Key Points:
- Insty Connect has introduced two new omnidirectional rooftop cellular antennas: the Drum and Mini Drum.
- The Drum is positioned as Insty’s highest-performance omnidirectional antenna, while the Mini Drum offers a smaller, lower-profile option.
- Insty Squared remains a solid, high-end antenna option and is still offered.
- A new Hot-Standby cellular plan allows users to pay for data only on days it’s used.
Insty Connect is a small, family-run company that focuses on building cellular connectivity solutions specifically designed for RVers and other mobile users.
One of Insty Connect’s defining design philosophies has always been integrating the cellular modem directly into the outdoor antenna. By placing the modem at the antenna instead of inside the RV, Insty minimizes signal loss from long antenna cable runs and avoids the complexity of routing multiple antenna cables indoors.
Insty has a history of rapid product improvement and iteration based on customer needs and feedback, and this continues with the introduction of two new omnidirectional antenna enclosures—the Drum and the Mini Drum. Additionally, Insty offers a new mounting base for these enclosures that can also be used to mount a Starlink Mini. Insty Connect also updated its cellular data plan offerings with a new “Hot-Standby” option designed for on-demand use.
This update gives Insty customers more flexibility in both hardware selection and ongoing connectivity costs, particularly for those who want a ready-to-use backup connection without paying for full-time cellular service.
Let’s take a closer look at what’s new.
Table of Contents
Video Story: Drum, Mini Drum, and Hot-Standby Plans
(Coming Soon)
New Omnidirectional Antenna Designs: Drum and Mini Drum
The Drum and Mini Drum expand Insty’s omnidirectional offerings beyond the Insty Squared.
According to Insty, the Drum is its best-performing omnidirectional antenna to date, delivering improved overall performance while retaining the same no-aim, always-ready usability for which Insty antennas are known. This makes it particularly appealing for full-time RVers and those who frequently move between locations.
The Mini Drum offers a more compact, lower-profile option, but it makes some trade-offs to achieve its smaller size. It is intended for installs where height, wind profile, or available mounting space are more limiting factors.
The Insty Squared antenna remains a solid, long-range option and is still the default antenna for Insty systems.
New Mounting Option with Starlink Mini Compatibility
Alongside the new antennas, Insty has introduced the Insty Drum X Mount, a new base compatible with the Drum, Mini Drum, and Starlink Mini.
This shared mounting approach can simplify rooftop installs for users running both cellular and satellite internet, reducing roof clutter and minimizing the number of separate mounting points required.
For users running both cellular and Starlink, this reduces install complexity and roof clutter.
The new X mount is also designed to attach to an RV or vehicle roof with magnets or VHB (Very High Bond) tape, so users don't need to put screw holes in their roof.
New Hot-Standby Cellular Data Plan
Insty also introduced a new Hot-Standby cellular data plan designed for backup or occasional use.
The Hot-Standby plan allows users to keep an active SIM on the network for $10 per month, with service activating only on days it is used at $4 per day. Once activated, the plan remains active until midnight that day and includes unlimited high-speed data.
For users who rely primarily on another connection—such as Starlink—but want cellular available as a fallback, this approach provides flexibility without the cost of a full-time cellular plan. It's also an option attractive to weekenders who can keep a plan active at a low cost and then have inexpensive unlimited data available for weekend or short trips.
Pricing and Availability
The Drum and Mini Drum are available as standalone antenna enclosures, with mounting hardware sold separately.
The Drum antenna enclosure is priced at $50, while the Mini Drum antenna enclosure is priced at $40. These prices are for the antenna enclosure only and do not include a mount or cellular modem.
The Insty Drum X Mount is sold separately for $50 for the VHB version and $80 for the magnetic version.
Customers should verify compatibility with their existing Insty modem hardware before ordering.
As with other Insty products, hardware is not tied to Insty data plans, and users may bring their own SIM and cellular service if desired.
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Concluding Thoughts
With the addition of the Drum and Mini Drum, Insty Connect is expanding its antenna lineup in a way that adds choice without forcing existing users into unnecessary upgrades.
The new Drum and Mini Drum offer more flexible installation options than the Squared, and will be especially attractive to those who need a magnetic mount or don't want to drill screw holes in their RV roof.
The new Insty Drum X Mount and its compatibility with the Starlink Mini make it a flexible option.
Finally, the Hot-Standby data plan offers a highly flexible and attractive option, ideal for weekenders or as a backup for a more robust system.
For more information:
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