power stations, 100W ports seem common, so more headroom. On the other hand, if you're powering directly off a 12V battery (as he is in his real setup), then yeah, you'd want a booster.
@@guspaz ahh I thought PD was all 20v. Learn something new every day! Both my Yeti and backup battery are pretty dated. I was actually happily surprised that they worked at 60 Wand 65W. Pretty sure I would have issues if trying snowmelt. Agree 100% that keeping things plug and play is much easier than wiring something custom. I was wanting to try a cigarette style 12V to 100W USB C adapter plug to try, but didn’t think about it for the first round of testing.
@@OverlandCalling USB by default is 5V, and with pretty low amperage limits. USB-PD is a bit of a mess. Depending on the version of the standard, there's potentially 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, 20V, 28V, 36V, and 48V. A bunch of those are optional, or from different versions of the spec, and amperage supported varies by spec version and device. Anything past 5V needs to be actively negotiated (actual two-way data communication) between the source and destination devices. So that USB-C cable you've got has a little chip in it that can apparently negotiate 20V at up to 5A. But your power bank and power station don't support 5A, closer to 3A. It's a confusing mess. The only way to be sure is to check the label or manual of the specific devices involved.
@@guspaz Wow! Awesome info and thank you! Maybe that is why I kept seeing it bouncing around for Watts when I was testing even when idle.
Thanks for the tests! Question: does your Goal Zero have a 6mm barrel power port? My Yeti 400 lithium has one, and I was thinking of trying a barrel adapter and plugging straight into there with the original cable. Seems pretty ideal. Any chance you’ve tried this?
I do have a 6mm port. I got excited when I saw it, then dreams were crushed when it didn’t fit the 5.5 plug I had. I didn’t try it, but would love to hear if it works out. Just a heads up though…..if it is 12V there is a very high chance that the Starlink cable is too long and thin to deliver the 12V needed to run the mini. I have seen it stop others when they tried going from 12V cigaret style plug to adapt into the long Starlink cord. you get a good amount of voltage drop with the amps needed.