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Satellite & Internet Terms

Bandwidth
The volume of data your internet connection can handle at one time, much like the width of a pipe carrying water.
Band Steering
A router feature that automatically shifts your devices between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands for the best connection speed.
Cellular Failover
An automated network backup system that switches your devices over to a 4G/5G cellular router if your primary satellite connection experiences weather interruptions.
Data Throttling
When your internet provider intentionally slows down your connection speeds (often to under 1 Mbps) after you exceed your monthly data allowance. Learn more in our Data Management Guide.
Latency (Ping)
The delay time it takes for data to travel from your device to a satellite in space and back. Low latency (30–50ms on Starlink) is crucial for smooth video calls and gaming.
Line of Sight (LoS)
An unobstructed path between your Starlink dish and the open sky required to maintain an uninterrupted satellite internet connection.
Regional Roam Plan
A mobile satellite internet service plan (such as Starlink's 100GB tier) designed for travelers who move around and need high-speed data away from a fixed residential address.
VoIP (Voice over IP)
Making phone calls over your internet connection (like Wi-Fi calling) rather than using traditional cellular towers. See how it works in our Voice & Video Calling Guide.

Power & Electrical Terms

AC Inverter
An electronic device that converts 12V DC battery power into 120V household AC power. Because converting power wastes energy as heat, our Off-Grid Power Guide recommends bypassing it for DC gear.
Amp-Hours (Ah)
A unit of measure for battery capacity over time. For example, a 100Ah 12V battery can theoretically deliver 1 amp of current for 100 hours.
Ampere (Amp / A)
The unit used to measure the rate of electrical current flowing through a circuit or wire.
Boost Regulator (Step-Up Converter)
An electronic device that takes a lower DC voltage (like a fluctuating 12V battery) and boosts it up to a stable 24V stream to prevent equipment reboots.
Brownout
A sudden drop in electrical system voltage that can cause sensitive electronics like satellite terminals to experience unexpected reboots.
DC (Direct Current)
The natural electrical current stored in RV batteries and solar panels (typically 12V, 24V, or 48V), which devices like the Starlink Mini can use natively without an inverter.
Ground Loop
An unwanted electrical current loop created when two connected devices have different electrical ground potentials, causing interference or noise in mobile setups.
LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
A modern, lightweight, and extremely safe lithium battery chemistry that has largely replaced traditional heavy lead-acid batteries in RVs. Check out our LiFePO4 Battery Sizing Guide.
Parasitic Load (Vampire Draw)
The small, continuous electrical drain caused by inverters, standby lights, and USB ports even when your main appliances are turned off.
State of Charge (SoC)
The current energy level of your battery bank expressed as a percentage, from 0% (fully empty) to 100% (fully charged).
Standby Power
The minor electricity consumed by inverters, chargers, and routers while they are plugged in and turned on but not actively processing data.
USB-C Power Delivery (PD)
A fast-charging technology that allows USB-C cables and power banks to deliver high wattages (up to 100W+) to demanding equipment like laptops and satellite dishes. Read our USB-C PD Power Guide.
Voltage Drop
The loss of electrical pressure that happens when power travels through long or thin wires, which can cause sensitive gear like satellite dishes to reboot.
Watt-hours (Wh) vs. Watts (W)
Watts measure how fast a device uses power at any given moment, while Watt-hours measure total energy capacity over time. You can calculate your exact energy totals using our Off-Grid Solar & Battery Calculator.

Hardware & Mounting Terms

AWG (American Wire Gauge)
A standardized wire gauge system for sizing electrical cables. A lower number indicates a thicker wire capable of carrying more current over distance.
Cellular Booster
A hardware system using an exterior antenna and amplifier to boost weak 4G/5G signals inside your RV, often paired with satellite internet as a backup network.
DC Barrel Plug
A cylindrical common connector used to supply direct current power to electronic devices, such as the power input jack on the Starlink Mini.
E-Marker Chip
A tiny microchip built into certified high-wattage USB-C cables that communicates safely with your power bank to allow safe 100W power delivery.
Neodymium Magnet
An exceptionally strong rare-earth permanent magnet often encased in rubber boots to mount items like satellite dishes securely to vehicle roofs without drilling holes, as covered in our Mounting Guide.
Snow Melt Mode
An automated feature inside the Starlink app that heats the dish to melt snow. Because it spikes power consumption past 60W, we recommend turning it off to save battery power off-grid.

Solar & Charging Terms

Depth of Discharge (DoD)
The percentage of a battery's total capacity that has been discharged relative to its overall maximum rating.
Maximum Power Point (MPP)
The exact operating point on a solar panel's electrical curve where it generates the highest possible power output under current sunlight conditions.
MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking)
A smart solar charge controller that extracts the maximum possible electrical energy from your solar panels and safely charges your battery bank.
Peak Sun Hours
The number of hours per day during which solar irradiance averages 1,000 watts per square meter, used to estimate how much energy solar panels will produce.
PWM (Pulse Width Modulation)
An older, simpler type of solar charge controller that regulates battery charging by rapidly switching the circuit on and off.

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