The Best Place to Buy the Starlink Dish V4 and Router (2024)

If you're interested in Starlink, there's never been a better time to subscribe to the leading satellite internet service. Part of Elon Musk's SpaceX, Starlink offers high-speed satellite internet everywhere in the US (not to mention across the globe). Not only that, but buying a Starlink installation kit is easier than ever.

You once had to order equipment directly from Starlink and worry about waitlists and backlogs, sometimes waiting months for your equipment to be delivered. Now, you can now buy the same standard dish and router setup from major retailers like Best Buy, Home Depot, and Target.

We're gearing up to review the latest version of the Starlink dish and router, so we bought our own, and can tell you just how easy it is to get the latest Starlink kit.

What Is Starlink Dish V4, Exactly?

The latest version of Starlink's standard dish installation kit comes with the fourth version of the residential dish. It's called by a few different names: Dish V4, Starlink Standard Dish, and Starlink Gen 3 dish (Gen 3 refers to the router that comes with the dish).

Starting with the very first round dish (officially dubbed Dishy McFlatface), the user terminal dishes have gotten subsequently better and better.Version 2 of the Starlink dish (also known as "Dishy 2") quickly followed it. This rectangular dish has internal actuators to reposition and align it for the best connection with overhead satellites. Packaged with a Wi-Fi 5 router, it's enough to get a household up and running. Until earlier this year, the Starlink V2 dish was the standard model for all residential users.

Version 3 didn't replace the V2 model for residential users, but instead made life a bit easier for mobile users, with a wedge-shaped design that can be easily mounted on top of an RV. This version keeps the rectangular dish shape, but has a lower profile and a separate power supply, two features that then made their way to the similar-looking Dish V4. This latest model is the current standard dish for both residential and mobile users. It features a larger size, a lower profile, an integrated kickstand, and improved weather-proofing. On top of that, it comes with a Wi-Fi 6 router, which delivers more modern connectivity, and faster communication between the different wireless devices in your home.

Where Can You Buy the New Dish?

Unlike years past, when you could only order Starlink equipment directly from the Starlink website, the new V4 dish installation kit is available through several major retailers. You can buy the new Standard Installation Kit through Best Buy, Home Depot, and Target, and all three stores follow a pretty similar process.

(Credit: Home Depot)

We recently purchased the new kit for our upcoming review, and can answer a few questions about it.

Do You Need to Have a Starlink Account?

If you're shopping for Starlink hardware, do you need to already be signed up for Starlink service? No. That's the good news. The not-so-good news? You can definitely buy a Starlink dish even if you won't be able to use it right away because you're in one of the few areas of the country that still have a waitlist.

(Credit: Starlink.com)

There is no check one way or the other. It's just a product you can buy, and you'll have to set it up with a Starlink account yourself.

High-Performance Starlink: Pick the Right Kit

The new Dish V4 and Gen 3 router are the default sold to new Starlink customers, but that's not all that retailers are offering.

Best Buy and Home Depot are both selling the Standard Kit, but also offer the much more expensive High Performance Kit, which costs $2,499 to buy and costs $250 per month for the cheapest pricing tier. That's great if you need Starlink on a boat as you sail the Caribbean, but not if you just want to connect your home in a rural area.

(Credit: Target)

Target also sells Starlink, but only the $599 Standard Kit. However, Target lists it as the Starlink Mesh Standard Kit. Don't let the name confuse you: It's the same thing that Best Buy, Home Depot, and even Starlink are selling to residential customers—mesh capability comes standard, even if additional nodes are sold separately.

Buying Starlink: 6 Simple Steps

1. Pick Your Retailer

You can choose among Best Buy, Home Depot, Target, or you can purchase directly from Starlink.

2. Pick Your Product

Best Buy offers both the Standard Installation Kit and the more expensive High Performance Kit, so make sure you're choosing the right hardware.

(Credit: Best Buy)

3. Double-Check Your Options

The Standard Installation Kit comes with both the Dish V4 (easily picked out due to its integrated kickstand), and the Gen 3 router, which offers Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. If you're seeing something with a different dish or router, double check the product before you buy.

(Credit: Best Buy)

3. Add to Cart

As with any other product purchased online, once you know what you want, you'll need to add it to your cart.

4. Pickup or Delivery?

One of the benefits of ordering through a major retailer is that you can also pick the product up in store, sometimes a day or two earlier than if you have it shipped. But with all of the retailers offering free shipping, it's really a matter of preference.

(Credit: Best Buy)

5. Check Out

Your purchase isn't done until it's paid for, so be sure to check out after you put the Starlink hardware in your cart.

The Better Option: Buy Through Starlink

I bought my new Starlink dish from Best Buy, but if I had it to do over again (and wasn't trying out this retailer purchase process for this story), I'd buy it through Starlink's website. Here's why: For starters, Starlink will have you look up your address first, and will confirm that service is available, or whether you're in one of the isolated areas in the country that are still on a waitlist for service. Second, Starlink offers a refurbished equipment package at a significant discount. It's the same dish, router, and cables for a more affordable $399.

(Credit: Starlink.com)

And the most important thing that separates Starlink's equipment sales from other retailers is that Starlink is also selling the necessary mounting hardware you probably need, and you can buy it alongside your new dish.

Check back soon to see how the new Starlink Dish V4 performs when we test it.