For greater than two years, I have been testing Starlink, testing the most recent dish and router {hardware}, measuring Starlink speeds, and discovering out whether or not the favored satellite tv for pc web service is deserving of all these prime buyer satisfaction scores and Finest ISP awards.However I am not only a reviewer—I am additionally a buyer. Starlink connects my residence in rural Idaho, offering the pace and reliability I must dwell the lifetime of a tech journalist. It additionally connects my spouse and children, offering speedy web for good TVs, tablets, recreation techniques, and telephones. And I can let you know, whereas the service itself is nice, putting in the dish and router is the toughest half.Skilled Starlink set up providers do exist. You may line one up by means of Starlink’s personal web site, when you’re keen to pay just a little further. However when you’re comfy with climbing a ladder and perhaps utilizing some primary energy instruments, putting in it your self is free.This is our information to getting Starlink tools, organising your dish, and putting in the Starlink router. We’ll additionally share a number of further ideas for having fun with the perfect service Starlink offers.What Is Starlink?For individuals who aren’t conversant in it, Starlink is a satellite tv for pc web service from SpaceX, Elon Musk’s business house enterprise. Utilizing hundreds of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites, it is a technique to get high-speed web to just about everybody, even individuals who dwell removed from the standard cable and fiber networks that almost all ISPs depend on. It is not as quick as these options, however in rural areas the place DSL and satellite tv for pc are your solely choices, it is the higher performer of the 2, by far.It is not an ideal answer, and it may be a bit costly from month to month, however as a full-time Starlink person, I have been a contented buyer. You may be taught extra about Starlink web plans, service, and tools in our full evaluation.Easy methods to Get StarlinkGetting Starlink is less complicated than it has ever been. With set up kits offered by means of retailers like Finest Purchase, House Depot, Goal, and Walmart, the waitlists and restricted availability of years previous are over. Wherever you reside in North America (and far of the world), Starlink is offered and able to present speedy service.
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It is also extra inexpensive proper now than it has ever been. The set up equipment was a large funding, with primary tools priced at $599. That originally dropped to $499 and is now $299, simply over half the preliminary value. Subscribers in some areas the place Starlink has further capability might even have the ability to get an additional $100 tools low cost within the type of a credit score on their month-to-month payments. How A lot Does Starlink Value?And people month-to-month payments are vital. Residential service is $120 monthly, dearer than the typical cable web invoice. However you do get lots to your cash in addition to the web itself. First, Starlink has no knowledge cap. You should use that speedy satellite tv for pc service day and evening for the whole lot—work, college, streaming, gaming—and you will by no means have an overage charge.
(Credit score: Starlink)
Second, Starlink does not require contracts. You join the service by means of the Starlink app, and pay from month to month. You’re free to cancel or pause your subscription at any time. Different Starlink web plans for particular eventualities, like nautical use or RV roaming, are proven within the chart above. However for many customers, the Starlink residential plan is precisely what you want. And simply to maintain issues attention-grabbing, Starlink might begin providing a brand new household plan, with reductions for including further subscriptions (like a Roam plan for the household RV) and the power to handle all of them by means of a shared household account and pay a single invoice.Starlink Set up Package ContentsThe Starlink set up equipment comes with the whole lot it is advisable get going: A Starlink dish, full with kickstand, and a Starlink router base unit. (Be taught extra in regards to the newest Starlink tools right here.) It additionally features a Starlink energy cable for the bottom unit and a 75-foot Starlink cable for connecting the router to the dish.
(Credit score: Brian Westover)
In the event you want one thing longer, Starlink cables are additionally offered in larger lengths by means of the Starlink retailer. Extra equipment can be found by means of Starlink, together with completely different sorts of mounting {hardware} and adapters for connecting different tools over commonplace Ethernet. (Take a look at our information to Starlink equipment to be taught extra.)
