In this article, I will detail how and where you can download the Starlink app as well as how to navigate to get the most out of your Starlink experience.

Where Can You Download the Starlink App?

Starlink offers an app for both Android and iOS devices, which can be downloaded under the attached links.

Alternatively, you can also access portions of the Starlink app interface via a browser. However, keep in mind that those versions are outdated and don’t include the whole feature set available within the app. You also need to be connected to your Starlink to gain access.

You can use either of those two addresses to access the app:

• http://dishy.starlink.com/
• http://192.168.100.1

With that said, let’s take a closer look at what each section of the Starlink app means and how you can take advantage of them.

Home Screen

The main page, or home screen, is your literal entry portal into all the features the Starlink app has to offer.

First and foremost, it shows you the status of your connection. If everything is working properly, then you’ll see a white laser between your dishy and router, accompanied by the ONLINE tag.

If you face issues of any sort, then it’s displayed as OFFLINE. Alternatively, you could also see a DISCONNECTED status, which is indicative of hardware issues (granted you haven’t unplugged the system).  

Account Section

The top right corner of the app’s home screen is your gateway to the account section where you can manage your subscription.

It allows you to adjust your email, password, or phone number, check previous orders, retrieve account statements, and check on your customer support queries (or even contact customer support).

Additionally, the account section enables you to access the Starlink shop as well, which we’ll cover in the next section.

Starlink Shop

While Starlink’s hardware kit contains everything you need to get started, some users may still need to upgrade their setup.

For instance, surrounding trees may lead to severe obstructions, which can cause interruptions in your connection. As a result, you’d need to mount your dish on a roof.

Starlink sells a variety of different mounts that can be set up on top of your house or in the ground. You can also purchase a dedicated ethernet adapter to bypass the Starlink router or improve speeds.

Keep in mind that the shop section is tailored to the country you’re based in. For instance, here in Germany, we only have access to a limited set of items while Americans and Canadians can order everything Starlink potentially offers.

Statistics

The network statistics section allows you to analyze how your Starlink has been performing across a few key indicators. Those include:

• Latency: Refers to the duration it takes for data to complete a round trip, traveling from your system, through your network, to the wider internet, and back.
• Throughput: Quantifies the amount of data either downloaded or uploaded across your network.
• Uptime: Assesses the continuity of the Starlink connection over time.

In the top right corner, you can also find information about the number of outages your dish faced. If you frequently experience them, then there may be an issue with the hardware.

Network

The Network section lists all devices that are currently or were previously connected to your Starlink router.

It also includes potential mesh nodes or third-party routers; in case you’ve set those up. Lastly, you can also determine your Wi-Fi range and strength signal, which helps you to determine whether additional hardware (i.e., mesh nodes or longer-ranged routers) is actually necessary).

Obstructions

The Starlink dish, every time you try to access the internet, sends a signal in the form of radio wave frequencies to the thousands of satellites roaming low-Earth orbit (LEO). Specifically, they use portions of the electromagnetic spectrum known as the Ku-band and Ka-band.

Those frequencies cannot move through solid objects, including houses or trees. Consequently, the more of those objects your dish is surrounded by, the higher the level of obstructions.

As a result, your connection is likelier to break, thus causing outages, higher latencies, and sometimes even slower speeds.

Luckily, Starlink allows its users to check how obstructed the antenna may be. The level of obstruction can either be checked during the setup process or within the namesake section.

The red portions in the compass graph highlight exactly where your antenna is obstructed while blue stands for a clear and unobstructed field of view.

Lastly, by clicking on CHECK FOR OBSTRUCTIONS, you can determine where exactly your dish is being obstructed. This allows you to place it in a more optimal position.  

Speed Test

If you’re curious about your current network speed, you can initiate a speed test directly within the app. As the test progresses, a speedometer graphic springs to life.

Once complete, you’ll receive a summary of your download, upload speeds, and latency for both your network and device.

Additionally, there’s an advanced test option that checks the Wi-Fi speed between your device and the router, followed by the connection from the router to the broader internet via Starlink.

While this comprehensive test might not be a daily go-to, it’s handy for troubleshooting when a device seems to lag.

Settings

The Starlink settings allow you to adjust how you use the antenna as well as the router – and get the most out of both.

The router settings enable subscribers to rename or split the network (into 2.4GHz or 5GHz), set up a new Wi-Fi password, filter out adult/explicit content, reboot, bypass, or factory reset the router, and create a custom DNS.

Another click takes you to your antenna’s settings – in the app simply referred to as STARLINK. Neta features include the ability to melt snow that has amassed on the dish, put dishy to sleep (to reduce power consumption), or simply reboot it.

Lastly, stowing your Starlink dish allows you to take it with you on the road or prepare it for a return should you have canceled your subscription.

Support                                                                           

The Support section, as the name suggests, lists all commonly asked questions users normally have. Use the top search bar to your advantage when trying to find a given answer.

Additionally, the Support area is also your gateway to contacting Starlink support. You can access it by clicking on the thumbs down icon marked above.

Feel free to check the linked article for an in-depth guide on how to get in touch with Starlink.

Advanced

At the bottom of your home screen, when scrolling down, you can find the Advanced section, providing you with additional information.

That includes the firmware version your dishy and router are currently on, additional information on obstructions or ping drop rates, and anything else related to the health of your hardware kit.

Lastly, the Advanced section also enables you to set up another Starlink. However, keep in mind that this will reset your app’s settings, thus requiring you to go through the whole setup process once again.

In the following article, I will detail how to cancel Starlink and return your Kit as well as things to consider when canceling.

Can You Cancel Starlink Anytime?

To make a long story short: yes, you can cancel Starlink at any given time. In fact, this is one of Starlink’s biggest advantages compared to services like HughesNet.

With that said, there are a few caveats to consider. First, you’ll only receive a refund on the hardware fees if you cancel within 30 days of receiving it.

Furthermore, to avoid being billed for the following month of service you must cancel your plan prior to your invoice statement being generated. Any outstanding fees have to be paid first.

If you have rented a Starlink Kit, you must return your Starlink Kit in good condition within 30 days of cancellation or you will be charged the full retail price of the Kit.

Should you have rented a Kit, then you are not entitled to any hardware refunds since you haven’t paid them, to begin with.

Starlink also reserves the right to terminate the contract by itself should you violate its service terms, which, among others, you can find in its Acceptable Use Policy.

All of the information stated in this article is only applicable to those who bought their Kit directly from Starlink.

If you purchased it from a licensed retailer or reseller, such as Best Buy, then you have to deal with said third party.

Lastly, the process is only applicable to those using the standard rectangular dish. Meanwhile, the Gen1 rounded dishy cannot be returned as it has exceeded its warranty already.

