Applies to: Starlink home or portable service with supported app diagnostics. Available tests and Ethernet connections vary by router and kit. Third-party routers and bypass mode need their own documented setup.
Match your symptom
| What you see | What to do next |
|---|---|
| Fast near router, slow in another room | Investigate Wi-Fi coverage and local interference. |
| Router-to-internet result also poor | Compare app alerts, time of day and service expectations. |
| One app is slow but other activity works | Investigate that app or destination before replacing hardware. |
Work through these checks
Make a baseline near the router
Use one device close to the router and repeat the activity that feels slow. Try another device in the same place. Keep the testing conditions similar and note whether the problem is buffering, delayed responses or complete dropouts.
What the result means: If only one device struggles, concentrate on that device. If both fail similarly, continue along the shared connection path.
Compare the app’s test sections
Where supported, run Starlink’s Advanced Speed Test and record Router → Internet, Device → Router and Device → Internet separately. Do not label all three as satellite speed. If a section is unavailable, say so in your notes.
What the result means: A weaker local result with a healthier internet result points toward Wi-Fi or the device. Poor internet results need additional service-side checks.
Test the local network carefully
Compare the same device near the router and in the problem room. If your kit supports a documented Ethernet connection and you have the correct equipment, compare wired performance. Do not buy an adapter until you identify the kit’s ports.
What the result means: Improvement nearby or on Ethernet narrows the problem to local coverage or equipment. It does not prove a new dish is required.
Remove one optional variable
Compare on a personal device without a VPN, or temporarily pause your own optional VPN for a non-sensitive test. Keep required workplace security active. If using mesh or another router, follow its documentation for a reversible comparison.
What the result means: A change that repeatedly improves the result identifies something to investigate. Restore the original setting after the comparison and keep the measurements.
Compare timing and the actual plan
Repeat a limited test at a different time and review app alerts or interruptions. Compare against the current expectations for your location and plan, not somebody else’s screenshot. Share persistent poor results with Starlink through its support route.
What the result means: A time-dependent slowdown, local coverage problem and repeated outage need different follow-up. None is diagnosed reliably by one headline Mbps number.
When to stop and get help
Do not factory-reset, change bypass mode or reposition a mounted dish for an unexplained speed result. Use the obstruction guide for documented sky blockage. Arrange support for damaged cables or persistent app hardware alerts.
What to tell support
Plan and kit; device and router; test time/location; each test section; wired versus Wi-Fi if available; VPN/mesh status; app alerts; whether the real activity improved.
Common questions
Should I split the Wi-Fi bands immediately?
First compare locations and devices. Network changes can disconnect household equipment; use Starlink’s current instructions only when the evidence points to Wi-Fi.
Why does a video call fail despite high Mbps?
Throughput does not measure every interruption or delay. Record dropout times and app events as well as download and upload results.
Original troubleshooting guidance based on the official sources below. Menu names can change. This is an independent guide, not a manufacturer service bulletin or a bench-tested repair.