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Starlink has proven to be a game changer in many ways, faster speeds, self aligning, service coverage area (just to mention a few). One of the other gamechangers that is being left out amongst all the hype is the fact that this is a complete self install system, a DIY dream for all the independent and budget minded people. The instruction sheet from the Starlink system shows just how far they've gone to make the system as user friendly as possible for set-up and activation (our first set-up took 9 mins) so that those who are less technologically inclined should be able to do it by themselves...well hopefully. This only seems like a natural progression for Starlink as the destination for the majority of their system is to rural remote internet users, who can find themselves hundreds of miles from civilization in some cases. Making it difficult and expensive to find a contractor for the installation, let alone for a new technology. Making The Decision - Self-installation Pros And Cons Just because it is a self install kit doesn't mean that you should? Starlink is easy to set-up, we spent hours of training for some LTE, Satellite and broadband internet providers just to learn the specifics of their equipment. In all my years I have never seen a set-up that was as easy as Starlink, just look at the instructions, the simplicity is almost childish but at the same time absolutely brilliant. With a growing aftermarket of installation parts as well as Starlink's own offerings and all the helpful online content, I have to say that in the world of ISP equipment installation, Starlink is leading the way with a very progressive self install kit that maybe even a toddler could do, after coloring the instructions first.. The downside to having a self installation that it is so easy is that you may miss small details or even large ones that a good professional would've corrected, giving you a better network operation. We all know the benefit of getting an experienced person helping, it makes a difference. An experienced and trained professional should be able to make the most of your WIFI network and connectivity and be able to do it safely, plus you get to know your local Tech who can help you out in many different ways...but there is a cost. Your local authorized Techs should be able to give you a quote, It is better to get the price ahead of time then to be surprised onsite. Once you have a dollar amount you can now decide intelligently which way to go. Installing it yourself can save you money! The bottom line these days for many is saving money where they can and when they can. Starlink is no small bill, this perhaps is the strongest argument for many to DIY. The cost can be hundreds to even thousands of dollars in savings, and with all the online help and tutorials it is definitely in the realm of even a casual learner to set-up a decent network. All this being said there is still a value in having a pro come to your house to set things up, especially in a high demand network or if you're working from home and need to have all the bases covered for the best connection possible. I have lost count of how many service calls that we have done throughout the years where the problem was the installation itself and not the equipment, often leading to a poor internet experience for the client. If you lack knowledge you'll run the risk of doing something poorly causing your system to perform poorly. Then in order to get it fixed your paying someone to come out for help, now your paying anyway, might as well have done it from the start and saved time. If you have any doubt in your skills, or you're just going to do a hap hazard job it will only cost you more in the end. We all know our limits and what we're comfortable doing, if installing a Starlink system in a home is just not something you can do then getting a pro is best. "Good things come to those who wait" You can take your time and do it right, You may not be a professional but you're also not in a rush (Depending on your situation). You can go though articles and collect information to help you with your install. There is a vast library of videos that you can now watch, ironically because you have Starlink! Through the many thousands of installs I've seen while out working, some of the best ones were done by clients themselves, they had a thirst to learn and took the time to figure out how to best network their home. Professionals will do your installation up to local regulation standards and codes. Having to redo a poor or failed installation often will take more time than if it had been installed right the first time around. Doing the installation correctly doesn't just include making it look pretty either, it is about performance, function and finesse. Having the right tools, know how, and patience to get the job done is just not a skill set that everyone has. Mounting structures to your home and on a roof, digging in the ground and climbing towers is very dangerous and should always be done as safe as possible and according to local laws and regulations, your local contractor will save you the homework if you to choose to use them. So the option is there for some to have a pro come in to do the install, the question is will it be worth it? This is a loaded question that will vary with everybody's unique situation. Never mind having the skill set, you might not have the time(the kids are waiting)or maybe you just don't have it in you to be scaling a roof(if needed). Whatever your situation there is no absolute answer for everybody, a little education and some common sense should help you to make the best decision possible, whether doing the install yourself, or hiring somebody else. -The car mechanic buddy- We all have friends who know enough to be dangerous, as I like to say. You know the one that worked at a lube shop during their teenage years, figuring out enough about cars that they come in swinging wrenches only to have the vehicle towed days later to a reputable repair shop. Don't get me wrong I love having a few buddies come over, drink a few beers all while checking a few things off the list. Extra hands are great for Installing a Starlink system, if you happen to need someone to help fish a line then your buddies can be perfect, but they are probably not wireless technicians(unless your lucky enough)so their help will be limited. I would recommend laying out a concrete plan of execution to help get the job done better than just trying to make it up as you go. Their rate will be cheap but your overall install might be too. YouTube Videos and online help are abundant and growing, having knowledge might lead you in the right direction giving you the confidence and help needed to get the job done. This is definitely an avenue you can choose to go down, but lets take a look at what a professional might offer. Hiring a professional will hopefully guarantee that all bases are covered when it comes to the installation. There are many things to consider, safety being paramount for all, no internet, no matter how good, is worth getting a major injury from. Scaling roofs and climbing through attics takes professional gear to help ensure it is done safely. Some older homes will have asbestos in them, making the risk element even further if not handled correctly. A trained eye will figure out quickly what will be most effective to hit the goal with the least amount of impact, which might include customizing some of the system, like adding extenders or boosters to help give complete coverage of your home. Some houses will be made of dense RF limiting materials that will require a much more tactical approach. Knowing and identifying these trouble spots are what any professional worth there weight will be able to do. Something as silly as drilling through a floor could lead to a major water leak or worse yet an electrical fire...knowing what your options are and identifying problem situations are what a trained eye should bring to the table. Not all professionals are the same, I definitely recommend an experienced tech that has a proven record. The wireless installation industry has predominantly been run by piece work, causing many installers to cut corners to save time and make money. So be picky and ask for a quote and references before going ahead with the work so there is no surprises at the end, a professional should have no problem doing this for you. Once you have a quote you can make a judgment on the true worth of the cost, don't forget that Starlink's lack of live (talking on the phone) technicians might have you scrambling to find help, building a bridge with a local tech might be another reason to use a professional, after all there isn't going to be a Starlink tech answering a phone for you let alone coming to your door anytime soon. The Starlink system comes with everything you need to get up and running, the router is decent enough that it should suffice in most cases, however there are some large homes and detached shops/garages that would be nice to have internet coverage in. Adding to your Starlink is definitely possible, a lot of the equipment that we've been using for years is compatible, meaning that your options are only limited by your budget and common sense. A pro will help you to make the best decisions when it comes to this need, networking can be difficult and tedious at times, a pro will be able to help get you through some issues with ease and at the very least give you answers and reasons as to why things might be the way they are. Where you might spend days trying to figure out what is going on with your system an experienced tech might have it done in hours maybe even minutes. When it comes time to mount Dishy your options will be limited by the equipment you have on hand, The Starlink comes with everything your need to get up and running not everything you need for installation, there is a list of items that you can purchase from Starlink to help as well if you think ahead, as well as a plethora of aftermarket items some of which a contractor may have on their truck. If you're mounting Dishy up on your roof, you're creating a possible leakage spot if not done properly, sealing and placement are critical. I've seen Dishes installed right in water raceways, causing a much higher chance of leakage and rot. With Gen 2 systems it's further complicated by Starlinks proprietary 75Ft cable, this limited reach might mean having to take the quickest route possible to get the router in the best possible place for distributing signals equally throughout most of your home. If you have a smaller home then the router placement will be easy, larger 3000sqft homes plus might find the Starlink router just can't reach certain sections creating dead zones. This might be tolerable for some, but others will want to find a solution. Next to the Dishy placement, the router is the most important installation step, bad router location will lead to a myriad of frustrating issues. Every time I see a speed-test with someone disappointed my first instinct is to go to the router, router failure and poor placement can mimic each others problems, making it hard to figure out. Having the best signal possible and knowing what bandwidth you're on, testing with multiple devices.(Devices fail too) to help diagnose your problem can more times then not help figure out why someone might be experiencing poor signals. Just understanding how a speed test works might even help. I'll give you a quick example, Starlinks speed test in the app has 3 circles, Green Circle(Internet speed to device) Blue Circle (Internet speed to your home) White Circle (Total through-put of your device to router). The Blue Circle test in the Starlink app is completely unaffected by other devices on the network, giving you your truest speed. Meanwhile using Speedtest.net or fast.com both good speed test platforms, but they are only equivalent to the Green Circle of the Starlink app and are also extremely affected by other loads(devices running) on the network, as a test to see this try running a speed test with a single device first and then try running two at the same time and watch how scrambled your signals get. the only way to prevent this is to kick everybody off the network, then you might get closer to true results, but router connection will still play a factor here. Once these speed tests were figured out by the general public it created a large swell of service calls that should've never been made if the system was fully understood. Professionals will have the tools necessary to figure out just what is going on and offer solutions for your problems, if not at least answers as to why. Using professional RF analyzers to help pinpoint problem areas and suspect bandwidth crossover, but now we're getting techy, but hey this is the internet we are talking about. Running cable line is usually the most laborious part of the installation. scaling ladders, tucking cable around seams behind facia and siding, drilling holes, installing wall plates and sealing it all off takes time, a skilled tech will make it look easy but it is something that took time to learn all the ins and outs of, trust me I've been there, I've definitely made my fair share of mistakes along my career, some things that can be avoided and will be very costly to learn on your first install. There is a possibility that the cable can be damaged in this process, even slight cuts/tears in the jacket can lead to water building up inside the line, slowly making its way down to the router causing premature failure. The more difficult part here is that typically problems like these don't show up right away, your internet will be fine for awhile, maybe even years under some circumstances, but eventually it hits and starts with little nuisances that might last months before complete system failure. Respect the cable, don't pull on it dramatically, always be slow and gentle watching for kinking and using a second set of eyes if your pulling through a wall, and of course covering all connections to prevent debris from getting in them. Installation Complete. If you are able to manage these steps with efficiency on your own then more power to you. As an installer of many different technologies myself I understand the technicalities of some systems. As I said earlier in this post Starlink makes it rather easy for a basic setup, usually having you up and running in a very short time. When custom installs are wanted or required some professional help can be a huge time saver. The main point I am trying to get across is that when help is needed a trusted local installer can be a big asset. If you don't have access to one that is why we (All Media Services) are here, and that is the driving force behind our creation of StarlinkCommunityForums. We want to do our best to improve your Starlink experience, not because we get paid by them (because we don't), but merely because we believe in the product and believe in helping others connect on more than one level.

