The Starlink vs. Satellite TV subject is a question that might have interested many people at some point. Many people think of Satellite television when Starlink Satellite comes to mind, hence the confusion.
However, Starlink’s satellite internet service is completely different from regular Satellite television, and we’ll tell you all about it here. So, if you’ve been considering buying Starlink to watch satellite TV, you may want to reconsider your plans.
The good news, however, is that you can still watch your favorite TV channels with Starlink when you stream them on the Starlink Wi-Fi network.
We’ll discuss how this works here and explain the difference between Starlink and Satellite TV.
(A Starlink dish mounted outdoors)
Starlink vs Satellite TV
Starlink and Satellite TV have certain similarities, but they also have one big difference.
Both of them work by the transfer of signals from overhead satellites to a satellite dish or antenna. But the key difference is in the type of signal received.
The signal that provides Satellite TV via the antenna(think Direct TV or DISH)to your home is a TV signal. However, Starlink’s signal is much different. Starlink’s service signal transmits as internet data packets to deliver internet access to your homes.
Therefore, the communication between your installed Starlink dish and the low-earth orbiting Satellites is strictly for internet service. You can now use this internet service for any purpose, including watching television.
(A fleet of Starlink Satellites in orbit)
How To Link Your TV With Starlink
There are many easy ways to link your TV with Starlink’s satellite internet. The easiest way is to connect to a video streaming service provider. You can connect to Netflix, Hulu, Youtube TV, and other streaming platforms using your Starlink-provided internet.
When you do so, you can watch all your favorite shows, movies, and music videos. If you don’t have a paid subscription with these streaming platforms, you can find your local TV channels.
Essentially, Starlink allows you to connect several devices via its provided router to browse on the Starlink network.
One of those connected devices could be your Smart TV or any other television that lets you connect to a Wi-Fi network. Because some of these Smart TVs come installed with these video streaming platforms, you can go straight to the action once you connect to the Starlink network.
If you don’t own a Smart TV, there’s no need to worry. You can still enjoy video streaming through different ways while connected to the Starlink network.
(An illustration of a Starlink dish)
How To Convert Your TV To A Smart TV and Connect To Starlink
You can convert your TV to a Smart TV and stream all your favorite shows while on the Starlink network. You can do this using Streaming sticks or Internet TV boxes that connect to your TV and the Internet via the HDMI port and a Wi-Fi connection.
The most popular streaming sticks like Amazon Firestick TV, Apple TV, and Roku have several top streaming apps you can enjoy. They come with a handy remote or a mobile app that you can use to set up the Wi-Fi connection and choose what content to enjoy.
If you own an Android TV, you can also link to Starlink and enjoy various streaming services. You’ll probably need to connect your Android TV to a TV box via a HDMI cable and then connect the TV Box to Starlink.
You can wirelessly connect the TV box to the Starlink Wi-Fi. Similarly, you can connect directly to the Starlink router via the ethernet adapter. Once you get into the Starlink network, you can use the provided TV remote to access the streaming services on your TV.
(A man installs a Starlink Satellite dish)
Can Starlink Replace Satellite TV or Cable
Yes! Starlink is very well able to replace satellite TV and still provide an enjoyable viewing experience. You can enjoy streaming the latest and greatest shows when you connect your TV to the Starlink network.
All you need is an active Starlink subscription and a streaming platform like Netflix on your TV, and you’re good to go.
So if you can pay for the Starlink monthly internet subscription and you have a Smart TV to boot, then you can ditch your Satellite TV.
Even if you don’t have an active streaming service subscription, you can search for free local channels on your TV.
(A Starlink dish shown on a roof)
As long as you mount your dish properly, you should be able to get the high-speed, low-latency internet that Starlink provides. With the Starlink internet fully secured, you can enjoy streaming using the various possible ways we’ve discussed here.
Furthermore, Starlink’s internet can service multiple devices in your home. This means connecting multiple smart TVs to your primary Starlink Wi-Fi network. For this purpose, you may need to purchase a Starlink mesh node. This is so you can expand the Internet coverage to any room where you can watch TV.
(Satellite train in low-earth-orbit)
Conclusion
Satellite technology is responsible for satellite TV services like Direct TV and internet Satellite services like Starlink but in different ways.
While the former does not need the internet to provide a strictly TV-viewing service, Starlink is an internet service provider.
You can watch your favorite shows directly with satellite TV.
On the other hand, you can stream these same shows when you connect your TV to the Starlink Wi-Fi network.