If your original Gen 2 dish has failed or you've upgraded to a Gen 3 dish, your existing Gen 2 cabling, wall sockets, and bulkhead fittings will not connect to it. Here's what changes and what you need to upgrade.
Why your old cabling won't work with a Gen 3 dish
The two generations use different connector types:
- Starlink Gen 2: round SPX-style connector
- Starlink Gen 3: RJ45 (standard Ethernet-style Cat6) connector
These are not interchangeable — a Gen 3 dish cannot plug into Gen 2 cabling or fittings without swapping the connector-side hardware.
Upgrading a caravan / RV / permanent bulkhead install
If you've previously installed an in-wall RJ45 data socket and an external bulkhead fitting for a Gen 2 setup, upgrading to Gen 3 typically means replacing:
- The internal wall socket — needs to accept a Gen 3 RJ45 plug on the dish-cable side
- The external bulkhead fitting — needs a Gen 3-rated IP68 waterproof pass-through, such as our IP68 bulkhead data socket
The cable between the two (running inside your wall/van cavity) is standard RJ45/Cat6 and usually doesn't need replacing if it's in good condition — only the socket and bulkhead connector ends need to match Gen 3. We stock Gen 3 outdoor-rated Cat6 RJ45 cable up to 60m if a longer run is also needed.
Quick checklist before ordering replacement parts
- Confirm you now have a Gen 3 dish (check the plug on the dish cable — it will be RJ45/Ethernet-style, not the older round SPX plug)
- Check whether your existing internal cable run is still usable, or has damaged/flattened pins (a common failure point)
- Order a Gen 3-compatible indoor wall socket and IP68 bulkhead fitting to replace the Gen 2-only components
- Use an IP68 cable joiner/coupler at any join point to keep the connection weatherproof
Need Help?
If you're not sure what parts your setup needs, send us a clear photo of your current bulkhead fitting and wall socket (inside and outside the pins) along with your dish generation, and we'll confirm exactly what to order.