(Starlink app)
UPDATE 4/30: SpaceX is now selling the "Router Mini," a $40 mesh-compatible device to help Starlink customers fill wireless dead zones in their homes.
Original Story:
An upcoming Starlink router might improve the Wi-Fi range of the existing Mini dish.
Earlier this month, the Federal Communications Commission cleared the mysterious “UTR-251” router for sale in the US. SpaceX is now adding new files to the Starlink mobile app that appear to depict the new router, according to DISHYTech, which reviews and covers Starlink hardware.
DISHYTech discovered the new files when switching to the app's developer mode, which requires users to tap the Starlink logo several times. When you scroll down, a demo interface will appear that seems to show the smaller UTR-251 router connected to a Starlink mini dish.
(Credit: FCC/SpaceX)Importantly, the displayed router matches the UTR-251 image SpaceX sent to the FCC. We initially thought the new router might be for a new product since SpaceX is planning three new satellite dishes for Starlink. But the app update suggests the router is mainly designed to address the limited Wi-Fi range of the existing Mini dish, which we noted in our review.
The Mini dish's router is built into the hardware, making the whole setup easier to transport. However, the built-in router supports a wireless range of 150 feet and is limited to Wi-Fi 5. In contrast, the UTR-251 is designed to support Wi-Fi 6 connectivity.
The Starlink app also classifies the device under the “connected_v4_mini_mesh” name, suggesting SpaceX will try to market the product as an extender for the Mini dish. We’ll have to wait and see. In the meantime, users can use a third-party router with a Mini dish by switching to the “bypass mode,” according to a SpaceX support document. The company also continues selling the current Gen 3 router, which was recently discounted to $120.