Download the official Starlink app
Open the link for your phone and install Starlink. The developer is SpaceX on the App Store and Space Exploration Technologies Corp. on Google Play.
How to check a possible dish position
- Choose a spot you can reach safely. Start outside in the garden or another accessible place where the dish could go. Keep your feet on firm ground while looking at the phone.
- Open the obstruction tool. Look for Find an install location or Check for Obstructions in the Starlink app.
- Select the kit you intend to order. The app uses the model to work out how much sky the dish needs to see. Match the selection to the hardware shown in your planned order.
- Follow the camera scan. Allow camera access if prompted, then move the phone as the on-screen guide directs until the scan is complete. Hold it as close as you safely can to the dish’s intended position and height.
- Read the result and compare locations. Check the app’s assessment for the activities you care about. If it finds obstructions, scan another practical position and compare the results.
Save a screenshot and note the location and height of each scan. If nearby trees lose their leaves in winter, consider how their summer canopy would change the view.
What does the result tell you?
The scan estimates how much of the dish’s view is blocked. Branches and roof edges in that view can interrupt the connection as satellites pass behind them. Read the app’s explanation alongside the picture; do not assume a small obstruction percentage guarantees reliable calls or gaming.
A clear scan is useful evidence for choosing a position. It does not measure broadband speed or confirm that the mount, power supply and cable route will work there.
A ground-level scan cannot confirm a roof position. Height changes what the dish can see. Do not use a ladder or climb onto a roof just to carry out this check. If the proposed position is out of reach, ask an installer to assess it.
If the position is out of reach
You can do the app check yourself at an accessible position. If you cannot safely check the intended mounting position, discuss it with an installer. They may assess the site on the day they fit the dish. If you are unsure there is any workable position, settle that before ordering.
Send the installer your screenshots and a photo showing the proposed position. Explain any uncertainty about the view, fixings or cable entry. Ask whether a separate assessment is needed and what it would cost. Our installation guide explains what you can do yourself and when to get help.
Check the route back to the house
Before settling on a clear spot, measure the route the cable would follow to suitable power and your indoor equipment. Include bends and the wall entry, not just the straight-line distance. Check the cable supplied with the kit you are ordering and the compatible longer options if needed.
Think about the mount and any permissions too, especially in a rented home. These guides cover cable routing, mount positions and permission to fit a dish.
Check again once the dish is running
The installed dish builds its own obstruction map from its satellite connections. Starlink says a complete map can take up to 12 hours. This is different from the phone-camera estimate, so check it in the app after setup and before treating the position as settled.
Official guidance: download the Starlink app, check for obstructions, choose the hardware and read the dish’s map, deal with obstructions and set up your kit.