Ubiquity Bullet M2 vs PepLink Max BR1 Mini. Wan WiFi

So, guys, what's the secret to getting a sim card and plan? I have a new Peplink modem. When I enter the IMEI on say, Ultramobile or even Verizon, the response is that it's not compatible. No Peplink option on the pulldown menu either. So, do I just get a SIM card by dummying up the info from perhaps a phone? Then, once I get the SIM, plug it in and activate? Or, are there special sites for data devices I haven't been able to find?
 
GnrlPatton said:
Do it when you are connected to the router (or peplink directly), hit the peplink IP address and login using your admin credentials. You'll hit the dashboard once you login, and that's where you can look at the WiFi settings.

When you get a chance, is you could let me know how you get xfinity connected to your wifi wan, is really appreciate it. I've been playing around with it all day to no avail.

One other thing that is very odd, my router is configured with both 2.4 and 5 GHz. I'm getting wildly different speeds when connected to each. Like under 10Mbps on the 2.4GHz channel, vs 25+ on 5G. I've tried switching bands and wireless configs for the 2.4 side, but nothing has helped.
Click to expand...
I never got Xfinity connected, while we have Xfinity we are not using their wifi router. We have a Motorolla cable router that is connected to a few Cisco Meraki's along our marina complex.
 
ocgrant said:
Ok need some help. First thing, installed Wilson antenna, happy with that. Verizon perfromance...not so much
View attachment 100789
View attachment 100790
Now here is where the issue comes in, I can't get the Peplink to see the new Cisco Meraki wireless access point we installed on the dock. When I use the app and "scan" it finds lots of other Wi-fi AP's but not the one I need. Funny thing is the Meraki is the closest only 20 feet off my stern. Any ideas how to get this thing to find my Meraki?
Here is from my phone sitting on the boat, it find the Meraki fine
View attachment 100791
Here is the Peplink page on the app
View attachment 100792

What does this mean???
View attachment 100793

When I click scan all I find is my boat "H2O Therapy" cisco router and a bunch of other wifi AP's around the area but not the Meraki... (sorry forgot to snap a screenshot)

Ideas????
Click to expand...

Grant, couple of things,

First with regards to WiFi, the BR1 Mini is only 2.4Ghz and does not support 5Ghz. The MKII does support 5Ghz. What does the Cisco Meraki outputting? Are they 5Ghz only or dual channel?

The 0 DBm is actually 100% signal strength. Which is also a 1 mW signal, a very strong signal.
This article explains more: https://www.metageek.com/training/resources/wifi-signal-strength-basics.html
 
With regard to XFinity not working. Where I use to live I had Optimum WiFi they were public everywhere and the only way I could use a modem of any sort was to add the MAC address to there allowed devices list that was part of my account. That would allow the modem to connect and get an IP address but then a device still needed to be logged on with a valid account.

Not sure if that's what is going on here but it sounds like it is from my past experience.
 
ocgrant said:
Ok need some help. First thing, installed Wilson antenna, happy with that. Verizon perfromance...not so much
View attachment 100789
View attachment 100790
Now here is where the issue comes in, I can't get the Peplink to see the new Cisco Meraki wireless access point we installed on the dock. When I use the app and "scan" it finds lots of other Wi-fi AP's but not the one I need. Funny thing is the Meraki is the closest only 20 feet off my stern. Any ideas how to get this thing to find my Meraki?
Here is from my phone sitting on the boat, it find the Meraki fine
View attachment 100791
Here is the Peplink page on the app
View attachment 100792

What does this mean???
View attachment 100793

When I click scan all I find is my boat "H2O Therapy" cisco router and a bunch of other wifi AP's around the area but not the Meraki... (sorry forgot to snap a screenshot)

Ideas????
Click to expand...

There are some additional settings in the MAX BR1 that allow/disallow certain channels. Check to see what channel your AP is broadcasting on, and if the MAX is looking for that channel. Settings for the frequency (2.4GHz) and channels should match.

