Applies to: Telstra Satellite Home Service with Smart Modem Gen 4 and the Starlink Gen 3 router shown in RO 100256149. Not the Smart Modem 3 / Standard Actuated Ethernet-adapter installation or Telstra phone satellite messaging.
Match your symptom
| What you see | What to do next |
|---|---|
| Identify the two-box cable path | Record the cable path before changing connections. |
| Read the Telstra modem’s front indicator | Check which box supplies Wi-Fi, which cable feeds the Telstra WAN port and whether the modem is using satellite or mobile backup. A missing Starlink Wi-Fi name or dark Starlink router LED does not alone prove a broken dish. |
| Connect to the Telstra Wi-Fi and read diagnostics | Preserve the installed configuration and do not factory-reset either box to restore a missing Wi-Fi name. Do not interrupt active calls or connected alarms. If medical, fire, security or lift equipment depends on this connection, confirm compatibility with its provider before changing the setup. Inspect only safely accessible indoor cables; use an installer for elevated antenna work. |
Work through these checks
Identify the two-box cable path
The Gen 4 guide connects a Starlink router Ethernet port to the red WAN port on the Telstra Smart Modem using the red/yellow cable. With the installation undisturbed, trace the accessible cable and record both models. First connection may include a modem software update lasting up to 15 minutes. Do not apply the Standard Actuated adapter diagram to this Gen 3-router setup.
What the result means: Record the cable path before changing connections.
Read the Telstra modem’s front indicator
In this guide, blue means mobile backup for data and voice; green means the Telstra Satellite Service is active; red means not connected. Record the front color separately from the rear mobile-signal bars. A blue connection can let a device work while the satellite path still needs investigation. Compare the time and any Telstra backup notification without disconnecting an active phone call.
What the result means: Check which box supplies Wi-Fi, which cable feeds the Telstra WAN port and whether the modem is using satellite or mobile backup. A missing Starlink Wi-Fi name or dark Starlink router LED does not alone prove a broken dish.
Connect to the Telstra Wi-Fi and read diagnostics
Use the Telstra Wi-Fi details supplied with the modem. The guide says Starlink Wi-Fi is disabled in this installation; losing that network name alone is expected, not a reason to reset. Connected through the Telstra Smart Modem, the Starlink app can show some obstruction and outage diagnostics. Record those results alongside modem color and which devices fail.
What the result means: Preserve the installed configuration and do not factory-reset either box to restore a missing Wi-Fi name. Do not interrupt active calls or connected alarms. If medical, fire, security or lift equipment depends on this connection, confirm compatibility with its provider before changing the setup. Inspect only safely accessible indoor cables; use an installer for elevated antenna work.
When to stop and get help
Preserve the installed configuration and do not factory-reset either box to restore a missing Wi-Fi name. Do not interrupt active calls or connected alarms. If medical, fire, security or lift equipment depends on this connection, confirm compatibility with its provider before changing the setup. Inspect only safely accessible indoor cables; use an installer for elevated antenna work.
What to tell support
Check which box supplies Wi-Fi, which cable feeds the Telstra WAN port and whether the modem is using satellite or mobile backup. A missing Starlink Wi-Fi name or dark Starlink router LED does not alone prove a broken dish.
Common questions
Does a dark Starlink router light prove no power?
No. Page 17 says the light turns off after an hour with a good connection or in bypass mode. Check connection evidence and the Telstra modem before declaring a power fault. These timings describe the router in this guide, not every Starlink generation.
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.