How To Set Up Starlink Home Internet In The Right System

Almost anywhere you can see the sky, you can access fast internet speeds with the satellite-based Starlink service. Here is what you should know and how to begin.

How Fast is Starlink? How Fast is Starlink?

I have spent over two years testing Starlink, evaluating the newest hardware for the dish and router, measuring Starlink speeds, and determining whether the well-known satellite internet service is worthy of all those high customer satisfaction ratings and Best ISP honours.

I’m a customer as well as a reviewer, though. My rural Idaho home is connected to the internet by Starlink, which gives me the dependability and speed I need to pursue a career in tech journalism. Along with connecting my wife and children, it offers fast internet for phones, tablets, smart TVs, and game consoles. And while the service is excellent in and of itself, I can tell you that the most difficult part is setting up the router and dish.

It is possible to find expert Starlink installation services. If you are prepared to pay a little more, you can schedule one via Starlink’s own website. However, installing it yourself is free if you don’t mind using some simple power tools and are comfortable climbing a ladder. This is our guide to installing the Starlink router, configuring your dish, and purchasing the Starlink instrument. Furthermore, we’ll proposition some accessory consultation on how to get the most out of Starlink’s services.

What is Starlink?

Elon Musk’s commercial space company, SpaceX, proposes a satellite internet service called Starlink, for those who are unaccustomed to it. Practically someone can get high-speed internet through the use of thousands of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites, accompanied by those who live far from the typical cable and fibre networks that are used by the ascendency of ISPs. In rural areas where satellite and DSL are your only options, it performs significantly better than those alternatives, despite not being as fast.

As a full-time Starlink user, I’ve been a satisfied customer even though it’s not a perfect solution and can be a little pricey from month to month. Our thorough review contains more information about Starlink internet plans, service, and equipment.

How to Get Starlink

Now more than ever, getting Starlink is simple. Installation kits are now available through stores like Walmart, Target, Home Depot, and Best Buy, eliminating the waitlists and limited supply of previous years. Starlink is prepared to deliver quick service wherever you reside in North America (and a large portion of the world).

Additionally, it’s more reasonably priced now than it has ever been. Basic equipment for the installation kit used to cost $599, making it a significant investment. That first fell to $499 and is currently $299, which is slightly more than half of the original cost. Customers in certain regions where Starlink has additional capacity might even be eligible for a credit on their monthly bills, which would represent an additional $100 equipment discount.

How Much Does Starlink Cost?

Moreover, those monthly expenses are substantial. The monthly cost of residential service is $120, which is more than the typical cable internet bill. Beyond the internet itself, though, you do get a lot for your money. Starlink has no data cap, to start. There will never be an overage fee if you use that fast satellite service for anything, including work, school, streaming, and gaming, day or night.

Second, there are no contracts needed for Starlink. The Starlink app is how you sign up for the service, and you pay each month. Anytime you want, you can pause or cancel your subscription. Additionally, the above chart displays other Starlink internet plans for specific situations, such as RV roaming or nautical use. However, for the majority of users, the Starlink residential plan is ideal. To add interest, Starlink might launch a new family plan that would allow customers to manage all of their subscriptions through a single family account and pay a single bill, as well as discounts for adding additional subscriptions (such as a Roam plan for the family RV).

Starlink Installation Kit Contents

The Starlink installation kit includes a Starlink router base unit and a Starlink dish with a kickstand, so you’re ready to go. Here is more information about the newest Starlink equipment. It also comes with a 75-foot Starlink cable to connect the router to the dish and a Starlink power cable for the base unit.

Starlink cables are also available in longer lengths through the Starlink store if you require something longer. Additional accessories are offered by Starlink, such as various mounting hardware types and adapters for standard Ethernet connections with other devices. (To find out more, see our guide to Starlink accessories.)

The package contains a fairly basic instruction sheet with no text and illustrations, but it also contains a QR code that takes you to Starlink’s support website. You may assume that all you have to do is plug in the router and power adapter and aim the dish at the sky after reading the instructions. It’s a bit more nuanced than that, though. You’ll also need to properly position the dish, mount it using a Starlink dish mount, and probably run a cable through an exterior wall. Instructions for each of these steps are available here. For our best advice on installing Starlink, continue reading.

How to Install Starlink

1. Before You Buy, Find a Mounting Location

You can determine whether you have a suitable location for mounting a Starlink dish even before you order the installation kit. Simply scan the sky using the Starlink Obstruction app, which is available for free on both iOS and Android devices. The Starlink apps for iPhone and Android can be downloaded and used for free. The instructions are simple enough to follow, but the Starlink app has an interactive tool that assists you in determining and verifying the correct placement for a new dish. At least 110 degrees of clear space above and around the dish is required, as is an unhindered view of the sky. Maintaining a connection with passing satellites requires doing this.

A rooftop, an open field, or any other raised structure (like a pole) above obstacles like trees, buildings, and fences are some places to mount. You scan the viewing area of the dish with the camera on your phone when using the Starlink app. The procedure entails aiming the camera at the sky, which might necessitate some ingenious placement on your part in order to see the screen and control the camera. The camera and the dish should ideally be positioned roughly in the same way.

You are guided through this process by the obstruction-scanning feature of the app, which involves aiming the camera at the sky and then sweeping around the outer edges of that viewable area. Within the dish’s field of view, the app displays green .s on the screen to indicate areas that have not yet been scanned. A convenient arrow indicates which area needs to be scanned next. The app requires some time to process the data after you have scanned a sufficient portion of the sky. Following a brief period of calculation, it indicates whether or not you can expect a favourable reception from that position.

Snow is another factor to take into account. Although the Starlink dish’s snow melt feature effectively keeps the dish’s surface clear, you should think about whether it could become an obstruction if you anticipate a lot of snow piling up around the desired location.

