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Starlink VoIP – Does It Work – Tested Hands-On

Starlink Satellite Internet is a growing option that is able to provide high-speed internet to virtually anywhere that you can get a clear view of the sky. With many people looking to use their Starlink Satellite Internet for remote work, many are interested in how VoIP performs on Starlink Internet.

I have been fortunate enough to get my hands on Starlink from early on and to be able to test it under real-world conditions. This includes testing at multiple locations and using a variety of VoIP services. I was also able to compare how Starlink Network performance stacks up against other options.

Starlink VoIP Performance
Starlink VoIP Performance

Generally, Starlink will work acceptably for VoIP applications but not as well as a cable or fiber-based internet connection. The fact that your Starlink Terminal has to frequently switch its connection to a new satellite passing overhead increases the chance of having a dropped call. Many Starlink customers report multiple drops in internet per day, even if short-lived.

Latency with Starlink is generally in the 40 ms – 60 ms range. This is technically okay for VoIP, but it is higher than what would be considered ideal. Jitter is also higher with Starlink, often in the 15 ms range. This is usually low enough for VoIP, but in some cases, jitter can spike higher, leading to issues.

Download speeds are more than fast enough for VoIP applications. Anyone who uses VoIP technology regularly should know that stability is a lot more important than the speeds you get for VoIP performance.

Zoom Recommends the Following

  • Latency: 150 ms or less is recommended. Higher latency values will result in noticeable delays between video and audio.
  • Jitter: 40 ms or less is recommended.
  • Packet Loss: Less than 2% is recommended.
  • Bandwidth: 2 Mbps download speeds recommended

Microsoft Teams and Skype have similar requirements as do most VoIP applications. Call quality is largely dependent on the stability of your internet connectivity.

As you can see, Starlink has no trouble meeting the basic requirements. This means that as long as your Starlink Terminal has a clear view of the sky, you will usually have no issues.

In my own testing, I can confirm that this is usually the case. I did, however, experience some audio stuttering when also downloading files at the same time.

The main issue with Starlink for VoIP is drops. It is not that uncommon to have drops in Starlink Internet Service that last for several seconds at a time. For Netflix streaming or web surfing, you will likely not notice them all that much. For real-time applications such as VoIP and online gaming, the drops are frustrating, to say the least.

Overall, Starlink is useable for VoIP but far from matching the performance of a decent wired internet service such as cable, fiber, or even DSL, for that matter.

There are a number of factors that impact Starlink VoIP calling performance. Most are outside of our control. However, there are a few things that we can do that will absolutely help to make VoIP calls more reliable over Starlink.

The following is a list of things that will help to improve your Starlink VoIP Experience.

  1. Make sure your Starlink Terminal (Dish) has a clear view of the sky.
  2. Use your own router and put your Starlink router into bypass (bridge) mode.
  3. Use a wired ethernet connection rather than a Wi-Fi connection.
  4. Try different VoIP applications.

Starlink VoIP performance is largely dependent on your ability to get a clear view of the sky. Any obstructions will greatly increase the chance of connection drops. The best way to check this is to use the Starlink Mobile App to scan the sky where you are considering putting your Starlink Terminal (Dish).

Download Starlink App for Android

Download Starlink App for iPhone

If you are not able to get a clear view of the sky, you will have issues with Starlink. This is especially noticeable if you are going to use VoIP with Starlink. VoIP is not forgiving of drops in internet or packets arriving late. The Starlink App is your best friend here. Use the iOS app or the Andriod app to ensure you are getting optimal Starlink performance.

Starlink App Android

Starlink includes a very basic router with its equipment package. For some people, the included Starlink router is more than enough. However, the Starlink router includes no quality of service (QoS) settings. This means that it has no ability to prioritize real-time VoIP traffic over other less time-sensitive traffic.

There are a few things to be aware of if you want to use your own router with Starlink.

Using your own router with Starlink is relatively simple. The first step is to purchase a router that meets your needs. Make sure you are buying a straight-up router and not a modem router combo. Starlink does not use a modem. If you already have a router that you are happy with, you can skip this step.

You will also need to purchase the official Starlink ethernet adaptor. 3rd party ethernet adaptors are not compatible with Starlink.

Next, you will need to enable bypass (bridge) mode on your Starlink Router.

Finally, you will connect your Starlink router to your new router using an ethernet cable and the required Starlink ethernet adaptor.

For VoIP, you will want to choose a router with good QoS functionality. This will greatly improve the audio quality of your VoIP calls. It will also minimize some of the jitter.

Learn More About Using Your Own Router With Starlink

Starlink Router

Use a Wired Ethernet Connection Rather than a WiFi Connection

Using a hardwired ethernet network connection will improve the performance of your home network connection. This is almost universally true. When it comes to VoIP, it is especially impactful. For reliable VoIP, you want to minimize any chances of data arriving late or out of order. Wi-Fi is susceptible to interference because it is a radio signal. It is also operating on unlicensed bands that are essentially free-for-alls.

If you can’t run an ethernet cable to where you need it, consider using a powerline or MoCA adaptor. These use your existing household electrical wiring or existing coaxial cable to provide ethernet-like connectivity. This is generally going to be more stable than a WiFi connection. Wired network performance is generally more stable than wireless network performance.

Ethernet Switch

Try Different VoIP Applications

If you are having difficulty with using Starlink for VoIP calls, try using a different application. If you are using Teams, try Zoom, etc. There are many options, and some are more forgiving than others. In my own testing, Zoom tended to perform better than most other options when jitter was on the higher side.

Zoom is also less likely to completely kick you out of a call due to a brief drop in network connectivity. WiFi calling on my cell phone was a mixed bag based on network performance. Gene

What is VoIP

VoIP is an acronym for voice-over-internet protocol. Voice over IP (VoIP) technology allows for digitized bits of audio to reliably get transmitted over modern packet-switched networks (AKA the internet). This has opened up a whole world of possibilities that never used to exist.

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone services are extremely popular both for residential and business customers. VoIP calls allow for much less expensive calling, especially for international calling. In addition to calls, VoIP is also used for online meetings.

You likely use VoIP technology without even realizing it. Products such as Zoom, Skype, Microsoft Teams, and other videoconferencing solutions all use VoIP in one form or another.

VoIP is also used by popular home phones replacement services such as Ooma, Vonage, and MagicJack. The WiFi calling feature built into many smartphones also relies on VoIP technology.

Smartphone WiFi Calling

Yes and no. Starlink will work for VoIP calls and meetings, especially with Zoom. However, you could get disconnected at any time if there is a drop in the satellite signal. This can greatly be minimized by using the Starlink App to ensure your dish has the best possible view of the sky.

You can certainly use Starlink for VoIP, but if you use VoIP technology regularly, you may want to look elsewhere. Cable, Fiber, and DSL are all going to offer better VoIP reliability than Starlink.

If you do opt for Starlink, you should absolutely consider using your own router rather than the included Starlink router. The included Starlink router simply underperforms and offers very limited functionality. Basic features such as QoS, port forwarding, and Guest WiFi are not even offered.

If you have a larger home, you should consider using a WiFi Mesh System such as the Netgear Orbi or AmpliFi mesh products. They offer a fantastic range at an affordable price. They are also dead simple to set up. Using your own router will generally offer better VoIP performance, especially with QoS enabled.

If you need absolutely the best VoIP call performance, Starlink is probably not the best option. However, for occasional use with VoIP calls and meetings, Starlink Satellite Internet is perfectly fine for most people. In many rural locations, you may not have any better options than Starlink.