tarPod Housing Only for Starlink Roam/RV Antenna - Base Not Included
The StarPod from NavPod is a waterproof housing designed for permanent mounting
of the Starlink Roam/RV antenna, typically on a yacht’s hardtop or radar arch.
The StarPod housing fits Starlink model UTA-212 (dish face measuring 20.2” x
11.9” / 513 mm x 303 mm).
NavPod model SP212-H includes the StarPod housing only and is intended for
installations where the housing will be mounted on an existing or third-party
pedestal. A compatible pedestal should have an upper mounting surface no larger
than a 7.5” diameter circle, which is the available mounting surface on the
bottom of a StarPod housing.
Third-Party Accessory Disclaimer:
The NavPod and StarPod brands are in no way affiliated with the Starlink or
SpaceX brands. The company's products are third-party accessories, distinct from
the brands and products they are designed to house.
What are the benefits of mounting a Starlink dish in a StarPod?
StarPod protects Starlink and completely encloses the Starlink antenna in a very
sturdy and attractive waterproof housing. Testing has proven that there is no
degradation of signal inside the thermoformed acrylic-capped ABS housing.
The Starlink Roam dish was originally designed for RVs, not boats. Its
waterproof rating of IP54 is a long way from the IP67 rating NavPod is
accustomed to in boating from the likes of Garmin, Raymarine, and others.
Mounting a Starlink dish inside a StarPod provides additional protection from
water intrusion, just as all NavPods have done for other marine electronics for
over 25 years.
How do I mount a Starlink dish inside a StarPod?
The 4-legged "X" base that comes with a Starlink Roam dish is not utilized when
mounting inside a StarPod; only the dish and attached mounting pole are used.
The center post of the Starlink dish is inserted through the center hole in the
bottom of the StarPod and extends into the chosen mounting pedestal.
The initial Starlink setup process should be completed before mounting the dish
inside a StarPod (refer to your Starlink setup and installation guide for this
process). One important thing to note during the setup process is to make sure
that the "Snow Melt" setting in the Starlink app is turned to "Off" (this
feature produces excess heat to keep snow from piling up on a Starlink dish in
winter environments, but is unnecessary and can potentially cause overheating
when the dish is mounted inside a housing).
Once the initial Starlink setup process is complete, the next step is to get the
dish into a horizontal, or "flat" position, perpendicular to the mounting post.
To get the dish into this position, unplug the Starlink dish, then plug it back
in and turn it on. The dish will begin to move as part of its startup process,
so just wait until it’s in a horizontal position and unplug the dish. This may
take a couple of attempts, so just repeat as necessary until the dish is powered
off in a horizontal or "flat" position. At this point, the dish can now be
mounted inside the StarPod housing (using the instructions and hardware included
with the StarPod).
How can the Starlink dish move if it’s inside a StarPod?
It can’t, but that’s okay. When powered on inside the StarPod housing, the
Starlink dish will initially move as it looks for a signal. However, when the
dish bumps into the inside of the housing and is unable to move any further, it
will simply register an obstruction and discontinue its movement (a feature
built
into the dish to prevent the motor from burning out when it’s positioned next to
a tree branch, ceiling, or other obstruction). The StarLink app may notify you
of the obstruction, but the dish will continue to operate normally otherwise.
There are several methods you can find on the internet for disabling your
Starlink motor to achieve a fixed position. While these methods can be
effective, it’s important to note that any modification of your Starlink antenna
(drilling or cutting into the case, disconnecting internal cables, or any
disassembly at all) will void the product warranty.
If the Starlink dish can’t move, how can it get a good signal?
Short Answer: A Starlink dish installed on a boat in a fixed horizontal position
will achieve the same signal quality as a dish that’s free to move and adjust
position.
Long Answer: The Starlink Roam dish utilizes phased array technology. Rather
than searching for a single satellite to point to (like older 18" and 24"
satellite TV antennas), the Starlink dish is continuously switching between
different satellites every few minutes (satellites that are moving at very high
speeds and orbiting much lower than traditional TV and internet satellites).
When a Starlink dish moves, it isn’t trying to point toward a particular
satellite; it’s just looking for a clear view of the sky. Since this dish was
originally designed for RV use, the movement of the dish was designed to allow
it to point away from overhead obstructions like trees and buildings that might
prevent a clear view of the sky. While this functionality makes sense for RV
use, it is much less functional for boating use, where the dish would almost
never encounter any overhead obstructions.
When testing, a Starlink dish mounted and immobilized inside a StarPod achieved
the same signal quality and internet speed as a dish that was free to move
outside of a housing. Neither the fixed horizontal positioning nor the housing
material itself resulted in any signal degradation as long as the dish had an
otherwise clear view of the sky (as it typically would on a floating vessel).
Liability Disclaimer:
NavPod assumes no liability for any violation of Starlink product warranty or
terms of service that may result from modifying a Starlink dish or mounting it
inside a StarPod.
General Information:
StarPod is manufactured by Ocean Equipment in Bend, Oregon, USA, using the same
time-proven materials that are used to fabricate the popular line of NavPods,
waterproof housings for marine electronics.
All NavPods Feature:
Structural Rigidity – The Gen3 enhancements now include a thicker gauge
of acrylic-capped ABS material that improves strength and provides better
structural rigidity. This thicker material allows for a larger waterproof seal.
The better the structural rigidity, the less flexing when tightening, and the
more uniform pressure on the seal. The excellent UV stability of the acrylic is
combined with the durability of the ABS. The acrylic cap protects the ABS from
UV and its potentially damaging effects on plastic.
Waterproof Seal – All NavPods are manufactured with a double gasket
system, providing an excellent watertight seal. This seal provides the best
protection for your marine electronics. StarPods are made to withstand the
harshest wet offshore boating conditions. Gen3 enhancements include a thicker
external silicone gasket with an improved flush fit. The internal Poron
Microcell Polyurethane gasket is now 50% thicker and is not subject to a
"compression set" like many rubber compounds. This is important when you need to
open the NavPod in the future to service your electronics. The gasket will
continue to do its job.
Nickel Chrome-Plated Stainless Steel – The company uses all 316
stainless steel hardware that is supplied with each NavPod. Large round-head
tamper-resistant screws have deeper sockets to match the NavPod wrench for
better holding ability when tightening. The nickel-chrome-plated stainless steel
tamper-resistant screws provide security combined with a little style!
Commitment to Quality – Navpod stands behind its commitment by offering
a 10-year warranty on all new NavPods, including the StarPod.
WARNING:
This product can expose you to chemicals including Di-n-hexyl Phthalate (DnHP)
which is known to the State of California to cause reproductive harm, and
Vinyl Chloride which is known to the State of California to cause cancer. For
more information go to 
