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Starlink Australia Review: Is it worth it for us Aussies

Now that Telstra is offering Starlink plans, we've taken it for a spin.


Starlink Australia Review: Is it worth it for us Aussies
Starlink Australia Review: Is it worth it for us Aussies

Starlink Australia Review: Is it worth it for us Aussies

Starlink is a technically-impressive internet option worth considering for anyone living in rural Australia. However, like most regional internet solutions, it has its share of trade-offs you'll want to consider before taking the plunge.  

Plans from $125 per month via Telstra, or $139 per month direct from Starlink. $599 upfront in hardware fees. 

Starlink Australia Review: Is it worth it for us Aussies
Starlink Australia Review: Is it worth it for us Aussies

What we love

  • Fast latency for space internet

  • Good speeds

  • Simple-to-use hardware

What could be improved

  • Inconsistent performance

  • Regular dropouts make video calls challenging

  • Expensive upfront costs


I'm going to get this out of the way upfront: I'm not the right person to be testing Starlink. I live in Sydney at a property with HFC NBN and 5G coverage. While there's no difference in how Starlink works in the city compared to the bush, I'm not the target consumer for Starlink. It's objectively a downgrade from my current internet situation. It's not meant for me. 

But in my two weeks or so with Starlink at home, I've learnt a lot that's relevant for anyone considering it as an internet solution. While it could still very well be an upgrade for many Australians, there are caveats the marketing doesn't exactly make clear. There are times that Starlink feels like a miracle, but there are others where it's downright frustrating.

The big question is whether that frustration is better or worse than your existing internet. There's a lot to consider. 


Consistently inconsistent


For this review, I tested a Starlink kit supplied by Telstra. You get a standard Starlink set with the satellite and router, but this is also bundled with a 3rd generation Telstra Smart Modem. This gives you the ability to plug in a home phone and 4G backup at speeds of up to 25Mbps.



There are also some slight plan differences. Telstra's Starlink speeds are capped at 50Mbps, while a standard residential Starlink plan is able to do up to 100Mbps. Telstra's plan is a little cheaper as a result, however, at $125 per month. You'll spend a minimum of $139 per month with Starlink itself.



When it works, Starlink is incredible. I can barely notice a difference compared to the 5G home internet connection I normally use.



I've comfortably streamed Palm Royale in 4K on my Apple TV. My ping has only climbed to 40ms, up from around 30ms on 5G. Speed tests show I can often get 50Mbps promised. That's insanely impressive given the LEO satellites you connect to are orbiting Earth at 7.2km a second.



I've also experienced my fair share of frustrations, however. One night during a 30 Rock rewatch, the quality was noticeably dropping to standard definition. I've seen speeds fall below 5Mbps when it's been raining. And there's been a time when I didn't have enough bandwidth to start my camera on Slack.


Starlink Australia Review: Is it worth it for us Aussies

The real annoyance is dropouts. Looking at the Starlink app, there have been days where I've had over 19 outages in an hour. These can happen because of obstructions, network issues, or because my dish had trouble talking to a satellite. Many of these last under two seconds, and in many cases, you won't notice them.



Outages are a big issue when it comes to video calls, online gaming, or any other real-time application, however. Constantly dropping out of a Zoom because of micro outages gets annoying very fast when working from home. While I'm coming at this from a privileged position, reliable internet that doesn't drop out should be a given.



It's worth noting Telstra's 4G backup doesn't help with micro outages. While it could be a lifesaver in the event of an extended outage, most network issues are blips. As such, the backup doesn't have a chance to kick in, and doesn't help with issues like getting booted from a Zoom call.



There's also the question of coverage. If you don't have reliable Telstra 4G coverage at home, 4G backup isn't a useful feature.

Starlink Australia Review: Is it worth it for us Aussies


Plug-and-pray


Starlink is objectively pitched as a plug-and-play solution, and that's true to a certain extent. When you get your kit, getting online is quite simple in theory. You plug in your modem, and then connect the satellite dish to it via a 15m Ethernet cable that also delivers power. Install the Starlink app on your phone and run through a basic setup process, and boom, space internet.

The reality is a little different. For one, the Starlink modem needs to be inside, while the dish lives outside. That's going to be a logistical challenge for many, and will likely involve a ladder. For me, I had to run the cable inside through a hole in a fly screen. It's not exactly elegant.