(Credit score: Brian Westover)
The field features a pretty easy instruction sheet with illustrations and no textual content (although you will additionally discover a QR code that connects you to Starlink’s assist web site). After glancing by means of the directions, you may assume that you just solely must plug within the router and energy adapter after which level the dish on the sky. However it’s just a little extra sophisticated than that. You will additionally must correctly place the dish, mount it utilizing a Starlink dish mount, and doubtless run a cable by means of an exterior wall. We have got useful directions for all of those steps. Learn on for our greatest Starlink set up ideas.Easy methods to Set up Starlink1. Earlier than You Purchase, Discover a Mounting LocationEven earlier than you order the Starlink set up equipment, you may see whether or not you will have an appropriate location to mount a Starlink dish. Simply obtain the Starlink obstruction app (free for each Android and iOS) and scan the sky. It is free to obtain and use the Starlink app for Android and Starlink app for iPhone.
(Credit score: Starlink)
The Starlink app has an interactive instrument that helps you discover and validate the correct place for a brand new dish, however the pointers are simple sufficient to grasp. You want an unobstructed view of the sky, with not less than 110 levels of obstacle-free house above and across the dish. That is mandatory to keep up a reference to passing satellites.
(Credit score: Brian Westover/Starlink)
Some concepts for mounting places embrace an open subject, a rooftop, or another elevated construction (reminiscent of a pole) that is above obstructions reminiscent of fences, buildings, and timber.With the Starlink app, you utilize your cellphone’s digicam to scan the viewing space of the dish. The method includes pointing the digicam on the sky, which can require some artistic positioning in your half to allow you to view the display screen and transfer the digicam. Ideally, you need the digicam in roughly the identical place because the dish.
(Credit score: Brian Westover/Starlink)
The app’s obstruction-scanning characteristic walks you thru this course of, throughout which you level the digicam on the sky after which sweep across the outer edges of that viewable space. The app locations inexperienced dots on the display screen to point unscanned areas inside the dish’s subject of view, and a useful arrow reveals you what space to scan subsequent.When you scan sufficient of the sky, the app takes a while to course of the information. After a number of moments of quantity crunching, it tells you whether or not or not you may get good reception from that place.
(Credit score: Starlink)
One extra consideration: snow. The Starlink dish has a snow soften characteristic that does an excellent job of maintaining the dish floor itself clear, however when you assume you’ll get lots of snow piled up round the place you need to put the dish, contemplate whether or not it’d trigger an obstruction.2. Unbox StarlinkUnpacking the Starlink set up equipment is fairly fast and simple, however be sure to’ve bought the whole lot you want:Starlink dishStarlink router75-foot Starlink cablePower adapter
(Credit score: Brian Westover)
In the event you’re organising your dish in a yard or subsequent to an RV, which may be all you want. The built-in kickstand connected to the dish makes it tremendous simple to set on any stage floor with a transparent view of the sky. And the kickstand has holes that can accommodate stakes or screws if you wish to safe it for a extra everlasting set up. However if you wish to set up your Starlink dish on a roof or a wall, it’s possible you’ll want to purchase the suitable mounting {hardware} from the Starlink retailer.
(Credit score: Brian Westover)
For my set up, I mounted my Starlink dish onto an present mast left over from the earlier home-owner’s satellite tv for pc TV dish. That meant shopping for a Starlink pipe adapter, which needed to be ordered individually from my Starlink set up equipment.3. Join the Router
(Credit score: Brian Westover)
Earlier than you may get your dish up and operating, you will want to attach your router. The router communicates with the dish, and likewise offers energy to the dish, so you will need to set it up first.
(Credit score: Brian Westover)
The lately redesigned router affords Wi-Fi 6 and has an exterior energy adapter—the earlier mannequin had the facility adapter built-in into the unit. The design works nicely sufficient sitting on a desk or shelf, however if you’d like the tools out of the best way, you may contemplate shopping for a mounting bracket from the Starlink retailer.4. Join the DishNext, you will join the dish to the router. That will sound a bit counterintuitive since you continue to must mount the dish, however you will want your dish to be powered on and related to your Starlink app earlier than you may correctly place it for mounting.
(Credit score: Brian Westover)
For an out of doors set up, which may imply operating the Starlink cable by means of an open window, otherwise you may have already got a gap drilled into the wall that you could feed a cable by means of. In any case, you will must have sufficient cable to cowl the gap between your router and the mounting place, plus some further size for making changes.5. Mount the DishAfter scanning and validating your place, it is time to mount the dish. For primary installations, that merely entails inserting the dish mount on the bottom.
