Starlink Internet for Moving House
Temporary internet for your new home without waiting weeks for fixed broadband.
Moving house involves enough organising without discovering that your broadband will not be ready when you arrive.
You may have the keys, furniture, television, laptops and home office all ready to go, only to find yourself waiting days or even weeks for a new fixed broadband connection.
Starlink provides another option.
Instead of depending on a telephone line, fibre cable or Virgin Media connection entering the property, Starlink receives internet directly by satellite.
With suitable equipment, power and a clear view of the sky, you can establish an internet connection without waiting for conventional broadband infrastructure to be installed.
For anyone looking for temporary internet when moving house, that can be enormously useful.
Moving House Without Broadband
Broadband is now almost as important as electricity when we move into a new home.
Within hours of arriving we may want to:
• connect our phones and laptops
• work from home
• stream television
• use smart speakers and home automation
• connect security cameras
• operate heating and smart thermostats
• make video calls
• keep children entertained
• access online banking and services
Yet broadband installation is still something that can require advance booking, engineering appointments and occasionally physical work at the property.
If your completion date changes, the existing service has been disconnected or your preferred provider cannot install immediately, you can end up relying on a mobile phone hotspot.
Starlink offers a very different approach.
Get Your New Home Online Quickly
Starlink is designed around relatively simple equipment that communicates directly with its satellite network.
You do not need to wait for an engineer to run a new broadband cable into the house simply to establish the Starlink connection.
The equipment needs power and, importantly, a suitable clear view of the sky.
Once set up, the Starlink router creates WiFi within the property in much the same way as a conventional home broadband router.
Phones, laptops, tablets, televisions and other WiFi devices can then connect to it.
Starlink describes its equipment as having plug and play setup, although performance will depend upon the location and whether the antenna has an unobstructed view of the sky.
Temporary Internet When Moving House
This is where we think Starlink becomes particularly interesting for homeowners.
You might only need an alternative internet connection for:
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A few days while waiting for broadband activation.
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Several weeks while your new broadband installation is arranged.
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Several months while the property is being refurbished.
Or you may discover that Starlink suits you well enough to become a longer term part of your home connectivity.
The important difference is that you are no longer completely dependent upon the broadband cable entering your new property.
Moving Into a House That Needs Refurbishment?
This is an especially useful situation.
Many people buy a property and start refurbishment almost immediately.
Floors come up. Walls are opened. Electrics are renewed. Existing telephone and broadband cables may be removed or relocated.
You may even decide there is little point arranging permanent broadband until the building work has progressed.
But you still need internet.
Perhaps you are working from the property.
Perhaps your architect, surveyor or project manager needs access to online drawings and documents.
Perhaps you want temporary CCTV operating while the house is empty.
Or perhaps you simply want WiFi available whenever you visit.
A portable satellite internet setup can provide connectivity while all of that work is taking place without forcing you to organise the permanent broadband installation first.
Moving Broadband to a New House Is Not Your Only Option
Traditionally, people moving home contact their existing provider and ask about moving broadband to the new house.
That may still be the right solution.
If the new property already has excellent full fibre broadband available and installation can be coordinated with your move, there may be little reason to change.
But it is no longer your only option.
You can now consider:
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Fixed fibre or cable broadband
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4G or 5G mobile broadband
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Portable WiFi
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Satellite internet such as Starlink
The best solution depends upon your property, location, internet use and how quickly you need to get connected.
APN Connect exists to help homeowners understand those choices rather than automatically assuming that another fixed broadband contract is the only answer.
Can You Take Starlink From One House to Another?
This depends upon the Starlink service plan you choose.
Starlink's Residential plans are intended for household use at a registered fixed location. They do not support roaming between different addresses.
Starlink Roam is the product designed for people who want to use their equipment at different locations and while travelling.
That distinction matters.
If you simply want Starlink as the permanent broadband connection at your new home, a Residential service may be appropriate.
If the attraction is being able to pack the equipment away and use it at different properties or locations, you should look at the appropriate Starlink Roam service.
Plans and availability can change, so always check the current Starlink options for your location before ordering.
What Do You Need to Use Starlink at Your New Home?
The basic requirements are surprisingly straightforward.
A suitable view of the sky
The Starlink antenna needs an unobstructed view of the sky.
Trees, buildings, chimneys and other obstructions can affect the connection, so this is worth checking before deciding where the equipment will go.
