How to Set Up Satellite Internet: Starlink, Viasat, and What to Expect

Like most internet connections, satellite internet requires some level of installation and setup. The basic steps to do so are to choose a satellite internet provider, confirm you have a clear view of the sky from your home, install the dish, and then connect your router to establish your home network. While a technician needs to install and align Viasat, you can install Starlink yourself through its app. Once the connection is established, you'll need to secure your Wi-Fi network.

Here we'll walk you through both installation scenarios, from prep to troubleshooting, so you know exactly what to expect before, during, and after installation.

Quick Comparison: How Setup Differs by Provider

Starlink is the only major satellite provider you can install yourself; Viasat sends a technician to aim the dish. That single difference shapes everything else about setup.

Prices and speeds vary by address and change often. Starlink’s 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps plans are available in select areas only. Prices and plans verified October 2026. Compare current plans on our Starlink, Viasat, and satellite internet providers pages. HughesNet is restructuring through bankruptcy.

Why LEO and GEO Satellites Install Differently

Starlink’s dish tracks fast-moving satellites on its own, while Viasat and HughesNet dishes must be aimed precisely at one fixed point in the southern sky.

The shorter distance is why LEO satellite internet handles video calls, gaming, and remote work far better than GEO service. For a deeper look, see how satellite internet works and satellite internet speeds by provider.

Before You Install: Prep Checklist

Making a few decisions before your satellite internet service is installed can prevent most setup problems. Work your way through these four steps no matter which provider you choose.

1. Check Availability and Pick a Plan

Availability depends on your exact address, not just your region. Starlink’s lower-cost 100 Mbps and 200 Mbps plans are offered only in select areas, and Viasat pricing varies by location. Start by finding satellite internet by zip code.

If satellite isn’t your only option, compare it with fixed wireless internet and 5G home internet. These may cost less, provider better performance, and limit installation needs.

2. Find a Clear View of the Sky

Every satellite dish will need an unobstructed line of sight for proper signal acquisition, but the requirement differs by provider:

• Starlink: needs a wide, open view of the sky overhead because it tracks multiple satellites as they cross. Run the obstruction check in the Starlink app before you choose a spot.
• Viasat and HughesNet: need a clear view of the southern sky since the satellites are in a fixed position. The technician will survey your property and pick the spot.

Trees, chimneys, rooflines, and nearby buildings are the most common obstructions. Remember that trees grow; a spot that’s clear today may be blocked in a couple of years.

3. Choose Your Router Location and Cable Entry Point

Decide where the router will live before anyone drills a hole. Pick a central, elevated spot near a power outlet, close to where you use the internet most. Then find the shortest practical cable path from the dish to that spot. Our guide to the best place to set up your router covers placement in detail.

4. Check HOA and Landlord Rules

In most cases, your HOA or landlord can’t stop you from installing a satellite dish, but they may have something to say about where it's placed. Check first before making unnecessary holes. The FCC’s Over-the-Air Reception Devices (OTARD) rule protects your right to install a dish one meter or less in diameter in an area you own or exclusively control, such as your yard, patio, or balcony.

What an HOA or landlord can still do:

• Set reasonable placement preferences, if they don’t block your signal, unreasonably delay installation, or add unreasonable cost
• Prohibit installation in common areas, such as a shared roof or exterior wall you don’t control

Starlink’s residential dishes fall well under the one-meter limit.

How to Set Up Starlink

Starlink is easy to install yourself, and the Starlink app acts as your instruction manual. A basic ground setup can have you online in 15–30 minutes. A permanent roof or wall mount with cable routing typically takes 2–4 hours.

If you’d rather not do it yourself, Starlink’s Residential 200 Mbps and Residential Max plans include free professional installation. Starlink also offers a 30-day trial with a full refund if you’re not satisfied.

Step 1: Download the App and Test on the Ground First

Download the Starlink app (iOS or Android) and sign in before you unbox anything. Then set the dish on the ground in an open area, plug everything in, and confirm it connects. Testing first lets you know that the hardware works before you spend any time installing the equipment.

The Standard Kit includes the dish, a cable, the router, and a power supply. Starlink’s newer V5 kit is rolling out in select areas.

