Remote work on a rural connection · USA
Can you keep a remote job on Starlink?
For most video calls and work VPNs, Starlink’s published numbers say yes, with short freezes you should plan for. We log one real connection minute by minute to grade it ourselves, and until a month is logged, every grade here says “not measured yet”.
Fiber first. If you can get fiber or cable at the address, take it. Satellite is the right main line only when the wired options are gone, and every work setup needs a backup line.
Read the verdict for your workBuild my failover plan
Facts checked Report: logger not started
Work-day verdict
Logger not started yet
Video callsZoom, Teams, Meet, VoIPNot measured yetWhy this rating
Our measurement: none yet. The owner’s logger hasn’t produced a month of work-day data, so we don’t grade calls.
Published figures (not ours): Starlink reports 25.7 ms median peak-hour latency in the US; Ookla measured a 39 ms median in Q1 2026. Calls fail on short drops and jitter more than on average latency, which is what the log measures.
VPN sessionsWork VPN, remote desktopNot measured yetWhy this rating
Our measurement: none yet.
Published figures: Starlink says SSTP, OpenVPN and WireGuard generally work behind its CGNAT, while PPTP and L2TP generally don’t. Which VPN types work.
UploadsLarge files, screen shareNot measured yetWhy this rating
Our measurement: none yet (hourly upload tests start with the logger).
Published figures: Starlink’s spec for Residential 100 and 200 Mbps is Residential 100 Mbps: download capped at 100 Mbps (spec 80-100 Mbps), upload 15-35 Mbps.; Ookla’s Q1 2026 US median upload was 21.46 Mbps.
GamingEvening pingNot measured yetWhy this rating
Our measurement: none yet.
Published figures: APNIC’s Geoff Huston measured latency shifting every 15 s as satellites hand over, with about 6.7 ms average jitter. Fine for most games; a handicap in competitive shooters.
When the logger runs, this card grades one Residential connection at the owner’s home. It will never be a regional average. How we measure.
Start with your problem
- My calls freeze
What calls need, why they freeze for a few seconds, and fixes in order of cost.
- My VPN won’t connect or drops
Which VPN types work behind CGNAT and what to ask IT.
- I need a public IP
CGNAT, IPv6, tunnels, and which plans get a public IPv4.
- I can’t afford an outage
A backup line that switches by itself, with dated prices.
- I run a business
Residential vs Priority plans: public IP, priority data, support.
- Someone here games
Ping by game type and the honest verdict.
Measured, not sampled
Speed tests tell you how fast a connection is for a few seconds. A work day fails on the seconds in between: a 3-second freeze in a client call, a VPN that drops at 2pm. So the Work-Day Reliability Report logs latency, jitter, loss and outages every minute of every workday, publishes the result by hour, and puts the raw CSV next to it.
It is one Residential connection at the owner’s home, labeled with the region, plan and dish. It is never a regional average; for speeds in your area, use the area data on a sister site.
What the published numbers already say
- Starlink: 25.7 ms median peak-hour latency in the US, under 1% of measurements above 55 ms (June 2025 update).
- Ookla, Q1 2026, US: 39 ms median latency, 21.46 Mbps median upload.
- Residential IPv4 is behind CGNAT: no inbound connections without a tunnel, IPv6 or a Priority plan.
- On July 24, 2025 a global outage lasted about 2.5 h. One line is never enough for a paycheck.
Six questions, short answers
Will my Teams or Zoom calls drop on Starlink?
Mostly no, but plan for short freezes. Starlink reports a 25.7 ms median peak-hour latency in the US (its June 2025 update, checked Oct 5, 2026), well inside what calls need. Freezes come from brief outages, obstructions and satellite handovers; Ethernet to your desk, a clear sky view and a backup line cut them down. Calls guide.
Does my work VPN work behind Starlink’s CGNAT?
Most do. Starlink says SSTP, OpenVPN and WireGuard generally work, as do VPNs over TCP or UDP with NAT traversal; PPTP, L2TP, and IPsec without NAT traversal generally don’t (checked Oct 5, 2026). Ask IT which type yours is. VPN guide.
Can I get a public or static IP on Starlink?
Not on Residential plans, which use CGNAT. A public IPv4 is an opt-in on Local Priority and Global Priority plans (Local Priority from $55/mo, checked Oct 5, 2026), and it isn’t static. IPv6 works on every plan. Public IP guide.
What’s my backup if Starlink goes down?
A second line on a different path (cellular if the house has signal, or a DSL or fixed-wireless line), joined by a dual-WAN router that switches automatically, with a UPS for power cuts. The Failover Builder picks the parts and shows dated prices.
Is Starlink good enough for gaming?
For most games, yes. For competitive shooters it’s a handicap: APNIC’s measurements show latency shifting every 15 s as satellites hand over. Gaming verdict.
Should I take fiber instead?
Yes, if you can get fiber or cable at the address. It’s steadier for calls than any satellite link. Keep Starlink as a backup at most.
Who shouldn’t rely on Starlink for work
- Fiber or cable is available. Take it. Keep satellite as a backup at most.
- Your job needs an inbound public IP or hosting and you can’t use a tunnel. (Why.)
- You’re on customer-facing calls all day with no tolerance for 2–5 second dropouts, and no backup line. (Plan one.)
- The dish has obstructions you can’t clear. Short blockages show up as call freezes.
- Your area has a big demand surcharge or slow local speeds. Check your area.
- Your employer’s VPN won’t work through CGNAT. Ask IT first (what to ask).
If the data fits your job and you have no fiber or cable, check plans and availability for your address on Starlink’s own site. US addresses only. Plan a backup line either way.