When the site isn't permanent, the roof isn't accessible, or the antenna needs to be up in minutes — the BTD-12, BTD-18, and Starlink Portable Mount are the answer. No tools, adjustable feet for any terrain, and folds down for transport.
A permanent roof mount or in-ground pole is the right solution for a permanent installation. A tactical deploy mount is the right solution for everything else.
Standard non-penetrating roof mounts are engineered for flat surfaces with horizontal ballast trays and level ground. They're the right choice when the installation will stay put for years. But many real-world scenarios don't fit that description: construction site trailers on gravel, emergency response staging areas on uneven terrain, temporary event venues, remote field locations, and installations that need to move regularly between sites.
Tactical deploy mounts solve the problems that standard mounts can't. Adjustable feet compensate for unlevel terrain without shimming or leveling work. The folding design means the entire mount packs down to transport dimensions. No tools means a single person can have the mount up and operational in minutes rather than hours. And the same mount that goes out for a one-day event can serve as a semi-permanent installation at a construction site for months.
Uneven terrain: Any surface that isn't a flat level roof or poured concrete. Gravel, dirt, grass, sloped pavement — the adjustable feet level the platform without any site preparation.
Temporary or mobile deployments: Any installation that will be relocated, whether in days, weeks, or months. The mount folds, packs, and redeploys without any permanent site modification.
No roof access: When the installation needs to be at ground level or on a surface that isn't a building roof — parking lots, open fields, staging areas, or any location where a roof mount simply isn't an option.
Two general-purpose tactical deploy mounts and one purpose-built Starlink portable mount. All fold for transport, all use adjustable feet, all deploy without tools.
The Baird Tactical Deploy-12 (BTD-12) is a compact, folding mount that assembles with no tools and no outside hardware. Adjustable feet and legs create a stable platform on rough or uneven terrain — gravel, dirt, grass, or sloped surfaces. Supports satellite dishes up to 1.2m, wireless antennas, and cameras. The BTD-12 is the right choice when you need a capable general-purpose mount in the smallest possible footprint.
The Baird Tactical Deploy-18 (BTD-18) is the larger tactical deploy mount, assembling in under 5 minutes in either a 3.5' or 10' tall configuration. Like the BTD-12, it folds for compact transport and uses adjustable feet and legs for stable deployment on rough terrain. The BTD-18 is the right choice when antenna elevation matters — satellite dishes up to 1.8m, wireless antennas that need line-of-sight clearance, or any application where height above nearby obstructions is needed.
The Baird Starlink Portable Mount is purpose-built for Starlink Standard Kit and Flat High Performance antennas on any terrain. Folds flat for transport, deploys with adjustable feet on uneven ground, and features captive hardware so no small components are lost in transit. The 2.37" O.D. mast accepts both Starlink adapter types. Extra space on the pole allows an enclosure, battery, or solar panel to be mounted directly to the mount — keeping all Starlink system components on a single self-contained platform.
All three fold for transport and use adjustable feet. The differences are mast height, equipment compatibility, and whether you're mounting Starlink specifically or general-purpose antennas and cameras.
| Feature | BTD-12 | BTD-18 | Starlink Portable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mast O.D. | 2.37"–2.88" | 2.37"–4.50" | 2.37" |
| Mast height | 3' | 3.5' or 10' (tall mast adapter) | Standard configuration |
| Max satellite dish | Up to 1.2m satellite, wireless, cameras | Up to 1.8m satellite, wireless, cameras | Starlink Standard + Flat HP only |
| Assembly time | No tools, quick | Under 5 minutes | No tools, quick |
| Adjustable feet | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Folds for transport | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Captive hardware | ✓ Yes — captive | ✓ Yes — captive | ✓ Yes — captive |
| Pole accessories | Enclosure, battery, solar mountable | Enclosure, battery, solar mountable | Enclosure, battery, solar mountable |
| 10-year warranty | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Mounting Starlink? Use the Starlink Portable Mount — purpose-built for both antenna types with captive hardware and the option to mount a battery or enclosure to the pole for a self-contained system.
Need 10' of height? Use the BTD-18 — the only option in the tactical deploy line that reaches 10' with the tall mast adapter.
Everything else? Use the BTD-12 — satellite dishes up to 1.2m, wireless antennas, and cameras in a compact no-tools platform.
Tactical deploy mounts serve any scenario where speed of deployment, mobility, or terrain adaptability is more important than permanent installation.
First responder staging areas, emergency operations centers, and disaster recovery sites where communications need to be up within minutes on whatever surface is available — parking lots, fields, or damaged sites where permanent infrastructure is unavailable.
Job sites need internet connectivity and surveillance cameras from day one, before any permanent infrastructure exists. The BTD-12 or Starlink Portable deploys on the gravel or dirt of an active construction site and moves as the site evolves — no roof, no foundation required.
Mining camps, forestry operations, agricultural remote sites, and any location where temporary connectivity or monitoring is needed without permanent infrastructure. The Starlink Portable with battery/solar provides a fully self-contained off-grid connectivity platform.
