Yes we know about the Geofencing in South Africa and Namibia. We were expecting it would not work at all in those two countries. But it is interesting that you could get some reception...we are registered in the USA with the Starlink Mini...and we will be in South Africa for a few days after our Botswana 35 days or so...so we will try it in So Africa and report back. Thank You for the info. Bob
Yes we know about the Geofencing in South Africa and Namibia. We were expecting it would not work at all in those two countries. But it is interesting that you could get some reception...we are registered in the USA with the Starlink Mini...and we will be in South Africa for a few days after our Botswana 305 days or so...so we will try it in So Africa and report back. Thank You for the info. Bob
Bear in mind while I was there Starlink was not blocking users yet. After we left they started blocking users - most of whom had created accounts pretending to reside in other countries - and signed up for local roaming accounts.
Typically they would only block the users if they had not moved for 2 months, indicating that they (the user) needed to change their registered address if they were no longer residing at the registered address. So you may find your mini works for a period of time in SA before it gets disconnected.
I would advise you to not use the mini in SA prior to going to Botswana to avoid any problems if you get disconnected while in SA.
Have a good trip in Botswana - did I read the right 305 days in Botswana ? Jealous!
My error in the time we will be there...it is 35 days (and not 305!)...apologies a typo. So we won't have a problem with Starlink trying to get us to change our home address - we won't be in Botswana for two months (only a bit more than a month).
We agree with you about not activating Starlink (mini) until we arrive in Botswana. We are driving from Johannesburg to Maun...using a Toyota Fortuner that we added internet (WiFi) to for about $7 extra per day. We will use that OR get eSim for our cell phones to map our progress (Google maps). We tried the South African version of same (Tracks 4 Africa) for the past 2-3 years, and we were/are not impressed. We think Google maps is better and faster than Tracks 4 Africa - but here it is if anyone is interested: https://shop.tracks4africa.co.za/ - we do not recommend based upon several long driving trips using it.
===================
Meanwhile a couple more questions about the Starlink Mini:
I've read when it is placed directly on the ground (or any surface) it can heat up...causing the unit ("Mini") to shut down. Has that been your experience?
Are there any add-on items (like a case; a longer USD C cord) that you would recommend?
My error in the time we will be there...it is 35 days (and not 305!)...apologies a typo. So we won't have a problem with Starlink trying to get us to change our home address - we won't be in Botswana for two months (only a bit more than a month).
We agree with you about not activating Starlink (mini) until we arrive in Botswana. We are driving from Johannesburg to Maun...using a Toyota Fortuner that we added internet (WiFi) to for about $3 extra per day. We will use that OR get eSim for our cell phones to map our progress (Google maps). We tried the South African version of same (Tracks 4 Africa) for the past 2-3 years, and we were/are not impressed. We think Google maps is better and faster than Tracks 4 Africa - but here it is if anyone is interested: https://shop.tracks4africa.co.za/ - we do not recommend based upon several long driving trips using it.
===================
Meanwhile a couple more questions about the Starlink Mini:
I've read when it is placed directly on the ground (or any surface) it can heat up...causing the unit ("Mini") to shut down. Has that been your experience?
Are there any add-on items (like a case; a longer USD C cord) that you would recommend?
A bit of advice on using Google Maps - before you leave the states go into Google Maps and download (in sections that overlap - and you can also label each download as you like) onto you phone the areas you'll be traveling.... that way your maps will work on GPS regardless of having internet access (including the ability to save any points of interest/waypoints). I do this all the time when I am traversing around parts of Africa and it works perfectly.
My error in the time we will be there...it is 35 days (and not 305!)...apologies a typo. So we won't have a problem with Starlink trying to get us to change our home address - we won't be in Botswana for two months (only a bit more than a month).
We agree with you about not activating Starlink (mini) until we arrive in Botswana. We are driving from Johannesburg to Maun...using a Toyota Fortuner that we added internet (WiFi) to for about $7 extra per day. We will use that OR get eSim for our cell phones to map our progress (Google maps). We tried the South African version of same (Tracks 4 Africa) for the past 2-3 years, and we were/are not impressed. We think Google maps is better and faster than Tracks 4 Africa - but here it is if anyone is interested: https://shop.tracks4africa.co.za/ - we do not recommend based upon several long driving trips using it.
===================
Meanwhile a couple more questions about the Starlink Mini:
I've read when it is placed directly on the ground (or any surface) it can heat up...causing the unit ("Mini") to shut down. Has that been your experience?
Are there any add-on items (like a case; a longer USD C cord) that you would recommend?
With regard to maps - I use TomTom GO which works offline. You have to purchase and download the maps while you have internet. The problem we had in the past was that the mobile networks can go down so you want something that will work without internet access. Even with Starlink I would want a offline option just in case.
For bush navigation - we always do self drive trips - I have developed my own navigation application. There are two components - a macOS desktop application that is used to create the maps from satellite images - you can pick the resolution you want - and an iPhone application that is used for navigation. Depending on the resolution these maps can be GBs in size but are tiled to allow display on devices like iPhones with limited memory.
This way I have a detailed offline satellite image map which allows me to see the actual terrain, trees, dunes, etc.. Sometimes the road may disappear completely if it is a sandy area and there has been wind and having a satellite map allows us to find a way through dunes, bush etc. until the path or roads become evident again.
We used the standard gen2 (I think) Starlink mounted on the roof of the car - the mini wasn't available then. It was winter so midday was around 35 degrees centigrade but it worked flawlessly.
Note that the Gen2 has a separate router which was inside the car - also 35 degrees !! ha ha... The mini has the router built into the panel so it might overheat more easily.
I had mentioned here about our trip to the Sabi Sands in South Africa last June. I rarely print, let alone publish, my images. But coming back with thousands of images, I started thinking about putting together a high-quality coffee-table style photo book with some of our images...
The problem is that producing a book like that quickly becomes cost-prohibitive. It would be beautiful, but realistically priced out of reach for most people, which means only a very limited audience would ever see it.
That’s when another idea came up. Instead of a pure photo book, what if we had our two boys research and write about all the animals and birds that we saw, and we combined their writing with our images? The print and paper quality wouldn’t be at the same level, but the result could be far more accessible, and hopefully more engaging, for a wider audience of wildlife enthusiasts.
So this became our family project; a book that blends photography with natural history, built around my photos (and a few of my wife's) and written by our boys.
If you’re curious, I’d love for you to take a look. And if you enjoy it, I’d certainly be grateful for a review...
And here is the Table of Contents, in case anyone is interested...
And in case anyone is curious on the pricing and may not be familiar with Amazon KDP, Amazon calculates royalty at 60% of the selling price, and then subtracts the "Printing Cost". For example, for the Hard Cover version, the printing cost is $16.13 (given the premium paper and color version). So with every book sold, our boys will get only $6 (37*0.6-16.13). So I've told them that they can count on the money for a couple of ice creams 😅
cambyses wrote:
And here is the Table of Contents, in case anyone is interested...
And in case anyone is curious on the pricing and may not be familiar with Amazon KDP, Amazon calculates royalty at 60% of the selling price, and then subtracts the "Printing Cost". For example, for the Hard Cover version, the printing cost is $16.13 (given the premium paper and color version). So with every book sold, our boys will get only $6 (37*0.6-16.13). So I've told them that they can count on the money for a couple of ice creams 😅
Nice work. I'm assuming these books are print on demand or did you have to fork out money to get a minimum amount of books printed for the Amazon warehouse?
Have you made your coffee table book yet? If yes, which company did you decide to go with?
artsupreme wrote:
Nice work. I'm assuming these books are print on demand or did you have to fork out money to get a minimum amount of books printed for the Amazon warehouse?
Have you made your coffee table book yet? If yes, which company did you decide to go with?
Thank you so much...
Yes, they are print on demand...
And no, I have not done any coffee table books yet.
How did the quality turn out? Do you feel the color accuracy of the printing went well, or did you have to go through a couple proofs before you landed on the final copy?
artsupreme wrote:
How did the quality turn out? Do you feel the color accuracy of the printing went well, or did you have to go through a couple proofs before you landed on the final copy?
I only got one proof and all the pictures already looked fairly decent in terms of color accuracy and very close to what I was expecting. Of course, when exporting to PDF, I already used CMYK / U.S. Web Coated (SWOP) v2 profile, embedded in the PDF. This is apparently the standard profile that Amazon KDP printers use. Obviously it does not have the full RGB gamut, but again the colors were not very different (perhaps just slightly darker) from what I was seeing in my PDF on my monitor.
Just got back from trip to Tanzania (Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti), Kenya (Tsavo East, Amboseli),
Uganda ( Bwindi Forest - Gorilla Trek)
If you have any questions feel free to ask...
PIOK wrote:
Just got back from trip to Tanzania (Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti), Kenya (Tsavo East, Amboseli),
Uganda ( Bwindi Forest - Gorilla Trek)
If you have any questions feel free to ask...
Tell us about your experiences in the different areas when you have time.
artsupreme wrote:
They've been mentioned many times in this thread as a good tour operator. Alan K here seems to be a regular with them, maybe he can chime in.
Love them. Have used them 4 times. Excellent lodge choices. Excellent drivers, and the photo hosts are very knowledgeable guides. Vehicles always nearly new. Usually one person in a row in the Land Cruiser, so lots of room for gear and easy to change from side to side. No complaints whatsoever with Pangolin. Will go again.
I am off to the Pantanal in July, and although not with Pangolin, they just told me they would be offering the Pantanal in the future.