We have been fortunate enough to have been one of the first in central Alberta, Canada to receive a Starlink system (since February 2021) www.allmediaservices.net. we spent many hours building our YouTube library and eventually our www.starlinkcommunityforums.com website where we can centralize Starlink information through videos, blog posts, forum commenting and much more. At just over 2.5 years of ownership and testing we have found it to be a very robust system with very little down time. In this post we are going to delve in to our overall experiences with the system, some of the custom installations we have done so far and more importantly some of the fun we have had helping new and long time (AMS) customers set up a reliable network in remote areas near us. BBB Honey Farm (Rocky Mountain House) About 60KM West of Red Deer is a hidden gem near Rocky Mountain House, AB. The BBB Honey Farm has been a Starlink user for about a year, they are nestled in a growth of mature trees at a dead end county road (a beautiful location) with multiple outbuildings for honey production, mead production and all sorts of honey based products. The owner and his wife are a wonderful couple that we have had the pleasure of working for on multiple occasions. We come for the work, and stay for the people and the atmosphere (and maybe some product samples :0). So far they have been very impressed with the capabilities of the system. When setting it up initially we had to bridge the gap between the outbuildings and provide a stable internet connection all over the property, this was done with 3 separate D-Link meshing routers (good for approx. 100'). You will always lose some latency and bandwidth when wireless links are required but they work very well when hard wiring is not possible, available, or simply to expensive. Now as the BBB Honey Farm goes about business they have one less thing to worry about and can focus on continuing production of their top quality products. www.bbbhoneyfarm.com Sylvan Lake, AB One of our larger custom installations was done on an acreage just outside of the popular Alberta summer town, Sylvan Lake. On this property our customer required security cameras on the house as well as the office building/shop, approximately 60' from the back door of the house (4 cameras total). On top of the security system they needed wireless internet (in the house) and some hard wired connections plus the Wi-Fi on the out building (office/shop). So we started with mounting the Starlink internet on a tripod at the peak of the roof utilizing the out building as our central internet hub. This gave us the ability to run a hard line from the power supply (brick) to our Starlink router and from the AUX port on our Gen 1 router directly into an 8 port POE (power over ethernet) switch. Because it was a POE switch, that gave us the ability to a) power up our ubiquity cameras and b) hard wire the office computers for a more stable connection and c) from that central point (in the shop side) we could also access the internet signal off the switch, then run a Cat cable just outside the wall where we mounted a Ubiquiti loco M5 to rebroadcast our wireless signals towards the house. On the house side we could then receive that rebroadcasted signal with another programmed loco M5 and run a Cat cable in to a 2nd POE switch (located in basement). Using this setup on the house side in a similar way to the shop we could then hardwire any device (cameras, routers, etc.) to feed the Starlink bandwidth throughout the home. They have been happy with this setup since day 1 one and have had little to no issues running off of a single Starlink system. Millet, AB One of our first installations (rooftop) done on the Starlink system was for a family located near Millet, (just SE) in one of the many subdivisions in the area. This was an exciting day for us, apart from installing our own test system this was the first customer application of the new system in a rural setting. In this case we had to go with a peak of the roof mount (closer to the center of the roof) in order to avoid groupings of tall trees in every direction, this is not ideal for accessibility but had to be done. That being said our customer has made it through the entirety of a harsh Alberta winter with no complaints (we are happy about that). Inside the house was a simple setup, utilizing the Starlink router that came with the kit we were able to test consistent signals and speeds upstairs and on the far end of the house (furthest from router). Although a fairly average sized home we were impressed with the range of Starlinks 1st Gen router, and as we tested speeds throughout we were all rather elated to see the future of internet manifesting right in front of our own eyes. Hoadley, AB Near the small town of Hoadley this installation was one of the most forested areas we had experienced to date, with mature trees surrounding the house it made for a beautiful secluded location but rather tricky to find the right spot with minimal obstructions for Dishy (using the Starlink apps built in obstruction viewer). After much testing all over the two tiered roof we found a spot on the very east side of the higher tier and mounted the Dishy there, this gave us the minimal amount of down time according to the apps statistics. We also decided to go with a 3' tripod and pole as this gave us a little bit of extra height to capture the signal, as well as making a peak mount easy and stable. With the attached 100' cabling on the Gen 1 we were able to get the hard line across the roof peak and down the side of the house to enter in to the living room (where most of the streaming takes place). On a previous visit we had installed a cell phone booster to help with calls and texts, etc. out of the home. Although the customer did have an internet hub at the time it was giving such poor speeds that they could not count on Wi-Fi calling for any thing incoming or outgoing from friends and family. Now that the Starlink has been installed they have found that the cell booster has become more of a backup than anything, and they seem to have minimal issues when running off of the Wi-Fi for all their needs. It has truly been a technological turning point for so many people (in central Alberta alone) that are buried in remote areas inaccessible, or on the edge of tower based radio signals. Boundary Alberta (Boundary Campground) This was a fun one for us, at the Boundary Campground near Caroline, AB. It is an established campground with many spacious sites amid a stunning landscape of rolling hills and tall mature trees. Our customer needed a good internet system to feed her home as well as the campground store (approximately 1/2km between the two). So the Dishy was mounted on a 3' tripod at the peak of the roof near the east edge and the cabling/router was installed in her laundry room on the main floor. The router location helped split the difference between the house and garage to the east which has an upstairs rental suite. The Starlink router was sufficient in spreading Wi-Fi throughout both buildings, saving money on wireless links or a meshing system. From the main house to the shop we used a set of Ubiquiti M5 locos (Access Point on the Starlink side/Station on the store side) to bridge the gap and share the Starlink internet. There are potential plans to setup a Starlink business (premium) system and feed wireless internet through the entirety of the campground and all its sites. Starlink claims up to 500mbps download speeds which could mean the ability to stream for a large number of campers at the same time, this has not been a possibility (on a large scale) with any other rural internet providers to date, especially off of a single ISP. Red Deer/AMS Like I mentioned at the beginning of this article All Media Services has had a system for over 2.5 years and if anybody has put Starlink Gen 1 through its paces it is us! The Dishy has been moved around more times than we can count (or remember) from the included ground mount on a roof, to a customized J-Arm, to a 3' tripod and pole and the latest being a Starlink supplied flashing mount. We have purposefully covered it with snow multiple times, it has been through Alberta's harsh winters, it has seen hail. sleet, rain, extreme cold and everything in between. Truth be told it has been a catalyst in growing our YouTube channel with a natural ever growing customer base Starlink basically sells itself. It is the future right now, and we have grabbed on to its coat tails for the ride. Whether anything comes from all it for AMS, it has been an incredible journey and learning experience. Seeing people come together over a common experience (even something as finite as reliable internet) has been really satisfying to see for us. Its not just about better technology (which is great) but even more so the ability this gives people to maybe work at their career from home, or sign a child up for soccer online, make a video call to a loved one across the country or the world, home school your children with much less stress, and our personal favorite.. open up the doors to information in 3rd world countries that was inaccessible till now. Blackfalds One of the most challenging installs we have done yet was due to a terracotta style roof made with clay tiles (a rare roof to find in Alberta). We were unable to use any of the standard mounts normally used on shingles or even tin. So the best option for this roof type was an NPR or Non Penetrating Roof Mount. This type of mount uses a rectangular two piece steel bracket that can sit on a flat roof, and it is usually weighed down with bricks or cement blocks, etc. Unfortunately most NPR,s that we have worked with are meant for a flat roof, so some customization was required in