The next generation Starlink hardware is right around the corner. Starlink recently got FCC approval for two new dishes, and they are also giving some customers a chance to try out the new Gen 3 router. It’s backwards compatible with previous Starlink generations, so I bought one to test out.
Learn all the features and specs of the new Starlink Gen 3 router, and see how it manages to be more than 4 times faster than previous generations, in this review. I will also walk you through the installation and setup process for each generation of Starlink.
Is it a worthwhile upgrade for your old Gen 1 or Gen 2 router? Is Starlink Gen 3 going to be a big leap in performance? Let’s find out!
Table of Contents
Overview
The Starlink Gen 3 router (UTR-231) is a complete redesign, with better technology, new styling, and more features compared to previous versions. The new Starlink dishes aren’t out yet, but the Gen 3 router is backwards compatible, so it’s available as an upgrade for Gen 1 and Gen 2 hardware.
Price and Availability
The Starlink Gen 3 router costs $200. It hasn’t been publicly released yet, so you won’t find it for sale in the Starlink shop just yet. Starlink is offering some customers the chance to test it out, but it’s by invitation only.
Features
Ethernet ports are back! Starlink listened to customer feedback regarding the lack of LAN Ethernet ports on the Gen 2 router. The Gen 3 router features two Ethernet ports so that you can easily connect your devices.
They also added an LED status indicator to the front of the router. With Gen 2, there was a LED power indicator on the bottom of the router, which wasn’t very useful. On the Gen 3 router, the LED can change colors, go solid, or flash to indicate the status of the Starlink system.
Like I mentioned earlier, Starlink made the Gen 3 router backwards compatible with all previous dish versions. So, whether you own the current rectangular dish or the original round dish, you’ll be able to upgrade if you want. If you are using Starlink mesh, the Gen 3 routers are compatible with Gen 2 mesh nodes.
Specs
By far, the biggest upgrade over the Gen 2 router is the Wi-Fi 6 technology. Wi-Fi 6 offers much better speed and range compared to the Wi-Fi 5 tech in the previous routers. The Gen 3 router also features a tri-band radio for better mesh performance. Gen 1 routers weren’t mesh compatible at all, and Gen 2 just had a dual-band radio.
Here are some additional specs:
- Dimensions: 2.4” x 11.8” x 4.7” (55 x 300 x 120 mm)
- Weight: 2.2 lbs (1 kg)
- Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi 6, 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax
- Device Limit: Connect up to 235 devices at one time
- Security: WPA2
- Radio: Tri-Band 4 x 4 MU-MIMO
- Input Ports: Starlink dish connection, power adapter
- Output Ports: 2 x LAN Ethernet ports
- Operating Temperature: -22°F to 122°F (-30°C to 50°C)
- IP Rating: IP56 (Water Resistant), designed for indoor use only
Setup Guide
The Starlink Gen 3 router works as the main router for any kind of Starlink dish. Here are the setup and installation instructions for each version:
Gen 1 Round Dish
For the Gen 1 hardware (round dish), the Gen 3 router will completely replace the old Gen 1 router. Here is how you plug everything in:
- Plug in the Gen 3 router power cord. The LED indicator on the lower left of the router should light up and flash white.
- Unplug the Gen 1 router from the Gen 1 power supply brick.
- Use the included Starlink router cable to connect the Gen 3 router to the white side of the Gen 1 power supply brick.
- On your phone, connect to the STARLINK Wi-Fi network. Open the Starlink app to finish the setup by choosing a new network name and password.
- Connect to your new Wi-Fi network using the password you set in step 4. Open the Starlink app and check to make sure you are Online.
The LED indicator on the Gen 3 router will turn solid white when you are connected to the internet. The LED will turn off automatically after an hour. If it ever turns red, that indicates an issue with your connection.
Gen 2 Standard Dish
Using the Gen 3 router with the Gen 2 Standard dish is a little more complicated. Since the Gen 2 router also serves as the power supply for the dish, you can’t get rid of it completely. Instead, you’ll need to connect the Gen 3 router using the Starlink Ethernet Adapter accessory, and then put the Gen 2 router in bypass mode:
- Plug in the power supply cable for the Gen 3 router. An LED indicator on the lower left of the router should start flashing white.
