Moving to area with no Starlink Residential service.

[RicochetStarlink]

My wife and I are moving from New Mexico -- where we have had Starlink coverage for about a year -- to Tennessee -- where Starlink Residential Service is not yet available. Both homes are in very rural areas with a very limited number of ISPs available.

I can't just take my Starlink Residential service with me. I've contacted support and they've assured me that is not possible at this time. They are happy, however, to sell me Starlink Business service -- $2,500 up front + $500/month. Never mind that my job depends on a rock-solid, high-speed Internet connection, I just can't justify this kind of expenditure.

So, I have a couple of options...

1. Take my Starlink equipment with me, keep paying the $110/month (soon to be $120?), and HOPE that service will be available soon.
2. Transfer ownership of our Starlink system to the buyer's of our home in New Mexico and find a new ISP in Tennessee.
3. Cough up $2,500 for equipment and $500/mo for Starlink Business. Not sure I can stomach this.

Thoughts, anyone?

[RicochetStarlink]

So, I have been communicating with Starlink Support through a support ticket I opened on the mobile app. I have asked them about my move and my options. I am going to quote the entire conversation here, redacted to remove PII.

Quote

@RIcochet 3/9/23

At the end of a March, I am moving to (a state in the Mid-South US). According to the coverage map, Starlink Residential service is not yet available there. However, after an exhaustive search and some testing with other ISPs, there does not appear to be another viable high speed Internet provider at this new address. If I convert my subscription from Residential to Roam, will it work at this new address? is it possible to upgrade my Standard equipment to High Performance equipment with my existing account as part of my move? If so, how do I do that? Thank you!

 

STARLINK SUPPORT 3/15/23

Hey Ricochet, Thanks for reaching out to us and apologies for the delayed response. At this time we can adjust you into the new location, just let us know and we can make the transfer without having to give up the Residential status. Also, please note that you are able to upgrade the dish to High Performance. With your permission we can order the new kit on your behalf to the card we have on file, please note that the current dish cannot be used as a substitute kit for the new subscription. If you have any other questions or concerns regarding this please feel free to reopen this ticket, for any other questions we ask if you can kindly open a new ticket. Thank you for your support in Starlink, have a great day! Best Regards.

 

@RIcochet 3/15/23

Thank you for your response. And no worries for it taking a few days. I know that the Starlink Support team is busy beyond anyone's wildest imaginations. I have a couple of follow-on questions. (1) Moving my existing equipment to the new location and maintaining Residential status sounds like the best first step. Am I correct in assuming that there is no out-of-pocket cost to do that? (2) What is the cost of the High Performance kit upgrade? Will that include an entirely new kit (i.e., dishy antenna AND WiFi router)? I have three Starlink WiFi routers in a mesh configuration in my current location would any of them be usable with the new High Performance kit? Thank you!

 

STARLINK SUPPORT 3/15/23

Hey Ricochet, Thanks for understanding, we attempted to reach out via phone call however they went straight to voicemail. We have answers in order as provided to precisely answer the questions at hand. 1) Moving my existing equipment to the new location and maintaining Residential status sounds like the best first step. Am I correct in assuming that there is no out-of-pocket cost to do that? A) You are correct, we do not charge for moving dishes into another service area if available 2) What is the cost of the High Performance kit upgrade? Will that include an entirely new kit (i.e., dishy antenna AND WiFi router)? A) The HP dish is $2500+tax in which will include the entire kit just as you received the current dish 3) I have three Starlink WiFi routers in a mesh configuration in my current location would any of them be usable with the new High Performance kit? A) You can use the current WiFi routers as mesh nodes just as would with the current kit. We hope this has brought some more clarity in regards to this matter. Best Regards.

 

@RIcochet 3/15/23

Thank you. This information is very helpful. I have one last question. If I upgrade to the High Performance kit, does it affect my monthly subscription cost?

 

STARLINK SUPPORT  3/16/23

Hi Rick, Your subscription will not change if you upgrade. It will remain the same. Best Regards.

 

@RIcochet 3/16/23

Thank you! ...and I have yet another follow-on question. If I purchase the High Performance kit, can I transfer my existing Starlink kit (but not my extra routers) to the buyer of my home in New Mexico for their use?

 

STARLINK SUPPORT  3/16/23

Yes but your service location is right at capacity. If service is not available, the new potential owner can sign-up for immediate service using Starlink Roam. Review the support topic for more detailed information. https://support.starlink.com/?topic=f3cad923-ed28-f957-365c-787f8fe2e4a2. Regards.

So, I see several interesting points to note here.

1. My initial inquiry was on 09-MAR-2023. Starlink Support's first response was on 15-MAR-2023. So, on a non-critical support ticket, it took about a week to get a response. However, subsequent responses to my additional questions only took a few hours at most. Starlink Support are overwhelmed at this time with support requests -- everything from new customers with account setup issues to existing customers with service issues to existing customers wanting to move, transfer or expand their service. Please, be patient... and polite. They are responding -- and responding well -- once they get to your ticket.
2. It appears that existing Residential service, can be transferred it to a new, permanent location, sometimes even if Starlink isn't officially available at the new location. If you are moving, this could be HUGE.
3. If you transfer an existing Starlink kit to someone else -- for example, the buyer of your old home -- they must apply for service and may not be able to get Residential service if the area is already at capacity. They can get Starlink Roam (formerly Starlink RV), but that is a "best efforts" service.
4. Starlink Residential customers have the option to upgrade to the High Performance Starlink Kit -- the same once used in the Starlink Business subscription.
   1. The High Performance Kit must be purchase for $2,500. There is no credit for your existing Residential Kit.
   2. Your monthly subscription rate remains at the Residential Rate applicable to your area.
   3. The High Performance Kit replaces your Residential Kit (i.e., you get a new Dishy and Starlink Router with all the accoutrements).
   4. The router(s) in your Residential kit can be used as mesh routers with the High Performance Kit.
   5. The Residential Kit's antenna cannot be used as a backup to the High Performance Kit
   6. Apparently, the (entire) Residential Kit can be transferred to another customer and/or location.

Just thought I would share the good news I've gotten from Starlink in my inquiries about a cross-country move.