this case. We ended up hiring a local welder to cut the mount in half and weld some heavy duty hinges on which reattached the two halves together and allowed it to straddle pretty much any angle of roof peak. It worked like a charm and we now have an excellent option for those types of installs in the future. The other challenge with this particular home is the walls are made entirely of brick and there was no easy way to get the large connector on the Starlink cable inside the house where the router was to be placed. The solution we found was to route the cabling from the Dishy through a nearby vent and into the attic allowing us to avoid drilling any large holes through the brick while simultaneously getting the connection and router to a more central spot in the home. The end result was a nice clean, unobtrusive installation that has worked well with minimal downtime. Pigeon Lake A first for us was this installation which took place on a lake front property. The customer had it temporarily setup on the lawn in behind the house and had ran the line through a window into the Starlink router, even with this quick setup it was an improvement when comparing the other available services in the area. Because of the height of the home and the Dishy proximity to the building they called us to figure out a solution to some intermittent service loss as well as get the cabling and dish off of the lawn. This being a large and newer home we had to get the Dishy mounted at the peak of the roof for aesthetics and to make use of an existing plumbed in Cat6 cable that ran through the attic and in to the building through the now finished walls. So in this case we used an ethernet surge suppressor to couple the Starlink cable together with the existing Cat6 rather than doing an exterior run and creating a bit more of an eye sore. On the same property they also had a detached garage with a loft above that for guests. To avoid running any hardline across the gap we were able to feed the Wi-Fi via a wireless D-Link extender that rebroadcast the signals throughout the whole building with minimal loss to internet speeds. Wetaskiwin This installation was the 2nd one from our customers at Pigeon Lake (summer home). Located just outside of Wetaskiwin on an acreage, they had spent enough time with their Starlink system at the lake house they decided to get a second system to replace the wireless LTE system that had been in place for years. Being a newer home that is visible from the highway they wanted to avoid a roof mount altogether. So our solution was a 3 foot tripod with a short pole adapter, this was mounted to a pallet that can be weighted down in any location needed. We placed this mount in the yard about 80 feet from the house giving the Dishy enough clear sky in all directions avoiding any obstructions including the peak of the home. Because the installation was done in the winter we were unable to trench the line in to the ground until the ground had thawed. Once we are able to trench the line underground we will run it through a PVC conduit to protect from moisture, frost and any critters. In the home is a basic setup feeding the different levels using an ethernet cable in the mechanical room from the brick (power supply) run up to the main floor office where the Starlink router sits. They have great Wi-Fi coverage throughout the home and have been pleased thus far. Conclusion Although this is a portion of the custom installs that we've done for our customers it has been some of our favorites so far, we have been thrilled to give new and long time customers custom solutions for their homes, offices, out-buildings, cabins and so on. We have always strived to bring Value, Care and Connection as AllMediaSevices, and have carried that same motto over in to our StarlinkCommunityForums content. We want to thank you for reading and hope you enjoyed this glimpse into AMS and some of the Alberta Starlink installations done so far. If you enjoyed this post feel free to leave a comment and a like to see more content like this in the future.

If you are at all familiar with the Starlink system you know it has taken the rural internet world by storm with the ability to access the web in even the most remote places. This SpaceX system comes at a cost though with a one time investment for the purchase of the kit $700+ CAD - *$199 for a limited time) as well as a standard monthly fee ($140+ CAD) for the ongoing services, it certainly is not the cheapest rural ISP out there. In this article we will look at bill sharing with a neighbor nearby or multiple homes on the same property. This does mean more upfront costs to have this setup but it will pay itself off in a short time and cut costs in the long run. Quick math on an average setup by a professional would run you anywhere from $500-$1000 for equipment, supplies and labor charges. Taking into consideration if you were to end up on the higher end of the install cost but are splitting the bill in half for installation, as well as the monthly cost, both homes would be paying a monthly fee of around $70/each (instead of $140/each with a system of their own) and $500/each for the installation. In less than a year both customers will have recouped their costs and from that point on will be saving approximately $70/month for as long as they keep Starlink as an ISP. The savings would be exponential and quite significant in just a couple of years and beyond. How to share the bill Obviously having the above setup in place can come with some issues. One of the big ones being the placement of the Dishy itself, whoever has the satellite dish on their roof and the main Starlink router connected into their home will also be somewhat responsible for making sure the system is up and running if anything goes wrong (if the main feed goes down they both go down). In most cases with Starlink there is minimal down time and this is not often an issue, but it is still something to keep in mind before the decision to share the link is made. Another thing to consider is the technology put in place to complete the wireless link between the two buildings, this is a case of using quality equipment for a long lasting install and in most cases should be left up to a professional that has experience with many different brands and manufacturers to find the best quality, and most cost effective plan for your network. Secondary link option We have seen quite a few properties that have an existing trenched Cat cable from one home to another and this can be a cost effective option if it is able to be utilized from your Starlink router. It is also a more stable link as you are not counting on wireless signals to complete the bridge. One thing to keep in mind is that when we have long runs of Cat cabling coming off of the ethernet adapter (gen2) or directly off of the router (Gen1) is the potential need for a power injector to keep a quality signal the whole way down the line. When we are looking in excess of 150' things can start to go wrong on your network as Starlinks power source can't manage that kind of distance. Both wireless and hardwired have their pros and cons but can save you a lot of money when done right. If you can affordably trench from one building to the other keep that as an option, as a good quality burial cable can last for a very long time (especially when buried in conduit) and provide stable internet to the neighboring building. Multi Unit Buildings Earlier in this post we discussed internet sharing with 2 homes and the pros and cons that can go along with that. Now I would like to talk about multi unit buildings (apartments, 4 plexes, condos, campgrounds, etc). This is a concept people living in big cities can not grasp, but if you are like me and were raised in a very rural/small town Canadian province then the idea of multi unit buildings with poor internet service is very much a reality - to this day. Starlink is an excellent option for multi unit buildings who all would like to run off of the same internet system. There are still limitations regarding the download and upload speeds when being shared across a range of routers and Wi-Fi devices but that being said it can save a lot of money in the long run for the Landlord or the tenants/owners and still be sufficient and reliable service for the users. When looking at a setup such as this a fair bit of equipment will be needed to begin reaping the benefits of internet sharing: -A wireless router for each unit -At least one Ethernet switch to feed the units from a central point -Ethernet cabling (if not already wired throughout the building) from the Switch to each unit to connect the wireless router This scenario is a bit more complicated to do the math on as there are a lot more variables but it is still something to consider if you run a campground, are a landlord who wants to provide Wi-Fi to there tenants and create a more appealing rental option, or as the owner/tenant of a unit who would like to look at sharing with other residents and split the monthly costs (with someone you trust). *One thing to keep in mind is that the scenarios in this post are based on a residential internet package, if more speeds are needed a business system is available through Starlink at a higher monthly and a higher up front cost for the equipment* Conclusion Although this post does not cover every possible scenario when it comes to sharing internet services, it should at least get you started. We hope this article has been helpful in your decisions and/or discovery regarding Starlink Internet Sharing and the pros and cons, as well as the possibilities that it entails. If you have any questions surrounding this topic feel free to jump in to our forum at www.starlinkcommunityforums.com and join the Starlink conversation.