2. Unbox Starlink

Make sure you have everything you need before beginning the quick and simple process of unpacking the Starlink install kit.

• Starlink dish
• Starlink router
• 75-foot Starlink cable
• Power adapter

You might only need that if you’re putting your dish up in a yard or next to an RV. Setting the dish on any level superficies with a clear view of the sky is implausibly simple thanks to the built-in kickstand. Furthermore, the kickstand has characteristic holes that can be used to strengthen it with screws or stakes for a more permanent installation. Nevertheless, the essential mounting hardware may need to be purchased from the Starlink store if you wish to mount your Starlink dish on a wall or roof.

I installed my Starlink dish on a mast that was already there from the previous homeowner’s satellite TV dish. I had to order a Starlink pipe adapter separately from my Starlink installation kit in order to do that.

3. Connect the Router

Connecting your router is a prerequisite for getting your dish operational. You should set up the router first because it supplies power to the dish and allows communication with it. While the previous model had the power adapter built into the device, the newly redesigned router has an external power adapter and Wi-Fi 6. Sitting on a table or shelf, the design functions adequately, but if you want the equipment out of the way, you might want to purchase a mounting bracket from the Starlink store.

4. Connect the Dish

The dish will then be connected to the router. That might seem a little counterintuitive, given that you still need to mount the dish, but before you can position your dish correctly for mounting, it must be turned on and linked to your Starlink app. The Starlink cable may need to be run through an open window for an outdoor installation, or you may already have a hole drilled in the wall through which a cable can be fed. Regardless, you will need to have enough cable to reach the mounting location from your router, plus a little extra for adjusting.

5. Mount the Dish

Once your position has been verified and scanned, it’s time to mount the dish. Simply setting the dish mount on the ground is all that is required for simple installations. The kickstand that comes with the kit will work well for some roof mounts, but most will require something else. A pivot mount for sloping roofs, a ridgeline mount for rooftop peaks, or even a wall mount. I needed a pipe adapter in order to mount my dish on the satellite dish mast that was already in place, as was previously mentioned.

The dish must be close enough to your router to be able to be connected with the 75-foot cable that comes with it (or a longer 150-foot cable, if you ordered one of those), and it must have a clear 110-degree view of the sky. During the installation process, the app will instruct you on how to move the dish to get the best view of the satellites above. As long as the dish is pointed straight up, you’ll have done the majority of the hard work. However, you might need to rotate it one way or the other.

6. Run the Cable

It may be okay to run your Starlink cable through an open window for the first setup. Running that cable through a wall is required for permanent installation. In addition to cable routing kits, Starlink also offers kits designed especially for masonry walls. Plastic grommets, silicone sealant, and the expected drill bits are associated in this kit; nevertheless, you will need to provision the drill. The cable end will be inserted through the wall after the pilot hole has been drilled and strengthened to fit the agglomeration of the cable. The hole will then be sealed with the silicone caulk and cover that accompanies the cable.

Activating Starlink

After the cable is run and the dish is positioned correctly, all you need to do is use the Starlink app to activate the dish. The process, which is fairly simple, will be guided by the Starlink app setup guide. Be patient as the dish connects to the satellites above, which takes a few moments. Although not instantaneous, the process is swift. One time the dish inaugurates a connection, the Starlink app will expeditious you to create a Wi-Fi name and password while confirming that you’re online. After connecting to the satellite network, downloading updates, and terminating its boot process, Starlink may take up to 20 minutes before it is perfectly operational and ready for use.

Your Starlink internet might not provide the best speeds during the first 12 hours of service, even after that preparatory delay has been resolved. The system downloads more drivers and software during this time, maps and scans the satellites surrounding the dish, and determines the best locations for communication with the various satellites above. There should be no need for you to continuously adjust your setup because these connections adjust on their own.

How Fast is Starlink?

Your internet connection should be stress-free once your Starlink is operational. What is Starlink’s speed? My latest tests showed standard download speeds of up to 325 Mbps and about 150 Mbps. The average upload speed and latency in my most recent tests were 23 Mbps and less than 30 ms, systematically. Whenever I tested the service in 2022, 2023, and 2024 previous to our most nowadays hardware upgrade, I found that upload speeds have enhanced and latency has decreased over the last few years.

In my two years of use, I have severally encountered very few service impediments, though you might occasionally experience a hiccough due to a firmware update or a blip in service brought on by substance in the larger Starlink network. The dish-to-satellite connection takes care of itself. Since our initial evaluation of Starlink in 2022, we have observed consistent advancements, and the most recent hardware and infrastructure modifications have produced the fastest speeds and lowest latency to date. In addition to video streaming and other popular online activities, the service is fast enough for gaming and remote work.

With my Starlink setup, the single router is able to provide a strong, consistent Wi-Fi signal throughout my five-bedroom house and a large portion of the yard. To utilize Starlink’s built-in mesh capabilities, however, you might want to connect it to an existing mesh Wi-Fi system or add a second router as a mesh node for larger homes and certain construction styles.

Get Even More From Starlink

After your installation is complete, take a look at some of our best recommendations for improving your Starlink experience, such as utilizing Starlink’s integrated content filtering or accelerating your web browsing to survive power outages. We provide instructions on how to use the Starlink app, contact Starlink customer support, and even DIY a Starlink cable repair in an emergency. Lastly, if you’re still unsure about Starlink, read our most recent review to see how Starlink stacks up against other satellite internet providers.

Neeraj Gupta

Neeraj is a Content Strategist at The Next Tech. He writes to help social professionals learn and be aware of the latest in the social sphere. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Technology and is currently helping his brother in the family business. When he is not working, he’s travelling and exploring new cult.

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