- Install the Starlink Ethernet Adapter on your Gen 2 router. See this guide if you need additional details.
- Plug the Gen 3 router into the Ethernet Adapter using the included cable. The LED indicator should change to solid white.
- While still connected to your existing Gen 2 Wi-Fi network, open the Starlink app. Enable bypass mode by going into the router settings. Here is a tutorial if you need more help.
- Connect to the STARLINK Wi-Fi network. Open the Starlink app and complete the Wi-Fi setup by setting a name and password.
- Connect to your new Wi-Fi network by entering the password you set in step 5. Check that you are Online in the Starlink app.
The LED on the Gen 3 router should turn solid white. It will turn off automatically after an hour. If you see a red indicator light, that means there is an issue with your connection.
Gen 2 High Performance Dish
Using the Gen 3 router with the High Performance dish (or Flat High Performance dish) is pretty easy. Here are the steps to hook everything up:
- Plug in the Gen 3 router power cord. The LED indicator on the lower left of the router should light up and flash white.
- Unplug the Gen 2 router from the High Performance power supply brick. If you were using the Ethernet Adapter, it can be removed as well.
- Use the included Starlink High Performance router cable to connect the Gen 3 router to the High Performance power brick.
- On your phone, connect to the STARLINK Wi-Fi network. Open the Starlink app to finish the setup by choosing a new network name and password.
- Connect to your new Wi-Fi network using the password you set in step 4. Open the Starlink app and check to make sure you are Online.
The LED indicator on the Gen 3 router will turn solid white when you are connected to the internet. The LED will turn off automatically after an hour. If it ever turns red, that indicates an issue with your connection.
Using the Gen 3 Router as a Mesh Node
The Gen 3 Starlink router can also serve as a mesh node. You can add the Gen 3 router to your existing Gen 2 mesh network, or create a Gen 3 mesh network by purchasing multiple Gen 3 routers. The process for adding the Gen 3 router as a mesh node is the same as with Gen 2. Check out this tutorial for more information.
The Gen 1 router is not mesh compatible. If you have a Gen 1 system, you can purchase additional Gen 2 or Gen 3 routers to use as mesh nodes, but you can’t use the old Gen 1 router.
Review
The Gen 3 router has a similar look to the previous generation. It’s all white plastic, with the familiar orbital transfer ellipse pattern on the front. The back has a sort of rubber texture to it. All the ports are on the back this time, instead of the bottom like Gen 2. And I’m also happy they moved the LED status indicator back to the front so that you can actually see it.
It’s an odd shape, I’ll admit. I’m sure it will take on a nickname like the “hotdog” router eventually. But despite the weird wedge shape, it looks pretty boring straight on. It just looks like a long rectangle from most angles. That’s not a con in my opinion. It is a router, after all, not a design statement for your living room. You’ll be able to tuck this into any space without too many issues.
Upgrades Over the Gen 2 Router
Overall, the Gen 3 router has some great tech upgrades over the Gen 2 (and Gen 1) router. What it boils down to is the change to Wi-Fi 6. Wi-Fi 6 brings faster speed and better range. More on that in the next section. The mesh performance is also better thanks to the addition of a third radio channel, making Gen 3 tri-band. That extra channel frees up bandwidth for devices, and allows the mesh nodes to talk to each other more efficiently.
Another change from Gen 2 is that the Gen 3 router isn’t a power supply for the dish. It appears that Starlink is moving back to a separate power supply brick design for the next generation hardware. The Gen 3 router does need power from an outlet, though. It comes with its own power adapter, which takes AC from the outlet and converts it to 30V DC for the router.
Wifi Speeds and Range
Now let’s talk about the fun stuff, the performance! The main reason to upgrade to the Gen 3 router is the performance and range. I’m happy to report that the Gen 3 router is much faster than Gen 1 and Gen 2, in terms of Wi-Fi speed. It also has a lot better range. The Wi-Fi experience with Gen 3 is much more consistent thanks to Wi-Fi 6.
