Is Starlink not working at all? If so, there are a lot of things that could be the cause. Here are some of the most common reasons:

Has Starlink broken down?

Earlier this month, there was a major outage that lasted for hours. At the time, most users had no idea it was a complete shutdown in the region and spent a lot of time and energy trying to fix the most likely causes, which in hindsight had nothing to do with it. Before jumping through a lot of hoops, you might want to visit the onofficiële Starlink Status site or Down Detector to check if a general outage (shutdown) is or has occurred.

Are your router and StarLink Satellite (dish) connected properly?

We recently had a problem at one of our customers where there seemed to be no signal at all and it was as if the StarLink Satellite (dish) was not responding. As it turned out, the cable from the StarLink Satellite (dish) had become slightly disconnected, even though it didn't look like it at first glance. There had been prior bad weather with heavy gusts of wind and all we could figure is that this somehow caused enough movement to loosen the cord.

In other words, check your cable connections! Unplug both the dish base and your router and reconnect them. If it works again after that, you'll know that this was the problem.

Weather could be the problem

Although StarLink is less sensitive to weather than traditional satellite services, it is not completely weatherproof. Heavy rain can interfere with the signal, although it usually copes well with fog or light rain. Snowy weather can also cause problems. Although the StarLink Satellite (dish) has a built-in heater, it can struggle with extremely cold temperatures, which can cause snow to accumulate and interfere with the signal.

If it snows and you can physically reach the StarLink Satellite (dish), carefully removing the snow with a broom can temporarily restore the signal. Unfortunately, if it rains heavily, you can only wait and see.

Backup advice from a StarLink Professional Installer

To minimise interruptions, it is a good idea for satellite users to have a backup plan, such as a hotspot. You can also use your existing mobile data plan if it allows you to use the connection as a temporary hotspot. Although mobile signals can also deteriorate in extreme weather, this is usually not a big deal.

The position of your StarLink Satellite (dish) could be the problem

If you live in an area with many obstacles, such as densely forested areas, you may experience regular signal loss. To check if there are any obstacles, go to the official Starlink app.

Once you log in, go to the "Obstructions" menu and you will see a 3D view of how your StarLink Satellite (dish) sees the sky. Everything blue is clear, red bits represent obstructions. You can also manually check for obstructions by clicking the "Check for obstructions" button. To do this, you use your mobile phone's camera. You point and move the camera around the sky and StarLink determines any problems and displays them.

The StarLink WiFi Router or Satellite (dish) may have a temporary problem.

Sometimes software errors can be responsible for major StarLink problems such as signal dropout. While it is possible that these problems will go away on their own, here are a few other things you can try:

• Make sure your software/firmware is on the right version and therefore up-to-date! Open the StarLink app and scroll down. Click on the Advanced tab. You will see information about the current software for both the WiFI Router and the Satellite (dish). You can check if they match the current version by going to StarLink Insider. If they are outdated, the software will eventually download the latest version automatically. If you reboot your router, the update will be performed immediately.
• Restart your router. Even if the software is up-to-date, restarting your router and Satellite (dish) can sometimes solve weird quirks like this. Under Settings, you will see a button to reboot the router. Do not manually unplug the cable when it is on, as this could potentially cause damage. Next, restart your StarLink Satellite (Dish). In the same settings tab, click on the StarLink tab at the top, you will now see the option Slide to restart. Use the slider and it will restart. Does it not work? Try using the Stow Starlink slider instead. This is designed to store your device for shipping, but also provides a hard reset when you disconnect it again.

Check the underside of your StarLink WiFI Router, there may be communication problems

If the light on the StarLink WiFI Router is red, it has problems communicating with the Satellite (dish). This problem can have several causes, including hardware errors or a faulty cable. For people with a square Satellite (dish), the StarLink WiFI-Router and the Satellite (dish) are unfortunately connected with a special cable. If the cable is damaged due to circumstances beyond your control, Starlink can send you a replacement cable (usually free of charge).

If you cannot diagnose or fix the problem yourself, it may be time to contact a StarLink Professional Installer such as Niwa Accès Solutions. Please note that you cannot get telephone support from either StarLink or Niwa Accès Solutions. If you call on the services of Niwa Accès Solutions, a product specialist will always visit you, this of course involves costs and these can be found on the tariffs page.

Is your Starlink connection slowing down? You are not the only one if you have noticed a drop in your Starlink internet speed. Several factors can contribute to a slowdown, but the main reason is oversubscription, meaning too many people in your area are using the service. Unfortunately, this is a tricky problem to solve. For those with the Residential (Standard) plan, an option is to upgrade to the Business level, but this will cost you considerable subscription and hardware fees. For more information on the options and current prices, please refer to StarLink.