Step 2: Run the Obstruction Check

Open the app, tap the obstruction tool, and scan the sky with your phone’s camera from each spot you’re considering for dish placement. If the app shows significant obstructions, try a higher or different location.

Pro tip: After about six hours of use, the app’s obstruction map fills in with real data from your dish. Use it to confirm your placement before you commit to a permanent mount.

Step 3: Choose a Mount

You'll want to mount the dish as high as you can, and as safely as you can, and where it has the widest clear view of the sky. Starlink sells roof, wall, pole, and ridgeline mounts separately, while third-party mounts are widely available.

Remember to leave enough clearance around the dish for it to tilt and rotate as it tracks the satellite constellation. You don’t need to align the dish since it will do so during set up.

Step 4: Route the Cable into Your House

You will need to get the cable into your house, so you may need to drill a small hole through an exterior wall, then seal the hole. Do your best to identify any studs, gas, plumbing, or electrical obstructions within walls before drilling. Starlink sells a cable routing kit for standard walls (with a 3/4-inch spade bit, grommets, sealant, and clips) and a separate kit for masonry, concrete, and hard coat stucco.

A few rules that prevent most cable problems:

• Don’t pull the cable taut, and don’t drag or bump the connectors
• Keep connectors dry until they’re fully plugged in
• Seal any holes with silicone and a grommet
• Use the routing clips to secure the cable along the roofline or wall

If drilling isn’t an option, a ground or ridgeline mount with the cable routed through an existing opening is the usual workaround. Longer cables are sold separately if your run is long.

Step 5: Ground the Mount

A permanent roof or wall mount should be grounded for lightning protection, following your local electrical code. Many DIYers and guides overlook this step, but it's an important one. Without grounding, you risk damage to the equipment and your home. If you’re not comfortable with grounding, it’s a good reason to hire an installer or electrician for this part.

Step 6: Connect the Router and Name Your Network

Plug the dish cable into the Starlink router, then plug the router into an outlet. When the app shows “Online,” join the default Starlink Wi-Fi network on your phone and use the app to set your network name and password.

You'll manage your Starlink service in the app, not a browser-based admin page. Use the app to run speed tests, check outages, and view your obstruction map.

Step 7: Use Your Own Router or Mesh System (Optional)

To use your own router or a mesh Wi-Fi system, turn on Bypass Mode in the Starlink app’s settings. This turns off Starlink’s Wi-Fi and passes the connection to your equipment.

For wired devices, check your kit’s router: some include built-in Ethernet ports, and others need Starlink’s Ethernet Adapter. A wired connection is usually faster and more stable than Wi-Fi for desktops, consoles, and TVs.

Note for gamers and security camera users: Starlink residential service uses carrier-grade NAT (CGNAT) for IPv4, so traditional port forwarding doesn’t work. Apps and games that support IPv6 generally work normally.

How to Set Up Viasat

Viasat requires professional installation. A trained technician aligns the dish with Viasat’s satellite, runs the cable, and sets up your equipment. You can’t install a Viasat dish yourself.

What the Technician Does

Viasat will schedule your installation within 3–5 days of ordering. When the installer arrives, they will:

• Survey your property for the best dish location with a clear view of the southern sky
• Mount the dish and transceiver
• Run coaxial cable along the outside of the house to an entry point near your gateway
• Set up the gateway (an integrated modem and router) inside
• Test the signal and connection before leaving

What to Have Ready on Install Day

• An adult (18+) home for the full appointment
• A valid ID
• Clear access to the area where the cable will enter the house, typically an exterior wall
• A power outlet near where the gateway will sit
• A decision on where you want the gateway (see the prep checklist above)

Set Up Your Gateway and Wi-Fi

Viasat supplies a gateway, so there’s no separate router to connect. Once the technician confirms service is active, set your network name and password (see the next section). To use your own router, connect it to a LAN port on the gateway with an Ethernet cable.

Viasat’s Unleashed plans include unlimited high-speed data with no annual contract, but speeds may slow during periods of heavy network traffic. Unleashed Max adds speeds up to 200 Mbps and priority access during busy hours. Every plan carries a $15 monthly equipment lease.

Secure Your Wi-Fi Network

Once you have internet service and have your home network set up, change your Wi-Fi network name and password from the defaults, no matter which provider you use. Default credentials are printed on the equipment and are easy to guess.

