Third-Party Router With Starlink: How-To Guide [2023]

written by

Doug Stevenson

updated September 26, 2023

The router that comes with Starlink can be a bit limiting for some users.

Well, the good news is that third-party routers work well with Starlink.

Here's everything you need to know about using third-party/aftermarket Routers with Starlink.

To use a third-party router with Starlink, enable bridge mode from the Starlink app. With bridge mode enabled, connect the Ethernet cable to the WAN port of the Router. With the newer rectangular Dishes, you have to use an ethernet adapter to connect the router to the dish.

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How to Set Up a Third-Party Router With Starlink

Starlink Router next to a household Router

Starlink does come with a powerful enough Router capable of outputting everything Starlink has to offer in terms of promised speeds and connectivity.

But it fails to match the performance and the features offered by most Routing devices on the market today, especially for activities like online gaming and hosting.

But before you power up and use Starlink via a third-party Router, you may have to see to a few requirements.

The primary concern would be to know which type of Starlink kit you've got.

If you have the first-gen Dish (Round), you don't have to satisfy any requirements. All you have to do is to replace the existing Router with the third-party one.

It is only with the gen-2 Dish (Square) that you'll have to clear a few roadblocks before setting up the Router.

Unlike the Round Dishes, the Rectangular Dish setup doesn't have an RJ-45/Ethernet port.

Even the Router draws its power from the PoE injector coupled directly with the Dish (it doesn't have a power adapter).

And so, to direct the service from the Dish to an external device, you'll have to use an Ethernet Adapter sold in the Starlink store.

Once you have secured the said Ethernet Adapter, you could redirect the service from the Dish to the Router via an Ethernet Cable.

Furthermore, the 'roadblocks' don't end with the cable situation. Next, you will have to disable the Starlink Router services to bypass the networking capabilities to an external Router.

To take care of that, you will have to enable Bypass Mode. Here's how to do so:

How to Enable Bypass Mode from Starlink App

One of the significant shortcomings of the Starlink Router is that it depends on carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT) to take care of client-server authentication instead of public IPs or even Static IPs.

And when you introduce an external networking element like an additional Router into the network with a CGNAT-enabled device, it could lead to Double-NAT.

Double NAT is a phenomenon that leads to uncertainty in establishing a connection between the client and the server devices when two or more servers are hosting the same network.

As a result, network connections become unstable and severely affect various networking characteristics like signal strength, speeds, and latency.

Fortunately, there exists a simple fix - enabling Bridge Mode.

Note: This process works for installing a mesh node as well and not just a router.

With Bridge Mode enabled, the incumbent Router becomes inactive and the networking capabilities get passed on to the newly introduced device, effectively negating double NAT.

Bridging has been an established technique to get rid of double NAT for quite some time now, and Starlink has been kind enough to provide the said feature (Bypass Mode) well within the Starlink app.

And so, it is essential to switch ON Bypass Mode in Starlink if you desire to use an external Router.

Before you do this, make sure your Starlink firmware is updated.

Here is how to do so:

1. Open the app and log into your Starlink account.

2. Tap open the Settings menu.

3. Select Bypass Mode.

4. Toggle ON the feature and hit Save.

Exit the menu to trigger a Router reboot and save the changes. If you want to disable Bypass Mode, perform a manual reset.

With Bypass Mode enabled, you'll no longer be able to monitor or control the activities of the Starlink Router.

How to Use the Ethernet Adapter

Once you have enabled the Bypass mode on Starlink, proceed to couple the Router to the Dish via the Ethernet Adapter.

The Starlink Ethernet Adapter features an RJ45 port through which you can connect an Ethernet cable to the Router.

Here's how to do so:

1. Connect the Starlink Dish input to the Adapter and plug in the power cable.

2. Next, connect one end of the Ethernet cable (Cat 5e and above) to the Adapter.

3. Connect the opposite end to the WAN port of the third-party Router.

Complete the setup by configuring the Router.

You can verify a proper connection between the Router and Starlink by checking the WAN address on the Router portal.

If the field corresponds to a 100. x. x. x address, then everything should work just fine.

Why Choose a Third-Party Router Over Starlink Router?

As many aspects as Starlink does instill its brilliance, the Router may be one of the very few letdowns.

Don't get me wrong, for the Starlink Router is in no way an inferior technology that stymies the full potential of the service.

Starlink recommends its proprietary Router instead of a third-party one for utilizing the best of its services.

And this notion may hold its ground true and well when you factor in the flexibility in accessibility and control Starlkink offers via the Starlink app.

