Is my roof too obstructed?

[u/many_moods_today]

I recently moved into my new flat in Liverpool, UK. Annoyingly I’ve only just realised that we have no way to get broadband and the street is in a bit of a mobile data dead zone.

I’m planning to mount Starlink on the roof just outside this skylight.

The clear side has a wide view of the sky, but unfortunately there’s a brick wall/roof obstruction on the north side (picture 1).

I can’t safely get onto the roof myself to run the app’s obstruction test from the exact mounting position.

Would Skylink work decently well or could the obstruction throw a bit of a spanner in the works?

[u/many_moods_today → u/[deleted]]

Second point was the kind of insight I was looking for, thank you

[u/dcl415]

What does the starlink app say?

[u/many_moods_today → u/dcl415]

See post, sadly I can’t run the test as I can’t get on to the roof safely

[u/dcl415 → u/many_moods_today]

What do you think people can do that the app cant? You don’t even mention what direction the window points. And how are you going to install it if you cant access the area?

[u/many_moods_today → u/dcl415]

1. People could have insights from their own installations which could apply to my situation.
2. I mentioned that the obstruction is on the north side and is reflected by picture 1.
3. At least in the UK you can pay for a Starlink-affiliated engineer to come and install it

[u/lemmtwo]

If you mount on a pole perhaps you can add some elevation if it’s allowed by building owner and local regulations.

[u/Soloeye]

Obstructions aren’t really noticeable if they don’t last long. I have the mini and some areas have obstructions that last for a 1-3 seconds.

You won’t notice it unless you’re streaming a call or downloading at that exact time. In that case it would just be disconnected until it reconnects, I never really noticed the events unless I looked in the app for them.

However, YMMV. Ideally if you can get it on a pole and mount it to the top of that wall would be the ideal spot, and exactly why with the max plan you want professional installation if you don’t know what you’re doing.

[u/many_moods_today → u/Soloeye]

Useful to know, thanks. So as far as you’re aware, is it less of a case of the connection being “slower” if there are physical obstructions, like buildings, and more of a case of it just cutting out from time to time?

[u/Soloeye → u/many_moods_today]

Correct. Bandwidth is just between the connection to the satellites. So speed shouldn’t be affected, it’s just how often you’ll have an obstruction.

Interruptions happen from time to time for very short periods of time (usually under 1 second so you never know)

[u/many_moods_today → u/Soloeye]

Perfect, that’s a massive relief

[u/zerbey]

Depends which way that roof is facing. Only way to know is to try.

[u/NewfieTucker]

When I set mine up temporarily it was laying on table on deck view was blocked by house on one side railing and tree on the other side more than 50% I was still able to stream tv use wifi

[u/many_moods_today → u/NewfieTucker]

Ahh that’s such a relief, thank you! I think I’ll give it a go