Starlynk buidenes for aprtment building with 19 apartmentd

[Felix]

I leave in apt building with 19 apartments. Can we get busenes aystem and give each apartment a cable that we can attach to a mesh system?

[RicochetStarlink]

Firstly, the Starlink mesh routers only connect wirelessly meaning there is no way to use the Starlink mesh system in the wired configuration you describe.

Secondly, with the number of devices that 19 tenants will likely want to connect, you'll need more IP address space than is provided by the Starlink Wifi network. This precludes adding a wireless Starlink mesh router in each apartment.

So, if you want to provide wired connectivity to each tenant, its likely you'll need to hard-wire each apartment back to a closet where the Starlink router sits providing each apartment with a single Ethernet port. Then, each tenant can set up their own networking for their devices. For example, one tenant might connect a single computer directly into the apartment's Ethernet port. Another might set up their own wired or wireless router to connect multiple devices.

Unless you are experienced with setting up these kinds of networks, I would recommend hiring someone who does this kind of thing professionally. The physical installation and network configuration are pretty daunting and you'll save yourself a LOT of headaches in the future. That being said...

Supporting 19 apartments will take a bit of gear. This list may not be exhaustive as it's "off the top of my head".

1. The Starlink Kit for Business -- 1 antenna, 1 router and 1 cable.
2. The Optional Starlink Ethernet port available from the Starlink store.
3. An Ethernet router with at least one WAN port and one LAN port. This should be a wired router, not a wireless router. No Wifi needed here.
4. An Ethernet switch with at least 24 ports.
5. An Ethernet patch panel with at least 24 ports. This should be the same number of ports as the Ethernet switch.
6. CAT6 ethernet cables of the appropriate lengths.
   1. One (1) pre-made cable to connect from the Starlink Ethernet port to the Ethernet router's WAN port.
   2. One (1) pre-made cable to connect from the Ethernet router's LAN port to a port on the Ethernet switch.
   3. One (1) pre-made cable to connect from a laptop or desktop computer to a port on the Ethernet switch.
   4. Nineteen (19) or more pre-made "patch" cables to connect from each port on the Ethernet patch panel to a port on the Ethernet switch.
   5. One or more spools of CAT5 cable to connect from the Ethernet patch panel to an Ethernet port in each apartment.
   6. An available junction box in each apartment for the Ethernet connection.
   7. An Ethernet jack and cover for each apartment's junction box

Here are the rough installation steps. Again, not necessarily exhaustive. (Though just reading this list is exhausting!)

1. Install the Starlink kit. Set up the Starlink antenna and Wifi router in a central, protected location in the building. Attach an optional Ethernet port (available from the Starlink store).
2. Connect a laptop or desktop computer to the Starlink Wifi router and confirm that that the Internet is accessible.
3. Connect a laptop or desktop computer to the Starlink Ethernet port using a CAT6 cable. Confirm that that the Internet is accessible.
4. Starlink WiFi is optional here.
   1. If WiFi will be enabled (the default), this provides a convenient way to connect to the Starlink equipment for trouble shooting. WARNING: An enabled WiFi network should be secured with a VERY strong password.
   2. To disable Wifi, disable the Starlink router from the Starlink app on an iOS or Android device.
5. Connect the Ethernet router's WAN port to the Starlink Ethernet using a CAT6 cable.
6. Connect a laptop or desktop computer to the Ethernet router's LAN port using a CAT6 cable.
7. Configure the router per the manufacturer's instructions.
8. Confirm that that the Internet is accessible.
9. Disconnect the computer from the Ethernet router's LAN port.
10. Connect the Ethernet router's LAN port to one of the ports on the Ethernet switch using a CAT6 cable.
11. Connect a laptop or desktop computer to another port on the Ethernet switch using a CAT6 cable.
12. If necessary, configure the Ethernet switch per the manufacturer's instructions.
13. Confirm that that the Internet is accessible.
14. Run CAT6 cable from each apartment to the central location where the Starlink router, Ethernet router and Ethernet switch are located. Label the cable coming from each apartment.
15. Install the Ethernet patch panel and terminate each apartment's connection on one of the ports. Label each port with the connected apartment number.
16. Connect each port on the patch panel to a port on the Ethernet switch using CAT6 cable.
17. In each apartment, connect a laptop or desktop computer to apartment's Ethernet port using a CAT6 cable.
18. Confirm that that the Internet is accessible.
19. Disconnect the computer from the Ethernet router's LAN port.

If you are not a networking person, it's important to note that every step here can be time-consuming and that there are a myriad of potential failure points.

Hopefully, that helps you get a sense of what is probably involved...

 

[Robobass]

I have a similar situation. My building has about 20 units. We each pay around €35/month for DSL. Why not install Starlink and share it throughout the building? In my case the local telecom ran coax to each unit about ten years ago. They claimed that it would allow high bandwidth internet, although I think few of us have ever used it, and instead  use the old copper telephone wires to connect to the glass fibre connection in the cellar. Is there a way to use the coax cable to get Starlink to the individual units?