New Standard vs. Standard with Motors: Which Starlink Dish to Choose?

Price

The cost of both models is the same and amounts to $599 + taxes and shipping.

Equipment

The equipment for the Starlink dishes of the second and third generations differs in the following categories: dish, router, cables, mounting base.

Dish

The dish of the new Standard is slightly larger than in the previous version. The increased antenna area gives the new dish a larger field of view.

In the second-generation dish, electric motors are placed inside the casing, connected to the pole. They rotate and tilt the dish, allowing it to automatically align with Starlink satellites. The new Standard dish lacks a built-in pole and motors. Therefore, it needs to be manually adjusted during the initial installation using the Starlink app. After the initial setup, the presence of motors is not an advantage, as both antennas work electronically and do not require constant movement to track satellites.

Router

The Standard with motors comes with the Starlink Gen 2 router, which uses Wifi 5 technology. Its advantage is the ability to wirelessly connect additional Gen 2 or Gen 3 routers to extend the coverage area of your Wi-Fi network. The Gen 2 router does not have Ethernet ports for direct device connection, but Starlink offers an Ethernet adapter to get one LAN port. The Gen 2 router in the Standard Kit can cover an area of up to 610 sq. m.

The new Standard comes with the Starlink Gen 3 router. The Gen 3 router uses Wifi 6 technology, providing faster Wi-Fi and a larger coverage range compared to the previous version. The Gen 3 router can cover an area of up to 975 sq. m. Improvements include the addition of an Ethernet LAN port, a physical reset button, and a multicolored LED status indicator on the router's front panel.

Cables

In the older version, the cable length is 15 meters and has proprietary connectors at both ends. Longer cables cannot be used, and connectors in this version caused many problems for users, as they were unreliable. There was a need to replace the Starlink cable or router.

In the new Standard dish version, the cable length remains the same - 15 meters. A longer cable, 46 meters, is also available. Connectors are replaced with standard RJ45 on each end, allowing the use of cables from other developers.

Mounting Base

The version with motors includes a mounting base with four legs, each with a mounting hole. Suitable for portable use or for attachment to a flat surface.

The new kit has a built-in "stand" that can be quickly and easily unfolded and folded. It is also suitable for installation on a flat surface.

Accessories

For the new Standard Starlink dish, there are fewer available accessories than for the previous version. Some accessories, like the Starlink Travel Case, are currently unavailable. The Ethernet Adapter is unnecessary for the new Standard Starlink dish, as the Gen 3 router has built-in Ethernet ports.

Both dishes have different cable lengths and accessories for roof and wall mounting. The Standard with motors has a mesh network system, but Gen 3 network nodes have not been released yet.

Installation and Setup

Installation and mounting of the dishes differ due to their different designs.

Regardless of the chosen equipment, you will have several mounting options. Starlink offers various installation types for both types of dishes. Third-party mounts with the Starlink pipe adapter, available for both models, can also be used. Dishes can be installed on the roof, facade, cornice, or external wall using appropriate mounts. The new standard kit does not include a mast, but almost all Starlink mounting accessories have a mast. The main difference in setup between the new and older standard dishes is satellite alignment. The standard dish needs to be manually aimed according to the app's instructions. The dish with motors is activated and has built-in motors for automatic alignment. After the first activation, the dish calibrates itself to the location and positions itself optimally for signal reception.

Speed and Reliability

The Starlink dish model does not significantly affect internet speed and reliability. More important factors are location, data plan, and obstacles. The new Standard Starlink dish has slightly better reliability in poor weather conditions, but overall, all Starlink models have similar performance capabilities.

Which One to Choose?

The new Standard is recommended for most use cases, especially for new users, as it has a better Wi-Fi router, Ethernet ports, and standard RJ45 connectors, making it more reliable.

The Standard with motors is recommended if automatic alignment and lower power consumption are your priorities.