The short answer
Look at the dish and the router. A round dish is Gen 1. A thick rectangle on a motorised mast is Gen 2 (Standard Actuated). A thin rectangle on a fold-out kickstand, with a flat router, is the Standard (Gen 3, also called V4). A laptop-sized dish with Wi-Fi built in is the Mini. Your kit number is printed on the box label, and the Starlink ID is in the app.
Which Starlink generation do I have?
The dish’s shape tells you most of what you need. Use this table, then check the router in the next section to confirm. For the kits we sell today, see our overview of Starlink kits in Nigeria.
| Kit | When | How the dish looks | Router |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 1 (round) | 2020–21 | Round, about 589 mm across, with motors; the cable is fixed to the dish | Gen 1 router, powered from the Gen 1 power brick |
| Gen 2 (Standard Actuated) | From 2021 | Rectangular and fairly thick, on a built-in mast with motors that aim it | Upright router with no Ethernet port |
| Standard (Gen 3 / V4) | From late 2023 | Thin rectangle on a fold-out kickstand; no mast, no motors | Flat Router 3 with two LAN ports, or a Router Mini in the “Standard 4” kit |
| Mini | Current | Laptop-sized, with a kickstand | Built into the dish; no separate router |
| Flat High Performance | Older business kit | Large, flat, fixed-mount dish, about 5.9 kg | None included |
| Performance | From 2025 | Rugged dish of about 5.2 kg with a separate Advanced Power Supply | None included |
| V5 | July 2026, select markets | Small and nearly square, 384 × 306 mm | Router Mini; not confirmed for Nigeria |
There was also an earlier High Performance kit (about 2021–22), a larger motorised version of the Standard Actuated aimed at business users.
Which Starlink router do I have?
If the dish is out of reach on the roof, the router is the easier thing to check:
- Gen 1 router: the model UTR-201 is printed underneath. It is powered over Ethernet from the Gen 1 power brick. Starlink reportedly ended software and security support for it in December 2025 and offered affected customers a free Router Mini.
- Gen 2 router: an upright unit with no Ethernet port (model UTR-211). It also powers the dish, so it must stay in the set-up. Wi-Fi 5, up to 128 devices.
- Router 3 (formerly the Gen 3 router): flat and horizontal, with two latching LAN ports under a removable cover, a reset button and a status light. Wi-Fi 6 tri-band, up to 235 devices. Reported model numbers are UTR-231 (the 2023 mesh router) and UTR-232 (the kit version).
- Router Mini: a small box about 138 × 84 mm on a stand, with one LAN and one WAN port (model UTR-251). Wi-Fi 6 dual band, up to 235 devices.
- Starlink Mini: no separate router, because the Wi-Fi is inside the dish.
Starlink model numbers: what UTA and UTR mean
Starlink dish model numbers start with “UTA-” and router model numbers with “UTR-“. On a dish, the model number is usually on the back or at the base of the stand. These are the ones reported for each kit:
| Model number | What it is |
|---|---|
| UTA-212 / UTR-211 | Gen 2 Standard Actuated dish / Gen 2 router |
| UTR-231 / UTR-232 | Gen 3 router (Router 3) |
| UTA-231 | Starlink Mini |
| UTR-251 | Router Mini |
| UTA-221 / UTA-222 | High Performance / Flat High Performance |
| UTR-201 | Gen 1 router |
You will often see “UTA-232” in listings for the Gen 3 Standard kit. We could not confirm that number from Starlink’s own documents, so go by the dish’s shape and the label on your own dish rather than a seller’s listing. Gen 1 dish numbers also differ between sources.
Where to find your Starlink kit number and Starlink ID
Starlink uses three identifiers, and support may ask for any of them:
- Kit number: “KIT” followed by digits, printed on the shipping label on the box.
- Serial number: on the box label and on the dish itself. On the Gen 3 Standard it is near the Starlink cable connector; on Gen 2 it is at the bottom of the mast.
- Starlink ID (also called the terminal ID): “ut” followed by three groups of eight characters separated by hyphens. It is shown in the Starlink app.
To find them:
- Check the label on the original box first. It carries the kit number and the dish serial.
- No box? Sign in to your account on starlink.com, where the kit and dish serial are listed.
- For the Starlink ID, open the Starlink app while connected to your Starlink. Guides from early 2026 place it on the app’s information screen: open the menu at the top left, scroll down, tap the “i” icon and look under the “Starlink” section. Older app versions put it under “Advanced”. Starlink moves menus around, so yours may differ; if you cannot find it, the kit number on the box label works just as well for activation.
