I think it's a great idea to set it up before you head out on the trip, just to familiarize yourself with Starlink, and to make sure everything works properly. You won't use very much data doing a simple setup test. What I would recommend is to set it up, let it download the latest software update (this doesn't count against your 50GB of data), and make sure it can get online. Maybe run a speed test and be amazed by the performance 🙂 Then you can power it down and it's ready to go for the trip.
If you purchased through Starlink directly, the unit should be ready to go with a subscription and everything. When you power it on you'll activate service, and you'll be charged the first month. If you bought from a retailer like Home Depot, your unit will still need to be activated. Activation is creating a Starlink account and purchasing a subscription.