Before you decide to give up or spend more money, it is essential to confirm that network congestion is indeed the problem, as other Starlink plans may not significantly improve the situation. To do this, follow these steps:

• Open the StarLink app and click Speed Test. The app will analyse your connection and report any problems detected. If it is during a peak usage period and no other problems are found, the problem is likely to be attributed to traffic congestion.

• If it is not during a peak usage period, try performing a reset. To reset the StarLink Satellite (Dish), go to Settings > StarLink > Dish to reboot. Additionally, restart the router by going to Settings > Router > Restart Router.

• If the problem persists despite these steps, it is time to contact StarLink support. Several factors can contribute to the problem, such as faulty hardware or temporary network problems.

• Contacting StarLink support will help identify the specific cause of your delay and guide you to a solution. There could be many issues underlying the problem, including faulty hardware or temporary network problems.

If you cannot diagnose or resolve the problem yourself, it may be time to contact a StarLink Professional Installer such as Niwa Accès Solutions. Please note that you cannot get telephone support from either StarLink or Niwa Accès Solutions. If you call on the services of Niwa Accès Solutions, a product specialist will always visit you, this of course involves costs and these can be found on the tariffs page.

Can't detect a Wi-Fi connection at all? Possibly your StarLink WiFI Router is the culprit. Here are the steps to solve the problem:

• Check for power: First, make sure your StarLink WiFI Router has power. If you are using the official StarLink WiFI router, turn it upside down. A small white light should indicate that the device is switched on. If there is no light, check the cables to make sure they are connected properly and check that the wall socket (and any surge protector) is functioning correctly.

• No power: If no power is coming from the socket, try plugging the StarLink WiFi Router into another socket to rule out problems with the electrical connection. If the socket and surge protector work and the cables are properly connected, the problem may lie with the StarLink WiFi Router itself, possibly with a damaged cord. In this case, it is advisable to contact StarLink customer service.

• Router has power but is not working: If the StarLink WiFI Router has power but is not working correctly, try rebooting it. Open the app on your mobile phone > Go to Settings > Router > Restart Router. This simple step may solve the problem. If the problem persists, contact StarLink customer service. Depending on the warranty status of your hardware, you may need to purchase a new StarLink WiFi Router.

• Can't live without the internet: If you don't want to wait for a new router and you have an older StarLink WiFi-Router with an included Ethernet cable (or an adapter), try connecting your laptop directly to the StarLink WiFi-Router via Ethernet using the Ethernet adapter. If this configuration allows your laptop to access the internet, you will temporarily have the ability to go online until your new StarLink WiFi-Router arrives.

If you cannot diagnose or resolve the problem yourself, it may be time to contact a StarLink Professional Installer  such as Niwa Accès Solutions. Please note that you cannot get telephone support from either StarLink or Niwa Accès Solutions. If you call on the services of Niwa Accès Solutions, a product specialist will always visit you, this of course involves costs and these can be found on the tariffs page.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions and answers

As StarLink Professional Installer, we receive many questions from our customers to answer these questions quickly and in understandable language, here are some. of the most frequently asked questions and, of course, the corresponding answers. If you cannot find the answer to your question, we invite you to contact us.

1. How do I contact StarLink?

For customer service, please visit the official Starlink customer support page or contact us via the app.

2. Why is StarLink so slow?

The most likely reason StarLink is slow is because you are using it during peak hours. Regardless of your StarLink subscription, those who use huge amounts of data may also be deliberately given lower priority than other standard and business users.

3. How long does it take for StarLink to connect?

After resetting your equipment (StarLink WiFi Router), it usually takes a maximum of 15 minutes to reboot. Sometimes this may be longer if the software needs to be updated automatically first or if the network has problems establishing a connection.

4. What does the red light on the StarLink WiFi Router mean?

A red light means that the StarLink dish and the StarLink WiFi Router are not communicating with each other. Check that your cables are properly connected. If this is the case, try setting up again. Otherwise, you may need to replace your cable, dish, router or all three.

5. How many devices (devices) can be wirelessly connected to the StarLink WiFi Router?

The short answer is more devices than you are likely to own. The official answer is 128 devices at a time, due to the number of available IP addresses of the StarLink WiFi-Router.

6. Is StarLink affected by the weather?

Yes, StarLink is affected by weather, especially heavy rain and snow conditions. Wind and other elements can also affect the link, although usually to a lesser extent.

7. Is it possible to get telephone support:

No, hPlease note that you cannot get telephone support, neither from StarLink nor from Niwa Accès Solutions. If you call on the services of Niwa Accès Solutions, a product specialist will always visit you, this of course involves costs and these can be found on the tariffs page.