If you buy the full-sized Gen 3 Starlink, you need a 240-volt power supply, which may not be easily available when using it in a vehicle or a boat. I previously reviewed an XTAR 12-volt solution, which partly overcomes the problem.
XTAR has now launched a new product, the XTAR-Link EL8 Power Station with Wi-Fi 6, which is a fully independent solution that allows you to use your Starlink anywhere you are prepared to carry it.
Why do you need a power station for your Starlink?
The Starlink antenna, where all the smarts are located to enable internet anywhere, requires 56-volt DC. The router supplied in the Starlink box takes the 240-volt AC and converts it to 56-volt DC. The XTAR-Link EL6 power supply bought separately allows you to take a 12-volt DC source, say your car battery, and turn that into a 56-volt supply, but you still need that 12-volt source from a battery.
The new EL8 is a power solution in a box that also includes a battery. Running a Starlink from DC power saves around 30% of your battery capacity compared to converting from DC to AC to DC, allowing you to run your Starlink for longer.
Features
The EL8 is a robust industrial box with an LED readout, a few ports, and a switch. It includes a router, which you mount on the side of the box with the supplied power and ethernet cables. Also provided is a 240-volt charging power adapter.
You will find a convenient carry handle on the top of the box, but contrary to XTAR’s website, the review unit weighed 6.4kg, not the quoted 3.5 kg, with the router attached.
Starlink’s power requirement changes as you use it, with more power required on startup and variable power while it runs. The testing of the EL8 delivers around 10 hours of use. Inside the metal box is a 648Wh Lithium battery and what appears to be the EL6 mentioned above. Note that this type of Lithium battery is lighter but has a limited recharging cycle life versus LiFePo4 batteries.
The switch on the front of the EL8 powers the unit on and off. When on, an LED screen lights up with the current voltage. The battery voltage is 24 volts, similar to what trucks use, versus 12 volts for a passenger car. A table printed on the front of the case gives you an indication of your current battery capacity. 16.8 volts is empty, and 25.5 volts is full. A simple line of LEDs would have been a better way to show available capacity.
XTAR-Link EL8 power supply specifications
| Battery Capacity | 648 Wh |
| Charging voltage | 240 watts volts |
| Dimensions | 25 x 27x 15 cm |
| Weight | 6.4 kg |
| Price (RRP) | $1,270 On sale at the time of writing for $763.92 |
| Website | XTAR-Link |
| Warranty | 2 years |
Using the XTAR-Link EL8
Your Gen 3 Starlink antenna cable plugs directly into the EL8, drawing its power and providing internet access over the same ethernet cable. On the back of the case is a 12-volt power source to power the supplied Wi-Fi6 router. A small Ethernet cable connects the router to the EL8 box.
The operation and functionality of this solution are pretty simple. You have internet access once you plug everything in and put the internet password into your phone or computer, just like you do with the Starlink router. If this solution is used, the supplied Starlink router will become obsolete.
I use a Netgear M6 router, which allows you to seamlessly switch between 5G mobile coverage and an Ethernet internet source, in this case, Starlink. If power is a scarce resource and you have mobile coverage, you may not wish to turn your Starlink on.
If mobility is a priority, a Starlink Mini, although performance throttled, might be a better solution. It is lighter and smaller and can also be run from a USB power supply.
This product powers your Starlink from a battery, but I found several drawbacks.
The only current option to recharge the battery is a 240-volt power supply. This means you either need access to poles and wires or lose any power saving by charging from an inverter if you have a remote power set up, such as an RV. The EL8 needs a 12-volt charging solution.
The supplied 24-volt charging cable plug also can fit in the 12-volt power supply socket for the router. Damage could be done by mistake by plugging the supplied power supply directly into the router or mistaking trying to charge the battery in the 12-volt power output socket. The plugs should be different.
The EL8’s discounted price of $760 is high compared to a Bluetti AC70 portable power station’s price of $799 with 120 Wh more. The Bluetti would give you much more versatility in running your Starlink, charging your phone, or running a blender at the same time with USB, DC, and AC power available.
Who is the XTAR-Link EL8 for?
For travellers or remote workers with a Gen 3 Starlink who want a working day’s internet access from a dedicated battery, the XTAR-Link EL8 fits the bill. It works well and is simple to get running. The EL8’s weight is also the lightest solution per hour for powering a Starlink.
If you want to charge the EL8 after that working day, you need to be back at base with access to 240 volts. For a few dollars more, I recommend that you look at other power supplies.
The post Starlink XTAR-Link EL8 Power Station review: Charging quirks appeared first on GadgetGuy.
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