It’s simpler than you might think. This step-by-step guide replaces watching creepy Youtube videos and going through Reddit posts

I recently ordered Starlink to provide me with a high-capacity backup internet connection. This article is intended to provide step-by-step instructions on how to set Starlink up using Unifi network components.

As mentioned in other articles, I am an engineer and this is going to be a rather technical discussion…

The Network Setup

I installed the Starlink dish on my carport and connected it to the Unifi PoE switch in the carport, which is then connected to the WAN2 port in the Unifi UDM Pro firewall in the main building:

My house and my carport
Starlink is installed on the carport, and the Unifi UDM Pro is installed in the main building (source: author)

So obviously, it is not just about setting up Starlink with the standard WLAN router provided by Starlink, but about connecting the dish to the WAN2 port in the Unifiy UDM Pro firewall going through a couple of Unify PoE switches.

Here is how to do it:

Step 1: Set up Starlink in standard mode

Connect the Starlink dish to the WLAN router provided by Starlink, and then follow the setup steps provided by the Starlink app on your mobile phone. There isn’t anything you can do wrong here; if you run the setup wizard it results in a new WLAN being spanned and providing you with an internet connection through Starlink.

Step 2: Set up a separate VLAN for Starlink in Unifi

Using a new WLAN isn’t what I wanted. I want Starlink to act as my backup internet connection feeding my Unify WLAN, switching over from my primary internet connection (standard cable connection through Swisscom, my local provider).

If your UDM Pro is in the same building as your Starlink dish, you proceed straight to step 3.

If your UDM pro is not in the same building as your Starlink dish, you will need to connect your Starlink dish to a port in one of your PoE switches, which then uplinks to your UDM pro.

To be able to separate the traffic between the Starlink dish and the WAN2 port of your UDM pro, you need to set up a separate VLAN for Starlink in Unifi.

Setting up a new VLAN in Unifi is very easy:

  • In your Unifi network console, go to “Settings”, then “Networks”
  • Choose “Create New Network”
  • Create a new VLAN, give it an ID, and choose the option “VLAN only”
  • Save and reboot your UDM-pro
Unify VLAN admin screen
Creating a new VLAN on the Unifi network console (source: author)

Now that you have a separate VLAN to route the traffic from your Starlink dish to the WAN2 port of your UDM pro, it’s time to cable up all the components. Here is a schematic view of the network components I use:

Schematic view of network components in my house
Schematic view of network components in use (source: author)
  • Connect the Starlink dish to an available PoE port on the Unifi PoE switch in the carport (in my case it’s port 2)
  • Connect an available ethernet port on the Unifi PoE switch in the main building to the WAN2 port of the UDM pro (in my case it’s port 7). You need to use an SFP converter to plug an ethernet cable into the WAN2 port.
  • Set the port profile of the affected ports to allow only the traffic on the Starlink VLAN
Port configuration in Ubiquiti admin screen
Port configuration for Starlink VLAN only (source: author)

Step 3: Configure WAN2

Now you can remove the Starlink router completely, as the Starlink dish is directly connected to the WAN2 port through your Unifi PoE switches:

Connecting the Starlink dish to the WAN2 port on UDM pro
The blue line shows the cable connecting the Starlink dish to the WAN2 port

Now reboot your UDM pro again, and on your network dashboard you should see the Starlink internet connection beside your existing cable internet connection:

WAN1 connection statistics
WAN1 connection from Unifi dashboard (source: author)
WAN2 connection statistics
WAN2 connection from Unifi dashboard (source: author)

Now you can run speed tests, and test the failover by switching off the router of your WAN1 connection.

And then you’re all set for full internet backup connectivity

It’s that simple, even with a more complex network structure.