Starlink Installation Guide

Starlink’s self installation process might be a bit easier (so long as nothing goes wrong), but Hughesnet and Viasat’s professional installation is free. Compare these satellite internet providers to see what kind of installation process you’re most comfortable with.

Starlink does not charge for installation. This is good, because the only installation option is self-install. Starlink ships the equipment to you, and you have to set it up yourself.

That said, you do need to pay for equipment. Unlike some other providers, Starlink doesn’t bundle hardware costs into your monthly bill. You pay a single up-front charge. The price varies depending on your plan and equipment, but, to be frank, none of them are cheap.

Starlink Standard and Starlink Roam equipment is much more affordable than the other options, primarily because it uses a less high-tech dish with slower speeds.

Depending on your particular needs, you may also need to purchase some additional mounting accessories for your Starlink satellite dish. These include various mounts to fit the dish to a roof, extend it higher off the ground, or route cables through a wall. Unfortunately, these are not included in the prices above.

Starlink’s prices are a lot more than you pay for competitors Hughesnet and Viasat. On the plus side, though, you only have to buy the equipment once, then you own the equipment. You could even potentially sell it to recoup some of the cost later on.

Once you place your order, you have the option to order any of the accessories you need. After that, Starlink ships your equipment to you.

Once it arrives, you need to download the Starlink app and set up the antenna. The app assists with finding a clear view of the sky, which is necessary to get the strongest signal and best service.

Once that’s done, you can hook up the equipment, which is a very simple process. In fact, the whole Starlink installation process is surprisingly straightforward. The only potential difficulty can be mounting your dish to a roof or other hard-to-reach spot.

Starlink installation is fairly simple. However, the instructions that come with your equipment leave a little something to be desired—they’re just line drawings without any text or written instructions. Never fear, these are the basic steps involved in setting up your Starlink internet.

Your Starlink installation kit includes the dish, its stand, a wireless router, and the cables you need to connect everything. Open your kit to make sure everything you need is in the box and intact.

Grab your smartphone and install the Starlink mobile app on iOS and Android. You use this during installation to help find the optimal location for the dish. Afterwards, you use it to set up your Wi-Fi network, manage settings, and get support.

Unplug the cable from the satellite dish. Insert the pole on the dish into the mounting base, ensuring the groove lines up with the protruding rail in the base. Then, reconnect the cable at the bottom of the unit. The connector should click into place.

The app walks you through the process of finding the best spot to put your dish, which needs a clear, unobstructed view of the sky to capture the best signal.

Just head outside, open the app, and start the setup process. The app instructs you to scan the sky with your phone’s camera. When you’re done, it lets you know if you can get a clear signal from that location.

Some ideas for areas to mount your dish include open fields (or an open spot in your yard), the roof of your home, or on top of a shed or garage. The dish doesn’t need to be elevated, but doing so can help avoid obstructions.

Note that the dish’s alignment doesn’t matter at this point. Once you set things up and get online, the antenna automatically adjusts its angle to ensure the best reception.

Once you’ve found a suitable spot, go ahead and mount the dish. This can be as simple as setting it on the ground. You may also want to stake it down. If you’re mounting it to a rooftop or wall, use the accessories you ordered when signing up for service.

Finally, connect the cable from the dish to the wireless router, and then connect the router to power.

At this point, head back to the app to configure your wireless network and finish setup.

The Starlink installation process is very straightforward, and we don’t anticipate most people having many (or any) issues. If you do find yourself needing help, however, you’re going to run into one of our biggest complaints about the service—the customer support.

It’s not that Starlink’s support is bad, per se. It’s just hard to reach a person. In fact, your only real option is to submit a support ticket through the app and wait for someone to contact you. There’s no apparent email, phone number, or chat you can use to contact someone directly.

Starlink equipment consists of just an antenna and a modem/router combo. There are three antenna models:

• Standard: This is the basic Starlink antenna. It’s a one-time $599 purchase and is intended primarily for home users.
• High Performance: The Starlink High Performance dish is for businesses and “high demand users.” You don’t need to run a business to get this antenna, but this antenna delivers faster speeds and can scan a larger portion of the sky from any given angleto pick up more satellites and provide a stronger signal (for faster speeds and better streaming support). Be aware, however, as this costs $2,500.
• Flat High Performance: This dish is similar to the High Performance option, but it’s, well, flat. It’s intended to be mounted to the roof of a vehicle and used in motion. The cost is $2,500—the same as the regular High Performance antenna.

The wireless router is an extremely simple device designed to translate the satellite signal received from the antenna and broadcast it as a Wi-Fi network. You handle all the configuration and setup in the mobile app, which makes it much easier to manage than the typical wireless router. No complaints here. It gets the job done and is more than capable of handling the speeds offered by Starlink service.

Yes! In fact, self-installation is the only option. On the plus side, this means you don’t really need to worry about scheduling issues or installation fees. It does mean more work, but fortunately, Starlink's setup process is pretty simple—most people don’t need to worry about installing it.

Setting up Starlink service is surprisingly simple. The hardware is easy to put together, and the app guides you through the process of finding the best location for the dish and setting up your wireless network. Most users can get their Starlink internet set up without much trouble at all.

Starlink’s costs vary widely depending on the specific plan and hardware you choose. The two main associated costs are the monthly service fee and the one-time equipment fee. Here’s the breakdown: