Remove Cable from Starlink Dish – a step-by-step guide

About Remove Cable from Starlink Dish, Starlink’s internet service is known for its high-speed connectivity, even in remote areas. 

But they are not without flaws, with one of the most frustrating being the lack of local technicians to contact when mounting, connecting, or disconnecting accessories. 

If you are heavily reliant on Starlink, then this could be a big problem.

 The good news, however, is that despite starlinks cable being proprietary, they are based on a Cat 6 cable which makes them easier to connect, disconnect and repair by yourself without professional help.

 Here’s how to do it:

Tool List: Everything You’ll Need

  1. Wire cutter
  2. Wire Stripper
  3. Crimper
  4. Cat 6 Jack ends
  5. Wire nuts
  6. Cat 6 coupler

Disconnect the Cable and Router

After getting the necessary tools, it is important to ensure the cable is safe to work on. Before disconnecting the cable, ensure that the router is unplugged. 

This is to safeguard from potential electric shocks.

Survey the Damage to Determine the Problem

Examine the cable for obvious signs of wear or damage. Keep in mind that the damage could be caused by a lot of things, such as animals chewing on them, chafing, kinking, or pinching. 

This means the internal wires can be damaged without the jacket being torn or pierced. Be sure to also check the cable ends for damage or corrosion. 

faulty network cable

(faulty network cable)

Remove the Damaged Portion of the Cable

Using a wire cutter, snip out the damaged section of the Starlink cable. 

While being cautious not to clip too close to the visible damage, leave enough space for when you will need to reconnect the repaired cable. 

To allow the necessary margins, we would recommend adding an inch on each side of the damaged stretch.

illustration of a wire cutter

(illustration of a wire cutter)

Strip the Cable and Remove the Shielding Layer

On both sides of the cut cable, gently remove the outer jacket using a wire-stripper tool to remove about 1 inch (2.5 cm). 

Removing the jacket will reveal four twisted wire pairs, a layer of light blue foil and plastic shielding, and a grounding wire made of bare metal.

 Exercise caution when removing the plastic cover so as not to damage the cables. 

Carefully remove the shielding foil without interfering with the twisted pairs enclosed inside.

Untwist the Four Twisted Pairs of Wires Inside, and Strip Them

You must untangle the four wires inside the cable before you can begin working with them. 

This process will require patience. Simply twisting the cables won’t just magically untangle them. 

Focus on straightening the wires thoroughly so that they become more manageable. 

Once untwisted, use a wire stripper to remove approximately a quarter-inch of insulation from each wire. Repeat for all eight paired wires, excluding the ground wire for now.

stripped ethernet cable

(stripped ethernet cable)

Arrange the Wires Correctly for the Plug-End Connection

Place the wires you had stripped in the correct sequence before inserting them into the Cat 6 plug end.

 Being a Cat 6 cable, you must follow the “T568B” sequence, the most recommended wiring scheme for this cable type. 

For the repair to be effective, both cable ends must be connected in the same sequence.

To place the wires into the plug end in the correct sequence, the T568B wiring position (per ANSI/TIA-568-C wiring standards) is as follows, from left to right:

  1. White-orange
  2. Orange
  3. White-green
  4. Blue
  5. White-blue
  6. Green 
  7. White-brown
  8. Brown
T568A AND 7568B wiring layouts

(T568A AND 7568B wiring layouts)

Insert Wires Into the Plug End

Place the 8P8C modular connector on the end of your cable. The 8P8C  connector is a clear plastic plug that resembles any other Ethernet or phone cable (also known as RJ-45)

A row of 8 wires can be seen inside the plastic connector. With the plug retainer facing down, place the wires left to right while observing the T568B wiring sequence illustrated earlier.

This may take numerous attempts as they can easily shift positions on you.

Secure the Plug End With the Crimping Tool

After you are done aligning the wires into the plug end, firmly apply pressure with a crimping tool to ensure the wires are seated in the contacts of the plug.

Repeat on the Other Half of the Cable

If you also cut a broken section in the center of your cable, you must redo the entire process above (steps 3 to 9) on the other side. 

Repeat the same wire order you used on the other plug end.

Connect the Two Ends With a Cat 6 Coupler

After properly attaching the plug ends to the 2 sides of the cable, you need to join them together using a Cat 6 coupler. 

The coupler has two end-to-end sockets, which you must plug into the coupler to rejoin your Starlink cable.

Connect the Ground Wire

Now we just need to connect the ground wire, and we are almost done. 

The ground wire is separate from the main cable because the Starlink system uses the cable for both power and connectivity.

In an ideal situation, the grounding wire should simply be long enough to wire back the two ends. But this may not always be the case because of the presence of the coupler or cable damage.

 If the latter is the case, remove a section of the ground wire from the damaged cable part, check to ensure it is not damaged, cut it to length and then join them with wire nuts.

If the Fix Will Live Outdoors, Use a Waterproof Enclosure

You only need to complete this step if you intend to place the cable outdoors to avoid moisture damaging the coupler or plug ends.

To accomplish this, consider using a weatherproof extension cord plug cover. 

These have a compartment that can house the plugged coupler and wire nuts with a tight rubber seal around them.

Close the plug cover tightly, and we are good to go. It’s time to see if your efforts were successful by plugging back the router and reconnecting the power cable.

 If you’re network field-testing equipment, you may check on the cable integrity before plugging it back. 

Your Starlink should now work well if you follow all the above steps.

Conclusion

Repairing a damaged Starlink cable is a manageable task with the right tools and guidance, such as the steps provided by the article. 

We hope that this guide has been useful in resolving any cable-related issue you had with your Starlink. If the problem persists, refer to the following guide for further assistance and troubleshooting.