Outdoor events, temporary sporting venues, festivals, and pop-up facilities needing satellite, wireless, or Starlink connectivity for the duration. Deploy before the event, pack up after — no trace left at the venue site.
Security cameras on job sites, temporary surveillance deployments, and construction time-lapse installations. Cameras mount directly to the mast — the BTD-12 for compact deployments, the BTD-18 when more elevation is needed. No roof access or penetrating anchors required.
Equipment that serves multiple locations on a rotating basis — inspection crews, field service teams, or mobile operations where the same mount needs to be at Site A this week and Site B next week. One mount, infinitely redeployable.
Start with what you're mounting, then consider height and special requirements.
Purpose-built for Starlink Standard Kit and Flat HP antennas. Captive hardware prevents lost components in the field. Option to add a battery, enclosure, or solar panel to the pole for a completely self-contained off-grid platform. Select your antenna adapter type when ordering.
Captive hardware, no-tools assembly, compact footprint, adjustable feet for any terrain. Supports satellite dishes up to 1.2m, wireless antennas, and cameras. The right choice when portability and quick deployment matter more than height.
Assembles in under 5 minutes in either 3.5' or 10' configuration. Supports satellite dishes up to 1.8m and mast O.D. from 2.37" to 4.50". The right choice when a larger antenna, more elevation, or taller line-of-sight clearance is needed.
If 3' of elevation is sufficient for your application — most satellite dish installs, most camera deployments, most Starlink-adjacent general purpose uses — the BTD-12 is more compact and easier to transport. If you need more height for wireless line-of-sight or have obstructions in the immediate area, the BTD-18 is the right choice.
All three mounts follow the same basic sequence — unfold, level, extend mast, attach antenna. The whole process takes minutes, not hours.
Select a position with a clear sky view for the antenna — for satellite dishes, use the Starlink app or dish finder to confirm the sky view before fully deploying. For wireless antennas, confirm line-of-sight to the target site or tower. The adjustable feet will handle uneven terrain, but you still want a position without major overhead obstructions.
Unfold the mount base and spread the legs to their deployed position. Place the mount at the selected location. For the Starlink Portable, all hardware is captive — nothing to keep track of during this step.
Use the adjustable feet to level the base on uneven terrain. The feet extend or retract to compensate for slope or irregular surfaces — no shimming, no site preparation needed. Confirm the mast will be plumb before tightening the feet.
For the BTD-18 with tall mast adapter, extend and secure the mast sections per the included assembly instructions. For all mounts, confirm the mast is vertical before fully tightening. The BTD-12 and Starlink Portable require no additional mast assembly steps.
For the Starlink Portable, slide the selected Starlink adapter (Standard Kit or Flat HP) over the 2.37" O.D. mast and attach the antenna. For the BTD-12 or BTD-18, attach the appropriate adapter for your antenna type to the mast pipe and mount the antenna per the manufacturer's instructions.
Route cables down the mast and secure with cable ties. For the Starlink Portable with an enclosure or battery mounted to the pole, route the Starlink Ethernet cable into the enclosure before final positioning. Commission the antenna or Starlink system and confirm signal quality from the deployed position.
All three mounts can be moved with the antenna or Starlink system still attached. Fold the legs in and lower the main center section — no need to disconnect the antenna for short moves or repositioning. For transport over longer distances, lower the mast fully and fold the base legs flat. Total pack-down time is typically under 5 minutes, and captive hardware means nothing gets lost in the process.
The BTD-12 is the compact tactical deploy mount with a 3' mast in 2.37"–2.88" O.D., captive hardware, no-tools assembly, and support for satellite dishes up to 1.2m, wireless antennas, and cameras. The BTD-18 is the larger version, assembles in under 5 minutes, supports satellite dishes up to 1.8m, and is available in 3.5' or 10' configurations with mast O.D. from 2.37" to 4.50" — the right choice when a larger antenna or more elevation is needed.
No. The Starlink Portable Mount is designed for tool-free assembly. It uses captive hardware that stays with the mount during transport, so no small components are ever lost in the field. Adjustable feet level the platform on uneven terrain without any tools or shims. The entire deployment — unfold, level, attach antenna — takes just a few minutes.
Yes. The Starlink Portable Mount has space on the pole to mount an enclosure, battery, or solar panel directly to the mount — making it possible to build a fully self-contained off-grid Starlink platform. This is particularly useful for remote deployments where running power to the mount location is not practical.
Yes. Both mounts work well for semi-permanent deployments lasting weeks or months. The feet have holes that allow the mount to be staked to the ground for added security in soft terrain. The feet are also large enough to place sandbags on top for additional ballast in exposed or windy locations. When the installation is complete, remove stakes or sandbags and the mount folds back to transport configuration with no site modification left behind.
The Starlink Portable Mount supports both the Standard Kit (kickstand) and Flat High Performance antennas. The antenna adapter is an optional add-on selected when ordering — choose the Standard Kit adapter or Flat High Performance adapter. Note that the Starlink Pipe Adapter v2 is not included in the base package but can be added when ordering. The mast pipe is 2.37" O.D., compatible with Baird Starlink adapters.