I spent KES 95K on Starlink, plus another KES 6,500 for the first month's subscription. Yes, it's a lot. I initially hoped to resell it in the village, but after a month of using the service, I took a pause. Tried to answer all the questions you might have in this thread
- Delivery takes about two weeks, with no extra cost. I paid via Mpesa Global because my card was declined β I think my bank laughed at the payment request and automatically declined it without checking my balance.
- Mounting it is easy. I did it myself using binding wires. My immediate neighbor is a pastor. I mounted it on his roof so he could curse anyone who tried to steal it.
- The connection was poor at first, but it improved over time. It's now 'much better' than it was initially.
- The connection was poor at first, but it improved over time. It's now 'much better' than it was initially.
- The latency is terrible, ranging between 100 and 250ms, and sometimes as high as 400ms.
- Advertised speeds are between 20 and 250Mbps, but I usually get between 0 (yes, zero) and 60Mbps. It's fast very early in the morning.
x.com
- Advertised speeds are between 20 and 250Mbps, but I usually get between 0 (yes, zero) and 60Mbps. It's fast very early in the morning.
x.com
- It's not reliable for meetings. Google Meet often shows a slow connection warning. You think Eminem raps fast? Try a meeting with slow Starlink internet.
It also comes in handy when you want to sound like a robot.
It also comes in handy when you want to sound like a robot.
- Starlink doesn't have an ethernet port. If you want one, you'll need to buy an ethernet adapter for KES 8200. There's a workaround for connecting to your router without it, but performance drops. I use a Mikrotik router with two Wi-Fi chains for this.
- Rain and heavy clouds are a problem β it slows down significantly and sometimes disconnects completely depending on the amount of rain. This has been a consistent issue. Won't talk much about it coz it has been explained by @benliquidkenya
x.com
x.com
- You can stream content online. Initial connection takes time, but subsequent buffering is fast. Download speeds are excellent, making it great for data-heavy operations like docker build or large file download.
- The content filtering feature doesn't seem to work. I was able to access that site with the yellow and black color in its logo. Even the other one with a big red X in it. Even that other one with a blue theme.
This might be an issue with my setup, so don't take my word for it.
This might be an issue with my setup, so don't take my word for it.
- It consumes a lot of power, about 1-2 kWh per day. My 150Ah backup setup would shut down due to the high power draw from Starlink. Usage decreased after I disabled the snow melt feature.
- They're lenient with the subscription. It's not cut off on the same day as Safaricom. I paid my first bill in the second month. I'll test their leniency again in month three.
- You can control your Starlink remotely, even when you're not at home.
- You can control your Starlink remotely, even when you're not at home.
- If you're considering starting an ISP business with Starlink, here's what you'll need: The Starlink kit (95K), Ethernet Adapter (8K), a good Router (15K), Radio (15K), Switch (approx. 15K), RJ45 Crimping Tool (2K), RJ45 Networking Cable Tester (1K).
Do I regret buying Starlink? No. But I must admit, I was swayed by those flashy screenshots showing incredibly high speeds that haven't quite matched my experience. Plus there is still hope for reselling, I've realized that folks only need 1Mbps
Loading suggestions...