Where am I on the Starlink waiting list? Generally, your exact position depends on when you joined and how many people are on the Starlink waitlist. If you want to get your hands on a Starlink Dish but end up on the dreaded waitlist, we got you covered. We will discuss all the details to keep your concerns at bay, so continue reading to learn more.
Table of Contents
- How Many People Are on the Starlink Waitlist?
- How Long Is the Wait for Starlink?
- How to Check for Order Availability
- How to Check Starlink Wait Times
- Can You Skip the Starlink Waitlist?
- Get Starlink RV
- Conclusion
How Many People Are on the Starlink Waitlist?
According to a report by CNBC, SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service got over half a million customer orders in May 2021.
Upon launching the public beta testing phase, approximately 700,000 customers signed up for Starlink email newsletters. Since then, the waiting list has constantly been growing as Starlink expands its services and coverage area.
Typically, the number of customers on the Starlink waitlist is not public. But there is no uncertainty that this number has increased tremendously.
Besides, launched Starlink satellites offer services to limited areas in the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom. An educated guess is that many people are still on the waitlist as Starlink is to deploy worldwide.
How Long Is the Wait for Starlink?
A waiting list icon.
The time you have to wait for Starlink depends on where you live. You might have access to Starlink internet in a few weeks if you live in an area with expanded capacity.
The official numbers are 2 – 8 weeks to receive your Starlink kit in the mail. However, those who live in areas that do not yet offer Starlink services may have to wait longer.
How to Check for Order Availability
Digital earth data globe
When registering for Starlink satellite services, it is critical first to confirm order availability. It will enable you to project the areas Starlink service covers and the wait time for your Starlink dish.
Fortunately, it is a straightforward procedure you can complete online within just a few steps:
- Head to the Starlink website and open the Starlink map icon.
- Type your address into the search box and enter.
- The map zooms in to give you a close-up view of your address. You can still zoom in on any location on the map without entering your address.
- Next, check the colored areas on the map to discover if Starlink is available in your area.
The Starlink map shows the areas available for orders and those available for pre-orders. You will observe different color tones on the map. The lighter shade of blue means “Currently Available,” and “Waitlist” locations are slightly dark blue.
How to Check Starlink Wait Times
Checking the Starlink internet wait time.
The simplest way of checking wait times is by entering your area address on the Starlink website. The site should give you an estimated availability date for Starlink service for that area.
Also, if you hover over a location on the waitlist, you will notice a display of the estimated expansion date.
If you pre-order, your account dashboard will display a more accurate estimated Starlink wait time. For instance, when you click or hover over that area, the pop-up may indicate “Expanding in 2023”.
Starlink will assign a specific quarter or month in 2023 once your order date is closer.
Normally, the wait time might be anywhere from a few months to over a year, depending on how many subscribers are ahead of you on the waiting list.
The wait times also depend on the capacity of the cell which you occupy. It is possible for a house a mile down the road to receive its order before you, even if you have been waiting longer.
Can You Skip the Starlink Waitlist?
The Starlink service uses satellite constellations for communications between ground stations and terminals. It ties the user capacity to the number of ground stations and deployed satellites.
Though the deployment is regular, the constellation takes time to complete.
Because of this, getting Starlink hasn’t been easy for those who want it. If your service area is full, you must deposit to appear on the waitlist.
However, if you want to get the Starlink kit immediately, there are a few ways to get the dish and avoid the waitlist. Here are three ways to skip the waitlist when getting the Starlink kit.
Get Starlink RV
A Starlink satellite dish on RV.
It is the easiest and quickest way to obtain a Starlink connection while avoiding the waitlist. Anyone can order the Starlink RV, available for shipping anywhere worldwide.
The service also works anywhere with active Starlink coverage, including waitlist areas.
The Starlink RV is pricey compared to the Starlink Residential service. It also has a deprioritized service during peak operation hours, especially in the evenings.
Those using Starlink in an RV should anticipate the speeds to drop considerably due to the prioritization of residential users. It may interrupt video calls and online gaming services.
However, the Starlink RV is portable and preferable for seasonal use and traveling. If you decide to buy the RV, you can eventually order the Residential package using the same account to become a Residential customer.
Get a Used Starlink
Starlink satellite dish.
Starlink services let the owner’s transfer used Starlink dishes to new owners without being on the waitlist. The company will simply set up a new account for the new owner and transfer the ownership.
However, purchasing a used dish does not issue a 100% guarantee that it will be possible to transfer it to the new address. It can transfer to your address after initiating the transfer process, even if the area is fully operational.
Other times, you will have to wait until a capacity opens up.
With this method, you don’t have to worry about the deprioritization of your data during peak working hours.
Use a Different Service Address (Risky)
A risky speedometer.
If you are closer to where Starlink is available for order, you can use an address from that area to get Starlink. But you can set your shipping address that differs from the service address. You can still get the Starlink shipped to your address without any problem.
This method used to be nearly foolproof before recent changes in Starlink policies that look to seal such loopholes.
The primary issue with this approach currently is that you will be treated as a portable client, and your Starlink will be in roaming mode. It means you will get a lower priority in peak hours if there is network congestion.
Conclusion
As you can see, it is possible to estimate where you are on the Starlink waiting list. But you should first confirm whether your address is waitlisted on the Starlink availability map. Contact us anytime for more inquiries on Starlink, and we’ll respond immediately.