Table of contents -type of cable -surge arrestor -power pack -existing house cabling -conclusion Oh no! You have damaged your Starlink cable...lost your internet and now have to wait for a replacement from Starlink, or do you? Disclaimer: If you can, it is always best practice to use Starlinks supplied parts and equipment. This is ideal, but in real world situations you will find that it is less than ideal if your Starlink system breaks down and you're waiting for parts. You may have other solutions that will get you back up and running without the long delay. In this article we want to cover some of the basics of Starlink connection repair, we cut open a 1st Gen system cable and replace the connections (you will find a link to a kit near the "surge arrestor" category giving you the right tools for your own connection replacements) read on and lets see how this goes. Starlink cabling runs direct from Dishy as one piece, connected at Dishy, with one run directly to the power pack for Gen 1 and to the router for Gen 2 systems. Because Gen 2 uses proprietary connection you have limited options as to what you can do, but with the 1st Gen system you're able to cut into the Cat Cabling and install a connector to replace the damaged portion of cabling. The 1st Gen system uses a 100ft long cable that is attached at Dishy. This cable (if damaged) means you have to get a replacement unit, which could be pricy. If you're going to go this route you need to consider a few things first. The kind of cable to use, Cat5E and Cat6A are both usable but we would always recommend getting the best possible as the internet is a fickle beast and you will be chasing down problems from poor equipment for a long time to come. Use the best and don't cheap out, it may only bring you grief. Check out this link to learn more on cabling https://cablesys.com/updates/differences-between-cat5-cat6-cables/ The cable must be rated for outside burial use, don't use indoor cable, as it will work well at first but will deteriorate quickly in the weather (making replacement needed every few years if not yearly). Bury the cable! People will often hang cabling incorrectly, there is a lot of weight pulling down on long extended runs and this is amplified by frost build up or critters running on it. The stress stretches the cable and will cause internal breakage, Not to mention branches and snow that will cut the cable when falling. Buried in the ground you have no worries of these impediments, you only have to worry about larger weights crushing the cable in the ground which probably won't happen as we're already referring to being surrounded by trees. If you do need to cross a roadway then make sure the cable is in a conduit to protect it from getting crushed, conduit can be found at most local hardware stores. If you're really worried about cable being damaged in the ground then you could run conduit for the whole distance, this is a great idea and if something does go wrong with the cabling you can easily replace it by pulling a new run through the conduit instead of digging up the ground. What length can you extend too? We have tested out at a 500ft total length and had nothing, 400ft nothing, 300ft and we have signal and the system seems to be working just fine. We did this using a surge protector that extended the existing 100ft Starlink cable into the surge protector and out the other port another 200ft to the power pack in the house. For more information on the surge arrestor check out this link https://www.l-com.com/surge-protector The overall length was just over 300ft and the system has been working well, but time will be the test as the power pack(Brick) is working harder to push the POE for the dish down 300 plus feet of cable compared to the factory 100. *A specialty tool and crystal ethernet connectors will be needed to make this repair, a kit can be found on Amazon following the link below* - 300ft is a long distance that can possibly help get you Starlink services (depending on your situatuion), but first consider other avenues like tree trimming or tower mounting, as you might be able to stay within the factory settings of the Starlink system and prevent premature wear. If this is the only option then this will work, and will work well if done properly. Make sure that the power pack has some cooling ability, prop it up and if possible have a fan pushing air on it. It's extra work for the power pack to push through the extension, creating more heat to be carried off. If you can't get a fan make sure it has space and proper airflow getting around it. VERY IMPORTANT as this could affect the life of the system. If you can get away with the provided cable length then I would advise to do this when possible. Adding cables will create areas that will need maintenance over time making troubleshooting a little bit more tricky. That being said it can be extremely useful under certain circumstances. We ran the Starlink system at 300Ft with no problem for a couple months. Using a 200 Ft Cat6E Cable through a surge protector that connects the 100ft Dishy cable making for a total of 300ft. We definitely noticed the heat emanating from the power pack was much greater. Our one challenge was the red light came on the router, but after a few resets it came back on. This is the first time it had more difficultly coming back on. Typically takes 10 mins this one took an hour before it came back online. There was little deviation in speed tests, (as we have tested in the past Starlink hardwired always performs better). With some of our installations the houses have been pre-wired with Cat5/6 cabling, in order to utilize this cabling, and save drilling holes through walls, we simply set-up a surge arrestor and connected the Starlink system up to the house cabling via the surge arrestor. This came in really handy a few times as the homes were completely finished and would've been very difficult to get the cabling into the home without cutting out drywall. The downside to all of this is that your putting more connections inline with the system, the more connections the more spots for failure especially if the work is rushed and hacked together. Better to take your time and do it as best you can to help your internet stay online with the least amount of issues. If you do have problems then Starlink will not be able to diagnose problems with your installed equipment, that will be on you. So make sure connections are done well and kept dry and easily accessible. Conclusion: The Starlink has worked well for a couple months now with a 300ft total extension. There was one moment where the system came up with a red light and took a few reboots to come back online. This could've been caused by the extension but it is also a common problem found in systems without any extensions. The biggest concern was the heat coming from the transformer, very hot to the touch. It runs warm when working normally but you can feel the difference in heat so make sure it has room to breath for cooling. Better yet, mount a fan for airflow across the device. I would definitely try everything possible to use only Starlinks existing equipment and only use this as a plan b scenario. There are other options for extending Starlinks capabilities, like Ubiquiti wireless links that can extend the signal for kilometers.. but those are articles for another day. If you're enjoying these blogs then please subscribe to our site and gain access to all things Starlink through our Forums (Forum Commenting), Blogs and videos. Thanks for reading!

