Guide: Extending Starlink Wifi Between Buildings

Starlink is incredibly popular in rural areas, allowing people to finally get connected with high-speed broadband internet. Rural properties often have multiple structures, like garages, shops, and barns. It’s important to stay connected these days, no matter where you might be working on the property.

I get this question all the time from readers: How do I get my Starlink Wifi signal from one building to another? The router that comes each Starlink kit only covers about 3,200 sq. ft. Most outbuildings are far away from the main house, making mesh systems and Wifi extenders impractical.

In this guide, I will break down two methods you can use to extend Starlink over long distances, such as between an outbuilding and the main house. I’ll explain how each method works, cover the pros and cons, and give you recommendations on equipment to purchase.

Table of Contents

• Use cases
• Solution #1 – Ethernet connectionEquipment neededPros and cons
• Solution #2 – Wireless Ethernet bridge/point-to-point connectionEquipment neededPros and cons
• Final thoughts

Use cases

Before I jump in too far, let me give you a few scenarios where you might need to cover long distances. The first use case is when the Starlink dish needs to be installed in a location far away from your home. Maybe you live in an area with a lot of trees, and the roof of your barn, 200 feet away from the house, is the only good spot without obstructions. The Starlink cable only extends up to about 150′, so a different solution is needed in this situation.

Another scenario: Starlink is installed on the roof of your house, but you need Wifi in a shop building to run security cameras. The shop is more than 100 feet away, so the Wifi signal is going to have a tough time reaching that far. How do you get a signal over that long of a distance?

If you don’t need to span a large distance, consider trying a mesh solution first. Mesh systems or Wifi extenders might be best for detached garages and larger homes, where you don’t need to extend the signal more than 100 feet. But if you need coverage to extend to a location far away, here are two solutions to think about.

Solution #1 – Ethernet connection

The first method is to run Ethernet cable from one building to another. With modern CAT6 cable, you are limited to about 300 feet (100 meters). If that limitation fits your situation, running cable is worth considering.

This solution involves burying Ethernet cable, either in conduit or direct burial, between the two buildings you want to connect. At the location with the Starlink router, you’ll install a network switch. At the other building, you’ll install a Wifi access point. Each access point will need a cable run back to the switch.

Equipment needed

Starlink Ethernet Adapter—This adapter applies to the Gen 2 Standard Actuated dish only. It is needed to gain access to an Ethernet port on the Starlink router. Check out our review for more info.

POE network switch—A POE (power over Ethernet) network switch allows you to connect and power multiple Wi-Fi access points and other devices on your network. You plug the switch into the Starlink router and then plug devices into it.

Wifi access point—Wi-Fi access points are like Wi-Fi routers that repeat an existing Wi-Fi network, in this case, the Wi-Fi network from the main Starlink router. You will install an access point in each building where you want Wi-Fi coverage. They plug into the POE switch, which provides power and data.

CAT5E/6/7 cable and connectors – To connect everything, you will need some Ethernet cable. You can use CAT5E, CAT6, or CAT7 cable rated for direct burial. Each run from the network switch can be up to about 300 feet. You will need a run for each access point you intend to install. In addition to the cable, you will need some shielded RJ45 connectors and the tools required to install them on each end of the cable runs.

Pros and cons

Hardwiring two buildings together is the best solution for reliability and performance. The big performance advantage comes with some downsides, though. For starters, burying a cable and routing it through walls is labor-intensive and can get expensive if you can’t do it yourself.

You are also limited to about 300 feet of distance. If you need more than that, running fiber is an option if you still want to be hardwired. Running fiber is out of the scope of this guide, but it is worth considering for longer distances.

I can’t deny the simplicity of the Ethernet solution as another pro. Since everything is buried and hardwired, you won’t have to worry about adjusting wireless antennas, latency, throughput, or weather. It’s also easy to upgrade and expand your equipment over time.

Solution #2 – Wireless Ethernet bridge/point-to-point connection

The second method I recommend for connecting two buildings over a long distance is using a wireless Ethernet bridge system, also called wireless point-to-point. As the name implies, this solution allows you to avoid running cable. Wireless Ethernet bridges consist of two antennas, one for each building.

They take a standard Ethernet LAN connection, like from a network switch, and send the data wirelessly to the other antenna. When it arrives, the signal is converted back so you can hook up a Wifi access point.

Wireless Ethernet bridges can span a variety of distances and typically require a good line of sight. Whether you need to extend the signal 50 feet or 500 feet, there are antennas out there that will handle the job. This solution is what I recommend to most people due to its low cost and simple installation.

Equipment needed

Starlink Ethernet Adapter – If you have the Gen 2 Standard Actuated Starlink dish, you will need to purchase the Ethernet Adapter to gain access to an Ethernet port. The Ethernet Adapter is not needed for the Gen 3 Standard kit.

Network switch – To connect all the devices required, you will need a network switch. It can be a POE (power over Ethernet) model if you want to power devices, like security cameras, from the switch. You’ll connect the Starlink router and the wireless Ethernet bridge antenna to the switch so everything can be on the same local network (LAN).

Wifi access point – In the other building, you will install a Wifi access point. An access point essentially repeats the Wifi network from the Starlink router. It’s like a Wifi router, but simplified to only broadcast the Wifi network it receives from the switch it’s plugged into.

Point-to-point wireless Ethernet bridge – The wireless Ethernet bridge is the key component of this method. Consisting of two antennas (one for each building), it sends data at high speeds, completely wirelessly, from one place to another. Depending on the manufacturer and model, these wireless point-to-point systems can send a signal across 1000 feet or more.

Pros and cons

Unlike running an Ethernet cable, a wireless Ethernet bridge is simple to install and can span longer distances. The equipment is also cheaper since you don’t have to buy all the cables and connectors or special tools for crimping and digging trenches.

As for cons, point-to-point systems usually need a clear line of sight. If you are trying to connect a building through trees, you might run into performance and reliability issues. Since the antennas are installed outdoors, wind, weather, and other environmental factors can affect performance.

This solution might not be ideal if you need to connect multiple buildings together, since you would need a pair of antennas for each building. Running cable to all the buildings might be more practical.

Final thoughts

If you need to extend Starlink Wi-Fi coverage over long distances, running Ethernet cable and wireless point-to-point systems are two great options. No matter which solution you choose, you’ll need additional network gear, like a switch.

Hardwired Ethernet cable is the best method for performance and reliability, but it’s expensive and difficult to install. Wireless Ethernet bridges can span longer distances and are easier to setup, but you need a clear line of sight.

I hope you learned something from this guide. As always, please leave a comment below if you have any feedback or questions!