Starlink Mounting Options: Every Option you Have

Lately, I have been looking into the different mount options available for my Starlink satellite.

The tripod mount that came with my Starlink kit works just fine, but mounting it on the roof is bound to give me a better performance thanks to fewer obstructions.

So I figured I do a bit of research and curate my own list of the different kinds of mounts available for your Starlink in order to experience the best performance.

The various mounts available for Starlink devices are listed below:

Mounting options	Best Mount for Starlink
Best Tripod Mount for Starlink Dish	Starlink kit Tripod Mount
Best Flashing Mount for Starlink Dish	Commdeck Satellite Dish Mounting System
Best Pole Mount for Starlink Dish	Wilson Electronics Pole Mount & Rohn 25G Tower Mount
Best J Mount for Starlink Dish	Winegard DS3000A
Best Roof Mount for Starlink Dish	Skywalker Non-Penetrating Roof Mount Base
Best Pipe Adapter for Starlink Dish	Winegard Universal Antenna Mount Adapter

Best Tripod Mount: Starlink kit Tripod Mount

The tripod mount is the most common mount for Starlink dishes.

In fact, the default mount that comes with the Starlink kit is a tripod mount.

Incorporating a tripod mount is one of the easiest ways to mount your Starlink dish, thanks to its portable design.

This ensures that the Starlink dish can be moved around easily, thanks to the tripod being lightweight while being strong enough to withstand the tests of nature.

The legs of the tripod stand also have holes at the end of each side for holding it in place.

This makes it ideal for camping by simply using camping stakes to firmly attach the tripod to a grounded surface.

The holes can also be used to mount the tripod on the whole to a custom frame if you have similar plans with your Starlink setup.

But despite its benefits, implementing a tripod setup does require quite a lot of factors to be checked.

Due to its rather short stature, you will need to depend on the height of the platform to get the best possible signal.

Also, compared to other available mounts, a tripod setup is ideal only if portability is a key factor.

If you plan to permanently set up your Starlink, mounts such as the flashing or pole mount will prove to be a better option.

If you want a better-specced tripod mount, then by shelling a few bucks you can go for the Skywalker Heavy Duty Tripod. It is indeed one of the best accessories for Starlink.

For about a cent shy of 60 bucks, the Skywalker Heavy duty tripod offers better build quality, a more robust design, and a taller 3 feet height for the Starlink dish.

Best Flashing Mount: Commdeck Satellite Dish Mounting System

A flashing mount is one of the more popular mounts available to dock your Starlink dish on your roof.

The mount is placed on the slant of a roof, with the Starlink dish sticking out vertically from the slant.

A flashing mount is touted for its great seal and stability, ensuring that the Starlink dish stays secure on the roof.

The most popular and recommended flashing mount for a Starlink dish is the Commdeck Satellite Mounting System.

The design of the mount resembles a layer of boxes stacked on top of each other, with each layer meant to ensure that there is no damage to the roof.

This is done by leaving spaces for a foam layer and sealant to be installed safely, thus ensuring the safety of the roof.

This design also eliminates the possibility of any exposed wiring as most of the wires can be incorporated inside the boxed layers.

But along with the flashing mount, you will also require an additional volcano mount in order to prop the dish onto the flashing mount.

The Commdeck Satellite Dish Mounting System is also a universal mounting system, with a universal hole pattern that supports dishes of 18" to 36".

This ensures the longevity of the product as well, as you have no need to dispose of it in case you change your mind about Starlink.

Alternatively, you can also go with Starlink's own Flashing Mount which offers a similar design and features as the Commdeck.

The official Starlink Flashing Mount will cost you a dollar shy of 60, which makes it a much cheaper option than the Commdeck one.

Even adding in the $25 additional cost of a volcano mount does not justify the price Commdeck asks compared to Starlink, at least on paper.

But the Commdeck offers superior build quality and versatility compared to the Starlink counterpart, essentially increasing the overall lifespan of the product.

You can check out the Starlink Flashing Mount by logging in to the Starlink Shop with your Starlink account.

Best Pole Mount: Wilson Electronics Pole Mount & Rohn 25G Tower Mount

A pole mount, as the name suggests is simply a mount that sits on top of a pole.

This ensures that any ground-level obstacles are eliminated and the overall signal strength received will be greater than the traditional tripod mount.

And installing your Dish at an elevated height is the ideal way to go when placing the Starlink Dish.

There are two types of pole mounts available in the market, based on the size and scale of the pole:

• A traditional Ground Pole Mount, that usually comes with a pole length of about 10 inches.
• A tower pole mount, that can go up to 10 feet.

One of the best ground poles mounts available is the Wilson Electronics Pole Mount.

The $17 mount is a very simple pole mount that is about 10 inches tall and 1.5 inches wide based on its outer diameter.