Is There A Cancellation Fee For Starlink?

No, Starlink does not charge any cancellation fee. If you return the hardware in good condition, then you should receive a full refund minus shipment and handling fees.

The refund itself should be issued once Starlink receives the Kit and has successfully inspected it. That process should normally take less than a month.

How To Cancel & Return Starlink

The process of canceling and returning a Starlink Kit is fairly straightforward. Right now, it can only be executed using the account portal in the browser (and thus not the mobile app).

Cancel Your Starlink

To cancel, first, navigate to Starlink.com and log into your account on the right-hand side. There, you will see a list of all used devices (under ‘YOUR STARLINKS’) and your previous orders.

Proceed to click on the MANAGE button, which redirects you to a page displaying data usage, active devices, and more.

Subsequently, click on CANCEL SERVICE located on the left side of your screen (pictured below).

You will then be presented with a pop-up window that asks you to CONFIRM whether you truly want to cancel the subscription.

Reactivation, as Starlink states in the text box, is not guaranteed. This may be relevant for those living in areas with limited capacity, namely in the United States and parts of Canada.

You will then be redirected to the previous page, which shows how long you can keep using your Starlink Kit.

So, now that we’ve successfully canceled our subscription, it’s time to return the kit.

Return Your Starlink

The first step in returning your Starlink Kit is to stow the dish. For this to work, Starlink needs to be connected to electricity.

Furthermore, you can stow your dish either by being connected to the Starlink network or by accessing it remotely via another internet connection.

To stow your Starlink dish, open the mobile app and select SETTINGS (#1). This will move you to Starlink’s router settings from where you select STARLINK (#2).

Lastly, at the bottom, move the slider to the right, which will then stow your dish (# 3). Your antenna should now look something like this:

Now that we’ve successfully stowed our dishy, it’s time to disassemble all the hardware pieces. Don’t apply too much force to not break any of the cables.

Additionally, make sure to clean all pieces in the Kit with a piece of paper. After all, you don’t want unnecessarily minimize your chances of not receiving a refund.

Once disassembled, it’s time to put the hardware back into the original Starlink box, which you hopefully kept (it’s not necessary for a return but makes packing so much easier).

The first, and frankly most tedious, step is to roll up and put in the 50 ft cable, followed by the power cable.

Next comes the router, with the logo facing you.

Cover the cables and router with the instruction manual.

Now it’s time to put down the antenna. The mast should not be higher than the edges of the box to allow for the closing of the box.

The antenna is further protected by the X-shaped cardboard on which you’ll place the metal antenna base.

Wrap up by placing the remaining cardboard on top of the hardware and simply close the box after.

The shipping label, which you need to stick on the box (make sure to cover up the previous shipping label), is then sent to your account’s registered email.

It may take a few hours for the shipping label to be sent, so don’t freak out if it isn’t right in your inbox. If you haven’t received the label after 2 – 3 hours, then get in touch with Starlink support.  

Simply drop off the package at whatever carrier Starlink has instructed you to go to (mine was DHL, for US citizens it’ll be FedEx).

Starlink, should anything be wrong with your return package, will get in touch with you via email or the support chat.

In this article, I explain the disconnected error and how to fix it as well as highlight a few other popular Starlink errors.

What Causes The ‘Disconnected’ Error?

Several factors may interrupt the link to your Starlink router, resulting in a ‘disconnected’ notification. Events such as a power failure or a malfunctioning router are common causes of this issue.

Should you be attempting to establish a remote connection to your Starlink, such as through your work’s Wifi network or your mobile network, any system issues may prompt the ‘Starlink Disconnected’ message.

Since this connection type depends on your home dish, any cable or dish complications could generate the disconnected error.

As such, you’d need to be physically located next to both the router and dishy to fix the problem. Luckily, fixing the disconnection should be super straightforward.

How To Fix The ‘Disconnected’ Error

In order to fix the Starlink Disconnected error, hop over to where your router is located. First, check if the power to your router is still intact.

You can do that by flipping the router onto its back and checking the bottom. There, you should see a small LED light, which is blinking white – if properly connected.

If the LED light isn’t blinking, then make sure that the router is properly connected to a power outlet. Should that be the case, then make sure that the same applies to the antenna.

The cable, which you insert into the dish, has a habit of loosening, thus causing the connection between the antenna and router to drop.

One trick that helps is to cut out a paper strip and insert it into the bottom of the mast, right below the cable. I detailed how to do that in a separate article, which you can check out here. 

Another option, apart from reinserting the cables, is to either reboot or reset the Starlink router. Rebooting can be conducted right within Starlink’s router settings by moving the respective toggle.

The last resort is to factory reset the router, thus putting it back to its default settings. Check out the linked tutorial if you need to know how to factory reset the router.

If none of the outlined fixes work, then it’s very likely that your hardware is irreparably damaged. In that case, you should get in touch with Starlink to request a replacement of whatever is broken.

Last but not least, it may also be a software and/or server issue you are facing. Back in April 2023, Starlink went down across large parts of North America due to an expired ground station certificate.

In this case, you simply would have to wait for Starlink/SpaceX to resolve the issue, which they normally do in a matter of minutes.

With that said, let me detail the similar error messages that you could potentially receive.

Starlink Offline Searching

Offline searching means that the antenna is trying to establish a connection with the satellites.

To recap, Starlink connects to satellites in low-Earth orbit (LEO), which then pass down signals back down to ground stations and the antenna.

It usually takes Starlink a few minutes to establish a connection. However, the amount of time it takes may vary depending on where you live.

That’s because Starlink satellites are roaming Earth around the equator area as well as in the northern and southern parts of this globe.

However, the further north or south you go, the fewer satellites are passing by above you. That’s simply because fewer people are living in those areas, so Starlink has less of an incentive to deploy satellites in those regions.

This also means that latency and speeds will likely be worse since it takes longer for the signal to travel to the satellites and back down to Earth.

Nevertheless, in practice, you should only have to wait a few more minutes. If the system is still searching after more than 15 minutes, then try to reboot it – either within the app’s router settings or by unplugging it.

Another factor that may contribute to the problem is obstructions. Starlink signals can’t move through solid objects, so houses or trees can potentially cause signal interferences.

Make sure that your dish does not face any major obstructions. I detailed those steps in the paper clips article I mentioned above (under Chapter 3 – Find An Unobstructed Location).

If none of those yield a solution, then you very likely received malfunctioning hardware. In that case, you need to get in touch with Starlink support to request a replacement.

Starlink Offline Booting

Starlink offline booting means that the antenna and dish are simply ramping up – much like when you turn on your laptop or mobile phone.

