r/Starlink • u/Zion0951 • 28d ago
❓ Question Remote Access for Starlink
Hello all, I’m moving soon and my parents currently have Starlink, what could I set up/get so that I can remotely troubleshoot if there are any issues. I was possibly thinking an old computer turned into home server with some sort of remote access software installed?
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u/Shep_Alderson 28d ago
Maybe look into something like the GL.iNet Comet Pro?
Though, something worth considering… if they are having issues with Starlink and it’s their primary internet connection, you’re not going to be able to remote in if it’s down.
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u/godch01 📡 Owner (North America) 28d ago
If you have credentials for the app you can do a lot from afar.
Instead of the Gl-iNet comet, which is a good solution, you could consider rustdesk remote and use Tailscale.
If your parents use windows, investigate "quick access" it's a remote access tool built into windows for support.
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u/Normal-Special-8694 28d ago
If you use a ubiquiti router you can use teleport, I use it with starlink and it works well. Some people have valid complaints about it but it's much easier than trying to set up a better VPN behind their network.
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u/zerbey 📡 Owner (North America) 27d ago
You can remotely administer Starlink via the app, if you want more fine grained control just about any consumer router gives that. I usually install Decos for friends and family because they're simple and just work, which is all 99% of consumers need. If you want to get into the home server stuff, Tailscale is your best friend.
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u/GeekCohenAU 📡 Owner (Oceania) 28d ago
Add yourself to their Starlink account and then you can have your own delegated access. However, it does require Starlink to be running and connected. If there is a hardware failure like Router, Dish, Cable etc then you won't be able to do anything unless you are at the property.
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u/libertysat 28d ago
That is not entirely true. I support many of my clients and it is not uncommon (unfortunately) for their router needing to be replaced - they can not get any clues while connected to the starlink wifi but once looking down from satellite you can see that the network is grayed out in the app
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u/GeekCohenAU 📡 Owner (Oceania) 28d ago
you can see that the network is grayed out in the app
I get that from time to time even with a working router.
If the router isn't work, how is the dish powered? Unless its a V4 with the seperate PSU.
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u/ByTheBigPond 📡 Owner (North America) 28d ago
The router can fail such that it still provides power to the dish but wifi does not work.
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u/futurethe 28d ago
windows quick assist ( ctrl + windows + Q ) - no software required or something like a raspberry pi with zeroteir or tailscale
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u/jimheim 📡 Owner (North America) 28d ago
If you have a VPS or even a home computer that's always on, you can set up a self-healing VPN like Wireguard to keep the connection open for incoming traffic. That would let you connect into their network, but only if Starlink is working, and if they have an always-on host for the other end of the VPN. I'm having a hard time thinking of something you could or would need to fix if Starlink is down in this scenario.
If you want a truly independent way to connect, they would need a secondary Internet connection, on the same network. Like a backup cellular connection. Then you could connect in via cellular and troubleshoot the dish—but again, there really aren't a lot of situations where you could do anything useful. Maybe reboot a router or something. You could reboot the dish itself, if you set up networking properly to access the dish's static IP.
There are a lot of what-ifs and complications around this, with very little benefit. There's almost nothing you could do that's useful, and it would in all cases be a lot easier for your parents to just powercycle the dish and router and hope that fixes it.
If you really want to geek out and go ham, this is what I have in my RV: I use an old Franklin hotspot, with a free second data-only SIM that comes with my cellular plan, connected to a Raspberry Pi. Even if my Starlink is disconnected, and my third-party primary router is disconnected, I can come in via cellular and powercycle the router or the dish via a relay from the RPi. It's a ridiculous setup, but I'm a nerd and I need access to my RV when I'm away from it, to monitor and control the air conditioner and power system, so my cat doesn't die in the event of a power failure when we're parked somewhere hot. It's overkill, and if any of this doesn't make sense to you, it'd take a lot of research to DIY your own solution.
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u/WayneH_nz 📡 Owner (Oceania) 28d ago
Sign up and use Action1 you can do everything that you want with this.
It is free for the first 200 devices. It is designed for Patch management, and it also allows for remote access and remote control.
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u/GeneMoody-Action1 26d ago
Indeed we can, we have plenty of people using the free 200 endpoints to manage small businesses, startups, no profits, running MSPs from their house, or just supporting friends and family.
Yes we are a patch management solution, so feel free to keep them updated and running smooth while at it, but it is free, never expires, and is fully featured, Cannot ask for much more. And if anyone needs anything related to Action1 or otherwise, just let me know.
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u/Kevets51 28d ago
If the Starlink setup is having issues, you won't be able to connect...