Its official! Starlink has announced the ability to turn on portability in your app for an additional fee ($25USD/$30CAD). This means if you are an existing Starlink customer and you have a system (Gen 1 or Gen 2) you can take the system to a new location and be supplied with stable internet, provided you are in a Starlink serviced location and have minimal physical obstructions on said property. As of yet this portability option (at least for liability reasons) does not allow the system to be used on moving transportation like a boat or an RV. We do discuss in further detail this new portability option on another article: https://www.starlinkcommunityforums.com/post/starlink-portability-options-is-now-available Today we would like to take a look at the process of a physical removal of your Dishy if mounted to a roof on your primary residence and some options to make that process easier and more efficient. Both Gen 1 and Gen 2 come with a base for the Dishy that is primarily meant for the ground or a flat surface such as a deck. it is really more of a temporary mount when looking at the majority of home structures in North America and especially a treed rural setting like those we find often in Central Alberta. The Gen 1 (round Dishy) is going to make for a bit more of a road block when it comes to removability and portability as the cabling is attached. Depending on how you have setup your system the cabling may have been routed through an attic to your router location, or perhaps ran on the exterior of the building and in through a conduit or a hole in the wall. Whatever the case it still leaves you with a bothersome removal in order to take your Dishy to go. Gen 1 (Cabling/Surge Suppressor) Our first recommendation when using your existing system in multiple locations is to add in a surge suppressor near the Dishy mounting position which will give you the ability to plug your existing cat cable into one of the ethernet ports and then connect a secondary cat cable from there into the home, and in turn the Starlink power supply. **Keep in mind you do not want to go over a combined length of approximately 300 hundred feet when passing through a surge suppressor** This will allow the attached cabling to be placed under or near the dish and can be easily removed (along with the dish) with a few simple steps, and no need for pulling the whole length of cable out of its respective locations. Gen 1 (Easy Remove Mounts) Our second recommendation comes in the form of an easy to remove mounting system. If you'll notice in the picture we have utilized the existing tripod style mount the Gen 1 kit comes with, we did this with 3 sealed brackets that are in a permanent position attached to the roof. From the center of the bracket a carriage bolt runs up through the existing holes in each foot and a washer and nut are placed on top and tightened till secured. This setup allows the entirety of the Dishy and its tripod base to easily be slipped off for transportation and back on upon return to the main residence. When arrived at the secondary location you will already have the attached Starlink mount that can be setup with weights or a tether (in most cases) for your temporary and portable internet. Gen 2 (Cabling) Transportation of the 2nd Gen Dishy is easier in regards to weight, size and a removable cable. Although much easier to transport there is still some drawbacks with the 2nd Gen and its proprietary connectors. Main issue being durability of the connection point that is built in to the mast of the Dishy. This has been a complaint from the first launch of the Gen 2 system. More than a couple of removals and reconnections of the cable can cause a failure in the port that receives your proprietary connector, where in the receiving port becomes loose, may push in and will not properly accept the cable connection. This is a big pain due to the build of the Gen 2 making it very difficult to access the port without taking things apart, that then may cause further issues and possibly void the warranty on your Starlink system. Unfortunately there is no perfect solution to this engineering fault (aside from it being reengineered and replaced). The main thing you want to do with the Gen 2 is be very gentle when removing and reconnecting the cabling so as to not jostle the receiving port out of place. On the flipside, the positive that we see with the removable cable (and the case of mobility) you now have the option to keep your primary residences wiring in place and have a secondary cable (length of your choice) purchased from Starlink to stay installed, or stored in your RV, for those getaways that require an internet connection. Just take the dish and router, leave the cable behind, and away you go. Gen 2 (Easy Remove Mounts) The rectangle Dishy comes standard with a 4 legged mount that like the Gen 1 is meant for the ground and not engineered for a roof. That's where the aforementioned brackets come in to play with some slight modifications and one extra piece of steel for the fourth leg. This again will allow you to use the existing mount and easily slip the Dishy from its home base for transportation by removing the 4 nuts holding each leg to the roof. We are sure this is not the only option for a custom mount but is a great option for portability. We have also heard of a handful of people using strong magnets to create a non penetrating roof mount to avoid leaks in a tin style roof, or bolted on to an RV with steel plates attached to the feet of the Starlink mount for an easy on and off (we may give this a shot some day soon in a real world application). We would love to hear your experiences on this topic and we appreciate you taking the time to read this article. Let us know in the comments your own custom mounts or if you have any questions about the ones discussed today. Thanks for reading.

Cyber crime is a multibillion dollar industry The rise of these attacks is only natural in a digital world where money and information is being exchanged. It might be shocking to hear but you can't prevent all cyber attacks, you can however reduce your risk by doing some very easy things when setting up your Starlink system. The list of attacks is long, and some are out of your ability to be able to protect yourself entirely, but the number one way an account is hacked is through your password. More accounts are attacked because of default passwords, simple passwords and shared passwords. This can be overlooked and extremely important, and something we can all do very easily. This step is done at the initial set-up of your account and one more time when setting up the WIFI system. Setting your password has a huge impact on your cyber security health, potentially even saving you from being hacked. Most people have figured out by now that having a secure password that is memorable for you and yet hard for others is just a part of being safe from cyber account hijacking. A brute force attack is when they (Hackers) gain access to your account by using your own password, making it like it's you in your account, I think you can see why this can be dangerous. Your Starlink system has 2 passwords, your account password and your WIFI set-up password. They're very easy to set-up and change, but there is one area that must not be overlooked when setting up your account and WIFI passwords. Very important to use distinct and separate passwords not only from each other but from other accounts as well, there is plenty of good reasons for this that will explain later . Your password must be unique to your account, and stored safely away...never to be forgotten until needed. Why is it important to have a unique password? Today I barely remember any phone numbers as my smart phone takes care of it for me, in place there is now a thread of passwords that are becoming more prevalent and heavily used these days. We use to have a key, or a card, maybe an I.D. to prove your identity, now we have digital accounts set-up, each with perks and benefits and each one needing an email and password to be set up, leading too 100's of passwords in some cases, most stores we shop at offers savings with an account, we want those discounts! Or just to sign up for that new trending app you create an account, at checkout tills they're asking you to sign up for rewards that you receive for shopping there...the list goes on. Because the amount of passwords you need can be absurd, you're more likely to start reusing passwords and mashing through the same sequences in varying forms just because it's easier to remember, but this can also make it easy to hack. Using the same password over and over again is very problematic for a number of reasons but the main one is account hacking, you're exposing yourself to a larger hack and the likelihood of that happening increases drastically. This is where using unique passwords will help protect your account. If you use the same password between accounts, when one account gets hacked it compromises all accounts that share the same password. Where if the hacked account has a unique password then no other account has been compromised, just it alone. Using unique passwords creates a layered defense against an attack getting too deep. Dealing with one account is difficult enough let alone multiple. If you find it impossible to keep up with the volume of passwords needed then at the very least make sure your main accounts like Government, Bank, Billing, Business, Social Media, any account that has sensitive information or that you value, take the time and give them all unique passwords, especially if your using the same password for your bank that you did with the latest app you downloaded. Once hacked it can take weeks, maybe even months to get through the process. Not fun, but it happens a lot more than you think and you're forced to deal with it. It happens to large companies all the time, especially ransomware attacks, where the hackers hold onto your information and charge you to get it back. There is a plethora of cyber attacks out there, this is just the tip of the iceberg. But one thing that you can do that will drastically help your own personal security is by changing passwords occasionally and using unique passwords for every account...I know that sucks to hear, but you will sleep better at night knowing you did this relatively simple task. Even if it means keeping a notebook(Just make sure it is safe too) We have so far been talking about why but let's talk about how. You have 2 passwords to set-up with Starlink, your WIFI password if you're using their router and your account password, both are very important but for different reasons, the same principles apply to both. When you signed up as a Starlink customer, you were given an account, this is where your first password is set-up, this is your Starlink account password. You can change your account password if needed, and maybe after reading this article you'll want to. This can be done from the account login onstarlink.com home page, or on the top left corner of the Starlink app, you must be signed out of your account in order to change your account password. The WIFI set-up is where your second password is used in your Starlink account. Although Starlink limits the adjusting you can do in their router, creating a strong password here will help prevent unwanted users taking advantage of your services. This password is often shared, and Starlink doesn't offer a guest account yet, meaning that anyone who accessed your internet will be able to until they are removed, either by themselves or you change your network settings. You may have been helping a neighbor whose internet went down, but once it's been fixed they should be removed to help save your bandwidth for your own use. First step, make your passwords at least 16 digits long. We highly recommend keeping your Starlink systems accounts and passwords very unique, make them at least 16 characters long as this can increase the hacking time to 5 plus years, with 8 digits it can be hacked in a matter of days, sometimes even hours depending on the equipment and knowledge behind the hack. But making somebody have to try for five years is a pretty big deterrent. Make it Unique, You don't have to rewrite the script of life, make it promptly by picking items, or places, vary numbers, signs even purposely miss spelling words. You'll end up with a number of passwords that you’ll use irregularly that you may have to look up occasionally, but like the old phone numbers of yesteryear you will be able to retain at least 10-20 numbers with relative ease. Try not to mix and match passwords, birthdates, family members and pets should be off the table...make it something someone would never guess about you, maybe even a hidden pleasure...after all it is a secret password. Change Your Passwords Occasionally. Every few months we should be changing our passwords on our busiest and most used accounts. This is really good practice, I liken it to brushing your teeth, the more you do the stronger and healthier they'll be. If there ever was a hack this will just help fortify against them getting in too deeply. By using unique passwords and rotating them out you will really increase your data protection. What if it is a major cyber attack? Not all attacks are against your individual little account but on the big boys(Starlink) accounts. Elon Musk has very intimately expressed his support for Ukraine and his dislike for Putin, Putin and his regime are no slouch to cyber crime as they have been hacking and stirring up trouble for years, with really big attacks even on Government services. When Elon tweeted about using Starlink in Ukraine he stated that the system had been hacked(we would presume externally) and shut down, but with an update the problem was quickly fixed and the system was back up and running safely. He then stated light heartedly that he wondered what they would try next. Makes you think, has he just poked the bear or was he the bear poking the victim...hmmmm. Nonetheless the risk has increased with Starlinks system, all done for the right reasons of standing with Ukraine. Here's the catch, if you signed up for Starlink they have some of your information just by default, Important information that could be very useful to prying eyes. It might not come from a direct attack, it could be two, three, even hundreds of accounts if you're using the same password. Hence the reasons large companies are always getting their employees to change their passwords every few months. You probably haven't noticed Starlinks updates which take place in the early morning hours. They happen constantly, partially because the system is new and growing but also due to new deep penetration testing that prove weak areas that they then improve. The whole process is mind-numbingly huge and vast. But even the giants like Microsoft have fallen victim and have been battling these threats for years. If Starlink does get hacked and your account information is leaked then the Hackers will only have access to that account and information within. You can check if your email has been breached from a major account at https://haveibeenpwned.com/ this is a free site to use, don't be alarmed if your email has been breached, 7 out of every 10 clients we talked with have. Just take the knowledge you now have and protect yourself better in the future. We didn't talk about using anti-virus software to protect your system in this article. There is a good place for these services too, they can give you the extra assurance and protection that many people need. There are many offerings out there like Norton, CCleaner, AVG and many more. Depending on your needs each one offers great services that if you're hyper vigilant you can take full advantage of, but this we will cover another time, the set-up of your Starlink account and its passwords is the first step in protecting your new network. If you have enjoyed this article then check out more in our blog and make sure to become a member for free today to stay up to date for everything Starlink.

It's The Season Of Intermittent Satellite Signals Everybody is curious about Starlinks performance, they have seen grandiose speeds being posted and wish theirs was the same. These great speeds we see are usually not the average, they are something that we like to call "burst speeds". The overall average of speed of Starlink users is well below the 200-300 speed tests being shown online. That being said, you can run multiple speed tests and get different results every time, why does Starlinks internet connection fluctuate so much? Did you install something wrong or is this normal? Is there something you can do to improve your speeds and make it more consistent? Every spring we go through the transformation of vegetation being rejuvenated. With this comes giant trees budding their leaves. Every year as a satellite technician we new that this was a time in which our work would surge. Dishes that were installed years ago now have a large tree cutting off the signals, in some case the area got so grown in that getting signals would require removing trees(or installing on one) to get a usable signal again. For all the great technology that Starlink brings to the table the one thing they have not done is develop a signal that passes through trees any better then it's predecessors. Trees are the nemesis of radio signals and can cause intermittent issues that leave you frustrated and puzzled. Starlink has not overcome this obstacle, at least through equipment, however through their app, both the ‘Obstruction Viewer’ and ‘Network Statistics' ' you can hopefully pin point down if trees are an issue, which trees are the issue, and what you will have to do to remedy the situation. The obstruction viewer in the app allows you to use your phone's camera to spot out your line of sight. You can test as many locations as you want, you do not even need a Starlink system to use the app. Do this before you order Starlink to see just how well it will work from your location. I've gone into more detail about the ‘instruction viewer’ in another blog, so for this one we're going to just touch on the basics but if your wanting to learn more click here https://www.starlinkcommunityforums.com/post/starlink-checking-for-dishy-obstructions Found on the homepage of the Starlink app just to the left of the 3 main buttons, once you have selected it will ask you for permission to use your camera. Make sure your phone camera lens is clean and that you have sure footing around you. The service area is very large and must scan out the whole area. This is very important, I can't stress this enough that you must scan the whole area and not just the perimeter of your line of sight like you were able to with the older satellite technology. These LEO (low earth orbiting) satellites will be continuously changing while you're using the system, 100's of connections a day as they pass through the field of view. This is the reason Starlinks speed tests are so erratic, up and down like a yo-yo. The Satellites are susceptible to the weather, clouds, storms, fog, it will all deviate your signal, but hopefully very little as this is out of your control. The trees around you however will also cause interference with your system and this something you hopefully can control. Every situation is unique and some have had to go to extremes for a clear line of site. Luckily the vast majority of installs will be much simpler, getting Dishy mounted in an area with a 100% visibility is what you need. One little branch from a tree can cause a very large amount of grief, you may not notice it when using the system at first, but once you start a zoom call, or go to play live gaming this is where the branch will start to ‘bud’ into problems. Network Statistics is another tool you can use to help determine your interference problems. This tool is also found in the homepage of the app under the button statistics. When you're in here you can select outages and see just how many you've had over the 24hr period. If you see a lot of outages in here then suspect trees. We have watched this closely over the last year that we've had our Starlink and this usually stays quite stable when you have a clear line of view. You will probably only have a few seconds of downtime that was hopefully for an update. If it is consistent on here, with outages every few seconds then you're likely getting interference from a tree. There is a slight possibility of it coming from other radio signals too, but this is unlikely. What are the options? Well there are 2 main options, move Dishy if possible or trim trees. Depending on your situation, a low lying tree that can easily be trimmed will be much easier than trying to reroute your Dishy to another area. But maybe it's your neighbour's tree and they won't let you touch it, then moving the Dishy it is. In areas covered with large trees your options are going to be limited and will make for more research before finally mounting. Just because you're in tall trees doesn't mean it won't work well, I'm shocked at some of the areas Dishy can get great signals. Taking the time to use the tools Starlink gives makes a big difference with your experience with Starlink overall. Installing it correctly will give you the least amount of downtime with your system providing you with 1000's of hours of good internet service. Check out our video below to learn more. If you've enjoyed this article then make sure to become a member for free to stay up to date with everything Starlink.

Starlink has proven to be a game changer in many ways, faster speeds, self aligning, remote service area coverage just to mention a few. A feature less mentioned amongst all the hype is the fact that it comes as a complete self install system, a DIY kit for all the independent and budget minded people. This somewhat makes up for the large upfront cost of the equipment, but the system only comes with basic installation components meaning you might need to either build or find the accessories you need for your installation. So just because Dishy comes as self installation doesn't mean you're going to be able to do it yourself. You may need someone else to do the install for you. If you have the option to have a pro come to do the install, the question is will it be worth it? Will it make your internet better? These answers will vary with everybody's unique situation, from your budget to your local installers location, the size of your home. There is no absolute answer that fits everybody's situation, but with a little education, and some proper planning this article should help you make the best decision possible between doing the install yourself or hiring a professional. Lets Look At Some Pros Of Starlink Self-Installation (click on arrows below) Hiring a professional will hopefully guarantee that all bases are covered when it comes to the installation. There are many things to consider, safety being paramount for all, no internet, no matter how good is worth getting a major injury over. Scaling roofs and climbing through attics takes professional gear to help ensure it is done safely. Some older homes will have asbestos in them, making the risk element even further complicated if not handled correctly. A trained eye will figure out quickly what will be most effective to hit the goal with the least amount of impact, which might include customizing some of the system, like adding extenders or boosters to help give complete coverage of your home. Some houses are made of dense RF limiting materials that will require a much more tactical approach. Knowing and identifying these trouble spots are what any professional worth their weight will be able to do. Something as silly as drilling through a floor could lead to a major water leak or worse yet an electrical fire...knowing what your options are and identifying problem situations are what a trained eye should bring to the table. Lets Look At Some Pros Of Hiring A Contractor/Professional Making the decision to use a pro or not will vary with everybody's circumstances. We hope this article has help direct you in making your decision. Thank you for reading our blog and for your support! If your new to our website then become a member for free today to stay up to date with all our latest news about everything Starlink!

