With so many people putting an order for Starlink, it is unsurprising that there is a long waitlist already. As the demand for the product increases, the dreaded waitlist becomes even longer. In fact, some people have even waited for months to access it. For some, the wait has only been a few weeks. Fortunately, as more Starlink websites appear, the waitlist significantly decreases daily.
I will be exploring why the Starlink waitlist happens and if there is something you can do about it. After all, there is a lot you can do to skip the Starlink internet waitlist. Despite having rapidly expanded and spread across the globe, there are places that this internet service is yet to reach. If you are in one of the waitlisted areas, you may have to wait for an extended amount of time. You also have to pay $99 as de[posit.
How Long Is The Starlink Waitlist
The Starlink internet service has over half a million customers so far. You may also want to note that the preorders have increased significantly since the company started taking orders in 2021. In fact, more than 500,000 preorders have been made so far.
Clearly, a lot more people are still on the waitlist. However, Starlink is working hard to bring this number down, considering it injected 300,000 small satellites that have been mass-produced. As more satellites are introduced, the gap will likely reduce over time. As the company works on improving personal communication, you can be sure that the waiting list will definitely reduce significantly.
You may be wondering how long it actually takes for you to wait for Starlink installation. Well, this depends on the area you are in. According to the official website, this can take 2 to 8 weeks. If you live in an area where Starlink is already available, it will be easy to have everything back and running. This is the duration it takes to have the equipment delivered to you.
However, the same cannot be said for an area where Starlink Internet is non-existent. You may have to wait longer than usual for the Starlink equipment if your area does not have Starlink. All you have to do is find out if Starlink is in your area, as this will quickly change things in your favor.
How To Check For Order Availability
The best way to know how long you have to wait for Starlink Internet is to determine its availability in your area. Fortunately, this is easy to establish. You simply have to use the map on the website. Simply put your address in the address box section and see the results.
Using The Starlink Coverage Map
As part of how the company chooses to operate, specific folders on the map showcase the location where Starlink operates. You will be able to know which areas are available for orders and pre-orders alike. This map is important as it helps you picture just how much of the world Starlink is available in your area. You should always put your address on the map to know if the area is covered. The areas are color-coded, so knowing which area is covered will be easy. To determine Starlink’s availability through the maps, consider the following steps:
- Start by opening the Starlink coverage map
- You should then put your address in the service address box
- Next, click search. This will take you to the area you are searching.
- Use the mouse to zoom. Based on the color codes, expect to have your internet connected in 2 to 8 weeks if the area is marked as light blue. However, if the area is a darker blue shade, you can expect to wait much longer for the Starlink internet to be installed. For such cases, a pre-order is advised since this is when you will be put on the waitlist. You should exercise patience, though, since this may take a while. In fact, sometimes it could be a year or more of waiting.
How To Check Starlink Wait Times
If you want to check for a more accurate wait time, then you should also use the website. Visit the link and have it estimate the possible waiting time you should expect. It starts by placing an order at the exact location. You will then get the exact time given for the specific type of order you make. To check the waiting time for your specific type of order, proceed as follows.
- Go to the Starlink website and open it
- Key in your address in the service address box
- Next, click order to know what it says. If there is a message confirming that the service for the order is guaranteed in the said location, you can put in your order immediately. It will cost you $599 to get the Starlink hardware kit. It may also be important to consider shipping and tax.
- However, if you realize that the message you get is ‘Stalink is currently at capacity in your area,’ then the most you can do is wait since it will only be available on pre-order. To book or pre-order, you must wait for when the service is available for access. You have to pay $99 to be on the waitlist.
When making the preorder, note that Starlink will give you an estimated timeline for receiving the services. For instance, you may have to wait up to 2 years. The good thing is that you will be notified about how long it may take.
Can You Skip The Starlink Waitlist?
Fortunately, you don’t have to be stuck on the waiting list if you actually don’t want to. Instead of being stuck on the waitlist for months, bypassing everything is possible. All you need is to use the Starlink RV service or, better still, consider transferring to a Starlink dish. To skip the waitlist, proceed as follows:
Make use of Starlink RV
This service has no waitlist, so you can always tell which locations have direct Skylink internet access and decide if you are among them. This means first establishing the Skylink internet availability.
Start by opening the Starlink website first and accessing the coverage map. Next, you should search for the address by keying in the address in the service address box. If using the Starlink RV, then the map will only show codes of light blue, which indicates areas where the internet service is available.
Unfortunately, there is a downside to this type of internet service. Being a low service priority means that residential users can access more bandwidth during peak hours. This means that there is a high likelihood that your internet speeds may reduce significantly, rendering it unusable.
At such times, expect interruptions in specific services such as gaming, video calls, and other activities that require a strong internet connection. What’s more, the cost is slightly higher than the other normal internet packages. For a cost of $135, you are actually parting with $25 more than you would if you opted for regular residential internet.
2. Get the Starlink Dish
The good news is that you don’t even need to get a new one when an old one can suffice. Note that the old Starlink dish was already operational, and you don’t have to start anything from scratch. All that is needed is for the previous owner to call Starlink and transfer the use to the new owner. The company will change the details of the address.
However, before opting for such a drastic measure, you must determine if Starlink internet services are available in your destination. If not, then it may be impossible to use this method to skip the waitlist. After all, you do not want to spend money on futile results.
How Long Does It Take To Get Starlink After Making A Deposit?
Note that the duration you have to wait depends on several things. As I have already discussed above, the Starlink internet availability depends on the mapping. While some areas have internet access almost immediately because Starlink has already set base, others may not have.
For areas where where the internet already exists, you should expect to wait for at least 2 to 8 weeks. In areas where Starlink is not yet fully present, then you may be forced to wait for 3 months and above. It is important always to check the possible waiting on the map.
Note that paying the deposit does not guarantee fast internet connectivity. It only enters you in the waitlist like the others before you. The good news is that Starlink is working hard to ensure that the waitlist is reduced. They have added countless new small satellite dishes that help make things go faster. Therefore, users are assured of a faster connection than before.
Note that being placed on the waitlist means Star Link’s services are available. However, the company is also not taking any new orders because they are currently packed. Since the capacity may be your limitation. However, the Starlink RV service helps you skip this stage. All you have to do is order the RV equipment, which will be delivered to you. You can then access the internet services as you desire.
Understand the Skylink Internet package well if you want to use the services offered. The key is first to use the mapping tool on the site to know if your area has any Skylink internet coverage.