How Starlink Works with IronWiFi: Managed Wi-Fi Over Satellite Internet

Thousands of locations around the world — campgrounds, construction sites, rural resorts, pop-up events, offshore platforms — need reliable Wi-Fi but sit beyond the reach of fiber or cable. As of 2026, SpaceX's Starlink has changed the game by delivering broadband-class internet via low-earth-orbit satellites to virtually anywhere with a clear view of the sky.

But raw internet isn't managed Wi-Fi. A Starlink dish on the roof gives you bandwidth. It doesn't give you a branded login page, per-user authentication, bandwidth limits, or usage analytics. That's where IronWiFi comes in. Together, Starlink and IronWiFi form a complete stack: satellite backhaul below, cloud-managed Wi-Fi above.

Why Does Starlink Change the Connectivity Equation?

Traditional satellite internet operated from geostationary orbit, 36,000 km above Earth, introducing 600+ ms round-trip latency that made real-time applications painful. Starlink's constellation orbits at roughly 550 km, cutting latency to 25–60 ms — comparable to many terrestrial connections.

For site operators, this means satellite internet is no longer a last resort. In 2026, it's a viable primary or failover WAN link that supports web browsing, video calls, cloud applications, and crucially, cloud-hosted Wi-Fi management platforms like IronWiFi.

Why Do You Need Wi-Fi Management Over Starlink?

Starlink delivers internet to a location. But handing out your Starlink router's Wi-Fi password to every guest creates serious problems:

• No access control — anyone with the password has full, unlimited network access
• No usage tracking — you can't see who's online or how much bandwidth they're consuming
• No branding — guests see a generic network name with no connection to your venue
• No bandwidth management — a single user streaming 4K video can saturate the link for everyone
• No compliance — many jurisdictions require user identification before granting internet access

IronWiFi solves every one of these problems. It sits between your access points and the internet, adding an authentication and management layer that transforms raw satellite bandwidth into a professional, controllable Wi-Fi service.

How Does the Architecture Work?

The setup is straightforward. No on-site servers are needed — IronWiFi is entirely cloud-hosted, which makes it a natural fit for satellite-connected sites where minimizing on-site infrastructure matters.

1. Starlink dish + router provides the WAN uplink. It connects to the LEO satellite constellation and delivers internet to your site.
2. Wi-Fi access points (Ubiquiti, MikroTik, Cambium, TP-Link Omada, Aruba, or any RADIUS-capable AP) connect to the Starlink router via Ethernet or a local switch.
3. IronWiFi cloud RADIUS handles authentication. Your access points are configured to send RADIUS requests to IronWiFi's servers over the Starlink connection.
4. Captive portal (optional) presents guests with a branded login page — social login, email registration, access codes, or payment — before granting network access.
5. RADIUS attributes enforce per-user policies: bandwidth limits, session timeouts, data caps, and VLAN assignments are all returned in the RADIUS response and enforced by the access point.

What Can You Do with IronWiFi Over Starlink?

Captive Portal with Branding

Present guests with a professional, mobile-friendly login page featuring your logo, colors, and terms of service. Support multiple authentication methods: social login (Google, Facebook, Apple), email or SMS registration, access codes, or payment gateways for monetized access.

Per-User Bandwidth Limits

Starlink bandwidth is a shared, finite resource. IronWiFi lets you set download and upload limits per user through RADIUS attributes. Give premium guests 50 Mbps while limiting free-tier access to 10 Mbps, ensuring fair usage across all connected devices.

Session and Data Controls

Set session timeouts (e.g., 2-hour sessions with re-authentication), daily data caps, or concurrent device limits. This prevents bandwidth hoarding and keeps the connection usable for everyone.

User Analytics and Reporting

See who's connected, how long they've been online, how much data they've consumed, and which authentication method they used. Export data for business intelligence or compliance purposes.

WPA-Enterprise (802.1X)

For permanent staff or corporate deployments over Starlink, IronWiFi supports 802.1X authentication with EAP-TLS (certificates) or EAP-PEAP (username/password). Each user gets individual credentials — no shared passwords.

Where Can You Deploy Starlink with IronWiFi?

Deployment	Challenge	IronWiFi + Starlink Solution
Remote Resorts & Campgrounds	No fiber, guests expect Wi-Fi	Branded captive portal with tiered access (free basic, paid premium)
Construction Sites	Temporary location, no wired ISP	Secure 802.1X for site staff, time-limited access codes for contractors
Outdoor Events & Festivals	Multi-day pop-up, thousands of users	Sponsor-branded portal, per-user bandwidth caps, social login analytics
Rural Schools & Libraries	Underserved area, compliance requirements	Content-filtered access with user identification and audit trails
Maritime & Offshore	Only satellite connectivity available	Strict per-user data caps to manage expensive satellite bandwidth
Emergency & Disaster Relief	Infrastructure destroyed, need instant connectivity	Deploy Starlink + APs in hours, IronWiFi configured remotely in minutes

What Are the Technical Considerations?