The mount is also well built and will last you a long time even under extreme environmental conditions.

The Wilson Electronics Pole Mount also comes with a 2-year manufacturer warranty in the US in case there is any noticeable flaw in its design.

Coming to a tower pole, the Rohn 25G tower mount stands out as an excellent pole mount for tall installations.

The Rohn 25G tower mount comes with a universal mounting design and with a tower height of 10 feet.

It comes with a twin tower design, both 10 feet in length, and a 9 feet 9 inches top section.

Including the base station that comes with the kit to support the system, the whole setup can reach up to a whopping 30 feet in height.

Do note that this is a very industrial-grade tower, so the delivery and setup configuration might require some kind of professional help.

All the tech comes at a hefty cost too, as the Rohn 25G series 30 feet Basic Tower Kit will set you back a whopping $674!

Fortunately, there are other considerate options meant for personal use like Starlink's own ground pole mount.

This pole mount reaches heights of 7 feet after setting it up and will cost you only a tad more than a tenth of the price of the Rohn 25G, at just $69.

But by design, the Rohn will give you a better signal strength thanks to its taller architecture, and is best suited for areas with a lot of tree coverage.

Best J Mount: Winegard DS3000A

J mounts are one of the most versatile mount designs out there for Starlink dishes.

They incorporate a design similar to a pole design, but with a bend at the top resembling a J shape angled at almost 45 degrees.

This slight bend in its design paves the way for a whole load of flexibility in how you can mount your Starlink dish.

The bend ensures the dish stays upright when mounted on a slanting rooftop.

This also makes it a great addition for a DIY Starlink setup in difficult areas where a traditional straight pole or tripod design won't suffice.

Of all the J mounts suited for Starlink available in the market right now, none are as well-designed and famous as the Winegard DS3000A.

The DS3000A offers an impressive 38-inch length to mount your Starlink dish, ensuring that you get the best possible signal strength.

Of the 38-inch total length of the J pole, it is almost at the 32-inch point where the pole deviates to form the J shape.

This leaves a total horizontal offset of about 22 inches if the mount is attached to a wall, which is more than ideal for most situations.

For about $28 on Amazon, the DS3000A from Winegard offers fantastic value, ranking it amongst the cheapest mounts you can get for your Starlink dish.

Sprinkle in highlights such as great build quality, e-coating for weather protection, and a universal design for antennas, this makes a great recipe for a J mount.

If the Winegard DS3000A is unavailable, you can also take a look at the Proxicast Pro Grade Antenna Mount, which offers similar features at a slightly higher cost.

Best Roof Mount: Skywalker Signature Series Non-Penetrating Roof Mout

A roof mount is for people who value the condition of their roof as a top priority.

Often termed as a non-penetrating roof mount or a ridge roof mount, this type of mount occupies the most area of all mounts on this list, and for good reason.

The Skywalker Signature Series Non-Penetrating Roof Mout is a fantastic roof mount option for most users on a budget.

Typically, these rooftop mounts are not the most budget-friendly mounts out there, but Skywalker has the product up for just $50.

For that price, you get a well-built rooftop mount frame with enough holes for tying in ample weights.

The mount is supposed to lie across the peak of the rooftop, spanning both sides.

The Starlink dish can be attached firmly to its surface using a J mount.

The mount is also not nailed to the roof in any manner, and rather relies on weights on either side to firmly anchor to the roof.

The weights are not included, and the recommended weights for holding the mount on the roof are sandbags or concrete blocks.

Just make sure that the weights across both sides are equally balanced for the best fit.

The major benefit of such an implementation is that you can easily move and replace the mount without damaging the roof in any manner.

But the fact that the mount is not nailed means that the mount is the most unreliable on the list, with the stability of the mount being susceptible to strong winds.

In fact, Starlink themselves used to sell a ridge rooftop mount till user complaints of its instability piled up.

They resorted to the issue by removing the product altogether from their available mounting options.

Although this can seem like a red flag, there are very few options for a non-penetrating mount and the roof mount is one of the best in that category.

A decent alternative to the Skywalker Roof mount is the Easy-Up Non-Penetrating Antenna Mast Peak Roof Mount.

It is an expensive alternative, but it boasts a pre-galvanized steel construction and overall has better user reviews than the Skywalker Signature series.

Best Pipe Adapter: Winegard Universal Antenna Mount Adapter

Depending on the location, mounting your Starlink can be an expensive affair, judging from the various mounting options available.

One of the most cost-effective ways you can mount your Starlink dish is to use a simple universal pipe adapter, with which you can mount it on any pole.

A pipe adapter basically is a universal mount, where you can attach one end to your Starlink dish and the other to a pole or pipe.

This essentially converts any pole into a mount for your Starlink dish.

