Any Starlink Users?

PartyOfFive

I’m moving to a relatively rural area outside Reading in June. All of the broadband checkers/companies indicate a download speed range of between 30-50mbps. The area is planned to get a full fibre upgrade from Openreach in late 2026 (but more realistically 2027).

I’m considering Starlink as an option - checker indicates 150-250mbps. Are there any Starlink users here that could confirm reliability and quality of support of needed?

Dish would be professionally installed on roof with a fully clear sky.

M25

I don't know anyone who has it but these people in the UK seem to like it on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNWO3oDyAu8

spenderdave

30-50 Mbs should be more than adequate for most people except some families with multiple users streaming video. My 32Mbs FTTC does me just fine, and although City Fibre is just about to go live here I see little incentive to move.

flaneurs_lobster

Here's a chap in Somerset (which is next door to Reading) who seems happy with his setup

https://www.reddit.com/r/Starlink/comments/12qdeau/my_starlink_installation_in_somerset_uk_getting/

Some other UK experiences on that Starlink subredit

PartyOfFive

spenderdave said:

30-50 Mbs should be more than adequate for most people except some families with multiple users streaming video. My 32Mbs FTTC does me just fine, and although City Fibre is just about to go live here I see little incentive to move.

If 30-50 was suitable for my needs, I wouldn't be thinking about Starlink and posting here for asking for anyone's experience with Starlink.

Glad to know that 32mbps is fine for you and that you aren't going to change to CityFibre, despite it not being one bit relevant to my query regarding Starlink.

Thanks to the other posters!

alan_d

I have the 'RV' version (now called roam I think), which is the same hardware, just a different agreement that allows it to be moved around.
I've used it in many rural locations in the UK and France, always have great performance - although latency is usually around 45ms.
I've not needed support yet, but understand from the 'Starlink: UK Owners' FaceBook group that they can be pretty slow.

J_B

Farming Forum discussion here

https://thefarmingforum.co.uk/index.php?threads/starlink.361609/

DullGreyGuy

PartyOfFive said:

I’m moving to a relatively rural area outside Reading 

I imagine very relative having lived in the area before!

What are you using your internet for that 30Mbps isnt sufficient? Remember with starlink upspeed is massively slower than your download speed so ok for streaming TV but poor for Teams/Zoom calls etc. Latency is relatively high too which may or mayn't be an issue for you

alan_d

DullGreyGuy said:

 Remember with starlink upspeed is massively slower than your download speed so ok for streaming TV but poor for Teams/Zoom calls etc. Latency is relatively high too which may or mayn't be an issue for you

I have used it with Teams and Zoom video calls without issue, no noticeable difference in performance to my usual 300mb service via Virgin at home.

DullGreyGuy

alan_d said:

DullGreyGuy said:

 Remember with starlink upspeed is massively slower than your download speed so ok for streaming TV but poor for Teams/Zoom calls etc. Latency is relatively high too which may or mayn't be an issue for you

I have used it with Teams and Zoom video calls without issue, no noticeable difference in performance to my usual 300mb service via Virgin at home.

As always, it depends what else is going on with the network. If the only upload is a 720i video call then the 6Mbps is more than enough for that but have a few phones backing up large video libraries plus a couple of computer playing multiplayer games etc then it certainly will be. 

The same however goes with the download... if all you want to do is web browsing and 1 Zoom call then the 30Mbps is more than enough