Starlink Obstructions in Canada: Trees, Mountains, Solutions

Starlink needs a clear view of the sky to see its satellites. Trees, buildings, and mountains block this view and degrade performance. Here’s how to identify obstructions, measure their impact, and fix them.

What Starlink needs to see

The dish tracks satellites in a 100° cone facing north (in the Northern Hemisphere). Any obstruction within this cone causes signal loss when satellites pass behind it.

The cone:

• Points north (toward the satellites’ inclined orbit)
• Extends 100° wide (50° on each side of vertical)
• Starts at 25° above the horizon (lower angles are noisy)

Use the Starlink app obstruction tool

1. Download the Starlink app (App Store or Google Play)
2. Even before ordering, you can use “Check for Obstructions”
3. Walk to your planned dish location
4. Open the AR camera mode and scan the sky in a circle
5. The app overlays a heat map: green = clear, yellow = minor, red = significant obstruction
6. The app estimates expected percentage of obstruction: under 1% is excellent, 1-5% is acceptable, over 5% causes noticeable performance loss

Tree obstructions

Trees are the #1 cause of Canadian Starlink obstructions. Coniferous trees (spruce, pine, cedar) are worse than deciduous (maple, oak, birch) because:

• Conifers stay leafy year-round, year-round blockage
• Conifers have denser canopy, less signal penetration
• Deciduous trees in winter allow more signal through their bare branches

Solutions for trees:

• Pole mount above the canopy: 5-7 metre galvanized steel pole, anchored in concrete base
• Strategic trimming: clear branches in the satellite-facing cone
• Relocate the dish: to a clearing on your property
• Tree removal: last resort, expensive ($300-1,500 per tree depending on size and location)

Building and roof obstructions

Your own house’s chimney, roof peak, or neighbour’s house can block satellites:

• Roof peak mount: dish on the highest point of your roof avoids your own chimney
• Pole mount above roofline: 1-3 metre pole gets above chimneys
• Side of building: only if the obstruction is on the opposite side

Mountain obstructions

BC Interior, Yukon, NWT, and northern Quebec have mountain ranges that block low-angle satellite paths. Solutions:

• Higher dish placement: mountains block under 30° elevation; if the dish can see above 30°, fine
• Move to higher ground: if your house is in a valley, install dish on a nearby hilltop with cable run
• Patience: Starlink’s satellite constellation is growing; capacity allocation gets better over time

Measuring obstruction impact

Pole mounting guide

• Pole material: galvanized steel pipe, 2″ OD (5 cm), 6-8 ft (2-2.5 m) sections, threaded ends
• Base: concrete pier 60 cm deep × 30 cm wide, with mounting flange
• Guy wires: optional for poles over 4 metres or windy sites
• Cost: $80-200 for pole + concrete
• Tools needed: post hole digger, level, wrench, drill

Obstruction FAQ

Will leaves growing in spring affect my Starlink?

If you installed the dish during fall/winter and it worked fine, spring leaves on deciduous trees may cause new obstructions. Re-check via the app in May. If worse, plan tree trimming or higher mount.

Can rain or clouds block Starlink?

Heavy rain reduces speed 10-20% briefly. Clouds have no effect. Snow on the dish triggers the heater. None of these are “obstructions” in the dish’s terminology.

How much does pole installation cost?

DIY: $80-200 in materials. Professional installer: $300-800 depending on height and site. For 6-metre+ poles, hire a pro.

*1 month of free Starlink service (equal to your plan) automatically credited 30 days after activation when you order through our official referral link RC-DF-7650727-61403-46. Official SpaceX program. No extra cost for you: same price as starlink.com. FastSat.ca also receives a free month, which funds the site.