The proper Starlink router placement is essential to get the best internet in your home.
However, choosing where to put your router and ensuring it gets enough signal for coverage can be hard.
If you want to put your router outside, you have to think about the environmental factors, and interior placement needs you to think about your home layout and the router settings.
With the following guide, you can decide to improve your internet connectivity throughout your home.
Why Is Router Placement Important?
Starlink satellite internet is currently the leading high-speed internet for remote areas, so the location of your router plays a big part in how much signal you get.
Factors such as the landscape, climate, and altitude can affect how you access the internet.
For example, if you live in a very high place, you may get weaker satellite signal strength, which slows your internet speed.
If you live in an area with a lot of trees, it can block the dish from communicating with the satellites, disrupting the connection.
(Starlink satellites)
Factors to Ponder for Outdoor Router Placement
Putting the router inside your house is ideal for a proper internet connection.
The signal will be better inside, and no elements can damage the router and hardware.
Even though Starlink designed thier hardware with water and dust resistance, it’s always better inside.
However, if your only option is outside, here are some things you should remember:
- Accessibility/Location- The router you get from Starlink not only works to give you access to the internet but also serves as a power supply for the dish. The place where you install the router outside has to be within reach for troubleshooting, in case your internet is not working and when maintenance is needed. You also have to have an AC power source.
- Weather- While this is not something you can control, you can help keep the operating temperature around 22°F to 122°F. If there is too much heat, cold, moisture, or dust, it can damage the Starlink router. It would help if you bought a weatherproof box for your router to improve the impact of the weather better.
- WiFi/Ethernet- You need to think about how you get the internet to your home. Is it wireless, or do you have an ethernet cable? Consider this before installing the router outside.
- Building laws- You must also check with your local department to ensure that the router installation meets the law and you’re not fined!
(router outside)
Where Should I Put My Starlink Router Indoors?
When you buy your Starlink hardware, the router is one of the most important bits.
Consider our tips when you place your router inside the house so you can maximize your connection and you don’t get much interference.
Note these tips:
- Put your router in a central place– Putting your router in a central area of your house ensures that the signals go everywhere evenly around the house. The Starlink router has enough range to cover a normal-sized home perfectly.
- Reduce obstructions in your house– WiFi signals are strong enough to pass through objects such as walls, but they cannot pass through materials such as stone, tile, and metal. So, think about obstructions between your router and important WiFi zones. If possible, avoid thicker walls and put the router where it will be visible to your devices.
- Use the antennas– The Starlink router has multiple routers to help direct the signal. If you have two or more antennas, don’t point them all in the same direction. You must make them perpendicular, putting one vertically and the other horizontally. You may need to experiment with this to find that sweet spot for the perfect connection. Generally, an angled antenna is good for multi-story houses, and an upright antenna is good for single-story homes.
- Put your router in a high place- Putting your router off the ground in a higher place improves your signal. This helps you avoid passing through furniture and walls, preventing signal loss you would experience on the ground. You can use a wall mount or shelf.
- Keep the router away from other gadgets– Even electronic devices, such as computers and TVs, can disturb the WiFi signal. Microwaves are the main suspects here because they give off radiation wavelengths similar to WiFi signals, so placing them close to each other causes a disturbance.
(WiFi board)
Tactics to Overcome WiFi Dead Zones
Even if you find the perfect router location, other things mess up your setup. You can encounter problems like irregular floors, exterior power cables, etc.
WiFi dead zones are something you want to avoid, so let’s look at how!
Use Ethernet Cables if Possible
Sometimes, you may be experiencing WiFi troubles because your house has a lot of rooms or very thick walls.
Obstructions like this can disturb the connection, which can lead to buffering and a dead WiFi zone, meaning it does not work in that area.
An ethernet cable solves this problem; however, it is impractical if your home is big.
It would be best if you considered another router in this case. Remember, you can only buy the ethernet adapter from the official Starlink app.
Make High-Traffic Areas Your Priority
Putting your router in a central area of your home is the best, and it avoids any possible WiFi dead zones.
However, you can put the router in a specific room if needed. If you work from home and have a study, you can put the router in there so the internet is fast enough for you to do your work without interruptions.
While this may result in a weaker signal at another part of your home, you must prioritize work, studying or gaming.
(man working from home)
Buy The Right Type of Router
The Starlink router works well in most homes; however, if you find that your home has too many dead zones, consider using another 3rd party router.
You would have to buy an ethernet port and enable bypass mode on the app to do this.
Can the Router be Placed Outside?
Yes, you can put the router outside. The router has a rating of IP54, meaning it can handle a minimum amount of dust and water (from rain, etc).
The router can operate in proper temperatures, not too hot or cold.
While we cannot control the weather, you can help protect your router from the harsh elements by buying a weatherproof box for the router to stay in.
This ensures your router is safe, and you don’t incur extra repair costs!
Conclusion
The Starlink router placement is essential in maximizing your internet connection and speed.
Put your router in the correct place, enjoy the perfect WiFi speed, watch your shows, play online games, surf the net, and work peacefully!