How to Backup Starlink with 5G Cellular
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Starlink has been a game changer for digital nomads and remote workers, but no internet service provider is perfect. Starlink requires a clear view of the sky, so trees and weather can cause interruptions. Adding a backup internet connection to one solution to improve reliability.
I run my business from home, so I need the most reliable internet connection possible. In this tutorial, I’m going to show you how I backup my Starlink with 5G cellular. With cellular as a backup, all my devices stay connected during Starlink outages, seamlessly transferring from one to the other as needed.
Required Hardware
Obviously you will need a Starlink kit for this setup. You can set up cellular backup with any kind of Starlink dish. I have a Gen 3 Standard mounted on my roof, so that’s what I’ll be referencing in this tutorial. Here is the other hardware I recommend for cellular backup.
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Peplink B One 5G
The key for this setup is the Peplink B One 5G router. It’s not your average Wifi router. It has cellular modems on board, along with some other advanced features. With cellular integrated right into the router, it’s super easy to backup Starlink with a cheap data plan from any major carrier.
I chose the B One 5G because Peplink is a Starlink Authorized Technology Provider, meaning their engineers work directly with Starlink to develop networking technology like the B One 5G router. It’s designed to work seamlessly with Starlink, which makes it the perfect solution for power users, like me, who need the most reliability from their internet connection.
SIM/eSIM
You’ll also need a SIM card or eSIM from any major carrier. You can purchase cheap data plans from companies like Verizon. Since you’ll just be using it as a backup, you don’t need a lot of data each month.
I decided to purchase an eSIM data plan directly from Peplink. Their plans are pay as you go, meaning you only pay for data as you use it. There are no monthly or reoccurring charges. Also, a single eSIM gives you access to all the major carriers in your area. You don’t have to worry about which carrier will give you the best signal. Peplink’s eSIM and their SpeedFusion Connect cloud software handles all that, and selects the best carrier automatically.
Ethernet Cable
The Peplink router I purchased didn’t come with an Ethernet cable, so that’s the last thing I needed to complete the setup. It just needs to be long enough to go from the Starlink router to where you want to install the Peplink router.
How to Backup Starlink with Cellular
- Connect the Peplink router to Starlink
Hooking everything up is quite simple. You’ll need to attach all the Wifi and cellular antennas to the Peplink router. If you have a physical SIM card, go ahead and install it. If you have an eSIM from Peplink, make sure you setup inControl2 access so that your eSIM can be automatically synced to your router.
Plug in the Peplink power cable. Ideally, you’ll install Peplink next to your existing Starlink router. Connect one end of the Ethernet cable to the Starlink LAN port. Connect the other end to the Peplink WAN1 port. Give the Peplink router a few minutes to boot up. You should see green LED lights on the front panel. - Put the Starlink router in bypass mode
Once your Peplink router is hooked up and online, you can put the Starlink router in bypass mode. Connect to the Starlink Wifi network, then open the app. Tap on Settings, then Bypass mode. Slide the toggle to the right to turn on bypass.
When in bypass mode, the Starlink router just forwards all internet traffic through the LAN port to the Peplink router, so that it can handle everything. It will disable the Starlink Wifi network completely, you’ll use the Peplink router for Wifi from now on.
If you ever need to turn off bypass mode, just press the factory reset button on the back of the Starlink router. For more information, refer to my How to Bypass the Starlink Router tutorial.
- Configure the Peplink B One 5G router
On a computer, connect to the Peplink’s Wifi network. You can also connect to the router with an Ethernet cable. To start the configuration process, open a web browser and navigate to the Peplink web interface at https://192.168.50.1.
The default login credentials are admin, admin. You’ll be asked to change the password the first time you log in. You’ll also be asked to change the Wifi network password. Once you’ve done all that, the router will reboot, and you’ll have to reconnect with your new Wifi password.
