Essential Tips for New Starlink Users

Getting started with Starlink? These practical tips will help ensure you enjoy reliable, fast internet from day one.

1. Choose the Best Mounting Spot

Your Starlink needs an unobstructed view of the sky—trees, buildings, and other obstacles can disrupt performance. Use the obstruction scanner tool in the Starlink app with your phone's camera to identify the best installation location. Opting for the highest point, like the roof peak, helps avoid future issues as vegetation grows.

2. Plan Your Cable Route Carefully

A Starlink kit includes an outdoor dish with a 50-foot cable connecting to your indoor router/power unit. Before installation, plan the pathway from dish to router—running it neatly down a wall and through a small opening works well. If needed, Starlink offers longer 150-foot cables, or you can extend using compatible Ethernet cable (avoid direct burial unless it's in conduit).

3. Ensure Your Dish Is Correctly Aligned

Although Starlink dishes automatically track satellites, proper placement improves reliability. Use the alignment tool in the Starlink app to confirm your dish is correctly oriented, then fine-tune its tilt and rotation as directed. Rechecking alignment periodically keeps performance sharp.

4. Use Bypass Mode with Your Own Router

If you're using your own router or mesh WiFi system instead of Starlink’s, enable bypass mode in the Starlink app. This disables the built-in router functions to prevent network conflicts like double NAT. You’ll still manage your dish via the Starlink app, though router settings vanish until resetting.

5. Connect Through a UPS for Greater Stability

Surge protection and backup power are critical for Starlink equipment. Plug your router into an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to shield it from electrical surges and to keep it running during brief power outages—this reduces the chance of post-storm connection failures.

6. Create Separate WiFi Bands for Older Devices

Starlink generally combines both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands under one network name. Some older devices can only connect to 2.4 GHz. In the Starlink app, split the bands so older devices connect reliably to the 2.4 GHz network—ideal for smart home gadgets and cameras farther from the router.

7. Monitor Performance via the App

The Starlink app offers vital insights into your connection. Enable in the Advanced settings to see continuous ping success and latency on the main screen. Ping success indicates uptime—aim for close to 99.9%—while latency (20–30 ms is typical) helps you gauge real-time responsiveness for gaming or video calls.

8. Know Where to Get Help

When issues arise, start with the Starlink Help Center, accessible online or through the app. It covers everything from billing to troubleshooting. If you need further help, submit a support ticket directly. In some regions, phone support is available during business hours—as noted in the app’s “Offline” help articles.