Starlink for a garden office: getting the connection outside

Find out which part is slow

The Starlink app’s normal speed test measures router-to-internet speed, so a good result can hide poor Wi-Fi at your desk. In Advanced, compare Device to Router with Device to Internet. Try the same device near the main router and in the office. If the router’s internet result is healthy but the office device struggles, work on the local network first.

When a mesh node may be enough

For a nearby office, mesh may work if the new node can still get a strong signal from the house. Test the proposed position before fixing anything permanently. Walls and distance can weaken that connection, and each wireless hop uses capacity. Moving a node closer to the house can help more than putting it beside the laptop.

For a separate building, consider a proper link

An outdoor wireless bridge uses equipment at both buildings to carry the network across the gap. You then need Ethernet or Wi-Fi for the devices inside the office. A cable or fibre link is another option where there is a suitable route. Ask the installer to specify the equipment, power and outdoor cabling at both ends, not just a range claim on a box.

Keep the dish in the best sky position

The dish does not have to sit beside the desk. Choose a suitable sky view, then plan where the router and building link go. A Starlink dish cable and a cable extending your home network do different jobs. Do not join or bury the dish cable to reach an outbuilding; Starlink says it is not rated for burial and advises against cable extensions.

What to test before the work is finished

Sit at the desk, make a call and send a normal work file. If the building link is wireless, test with doors and windows in their usual positions. Ask for the equipment settings and a simple description of what connects to what. That makes it much easier to identify which device needs attention later.

Sources and further reading

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