The Starlink Mini X kit comes with an extra router, but do you really need it?

The extra router can be useful, but getting your main satellite dish positioned properly is more important.

mailcaroline/Shutterstock Starlink has brought satellite internet to the masses in a real way. It's made it a mainstream option for the first time, with hardware that can provide a fast connection in places where fixed broadband either isn't available or isn't practical. You can run your entire home network off a Starlink internet connection, with speeds and latency that can rival traditional ISPs.

The Starlink Mini, the smallest dish that the company offers, makes it entirely portable. You get a dish and a Wi-Fi router in one compact unit. It's an obvious fit for campers and RV owners, or for anyone who needs to get online away from their home setup (although you can use it at home if you pay more ). With the Starlink Mini X, you also get a second router, the Router Mini, added to your kit. Whether Starlink subscribers really need this extra router depends on what you're using your setup for.

ftrp128/Shutterstock You might think that you need the Router Mini to connect wirelessly to your Starlink dish, but that isn't the case. Starlink already has integrated Wi-Fi 5 connectivity. If you bring your phone or your laptop along, they should connect to your portable Starlink without any problems.

It's not a question of distance, either. The built-in Starlink router in the Mini is reportedly able to offer up to 1,200 square feet of coverage, with support for 128 different devices simultaneously. Those are very generous numbers for a portable Wi-Fi router of any spec, although in reality, your own mileage with Starlink will vary — especially if you're connecting with obstacles and interference in your path.

The Router Mini is a bit of an upgrade on the built-in Wi-Fi , though. It's Wi-Fi 6, rated for up to 1,300 square feet of coverage and up to 235 devices. That's a serious amount of connections for a portable setup. For someone traveling in an RV, that's almost certainly more than you'll need — but the extra speed might come in handy if your devices support Wi-Fi .

The Router Mini can join the integrated Wi-Fi in mesh mode , either wirelessly or over an Ethernet connection. While faster internal speeds are nice, it'll be the positioning that counts. You can place your Router Mini in a better location, giving you a stronger Wi-Fi signal for your devices, and ensuring you max out the Starlink internet connection's bandwidth. It won't magically improve the satellite connection, or give it twice the range, but you do get an extra access point for better internal connectivity.

Joni Hanebutt/Shutterstock Starlink dishes need a good, clear view of the sky to be able to maintain a line of sight with satellites in orbits. Unfortunately, the world is filled with obstructions that could block that. Trees are an obvious one, but so are buildings or big hills.

For Starlink Mini, that means putting your dish in a place that might make sense for a satellite dish, but less so for a Wi-Fi router. That's where the Router Mini becomes an obviously useful extra.