Again, the whole process shouldn’t take more than 15 to 30 minutes. Anything longer indicates that there might be a software issue present.

You can check whether there’s a software issue using Starlink’s debug tool. Simply open the app, click on ADVANCED, and then DEBUG DATA.

Under the INFO and STATUS sections, you should see if everything is working properly from a software perspective.

Some users on Reddit have reported that a wrong location (i.e., not being at your registered service address) can cause the system to be stuck in offline booting.

If you’re on the rounded V1 dish, then overheating can also cause the system to be booting up constantly. In this case, unplug the cable, wait a few minutes for the hardware to cool down, and try again.

Should none of this work, then factory resetting the system is your best bet (as booting issues are mostly related to software).

In this article, I am going to detail how to access your router’s settings as well as what each of the features you can use means.

How To Access Starlink Router Settings

There are two ways of accessing your Starlink router settings – either through the mobile app or a browser.

Once you’ve opened the app, your router settings are literally just a click away. Simply tap SETTINGS on the home screen and you’ll land on the following page:

Alternatively, you can use a browser to access the router settings, too. To do that, make sure that you’re connected to the Starlink Wi-Fi network.

You can use either of those two addresses to access the settings via a browser:

• http://dishy.starlink.com/
• http://192.168.100.1

Here you’ll be presented with a home screen that looks as follows:

Again, click on SETTINGS to be able to configure your router and dishy.

What you’ll quickly discover is that some features, such as renaming your connection (under WIFI CONFIGURATION) or snow melting, are only available in the app (see picture below).  

Starlink didn’t provide a reason as to why some features are missing in the browser.

In all likelihood, it’s because the browser option isn’t used that often, so pushing those features into production was probably not worth the cost. Plus, maintaining two code bases adds technical debt and thus complexity.

With that said, let’s now take a closer look at all of the features that Starlink’s router can be configured on.

Change Starlink Router Name & Password

The first neat feature that Starlink offers is the ability to change the name and password of your Wi-Fi network.

Simply click on your network’s name (VIKTOR-STARLINK in my case) and you’ll see two text boxes that allow you to edit the name and password.

Additionally, you can split up your Wi-Fi network into separate 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks by pressing the toggle.

Separating a Wi-Fi connection into 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz offers multiple advantages, including:

• Range vs Speed: 2.4 GHz has better range but transmits data at a slower speed, while 5 GHz provides faster speeds but doesn’t have as good a range. This means that devices closer to the router can use the 5 GHz network for faster speeds, while devices farther away can still stay connected via the 2.4 GHz network.
• Congestion and Interference: 2.4 GHz frequencies can get congested because many common household devices like cordless phones, baby monitors, and microwaves also operate on the same frequency. Splitting the network lets you move devices that can use the 5 GHz frequency to a less crowded and less interfered spectrum.
• Device Compatibility: Not all devices support 5 GHz Wi-Fi, particularly older devices. If you split your networks, you can ensure compatibility by connecting these devices to the 2.4 GHz network.
• Network Control: Splitting your network allows you to control which devices connect to which network. For example, you might want your gaming console or streaming device on the 5 GHz network for better performance, while less data-hungry devices like your smart home devices could use the 2.4 GHz network.

Keep in mind that if you change your network name and password or decide to split up into 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, then you will be disconnected from your existing Wi-Fi network. As a result, you need to reconnect within your phone’s Wi-Fi settings.

Content Filtering

In May 2023, Starlink implemented a new feature dubbed Content Filtering, which as the name suggests, enables you to automatically exclude certain (sensitive) materials from being loaded.

By default, the feature is not enabled (see picture below). You then have two options to filter out 1) malware or 2) malware and adult content.

Starlink, if the feature is not enabled (first toggle), uses Cloudflare DNS (Domain Name System) 1.1.1.1 configuration. Malware and malware/adult filter switches to 1.1.1.2/1.0.0.2 or 1.1.1.3/1.0.0.3, respectively.

You do have the option to set up a custom DNS (see two chapters below) via the app or a third-party router, too.

However, doing so is substantially more complex. Plus, you can take advantage of Cloudflare’s world-class DNS filtering system, which is tailor-made for those use cases.

Rebooting Starlink Router

Starlink allows you to reboot both your router as well as the antenna (under the STARLINK tab). Simply move the slider to the right and wait for the hardware to reboot.

Rebooting your router may be necessary due to multiple reasons such as:

• Resolving Network Issues: Reboots can fix temporary software bugs or glitches.
• Memory Management: Reboots can solve memory leaks or fragmentation, improving performance.
• Connection Stability: Rebooting can reset ongoing processes and stabilize internet speed.
• Applying Updates: Reboots may be required to implement new updates or changes in settings.
• Reducing Congestion: Rebooting clears outdated information, reducing network congestion.

Keep in mind that you’ll be disconnected for a short time. Network performance, if rebooting the antenna, should stabilize after around 15 mins as your dishy establishes a connection to the satellite constellation.

Custom DNS

Starlink, apart from content filtering, also enables you to filter out specific IP addresses via its custom DNS feature.

Simply click on the toggle and then manually enter the IP addresses that you would like your connection to be routed through.

When you want to use a custom DNS, you need to tell your device or router the IP address of the DNS server you want to use.

As for why you need an IP address to set up a custom DNS, it’s because DNS itself works based on IP addresses. The DNS server is essentially a directory that matches human-friendly website names (like www.example.com) to their corresponding IP addresses (like 93.184.216.34).

Doing so offers multiple benefits such as increased privacy (some ISPs track your web browsing through their DNS servers), enhanced security, better speed and performance, and the above-mentioned content filtering option.

As I’ve mentioned above, if you do not have a specific use case, then I’d stick to Cloudflare’s content filtering system as they’re the best in the business at doing so.

Enabling Bypass Mode

Starlink’s Bypass (or Bridge) mode allows users to completely disable the built-in Starlink WiFi router functionality.

Bypass mode is primarily aimed at those who want to use their own router and not the one that comes in the hardware kit. If you use two routers (one external and the Starlink router), then you will have two WiFi frequencies in use.

Related: how to enable Bypass Mode

The Starlink router does come with some limitations, such as a lack of Ethernet ports (to connect other devices), enabling port forwarding, or setting up a mesh system for extended internet coverage.

Third-party routers may also be able to provide you with greater bandwidth, meaning both download and upload speeds could potentially be higher.

Keep in mind that Bypass mode is only supported for those who own a Standard or High Performance rectangular dish. The original circular dishy does not offer Bridge mode.

Router Factory Reset

Starlink, apart from rebooting, also allows you to completely reset your router to its factory settings. It detailed the process of both rebooting and factory resetting in a separate article.

