Field guides / Obstruction & alignment
Obstruction check & antenna alignment
The procedure that applies to every terminal, using the Starlink mobile app.
The Starlink app is for obstruction checks and alignment only
Pulsar-managed terminals are reseller-provisioned, so you cannot sign in to Starlink from the app — service, plan changes and monitoring go through Pulsar.
Get the app
DRAFT — pending installer sign-off. The sequence below is a working draft for review by a
certified Pulsar installer. Confirm each step against the current app version and the terminal's official
setup guide before this page is published or handed to a technician.
Procedure
- Pick the candidate mount point. Aim for the clearest view of open sky. Obstructions low on the horizon matter less than anything overhead.
- Run "Check for Obstructions" in the app. Stand at the proposed antenna position, hold the phone where the dish will sit, and follow the on-screen prompts to scan the sky.
- Read the result. The app reports the obstructed portion of the field of view. If it flags obstructions, move the candidate point — higher, or clear of the offending tree or structure — and scan again.
- Compare two or three positions before drilling anything. Record the scan for the best one.
- Fit the mount using the official guide for that specific mount (linked from each terminal page).
- Align the antenna. Follow the app's alignment guidance for the terminal. Motorised units self-orient after power-up; fixed mounts must be set manually.
- Route and secure the cable, respecting the minimum bend radius, with a drip loop before any entry point.
- Power up and confirm the link, then re-check for obstruction warnings once the terminal has settled.
- Hand off: record the final position, the obstruction result and the serial, and confirm activation with Pulsar before leaving site.
Video walkthroughs
Starlink publishes video guides covering setup and alignment.
Report back to Pulsar
- Final mount position and mount type used
- Obstruction scan result
- Terminal serial number
- Cable run length and entry point
- Photographs of the finished install
Before you leave the depot
- Open and read the mount guide for this job — you may have no signal on site
- Confirm cable length reaches from the mount point to the router location
- Starlink app installed and phone charged (obstruction check needs the camera)
- Mount hardware, sealant and fixings suited to the roof or wall material
- Ladder, fall protection and PPE appropriate to the site
- Pulsar support number saved offline: 512.906.6563