Ubiquity Bullet M2 vs PepLink Max BR1 Mini. Wan WiFi

alnav said:
David, FWIW, I have the Peplink SOHO device, which is pretty much the same as other models but without cellular modem capability. It has wifi as WAN (no license needed). When I'm away from a shore-based wifi source I have it failover to an iPhone/iPad hotspot.
It works fine as a standalone router and wifi access point.
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The Peplink line has a lot of good option and the SOHO router has been a favorite for a long time, especially if you want to USB tether a device in, and don't want/need an always on cellular connection. Plus you can always upgrade the modem via USB.

For me, cellular is the primary 24/7/365 connection, so the MAX BR1 line fits better for me (i won't use marina Wi-Fi ever in my current environment). However, one weakness is the lack of USB tether support.

Both great options.
 
alnav said:
David, FWIW, I have the Peplink SOHO device, which is pretty much the same as other models but without cellular modem capability. It has wifi as WAN (no license needed). When I'm away from a shore-based wifi source I have it failover to an iPhone/iPad hotspot.
It works fine as a standalone router and wifi access point.
Click to expand...
Does it remember other marinas WiFi passwords?
 
dtfeld said:
The Peplink line has a lot of good option and the SOHO router has been a favorite for a long time, especially if you want to USB tether a device in, and don't want/need an always on cellular connection. Plus you can always upgrade the modem via USB.

For me, cellular is the primary 24/7/365 connection, so the MAX BR1 line fits better for me (i won't use marina Wi-Fi ever in my current environment). However, one weakness is the lack of USB tether support.

Both great options.
Click to expand...
I wasn't trying to sell you on the SOHO, I'm actually looking to either add a cellular USB modem or move to Pepwave or Cradlepoint with internal modem. I was inferring that you could probably be fine using the Pepwave's wifi hosting capability based on my experience rather than adding a separate wifi router.
 
alnav said:
I wasn't trying to sell you on the SOHO, I'm actually looking to either add a cellular USB modem or move to Pepwave or Cradlepoint with internal modem. ...
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@alnav I was originally looking at the cradlepoint offerings, very nice equipment but they were ~$1800 all in which also needed a ~$400/yr contract to lease the software. Part of the software that needs to be leased is the setup/configuration software needed to operate the device. I don't mind paying for the right equipment, but being forced to lease the nessecary software to operate it is just plain crazy.

I use to use the Ubiquity that way you use your SOHO, but I ran into to many situations where even cell service wasn't available, like at Fairly Creek or the Wye river area by St. Michaels. Having the cellular modem using an up high external antenna you are able to get a much better signal then just using your phone. I am guessing you can add even more places where this happens.
 
So I have to say got the Xfinity issue fixed and working the PepWave switched over as priority one just like programmed. Now sitting st the end of my dock 100 feet from my boat and connected and watching boats go up and down the river. Doesn't get any better than this!!! Super happy with this set up.
 
ocgrant said:
So I have to say got the Xfinity issue fixed and working the PepWave switched over as priority one just like programmed. Now sitting st the end of my dock 100 feet from my boat and connected and watching boats go up and down the river. Doesn't get any better than this!!! Super happy with this set up.
Click to expand...

Now your ready for the Bahama's!
 
Orlando, I hear you. My original wifi-as-WAN router was a Cradlepoint and I have watched the shift to the subscription pricing model targeted to enterprises. I'm concerned that Peplink might be going the same direction. Cradlepoint was just bought by Ericsson so maybe more changes are on the horizon.
I fully agree that an external antenna is necessary to get the best possible coverage. I think I may be too worried about future-proofing. The number of potential antenna elements and modem cats seems to keep going up; I intend to settle on one and get that in place this spring. Really appreciate being able to follow this thread.
 
alnav said:
I wasn't trying to sell you on the SOHO, I'm actually looking to either add a cellular USB modem or move to Pepwave or Cradlepoint with internal modem. I was inferring that you could probably be fine using the Pepwave's wifi hosting capability based on my experience rather than adding a separate wifi router.
Click to expand...

@alnav I'm sorry, I completely missed that point. And I think you are right about the WiFi capabilites. I'm happy enough with the way its working on the bench to install it on the boat.

I still think the SOHO router has a lot of options with the USB capability, something that the MAX line is missing. I guess they expect that in a couple of years the technology will have move enough you'll just tear it out and replace it, kinda like a cell phone.
 
alnav said:
Orlando, I hear you. My original wifi-as-WAN router was a Cradlepoint and I have watched the shift to the subscription pricing model targeted to enterprises. I'm concerned that Peplink might be going the same direction. Cradlepoint was just bought by Ericsson so maybe more changes are on the horizon.
I fully agree that an external antenna is necessary to get the best possible coverage. I think I may be too worried about future-proofing. The number of potential antenna elements and modem cats seems to keep going up; I intend to settle on one and get that in place this spring. Really appreciate being able to follow this thread.
Click to expand...


I was hoping the MAX line would get a refresh and add B71, but I've been waiting too long. This thread got me off the dime (well sever thousand dimes actually:eek:). But at least now I can clean up that rats nest of wires behind the TV.