Resetting your router may be necessary due to a variety of different factors. For example, it is required if you want to bypass the Starlink router or when deciding to sell your kit and cancel your service.

In most cases, especially if you simply want to clean cache and boost performance, a simple rebooting is sufficient.  

In this article, I am going to walk you through how to contact Starlink via the app and browser, check the status of your support ticket, and alternative ways of getting in touch.

How To Contact Starlink Via Mobile App 

You can contact Starlink’s customer support team in two different ways, namely via its mobile app or within your browser.

In this section, I am going to show you how to do that within the mobile app. First, open the Starlink app and then select SUPPORT (#1).

You will then be presented with the selection of categories and questions commonly asked by users. Consequently, you need to pick whatever category is applicable to you.

For the sake of this demonstration, let’s assume that we received a damaged antenna, which would a replacement.

In this case, you’d click on SETUP & INSTALL (#2) and then select DAMAGE (#3). Lastly, pick MY HARDWARE IS DAMAGED (#4).

By default, Starlink presents you with the standard answer for that particular issue. In some cases, that information may be sufficient to resolve whatever issue you’re facing.

Assuming it’s not, you have to click on the hand pointing its thumb downwards, pictured below “Did this answer your question?” (#5).

This redirects you to the page that allows you to message Starlink. In order to SUBMIT a message, you need to add a title, description, and one or multiple photos (#6).

Make sure to be as detailed as possible when describing your issue. Customer support agents oftentimes have to hit hourly quotas, which means they don’t have the time it often requires to understand ambiguous problem descriptions.

How To Contact Starlink Through Your Browser

Another option to contact Starlink’s support team is via a browser such as Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Edge, or Opera.

To do that, log into your account through the following link by entering your username and password.

This will redirect you to Starlink’s account portal (#7, pictured above) where you can manage your subscription, purchase additional products in Starlink’s shop, or contact support.

From there, you click on SUPPORT located at the top of your screen. Again, the page shows all possible support questions a subscriber could have (#8).

We’ll stick to the same example, which means you click on SETUP & INSTALL, DAMAGE, and then MY HARDWARE IS DAMAGED.

Once again, you need to click on the thumbs-down sign located at the bottom of your screen (#9).

This leads to a pop-up window that asks you if you actually want to get in touch with support. If that’s the case, then click on CONTACT SUPPORT (#10).

Yet another pop-up window appears, offering you the option to switch to the app (where you’d follow the same process I outlined in the previous chapter) or CONTINUE ON WEB – the option you should pick (#11).

Once again, enter all required information. An additional feature that isn’t present in the app at this point in time is the option to link your support message to an order (#12).

Make sure to click on YES and select the product in question (granted your question is related to a previous order) as it will speed up the handling of your request.

How To Check The Status Of Your Support Ticket

Checking on the status of your support ticket can be done both within the app and in the browser. In the app, click on SUPPORT on the home screen.

Once again, you’ll be redirected to the overview of questions. This time, you need to click on the letter sign located in the top-right corner of your phone screen (#13).

Consequently, you’ll be presented with all of your ongoing support tickets. Simply click on the one that’s relevant and you’ll find all the messages that you and the customer support agent have exchanged.

Similarly, in the browser and after clicking on SUPPORT as well, you can check on your tickets by clicking on ALL MESSAGES on the left-hand side (#14).

Lastly, Starlink also sends you a notification to your registered email whenever there’s an update to a service request. So, make sure to regularly check your email’s main inbox as well as your spam folder for updates.  

Does Starlink Have Phone Service?

No, Starlink does not have a phone service that you can call. As such, your best bet remains to contact Starlink via the app or browser.

And before you get confused: some people, when searching for Starlink’s contact data, are presented with the following number as the first result: 1-855-753-2495.

However, this number does not belong to SpaceX or Starlink. Instead, it is the customer care number of Subaru’s namesake infotainment software and is thus not associated with SpaceX.

That said, there are four possible alternatives, which may or may not work and are dependent on your country of residence.

The first one is to email Starlink under starlinkresolutions@spacex.com (as found in its Complaints Code of Practice).

Starlink & SpaceX ask you to add “Consumer Complaint” and your Starlink Account number in the subject of your email. This enables Starlink to automatically route your request to the customer service representative that’s assigned to your location.

Another option, if you’re located in the United Kingdom, is to send a complaint by mail to the following address:

Starlink Internet Services Limited
C/O BDO
5th Floor, Beaux Lane House
Mercer Street Lower, Dublin 2 D02 DH60

Again, include “Consumer Complaint” and your Starlink Account number in the subject of your letter.

For those residing in Australia, you can mail Starlink at Starlink Internet Services Pte. Ltd. Level 10, 68 Pitt Street Sydney NSW 2000 or call the following number: 1800 954 824.

Unfortunately, mailing Starlink directly when you’re living in the United States or Canada is not possible. Instead, you should stick to the app/browser options or email.

Third, you could also tweet at Starlink, SpaceX, or even Elon Musk who, at times, directly responds to users. However, you’d likely need to get substantial engagement on the post for it to be noticed.

With that said, always feel free to tweet at Starlink Insider – I’d make sure to forward any sensible request.

Fourth, you can also involve third-party regulatory agencies that collect complaints to assess the quality of telco operators.

For example, in the United Kingdom, the Center for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR) provides cost-free assistance via its Communication & Internet Services Adjudication scheme.

If you are a residential or small business client who has lodged a complaint eight weeks prior and is still dealing with unresolved issues or has received a Deadlock Notice within the previous year, CEDR is available to provide counsel.

The CEDR can be reached via the following options:

• Website: https://www.cedr.com/consumer/cisas/complainnow/
• Phone: 44(0)20 7520 3814
• Email: cisas@cedr.com
• Write to them at: Center for Effective Dispute Resolution, 70 Fleet Street, London EC4V 1EU.

Those located in Australia may contact the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) online or by calling 1800 062 058.

Lastly, if you’re based in Canada, then get in touch with the Commission for Complaints for Telecom-television Services (CCTS).

How Long Does It Take Starlink To Respond To A Ticket?

There is no standard response time when contacting Starlink online. Users have reported a variety of different waiting times, ranging from a few hours to sometimes even weeks.

Starlink, in the above-mentioned Complaints Code of Practice page, claims that it will respond to complaints submitted by postage anywhere between 2 days to 40 days, depending on your location.  

In any case, you should refrain from continuously reaching out to Starlink if you haven’t received an answer to your initial message.

Traditionally, customer service operations assign priority by date, meaning the older your complaint is, the greater its priority to be resolved.

