Upload Speed Far Below Normal Range
The STARLINK-UPLOAD_DEGRADED (Starlink) EV fault code means: Upload Speed Far Below Normal Range. This is a moderate severity code.
- Keep driving?
- Yes, but fix soon
- DIY difficulty
- easy
- Estimated cost
- $0 for congestion or repositioning fixes. Cable replacement $15-$40 DIY. Dishy replacement $250-$599 hardware cost if under warranty Starlink may cover it. Pro site survey $75-$150 if needed.
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Common Symptoms
- Video calls drop or freeze even when download speeds seem fine
- File uploads to cloud storage stall or time out
- Starlink mobile app Statistics tab shows upload speeds below 2 Mbps consistently
- Security camera remote viewing works but live upload to cloud fails
- Voice-over-IP calls sound fine to you but choppy to the other person
- Upload speed tests run from a laptop show 1 Mbps or less during peak evening hours
- Starlink mobile app Diagnostics screen may show a degraded upload status or high latency on upload path
Probable Causes (Ranked by Likelihood)
- Cell congestion during peak hours deprioritizing your service tier Very Likely
- Account on Residential or Roam tier subject to network management and deprioritization after data threshold Very Likely
- Partial obstruction blocking a portion of the sky, degrading the uplink beam to the satellite Likely
- Coax or cable connection between Dishy and router is loose, kinked, or corroded, causing intermittent signal loss on the uplink Likely
- Dishy overheating, throttling transmit power to protect hardware Possible
- Router firmware update in progress or recently applied, causing temporary performance dip Possible
- Hardware fault in Dishy transmit chain requiring dish replacement Less Likely
Step-by-Step Diagnostic Procedure
Open the Starlink mobile app and go to the Statistics tab. Watch upload speed over 5 to 10 minutes. Note whether it is flat near zero or fluctuating. Fluctuating suggests congestion; flat near zero suggests a hardware or connection problem.
Check the time of day. Starlink upload speeds commonly drop between 6 PM and 11 PM local time due to heavy network traffic. Run the same test at 6 AM and compare. If speeds recover off-peak, congestion and deprioritization are the cause.
Open the Starlink mobile app and tap Obstruction. Review your obstruction map. Even a small blocked wedge above 25 degrees elevation can hurt upload throughput. Reposition Dishy if any obstruction is shown.
Inspect the cable running from Dishy to the router. Look for sharp bends, pinch points under a door or window, or corrosion at the connector ends. Unplug and firmly reseat both ends of the cable. If you have a Gen 2 or Gen 3 system with a separate power supply brick, check that connection too.
Check Dishy for heat. If the antenna is mounted in direct sun with no airflow and ambient temperatures are above 95 degrees F, the dish can throttle transmit power. The Starlink mobile app will show an Overheated status if this is happening. Improve ventilation or add shade to the mount area.
Log in to the browser-based admin at 192.168.100.1 and confirm the router is not in an error state. Check the Network section for any alerts about the WAN connection from Dishy.
Run a speed test using a wired device plugged directly into the Starlink router, not over Wi-Fi. If wired upload is also degraded, the issue is upstream of your router. If wired is fine but Wi-Fi upload is slow, your router placement or Wi-Fi interference is the bottleneck.
If all of the above check out and upload remains below 2 Mbps around the clock for more than 48 hours, contact Starlink support through the Starlink mobile app Diagnostics screen and request a hardware check. A failing Dishy transmit module requires dish replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does STARLINK-UPLOAD_DEGRADED mean?
It means your Starlink upload speed has dropped well below the normal 5 to 25 Mbps range. The most common reason is network congestion during peak evening hours, especially on Residential and Roam service tiers where Starlink can deprioritize your traffic when the satellite cell is busy. It can also be caused by a partial sky obstruction, a loose cable, or an overheating dish.
Can I still use Starlink with this fault?
Yes, but with reduced capability. Download speeds and general web browsing are usually unaffected. Tasks that rely on strong upload, like video calls, live streaming, cloud backups, and remote camera access, will be slow or unreliable until the issue is resolved.
How much does it cost to fix?
If the cause is congestion or deprioritization, there is no hardware cost. You can either wait it out, upgrade to a higher-priority service plan, or shift upload-heavy tasks to off-peak hours. If a cable replacement fixes it, expect $15 to $40 in parts. A full Dishy replacement costs $250 to $599 depending on your kit version, though Starlink may cover it under warranty if the hardware is confirmed faulty.
Will this affect my ability to make video calls or work from home?
Yes, it can. Video conferencing platforms like Zoom and Teams need consistent upload bandwidth to send your video and audio clearly. If upload is below 1 to 2 Mbps, you may need to turn off your outgoing video and use audio only until the issue clears. Scheduling calls for morning or midday hours usually helps if peak-hour congestion is the cause.