Despite the rollout of fibre broadband as part of the National Broadband Ireland (NBI) initiative, some regions still struggle with coverage. For years, many of us have battled with sluggish connections, buffering, and the frustrating "digital divide" that leaves us a step behind our city-dwelling friends.
As a home worker in rural Ireland, I've experienced rural broadband, from old telephone copper lines to 4G broadband. As the years rolled by and my work demands increased, I hoped another solution would be delivered, and it has—in the shape of a Starlink satellite dish!
My use case and why I switched to Starlink
My life revolves around the internet. I work from home, which means crystal-clear VoIP phone calls are a must. I often dive into remote desktop support for clients, and video calls are a regular fixture. When the workday's done, you'll find me battling alongside my brother in online games or, more often than I'd like to admit, lost in the latest streaming series. We don't have many internet-enabled gadgets, but the ones we have need solid, dependable speed for downloading and uploading.
Fibre broadband is coming soon, but it is not available yet. So, I’ve been making do with 4G mobile broadband. Most of the time, it was okay, but "okay" wasn't cutting it anymore. Video calls would stutter and freeze at the worst moments, and there was that predictable slowdown every evening when everyone else logged on.
A friend down in rural Kerry, already a Starlink convert, kept singing its praises. I was sceptical. Internet from satellites orbiting around the Earth? Surely that couldn't be stable enough for work, could it? But earlier this year, with my patience wearing thin, I decided to take the plunge.
What is Starlink?
So, what is Starlink? Starlink is a satellite-based internet service developed by Elon Musk’s company SpaceX. You may have heard of him… he’s been in the news recently!
Imagine a giant net of thousands of tiny satellites orbiting near Earth. Because they are near orbit, they can send and receive information much faster than old-school TV satellites. This "constellation" of satellites means there’s always one passing overhead, ready to beam internet down to you. It’s designed to bring high-speed internet to rural locations and even cruise ships! You might even spot them on a clear night, looking like a train of tiny stars gliding across the sky.
How does Starlink work?
It sounds complicated, but the basic idea is pretty simple:
- Your computer relays a request to your dish: When you click a link or start a movie, your computer sends the request to your Starlink satellite dish.
- And then onto space…: Your request is beamed up to one of the Starlink satellites passing overhead.
- To the Internet and Back: The satellite forwards your request to a ground station (which is connected to the broader Internet), grabs the webpage or video you want, sends it back up to a satellite, which then beams it right back down to your Starlink dish and onto your screen.
The journey is quickly completed because those satellites are much closer than traditional ones. This means less lag (or "latency") and speeds that can give fibre broadband a run for its money.
Getting Started: Was It Difficult?
Before You Click "Buy", there are a few things you need to check and consider:
- Check Your Location: First, enter your Eircode into the Starlink website here to see if it's available in your location.
- Consider the dish location!: The Starlink dish needs a clear view of the sky – about 110 degrees, to be precise. So, consider trees, buildings, or other obstructions.
- Check obstructions with the App: The Starlink app features a “Check for Obstructions” option that indicates whether there are trees, buildings, or other objects that could block the necessary 110-degree view of the sky, which is crucial for optimal Starlink performance.
- Router Room: Think about where your WiFi router will live. It needs power, and the cable from the dish connects to it.
Starlink Installation
The kit that gets sent includes the dish, a long cable (cleverly, this one cable carries both power and your internet data), the WiFi router, and its power supply.
Most people mount the dish on a roof or a gable end to get that clear sky view. I opted to mount mine on the side of the house using a bracket I bought separately. The cable is threaded through the soffit (the underside of the roof overhang) into the loft. My loft doesn't have a power socket, so I ran the cable through the loft floor and into my office on the second floor. This way, the router is right where I need it for my work computer.
Starlink Performance
As for the performance of Starlink… I have to say that I have been amazed by the results! I am consistently getting around 260Mbps + download with around 20Mbps upload, over WiFi. This performance improves if I plug an Ethernet cable into the back of the router, so I am not relying on a WiFi signal. At times, the download speed can hit 400 Mbps
Speaking of WiFi, the Starlink router boasts WiFi 6 capabilities and significantly outperforms my old TP-Link 4G router. For your own home, your experience will vary - WiFi being dependent on the router's position relative to your device and construction materials that are in the way.
And, for good measure, here are some tests over WiFi (using my iPhone 16):
The Starlink App
The Starlink app (for Android and iOS) isn't just for setting up. It's also your go-to for managing and checking up on your internet.
- Easy Setup: It really does hold your hand through installation.
- Health Check: A quick glance shows if everything's running smoothly.
- Speed Test: Check your current speeds anytime.
- WiFi Tweaks: Change your WiFi name and password to see who's connected.
- Dish Controls: You can reboot the dish, set up hours it is active, or even turn on a heater in the dish to melt snow!
- Help (If You Need It): The app has built-in troubleshooting guides. If you're stuck, you can raise a support ticket through the app. The only downside is that support is all app-based—no phone line exists.
Overall, the app is incredibly user-friendly. It's straightforward even for those who are not technical whiz kids.
You can also turn on the heater to melt snow and set up a sleep schedule to save on your electricity bill!
What about Fibre broadband?
As I write this, fibre still hasn't reached my doorstep, so I can't do a direct, side-by-side home comparison. I've used fibre, and it's fast and likely more consistent in its peak speeds. The slowest fibre packages are often a tad quicker than what Starlink typically delivers. But, in my case, Starlink's performance is more than adequate.
So, will I jump to fibre the moment it becomes available? Honestly, I'm in no rush.
If we get another storm like Eowyn, I worry about losing both power and internet. If I suffer a power cut, Starlink is down too, of course. But if a fibre line gets damaged, how long will it take to fix? And, if both power and fibre are out, power lines will likely have to be repaired before fibre lines can be.
The Nitty-Gritty: Cost & Reliability
When I got mine, the dish and kit cost around €350. The monthly bill is €50, with no data caps and no contract. For the quality of service I'm getting, I think that's a fair price.
As for reliability, I’ve been using Starlink for about five months now. In that time, I haven’t had a single technical glitch with the service itself. The only times my internet has gone down have been during power cuts – a sadly common occurrence where I live. Touch wood, it stays that way!
My Verdict: Is Starlink worth it?
If you haven't guessed by now, I'm a Starlink fan. The performance has genuinely surprised me, and its consistency has been a revelation after years of "will it, won't it?" internet. The setup was more straightforward than I had feared, and the app is excellent.
At the time I'm writing this, Starlink sometimes has offers like free equipment with a 12-month contract, so keep an eye on their website.
If you're in rural Ireland, still waiting for fibre to appear over the horizon, and struggling with your current broadband (or lack thereof), I wholeheartedly recommend giving Starlink a serious look.