That’s because telco operators risk losing their licenses if they surpass a certain threshold of (long-standing) complaints.

Although never officially confirmed, Starlink’s customer service may reassign the priority of your ticket if you keep on messaging them.

As such, it’s best to remain patient and simply wait for Starlink to get back to you – however long this may take.

Do I Need To Be A Customer To Contact Starlink?

Yes, you do need to be subscribed to one of Starlink’s seven internet plans in order to get in touch with a representative.

As I’ve mentioned before, Starlink remains understaffed when it comes to customer support capabilities, so helping those who are not paying is currently not an option.

However, this blog, subreddits like r/Starlink_Support, and Facebook groups such as ours try to help out as much as possible.

Alternatively, you could also contact one of Starlink’s authorized resellers like Best Buy or Home Depot.

You can find the list of authorized resellers on Starlink’s support page by searching for the term ‘reseller’ in the left-sided box.

One of Starlink’s major advantages, apart from providing subscribers with high download speeds and flexible cancellation policies, is the easiness with which users can get started.

In the following article, I am walking you through each step of the Starlink installation process to get you up and running within minutes.

1. Time To Unbox

The first step is to unbox your Starlink package, which you hopefully received by the time you’re reading this guide.

I detailed what you’ll find in the Standard kit (costing US$599) in a separate article that you can read here. To recap, you receive:

• An antenna – commonly referred to as dishy
• A base to mount the antenna on
• A Wi-Fi router to connect to the internet
• An AC power cable for energy
• A 50 ft cable to connect the router to dishy

Don’t be surprised if the hardware you unpack seems to have been used. Starlink doesn’t always ship out brand-new kits, primarily to save costs.

But don’t worry: the kit has likely been used for less than 30 days and was thus sent back within Starlink’s 30-day return window.

Furthermore, if you discover any significant damages, then make sure to contact Starlink’s customer support immediately. I detailed those steps in a separate article that you can find here.

2. Download The App

While you’re patiently awaiting to receive your kit, you can already go ahead and download Starlink’s mobile app. Starlink maintains apps for both Android and iOS.

Alternatively, you can also manage your Starlink settings from within a browser. Simply navigate to the following URL, which mirrors many of the features available on the app.

But keep in mind that you first need to be connected to Starlink’s Wi-Fi network in order to access settings from a browser.

3. Find An Unobstructed Location

Before you go ahead and assemble your kit, you first need to find a location that is not obstructed by objects such as trees or buildings.

The way Starlink works is that it connects to the thousands of satellites that roam low-Earth orbit (LEO) at a distance of around 550 km (~ 341 miles) whenever sends a request (uplink) for a webpage or other online content.

Those satellites then receive the data and either pass it through to another satellite (via inter-satellite links) or straight down to a ground station (downlink), which is connected to the internet backbone and sends it to the server you’re trying to access. From there, it passes back up to the satellite and then your dishy.

Signals between all parties (dishy, satellites, ground stations) are transmitted via microwave radio frequencies, which travel in straight lines and thus cannot move through solid objects. As such, finding an unobstructed location is key to minimizing downtime.

Whether mounting your antenna on top of a roof or keeping it on the ground – the Starlink mobile app will allow you to find the best possible spot to minimize obstructions.  

First, open the Starlink app and click on START SETUP (picture #1). Then select the antenna that you’ve ordered (picture #2). If you’re subscribed to the Residential plan, then it’s likely the Standard antenna (top-left corner) that you’ve elected.

Starlink’s app then prompts you to plug in your power cables, which I’ll cover in the upcoming section. As such, click on FIND AN INSTALL LOCATION (picture #3) and then elect I’M READY! (picture #4) if you found a suitable spot.

You’ll then have to collect the green dots (picture #5) within your dishy’s theoretical field of view, which is marked by the darkened borders. Once the scan is completed, Starlink’s app will let you know how many theoretical obstructions your antenna will face (picture #6).

Keep in mind that this is only an approximation. Once your system is fully plugged in, it will collect data for the next 24 hours to determine the actual level of obstructions.

4. Plug In Cables

Now that you’ve found a suitable spot, it’s time to power up your Starlink antenna and router. By default, your 50 ft cable comes loosely plugged into the antenna (#7).

Remove the cable by pulling it gently. Don’t apply too much force. Some users, in the past, have reported that they damaged the cable that way.

Once you’ve removed the cable, insert it through the bottom end of your base (#8). Alternatively, you can also plug the cable into your antenna and then onto the base, both of which are fine.

Now insert the cable back into the mast. Make sure that it is fully plugged in. The antenna cable has a habit of not always fully plugging in, thus leading to power disruptions.

One neat trick to ensure that the cable is inserted properly is to cut out a piece of paper, which you’ll then insert below the cable (#9). Once the cable is plugged in, simply remove the piece of paper.

Now it’s time to put the antenna onto the mast. You should hear a clicking sound once it’s inserted properly (#10).

Afterward, take the other end of the 50 ft cable and insert it into the left side of your Wi-Fi router. Do the same with the router’s power cable, which you plug in on the right side.

Once everything is properly connected, you will see a white light in the middle of your router’s bottom located in between the two cable ports (picture #11).

Furthermore, dishy will align itself in a horizontal position (picture #12), which means that it’s booting up.

One of the downsides of Starlink is that it possibly requires you to drill a hole through a wall as the antenna needs to stay connected to the router at all times. Plus, the router is made for indoor usage, so you can’t just place it outside.

I’d recommend first extensively testing Starlink before you begin making any significant alternations to your home.

5. Connect To The Internet

Now that your dishy is properly powered up, it’s time to connect to the internet. The Starlink app will prompt you to open your phone’s Wi-Fi settings by clicking on OPEN SETTINGS (#13).

By default, Starlink displays two options, which are either called STARLINK or STINKY (in my case it was STARLINK). Simply click on the network. You will then be redirected to the following page (#14).

Here, you can change Starlink’s default name (in the ‘WiFi Network Name’ field) and enter a password (under ‘Enter WiFi Password’). Finish the process by selecting CREATE.

You will then be redirected to Starlink’s mobile app from where you click on CONTINUE. The installation process is essentially completed and you’ll land on the homepage of the Starlink app.

As mentioned and pictured above (picture #15), Starlink will need around 24 hours to collect obstruction data. Performance should also stabilize after around 15 minutes as the system needs time to calibrate.

Meanwhile, you should also download the latest software update (marked on the homepage) to ensure that all hardware pieces function properly.

6. Test Speeds

In case you’re curious about how fast your Starlink system performs, simply click on SPEED TEST on the app’s homepage (picture #16) or use a third-party provider like Speedtest by Ookla (picture #17).

