Can You Use Starlink in the Snow?

pcmag.com:

If you've got a Starlink dish, or are just considering signing up for the SpaceX satellite internet service, you might be worrying about winter weather, depending on where you live. The dish is exposed to the air, of course. Will snow affect Starlink's performance? Can Starlink handle ice and extreme cold? If you've ever dealt with a snow-blocked satellite TV dish, it's an even more acute concern.

I just endured a full-on Idaho winter with my Starlink dish as my primary connection to the outside world. Verdict: Not only is Starlink ready to handle winter weather, but it stayed stable all winter long. It turns out that Starlink's basic equipment is rated to handle nasty weather, and there's even a Snow Melt Mode that keeps snow and ice from accumulating on the dish.

The seasons may be changing here in the northern hemisphere, but it's not too early to plan for next year. Read on to learn more about how Starlink handles winter weather, and whether your internet will keep working through flurries, blizzards, and everything in between.

The current standard Starlink equipment kit includes the second-generation Starlink Dish, sometimes referred to as the Dishy 2. It has an IP54 waterproof and dust-proof rating, and it is rated to operate in temperatures as low as minus 22 degrees F. What's more, Dishy 2 includes a Snow Melt feature, which is capable of melting up to 1.5 inches of snow from the face of the dish every hour.

That IP54 rating is common for outdoor electronics, indicating that the Dishy 2 is built to withstand most (but not all) dirt and dust from getting into the device, and from water spray in most directions. Translation: It will handle dusty wind and falling rain, but sandstorms and floods will likely damage