Edit: Your AP may be set to operate on only 1 channel, or it may jump around looking for the least congested channel (especially with a 2.4 GHz network as they have limited channels). Make sure your Mini is set to look for "All" 2.4GHz channels


upload_2021-3-8_10-29-9.png
 
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alnav said:
So, guys, what's the secret to getting a sim card and plan? I have a new Peplink modem. When I enter the IMEI on say, Ultramobile or even Verizon, the response is that it's not compatible. No Peplink option on the pulldown menu either. So, do I just get a SIM card by dummying up the info from perhaps a phone? Then, once I get the SIM, plug it in and activate? Or, are there special sites for data devices I haven't been able to find?
Click to expand...

@alnav the SIM card should just be plug and play. The only data entry should be for the WiFi AP info. That said, @GnrlPatton had to create a new APN to get his to work.

If your using an existing SIM card then that could also be the issue. The network it registers too knows what type of device it is in and registers accordingly. When that device type changes and is not of the same type, i.e. cell phone vs. modem, there can be an issue. I ran into issues with T-Mobile when I tried to re-use a SIM from a data module for the modem and had to get a new SIM from ultra mobile and it all just worked.
 
One last item to check

Make sure the Meraki is broadcasting the SSID. If not you will not see it, but you should be able to create a Connection profile for it, even if the SSID is hidden.
 
alnav said:
So, guys, what's the secret to getting a sim card and plan? I have a new Peplink modem. When I enter the IMEI on say, Ultramobile or even Verizon, the response is that it's not compatible. No Peplink option on the pulldown menu either. So, do I just get a SIM card by dummying up the info from perhaps a phone? Then, once I get the SIM, plug it in and activate? Or, are there special sites for data devices I haven't been able to find?
Click to expand...

95% of the time, my SIM cards have been plug and play. The exception was swapping from one device to the next and I have to set up the APN data manually. I think I just googled the carriers and APN and came up with what I needed.
 
As far as Verizon speeds, it has a lot to do with location of the towers and your location and what frequencies your operating on. I was getting about the same from ATT without the external Puma 221 antenna. It doesnt help that I'm in a metal pole structure...basically a Faraday Cage. I get much better speeds out of the dock.

Try www.cellmapper.net and see where your closest tower is. This works around the world allegedly.
 
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alnav said:
So, guys, what's the secret to getting a sim card and plan? I have a new Peplink modem. When I enter the IMEI on say, Ultramobile or even Verizon, the response is that it's not compatible. No Peplink option on the pulldown menu either. So, do I just get a SIM card by dummying up the info from perhaps a phone? Then, once I get the SIM, plug it in and activate? Or, are there special sites for data devices I haven't been able to find?
Click to expand...
I just got and BR1 Mk2 and a SIM card for T Mobile. T Mobile currently has a prepaid data only plan that’s $50/month for 100gb. I put the IMEI into their validation tool and they said the device had “limited connectivity” and I should buy a new phone, but it would work. I assume this is a marketing tactics to upgrade to a 5G phone.

Anyway, I put the SIM card in the Peplink and after a while it worked. I did have to swap ports and check settings for a while because it didn’t initially connect to cellular.
 
dtfeld said:
What was the setting(s) that got this going??
Click to expand...
Moved it to medium and it worked. Need to try high but but was on the phone with the siren marine guys working on another issue so ran out of time to circle back and play with this. Was 82 degrees today so had to take the boat out. Peplink worked great, the hound said internet is good
B892B7BD-DD5D-4A66-9B83-7A947889D8FB.jpeg
 
b_arrington said:
I just got and BR1 Mk2 and a SIM card for T Mobile. T Mobile currently has a prepaid data only plan that’s $50/month for 100gb. I put the IMEI into their validation tool and they said the device had “limited connectivity” and I should buy a new phone, but it would work. I assume this is a marketing tactics to upgrade to a 5G phone.