Personally, I wouldn’t get too hung up on speed test results as long as the overall experience is satisfactory.

There’s too much variance within single results since Starlink speeds are affected by a variety of factors, including

• how congested your cell is (i.e., how many other users are accessing the internet at the same time as you),
• the location of satellites and ground stations,
• your distance to the router,
• whether you’re using Starlink’s proprietary hardware or not,
• the Starlink plan you’re subscribed to,

With that said, if you’re subscribed to Residential (like me), you should probably see speeds of around 50 Mbps if you’re located in North America and Australia as well as 100+ Mbps in Europe and the rest of the world.

Wrapping Up

What I love about Starlink is just how easy and foolproof it is to get started, which I hope this guide highlighted.

If you still have questions or want to share your Starlink experience, then please don’t hesitate to comment down below.

In this article, I will quickly detail how you can check on the order status of your hardware delivery (both in the browser and on the app), how long waiting times normally are, and other aspects to consider.

How To Check Starlink Order Status In Browser

In order to check on your order status in the browser, you first need to navigate to Starlink’s website. From there, click on the three lines on the right hand side.

From there, you elect to sign into your account. After you click on the ‘SIGN IN’ button, you will be redirected to a page that prompts you to enter your email and password.

Once logged in, you will land on Starlink’s account portal where you have the option to manage your Starlink devices, make subscription payments, and check on the status of your Starlink shipment.

The shipment tracking section can be found in the second box below ‘YOUR STARLINKS’ and is consequently called ‘YOUR ORDERS’.

From there, you can either directly click on the tracking number (left green arrow) or on ‘VIEW’ (right green arrow).

Clicking on the tracking number (left arrow) will redirect you straight to the page of the company responsible for your shipment (DHL in my case). Said page will detail what the status of your shipment is.

Alternatively, you can click on the ‘VIEW’ button to receive an overview of your order and its status.

The page lists valuable information, including your order number (which you can click on again to check on the status) as well as the order status itself.

How To Check Starlink Order Status In Mobile App

Luckily, checking the order status in the mobile app is as much of a breeze as within the browser account portal. First, you need to download Starlink’s mobile app, which is available for both Android and iOS devices.

After opening the app, click on the human icon on the top right corner (marked as green).

This will redirect you to your account page where, among others, you can browse the Starlink show, contact customer support, or check on the status of your shipment.

Simply click on the ‘ORDERS’ page, which then takes you to all the hardware you have ordered in the past. Once again, you just need to click on the tracking number, which automatically redirects you to the page of the shipment provider.

How Long Does Starlink Take To Ship?

Starlink claims that its shipments can take up to two weeks from the date of ordering. In reality, most customers can expect to receive their hardware kit sooner.

Realistically, you should be able to receive your order in about a week if you live in a country with decent infrastructure, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany, or the United Kingdom.

Related: how to set up Starlink

In some instances, such as island nations like the Philippines or Barbados, shipments may (!) actually be delivered right around the two-weeks mark.

Generally speaking, the further you are away from densely populated areas (where distribution facilities and warehouses are normally located), the longer you’ll have to wait for your Starlink kit to arrive.

If your kit has not arrived within the two weeks, then make sure to contact Starlink’s customer support. I detailed the process in a separate article here.

In this article, I will walk you through how to rent Starlink equipment, how much it costs, where the option to rent is available, and things to consider when returning your hardware.

Where Can Starlink Be Rented?

Before we delve into how to rent Starlink equipment, it’s probably best to highlight where this option is obtainable.

For example, Starlink rentals are not available in the United States – by far its biggest market. That’s because demand is already strong enough, so Starlink does not need to incentivize interested buyers.

With that said, here are all the countries and jurisdictions in which Starlink’s rental option is available for Residential users:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Chile
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Guernsey
• Ireland
• Isle of Man
• Italy
• Jersey
• Latvia
• Luxembourg
• Macedonia
• Malta
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• Portugal
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• United Kingdom

Furthermore, renting is also available for Business subscribers, namely in Australia, Canada, Great Britain, and the United States.

As you can see, Starlink’s rental option is mostly available in Europe. That’s because internet adoption, thanks to Europe’s relatively sophisticated infrastructure and high population density, is very high.

Starlink thus has to entice consumers through hefty discounts (both on subscriptions and hardware), 30-day money-back guarantees, flexible cancellation policies, and multiple booking options – including rentals.

Here’s How You Rent Starlink Equipment

Renting a Starlink kit is just as easy as subscribing to the regular plans. Here’s how you rent Starlink hardware as a new user.

First, navigate to Starlink’s website, which you can access here. You automatically land on the homepage of Residential, which is the only option renting is available for.

Once you’re on the website, simply type in your address in the text box (‘Service Address’) below and then click on ‘ORDER NOW’.

Then, you arrive on the order page where you need to select ‘RENT’ on the right-hand side. Afterward, you will be prompted to enter your contact information, shipping address, and payment details.

Once you’ve inserted all the necessary information, simply click on the white ‘PLACE ORDER’ button appearing at the bottom of the page.

You will then be redirected to an order confirmation page and receive a confirmation code. Additionally, you will have the option to set up a password for your account.

The password and email you set up can then be used to log into your Starlink account (here) where you can track the status of your order, purchase additional accessories, and more.

How Much Does Renting Starlink Cost?

The single biggest advantage of renting Starlink hardware is that you don’t have to pay for the kit. Instead, you pay a monthly rental fee.

For Germany, where I am based, the monthly hardware fee is equal to €15. You will also have to pay the regular Residential subscription fee, which is €65 per month in Germany.

You are also charged a one-time activation fee of €50. The activation fee will be fully refunded if you return your hardware within 30 days.

As a result, given that a piece of hardware costs €300 in most of Europe, renting is more economical than Residential for the first 15 months.

Lastly, Starlink may also impose a retail penalty fee on you if you fail to return the kit to Starlink undamaged, untampered, and unmodified, within 30 days of canceling your service.

Otherwise, you will be charged the full retail price of the hardware kit as described during the online order process (i.e., €300).

Things To Consider When Renting And Returning Hardware

There are a few things to consider before you go ahead and click on that order button. First and foremost, you can only rent hardware while on the Residential plan.

This means that the hardware can only be used in a stationary manner. As such, you can’t use Starlink anywhere but at your registered address. Renting is also not available for Business and Maritime subscribers.

Related: how to set up Starlink

Billing for the service is conducted on a monthly basis, and it can be discontinued whenever you wish.

In case of cancellation, your service will continue to be available until the end of the existing payment cycle.

If a Starlink Kit has been rented by you, it’s your responsibility to return the equipment in good condition. This should be done within a 30-day window following the cancellation of the Service.

