With more than 5,000 Starlink satellites now in low Earth orbit, it’s easy to assume mounting orientation no longer matters. And to an extent, that’s true — especially now the network isn’t so heavily concentrated over North America. But how and where you install your dish still influences performance, depending on how you use it.

Mobile Use Brings Its Own Considerations

Most advice online comes from installers working on fixed, residential setups — and while that’s useful for buildings, it doesn’t always apply to mobile users. If you’re working from a van or moving between locations, the priorities shift. Direction matters less than sky visibility.

Angling the dish might seem like the right move, but in practice, a tilted dish on a vehicle is often pointing the wrong way at least half the time — especially when parked unevenly or changing direction. By contrast, a flat-mounted dish maintains a stable view of the sky, even when the vehicle isn’t perfectly level.

“Most of the time, keeping the dish flat just works. Orientation and tilt don’t seem to matter — unless there’s something in the way. Overhanging trees are the main issue. The dish still connects, but the signal might drop a few times an hour, taking 30 seconds or so to come back. For browsing or watching TV, you’d barely notice. But on a live call? You notice.”

Clear Sky Beats Correct Angle

In mobile scenarios, a Starlink flat mount delivers consistently better results. Starlink’s phased-array technology easily handles orientation — but it can’t see through trees or other obstructions. A clear line of sight matters more than theoretical alignment. If a tree is blocking the western sky, tilting the dish slightly east — even if that’s technically ‘wrong’ — may give you a more stable connection.

Where Tilt Still Has the Edge

For fixed locations where you can ensure an unobstructed view of the sky — such as buildings, cabins or mast installations — tilting and orienting the dish remains the most effective setup. It’s not that the dish can’t compensate electronically; it’s that a clean view toward the satellite arc increases the likelihood of uninterrupted coverage.

Best Practice Summary

  • Mobile setups (vans, boats, temporary use): Use a Starlink in-motion mount with a flat installation and avoid overhead obstructions. Orientation is far less important than visibility.
  • Static installs (buildings, cabins, fixed masts): Tilt and align the dish toward the satellite path, ideally north in the northern hemisphere, with a clear view of the sky.

There’s no single best solution — the key is to match your mounting approach to your environment. In mobile scenarios, flat and unobstructed nearly always outperforms angled and compromised.

Choose the Right Mount for Your Starlink Setup

Whether you’re on the move or installing in a fixed location, we offer purpose-built mounting solutions designed for both Starlink Mini and Standard Starlink dishes. Each supports both flat and angled mounting — so you can optimise for mobile or static use.

Starvmount Mini Mount

This Starlink MINI Mount is ideal for permanent installation on vehicles, boats or buildings. It supports both flat (0º) mounting for in-motion use and a tilted (19º) setup for static applications. Compact, durable and simple to install, it’s a perfect match for mobile professionals and remote base stations using the Mini dish.

Starvmount Magnetic Mini Mount

Prefer a non-permanent setup? The magnetic version of our Mini Mount offers a secure but removable option — perfect for occasional use or when vehicle drilling isn’t an option. Flat-mounted and mobile-ready.

Starvmount DishyMultiMount

Built for the Standard Starlink V3 dish, the DishyMultiMount includes three secure mounting options:

  • 8º aerodynamic tilt for in-motion vehicle use
  • 20º angled mount for flat building surfaces
  • 20º pole mount with optional U-bolt accessory

Designed with a secure, tamper-resistant fit and clean lines, this mount supports both mobile and static use cases without compromise.

All Starvmount solutions are manufactured from powder-coated stainless steel and include stainless steel fixings. Built to withstand the elements, each mount ensures your Starlink is safely and securely installed — protecting your connection and safeguarding your investment from damage, loss or theft.