That sounds frustrating, but it's not entirely surprising for a high-density, urban location like NYC.

The general consensus from reviews and testing of the Starlink Mini, and Starlink in general, often points out that performance can be significantly challenging in large cities due to a few key factors:

Obstructions: The primary issue in a dense urban environment like NYC is getting a clear, unobstructed view of the sky. Tall buildings, which are everywhere in the city, can easily block the satellite signals. Starlink, especially the smaller Mini dish, is very sensitive to obstructions, and even partial blockage can cause speeds to drop significantly or lead to frequent disconnections.

Congestion: High-density areas, even those served by Starlink, often experience network congestion due to a large number of users competing for the same satellite capacity. Starlink's more portable plans (like Roam or Mini Roam) often have lower network priority than the standard residential plan, meaning speeds will be throttled during peak hours in congested locations.

Intended Use: The Starlink Mini is primarily marketed for portability, travel, remote work, and off-grid use (like RVs, camping, or cabins) where traditional broadband is unavailable and a clear sky view is much easier to achieve. It's not designed to compete with or replace typical fiber or cable internet in a major city, which usually offers higher speeds and reliability without the obstruction issues.

In summary, the disappointing results in NYC are likely due to the combination of physical obstructions (buildings) and network congestion, which are two of the biggest hurdles for any satellite internet service in a major metropolitan area.