Account Login Checking Tickets Ticket Submitting How Long to Wait Getting in contact with Starlink has certainly been a frustration for some, and not through any fault of their own. It just simply takes longer to get a reply back, sometimes even longer than a week. And yet others get their replies answered quickly, even within minutes. Lets try to understand how Starlinks messaging system works, possible things you should and should not do that affect your response time, and make sure you're being heard. First step to submitting a ticket. You need to have a Starlink account to submit a ticket. No account, no ticket...the ticket submission area is for existing Starlink accounts only. When you order the Starlink system you get a confirmation email sent out with your information, every month Starlink sends an electronic invoice for record in your account. You can keep track of invoices as well as tickets when signed into your account. You can log in through a desktop or mobile device at www.starlink.com . To make sure you've logged into your account, press on the top left icon on the mobile and far right on desktop. This is your Starlink profile, you can check or change your email address that is attached to your account here, this is the one that Starlink will use to respond back with. If you haven't received any replies back from Starlink then check that the email is spelled correctly and that it isn't getting marked as spam. Email's that contain dollar amounts are much more likely to get sent to the spam folder. Once you've logged into your account on the mobile app, look over to the top right of the screen and press on the mailbox icon to check your messages. There will be a history of all your tickets kept with Starlink here, very handy to go back over later if needed as well as keep track of dates and times of events. It would be nice if Starlink had direct contact, but they don't, at least not that I've found . So you need to go through the steps and try and troubleshoot your issue within their library of articles. This isn't really that bad though as often things can be fixed without talking to a rep, this allows them to take care of more urgent needs. The reply back is anything but quick, expect to be hours and maybe even days before getting a reply back. All the more reason to try and use their troubleshooting tools. Click the category closest to your need, if you're unsure then just pick one. Hopefully you can find your fix just in the write-up, but if not at the very end select the thumbs-down icon saying that this didn't help. It will then take you over to submitting a ticket with Starlink. You have to dig a little to get this accomplished, but more to note is that you're going to have to wait for a reply. There is no emergency service "I'm offline, need help now". Ironically, to submit a ticket you have to select the thumbs down, exactly what a day wait time gets. There is no live chat. Submitting a ticket is the preferred method of contact. The reality is that Starlink is progressive, and will use the technology needed to grow at such a fast pace, and digital call centers are the future. Now is your time to express your question or concern, the subject will be very important, this will classify your problem and direct you to your needed department. There are 4 main categories that you select from, after these are various and many subcategories. Account,Billing & Orders Specs & Config Troubleshooting Setup & Install Make sure to sincerely look through the suggestions, you may be surprised and end up fixing your system before submitting a ticket. Make your subject direct and to the point, examples... "Starlink router red light on''... "No power at Dishy"... "Getting kicked off the network". The description box is your time to explain more thoroughly what your issue is. Be detailed here, think of the timeline of the problem, the description, any changes in environment or behaviors. Not to poke at this again, but sometimes typing out your problem also helps you to think objectively about it, possibly thinking of things to try out. Once you have your message typed out, you can now add any documents or pictures, just press on the little paper clip icon to attach them. You will receive a confirmation email as soon as the ticket is submitted. This is a crucial part, getting the confirmation email means that Starlink received your request. This is key to you knowing that someone has heard you. If you're not receiving the email from Starlink then check in your account and make sure it is the correct email. Check your spam and junk folders. Emails with dollar amounts are more likely to get sent to the spam box. The biggest compliant with Starlink that we're hearing is there service wait times are to long. Not only do you not get to chat direct but your waiting for a response. I have submitted multiple tickets and some did get answered in the same day, but this was awhile back while Starlink was in BETA. Now I'm seeing 1 day between submitting and response. My subjects are not always classified as emergency as fortunately we have had very few. I would hope that they get these times down to 5-10 minutes, similar to other ISP's. But unlike most other ISP's, Starlink is a Global company that will be dealing with multiple Government's , following all their laws and regulations must be a labyrinth of red tape to get through. In time Starlink will get this under better control, but the extremely good response there getting to there product is making it hard to keep up with. So be patient, check your email and read through the articles, hopefully they'll get back to you soon. In the meantime you can check out some other blog articles here, there on a variety of topics as well as a community forum of Starlink users that are sharing their experiences. Thank you, we hope you enjoyed it. Become a member for free and stay up to date. Check out our latest YouTube Video release!

Starlink has just announced a new Portability option for existing Dishy owners! A few days ago the answer to the question of Starlink's mobility was unclear, but now there is a very clear answer. Yes, Starlink offers mobile internet services! Starlink just announced its portability option for any Starlink customer. I say option as it is a monthly charge ad-on for $25.00 USD or $30.00 CAD a month, it can be turned on and off through the app once activated in your account. So you'll only be paying for the months you use it in. This might seem like a fair chunk of change but the options are probably more expensive and not as good, especially for travelers. For the extra $25-30 a month they'll be able to enjoy high speed internet and connectivity almost everywhere they go. I did say almost everywhere, there is a caveat though as you have to use the Starlink service area map to find out where you can get service (not everywhere is covered). Although you can still get service in the dark green areas, it might be reduced as you'll be at the back of the line when it comes to bandwidth usage. The last test we ran with roaming enabled we were seeing speeds of 135Mbps, not too shabby. In regards to service availability in closed areas, Starlink states this "Best Effort Service: Portability service is provided on a best effort basis. Stated speeds and uninterrupted use of services are not guaranteed. Starlink prioritizes network resources for users at their registered service address. When you bring your Starlink to a new location, this prioritization may result in degraded service, particularly at times of peak usage or network congestion." https://support.starlink.com/ Take this as you will, they are not guaranteeing great services in those areas. In order to turn on Starlink Portability, you need to access your existing account through a browser, on your phone or computer will work. Go to Starlink.com and sign into your account. Look for the MANAGE SERVICE OPTIONS button and press. Then look for writing ADD PORTABILITY and press the little arrow icon beside it. Then a large window will pop up giving you the requirements for signing up. Once activated it takes effect immediately, the charge will be added to your monthly bill. "When you enable Portability, you are charged on your next monthly invoice. Portability is charged in full monthly increments and can not be pro-rated"(https://support.starlink.com/) Since they don't pro-rate the usage make sure to make the most of the Portability by turning it on and off at the correct times, you might end up paying extra if you leave it on for a day or two longer. Either the Gen 1 or 2 Dishy will work, but I personally would say the Gen 2 system does have some advantages when it comes to mobile usage. Both its size and weight make it much easier to carry and pack, as well as it has water resistant connections throughout the whole system. I know every time I go camping it is going to rain, and when it does it is usually very messy and humid, the extra protection in the Gen 2 system will help here for those who live in a more extreme environment. So what if I don't activate portability, how far can you go If your system is geo fenced, meaning that when you sign up for Starlink and input your land location it essentially locks you to that area, once you move the Dishy out of the service area it loses its connectivity. If you want to get service you have to change your service address location in your Starlink account, be warned here though if you're lucky and they can activate you in your new area, great! But when you go back to your original area you'll have to reapply again to get your Starlink internet reactivated in that area. If your spot has been taken you're going to have to wait until there is an opening...and we know how that has been going so far with long wait times for many customers trying to get their own. So is it worth the risk, or even the work behind it all to save $30.00, it may be for some. I don't know of any other rural provider that can deliver the bandwidth that Starlink does, we've tried many (have worked for some), and to be honest they are not even playing the same game. Starlink in some cases has delivered 100X the speed! It is a no brainer for now, but the future does remain to be seen. 5G will definitely change the internet landscape in some rural areas.. but enough of my rant.. With our testing so far our range has only been about 1.5 KM, keep in mind that this will change with satellite movement and where you're located in the beam bandwidth. Those who are directly below the Satellites might have a little larger circle to move around in, while those on the edge of the beam might find a lot less mobility. So unless all your plans for bringing Dishy around are in your service radius then plan on activating Portability to be able to use Dishy. So with Portability, Starlink has once again changed the game. What we thought was good before has now just become better. The option is there now for some to take advantage of, the question that pops up into my mind now is how easy will it be to get a second Dishy and turn it on and off for the season? I know a lot of people will be asking this question. In some cases your home installation might not be easy to remove, especially if it's Gen 1 with the cable attached at Dishy's base. The new 2nd Gen system has detachable cables at both sides, the router and Dishy. Just another reason the 2nd Gen system is better for mobility. Another reason would be home security and connectivity. If Starlink is your main home account and you remove it for a road trip then you'll lose all your home connectivity including security systems. Making it mandatory to keep a connection at home. Ordering a 2nd system and activating for the months you use it would be pricey, but still worth it for the peace of mind. If you cancel your Starlink subscription on the 2nd Dishy during the months of non-use. Activating may not be easy, but because it is a mobile Dishy you will have to find an open activation address to activate. Starlink's website states "Please note - by canceling service, you may not be able to reactivate immediately. Reactivation is dependent on service availability and capacity in your area". Either way you now have options, you just have to do a little research and some work to get it done. Thank you for reading, we hope you enjoyed it. If you have and you want to learn more than please join the Starlink Community Forums for free today!