I'm excited to get this installed at the boat. Next up... an antenna!!!
 
alnav said:
... I think I may be too worried about future-proofing. The number of potential antenna elements and modem cats seems to keep going up; I intend to settle on one and get that in place this spring. Really appreciate being able to follow this thread.
Click to expand...

Yeah future proofing is almost impossible to do these days. There is away's so much churn with technology and the next greatest thing is right around the corner and antiquate's the last greatest one. Peplink could be taken over, but the way I see it, for the price this device isn't ever going to be less then it is today. Meaning It supports everything needed for the foreseeable future. Baring 2.4ghz wifi going away and the current cell frequencies going away, we should be good, for a few years at worst.

I mean there was a time when I thought STD definition DTV on my boat was all there ever could be and look how grand this is. Now look at things, I can't wait to ditch them.
 
dtfeld said:
@ocgrant

Did you try using the Peplink as your main wifi access point (looks like you might have the EA4200 doing those duties)?

I've been testing mine here at the house before deploying to the boat and I have the Wifi as WAN connected up to the house wifi, and the peplink Wifi AP connected simultaneously to several devices around the house. It seems to do a pretty good job.

I'm wondering if I can ditch the wifi router altogether, and get down to 1 device (the peplink MAX) doing all functions. That would allow me to get rid of that rats nest of wiring behind the fridge as well (and repurpose it for important things like holding booze bottles!!).
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I plan to run in this configuration. I'll try to break it and see how it holds up...
 
ocgrant said:
So I have to say got the Xfinity issue fixed and working the PepWave switched over as priority one just like programmed. Now sitting st the end of my dock 100 feet from my boat and connected and watching boats go up and down the river. Doesn't get any better than this!!! Super happy with this set up.
Click to expand...
Any tips on the Xfinity setup you can share? I'll be finishing up my install in the coming weeks and will be ready to tackle that one.

Thanks,
Kevin
 
alnav said:
Yes. The interface wrt managing wifi connections is identical to the ones shown earlier in the thread. Once a connection is set up it will stay in memory.
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Received my Pepwave SOHO today...have it all setup at the house... now everyone can logon to the boat instead of every place we go ...Works exactly as described even switching to my phone if internet goes down. Thanks for the kick in the butt to get this checked off the list already
 
I agree with Blue...thanks for kicking him in the butt! ;)

On the same note, I received my MAX Transit Duo a couple of hours ago and set it up. Took about 15 minutes from start to end, including InControl2 registration.

I have it running in my house now with the WAN connected to my existing cable Internet service using WiFi 5G as priority 1, 2.4G as priority 2, then cellular as priority 3, while simultaneously connected to it as an AP.

From initial impressions, this is a very well executed product. Performance seems very good, with only a slight hit to download and upload speeds when going through it as a WiFi bridge vs a laptop connected by wire to the same gateway router.

Cellular reception is very strong (will try to quantify) as compared to a cell phone in the same location, using the included antennas.

This will replace a multi-device mess of a setup on the boat that was typically unreliable.

Thanks for the kick here too!
 
Thanks for kicking me in the Butt too!!

I bought a new in box MAX BR1 Mk2, and I've been testing it on my desk before I deploy it to the boat, and as described, its about 15 minutes to get the basics set up.

I have it setup running priority 1) WiFi as WAN 2.4 --> 2) WiFi as WAN 5.0 --> 3) Cellular. Working well. I'll change that once at the boat to Cellular only...no free WiFi around me.

I've tested it on 12VDC battery power (draws about .25 to .50 A depending on what its doing), and plugged into 110 VAC with the supplied wall wort.

My only question is what is the power priority? DC the AC or AC then DC. I would expect AC then DC, but not sure it has any way to monitor/priorotize/select its input power source.


IMG-1172.jpg
 
Blueone said:
Received my Pepwave SOHO today...have it all setup at the house... now everyone can logon to the boat instead of every place we go ...Works exactly as described even switching to my phone if internet goes down. Thanks for the kick in the butt to get this checked off the list already
Click to expand...
Best of luck with it. One tip: The interface identifies the type of wifi signal (5Ghz, 2.4Ghz); my phone won't do that. At my home marina and at some other places I've been, there is both a 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz signal operating under the same SSID. If the 5Ghz signal is good, I grab that one. There frequently won't be anyone else on it. Lots of devices aren't even capable and others must be defaulting to the 2.4Ghz signal. The range of 5Ghz isn't as good but the speed is higher if you're close enough to the antenna. There have been a couple of instances where dock mates were bitching about the wifi signal while I was fine.
At my home marina I have both in the system so I can move to 2.4 if needed. I think this capability is probably available in the other Peplink wifi-as-wan routers as well.
 
Answered my own question.

It prefers power from the wall wort/round power connector first. If power is available on the amp plug, it will swap over and not miss a beat.
 
The BR1 Max Mini accepts a POE connection through the WAN plug, I found that very strange since the LAN connector is what is going to mostly be used. Mine has been powered that way since I installed it, because I am too lazy to re-route the 12v plug connector, but that is on my todo list when I open the AV cabinet again.
 
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