Starlink Performance Kit Durability Guide

01. Overview

1.1 Starlink Performance Highlights

The Starlink Performance was designed to be a robust solution for customers who require a stable, high-speed connection in the most extreme environments. Some of the next-generation durability features include:

• A powder-coated aluminum external structure for impact protection and corrosion resistance.
• Water and dust resistance with IP68 classification without a connector installed; a locking connector that offers water and dust resistance with IP69K classification.
• Designed to withstand environments with aggressive vibrations and shocks.
• A 140° sweep angle ideal for business and mobile use.
• Advanced power supply compatible with AC (primary), DC (primary), or AC (primary) + DC (backup).
• Field-terminable connector for custom installations.
• Stainless steel threaded inserts for robust mounting.
• Thermal performance enhancements to efficiently melt snow and operate with greater capacity in extreme temperatures.

The Starlink Performance kit has been rigorously tested to pass the conditions described in Table 1, with the objective of ensuring a 10-year lifespan in the harshest environments. Reliability test models were created based on the most extreme climates, including representations of desert and Arctic conditions, as well as environments with intense vibrations and high humidity.

*To protect the device, it may be necessary to start limiting performance at lower temperatures (varies by transfer rate).

**Tested on tilted and flat Starlink mounts.

02. Starlink Performance Durability Information

2.1 Snow Melting

The Starlink Performance can melt snow at a rate of 8.9 cm/h (3.5 in/h) when the snow has a density of 100 kg/m³ and at a rate of 13.2 cm/h (5.2 in/h) when the snow density is 68 kg/m³. The user terminal should be installed with a tilted mount, wall mount, or pipe adapter to ensure water drains from the device surface and maintains the best possible connection to Starlink satellites.

2.2 Hail

The Starlink Performance and the Starlink Advanced Power Supply have been approved in an impact resistance test for hail up to 1.25" (3.18 cm) in diameter without affecting performance.

2.3 Drop

The Starlink Performance remains functional after a 1 m drop onto steel from any of its surfaces. The Starlink Advanced Power Supply remains functional after a 1.5 m drop onto steel from any of its surfaces.

2.4 Vibration

The Starlink Performance and the Starlink Advanced Power Supply have been approved in a rigorous vibration test model applied to tilted and flat mobile mounts. The power spectral density (PSD) parameters, frequency breakpoint, and duration of this test model were adjusted to ensure a 10-year lifespan for the device in the following use cases: rail, construction, terrestrial vehicles, marine vehicles, and agriculture. Although some industry test models may exhibit a higher PSD at certain frequencies, the accumulated damage resulting from the increased test duration compensates for the PSD differences. Each axis of the device is tested with the same parameters to ensure the hardware is approved for all types of installation orientations.

The graph below compares the test models with our approval parameters and the MIL-STD-810H standards. Note that test durations vary and are included in the legend.

2.5 Impact

The Starlink Performance and the Starlink Advanced Power Supply have been approved in an internal impact test model consisting of 3 half-sine impulses of 50 g with an impulse duration of 11 ms. These impulses were applied to each of the six orientations of the equipment mounted on a tilted and a flat mount. This test certifies that the hardware can be installed in any orientation and covers most marine and all-terrain environments.

In addition to the functional impact test, the Starlink Performance withstood the MIL-STD-810H collision risk impact test model, which consists of a 75 g sawtooth impact impulse with an impulse duration of 6 ms. The impulse was applied to the equipment mounted on a tilted and a flat mount.

2.6 Dust and Water Ingress

The Starlink Performance is IP68 certified with the connector disconnected and IP69K with the connector attached. The submersion test without the connector attached was performed at a depth of 1.1 m for more than 30 minutes. In the IPx9K test, water pressures exceeding 8 MPa and temperatures above 80 °C were used. The test includes 30 seconds of constant spraying with each water nozzle, with nozzles spaced every 30 degrees around each surface of the user terminal. The maximum distance from the user terminal to the high-pressure jet is 150 mm.

The Starlink Advanced Power Supply is IP68 certified with all connectors properly attached. The internal IPx8 submersion test was performed at a depth of 1.1 m for more than 30 minutes. Additional IPx5 (low-pressure water jet), IPx6 (high-pressure water jet), and IPx7 (submersion <1 m) certification tests were performed with satisfactory results.

2.7 Temperature

*These temperatures assume the worst-case conditions (no wind and maximum solar incidence). Functional tests were performed up to 80 °C.

2.7.1 Thermal Performance Limits

“Maximum temperature” indicates the maximum ambient temperature under which the hardware can operate with minimal performance impact. If the ambient temperature exceeds this value, the product will continue to operate but will reduce its workload to protect itself: the maximum transfer rate will be gradually reduced until the product is forced to shut down at temperatures above 75 °C (167 °F). Wind, solar intensity, and mounting location can affect the duration and severity of these reductions. Refer to the graph below for more information. Note that the dual-channel transfer rate shown in Figure 2 corresponds to a network update that will be available for Starlink Performance in the future.

All products have been approved to operate at low temperatures, down to -40 °C (-40 °F), without affecting performance. There will be higher power consumption if the snow-melting mode is activated when temperatures are lower.

2.7.2 Accelerated Lifespan Thermal Test

In addition to functional tests in real-world environments, the Starlink Performance has undergone rigorous accelerated life tests to certify that the product can have a minimum lifespan of 10 years.

2.8 Corrosion/Marine Environment

The Starlink Performance is certified for 3000 hours of ASTM B117 and 400 hours of ASTM G85 A3 without affecting the device's structure or performance. The test was performed with properly installed sealing connectors.

2.9 Wind

The Starlink Performance has been approved in a wind resistance test of over 270 km/h (over 170 mph) in all orientations when mounted on a flat Starlink mount and a tilted Starlink mount. Wall and pole mount installations have been certified for winds with speeds of 177 km/h (110 mph), equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane.

03. Starlink Advanced Power Supply Information

3.1 Input Voltage and Frequency

The AC input of the Starlink Advanced Power Supply has been approved in an input voltage test ranging from 90 to 264 V, covering single-phase grid voltages available worldwide. Additionally, the power supply is certified for frequencies from 47 to 64 Hz, covering terrestrial grids of 50 to 60 Hz ± 5%.

The DC input of the Starlink Advanced Power Supply has been approved in an input voltage test ranging from 10.5 to 57 V. However, whenever possible, it is recommended to connect the system to DC grids with voltages above 20 V. At lower input voltages, the output power will be reduced to limit the total power supply amperage to less than 20 A. In these cases, user terminals requiring high power (e.g., in a high-performance snow-melting situation) may experience reduced performance due to power limitation.

3.2 IEC Standards Testing

The table above does not include the power consumed by the router. The router port on the Starlink Advanced Power Supply can provide up to 40W of Power over Ethernet (PoE) to power a router, if desired. The total power consumed, including a connected router, will depend on the router type. The Starlink router will add 8 to 12 W to the figures listed above.

05. References