Electricity
The Starlink equipment requires power.
The Starlink equipment
Your Starlink kit provides the equipment needed to establish the satellite connection and create WiFi for your devices.
A suitable service plan
Choose between the current Residential and portable options according to how you intend to use the service.
What About Mobile Broadband or a Phone Hotspot?
For light internet use, tethering a laptop to your mobile phone may be perfectly adequate.
Likewise, a 4G or 5G mobile broadband router can be an excellent temporary solution where there is strong mobile coverage.
But these services depend upon the mobile network available at the property.
Starlink uses an entirely different infrastructure.
That is one reason it can be worth considering when you want an internet connection that does not rely on either the fixed broadband line or your normal mobile network.
There is no single solution that will be best for every household.
The important thing is that homeowners now have considerably more choice.
Could Starlink Become Your Permanent Home Internet?
Potentially, yes.
Starlink's Residential services are specifically designed for household internet use at a fixed location and include unlimited Residential data. Current plan availability and performance vary according to location.
Some people may therefore initially buy Starlink because they need internet quickly after moving house and subsequently decide that they are happy to continue using satellite internet.
Others may use it temporarily and later install fibre broadband.
And some households may keep access to Starlink as an alternative or backup connection.
That flexibility is part of the attraction.
Particularly Useful If You Work From Home
Waiting for broadband is inconvenient for anybody.
If you work from home, it can become expensive.
Video meetings, cloud software, email, remote desktops and online telephone systems all depend upon connectivity.
Taking several days off because the broadband engineer has not arrived is hardly an ideal way to start life in your new property.
Having another way to establish internet at the house can therefore be particularly valuable for remote and hybrid workers.
Moving First and Renovating Afterwards?
This may be one of the strongest reasons to consider portable internet.
Imagine the sequence:
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You complete on the property.
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You get the keys.
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You set up your internet connection.
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The builders arrive.
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The refurbishment begins.
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You continue using the connection while work progresses.
If you later move temporarily while major work is undertaken, an appropriate portable service can potentially move with you.
When the project is complete, you decide whether Starlink remains your main connection, becomes an alternative connection or is no longer required.
That is a very different proposition from internet that is permanently tied to a cable entering one property.
Is Starlink Right for Everyone Moving House?
No.
And we think that is important to say.
If your new house has excellent fibre broadband, you have an installation date already arranged and you do not need portable connectivity, conventional broadband may be the simplest solution.
Starlink becomes particularly interesting when:
• you cannot get broadband installed quickly
• the property is being refurbished
• you work from home and cannot be without internet
• fixed broadband at the property is poor
• you want a connection independent of the normal broadband line
• you spend time between different locations
• you want greater flexibility in how you get online
The objective is not to replace conventional broadband simply for the sake of it.
It is to recognise that you now have another choice.
Moving House? Your Internet Can Move With You Too
Moving home used to mean arranging another fixed broadband connection and hoping everything was working when you arrived.
Satellite and portable internet have changed that.
Whether you need internet for a few weeks while waiting for broadband, connectivity throughout a refurbishment or a more flexible long term solution, Starlink is worth investigating before your moving date.
FAQs
Can I get temporary internet when moving house?
Yes. Options include mobile phone tethering, portable WiFi, 4G or 5G mobile broadband and satellite internet such as Starlink. The right choice depends on coverage, how much data you need and how long you require the connection.
Can I use Starlink while waiting for broadband?
Yes, provided Starlink service is available at the location and the equipment has a suitable view of the sky. The appropriate service plan will depend upon whether you are using it at one fixed address or want to move it between locations.
Can I take Starlink when I move house?
Starlink Residential services are designed for a fixed registered location. Starlink Roam is designed for portable use at different locations. Check the current Starlink plan conditions before choosing your service.
Is Starlink better than mobile broadband when moving home?
Not necessarily. Strong 4G or 5G coverage can make mobile broadband an excellent temporary solution. Starlink is particularly interesting where mobile or fixed broadband is limited, or where you want an internet connection using a separate satellite network.
Do I need a telephone line for Starlink?
No. Starlink provides internet using its satellite network rather than a conventional telephone or fibre broadband line.
Can I use Starlink permanently at my new home?
Yes. Starlink offers Residential plans specifically designed for personal and household internet at a fixed location. Availability and performance vary by area.