We are all familiar with Starlink, whether we have heard of it or own one or two units. These devices are impressive technological pieces, but it's important to remember that the Starlink antenna is essentially a phased array VSAT. While it may be relatively easy to install, it should still be treated like a VSAT, and its location should be chosen carefully. It is common to see Starlink antennas installed next to TV antennas, which can interfere with the TV antenna's signal reception depending on its orientation. I have also witnessed instances where radars rendered Starlink antennas unusable when transmitting at higher gain levels. If you are unsure about where to mount the antenna, it is advisable to seek professional advice before drilling holes into your valuable fiberglass. In addition to the mounting location, it is recommended to use a battery backup or DC converter for your Starlink, which is becoming increasingly popular. With the availability of a 25-meter cable for the high-performance Starlink antenna, avoid extending the cable between the antenna and the power supply. I have personally encountered multiple issues caused by technicians extending this cable with 26g Cat6.
Setting up Starlink is a breeze once you've got everything in place and secured. Creating an account is simple - just choose your data plan and you're good to go. However, a drawback is that if you have a larger vessel, like 60ft or more, the Starlink router's WiFi may not reach every part of the vessel. For example, the bridge might have a strong signal, but the master stateroom could have weak or no signal. If you need to connect a device directly to the router for a more reliable connection, Peplink comes in handy. They have partnered with Starlink to ensure that their third-party router is compatible with your Starlink antenna. Peplink routers are feature-rich, offering WiFi 6, 5G cellular connectivity, WiFi WAN, VPN, bandwidth bonding, and more. Additionally, you can incorporate access points to amplify your WiFi signal in areas where it's weak on your vessel. These access points are hardwired, eliminating the need for a mesh network that can be problematic, especially in a marine environment.
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