One of the most common questions about the Starlink router is about its range and how to extend Starlink WiFi. Luckily, we know the answer!
There are different ways to extend your Starlink WiFi range. We have everything you need to know if you’re one of the one million subscribers looking for better home coverage.
Don’t have any idea how to extend your Starlink WiFi? Hold on, and we’ll show you!
There are many ways to extend the range of your router’s WiFi signal. First, maximize the distance between your dish and router by using up the full length of the cable. Then, relocate your router to an area with better coverage. If these don’t work, add another router or use a WiFi range extender.
We’ll discuss the other proven ways of extending your Starlink WiFi below. But first, here’s everything you need to know about Starlink router’s range.
What You Need to Know Before Extending Your Starlink WiFi
If installed correctly, Starlink can provide WiFi to your house. But with large houses, you may find weak spots where WiFi cannot reach.
One good solution is extending the WiFi signal. Before we can do that, you should know a few things.
✅ Starlink’s Current WiFi Range
The Starlink router has an effective WiFi range of up to 200 feet line of sight. However, if your house has some interior walls, the effective range reduces drastically to 75 feet.
✅ Desired Coverage Area
Another thing you should consider is the places where the router will serve. Starlink is ideal for home use and connects multiple devices to your Internet.
✅ Getting Networking Hardware
If your Starlink WiFI can’t cover your desired area at home, consider purchasing additional hardware. You can even create a mesh network to connect more devices.
✅ Consider Newer WiFi Tech
Getting the latest WiFi routers can also help you improve the range of your Starlink. Consider WiFi 6, as it has a better range of up to 150 feet.
Once you’ve made yourself familiar with these little facts, you can go on to extend your Starlink WiFi.
Below are some proven solutions you can use independently or with professional help.
Proven Ways How to Extend Starlink WiFi
For most homes, the Starlink router can cover an adequate range. But, if you live in a larger house made with hard materials, you should consider using a WiFi extender.
Here’s how to connect WiFi extender to Starlink:
- Connect the WiFi extender to a power outlet, then connect it to the Starlink WiFi.
- Once connected, it will extend the reach of your WiFi network.
Now, let’s proceed to the ways you can extend your Starlink WiFi.
1. Maximize the Distance Between Your Dish and Router
Let’s start with simple methods to maximize your Starlink router’s capabilities.
One of the specs you need to remember with your Starlink router is that it can be as far as 150 feet from your dish.
To help you, the cable that’s included in the kit is 75 feet allowing you to position your router in ways that maximize your coverage.
Here’s how to maximize the distance between your dish and router:
- Place your dish in a place with a clear line of sight of the sky.
- Make sure the spot you picked is far from trees and buildings.
- Get a 150 feet cable from the Starlink website.
- Reposition your dish and router for optimal coverage.
Note: Starlink uses a proprietary connector between the dish and router, so you can’t combine or link two shorter cables.
2. Relocate Your Router to an Area for Better Coverage
Now that you have added some extra connection length between your dish and router, you can reposition your Starlink WiFi optimally.
It gives you some freedom on how you want to position your so you can maximize the WiFi coverage in your home.
You want to move your router around and find the best spot in your home. It’s usually a lot of trial and error, but once you find it, you can effectively widen your Starlink WiFi’s reach.
Here’s how to relocate your Starlink router correctly:
- Find the WiFi dead zones in your home.
- Place your WiFi router in a central location in your home.
- Keep your WiFi away from obstacles like walls and furniture.
- You can put your WiFi router in an elevated spot.
3. Connect Devices to the 2.4GHz Frequency Band
Another way to extend your Starlink WiFi without buying additional equipment is to switch it to broadcast in 2.4GHz.
Now, there’s nothing wrong with 5G WiFi, but it’s not the best if you’re looking for better coverage. It’s prone to interference and has a hard time going through obstructions like walls.
Starlink routers do come with an option that allows you to split their frequency bands.
This way, you can get to enjoy the best of both worlds and connect to 5GHz WiFi for that fast speeds and 2.4GHz for the added range.
Here’s how to split your Starlink router’s frequency bands:
- Go to the Starlink app on your phone.
- Tap on the Settings tab at the bottom.
- Toggle the Split 2.4/5GHz network switch to On.
- On your devices, connect to the 2.4GHz band of your WiFi.
Note: If your device is connected to both WiFi bands, make sure to forget the 5GHz to avoid automatic network switching.
4. Install an Additional Router via Bridge Mode
Now, we move to the different solutions that will require you to get additional networking equipment.
After all, if you have a large home or need better WiFi coverage on your farm, it’s something that you’re going to have to get.
- The simplest way to extend your Starlink WiFi is to get an additional router and set it to bridge mode.
Bridge mode means that you’re essentially using it as a WiFi extender. The upside here is that getting a more advanced router with WiFi 6 features offers faster speeds, improved performance, and a wider range.
Here’s how to use a router in bridge mode to extend your Starlink WiFi:
- Connect your other router to your computer to configure it.
- Log in to your router and go to the Settings menu.
- Select Advanced Settings.
- Navigate to Bridge Mode or Wireless Bridge and enable it.
- Connect your other router to the Starlink router via an Ethernet cable.
Note: You may need to get a Stalink Ethernet adapter to add an Ethernet port to your Starlink router.
5. Use a WiFi Range Extender
Using a router in bridge mode isn’t the quickest way to extend your Starlink WiFi.
It does come in handy if you have an extra router lying around that you can use. However, if you’re going to buy one, getting a WiFi range extender makes it easier to set up and configure.
If you get a WiFi extender, all you need to do is plug it into a wall outlet and connect it to your Starlink WiFi by pressing the WPS buttons on both devices.
To make it easier for you, we have compiled the 5 best WiFi extenders for Starlink that you can get.
- TP-Link AC750 WiFi Extender
- NetGear EX3700 Compact WiFi Extender
- TP-Link AX1500 WiFi 6 Range Extender
- Linksys RE7310 Dual-Band Booster
- DLink DAP-X1870 Plug-in WiFi Extender
6. Use a Mesh Network System with Your Starlink WiFi
If you have an expansive home and a WiFi extender is not enough, getting a mesh node needs to be at the top of your list.
Not all homes need a mesh system. However, if you have multiple users in a large multi-story home, it’s one of the best pieces of equipment you can get to improve your life.
The advantage of setting up a mesh network is that it will create a single WiFi network for your entire place.
That means you won’t have to deal with typing in new passwords for every network you join.
Here’s how to set up your mesh system for your Starlink:
- Get a compatible mesh system with your Starlink.
- Connect the primary node or hub to your Starlink router.
- Set it up by connecting it to your router via an Ethernet cable.
- After it’s completed, connect the other nodes to the main one via an app.
- Reposition the nodes and test your system.
Note: The most popular mesh systems that are compatible with Starlink include Google Nest, Netgear Orbi, Eero, and Starlink Mesh.
If you’re experiencing issues with your Starlink router’s connectivity, you can update its firmware, as this can improve its performance and add a little bit of extra range.
Depending on the size of your home or coverage, there are steps here that you can follow.
Bottom Line
Now that you know how to extend Starlink WiFi, you can find the best one that fits your connectivity requirements.
Consider looking at the steps that don’t require you to get new equipment if you’re only worried about adding that extra bit of range.
Read Next: Is Starlink Faster Than Fiber?
Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.