Starlink Installation - New Forest Border

The Challenge

Living on the edge of the New Forest sounds idyllic until you try to work from home on 2Mbps broadband. This couple had been told every year that fiber was coming 'next year.' Meanwhile, they were paying for expensive 4G dongles, missing video calls, and couldn't stream anything without buffering.

The property had perfect dark skies for stargazing but terrible options for internet. Too far from the exchange for decent ADSL, no cable infrastructure, and even 4G was patchy. They'd looked at Starlink but were overwhelmed by the setup requirements and worried about the coastal winds.

• Current broadband maxed out at 2Mbps
• Fiber installation repeatedly postponed
• 4G signal too weak for reliable backup
• Both owners working from home full-time
• Exposed location with strong coastal winds
• Concerns about installation complexity

My Solution

I surveyed the property to find the optimal position - clear sky view but sheltered from the worst winds. The dish went on a custom pole mount, professionally secured to withstand our coastal weather. I ran the cable through existing ducting to keep everything neat, and integrated Starlink with their existing WiFi system so nothing needed reconfiguring.

The setup included optimizing dish position for minimal obstructions, which is critical for consistent speeds. I also installed a backup power solution so they stay online even during power cuts - common in rural areas. Everything was tested thoroughly, with speed tests showing consistent 150-200Mbps.

• Professional pole mount installation
• Weatherproofing for coastal conditions
• Integration with existing network setup
• Backup power system installed
• Obstruction analysis and optimization
• Complete setup and configuration handled

The Result

From 2Mbps to 200Mbps overnight. The owners can now both work from home without fighting over bandwidth. Video calls are crystal clear, they can actually use streaming services, and large file uploads that took hours now take minutes. They said it's transformed their ability to live and work rurally.

Six months on, the system has been rock solid through autumn storms and winter weather. They've recommended me to three neighbors who are also tired of waiting for fiber. This is the future for rural properties around Southampton - why wait for infrastructure that may never come when Starlink can deliver proper broadband today? I make sure it's installed right, so it works when you need it.