Starlink key points

To connect you will require a subscription to a Starlink data service, a satellite router and an antenna. Note that the antenna will need to be outdoors, set to a particular orientation and aimed with a clear line of sight to the sky. Equipment ordered is provided with instructions on how best to achieve this.

The end user device then typically connects to this router via Wi-Fi.

Starlink provide and charge up front for the equipment needed to connect upon purchase. Equipment then becomes the customers property, with no obligation to return this at the end of the contract.

If ordering Starlink direct from the supplier, you are expected to perform the set up and installation of the equipment and service yourself. You will have the basic components delivered to you along with instructions for installation. When you take out a service you will receive:

Antenna

There are various types depending on your need ranging from those capable of attaching to the top or side of a fixed building, for open ground and those designed to attached to a moving vehicle. The antenna type may also depend upon your geographical location and the throughput you require. The mount the antenna needs to attach to is critical, so ensure that you select the right one for your use case and application.

Router

The router connects to the antenna via a cable with proprietary connectors (see note on cables and lessons learned from Manchester University Hospitals trial). It is the device that provides Wi-Fi and ethernet (wired) connectivity to the device you want internet access on.

Power adapter and cables

Starlink equipment requires specific, proprietary, connectors, adaptors and cables. You will receive these with your service - replacements and spares will come at an additional cost. Whilst some 3rd party equipment options may be available be aware that these are not supported by the supplier and using these may impact performance and warranty agreements.

What you receive 'in the box' is dependent upon the system you buy, but in general, there will be a power adapter for the router and various cables. The router powers the antenna. The cable lengths in the box vary between antenna types, so check the length you need as you may need to order longer cables separately. You will also need to consider resilient power for the system to ensure connectivity is maintained in the event of a power outage, as well as spare power adapters and cables in case of damage.

Useful links:

How do I set up Starlink? - Starlink Help Centre

Specifications - Starlink

Once you have the equipment you need to subscribe to a data plan to buy a set amount/allocation of data each month. Users can expect data speeds of up to 220Mbs download with a 20ms latency. Users won’t generally buy data service plans based on speed, only on the volume of data.

You buy your set data allowance via 'data priority'. Each satellite has a maximum capacity of data throughput it can handle, and this is shared by all subscribers. If the demand from all subscribers of that satellite is below this overall capacity, then there are no issues. However, should demand go above this limit then priority is given to people who have priority subscriptions. If you have exceeded your priority data allowance, then you will be put to the 'back of the queue' for data access should this capacity be exceeded.

Once your priority data limit is reached, data usage continues but at a vastly reduced speed (reported to be 1 Mbps download, 0.5 Mbps upload). You can buy data 'top-ups' during the month as needed. When evaluating the data plan needed you should consider the 'Priority data' allowance as your data allowance, as there is a risk that any usage beyond this point will be contested and will not be suitable for critical business use.

If you plan to deploy multiple antennae at a site, be aware that each antenna will need its own data plan as the service cannot be 'pooled' across several antennae. The enterprise service offering has more flexibility around this, but at present the scale of this solution precludes use by any individual organisation. See the enterprise section below.

You can use a 3rd-party router appliance to perform advanced networking to interconnect multiple Starlink antennae at a single site. This type of equipment can provide features such as load balancing, failover, link aggregation, IPSEC tunnelling.

Be aware that data allowances do not rollover but reset at the end of each month regardless of usage. When selecting a data plan, you will need to consider if your data requirements are consistent or fluctuate monthly, and what notice is required to flex the plan to increase or decrease data allowances.

The crucial component of any successful satellite implementation are the antennae. As a rule, antennae that are fixed to building should be as high as possible, usually the roof with clear view of sky. They can be ground mounted but again, need a wide and clear view of the sky.

Installation of antennae or dishes may not be suitable for all buildings - listed buildings for example, or where there is no or limited access to rooftops. For leased buildings, approval for installation or movement of antennae from the landlord may be required.

As the dish needs a clear view of the sky overhead (and face the correct direction or 'azimuth') and may need to track moving satellites to maintain a seamless service, they are not really suited to being mounted on the side of buildings or in other locations with a restricted view. They are usually installed either on the ground where there is a flat area (such as a field/garden) or on the top of buildings. Some services may require multiple antennae to connect to different satellites simultaneously to maintain service as the satellites move overhead.

Consider local planning requirements, building/landowner’s permission, as well as accessibility for maintenance. Cabling to the antenna for both power and data needs careful planning – you should consider redundancy such as dual or diverse cabling. The installation of equipment may require legal consultation so specialist advice may be required.

To help prevent ice and snow build up, some of the dishes have built-in heating elements that come on when a temperature drop is detected. However, this can have an unintended outcome as animals, especially cats, can see these as heated beds and set up home on them.

When installed on the ground, consideration should be given to how they are secured from natural phenomena (such as high wind speeds) and human interactions (such as theft, or accidental damage due to poor placement).

The dish may contain motors and other moving parts. They require maintenance and servicing, so may need to be easily and safely accessible. This maintenance may be carried out by a 3rd party/Starlink reseller as part of an agreed service package.

Reliable satellite connectivity is dependent on there being enough satellites in orbit to meet the demands of their customer base. Satellites launched to date have a limited lifespan in the low Earth orbit (LEO) required to provide low latency connectivity. As satellites reach the end of their lifespan they need to be replaced, creating potential environmental concerns and requiring suppliers to launch new and replacement satellites at a greater rate.

Weather conditions such as heavy rain, snow, and hail can affect Starlink’s performance. These increased levels of precipitation can cause signal attenuation, meaning the signal strength can weaken as it passes through the moisture in the atmosphere. Reduced signal strength will necessarily impact the performance of the connectivity and may impact your services.