If you need to be connected to the internet but there's no Wi-Fi or cellular signal nearby, and not even an Ethernet port in sight, then you have to look up to the skies -- to the satellites whooshing 340 miles above your head at dizzying speeds.

I've tried a number of systems, from basic messenger units like the Garmin inReach Messenger Plus  and Spot X  to satellite routers like the Iridium Go! , and while they have their place, they come with some pretty severe limitations (cost, data transfer speeds, and overall flexibility are high on that list). This is why I've been trialing the Starlink Mini  a portable satellite comms unit that is a dish and Wi-Fi router all built into a small package measuring 11.75 inches by 10.2 inches and 1.45 inches thick.

All you need to do is find a clear patch of sky, add power, and you're surfing the web again (or whatever the kids say these days).

But it's that "add power" bit that can become a bit tricky when you are miles away from a power outlet.

If you have a vehicle handy, then you can use the car's 12V system to power the dish  (drawbacks here are that you could run the battery flat, leaving you stranded), or haul a power station around with you.

Don't have a convenient vehicle and your options become more limited. A power station is the obvious choice, but hauling even the smallest one becomes tedious pretty quickly (ask me how I know), and it is overkill if all you want is a few hours of runtime.