This is a fantastic option if you are someone who likes to DIY your setup, or want to have your Starlink installed in a place where no other mounting options work.

Of all the pipe adapters available in the market, the Winegard Universal Antenna Mount Adapter is the best option out there that is compatible with Starlink.

For $26.99, a pipe adapter is an affordable option compared to other mounts for Starlink.

It is a universal mount that helps connect pipes and poles with an outside diameter in the range of 1" to 1.66".

The mount is also built like a tank since it is made from heavy 14 gauge steel, and comes treated with weather-resistant power coating out of the box.

An alternative to the Winegard Universal Antenna Mount Adapter is Starlink's own pipe adapter, which is perfect for poles with an outer diameter of about 2.5".

It costs about $25 in the United States and may vary depending on your location thanks to Starlink's variable pricing according to region.

Unfortunately, just like any other purchase from the Starlink shop, you need to first have a Starlink account in order to log in to the shop and check the product.

Buyer's Guide: How to Check for Obstructions

You can try using any mount from this list, but if there are any obstructions in front of the Starlink dish it will be near impossible to get a solid and stable connection.

Obstructions are anything that stands in the way of proper signal communication between the Starlink dish and the satellite.

There are different ways by which you can find the best possible location for your Starlink dish.

Remove Obstacles in Its Line of Sight

The Starlink dish is wildly dependent on a clear line of sight and the location it is mounted with respect to the satellite it connects to for the signal.

As long as the Starlink dish is facing clear skies, you should be getting the most signal strength possible from that particular location.

If there are any obstructions such as trees or in some cases even dirt on the antenna, it can lead to poor performance.

So it is best to place the Starlink dish in a place where the hardware is less susceptible to a build-up of dirt, and has clear access to the skies above.

It is recommended to place the dish as high as possible from the ground level for maximum benefit.

Although it can be argued that placing it near the ground makes it easily accessible for regular cleaning.

Checking for Dish Obstructions Using the Starlink App

Starlink offers a very easy method for testing the scale of obstructions based on where you have mounted your Starlink dish.

When and where this feature comes in handy the most, probably when mounting Starlink in wooded areas.

You can simply install the Starlink app on your phone and let the app do its magic in searching for obstructions.

Although the app won't be giving you very accurate results, you can still use it to gauge the signal strength you might get with respect to different locations.

In order to use the Starlink app to detect obstructions for you, simply follow the steps given below:

1. Install the Starlink app and log in with your Starlink account.

2. Make sure that your Starlink device has been configured and is stated as active on the homepage.

3. From the homepage of the Starlink app, tap on the Obstructions option.

4. This opens up a page that gives you regular reports of obstructions based on how long you have set up the Starlink dish.

5. At the bottom of the screen, tap on the Check for Obstructions option.

6. Follow the rules on the screen, and once you have satisfied the conditions click on the I'm Ready option below.

7. Follow the instructions further and point your camera to the sky as requested. Make sure to scan the whole sky.

8. The light area represents the area where the signal is strong, and the darker area represents the area where the signal is weak.

9. Use this information to point the Starlink dish to the lighter-shaded area in order to get the best performance from your Starlink dish.

An alternative method is to simply set up your Starlink dish and wait for a few hours to let Starlink make its own detailed reports.

These reports will be based on the actual signals received from your Starlink dish, making it more accurate than using the camera on your phone.

In order to check reports of your Starlink dish from the Starlink app, simply follow the steps given below:

• Install the Starlink app and log in with your Starlink account.
• Make sure that your Starlink device has been configured and is stated as active on the homepage.
• From the homepage of the Starlink app, tap on the visibility option at the bottom of the screen.
• This opens up a page that gives you regular reports of obstructions based on how long you have set up the Starlink dish.

Do note that you might need to wait for at least 12 hours to get a proper report with this method.

If there are no obstructions reported in the 12 hours the Starlink dish stayed active, then it is safe to say that the location is a great place to mount the dish.

Final Thoughts

I hope my article on the best mounting options available for your Starlink has been a helpful read and has aided you with the same.

If you have any queries about mounting the Dish, feel free to contact the customer services of Starlink for further assistance.

Have a good day!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the Starlink Dish waterproof?

Since Gen 2, Starlink Dishes are rated to be water and weatherproof, so there should be no issues letting it stay out in the sun or rain.

Can the Starlink Dish be mounted indoors?

It is recommended to mount the Starlink Dish indoors, as there should not be any obstructions in its line of sight with the outside sky.

But you can invoke innovative solutions such as using a J mount to attach the dish to a shade indoors while angling the dish in such a way the outside sky is in sight

Does Starlink have data caps?

Starlink does not invoke hard data caps in most countries, making it one of the few that provides unlimited satellite-based internet access.

But Starlink does deprioritize data in countries such as France.

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