I performed some testing, putting the Gen 3 router up against the previous generations. Each router was set up, one at a time, in the same spot in my house. Then, I used the Starlink app on my iPhone 14 Pro, connected on the 5 Ghz channel, to test the Wi-Fi speed at two distances. One test was performed 3 feet from the router, and the other test 50 feet from the router, 2 rooms away. I ran each test multiple times, and picked the best result for each router model.
| Router | Wi-Fi Speed (3 feet away) | Wi-Fi Speed (50 feet away) |
|---|---|---|
| Starlink Gen 1 | 436 mbps | 47 mbps |
| Starlink Gen 2 | 670 mbps | 47 mbps |
| Starlink Gen 3 | 864 mbps | 203 mbps |
In my testing, the Starlink Gen 3 router was more than 4 times faster at a distance of 50 feet, compared to the Gen 1 and Gen 2 routers. In my opinion, the 50 ft test is a realistic example of how a Wi-Fi router would be used. Because the speed is much higher, it shows that the Gen 3 router has much better Wi-Fi range and performance.
Of course, your results will vary. Wi-Fi performance depends on a lot of factors, like your house layout, building materials, etc. This wasn’t a scientific test by any means, but I still think it shows in a general way that Wi-Fi speed and range is much improved on the Gen 3 hardware.
Is Upgrading to the Gen 3 Router Worth It?
I have access to an original Starlink dish, Standard Gen 2 dish, and also a High Performance unit. Setting up the Gen 3 router on each type of dish was pretty straightforward, but using it with the Gen 2 Standard hardware was very odd. Since the Gen 2 router is also the dish power supply, you can’t really replace it. To use the Gen 3 router, you have to go through the bypass procedure as if you were using a 3rd party router with Starlink.
In my view, the Gen 3 router is a great upgrade for owners of the original round dish. On the Gen 1 system, it completely replaces the old router, and gives you access to the latest and greatest Starlink router. It refreshes your old system to perform like the newest Starlink equipment.
For owners of the Gen 2 Standard dish, especially those with multiple Gen 2 mesh routers, I would pass on the upgrade to the Gen 3 router. Although the performance improvement is significant, adding the Gen 3 router is a workaround at best. You can’t take advantage of the tri-band radio, which improves mesh performance, unless you upgrade all your mesh nodes to Gen 3. And if you don’t currently have mesh units, you might as well go for an aftermarket mesh system. You’ll pay less, and get similar features. The installation is the same between aftermarket routers and the Gen 3 router on a Gen 2 Standard system.
If you own the High Performance Gen 2 hardware, the Gen 3 router is a great upgrade. If you’re using the Gen 2 router with a High Performance dish, I highly suggest making the switch as soon as the Gen 3 router is released. After all, what’s the point of having the best dish and service plan if your router is only running Wi-Fi 5 technology?
Will the Gen 3 Router Make My Internet Faster?
It’s important to understand that upgrading your router won’t necessarily make your internet connection any faster. The speed of your Starlink internet connection depends on your service plan, location, obstructions, and other factors.
What the Gen 3 router will do is increase your Wi-Fi network speed. Devices connected to Wi-Fi will be able to experience higher internet speeds if they were previously limited by a poor Wi-Fi signal. My speed test results are a great example of that. With the Gen 2 router, my phone was limited to 47 mbps download when it was 50 feet away from the router. 47 mbps is below what my Starlink internet can provide. By upgrading to Gen 3, my Wi-Fi speeds increased enough to fully utilize the speed of my Starlink internet connection.
Final Thoughts
For $200, the Starlink Gen 3 router provides a great upgrade opportunity for owners of older Starlink systems. You’ll get modern technology, like Wi-Fi 6 and a tri-band radio. That means much faster Wi-Fi speed and improved range. Although it hasn’t been publicly released yet, you’ll want to stay tuned to the blog for the release of the Gen 3 router, and also the release of the next generation Starlink dish that it will accompany.
What do you think of this new router? Do you see yourself upgrading, or will you pass? Let me know in the comments!
Availability of this product?