• Starlink: set your network name and password in the Starlink app.
• Viasat and your own routers: log in to the router’s admin page using the address and default login printed on the label, usually on the bottom of the device.

Then:

1. Create a new network name (SSID) that doesn’t include your name or address.
2. Set security to WPA3, or WPA2 if your devices don’t support WPA3.
3. Choose a long, unique password. Here’s how to change your Wi-Fi password later.

What Satellite Internet Setup Costs

The upfront cost to install satellite internet ranges from nothing beyond a monthly equipment lease (Viasat) to several hundred dollars for a self-installed Starlink with mounting hardware.

Prices are valid as of October 26, 2026, may not include taxes and other fees, and are subject to change.

Budget for extras if you install the Starlink dish on a roof or wall: a mount, a routing kit, and possibly a longer cable. Taxes and fees are added to the advertised monthly price.

Troubleshooting Slow or Dropped Satellite Internet

Most slow satellite connections come down to five causes: obstructions, weather, cable damage, network congestion, or poor Wi-Fi coverage inside the home. Start by running an internet speed test so you know what you’re working with.

Check for Obstructions

For Starlink, open the app’s obstruction map and outage history first. New tree growth often causes connections that worked at first to degrade. For Viasat, overhanging branches or wind that knocks the dish out of alignment can cause drops; contact Viasat to have the dish checked and re-aimed.

Check the Dish and Cables

• Look for damaged, kinked, or loose cables and connectors.
• Clear snow, leaves, or debris from the dish. See our guide to satellite dish maintenance.
• Heavy rain and snow can temporarily reduce speeds but usually recover when the storm passes.

Check Your Router and Wi-Fi

• Restart the router or gateway. Here’s how to reset your router and what your modem and router lights mean, so you can make sure it's working properly.
• Move the router closer to where you use the internet, or add a mesh system for large homes.
• Starlink and Viasat equipment updates automatically, so you don’t need to download firmware yourself.

Expect Some Peak-Hour Slowdowns

Satellite networks can slow during evening peak hours when more people are online. Starlink’s Residential Max plan gets top network priority, and Viasat’s Unleashed Max gets priority access during busy times. Learn why internet speed fluctuates and how to improve satellite internet speeds.

Already Have HughesNet? What to Know

Hughes Satellite Systems and Hughes Network Systems, the companies behind HughesNet, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on August 3, 2026. HughesNet says service continues without interruption during the restructuring. As part of the process, Hughes is refocusing on enterprise, government, and defense customers.

HughesNet had about 622,000 broadband subscribers as of June 30, 2026, which is down from roughly 1.56 million at the end of 2020.

If you’re a current HughesNet customer:

• Your service, billing, and support continue as normal for now. Keep paying your bill to stay connected.
• Watch for scams. Ignore emails or calls claiming you must redirect payments because of the bankruptcy, and contact HughesNet directly through its official site or the number on your bill.
• If you’re on a contract, check your early termination terms before switching.
• Check what else is available. Many former HughesNet areas now have Starlink, and some have fixed wireless or 5G home internet. Compare providers at your address.

If you’re keeping HughesNet, setup and troubleshooting are much like Viasat: a technician aligns the dish, and the gateway handles your Wi-Fi. HughesNet plans include a monthly priority data allotment; once you use it, speeds slow until your billing cycle resets. The same dish maintenance applies to HughesNet systems.

What’s Next: Amazon Leo

Amazon Leo is a LEO (low-Earth orbit) satellite service. Amazon says initial commercial service will start before the end of 2026. Service will begin with the U.S., UK, France, Germany, and Canada, with broader availability likely in 2027.

Where Amazon Leo stands as of October 2026:

• Satellites: About 400 are in orbit, out of 3,232 planned for its first-generation network. Amazon says that’s enough for initial service in its first coverage areas.
• Speed: The standard residential terminal, Leo Pro, is rated for up to 400 Mbps. It topped 400 Mbps in an October 2026 U.S. Army demonstration.
• Equipment: All three Leo terminals are designed for self-installation, like Starlink. Leo Pro is expected to cost under $400.
• Pricing: Amazon hasn’t announced monthly service pricing.

Should you wait for Amazon Leo? If you need reliable internet now, probably not. Early service will be limited, and coverage will grow gradually as more satellites launch.