Starlink Installation and Set Up: Easy Guide [2023]

But before you can enjoy all the goodness of the Starlink Satellite internet, you need to set it up.

Thankfully, you can do it yourself without the need for a professional.

How do you install and setup Starlink?

To set up a Starlink service, start by unboxing the contents of the Starlink package. Mount the Antenna in a suitable place, preferably on an elevated surface. Connect the Antenna outputs to the Starlink Router, and power ON the setup. Configure the Starlink app by setting up an account.

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Starlink Installation and Setup: Quick Summary

What Comes in the Starlink Box: Unboxing

To kick off the setting up part, let's take a look at what comes in the Starlink kit.

Shipped with an all-black cardboard box with minimal branding, the Starlink Kit includes the following contents:

1. Starlink Satellite Dish (Round/Square)
2. Starlink Mount (temporary)
3. Starlink Router
4. Cables

You also get a quick instruction manual with every Starlink equipment kit illustrating the setup procedure.

With the equipment unboxed and accounted for correctly, let's move on to the installation procedure. Let's go through the initial setup steps, starting with mounting the Dish:

Setting Up the Starlink Dish: Installation

Getting on with the important stuff, mount the Stalink Dish in a suitable place.

But before you can mount the Starlink Dish, a few prerequisites have to be taken care of.

And of all the requirements, knowing where and how to mount the Antenna is the most crucial.

You can't just mount the Dish on an open field and be done with it if you want to get the most out of your Starlink service.

For that, you need to know how the Dish works. Let's look at that now:

Where to Mount the Starlink Dish

Starlink, unlike most Satellite Internet providers, is meant to be an on-the-go service ready to cope with all your networking needs, even in the remotest of locations.

But that doesn't mean you can set up the Dish with the temporary mount on a stable surface and get over with it.

In fact, the mounting aspect may be an important, and oft-times, the most critical parameter surrounding the efficiency of your Starlink network and getting better internet speeds.

With that said, let's now take a look at the best locations to mount the Starlink Dish:

1. Even Ground (preferably with minimal vegetation)
2. House Ewes
3. Rooftop
4. Palisades
5. Metal Railings
6. RV rooftop
7. Ladder mounts

Obviously, the latter mounting options and brackets mentioned above pertain to the more niche Starlink plans like the RV and the Maritime plans.

And as such, the installation may also demand specialized permanent mounts like a Winegard DS3000 J-mount or a ladder mount, which also happen to be some of the best accessories for Starlink.

But finding a suitable place to mount the Starlink Dish doesn't necessarily take care of the entire procedure. For that, you need to consider the elements surrounding the Dish.

Starlink recommends that the Dish has at least a 100-degree unobstructed view of the sky for optimal signal transmission.

You can check for the same through the Starlink app.

Let's now take a look at how to install the Starlink Dish:

How to Mount the Starlink Dish

With the necessities taken care of, let's now look at how to install the Starlink Dish.

As mentioned earlier, the newer Rectangular Starlink Dish comes with a multipurpose Cable connected to the Dish in the package. The Round Dish, however, comes with detached Cables.

Let's start by detaching the Cable from the Rectangular Dish. You don't have to worry about faulty cable connections since it comes with proprietary leads that fit only the Dish.

Next, follow these steps to complete the setup:

1. Connect the Starlink Dish to the Mast.

2. Next, route the Cable through the Dish Mast. You can hear a distinct click once the Cable is seated, which indicates a tout cable connection. (Use the Black Cable for Round Dishes)

3. Attach the Dish Mast to the Starlink mount and secure it to the surface.

As the last step to mounting the Starlink Dish, let's check for obstructions using the Starlink app:

Check for Obstructions with the Starlink App

Lastly, before wrapping up the mounting process, let's check the POV of the Dish with the help of the Starlink app.

Starlink has graced us, users, with a nifty little feature called Check for Obstructions that lets us understand the optimal communication path from the Dish to the Starlink satellites.

Here's how to run the check:

1. Open the Starlink app and log into your account (initial setup).

2. Tap on the Check For Obstructions tile.

3. Read through the instructions and select I'm Ready.

4. Now, point your phone towards the sky and scan through the angles as mentioned on the screen.

5. Once you have covered all the necessary angles, tap on View Results.

The Blue region represents the optimal viewing angles of the Dish, while the Red patches indicate the instructions.

With that taken care of, let's now move on to the next step:

Setting Up the Starlink Router and Powering the Devices

Next, let's set up the next important element in the whole installation process, the Starlink Wireless Router.

Things take a noticeable departure here, too, when comparing the original Round Dish and the newer Rectangular Dish.

The Router that came with the Round Dishes featured a few additions compared to the current gen Router.

Of the more explicit differences between the old and the new Starlink Dishes is the absence of Ethernet ports on the new Router.

And if you prefer to use a third-party Router on your Starlink network(which is possible), get an internet adapter from the Starlink Store.

Regardless of the Model, position the Router at a favorable position, preferably at the center of your premise, and connect the Power Cable to the power adapter or directly to the power outlet with the newer Dish.

Connect the Dish Cable to the Router or the Power adapter accordingly.

As soon as the Dish is powered, it starts realigning itself to the Satellites. Give it a good couple of minutes to go through this ritual.

Once the Starlink Router LED lights up, you're set to configure the network and get started with your Starlink experience. Let's check that out now:

Configuring the Starlink Network

With everything set up and the internet connection ready to be configured, let's get right on with this last step.

Follow these steps on your host device to facilitate internet access on the Starlink Network:

1. Open the Settings tab on your device and navigate to the WiFi tab.

2. Upon successfully setting up the Starlink service, a temporary Starlink wireless network SSID will pop up on the list. It may be named STINKY!

3. Connect to this network.

4. A new window will pop up on your screen, asking you to change the name and password of the Starlink network. Do just that.

5. Return to the WiFi tab and connect to the newly created satellite network by entering the password.

You can now open the Starlink app and log into your account (if you haven't done so yet).

If the Starlink Dish has acquired a connection with the Starlink satellites, the status will read Online.

On the contrary, if the Dish is still waiting for a signal, the status will read OFFLINE.

If that's the case, wait for a few minutes until the Dish establishes a connection.

Now, you have completed the setup and installation of your Starlink service.

While you may find the general lack of critical features like beam forwarding and guest networks on the Starlink app, the overall minimalistic approach Starlink has embraced may seem alluring to some.

Moreover, this is a service designed to cater to the needs of a demographic devoid of urban networking services.

Starlink may even come out with these features in the future.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it, a comprehensive guide on how to set up your Starlink service.

From setting up the Starlink Dish to configuring the internet connection, installing the Starlink service can be executed within minutes. And the process is the same across most Starlink service plans.

But above all, ensure to prioritize your safety above everything, especially if you're installing the dish on your rooftop (or other suitable location).

You could also enlist the services of a trained technician for a more professional setup.

If you have any further queries about the same, feel free to reach out to the customer services of Starlink through your Starlink app.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can you get someone to install Starlink?

If you prefer expert hands to set up your Starlink service rather than your own, get in touch with several different independent and otherwise enterprises that specialize in the same. Several online professionals may also come in handy.

How far can the Starlink dish be from the Router?

You can set up the Starlink Router about 75 feet from the Dish. However, with an extension cable available on the Starlink store, you can increase the range to about 150 feet.

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