This job was a Starlink satellite internet installation at a beachfront home in Four Mile Creek, on Tasmania’s East Coast.
Building for salt air and coastal wind
Homes this close to the ocean get the full force of the weather. Salty spray settles on everything on the roof, and it’s hard on cheap brackets, mild steel fixings and exposed connectors. Add the strong onshore winds the East Coast is known for, and a Starlink dish on a flimsy mount is a problem waiting to happen. Rust staining, loose fixings and a dish that slowly drifts out of position are all common on coastal installs that weren’t done properly.
Starlink is a great fit for this part of the state, where fixed line options are limited and mobile coverage can be patchy. The dish just needs to be mounted well enough to last.
What we did
We installed the dish on a galvanised pole mount with two long braces running out across the roof, giving it a wide, stable footprint. The mount was fixed through the corrugated iron into the framing, and the braces were spread far enough apart to resist wind from any direction. We kept the cabling short and tidy, and sealed the roof penetrations and cable entry against the weather.
With an open view to the sky over the water and back over the hill, the dish connected quickly. We checked the app for obstructions and confirmed a clean result before we left.
Stainless and galvanised hardware costs a little more than mild steel, but on a beachfront roof it’s the difference between an installation that lasts and one that’s streaked with rust within a couple of years.
The result
The owners now have fast, reliable internet at the coast, on a mount built to stand up to salt and wind.
If you’re on the East Coast and need Starlink installed properly the first time, give Michael a call on 0420 998 592 and he will come out and have a look.
Installed by Michael Starling
Owner and senior technician, Antenna Installation Specialists
Michael has been installing antenna, satellite and data systems across Southern Tasmania for 20 years. Certificate III in Telecommunications Digital Reception Technology, ACMA Open cabling registration, and a three year warranty on every job. Sorell based. Call 0420 998 592 for a free quote.