Starlink Satellite Dish Guide: What Dish Do I Have?

There are six types of Starlink dishes out there, some of which look similar but have entirely different use cases. If you buy a preowned dish or move into a home with a dish attached, we can help you tell what Starlink you’re dealing with. 

Current Price: $349
Model #: UTA-232
Year issued: 2024
Features: Kickstand for on-the-go setup, lightweight, improved Wi-Fi
Best for: Rural home internet, casual travel, small business

The most common kit you’ll see is the one we recommend for most Starlink use cases. This kit comes with everything you need to get online in minutes. The V4 dish is the latest iteration of Starlink’s standard dish model and has many improvements over the older versions. It’s more lightweight and less bulky. On the back, it has a simple kickstand to lean on and is engineered to connect to satellites easily without too much orienting. It also comes packed with the Starlink Gen 3 Wi-Fi Router, which is also a significant upgrade over the older one. It features stronger Wi-Fi and has ethernet ports, which the previous version lacked. 

Starlink has a similar kit for business use. The Enterprise kit includes the V4 dish and a more high-capacity power supply. This setup is optimized to get the top speeds out of Starlink using the priority data plans.

Current Price: $599
Model #: UTA-231
Year issued: 2024
Features: Onboard Wi-Fi, size and weight of a laptop
Best for: Backpackers, emergency responders

The Starlink Mini is a compact, lightweight version of the dish engineered for ultimate portable internet. It’s about half the size and weight of the Standard dish, roughly the size of a laptop you can fit in a backpack. Additionally, it has a built-in Wi-Fi router, nixing the need for an external gateway/router device—although you can still connect to one for a stronger signal. It’s used with Starlink’s Roam plans and can be used in motion. It is currently not usable with the fixed residential plans.

While the Mini's portability and versatility are benefits, it has drawbacks. The biggest is that it’s not nearly as powerful as the Standard dish, and you can expect typical download speeds of up to 100Mbps. It’s more expensive and still requires a power source of at least 25 to 40 Watts, so travelers will need a vehicle or portable power source.

The Starlink Mini is smaller and more convenient to travel with. The Standard Starlink kit is also portable and can connect users to the internet from anywhere in the U.S., but it is still a bit bulky, requires an external gateway device for Wi-Fi, and requires a strong power supply. The Mini sets out to solve these issues for mobile Starlink users.

Current Price: $2,500
Model #: UTA-222
Year issued: 2022
Features: Increased field of view for capturing signal while in-motion
Best for: Enterprise-sized business, maritime usage, air travel

The Flat High-Performance dish is the most costly version of Starlink available, but it’s the most powerful and functional. However, its use cases are few outside of business. It’s commonly marketed as part of the Starlink Maritime or Land Mobility packages. It’s claimed to be made for in-motion use while capturing the best signal and speeds possible from Starlink satellites. 

It has the most expansive field of view of any dish and is designed to be installed on moving vehicles with the included mounting kit. However, it curiously does not come with a Starlink router, forcing you to use your networking equipment.  While people who own yachts can afford these dishes and plans, you’ll commonly see them on freighters, cruise ships, and airplanes. They’re also used by governments, including for defense purposes or emergency response to rural areas.  

Although Starlink no longer manufactures or sells these kits, you may encounter them on the aftermarket (sold through classifieds, used electronics stores, or yard sales). While they are older models, they will still connect to the Starlink network. You may be able to save money if you happen to run into one for a good deal. 

NOTE: Preowned Starlink dishes are typically attached to a previous account. You must transfer the dish from the last owner to your account. Make sure you can do this before purchasing the equipment.

Model #: UTA-212
Year issued: 2021
Features: Motorized stand for self-orientation
Best for: Permanent home install

Before the current Standard kit, the Standard Actuated dish was the most common equipment type for residential use. The key difference is the motorized stand, which allows it to self-orientate to the optimal spot in the sky. It’s bulkier than the Standard dish and requires the packed-in base or an accessory to mount it. 

Despite being a bit more awkward and heavier, it performs similarly to the Standard kit. It’s a good choice if you can find it preowned, in good condition, for a cheaper price.

Model #: UTA-221
Year issued: 2021
Features: Motorized stand for self-orientation
Best for: Small business

The original High Performance dish is the enterprise version of the Standard Actuated dish. It’s engineered for higher power input, boosting its signal for top performance. It’s made to be used with the Priority Data plans, which provide higher download and upload speeds, essential for businesses that depend on reliable internet. It’s no longer available, and business customers are directed to get the Enterprise kit, Standard kit, or Flat High-Peformance. We recommend the Enterprise kit for the higher power input, ensuring you get those top speeds.

Model #: UTA-201
Year issued: 2020
Features: Ethernet port for direct connection to third-party routers
Best for: Collectors

Finally, there’s the one that started it all. The Round V1 dish was the first commercially available dish launched in 2020 for a limited number of customers as a beta test of Starlink. Similar to the Standard Actuated, it has a motor to orient itself. However, early adopters online say it’s not nearly as fast as the current hardware. It’s also hard to find on the aftermarket since it was only offered to a limited few early adopters on a waitlist. However, if you manage to find one, it could make for a good SpaceX collector's item.

Starlink’s primary residential internet service is $120 per month. There’s no mandatory commitment or contract, so if you’re not impressed, you can cancel anytime. The other most popular service plan is the Roam plan, which allows you to travel with Starlink and set it up anywhere. The next plans are the Priority tiers, which are geared toward power users and businesses that download and upload lots of data.

Starlink requires you to buy the dish, accompanying router/gateway, and cables outright. However, Starlink often discounts its equipment in certain areas, so you should check if your address qualifies for a reduced price.

If you’re unhappy with the internet quality or it isn’t working in your location within the first 30 days after activation, you can return it to Starlink for a full refund. After 30 days, they will be unlikely to accept it. However, you can sell and transfer ownership to someone else to recoup your money since you own the equipment.