Author Topic: Network expansion - Starlink Router (Read 8519 times)

addictweb · **on:** July 08, 2023, 04:42:34 AM

Network expansion - Starlink Router

on: July 08, 2023, 04:42:34 AM

Hi All! Long time since ive been here, very glad you're all still around!

My parents have just had Starlink fitted at their farm, mainly for a business which rents a building there. They have got a single ethernet cable running from the Starlink router up to the house and need to convert that into some proper network coverage.

Currently it goes into some BT mesh disks which works ok but it feels like some for an upgrade.

Whats the best way to go about converting a single ethernet WAN connection into a very large wifi area (ideally across multiple buildings)? Can I fit an additional router? Do I just need a good mesh setup? Ubiquity?

Im lost, please help!

knighty · **Reply #1 on:** July 08, 2023, 23:44:33 PM

Re: Network expansion - Starlink Router

Reply #1 on: July 08, 2023, 23:44:33 PM

hi, welcome back :-)

I'd forget about mesh and just fit a bunch of access points?

what kind of distance between the buildings etc. ?

what kind of starlink speed are they getting?

I've fitted a few of these at work https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/234892635332 and a bunch of the older ones (same thing, bit slower)

power over ethernet so no worrying about power where I need it

I like them, piece of cake to setup, good coverage, decent speed etc. etc.

but means you'll need wires between buildings

Clock'd 0Ne · **Reply #2 on:** July 13, 2023, 16:50:56 PM

Re: Network expansion - Starlink Router

Reply #2 on: July 13, 2023, 16:50:56 PM

I'd use some of the more affordable but still decent ASUS ZenWifi router packages with wired backhaul, I'm currently using an AX6600 setup with dedicated wireless backhaul channel for the two sides of my large floorplan bungalow but when I move will probably run some cable and go wired, its a lot more reliable and will definitely be needed between buildings. Before that I had an AC1900 setup and it was pretty good, just didn't quite have the wifi range and reliability without a dedicated channel for backhaul, so I sold it to the MiL. Don't even bother trying to use WiFi 6 for backhaul it doesn't have the range, 5Ghz band is as good as it gets.

Last Edit: July 13, 2023, 16:56:07 PM by Clock'd 0Ne #187;

matt5cott · **Reply #3 on:** July 19, 2023, 18:01:22 PM

Re: Network expansion - Starlink Router

Reply #3 on: July 19, 2023, 18:01:22 PM

Quote from: knighty on July 08, 2023, 23:44:33 PM

but means you'll need wires between buildings

Quote from: Clock'd 0Ne on July 13, 2023, 16:50:56 PM

I'd use some of the more affordable but still decent ASUS ZenWifi router packages with wired backhaul, I'm currently using an AX6600 setup with dedicated wireless backhaul channel for the two sides of my large floorplan bungalow but when I move will probably run some cable and go wired, its a lot more reliable and will definitely be needed between buildings. Before that I had an AC1900 setup and it was pretty good, just didn't quite have the wifi range and reliability without a dedicated channel for backhaul, so I sold it to the MiL. Don't even bother trying to use WiFi 6 for backhaul it doesn't have the range, 5Ghz band is as good as it gets.

Echoing above, I always go wired unless I have no option, a good quality CAT 7 (or whatever latest is) Will last a decade or 2. Cable is so cheap you might as well just sling 2/3/4 in an armoured sleeve for redundancy, or to use for CCTV etc, you can also then fish cables down the sleeve to upgrade/add more cables between sites in the future.

Takes work but is 100% worth the effort.

Last Edit: July 19, 2023, 18:03:17 PM by matt5cott #187;

XEntity · **Reply #4 on:** August 05, 2023, 19:51:51 PM

Re: Network expansion - Starlink Router

Reply #4 on: August 05, 2023, 19:51:51 PM

TBH the BT Mesh APs are supposed to actually pretty well rated, I've personally recommended them on that basis. If you're going outdoor wired then I would consider your risk to lightning strike, anywhere near a tree and you can end up frying multiple bits of kit. Personally if going outdoor and buried I'd go optical and a decent switch each end, even a 10G link over SFP+ is pretty cheap switch to swich, if going for a 1G (SFP) then cheaper.

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Author Topic: Network expansion - Starlink Router (Read 8519 times)