Next Generation Starlink Router Spotted: Things To Know

Update: After I published this article Starlink launched the Router Mini in the US. Check out the latest information in this post.

Starlink recently filed paperwork with the FCC about an upcoming device, called UTR-251. It’s a Wifi router, potentially for Starlink’s next generation equipment. I reviewed the FCC documents, some of which are public, and found several interesting things.

Is this a refreshed router for current hardware, or a sneak peak at the next generation Starlink antenna? Here are a few interesting things I learned from the FCC filing.

Is this a sneak peak of Starlink Gen 4?

In the FCC filing, Starlink refers to the new router as model # UTR-251. This is significant because Starlink router generations have followed a pattern in the past. The Gen 2 Starlink router was UTR-211, and the Gen 3 router was originally UTR-231. This new router, UTR-251, follows the pattern of incrementing the second number in the name to the next odd number (211, 231, and now 251).

Could UTR-251 be the new Gen 4 router, and does that mean the Gen 4 dish is coming soon? The current Gen 3 Standard equipment was released nearly a year and a half ago, so it’s plausible that the next generation hardware is right around the corner.

We can look back at Starlink’s rollout of Gen 3 as an example of what to expect with Gen 4. Starlink initially sold the Gen 3 router as a standalone device, months before the Gen 3 antenna was released. Customers could use it as an additional mesh node since it was backwards compatible with Gen 2 routers. It was even backwards compatible with the original Gen 1 Starlink dish, allowing owners to upgrade to the latest and greatest Wifi technology without upgrading their entire kit.

If Gen 4 is anything like Gen 3, we could see the new UTR-251 router go on sale within the next few weeks. Like with the Gen 3 router, I expect Starlink to launch it as a part of an invitation-only beta test, usually reserved for long-time customers. Even with the launch of a new router, a potential Gen 4 antenna could be months away.

Still Wifi 6, but with 5.9Ghz support

On the technical side, not much has changed compared to the current Gen 3 router. One of the major upgrades Starlink did when they moved from Gen 2 to Gen 3 was the addition of Wifi 6 technology. Wifi 6 allows for better speeds and range compared to Wifi 5. In my Gen 3 router review, I found a 4x increase in Wifi speeds compared to older Starlink routers.

The UTR-251 router is still Wifi 6, but it does have some improvements. The big thing that stood out to me was the addition of the 5.9Ghz band. The 5.9Ghz band has only been approved for Wifi use in the last several years. It basically gives manufacturers access to the full 5Ghz band, which unlocks a couple of benefits. The UNII-4 group of frequencies, where the 5.9Ghz band lives, gives routers more throughput capacity because it unlocks a third 160Mhz channel. It’s also the only 160Mhz channel that does not use Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS), making it less susceptible to interference from other radio signals.

The main reason for Starlink to add 5.9Ghz support is for better wireless mesh performance. Since 5.9Ghz was only recently approved for Wifi use, not many devices actually support it. In other words, your phone isn’t going to be able to take advantage of the extra channels of the router. Instead, Starlink will likely use 5.9Ghz for wireless mesh backhaul. Dedicating the extra 160Mhz channel to wireless backhaul can improve mesh reliability and performance because it’s the only 160Mhz channel not using DFS.

Upright design

The engineering drawing found in the FCC filing (shown at the beginning of the article) show a slim, upright design for the next generation Starlink router. It reminds me a lot of the Gen 2 router, and it’s quite a change from the horizontal orientation of the current Gen 3 router.

One thing that does carry over from previous routers is the Starlink logo on the front. The Starlink logo is an orbital transfer ellipse from Earth to Mars, and is printed on the front of the UTR-251 router. The logo can also be found on other Starlink gear, and it’s the Starlink app icon as well. I covered the Starlink logo and more interesting facts in the post 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Starlink.

One less Ethernet port

A big complaint of the Gen 2 Starlink router was the lack of Ethernet LAN ports. You had to buy a special adapter to plug in devices like a PC or network switch. Starlink fixed that with Gen 3, giving customers two Ethernet LAN ports on the back of the router.

Starlink has removed one Ethernet LAN port on the UTR-251 router. Based on the engineering drawing, it looks like it will feature a single LAN port alongside the antenna connector, which is also an RJ45 port. If the new router is anything like Gen 3, the antenna connector will be a dual purpose WAN/LAN port, potentially opening up another LAN connection. For example, to use a Gen 3 router as a wired mesh node, you plug the LAN connection from the main router into the antenna connector, leaving the two Ethernet LAN ports free for devices.

I don’t think a single Ethernet port is a big deal. After all, most people who have multiple devices will be using a cheap unmanaged switch anyway. Adding your own switch is an easy way to get as many Ethernet ports as you need.

Indoor use only

Part of the FCC approval of UTR-251 restricts its use to indoor only. Previous Starlink routers were designed for indoor use, but had sufficient environmental ratings to be used outdoors. If you look at the back of the Gen 3 router, for example, you notice all the connectors have dust and moisture seals.

Based on the engineering drawing in the FCC filing, it doesn’t look like the new Starlink router will have the same moisture seals. The antenna port looks like a standard RJ45 connector. If the drawing is accurate, this is a major departure from Gen 3, which used a special passive latch and seals on the RJ45 connector.

Like with the single Ethernet port, I don’t think this is a big deal. Most people install the Starlink router and power supply indoors anyway. And to be honest, the special Gen 3 cable connectors just get in the way of using aftermarket cables, which are cheaper if you need a long run between the Starlink dish and router.

It’s made in Vietnam

Starlink has increasingly relied on foreign manufacturing to keep costs down. The Gen 3 router was previously made in the US, but manufacturing has shifted to Vietnam based on regulatory labels on recently sold routers. The sample label provided to the FCC for Starlink’s next generation router shows it will also be made in Vietnam.

The impact of the ongoing trade war will be interesting because imports from Vietnam face 46% tariffs, currently paused until July. Starlink’s costs could skyrocket if the increased tariffs go into effect. It’s also possible that Starlink could switch manufacturing back to the US to avoid tariffs. Starlink submitted the UTR-251 router for FCC approval before any of the current tariffs were announced.

Final thoughts

New hardware from Starlink is always exciting. I’ve been covering the Starlink Mini a lot recently, so it’s hard to believe a new Starlink router and dish could be right around the corner. The Starlink FCC filing indicates a new router is coming soon, but it’s hard to say whether it’s designed for existing Starlink’s or a brand new antenna.

Whatever the case may be, it’s not that exciting in terms of the specs. I don’t think it will be much of an upgrade over the current Gen 3 router, even with the addition of a 5.9Ghz mesh band. For people with Gen 1 or Gen 2 routers, it might be a good option depending on how Starlink decides to price it.

What do you think about the UTR-251 router based on what we know so far? Do you think it’s the new Gen 4 router, or just a refresh of Gen 3?