Starlink Signup problems: Plan unselectable, support unreachable, "free" kit non-existant

Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Starlink Signup problems: Plan unselectable, support unreachable, "free" kit non-existant

Aaroona

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#320289 27-Jul-2025 21:16

I've got a parent who is moving to a rural location where the options are fairly limited for decent internet. Basically it's 4G wireless broadband through spark, or Starlink.

I thought this would be a good time to try starlink, given all the positive feedback I've heard, but going through the website, I ran into problems immediately...

Front page says that the standard kit is "free" for selected areas, if you sign up for 12 months (we would) - but doesn't tell you which areas this covers... and when I try to add any address, it still charges the full price for the kit.
When I type in the address and click "order" - it immediately selects the "Residential" plan for $159, with no option to select the Residential Lite plan for $79. (someone I know who is on SL can select, and is using, the Residential Lite plan in Auckland).
There is a $150 start services charge (one off) that is immediately included. Presumably because starlink is popular in NZ?
The contact form will only allow very specific contact reasons, and "Support during sign up" isn't one of them! So I can't query support on the offer on the front page, or the plan selection process.

Overall, pretty disappointed, as Starlink with Residential Lite seemed like it could have been a competitive option to the 4G wireless broadband from Spark, but it seems that it will take it well beyond the cost of.

Has anyone else had a recent sign up experience with Starlink?

Nate001

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#3397464 27-Jul-2025 21:26

Likely the area you are wanting to order for is oversubscribed due to popularity. The "free" kit is unavailable in greater Auckland region - check their map here.

Aaroona

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#3397468 27-Jul-2025 21:38

Nate001:

Likely the area you are wanting to order for is oversubscribed due to popularity. The "free" kit is unavailable in greater Auckland region - check their map here.

Ah! Thanks for the link. Well that will explain things. Bugger, the address of service falls only just inside of the greater Auckland area... Wellsford. I hadn't found that page before, surprised they don't link to it from the offer.

Sure enough, if I type in an address for Mangawhai, the offer becomes available for selection, as does the Residential Lite plan.

Looks like the 4G wireless option might be the only contender at this point.

freitasm

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#3397470 27-Jul-2025 21:49

Or smaller WISP, aren't these available on that area?

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Nate001

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#3397472 27-Jul-2025 21:54

Aaroona:

Nate001:

Likely the area you are wanting to order for is oversubscribed due to popularity. The "free" kit is unavailable in greater Auckland region - check their map here.

Ah! Thanks for the link. Well that will explain things. Bugger, the address of service falls only just inside of the greater Auckland area... Wellsford. I hadn't found that page before, surprised they don't link to it from the offer.

Sure enough, if I type in an address for Mangawhai, the offer becomes available for selection, as does the Residential Lite plan.

Looks like the 4G wireless option might be the only contender at this point.

Agree it’s not easy to find. If you go to https://www.starlink.com/nz/service-plans and expand residential service plans it’s at the bottom in the smallest grey text, almost deliberately invisible.

quickymart

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#3397473 27-Jul-2025 21:59

freitasm:

Or smaller WISP, aren't these available on that area?

The Broadband map alone lists three WISPs (including Spark) for the Wellsford area: https://broadbandmap.nz/availability/-36.270888282313855/174.55124535359482?address=Wellsford

Aaroona

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#3397474 27-Jul-2025 22:15

Looks like 2 Degrees wireless broadband might be another option. Competitive against Spark's wireless option.

Going to test the signal in the area tomorrow for 2D and see. $55 a month for 300GB will be plenty for Netflix, spotify, general web browsing, youtube, etc., with no connection or hardware costs.

The other 2 WISP options were quite a bit more expensive, and less value (even sparks $50 plan only includes... 50GB).

Might have to consider an external antenna for the 4G router, is the only thing.

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freitasm

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#3397497 28-Jul-2025 08:20

Are the WISP plans limited?

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Chrisclarke

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#3397504 28-Jul-2025 08:44

Pretty sure the 'free' standard kit is only available on the $159 plan - and not available in all areas. Once you pop your address in you'll see the options available at that address.

The mechanic of the upfront charge is a little unclear (but discoverable buried in the help section on the website). They charge the amount for the first month of your plan when you order. This then effectively sits 'on hold' until you activate the dish (which you do when you install it), or until 30 days later, whichever is sooner. So if you ordered today (28th August) you'd be charged for the first month, but if the dish took a while to arrive and you installed/activated it on 20th August, your first month's service would start from that date, and the next charge would debit from your payment method one month later on 20th September.

Starlink continue to build capacity, and so worth keeping an eye in the future - availability may change.

Rikkitic

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#3397614 28-Jul-2025 10:08

I have been on a WISP for years at my rural location (Hastings) and my experience has been excellent. Without this I would have succumbed to despair long ago. Internet consistently good at 30+ Mb/s down and extremely reliable. Almost never fails and is quickly fixed when it does. Of course not all providers are the same but I have nothing but grateful praise for mine. After setup costs and a recent price increase I now pay $80/month. It is well worth it.

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RunningMan

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#3397665 28-Jul-2025 14:11

Aaroona:[snip]$55 a month for 300GB will be plenty for Netflix, spotify, general web browsing, youtube, etc., with no connection or hardware costs.

Skinny will do unlimited for $55/m.

bfginger

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#3397780 28-Jul-2025 17:46

Skinny uses Spark's network.

2Degrees offers some kind of Supergold discount.

You can blow through 300gb via streaming. With that limit maybe make sure their Youtube isn't set to 4k, and try the Basic (720P) Netflix plan. Or go unlimited.