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(Credit score: Brian Westover)
Even for some roof mounts, the included kickstand might be ample, however most will discover that they want one thing particular: a ridgeline mount for rooftop peaks, a pivot mount for sloped roofs, or perhaps a wall mount. In my case, as talked about earlier, I wanted a pipe adapter, which let me mount my dish on the prevailing satellite-dish mast.The one actual necessities for mounting are that the dish has a transparent 110-degree view of the sky and be shut sufficient to your router that you could join it with the included 75-foot cable (or an extended 150-foot cable, when you ordered a type of).
(Credit score: Brian Westover)
As a part of the set up course of, the app will present you how one can reposition the dish for the perfect view of overhead satellites. Chances are you’ll must rotate the dish someway, however so long as it is pointing straight up, you will have already got many of the exhausting work accomplished.6. Run the Cable
(Credit score: Starlink)
For an preliminary setup, you may be advantageous operating your Starlink cable by means of an open window. For everlasting set up, you will must run that cable by means of a wall. Starlink sells cable routing kits, in addition to kits particularly for masonry partitions. This equipment contains the mandatory drill bits, plastic grommets, and silicone sealant, however you will want to offer the drill.After you have the pilot gap drilled and the outlet widened to accommodate the cable’s bulk, you will fish the cable finish by means of the wall and seal up the outlet with the included cowl and silicone caulk.Activating StarlinkOnce you will have the dish correctly positioned and the cable run, all that is left is to activate the dish utilizing the Starlink app. The Starlink app setup information will stroll you thru the method, which is sort of simple.
(Credit score: Starlink)
It takes a number of moments for the dish to ascertain a connection to the satellites above, so be affected person. It is a fast (however not instantaneous) course of. As soon as the dish establishes a connection, the Starlink app informs you that you’re on-line and prompts you to arrange your Wi-Fi identify and password. Starlink then might take as much as 20 minutes because it connects to the satellite tv for pc community, downloads updates, and finishes its boot sequence earlier than it is totally lively and able to use.
(Credit score: Brian Westover)
Even with that preliminary delay out of the best way, your Starlink web might not provide optimum speeds for the primary 12 hours of service. Throughout this era, the system downloads extra software program and drivers; scans and maps the satellites across the dish; and calculates the optimum positions to speak with the completely different satellites above. These connections alter routinely, so that you should not have to fret about consistently tweaking your setup.How Quick Is Starlink?As soon as your Starlink is up and operating, you must have a stress-free web connection. How briskly is Starlink? In my most up-to-date assessments, I noticed common obtain speeds round 150Mbps, and as much as 325Mbps. My most up-to-date assessments averaged add speeds of 23Mbps, and latency beneath 30 milliseconds. Over the previous few years, add speeds have gone up, latency has gone down, and that is been true each time I’ve examined the service (in 2022, in 2023, and in 2024 earlier than our newest {hardware} improve).
(Credit score: Brian Westover)
The dish-to-satellite connection takes care of itself, and when you might often have a hiccup from a firmware replace or a blip in service brought on by one thing within the larger Starlink community, I’ve personally skilled only a few disruptions in service over the 2 years I have been utilizing it.Since our first evaluation of Starlink in 2022, we have seen regular enhancements, and the most recent modifications to {hardware} and infrastructure have delivered the perfect speeds and lowest latency but. The service is quick sufficient for gaming and dealing from residence, in addition to video streaming and different widespread on-line actions.The one router in my Starlink setup does a succesful job of overlaying my complete five-bedroom home (and many of the yard) with a robust, steady Wi-Fi sign. However for bigger houses and a few development types, it’s possible you’ll need to use Starlink’s built-in mesh capabilities by including a second router as a mesh node or connecting it to a mesh Wi-Fi system you have already got in place.Get Even Extra From StarlinkWith your set up accomplished, take a look at a few of our favourite ideas for upgrading your Starlink expertise, from weathering energy outages to rushing up your net looking or utilizing Starlink’s built-in content material filtering. We’ve got guides on utilizing the Starlink app, on reaching Starlink customer support, and even on how one can DIY a Starlink cable restore in an emergency.Lastly, when you’re nonetheless on the fence about Starlink, take a look at our newest evaluation, and see how nicely Starlink compares to different satellite tv for pc web suppliers.
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