Latency and RADIUS

RADIUS authentication packets are small — typically under 1 KB. Even with Starlink's 25–60 ms latency, a full authentication handshake completes in well under a second. Captive portal pages are served from IronWiFi's CDN, so page loads remain fast. In practice, users won't notice any difference compared to a fiber-connected deployment.

Starlink's Dynamic IP and CGNAT

Starlink uses Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT), which means your site doesn't get a public IP by default. This is irrelevant for IronWiFi because all communication is outbound: your access points reach out to IronWiFi's cloud RADIUS servers. No inbound connections or port forwarding are needed.

Redundancy and Failover

For mission-critical deployments, pair Starlink with a cellular failover (4G/5G) connection. Most enterprise routers support WAN failover, and IronWiFi works identically over either path since authentication is cloud-based.

Compatible Hardware

Any access point that supports external RADIUS or external captive portal will work. Popular choices for Starlink deployments include:

• Ubiquiti UniFi — easy setup, proven RADIUS integration
• MikroTik — cost-effective, highly configurable, excellent for remote sites
• Cambium Networks — ruggedized outdoor APs for harsh environments
• TP-Link Omada — budget-friendly with cloud management
• Aruba Instant On — enterprise-grade with simple setup

See the full list on our compatible hardware page.

How Do You Set It Up?

1. Install Starlink: Mount the dish with a clear sky view. Connect the Starlink router and verify internet connectivity.
2. Connect your access points: Wire your APs to the Starlink router (directly or via a PoE switch). Assign a dedicated SSID for managed Wi-Fi.
3. Create an IronWiFi account: Sign up at console.ironwifi.io and add a new network.
4. Configure RADIUS on your APs: Enter IronWiFi's RADIUS server addresses and shared secret in your AP's settings. IronWiFi's console provides copy-paste instructions for every supported vendor.
5. Design your captive portal: Use IronWiFi's visual editor to create a branded login page. Choose your authentication methods and set bandwidth policies.
6. Test and go live: Connect a device to the new SSID, verify the captive portal loads, authenticate, and confirm bandwidth limits are enforced.

What's the Future of Starlink Wi-Fi Management?

Starlink has eliminated the last excuse for not having internet at remote locations. As of early 2026, internet access and managed Wi-Fi are two different things. By pairing Starlink's satellite backhaul with IronWiFi's cloud-based authentication and portal platform, you get a complete solution: connectivity that reaches anywhere, wrapped in the security, branding, and control that professional Wi-Fi demands.

The entire stack — satellite dish, access points, cloud RADIUS — can be deployed in hours with zero on-site servers. Whether you're running a wilderness lodge, a temporary construction site, or an emergency response operation, the combination delivers enterprise-grade Wi-Fi management wherever the sky is visible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can IronWiFi captive portal work over Starlink?

Yes. IronWiFi's captive portal is cloud-hosted, so it works over any internet connection including Starlink. The portal pages load from IronWiFi's CDN, and RADIUS authentication packets are small enough that Starlink's latency has negligible impact on the login experience.

Does Starlink latency affect RADIUS authentication?

RADIUS authentication packets are very small (typically under 1 KB). Even with Starlink's 25–60 ms latency, the authentication handshake completes in well under a second. Users will not notice any meaningful delay compared to terrestrial connections.

What Starlink plan do I need for managed Wi-Fi?

For commercial guest Wi-Fi deployments, SpaceX offers Starlink Business and Starlink Priority plans with higher throughput and priority network access. Standard residential plans can work for small venues, but business plans are recommended for reliable service at scale.

Can I use bandwidth limits with IronWiFi over Starlink?

Yes. IronWiFi supports per-user bandwidth limits enforced via RADIUS attributes. This is especially valuable over Starlink where total backhaul bandwidth is shared. You can set download and upload caps per user or per user group to ensure fair usage.

Which access points work with both Starlink and IronWiFi?

Any access point that supports external RADIUS authentication or external captive portal will work. Popular choices include Ubiquiti UniFi, MikroTik, Cambium, TP-Link Omada, and Aruba Instant On. The access point connects to Starlink for internet and to IronWiFi's cloud RADIUS for authentication.