Ubiquity Bullet M2 vs PepLink Max BR1 Mini. Wan WiFi

[Skybolt]

I also did some SpeedTest.Net test's. The first one is on Cell and the second is on WiFi. I took the best of three. Also had music streaming and YouTubeTv playing while I did this.

 

[b_arrington]

Performance wise that looks pretty good, but I just watched a review on it and its pretty big. Not sure where I would put something that size.

Agreed on the size. I have a hard top with. plenty of space so it works for me.

Not my boat, but same model. Thinking of mounting the antenna behind the mast. Then running the wire down to a cabinet in the salon. The radio is in there so there should be power I may be able to use.

This is my roof.

This is the target cabinet.

 

[dtfeld]

I also did some SpeedTest.Net test's. The first one is on Cell and the second is on WiFi. I took the best of three. Also had music streaming and YouTubeTv playing while I did this.

View attachment 99041

View attachment 99043

Is that in your slip? Those are not too bad. As I move closer to "civilization" I've had as high as 50/30 and as I traveled into the "hinterland 4-5 down .5 up. I've been able to stream 1 TV at 1080p about anywhere I want. Add a second, may/maybe not.

 

[Skybolt]

I’m looking at the Teltonika RUTX11. Similar to the Peplink max br1 mini. But supports 2.4 and 5ghz WiFi. Less expensive too.
From what I understand, this unit can serve as both a a WiFi client and an access point so a second wireless router for devices on the boat is not necessary. It’s also supposed to check for WiFi points automatically with an additional license. That cuts the cost vs Peplink by almost $200. ...

Well to say thats not a nice unit would be a lie. It looks real nice with some nice features. Curious as to how it performs. I went with the Peplink because of how it being touted on other sites and also some conversations with @dtfeld. Not sorry I went the way I did at all. But that looks very interesting, let us know how that works out Brad.

 

[dtfeld]

Was reading up on antenna placement. NEMA has some recommendations for placement.

https://www.nmea.org/Assets/nmea antenna installations ibex presentation 2011.pdf

 

[Skybolt]

Phase 1 complete..
View attachment 99025

Looks good! How did you flush mount it?

 

[Skybolt]

Is that in your slip? Those are not too bad. ...

Yes, but I am under cover for the winter. I move to the covered slips for the winter so I don't have to shrink wrap. Add the roof is steel or aluminum as well.

Not bad numbers at all for having things streaming at the same time. The cool part was, while I switched between Cell and WiFi the video and music didn't skip a beat. Really nice performance with the Peplink.

 

[Skybolt]

Was reading up on antenna placement. NEMA has some recommendations for placement.

https://www.nmea.org/Assets/nmea antenna installations ibex presentation 2011.pdf

That has some really cool info in it. Thanks for posting that.

 

[ocgrant]

Looks good! How did you flush mount it?

I just replaced an old Ghost security antenna. 3/4 inch hole. It just bolts from underneath with a big plastic nut on the antenna shaft. Was easy just had to have the wifey fit her arm in the hole to tighten it up I couldn’t fit.

 

[GnrlPatton]

So got home last night and today opened all my parts for this project. Opened the Peplink which was brand new in the box, logged onto 5G store to buy my license, paid and an hour later get an email to please call. Called and was told that Peplink has black listed these and will not sell license because these were being sold by a non licensed re-seller. Such BS but what ever... Returned it to seller on eBay and just ordered new one from 5G store. So this weekend I am just going to mount my Jellyfish and run cables. Next weekend I will complete and test.

Dang, I am betting I have the same since I followed your link earlier in the thread. Did the seller take it back and refund? If so, I'll have to do the same.

 

[Skybolt]

So looking over ebay it seems there aren't as many Max BR1's as there use to be.
The 5G store is a great source to get the factory equipment. They will also install the license needed to be able to use it with WiFi as well.

The first link is only AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon only.
https://5gstore.com/product/6818_pepwave_max_br1_mini_lte.html
https://5gstore.com/product/6817_pepwave_max_br1_mini_lte_advanced.html

This link explains the differences:
https://5gstore.com/product/6967_pepwave_br1_mini.html

 

[GnrlPatton]

I’m looking at the Teltonika RUTX11. Similar to the Peplink max br1 mini. But supports 2.4 and 5ghz WiFi. Less expensive too.
From what I understand, this unit can serve as both a a WiFi client and an access point so a second wireless router for devices on the boat is not necessary. It’s also supposed to check for WiFi points automatically with an additional license. That cuts the cost vs Peplink by almost $200.

https://seabits.com/teltonika-rutx1...bzrWNNNoCRTp5nyn-BG3E_gaZxu7mFpwBNxI7R7YfTc-c

This is one place to get it.
https://www.streakwave.com/teltonika-rutx11100400-rutx11-lte-router-usa-canada-carriers

That looks interesting, are you sure about the WiFi failover? I saw a question on the product page on Amazon and someone answered that it doesn't support that. https://www.amazon.com/Teltonika-RUTX11-WiFi-Cat6-Router/dp/B07WP35WQ2

Reading through the review you linked it seems like it does, so I'm confused. I just returned my Peplink, so thinking about either getting a new one or looking further into this one. Like others have said, I'm a bit disappointed that Peplink charges extra for additional carrier support and WiFi failover, so if this one can do all of that, I may seriously consider it.

