Starlink terminal repair: Replacing proprietary SpaceX connector with waterproof RJ-45

A proprietary SpaceX connector is known to be delicate and easy to damage. It's impossible to replace or repair this type of connector or socket because there is no way to buy it except to buy a whole new cable.
In this video, I'll show how to rework the Starlink terminal to the usual RJ-45 without disassembly the device.
I know about the sound quality. The new microphone is en route :)
00:00 - Introduction
02:09 - Proposed solution
02:25 - Why drilling one hole is safe
03:19 - Motor compartment
05:09 - Where to make a hole
06:37 - The hole
07:03 - Getting the cable
08:56 - Cutting the cable
09:08 - Internal twisted pair
09:34 - Crimped connector
09:54 - Electrical tests
10:40 - First tests
11:03 - Sealing the connection
11:34 - The cable
12:14 - Tests on the table
12:36 - Outdoor tests

[@atsametime]

Thank you for this excellent video. I was able to repair my dishy using your technique. It was invaluable to see your images of the inside of other disassembled dishes. The only change for me was to cut the cable near the stem by pressing a small pair of side cutting pliers in past the grey shield next to the stem. That shield is actually somewhat flexible and can be bent a bit to give access to the cable.

[@miltonhare2461]

Excellent. Thank you for sharing your expertise. Very helpful for those who are unable to get a replacement quickly.

[@garyag45]

Great job, looks like an excellent modification 🦅😎👍🇺🇸

[@josuereynolds6638]

This is amazing video with great works very well

[@DeagleBingo]

Great video, saved some screenshots in case I need. Subbed.

[@TheMentalist666]

Awesome !! Thanks for the video :)

[@cyclemoto8744]

Thank you for sharing. Cheers from OZ

[@felixspiess]

I burned up the original conector on both sides, due to water ingress (no warranty, of course). Will try your fix to avoid having to buy an entire new Starlink kit. Just need to find out where to get this sealed RJ-45 and the crimping tool locally in Brazil (if anybody knows, please post). Great video with excellent explanation, keep coming the good work!

[@fireboltjoel03]

awesome video

[@Raskel8274]

No Idea why they went with the proprietary cable. So many problems. I kept the proprietary ends and terminated them with RJ45 to allow the use of my own cables. It works, but I think I will follow this method and just eliminate their end on the dish side entirely. thank you for vids.

[@graemezimmer604]

Very interesting, Thanks!

[@KlajniKleiner]

Doskonale. Pozdrowienia z Polski. Keep calm and win the War (with the Russian agressor).

[@gerardochavezvarela8981]

Excelente información muy buen vídeo.

[@luisrayomix]

con eso le das solución a muchos problemas de starlink muchas gracias .

[@wxfield]

Nice work Oleg. Now let's work on a hack to replace the base SpaceX wifi router with just an ethernet plug. So that we may connect the system into an existing wired (Pfsense for example) home network.

[@rodolforodis5005]

It is already done, you need a 48v poe injector and a router. You might need to plug the old starlink router back for updates.

[@scotth1584]

Hi, nice job! What are the part numbers of the pieces you used? Thanks

[@user-zo3fz9jp4v]

Oleg, can you please share the source and part numbers for the bulkhead feedthrough and mating bayonet cable connector?

[@sl3rtyb3rdf3rts]

Possible to spit in one place the waterproof connector nut so it can add extra mechanical location from the inside?

[@vagrantrandomstuff2312]

Sir that Lan Cable, can we just put it in a normal router? Will it work?

[@darensphotos]

do you have a link to where to purchase the waterproof connector? Great video thanks

[@olegslab]

There are different types. For example: www.amazon.com/pcs-RJ45-connector-waterproof-transmission/dp/B072FJZ4J9/ref=sr_1_1?crid=K2FA84NXFEKN&keywords=rj45+waterproof&qid=1697046460&sprefix=rj45+waterproof+%2Caps%2C183&sr=8-1

[@sanialkali2174]

The motor cover is sealed. How did you open it please.

[@chimdikemoses2444]

Please how can I get the Rj45 female inline connector here in Africa, can you drop a link to their website?

[@georgewhite6800]

Why not put a hole in and pull the cable out of the post near where the original plug is ?

[@JoseBlanco2456]

with this mod can you use any rj-45 modem?

[@olegslab]

The modem is the antenna. What you call a modem is just a WiFi router with a power supply for the antenna.

[@randriamiadanafaziriatoiub5788]

Salut, j'ai un souci au niveau de bande passante Ethernet, après des fausses réparation du câble je ne peux plus avoir Gigabit, seulement 100M, pouvez vous m'aidez sil vous plait? merci

[@superlinkbrazil2425]

uSe CAT6 cable with ground wire. use 568B in both sides to crimp the cable. Is very important to Gigabit, use a 48V 30w or more POE injector. njust this.

[@randriamiadanafaziriatoiub5788]

@@superlinkbrazil2425 d'accord je vais essayé, je vous confirmerai. merci

[@marcosdias2590]

Qual a voltagem da fonte pra conseguir ligar a Starlink

[@BR-163Tv]

48v

[@marcosdias2590]

@@BR-163Tv comprei uma fonte poe de 48 tentei de todos os jeitos não deu certo não amigão

[@felixspiess]

alguem no Brasil pode indicar uma fonte para comprar o conector vedado RJ45, e alicate para grimpar?

[@polardiscoball]

Starlink Vasectomy

[@nivid01]

Mate very good, buy you need to make sure you drill the hole in the centre. Your hole was way off centre. Next time measure the curved width with say, a flexible dress-makers tape measure, to find the centre and so do it more precisely instead of guessing!

[@kendraokuneva]

😃 'Promo SM'

[@user-gq5tj8kt7u]

Hi， Need you help to fix my starlink, I am in Los Angele

[@petecoventry6858]

is it not waterproof already? kinda stupid if not

[@bentheguru4986]

You can see that the Elon team totally ignored the requirements for GbE with that spastic internal cable and PoS connectors. So did you, twists on conductors should be maintained as far as possible including upto the crimp.

[@ethanmccrory1727]

This thing won’t reach gigabit so it’s not really an issue

[@bentheguru4986]

@@ethanmccrory1727 Exactly what I was saying, a demonstration of not understanding standards and their needs. The service speeds can and do exceed 100Mbps and the negotiatied speeds of these devices is GbE, not FE. There is no inbetween bastard standards like there now for 2.5GbE and 5GbE in faster networks. You need all 8 strands of data running at the correct RF frequency (hint there for you all) as well as PoE.

[@efere6]

@@bentheguru4986 Are you saying it is possible to exceed the Starlink satellite speed limits/priority with a residential dish?

[@bentheguru4986]

@@efere6 No, I said you need cable to link/sync at 1Gb rather than 100Mb as the internet speeds hit over 100Mbps from stock resi dish.