Now that you have Starlink you may be looking into changing your TV services. Starlink offers fast enough internet speed to power multiple streaming devices at the same time, giving you hours of entertainment and a lot of it for free. This past April Starlink Community Forums has gave away a 4k Firetvstick to one of our members, so for this article we're going to focus on this device. There are many other options on the market, but this one we have found packs the best product for the price, and has a very user friendly interface. First off what is a Firetvstick and what can it do? Firetvstick is an Amazon device that can be found in a lot of your major retailers, ranging in price from $40-$150.00 depending on the model you get. It allows you to use internet for streaming, accessing games and apps all from your TV. The device connects through an HDMI port into your TV and uses a sleek little remote that also does voice commands. The Firetvstick connects very easily to your Starlink network converting any TV with an HDMI port into a "Smart Tv".. Depending on your TV's location your signals will vary, I have 2 running in my network and they both work good, even the one at 61% strength easily streams videos just not always in the best resolution. The 98% connection is very quick and the video is clear. If your signals are in the red then you will have connection issues and delays, try to get the device and router as close together as possible, the 5Ghz band is preferred for most high resolution 4K devices. Another Great feature of the Firestick is the Fire TV app which allows you to use your phone as a TV remote. This helps speed up the process of finding a show or searching for what you want to watch by giving you extra features that the remote does not come with. I really like being able to type directly into the search engine on the app through my phone's screen's keyboard. So if you lose the remote you can just use your phone, and if you get the Fire Tv Cube(Upgraded Firestick) it comes with an IR blaster that will control your TV as well, turning it on and off with volume control. This little app packs an extra punch to the Firestick family. With a lot of people trying to save money these days these little devices have become very popular as they offer a lot of free TV viewing through the many apps found in the device. Some apps will require you to have an account set up with them, they'll offer an upgrade to a premium account of some sort to get more content with less interruptions. Some do not require any account linkage at all and offer all their content as free. The main account you will need to run the device is an Amazon account, this is your main account for setting up and activating the device. If you're an Amazon Prime member then you will get the Prime TV app for free, this is a very nice bonus thrown in with your Amazon Prime Fees. My personal favorite is YouTube. I just love all the free content, no matter where you are in age, YouTube is a multi-generational channel that has changed the world and still continues to this day. With 75.000.000 uploads a day, YouTube is the titan of mass video data storage and transmission. From local news to a nieces reception recital, how to videos, documentaries, unique and popular alike, there is a genre for every taste This is just one of hundreds of apps you can watch for free. One of the catches with the free apps is temporary trials or limited use...they'll ask for account sign in or upgrades to continue using the app. A lot of them just run commercials, offering to remove them if you pay. But not all do this, there are many that just require an account set-up with them. and often you can just use the SSO feature through your Amazon account, meaning you don't have to sign up another account, but use your Amazon account to sign-up. Top Apps List, keep in mind there are many apps on the network, they can change within your region and location. We couldn't possibly cover or try them all, but we do have a list put together to help get you started in your quest for FREE TV! Just make sure to do some of your own searching to see what you will find. Here is a list of Free Apps. There are hundreds to pick from and try, but these are good general apps that will get you 1000's of shows for free. 3 Good Apps but they'll need pay accounts set-up, Prime, Disney and Netflix There is also video games!!! There's a lot of free video games that you play using the Firetvstick remote or connect one of your own(If compatible) for hours of entertainment for free, with some highly addictive and well known titles, and great knock offs. Not all games are free but there is a host of ones that are, so search through the apps, you'll be surprised at what you find. Different account logins in the Firetvstick browser works great if you have a large family. you can create individual logins and set passwords for parental controls. The Firestick also keeps track of what you have been watching and gives recommendations, it becomes a more personalized experience. This is great for children as when they are in account they won't be surprised by a zombie movie being in the queue...unless of course that is what they have been watching. There are many more possible things you can do with these little devices, voice commands, security system monitoring, internet browsing, music listening and more. It is a very capable device and definitely worthwhile considering the competitors pricing and offerings. You might even be able to save money by cutting some bills, or at least getting more control over what you pay for. We also didn't touch on jailbreaking a Firestick either, as we wanted to keep it simple for now and not get too technical. There is the possibility of getting a lot more from a Firestick but some of these fall into a bit of a gray area, and your tech skills will have to be on point to keep it running. With the apps that are found in the Amazon store you need very little tech skill and their dependability is great, leaving you with an easier going enjoyable entertainment experience. Thank you for reading this article. We hope your enjoying them. If you want more then make sure to join Starlink Community Forums, where we talk about everything Starlink and more. If you are a Firestick user let us know in the comments below your favorite app to use.

Starlink is trying to give its users tools to help place the void of not having service technicians available...unless you have you're own your going to be doing it yourself. But Starlink is not leaving you empty handed when it comes time to try and fix your Starlink system. There are quite a few tools in the Starlink app that are very handy and can help break down potential issues in your network, the WIFI Scanner is one of those tools. The WIFI Scanner is found on the homepage of your app, make sure you're logged into your account on the top left of the app. If you're not logged in you might not be able to access some functions. Once you're logged in, select the WIFI Scanner button, follow the instructions given. The app uses your camera similar to the obstruction viewer. Once you have approved its use you will then see a picture screen with a little white dot in the middle of the screen. You're that little white dot with the small arrow in the center. As you walk around your home the app is reading the signal strength of the router to your device and placing little colored pads down on the screen to let you know how strong the router's signals are and where they're weak. This tool has just been released and is in its BETA stage, meaning there is going to be some glitches and inaccuracies, however this does definitely not make the tool useless. Actually I would say that this is a very handy tool that will help a lot of Starlink users better understand their Starlink network and how it works. There are some very key things to understand before using this tool, 1. Move Slowly. If you move too fast it will read erratically, slow down and be careful where you're walking. 2. Try to always have your body on the outside of the signal passing area, your body getting in-between the router and your phone will cause the readings to jump all over the place. 3. Do one floor at a time, Take a picture of each, the Starlink app allows you to save the results in your phone. You're probably not going to get every room in your home in the Green, Every wall or object the radio signals passes through deteriorates the signals. Areas far away or behind metal or stone will be greatly weakened. If you can't get every room in green then make sure to get your main areas of use covered the best, Rooms that are high use like the kitchen, entertainment room, living and office area, any area that you find yourself using the internet the most. Some homes might even need to add extensions, boosters, or meshing networks to help spread the signal more completely around the home. If you have multiple floors then you'll have to do a test for each floor. This will help make it more clear what is happening with your WIFI. Each floor will have its own weak spots, you can try to adjust the router to cover the weakened area, by pointing the router and giving it height. If the router is near metal, like in a mechanical room you will see a lot of red spots, the bulkhead of ventilation systems running across your home is something that you should try to avoid. Placing the router in the most central area is ideal but not always plausible I wish years ago that other ISP's would have brought this tool out for their systems. There are some aftermarket apps that can do the same thing but the Starlink WIFI Scanner app is definitely worth trying out, especially before you permanently install the Starlink router. I would also like to state as well that just because your system is in the red doesn't mean it won't work, I have red areas in which i can still get good internet, It is just not going to be as good as it can be, and with Starlink's speeds being as fast as they are, even poor signals still deliver better then other ISP's. Thank you for reading, if you have been enjoying these articles then make sure to join the Starlink Community Forums for everything Starlink!