Starlink is satellite internet beamed from space to a dish on your roof

Starlink is a satellite internet service run by SpaceX. Instead of cables buried underground or towers on land, Starlink sends internet signals from thousands of satellites orbiting Earth. A small dish on your roof receives those signals and connects to a router inside your home. You get internet without needing a cable company or phone company line to your house.

The service launched in 2020 and is still expanding. It works in most parts of the United States now, though coverage and speed vary by location. Starlink is most useful if you live somewhere cable or fiber internet cannot reach — rural areas, mountains, or places where the local provider has no plans to build.

The trade-off is that satellite internet has higher latency (delay) than ground-based internet, which matters for video calls and online gaming. It also depends on clear sky and weather, so heavy rain or snow can slow your connection.

Key Takeaways

  • Starlink costs $120 per month for standard service, plus $599 upfront for the dish and router, with no long-term contract.
  • Speeds typically range from 50 to 150 Mbps, which is enough for streaming video and video calls but slower than cable in most areas.
  • Latency (the delay between sending and receiving data) is 20 to 40 milliseconds, which is noticeable in fast-paced games but acceptable for most tasks.
  • You need a clear view of the northern sky and a roof or pole to mount the dish; trees and buildings block the signal.
  • Starlink works in most rural areas where cable and fiber are not available, but you should check your specific address on their website first.

Speed and latency: what you actually get

Starlink advertises read speeds of 50 to 150 Mbps. Real-world speeds depend on how many people are using the satellite above you, the weather, and how clear your sky view is. Most users report speeds in the 50 to 100 Mbps range on a clear day.

That is fast enough to stream video in 4K, run video calls, and read files. It is slower than cable internet in most cities, where you can get 200+ Mbps. But it is much faster than older satellite internet services like Viasat or HughesNet, which often topped out at 25 Mbps.

Latency — the time it takes for data to travel to the satellite and back — is 20 to 40 milliseconds. That sounds small, but it matters. Cable internet has latency around 10 to 20 milliseconds. For video calls and web browsing, you will not notice the difference. For online games that demand split-second timing, Starlink can feel sluggish.

Equipment cost and monthly price

Starlink charges $120 per month for standard residential service. There is no contract, so you can cancel anytime. You pay the monthly fee whether you use 1 GB or 1 TB of data — there is no data cap.

The upfront cost is $599 for the dish, router, and mounting hardware. You also need to pay for installation if you cannot mount it yourself. Professional installation runs $100 to $500 depending on how difficult your roof is. If you already have a pole or a straightforward roof, you can do it yourself and save that cost.

Starlink also offers a higher-tier service called Starlink Pro for $500 per month, which prioritizes your data during congestion and is meant for businesses. For a home, standard service is the normal choice.

Where Starlink works and where it does not

Starlink coverage has expanded rapidly. You can check whether it serves your address on Starlink's website by entering your zip code and street address. The map shows whether service is available now, coming soon, or not planned for your area.

Starlink works best in rural areas with no cable or fiber. It also works in suburbs and cities, but most people in those places have cheaper cable or fiber options. In dense urban areas, Starlink may not be available yet because the satellites above you are already serving many users.

The dish needs a clear view of the northern sky (in the Northern Hemisphere) or southern sky (in the Southern Hemisphere). Trees, buildings, and hills block the signal. If your roof is shaded or surrounded by tall trees, Starlink may not work well for you. Starlink's app lets you point your phone at the sky to see whether your location has a clear view.

Weather and reliability

Rain, snow, and heavy clouds reduce Starlink speeds and can cause brief outages. A light rain might slow you from 100 Mbps to 50 Mbps. Heavy rain or snow can drop you to 10 Mbps or disconnect you for a few minutes. This is worse than cable internet, which is not affected by weather.

Starlink's satellites orbit Earth constantly, so the satellites above you change every few hours. The service automatically switches between satellites, which usually happens without you noticing. Occasionally the switch causes a brief pause in your connection — usually less than a second.

Starlink publishes uptime data for different regions. Most areas report 99% to 99.5% uptime, which means the service is down less than a few hours per month on average. That is reliable enough for most home uses, but not as reliable as cable internet in most places.

Starlink versus cable and fiber

If cable or fiber is available at your address, it is usually the better choice. Cable and fiber are faster, have lower latency, are not affected by weather, and cost less per month in most areas. Cable internet often costs $50 to $80 per month and fiber can be $40 to $100 per month, both cheaper than Starlink's $120.

Starlink makes sense if cable and fiber are not available, or if they are available but the provider will not serve your address for months or years. Starlink also works for people who move frequently and do not want to sign a contract — you can cancel anytime and take the dish with you.

Starlink is more expensive than older satellite internet like Viasat or HughesNet, but much faster and with no data caps. If those are your only other options, Starlink is worth the cost.

Installation and setup

Starlink ships you the dish, router, and mounting hardware. You can install it yourself if you are comfortable on a roof or ladder. The dish is about the size of a large pizza and weighs 5 pounds. You bolt it to a roof, pole, or wall mount and run an ethernet cable inside to the router.

The Starlink app guides you through aiming the dish. You hold your phone up and the app shows you whether the dish has a clear view of the sky. Once aimed, you plug in the power cable and the dish connects to the satellites automatically. The whole process takes 30 minutes to an hour if you do it yourself.

If you hire a professional installer, they handle the mounting and aiming. They also run cables through your walls if you want the router in a different room. Installation usually takes a few hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Starlink if I have trees around my house?

It depends on how tall the trees are and how much of the northern sky they block. Starlink's app shows you whether your location has a clear view. If trees block more than about 25% of the sky, your speeds will suffer. You might be able to mount the dish on a tall pole to get above the trees.

Does Starlink have data limits?

No. Standard Starlink service has no data cap. You can use as much data as you want each month. The monthly fee is the same whether you use 10 GB or 10 TB.

How long does it take to get Starlink installed?

Starlink ships within a few days of ordering in most areas. Once it arrives, you can install it yourself in under an hour, or schedule a professional installer. The whole process from order to working internet is usually one to two weeks.

Will Starlink work during a power outage?

No. The dish and router both need power. If your power goes out, your Starlink internet goes out too. A battery backup or generator can keep Starlink running during an outage, but you have to buy that separately.

Is Starlink good for online gaming?

It depends on the game. The latency is acceptable for most games, but noticeable in fast-paced competitive games like first-person shooters. The speed is fine — 50 Mbps is more than enough. Weather and satellite switches can cause brief lag spikes, which is annoying in competitive play.