Does Starlink Work in Bad Weather? Starlink is a life-saving internet when it comes to rural area connection.
After all, it offers high speed, low latency, and a reliable service even in the remotest regions.
But since we can’t control the weather, most people ask, ‘Does Starlink work in bad weather?
I have researched thoroughly and compiled this review on how Starlink performs in various weather conditions.
I will also give you some tips to minimize weather effects on your Starlink internet connectivity.
Does Starlink Work in Bad Weather?
Yes, Starlink’s internet works in bad weather. Unlike traditional satellite internets, Starlink uses LEO satellites, only 550 Km above, ensuring less distance coverage for radio signals.
Additionally, it utilizes phased array antenna technology, which boosts signal strength even in bad weather conditions.
While you may not lose your connection, you can still experience speed drop and high latency in extremely bad weather. On rare occasions in low-capacity areas, you may also experience signal disruption and temporal outage in heavy snow
Using the Internet in bad weather
Why Would Bad Weather Affect Starlink?
To understand why bad weather affects Starlink, let’s discuss how Starlink and other satellite internet work.
Unlike fiber and cable internet that use underground cables, satellite internet uses satellites in earth orbit.
These satellites send and receive signals through radio frequency bands from your dish. Now, radio waves travel in a straight line and cannot go through thick objects.
Consequently, any obstruction like heavy rain, snow, buildings, or trees in their way can interfere with the signal reach and speed.
Additionally, the distance they cover and their strength determine how fast they can travel and how much interference can affect them.
How Bad Weather Can Affect Starlink
Let’s discuss how different types of bad weather affect Starlink internet signal.
Rain
As we have seen, any satellite Internet gets disrupted when the signals are not reaching the satellite in orbit.
Therefore, heavy rain can block the signals sometimes, and hence, the signal will go out or experience slow speeds.
However, moderate rain does not have much effect on the Starlink internet, except you may experience high ping when gaming.
Note that the density of the rain is the cause here rather than the raining duration.
Clouds
Typical clouds on a sunny day do not affect the speed or reliability of your Starlink internet.
However, heavy dark clouds contain a lot of water droplets that make them dense.
Consequently, radio signals may find it difficult to travel from the dish to the satellite through the dense clouds.
Starlink dish
Wind
Generally, winds do not affect Starlink internet transmission, signal strength, or speed.
However, they sway the dish or make it fall when accompanied by a storm.
Note that Starlink uses a technology that allows the dish to tilt automatically to maximize signal strength.
Hence, if mounted right, the dish can withstand 75mph winds, and you don’t have to worry about minimal swaying.
Snow
How snow affects Starlink depends on how dense it is. For example, fluffy and dry snow does not affect the Starlink’s performance.
Conversely, dense snow contains a lot of water and can affect the signal as the rain would.
However, Starlink has automatic snow melting capabilities that ensure no snow build-up to inhibit signal reception.
Fog
While normal fog cannot affect Starlink, heavy fog may cause slow speed and disruptions.
As we established earlier, the main reason is the moisture content in the air. If fog is very moist, it can be enough to slow performance mildly.
High Temperatures
According to Starlink, the first generation (circular dish) operating temperature is between 0 to 30 degrees Celsius.
On the other hand, the second generation (regular business and residential dish) functions at -30 to 50 degrees Celsius.
Therefore, all dishes can function in all residential temperatures, including deserts and cold regions.
However, temperatures above the maximum can destroy the dish, especially if placed close to the mounting surface.
During a Thunderstorm
As you may know, dish installation has to be in a place with a clear sky view and mostly on building roofs.
Installing your dish on the roof can cause a lightning strike if it is the highest point in your locality.
While the striker can cause permanent damage to your dish, the biggest issue is costly fire to your premises.
How to Minimize the Effect of Weather on Starlink
Although the weather is beyond our control, you can undertake the following tips to minimize its effects on your Starlink.
- Ensure your dish points north: Sometimes, extreme winds and rainfall can disorient your dish, causing signal disruption. In such a case, contact a technician to power cycle the dish, then stow and unstow it to face north.
- Mount the dish in a protected location: You can also mount the dish on the wall with a roof extension to protect it from wind and rain interference.
- Install your dish in unobstructed areas: If you live in dense vegetation or buildings, minimize interference by installing in a place with an unobstructed sky view.
- Protective cover: You may also use a transparent and approved cover to shield your dish from heavy rain and snow.
- Use grounding: Grounding is installing a lightning arrestor if you live in places experiencing regular thunderstorms.
- Clean snow and debris: Clean any ice or twigs accumulated on your dish surface to improve reception.
- Enable snow melting mode: While it can consume much power, it ensures no ice accumulation on your dish surface. You can only turn this mode using the Starlink app and an internet connection.
- Uninstall your dish temporarily: In case of hurricanes, storms, and extreme lightning, Starlink recommends uninstalling first and then reinstalling the dish after the bad weather has passed.
Backup Options During Severe Weather
If bad weather is regular in your region and you experience an internet outage every time, you should consider an alternative.
I recommend 4G LTE or 5G home internet if you reside in regions with cell service.
These are wireless internet service that relies on a cell tower, unlike Starlink, which uses satellite.
Some the the best options for this type of internet include Verizon and AT&T.
Can Starlink Get Wet?
No, the Starlink dish cannot get wet. It is IP54-rated and can withstand dust and most wet weather conditions.
However, in case of floods or if it’s submerged in water, its components can be damaged, thus inhibiting its signal-transmitting ability.
Starlink package
Conclusion
While Starlink features sophisticated technology to prevent weather interference, extremely bad weather can be detrimental.
Therefore, ensure you take the above measures to avoid some of these bad weather interferences.
You can have a backup internet option if you experience regular weather interference.