Failure to do so will result in you being charged the full price of the kit, a detail that’s clearly mentioned on the online order page.

Starlink facilitates the return process by providing you with a return shipping label, which you can use to return the Kit.

Lastly, for the process of returning rented Kits, please adhere to the guidelines laid out in Starlink’s Return Policy, which is available in the Starlink Customer Portal.

How To Rent Starlink If You’re Based In The USA

As mentioned above, Starlink does not offer the option to rent to consumers based in the United States.

That said, there are a few, albeit costly, options you could try. The first one would be to use Facebook Marketplace.

Renting a kit on Facebook’s Marketplace normally costs around $30 to $40 a day, with discounts for multi-week bookings.

Lenders often require you to pay a deposit, equal to the value of the hardware kit (around $599) and rent the kit for a minimum number of days.

There are also services like Borrow Starlink, which charge similar daily prices and deposits. In either case, I would refrain from renting the kit from a third party.

Instead, especially if you plan to use the hardware multiple times, I’d suggest to just order it directly from Starlink and subscribe to the Roam plan.

One of Roam’s biggest perks is that it can be paused at any time. If you decide you don’t need the hardware anymore, you can resell it for around $300 to $400 (depending on condition).

Alternatively, if you don’t intend to use the kit for too long (i.e., less than 30 days), you can simply take advantage of Starlink’s return policy and send it back at almost no cost (except shipping).

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, renting Starlink equipment is a viable and economical option for those residing in Europe.

However, it’s crucial to carefully understand and follow the return policies, as failure to return the hardware in an acceptable condition could lead to additional costs.

In this article, I will detail how Starlink differs from satellite TV, how you can access (local) TV channels, and what hardware is best for watching TV.

Starlink vs. Satellite Television: What’s The Difference?

Satellite TV and satellite-based internet like Starlink are both services that use satellites orbiting the Earth to deliver content, but they serve different purposes and operate differently.

Satellite TV typically uses geostationary satellites, which are positioned at an altitude of approximately 36,000 km (~ 22,369 miles) above the Earth’s equator.

These satellites maintain a fixed position relative to the Earth, so they can continuously transmit signals to a specific region.

Meanwhile, Starlink takes advantage of a low-earth orbit (LEO) constellation, which is comprised of thousands of satellites.

Those satellites are in constant movement while being operating at an altitude of around 550 km (~ 341 miles).

Furthermore, they operate on different portions of the radio frequency spectrum to avoid interference.

Satellite TV operators primarily use the C-band (4 to 8 GHz), Ku-band (12 to 18 GHz), and Ka-band (26.5 to 40 GHz) frequency ranges.

On the other hand, Starlink typically utilizes the Ka-band (26.5 to 40 GHz) and the V-band (40 to 75 GHz) frequency ranges.

While there is some overlap in the frequency bands used by satellite TV and satellite internet services (e.g., Ka-band), they are generally allocated distinct portions of the spectrum to avoid interference and ensure the efficient delivery of their respective services.

Lastly, the equipment that’s being used is different as well. With satellite TV, you normally need a satellite dish, a set-top box or receiver, and a television set.

Conversely, Starlink provides a phased-array antenna (often called a “user terminal”, “dish”, or “dishy”) and a router to connect their devices to the internet.

How To Watch (Local) TV With Starlink

Now that we’ve established how the two are different from each other, let’s take a closer look at the available options.

First and foremost, you simply could stick to your existing satellite TV provider if you haven’t cut the cord yet. In the United States, for example, most people are subscribed to Direct TV.

Direct TV ranges from $64.99 to $154.99 per month, depending on the type of package you pick. Generally speaking, the costlier it gets, the more TV channels you can access.

Luckily, since Starlink offers fast and unlimited data, you can now also stream content – even in 4K or even 8K.

As a result, your content consumption needs could simply be satisfied by subscribing to streaming services like Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and so forth.

And even live television and sports can now easily be accessed over the Internet. YouTube TV, for example, gives you access to 100+ channels for $72.99 a month.

YouTube TV’s biggest advantage over many of its competitors is that you’ll get access to local live TV channels at very competitive prices thanks to Alphabet/Google subsiding the licensing costs.

Other streaming platforms, like Fubo TV, Hulu, Sling, Philo, and even Direct TV, provide similar over-the-top (OTT) services. However, not all of them are capable of displaying local live TV.

The only aspect to keep in mind when it comes to live streaming is outages. The signals that your Starlink hardware emits, much like with satellite TV, can be interrupted by poor weather such as heavy rain or solid objects like trees or houses.

However, streaming shouldn’t be affected as much due to buffering (= downloading a certain amount of data before starting to play the content), especially since Starlink’s outages normally just last a few seconds.

Is Starlink Good For Streaming?

Yes, Starlink is very much suitable for streaming content online – whether that’s on Netflix, YouTube, Disney+, or any other video platform.

In fact, comparatively fast download speeds and its low latency are some of Starlink’s biggest advantages.

With that said, there are a few caveats to keep in mind. First of all, the performance you see with Starlink is dependent on a variety of factors, including:

• the plan you’re subscribed to
• if someone else in your household is accessing the internet simulatenously
• your distance to the router
• how congested your local cell is
• the number of satellites and ground stations around you

… and more. For example, I live in Germany where I regularly see download speeds like this:

Streaming 4K content normally requires around 50 Mbps, which means I can consume every video in the best available quality.

However, that’s not necessarily the case for everyone. One of the major reasons why I do continuously experience speeds like these is because I reside in Germany.

Here, there aren’t nearly as many people subscribed to Starlink, so I rarely compete for bandwidth with other users.

That story is somewhat different for those who are located in the United States – by far Starlink’s biggest market.

Over there, users subscribed to Roam/Mobile often share screenshots of Starlink hovering between 10 Mbps to 25 Mbps, which would be sufficient for streaming in 1080p.

Users who are subscribed to Residential can, according to Starlink, expect around 50 Mbps.

One of Starlink’s largest disadvantages, similar to geostationary services like HughesNet and even mobile coverage in crowded areas, is that the bandwidth a satellite has to be shared among users in a given cell/location.

As such, areas where many Starlink users reside oftentimes experience slower speeds. Luckily, with the deployment of additional satellites and ground stations, that problem should eventually be resolved.

Overall, Starlink should already be a great option for video streaming on any modern platform – especially in locations where you’re not competing for bandwidth with too many other people.

What Hardware Should I Use?

Consuming live TV and sports over the internet can be done via a variety of different products, ranging from your laptop all the way to streaming video players.