Why does it matter? These numbers tie your hardware to your account. You enter the kit number, Starlink ID or serial at starlink.com/activate to activate a kit or claim one that has been transferred to you, and support uses them to run checks on your exact dish. Our Starlink setup and activation guide walks through activation step by step. If you are buying a kit second-hand, ask the seller for these numbers before you pay; our guide to buying a used Starlink in Nigeria explains why.
Starlink Gen 2 vs Gen 3: the differences that matter
| Feature | Gen 2 (Standard Actuated) | Standard (Gen 3) |
|---|---|---|
| Aiming | Motors aim the dish itself | No motors; you turn it to match the app’s alignment guide |
| Field of view | 100° | 110° |
| Router Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 5 dual band, about 185 m², up to 128 devices | Wi-Fi 6 tri-band, about 297 m², up to 235 devices |
| Wired Ethernet | None on the router; needs the Starlink Ethernet Adapter | Two LAN ports built into the router |
| Dish cable | Proprietary, non-reversible connectors | Sealed RJ45-style connectors, reversible |
Two practical points come out of this. First, the cables are not interchangeable, so upgrading from Gen 2 to Gen 3 usually means running a new cable; our guide to Starlink cable lengths and replacements covers lengths and routing. Second, a Gen 2 owner who wants a wired connection for a PC, TV or CCTV recorder needs the adapter, which our Starlink Ethernet adapter guide explains. One piece of good news: Starlink sells a mount adapter that lets the current Standard dish sit on existing Gen 2 wall, pivot, pole and ridgeline mounts.
Gen 3 vs “Gen 4”, Standard 4 X and V5
There is no Gen 4 dish. In 2026 Starlink renamed the Gen 3 kit (V4 dish with Router 3) “Standard 4 X”, and launched a cheaper “Standard 4” with the same V4 dish, a Router Mini and a new dual-port power supply. The “4” refers to the V4 dish, which is why some sellers loosely say “Gen 4”. So “Starlink 3 vs 4” usually compares the same dish with two different routers.
The genuinely new dish is the V5, revealed in July 2026: about 384 × 306 × 34 mm and 1.1 kg, with average power use reported at 35–50 W, roughly half the V4’s. It is sold in select areas, reported as the USA only so far, is not intended for use in motion, and is not confirmed for Nigeria. So “4X vs V5” is not a choice Nigerian buyers can make yet.
Is it worth upgrading to a newer Starlink?
- Gen 1 owners: the router reportedly no longer gets software or security updates, so replace at least the router. Starlink reportedly offered affected customers a free Router Mini, so check your account messages and email.
- Gen 2 owners: the system still works. Upgrade if you need built-in Ethernet ports, Wi-Fi 6 with more coverage, or the 110° field of view (against 100°), and budget for a new cable run. A cheaper middle step is the Ethernet Adapter or a Starlink mesh router.
- Gen 3 owners: you have the current Standard dish. Nothing newer is confirmed for Nigeria.
- Mini owners: the Mini is a different product, not an older one. If the Wi-Fi does not reach every room, add a mesh router or read our Starlink Mini vs Standard comparison before buying a second kit.
Need help identifying or activating your kit?
Send us a clear photo of your dish, router and box label on WhatsApp, and we will tell you which kit you have and what it needs. If it is ready to go live, our Starlink activation service usually has it working about 30 minutes after payment. Message us on WhatsApp or call 0802 859 5303, any time.
Starlink Kit Number and Generation FAQs
Where is the Starlink kit number?
On the shipping label of the original box, starting with “KIT”. It also appears in your account on starlink.com.
Is the kit number the same as the Starlink ID?
No. The kit number (KIT…) is on the box, while the Starlink ID starts with “ut” and is shown in the app. Either one, or the serial number, can be used at starlink.com/activate.
What is the difference between Starlink V3 and V4?
V4 is the thin kickstand dish known as Gen 3. People who say V3 usually mean the Gen 2 Standard Actuated, the thicker dish on a motorised mast.
Is there a Starlink Gen 4?
No new Gen 4 dish exists. “Standard 4” and “Standard 4 X” are 2026 kit names for the same V4 dish with different routers.
Can I use a Gen 2 cable on a Gen 3 dish?
No. The connectors are different, so the cables are not interchangeable.
My router has no Ethernet ports. Which one is it?
An upright router with no Ethernet port is the Gen 2 router. For a wired connection it needs the Starlink Ethernet Adapter.