Anyway, I put the SIM card in the Peplink and after a while it worked. I did have to swap ports and check settings for a while because it didn’t initially connect to cellular.
Click to expand...

I tried this plan or one like it last fall and was why I went with ultra mobile. T-Mobile sees the SIM in a modem and throttles the bandwidth because they offer Modem plans and want you to go that route. That $50 is for phones only, that really pissed me off when there tech support told me all of that. And to be honest, I am not quite sure how I am getting away with the ultra mobile plan because they are a t-mobile subsidiary. But the SIM doesn't say t-mobile so maybe it's not digitally branded.
 
SKybolt said:
I tried this plan or one like it last fall and was why I went with ultra mobile. T-Mobile sees the SIM in a modem and throttles the bandwidth because they offer Modem plans and want you to go that route. That $50 is for phones only, that really pissed me off when there tech support told me all of that. And to be honest, I am not quite sure how I am getting away with the ultra mobile plan because they are a t-mobile subsidiary. But the SIM doesn't say t-mobile so maybe it's not digitally branded.
Click to expand...

I’m pretty sure this is a plan for a modem. I specifically signed up for a data-only plan intended for hotspots, jet packs, etc. Its one recommended by Sea Bits for use on boats in routers like the Pepwave devices. I guess I’ll find out though.

https://seabits.com/t-mobile-100gb-internet-data-plan/

https://seabits.com/recommended-systems-plans/

https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/t-...y-plans-inseego-5g-mifi-m2000-mobile-hotspot/

I wanted to try T Mobile because the plan should maintain priority during congestion. The resold bandwidth plans like Ultramobile get deprioritized from the carriers’ direct customers when the towers are busy. Also, I’ve been thinking about switching from Verizon for my phones and wanted to try them out.
 
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b_arrington said:
I’m pretty sure this is a plan for a modem. I specifically signed up for a data-only plan intended for hotspots, jet packs, etc. Its one recommended by Sea Bits for use on boats in routers like the Pepwave devices. I guess I’ll find out though. ...
Click to expand...

I can only state what I experienced with that plan when it first came out, sept 2020. I did not try it in the peplink though, I had an Alcatel Link Zone. I had read that seabits article back in Jan and was very confused over what I had experienced.

That said, I can only hope there was a screw up of sorts (t-mobile) and that you will report back that the plan works great, I would love to switch back since I have t-mo for my phones.
 
So in that Seabits article they point out this:
  • If you go beyond 50GB/month, your connection could get super slow in time of congestion. That happens where a tower is busy which can be in rural areas just as much as in metro areas. Near my marina, when cruise ships docked, T-Mobile was essentially unusable if you were over your data allotment for the month. This restriction is not unlike similar restrictions on high monthly data or even “unlimited” plans from many other providers.
That is exactly what ultra mobile does and I believe ultimately is the type of plan they are using to farm out their service. I could be wrong, but they have the same restrictions and use t-mo backbone for the service.
 
b_arrington said:
I’m pretty sure this is a plan for a modem. I specifically signed up for a data-only plan intended for hotspots, jet packs, etc. Its one recommended by Sea Bits for use on boats in routers like the Pepwave devices. I guess I’ll find out though.

https://seabits.com/t-mobile-100gb-internet-data-plan/

https://seabits.com/recommended-systems-plans/

https://www.rvmobileinternet.com/t-...y-plans-inseego-5g-mifi-m2000-mobile-hotspot/

I wanted to try T Mobile because the plan should maintain priority during congestion. The resold bandwidth plans like Ultramobile get deprioritized from the carriers’ direct customers when the towers are busy. Also, I’ve been thinking about switching from Verizon for my phones and wanted to try them out.
Click to expand...

I read about this plan on Seabits.com and tried to sign up. I was unable to get to a checkout online. Did you do it online or in store?? I'm a big fan of Tmobile lately after years with Verizon.
 
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