There has been no word on a release date. It’s currently sold by invitation only.
Meh. If you need a stronger wifi signal just get a third party router/mesh. It’ll have wifi6E or wifi 7. Wifi6 is already old. Itll also likely have faster backhaul, etc.
E.g. netgear orbi or the Asus ROG.
I’m no techie but, my gen 2 was abysmal in terms of range, I added an engenius switch, two access points(soon to be three) now I can get great signal 150 ft from the house (new one for my barn and nearby field). BUT, I cannot use bypass mode for some reason. Without bypass mode my setup works fine….however this hybrid worked out is beyond me, but I had no internet (phones only) for 20 years, ill take the win.
What engenius switch and what access points?
What engenius switch and what access points did you use ?
You need a router on the system somewhere if you enable bypass mode. If you just have a switch and access points, you would need to turn on routing functions on one of the AP’s (if they have that capability) or add in an aftermarket router that plugs into your switch.
When can we expect Starlink kits in Zambia?
No idea, but you can use Roam there.
I’ve been running my own mesh with the gen 2 dish since the first week of getting my kit. Dishymcflatface to a Fortiwifi 60e and a ubiquiti u6-lr, no way would I downgrade my mesh to add this new router. I can see for the majority of people this would be a good upgrade but its a bit too late for me.
Hey Elon, how about a 12 volt power supply option before you do all these other, less important improvements??
I already have a Netgear AX2400 (RAX30)… Do I need the Starlink router? I don’t have Starlink yet, waiting for the new antennas to be available…
Rick
No, you can use your own router with any Starlink kit, but each kit will come with one anyway.
I am still on a waitlist to get Starlink. When I get approved for the service, dan I just order the new router? How does that work. I have been having trouble with my internet and email so I am hoping I did not miss them telling me I can hook up, no way to reach them, so I don’t know
It depends on what kit they are offering at the time. If your spot opens up 6 months from now, you will probably buy the next generation kit which will include this new router. If you become eligible tomorrow, you’ll purchase the current gen kit with the Gen 2 router. There is no way for the public to buy the Gen 3 router as of right now. It is unknown if Starlink will release it earlier than the next gen dish as an accessory in the shop.
How might I apply or ask to try out the Gen 3 router, as I live here in S. Mexico in Huatulco, a smaller tourist area? We have a number of Starlink users and many others are always asking us how it is. Yet we only have 1 ground station the performance is good.
I think it would be a good test/evaluation of what we have compared with others who might have more ground stations, for example.
Let me know if possible.
There is no way to request an invitation. They sent out a single batch as far as I know, and haven’t expanded. I think they just want a few people to test it out before the public launch. If you haven’t received the invitation by now, you will have to wait until launch. I’ve seen them pop up on eBay and other places, but you’ll pay a premium since they are rare.
I have the Gen 2 dish and router here in S. Mexico. How might I get an invitation to try the new router here? There are a lot of people here in Huatulco who have Starlink, and many more who are interested, and seeing as it has only 1 land station, might be interesting to see how it functions.
There is no way to request an invitation. They sent out a single batch as far as I know, and haven’t expanded. I think they just want a few people to test it out before the public launch. If you haven’t received the invitation by now, you will have to wait until launch. I’ve seen them pop up on eBay and other places, but you’ll pay a premium since they are rare.
Thank your for the specific details delivered in a clear manner that I can grasp with only medium knowledge of these systems. A teacher myself I give you good teaching grades. Starlink is something I will be adding in the near future at my remote off the grid property. Details like 30 volts DC needed for the router and mbps graph amounts compared at different distances are awesome. Following along with your component explanations is a great learning preparation for me,thank you again.Walt
I have a Starlink Rv dish. Will the Gen 3 be a benefit?Im concerned about the hookup of the modem
The Gen 3 router gives better Wifi speed and range, but for the RV dish, it’s just an extra piece of hardware that you need. If you aren’t having any noticeable issues with Wifi speed or range, I don’t recommend upgrading. If you have some dead spots in your home or when you travel in your RV, upgrading might be worth it.
Are you having performance issues right now?