reccomended router to use with starlink

MassiveJim · 18 Mar 2025 at 16:36

Due to starlink's very limited network configuration, I have a need to use another router and run the starlink in bypass mode.
so far have tried 2 quite old routers I had lying around and both had issues.
Draytek 2862, kept dropping the connection altogether (every 10 minutes or so)
Tp-Link N300 - internet connection was ok but would drop individual wifi clients and then take quite some time to get reconnected.

I'm just looking to connect 6 PCs (wired and wireless) and a network printer.

Orcvader · 19 Mar 2025 at 17:19

If you're mainly trying to add more ethernet ports, and the stock starlink router is stable, I would consider looking for a network switch. If you also want to improve the WiFi, get an access point.

MassiveJim · 19 Mar 2025 at 17:38

no, the only reason for adding the router is that starlink has very limited network config.
we need several PCs to have static IPs, there is no option to do this in starlink is there ?

Caged · 19 Mar 2025 at 17:47

If you just need static addresses on a couple of PCs then set them on each PC and save the money

Armageus · 19 Mar 2025 at 17:58

MassiveJim said:
we need several PCs to have static IPs, there is no option to do this in starlink is there ?

Sounds like Mac bind rather than static IPs. As @Caged said if they are actually static they should be set on the individual devices

Draytek 2862 despite being old should be fine, sounds like maybe a load balance or other setting incorrectly set.

MassiveJim · 19 Mar 2025 at 23:09

Armageus said:
Sounds like Mac bind rather than static IPs. As @Caged said if they are actually static they should be set on the individual devices

Draytek 2862 despite being old should be fine, sounds like maybe a load balance or other setting incorrectly set.

If I set statics on the devices and the router issues that ip to another device then we'll have issues. I know it's unlikely if I chose higher up in the ip range but it's still possible.

As for the draytek, could be a setting, not 100%sure, don't want to factory reset at this point for other reasons. (not relevant to this thread)

Armageus · 20 Mar 2025 at 06:49

MassiveJim said:
If I set statics on the devices and the router issues that ip to another device then we'll have issues. I know it's unlikely if I chose higher up in the ip range but it's still possible.

Can you change the size/range of the DHCP pool?
E.g. my home network my DHCP pool is 192.168.0.100 to 192 168.0.254. leaving anything below that free to use statically

MassiveJim · 20 Mar 2025 at 10:13

Armageus said:
Can you change the size/range of the DHCP pool?
E.g. my home network my DHCP pool is 192.168.0.100 to 192 168.0.254. leaving anything below that free to use statically

I'm not on site at the minute but I'm 99% sure you can't, googling suggests that you can't change the IP range from the default of 192.168.0.1/24 so I would assume you can't set the IP pool either.
The other really annoying thing about starlink is that you can only access the router from a phone app.

pepp77 · 20 Mar 2025 at 10:40

Looking at install guides, the only network options appear to be custom DNS and passthrough. Passthrough should then work with any router with an ethernet input.

MassiveJim · 20 Mar 2025 at 11:38

pepp77 said:
Looking at install guides, the only network options appear to be custom DNS and passthrough. Passthrough should then work with any router with an ethernet input.

That is the theory, however my experience is that the 2 (admittedly old) routers that I have tried both have issues.