Starlink's New V5 Dish Doesn't Support Standby Mode

SpaceX has added a curious restriction to its new V5 dish for Starlink: Customers won't be able to use it with the $10-per-month Standby Mode.

"Standby Mode is not available for V5 hardware," the company said in an updated support page.

No explanation is given. But it means customers won't be able to use what's technically Starlink's cheapest plan with the V5 model. Last year, SpaceX debuted Standby Mode, which replaced the free "Pause" function. Although it originally cost $5 per month, Standby Mode offers unlimited low-speed data at up to 0.5Mbps, making it an appealing backup internet option. 

In March, though, Starlink stripped away in-motion use with the Standby Mode. In May, the company then increased the price to $10 per month, sparking some customers to cancel. 

Starlink.com quietly outlined the new restriction a few weeks after SpaceX officially began selling the V5, which is smaller, lighter, and more power-efficient than the current standard V4 dish. The new model promises to be easier to install on a home's roof. But on the downside, the V5 doesn't support in-motion use on a car or boat because it apparently lacks a GPS chip.

The other issue is that the V5 only supports a max speed of about 375Mbps, slightly lower than the 400+ Mbps peak speed for the V4. The company has also been bundling the Router Mini with the V5, a Wi-Fi router that has a shorter range compared to Gen 3 Router.  

The V5 is being sold alongside the existing V4. On Starlink.com, it's available through the $55-per-month Residential 100Mbps plan while the V4 and Gen 3 Router bundle is offered for the higher-tier Residential 200Mbps and Residential Max plans. 

For now, the V5 is only being sold in select areas of the US. But it looks like the availability has been expanding. We spotted Starlink.com selling the V5 Residential 100Mbps package for new customers in Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming when before it seemed to only be available in Idaho, Montana, and Oregon. 

Although SpaceX didn't immediately respond to a request for comment, it's possible the Standby Mode restriction is only temporary.

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