While you could opt for a more permanent solution, it is worth noting that it's illegal to do your own fixed cabling in Australia. Any in-wall, in-roof, or under-floor cabling must be done by a registered cabler. That adds an extra upfront cost to an already expensive package.

Then there's the matter of positioning the satellite dish. You can keep it on the ground if you have a clear view of the sky, but it quickly became apparent that wasn't an option for me. It then took me a good half hour to find a spot on my roof stable enough to keep the dish from slipping with minimal obstructions. Even then, a neighbour's tree that slightly encroaches on my roof is enough to have the Starlink app warn me about potential dropouts. It doesn't like my TV antenna either, despite the dish being angled away from it.

I'm sure getting a more permanent mount for the dish would help address at least some of this, but it ends up being another upfront cost to consider. And then there's the matter of how clear your view of the sky actually is. Even a single tree on the horizon can degrade your signal.

Should you get a Starlink plan through Telstra or Starlink?

If you’re tossing up whether you should get a Starlink plan direct through Starlink or through Telstra, there are a few key differences to consider.

  • Price: Starlink is cheaper through Telstra, billed at $125 per month. Starlink itself charges $139 per month. In both cases, you're looking at $599 in hardware fees.

  • Speed: Starlink is slower through Telstra. Speeds are capped at 50Mbps, which is identical to an NBN 50 plan. Starlink's residential plans can achieve speeds up to 100Mbps, similar to an NBN 100 plan.

  • Hardware: No matter which provider you go with, you'll get a Starlink modem and a satellite dish. If you go with Telstra, you'll go also get a third-generation Smart Modem. This allows you to use 4G backup and plug in a home phone.

  • 4G backup: If you're using the Telstra Smart Modem, you'll have 4G backup at speeds of up to 25Mbps if your Starlink connection isn't working. It's worth noting that 4G will only spin up if there's an issue with satellite connectivity. If the Starlink connection drops out and requires 4G fallback, the delay can still be enough to kick you out of a video call, for example.

Starlink in Australia - Final Thoughts


Providing regional Australia with more internet options is undeniably a good thing, and for many, Starlink could still be a great solution.

Latency is a whole lot better than Satellite NBN, for example. You can expect around 40ms on Starlink, compared to over 600ms on Sky Muster. The lower latency makes for a much more responsive internet experience.

The flip side is Satellite NBN has become more attractive of late. You can get a plan with unlimited data and speeds of up to 50Mbps for $79 per month through SkyMesh, for example. Upgrading to 100Mbps will set you back $99 per month. Either way, that's a good chunk cheaper than the minimum of $125 per month you'd pay to get Starlink from Telstra, and has none of the upfront costs.

It becomes a question of if you want to pay extra for a more responsive internet service that's potentially more prone to dropouts, or a cheaper one that while having similar speeds, may feel much slower.


Meanwhile, if you've got an underperforming Fixed Wireless NBN connection, Starlink might not solve your problems. My colleague Christie has Fixed Wireless NBN at home, and while she hasn't had the best experience, there's never been a time she hasn't been able to start her video on Slack. Swapping from Fixed Wireless NBN to Starlink feels like trading one imperfect solution for another.



In the same vein, Starlink is an imperfect upgrade from ADSL. While download speeds may be much higher, the micro-dropouts could be a frustrating issue if your existing ADSL connection is stable. Telstra is set to shut down its ADSL network in coming years, so it's a consideration anyone still on it will need to make eventually.




If you do want to try Starlink, the good news is both Starlink and Telstra have a 30-day risk-free option. If you're unhappy during your first month, you can return the hardware and get a full refund. Doing a permanent install with mounts and cabling could complicate this process, so you may not want to go down this path until you've done some initial tests.



No matter the limitations of Starlink, I'm glad the option exists. It has created competition, and seemingly spurred NBN Co on to improve its satellite options. And now that Telstra is reselling Starlink, there's a slightly more affordable option for those put off by the price.

But whether Starlink is right for you very much depends on your individual circumstances. It's an upgrade from ADSL, but a definite downgrade from fixed-line NBN in a city. It's not ideal for gaming, and a bit sketchy for remote work if it involves a lot of Zoom calls. There are ways in which Starlink is a big step up over other options for regional connectivity, and others in which it isn't.



Starlink isn't a silver bullet for internet woes. None of these solutions are perfect. They all have their trade-offs. Australian regional internet should be better, but until it is, it's about deciding on what compromises work for you.




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Author Nerdcore Computers

13/11/2024




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