Author: Brad
Posted: February 13, 2025
After Hurricane Helene tore through our community in Valdosta, GA in September of 2024, it left behind a wake of devastation, including a complete disruption of traditional internet services. All major providers were either entirely offline or scrambling to rebuild their wireline infrastructure. While we fully understood the necessity of restoring services in high-priority areas, our repeated attempts to secure service were met with frustration. Providers (who will remain nameless) either ignored our inquiries or outright refused to provide service, citing our location as “too remote”—this despite the fact that their fiber lines literally ran across our driveway.
Faced with no other viable options and in dire need of connectivity, we made the reluctant decision to try Starlink. The ordering process itself was smooth, quick, and straightforward. However, the steep price tag of $400 USD for the equipment was a hard pill to swallow. Thankfully, we had anticipated the expense and planned accordingly.
Two weeks after placing our order, our Starlink kit arrived. The setup process was fairly easy, primarily managed through the Starlink mobile app. The app is reasonably intuitive but does require a basic understanding of setting up smart devices. While someone with tech experience would likely find it simple, those unfamiliar with IoT configurations might find it slightly challenging. Nonetheless, after some initial configuration, we were able to get the system up and running.
Our primary goal was to establish a stable internet connection for Jen to continue working from home. In this regard, Starlink delivered an acceptable level of performance. However, once we attempted to connect the rest of our property, we quickly ran into limitations. At Gigabyte Grove, we rely on a significant number of smart devices—everything from smart lighting and security systems to access points and automation controls. While the Starlink router is technically capable of gigabit speeds, its overall performance is bottlenecked by the actual throughput of its satellite-based connection.
For the first 24 hours, we encountered what the Starlink app referred to as “Provisioning Mode.” During this time, speeds were inconsistent and unpredictable as the system synchronized with the Starlink network. Given that Starlink operates via a constellation of satellites orbiting the Earth and communicating with ground-based stations, this seemed reasonable. Having an Information Technology background, I was already familiar with the concept of provisioning and expected some level of delay in full activation.
Unfortunately, during this provisioning period, speeds averaged around 15 Mbps—barely sufficient for Jen’s work-from-home needs. Prior to Starlink, she was forced to commute 15 minutes to my father’s house just to access his fiber connection. Once provisioning was complete, we anticipated a significant speed increase, as Starlink’s website suggested. Instead, we were disappointed to see only a minor improvement, with speeds maxing out at around 25 Mbps. This sluggish performance persisted for several weeks while we explored alternative solutions and eventually secured a wireline fiber-optic connection in November 2024.
Now that we have fiber internet, our Starlink dish remains mounted on the roof but has been relegated to a tertiary (backup) role. Our secondary connection is T-Mobile Home Internet which, while not widely available in our area, surprisingly delivers faster and more reliable speeds than Starlink. Meanwhile, our fiber-optic connection is our primary and most dependable internet source.
Starlink has some useful features, like letting you set up custom Wi-Fi networks, but it lacks more advanced options like VLANs or content filtering. Your home network will use standard IPv4 addresses, but Starlink connects to the internet using IPv6.
One big thing to know is that Starlink uses something called CGNAT, which basically means your connection is behind another router. This makes port forwarding impossible, so if you need to host a server that people can access from outside your home, Starlink won’t work for you.
On the plus side, if you live in a snowy area, Starlink has a built-in heater to keep snow and ice from piling up on the dish and blocking the signal.
So, would we recommend Starlink? The answer depends entirely on your situation.
If you live in a remote area with absolutely no access to traditional internet services, Starlink can be a game-changer. It provides a connection to the modern world where none would otherwise exist. However, there are several key considerations:
If you have no other options, Starlink is a solid choice for getting online. But if wireline internet—especially fiber—is available in your area, you’re far better off choosing a more traditional, stable, and cost-effective service.