Hence the question, why choose a third-party alternative?

The answer - it comes up short on features and technology.

While the Starlink Router may offer better speeds and handling characteristics than any other Router on the market (only with Starlink), it does exhibit quite a lack of features.

Here are some of the more significant cons with the Starlink Router:

Lack of Ethernet Ports
Abysmal range
Cannot monitor network/internet consumption info or any advanced info
Lack of features like beam forwarding and network priority
Cannot host guest networks
No Triband Support (only Dual-band)
Doesn't support WiFi 6 (WiFi 5 preferred)

In a world where Tri-band support and abundant Ethernet ports have become a norm, the Starlink Router still sticks with the basics.

Not to mention the shoddy effective range, which falls short of the 1000 ft. mark. You can get a decently powered Router with a range of well over the 1K mark for dirt-cheap nowadays.

Lack of Port forwarding on Starlink Routers, sans the Business model, and beam forwarding further cement the need for an external router.

If you prefer a wired connection over the wireless mode, you are limited to just one port, and that, too, via the Ethernet Adapter. All the more reason to look elsewhere.

And above all, a complete lack of even the most basic features like guest network hosting sums up the need for a third-party alternative.

One benefit of Starlink routers is their pretty great IP rating of IP54, making them as resistant to weather conditions as the standard Starlink dish

For people on the road or those who prefer to set up their Starlink outdoors, this can seem like a benefit that other third-party routers cant provide.

With that said, here are some of the best Routing devices that outvies the Starlink Router in the market right now:

Best Third-Party Routers to Pair With Starlink

Now that you've got a grasp of how to pair a third-party router with Starlink, and more importantly, why to get a new Router, let's look at some viable options.

Some aspects to keep an eye on while shopping for a new Router are the network bands, features, port selection, and range.

And so, without any further ado, here are some of the best Router to get right now:

TP-Link AX3000 WiFi 6 Router - Best Overall

The AX3000 would be an ideal upgrade over the Starlink Router since it shines well above the latter in almost every category.

As its name suggests, the AX3000 is a WiFi 6 enabled Router. So you don't have to worry about speeds or latency issues commonly associated with the prior version.

With an effective range of about 1600+ ft, network coverage is no longer a concern, thanks to the 4 beamforming antennas.

The AX3000 features OFDMA which optimizes channel allocation and device recognition to the next level. You pretty much don't have to worry about latency issues.

You also get an assortment of features like beam-forwarding, device prioritizing, and guest networks.

TP-Link's innovative heat-management system also keeps the router from heating up.

The port selection, too, doesn't fall short of your expectations.

And if you are concerned about the security aspect, TP-Link has got that covered, too, by gearing up the AX3000 with WPA3.

NETGEAR Nighthawk RAXE500

The Nighthawk series can come out as overkill for Starlink. Nevertheless, the RAXE500 is the fastest Router on this list.

Apart from WiFi6 compatibility, the RAXE500 also features tri-band support with the added 6GHz network for even faster and better wireless connectivity

You get an impressive 3500 ft. range with the RAXE500, which is a far more effective range on offer than most WiFi routers.

Beamforming, guest network access, etc., all come as standard on the RAXE500.

The device also features a dedicated CPU for better network characteristics management. You also get a VPN on the go.

The Nighthawk app helps you configure the various aspects of the Router with ease.

If you can get over the price of the device, the RAXE500 could be the most powerful Router for Starlink.

NETGEAR Orbi Mesh WiFi System

If you want even more range out of Starlink, Mesh systems are the one for you. And Orbi has always been a favorite among Mesh enthusiasts.

Featuring a mind-boggling range of 5K+ feet, you won't have to worry about dropped connections anymore in your premise.

Coupled with WiFi6 and Tri-band support, you get even more flexibility in switching bands.

Setting up the device couldn't get any easier, courtesy of the Orbi app.

The best thing about Mesh systems is that you can further accentuate the effective range of your network by introducing more and more Access Points to the primary Router.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can you use a mesh router with Starlink?

Yes, you can use Starlink with a Mesh system. Starlink does offer proprietary Mesh networking options for their Routers called Mesh Nodes. You can get them from the Starlink Store.

How many devices can the Starlink router handle?

Starlink Router can handle as many as 128 devices. Although, connecting a lot of devices can compromise network speed and latency.

Does the Starlink router have ethernet ports?

Second Gen (Rectangular Dish) Starlink Routers do not come with an Ethernet port. You can however buy by the Ethernet Adapter accessory to get an ethernet port.

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