 

[b_arrington]

That looks interesting, are you sure about the WiFi failover? I saw a question on the product page on Amazon and someone answered that it doesn't support that. https://www.amazon.com/Teltonika-RUTX11-WiFi-Cat6-Router/dp/B07WP35WQ2

Reading through the review you linked it seems like it does, so I'm confused. I just returned my Peplink, so thinking about either getting a new one or looking further into this one. Like others have said, I'm a bit disappointed that Peplink charges extra for additional carrier support and WiFi failover, so if this one can do all of that, I may seriously consider it.

That was me that asked it. I got an different answer directly from Teltonika.

It will fail over / select WiFi over Cell. But...it will only remember the last wifi station connected. Unlike an iPhone, or a Peplink from what I understand, it will not save a list of hotspots and their login data. If you go away from your home marina wifi and connect to another wifi network, the RUTX11 will not autoconnect to your home wifi. You have to go in and manually connect.

That's kinda of annoying and limits the utility of the wifi autoconnect / failover. I have to weight that limitation against the plusses of 2.4/5gHz wifi, multiple LAN ports, and lower cost vs. the higher cost and saved wifi networks on the Peplink models.

 

[Skybolt]

.... If you go away from your home marina wifi and connect to another wifi network, the RUTX11 will not autoconnect to your home wifi. You have to go in and manually connect. ...

That was the best part and well worth the added cost as far as I am concerned. Leaving the slip on wifi and failing over to cell and then reconnecting automatically again was the best thing ever. I stream music through a sonos on the boat and that never stopped. But that's only if you have the WiFi as the highest priority. If cell is always the highest priority then your always on cell and I guess and no real need for WiFI, and possibly no need for the License either.

 

[GnrlPatton]

That was me that asked it. I got an different answer directly from Teltonika.

It will fail over / select WiFi over Cell. But...it will only remember the last wifi station connected. Unlike an iPhone, or a Peplink from what I understand, it will not save a list of hotspots and their login data. If you go away from your home marina wifi and connect to another wifi network, the RUTX11 will not autoconnect to your home wifi. You have to go in and manually connect.

That's kinda of annoying and limits the utility of the wifi autoconnect / failover. I have to weight that limitation against the plusses of 2.4/5gHz wifi, multiple LAN ports, and lower cost vs. the higher cost and saved wifi networks on the Peplink models.

Got it, thanks. I agree that the lack of storing the WiFi credentials is annoying, the Peplink may have pulled back in to the lead for me. However, I do travel to Canada (normally, just not last year) and think it would be a good option to be able to purchase a Sim for when I'm up there. I just don't know if the Peplink will support that, but it does look like the Teltonika unit would.

Edit: Just looked on the Peplink site and it shows compatibility with Rogers and Telus, which are the largest carriers where I go, so looks like I answered my own question.

 

[dtfeld]

There are 2 mainstream companied that seem to pop up the most, Peplink and Cradlepoint. Both are pretty capable, but Peplink is more affordable. They have several models depending on what your trying to do, and as you can tell, it can be confusing.

From my standpoint, I like the Peplink stuff just because there is a lot of people doing this and an answer to how to do something pretty easy to find.

 

[Skybolt]

I should have posted this with the others, but this is how the BR1 saves the WiFI AP's. And when in WiFi mode it will constantly scan the profiles for the SSID. I don't have many profiles listed here because I haven't gone anywhere since my last trip of the season when I tested this whole setup.

 

[ocgrant]

Dang, I am betting I have the same since I followed your link earlier in the thread. Did the seller take it back and refund? If so, I'll have to do the same.

Yea he took it back no issue... I told him he got screwed as I need the WAN license and that is a deal killer for me.

 

[GnrlPatton]

Yea he took it back no issue... I told him he got screwed as I need the WAN license and that is a deal killer for me.

I filled out my return request yesterday and it sounds like he'll refund it. Even paid for the free shipping which I didn't expect. I've already purchased a new unit from the 5g store, hoping that is the last of the hardware I need (other than the SIM card and cellular account). I'm ready to start putting it all together!

 

[bajturner]

So I miss spoke about the Peplink not having an WiFi access point, as it turns out I had just turned it off. Sorry for posting incorrect information.

To turn on the WiFi Access point you just need to turn it on and it has all of the features one would expect.

View attachment 99034

This is an awesome thread!

I tried to get to this project last summer, had a quote from Peplink, but didn't pull the trigger. It's really helpful to see others blazing the trail.

I have a question about the MAX BRI (same for mini or Classic, or MKII, I assume). Seems obvious, but I can't seem to get a definite answer from the documentation: Can these routers simultaneously connect to marina WiFi as a WAN interface and provide LAN WiFi AP functionality? Obviously they can be a WiFi AP, but is that only supported when connected to cellular WAN?

Thanks!