In that regard, it’s solely up to you and your preferences as well as your budget. These days, most TVs possess internet connectivity and can thus access the likes of YouTube TV.

Alternatively, you can also purchase media streaming devices like Amazon’s Fire TV Stick, Roku, Apple TV, Google’s Chromecast, and many others.

Each of those devices then allows you to download the above-mentioned live TV and streaming applications and directly stream them onto your TV.

If consuming local live TV is of particular importance to you, then I’d recommend getting Google’s Chromecast 4K version and coupling that with YouTube TV.

How To Fix The Playback Error When Streaming Live TV

One prerequisite to accessing local live TV is that you are physically located in the location in which you’re registered.

The local channels are normally checking your IP address’s location, which in Starlink’s case is a dynamically routed IP that is used by a multitude of people.

Those IP addresses are often associated with a Point of Presence (PoP) that is residing at a completely different location, thus making YouTube TV and the likes assume that you’re accessing local channels from a different location than you initially mentioned.

One option to circumvent this issue is to use a VPN, which allows you to route your IP address to a location that’s closer to where you actually reside.

PureVPN, for example, operates over 2,200 servers in North America alone, on top of offering other useful features such as port forwarding.

Luckily, there’s also a free option, which is another reason why I recommend YouTube TV. You can use the YouTube TV app on your phone to register your location via GPS at least once every three months. Here’s a detailed guide on how to do that.

Wrapping Up

In conclusion, Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet offers a variety of ways to access local channels and enjoy a diverse range of media content.

With the right streaming services, hardware, and location-based solutions, users can optimize their Starlink experience for seamless access to their favorite local TV channels.

While it’s extremely easy to use, there are still some hacks that even power users aren’t necessarily aware of.

In this article, I will highlight seven tips that will improve your user experience and make you avoid common pitfalls.

Tip #1: Use Paper To Insert The Cable

The Starlink cable is notorious for being a little resistant. Many users have reported that the cable doesn’t let itself be fully inserted.

This can potentially cause network outages and other malfunctions. To make matters worse, the cable already comes plugged into the dishy, which makes many people not notice the issue to begin with.

Luckily, there’s an easy fix to get the cable fully plugged in by using a paper clip. I detailed the process in a separate article, which you can find here.

For those of you who don’t want to switch articles, here’s a quick breakdown: first, fold a piece of paper and cut out a lengthy strip right where the page breaks.

You then place the piece of paper underneath the cable as it is gently pushed into the designated slot.  

Once the cable is fully plugged in, simply pull the piece of paper out. And one last important note: never plug or unplug any cable with the power on. Wearing protective gear is thus recommended.

Tip #2: Limit Data-Heavy Activities

In April 2023, Starlink introduced a 1 TB soft limit via its Fair Use Policy. Once users exceed the threshold, they will be deprioritized and thus likely experience slower speeds.

However, the cap is only applicable to those who are subscribed to Priority (Business) and Mobile Priority. Subscribers of Residential will continue to experience Standard level data.

Plus, keep in mind that the level of performance degradation is dependent on how busy the cell is, namely how many requests are being made by other users.

Nonetheless, to avoid exceeding the cap, it is advised to conduct all of your data-heavy activities outside of this timeframe.

Also, where possible, try to minimize the quality of the content you consume. For example, do not select YouTube videos to be played at 4K. The same applies to streaming on Netflix, Disney, and other platforms.

If you’re cognizant of your data consumption, then it should be fairly easy to stay below the 1 TB threshold.

And those who would like to continue experiencing prioritized speeds can do so by paying $0.50 for every additional GB ($2/GB for Mobile Priority).

Tip #3: Don’t Contact Support Multiple Times

One of the biggest disadvantages Starlink subscribers have to grapple with is its lackluster customer support. Right now, the only way to get in touch is via Starlink’s support page.

Unfortunately, it may sometimes take days or even weeks for Starlink’s support staff to get back to you. This may be particularly pitiful if your system malfunctions and you don’t have any other viable alternatives.

Although it’s not been confirmed, rumor has it that contacting Starlink’s customer support multiple times will simply reset you back to the last spot.

This is a common mechanism among customer service operations as each unanswered message is treated as a new support request, thus resetting your positioning.

As such, your best bet is to remain patient – despite how frustrating it may be. Keep in mind that Starlink and SpaceX, given their exceptional track record, will eventually improve their CS quality as new hires are consistently made.

Tip #4: If Possible, Keep A Backup

This leads me to the next hack, which is to keep a backup if it’s available and if you can afford it. Contingency planning is essential, especially if your work is conducted solely online.

My personal recommendation is to purchase an unlimited cellular connection whenever possible. Bandwidth may be low but should in most cases be sufficient to get you online.

Furthermore, this will allow you to report a possible Starlink outage and not force you to drive miles upon miles to connect to the internet.

Tip #5: Don’t Leave Your Cable On The Ground

Whether you’re using Starlink at home or while living in an RV, try to place your dishy at an elevated level from the ground.

Users have reported incurring all kinds of damage to the cable, ranging from lawnmower accidents all the way to wild animals chewing on them.

Those who reside in a single location should probably mount their dishy onto a wall or roof, which should simultaneously minimize obstructions.

Plus, Starlink’s legs are quite frail, so a storm or even stronger winds could cause some irreparable damage to the dishy.

And if you travel in an RV, then just place the dishy on top of the vehicle. Alternatively, you could purchase a cord protector like this one.

Tip #6: Don’t Rush Things, Though

Despite mounting being the advised option, you should not rush the installation. Alternate between different spots to find the best possible spot for your dishy first.

Conduct all the necessary assessments and measurements before purchasing the not-so-cheap mounts Starlink sells.

Your roof should only be a viable option if you cannot find a location in which obstructions are pretty much non-existent.

Also, keep in mind that Starlink will point north in the northern hemisphere and south in the southern, which is differing from most other satellite dish orientations.

That patience should also extend to ground installations, though. If you receive a Disconnected error after setting everything up, then wait for another 20 to 30 minutes.

It normally takes the system a while until it properly connects to the satellites and ground stations. Additionally, don’t reboot the router or move it during this time span, as you’ll lose your obstruction data.

Lastly, seek help if your installation is more complex, for example mounting dishy to a large pole. We keep a directory of professional Starlink installers for that matter, which you can check out here.

Tip #7: Ask Support For A Discount

If you recently got your hands on a new Starlink kit, then there might be some good news. It seems that Starlink is issuing refunds for those who reside in countries that introduced discounts.

If you purchased a kit weeks before said discount was introduced, like in the UK pictured above, then you might be eligible to be credited the discounted sum.

To claim said discount, get in touch with Starlink’s customer support team. They will take care of the rest.