As some of my Twitter followers already know, I’m fixing Starlink terminals here in Ukraine.
Starlink internet became crucial to keep Ukraine’s connectivity during the war.
I’m doing these repairs voluntarily in my free time.
Unfortunately, I have limited resources (free space and free time). I wish I could do more.
I decided to collect information about all my repairs on a single page. Well, it’s better now than never.
Previously, I forgot to take photos or create notes, so some information is missing.
From this point, I will try to maintain this archive and keep all the photos.
What’re Starlink’s typical points of failure?
– Water damage
– Torn off connectors and cables
– Burning power supplies due to unstable AC
– PCB damages after shelling (it’s war 🙁 )
– Quality issues
The Starlink terminal is built around custom chips (mostly). There is no documentation, and it’s impossible to buy those chips.
I had to figure out the terminal structure, schematic, and PCB layout. I’m getting all spare parts from donor terminals that are impossible to fix.
A note for Ukrainian visitors.
Please check out my Facebook Starlink support group (StarlinkUA) I established in March 2022. It’s an active community that has answers to most of the questions.
Date: March 25, 2023
Failure type: Square Dishy. The PCB was destroyed after shelling. The Dishy was recovered. The methodology is classified at the moment (sorry).
Status: Recovered
Date: March 25, 2023
Failure type: Burned (physically) Starlink Gen2 router and cable
Status: Repaired. Replaced the housing of the router and fixed the cable
Date: March 24, 2023
Failure type: Square Dishy. The PCB was destroyed after shelling. The Dishy was recovered. The methodology is classified at the moment (sorry).
Status: Recovered
Date: March 13, 2023
Failure type: Two Gen2 routers. Failed Marvell and EcoNet PHY ICs
Status: Repaired. Replaced PHY chips
Date: February 28, 2023
Failure type: Square Dishy. Damaged mount and motors.
Status: Repaired. Mount + motors assembly were replaced
Date: February 21, 2023
Failure type: SPX connector was physically damaged inside the Dishy tube. Two Terminals.
Status: Reworked to sealed 8P8C, two terminals
Date: February 12, 2023
Failure type: Blown Ethernet PHY IC.
Status: Repaired
Date: February 11, 2023
Failure type: SPX connector was physically damaged inside the Dishy tube. Damaged SPX connector in the router.
Status: Reworked to sealed 8P8C. The cable was integrated inside the router (as requested)
Date: February 5, 2023
Failure type: Gen2 router, water (?) damaged SPX connector.
Status: Repaired
Date: February 3, 2023
Failure type: SPX connector was physically damaged inside the Dishy tube.
Status: Reworked to sealed 8P8C
Date: January 24, 2023
Failure type: Square Dishy. Malfunctioned motors. Damaged housing.
Status: Repaired and reworked to sealed 8P8C
Date: January 24, 2023
Failure type: Square Dishy. The PCB was destroyed after an explosion. The Dishy was recovered. The methodology is classified at the moment (sorry).
Status: Recovered
Date: January 21, 2023
Failure type: Gen1 power supply. Burned protection circuit due to AC overvoltage.
Status: Replaced with the spare unit due to significant damages
Date: January 14, 2023
Failure type: Torn-off connectors: Ethernet + motors. Missing capacitors.
Status: Repaired
Date: January 5, 2023
Failure type: Square Dishy. The PCB was bent after an explosion. The Dishy was recovered. The methodology is classified at the moment (sorry).
Status: Recovered
Date: December 30, 2022
Failure type: The square terminal was damaged by water: primary DC/DC and PoE detection circuit.
Status: Repaired
Date: December 25, 2022
Failure type: Gen2 router. Reworking damaged SPX connector to 8P8C
Status: Reworked
Date: December 24, 2022
Failure type: Gen2 router. Burned PS protection circuit due to AC overvoltage.
Status: Repaired
Date: December 12, 2022
Failure type: Gen1 power supply. Burned protection circuit due to AC overvoltage.
Status: Repaired
Date: December 11, 2022
Failure type: The ethernet cable was physically damaged inside the Dishy tube or housing. The proprietary connector was not working.
Status: Reworked to sealed 8P8C
Date: November 30, 2022
Failure type: SPX connector was physically damaged inside the Dishy tube.
Status: Reworked to sealed 8P8C
Date: November 26, 2022
Failure type: Damaged cable. Water-damaged PoE detection circuit.
Status: Repaired
Date: November 22, 2022
Failure type: Shell fragments damaged the antenna. Short circuit in 3.3V regulator circuit.
Status: Repair in progress
Date: November 21, 2022
Failure type: An explosion-damaged PCB. Torn off components. Short circuit in 1.8 FEM circuit.
Status: On hold
Date: November 19, 2022
Failure type: Starlink router gen2, lousy soldering of the SPX connector. manufacturing defects
Status: Repaired
Date: November 19, 2022
Failure type: Starlink router gen2, bad low-voltage regulator
Status: Repaired
Date: November 17, 2022
Failure type: SPX connector was damaged inside the Dishy tube by moisture.
Status: Reworked to sealed 8P8C
Date: November 10, 2022
Failure type: Starlink router gen1, damaged PoE controller IC.
Status: Repaired
Date: November 4, 2022
Failure type: SPX connector was damaged by moisture.
Status: Replaced cable.
Date: October 18, 2022
Failure type: Gen1 power supply. Mechanical damage to the 8P8C connectors.
Status: Repaired
Date: October 13, 2022
Failure type: Gen1 power supply. Burned protection circuit due to AC overvoltage.
Status: Repaired
Date: October 9, 2022
Failure type: Circular Dishy heavily damaged by moisture
Status: On hold. Presumably impossible to repair.
Date: October 7, 2022
Failure type: Circular Dishy damaged by moisture
Status: Repaired
Date: September 23, 2022
Failure type: Circular Dishy heavily damaged by moisture
Status: Repaired
Date: September 17, 2022
Failure type: Damaged cable
Status: Repaired
Date: September 16, 2022
Failure type: Bunch of different Dishys for diagnostics and repairs.
Status: Repaired
Date: September 6, 2022
Failure type: Circular Dishy heavily damaged by moisture
Status: Repaired
Date: August 27, 2022
Failure type: Damaged motors
Status: Repaired
Date: August 26, 2022
Failure type: Damaged cable
Status: Repaired
Date: August 24, 2022
Failure type: Shell fragments damaged the antenna and PCB
Status: Impossible to repair
Date: August 21, 2022
Failure type: Lost gyro chip, replaced the IC
Status: Repaired
Date: August 21, 2022
Failure type: Torn-off connector
Status: Repaired
Date: July 27, 2022
Failure type: Shell fragments damaged the antenna and PCB
Status: Impossible to repair
Date: July 10, 2022
Failure type: Bunch of different Dishys for diagnostics and repairs.
Status: Repaired