- Configure the Starlink WAN1 interface
On the Peplink web interface dashboard, you’ll see an overview of your WAN connections. You should see WAN1 connected and online. This is your Starlink. It’s already defaulted to the highest priority, the primary internet connection. Go ahead and click on WAN1 to open up the options.
You just need to make one change here. Under Health Check Settings, change Health Check Method to “PING”. Use 8.8.8.8 and 9.9.9.9 as the hosts. Click Save and Apply.
- Change the WAN priority
Head back to the dashboard. The next thing you need to do is drag the cellular connection to Priority 1, the same level as WAN1 (Starlink). This keeps the cellular connection active, allowing for a more seamless failover.
- Set up SpeedFusion Connect
Now click on SF Connect. Click on the icon for Client Mode – for Outbound accesses. Select Automatic from the drop down, then click the green check box.
Under the SpeedFusion Connect column, click on SFC. Add a new SFC tunnel by clicking the + icon. Name it anything you want, I chose “WAN Smoothing”. In the options, change WAN Smoothing to Normal. Under WAN Connection Priority, change WAN1 (Starlink) to 1. Set the rest to 2. Click Save and then click Apply Changes at the top.
- Create an outbound policy
In the top menu, click Advanced. Then click Outbound Policy in the left hand menu. Click Add Rule to create a custom rule.
Name the rule whatever you want, I chose “Starlink SFC”. In the settings, change Destination to Any. Change Algorithm to Priority. Then drag the SpeedFusion Connect tunnel you created from the “Not In Use” column to the top of the “Highest Priority” column. Click Save and then Apply Changes.
Head back to the main dashboard. You should now see SpeedFusion Connect established for your router. You’ll also see your allotment of SpeedFusion Connect data. Every Peplink router comes with SFC data, and you can purchase more if you run out. If you are using a Peplink eSIM data plan, you’ll also see the amount of cellular data you have remaining on your dashboard.
That’s all the configuration that is required. There are tons of additional features you can enable, but they are beyond the scope of this tutorial. The “WAN Smoothing” failover I went through gives you virtually seamless changes from the primary Starlink connection to cellular backup, and then back again.
How Backup/Failover Works
The Peplink B One 5G Wifi router takes over all network management from the Starlink router since it should now be in bypass mode. You’ll connect all your devices via Ethernet or Wifi to the Peplink router. That allows it to handle everything, seamlessly changing from one internet connection to the other if needed.
Starlink will be the primary internet connection due to the fast speeds and unlimited data offered on most Starlink plans. Cellular will service as the backup internet connection. It’s usually slower and data capped, but it will be good enough for backup purposes.
When the Peplink router detects a Starlink outage, it will automatically failover to the cellular connection. The devices on your network will start using cellular until Starlink is back up. Once the outage is over, everything goes back to Starlink. This process is virtually seamless, and it all happens in the background automatically.
Failover Testing
To test your setup out, connect your devices to the Peplink Wifi network. Start a video call with a friend or family member that is using a different internet connection. You can also start a live stream of some sort, like Twitch, live TV, etc. Streaming services and YouTube aren’t great for this test because they typically download data in advance to avoid buffering.
Open up the Peplink dashboard in a web browser so you can monitor your system. Then unplug the Starlink router to simulate a Starlink outage. You should see WAN1 disconnect, but cellular remains connected. On your video call or stream, you might notice buffering for a moment as the connection transitions, but you should remain connected.
Plug Starlink back in. After a few minutes Starlink should connect and return as your primary internet source. Again, you might notice a blip in connectivity as the internet sources switch, but you should remain connected the entire time.
Summary
I’ve just scratched the surface of what is possible with the Peplink B One 5G. Whether you are using Starlink for mobile internet, or as home/business internet, the B One 5G allows you to easily use 5G or 4G LTE cellular as a backup. It’s a great solution for improved reliability for people who need to stay connected at all times.
If you have any questions, leave me a comment below. Here are some additional resources that cover more advanced configurations:
