Ubiquity Bullet M2 vs PepLink Max BR1 Mini. Wan WiFi

[Skybolt]

You are right, I am just going to stay with the Linksys as it does everything I need it to do. Should I shut of the Peplink AP like the Starlink?

The PL AP should have been off already if the Linksys is your primary router, so yes.

 

[ocgrant]

Ok next question should I hardwire cat5 the Fusion RA770 into the Linksys since it is right next to it? I have always struggled to get that thing on the network so I could control it from my iPhone. Any tips on that one?

 

[dtfeld]

Ok next question should I hardwire cat5 the Fusion RA770 into the Linksys since it is right next to it? I have always struggled to get that thing on the network so I could control it from my iPhone. Any tips on that one?

I hardwired mine. I like to hardwire everything I can, especially the TV's. Everything usually works OK over WiFi until your in a crowded marina on a busy sports weekend.

I was attempting to utilize the PartyBus feature, but never could get it to work all that well.

 

[Skybolt]

I hardwired mine. I like to hardwire everything I can, especially the TV's. Everything usually works OK over WiFi until your in a crowded marina on a busy sports weekend.

I was attempting to utilize the PartyBus feature, but never could get it to work all that well.

That's why the AP being in the cabin makes that a moot point for the most part.

I could get party bus working acceptable either. Either could anyone else I know. Sure it will work sometimes, maybe even for entire day, but good luck next time. I believe the issue is not enough boat's have stable WiFi on board.

One very nice feature of the PL is the ability to adjust the output power. That is if your using the PL as an access point.

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

Several posts ago we discussed the PEPWAVE Surf SOHO

I gifted myself one for Christmas

All connections made, the unit shakes hands with the laptop just fine.

Sitting on the boat, at the dock, behind the house.

Unable to get it to discover the wireless connection

The laptop finds it fine.

Is it me - or is did I mis-understand the posts here and perhaps this unit requires a modem?

I thought this was a simple solution to attach to the wireless signal here or at a marina.

Do I need to buy more equipment ?

CONFUSED...

RWS

 

[alnav]

Several posts ago we discussed the PEPWAVE Surf SOHO

I gifted myself one for Christmas

All connections made, the unit shakes hands with the laptop just fine.

Sitting on the boat, at the dock, behind the house.

Unable to get it to discover the wireless connection

The laptop finds it fine.

Is it me - or is did I mis-understand the posts here and perhaps this unit requires a modem?

I thought this was a simple solution to attach to the wireless signal here or at a marina.

Do I need to buy more equipment ?

CONFUSED...

RWS

The initial set up can be confusing. Can you post a screenshot of your Network screen on the Peplink as was done in post #360?

 

[alnav]

Yea my issue is the Peplink is mounted in the cockpit area and signal inside the boat is not that good. Not sure if that is because the wifi antenna is mounted on top of the cockpit or what. With the Linksys I seem to get better coverage but I agree it is another component. The wifi antenna I have on the Peplink is a Shakespeare Octopus. I wonder of one of the new Peplink tall antennas would increase the coverage inside my cabin and i could eliminate the Linksys and just add a switch for my hardwired stuff? Thoughts?

Another thought on this: I too mounted inside the cabin and had a long cable run to the antennas (9 meters if I recall correctly). The wifi suffers from signal loss based on the length of the run. When I tested my system, I found that non only was the wireless AP poor but also that my ability to reach an external wifi source was almost nil (there is a wifi source antenna right next to my home slip). When I disconnected the antenna cable and reinstalled paddles, both the external wifi and AP worked just fine. I haven't found the need since to go back to an antenna since the wifi sources I have used while traveling have been fine. Cellular, OTOH, doesn't seem to suffer much cable loss and the signals are definitely better on the external antenna.
You may want to test with paddles and see what that does for you. Check the RSSIs on both configurations.
Lesson learned for me was that, like @dtfield, if possible, the Peplink needs to be installed as close as possible to the wifi antenna.

 

[dtfeld]

Several posts ago we discussed the PEPWAVE Surf SOHO

I gifted myself one for Christmas

All connections made, the unit shakes hands with the laptop just fine.

Sitting on the boat, at the dock, behind the house.

Unable to get it to discover the wireless connection

The laptop finds it fine.

Is it me - or is did I mis-understand the posts here and perhaps this unit requires a modem?

I thought this was a simple solution to attach to the wireless signal here or at a marina.

Do I need to buy more equipment ?

CONFUSED...

RWS

What you are attempting to do is called WiFi as WAN. This is getting pretty ancient (The 3G store is now the 5G store), but this should explain the basics.

Basically you are needing to get the SOHO an internet connection through your house Wifi network. You need to make this your highest priority WAN connection.

Then you need to make yourself a wireless LAN on the boat to connect all things on the boat.

 

[dtfeld]

In Peplink terms, your WAN is your connection to the internet. The Peplink has the ability to pick the internet source from several sources (if you have the right equipment and internet is available through those sources).

So in a lot of cases, we have 2-3 internet sources depending where the boat is located. If at out home port, we may be connected to our home or marina wifi. If were are out and about, and now outside the range of our home/marina wifi, the peplink would see the signal drop and look for a secondary connection (in order of priority). It could be the onboard cellular modem or a Starlink connection.

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

SO.....

I reset the peplink

then looked at the video THANK YOU

Then realized I was clicking the wrong part of the screen to slide the option to the correct position

Now I have internet WHEEE! But not certain It' s set up the best way

Screenshot attempt here:

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED WITH THIS ISSUE ! ! !

Couple of questions:

• I ordered the recommended antenna for this unit (1 x MobileMark Covert Mount Dual Band WiFi Antenna - 8ft Cable (CVL-WIFI-2400500) = $41.32)
  but it did not arrive yet. There are 3 antenna paddles on the unit - are these there to detect an available wireless network to attach to or are they there to produce a wireless signal for onboard use - OR BOTH ?
• Is there a screen that will show incoming signal strength, thereby allowing me a view to mount the unit for the best possible reception?
• Should the priority be the 2.4 or the 5 ?
• As of this moment the 2.4 for Homeland Security has yet to connect - should I disconnect from the 5 on the same source?

THANKS TO Y'ALL AGAIN !

RWS

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

just ran a speed test here at the home dock:

 

[techmitch]

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED WITH THIS ISSUE ! ! !

Couple of questions:

• I ordered the recommended antenna for this unit (1 x MobileMark Covert Mount Dual Band WiFi Antenna - 8ft Cable (CVL-WIFI-2400500) = $41.32)
  but it did not arrive yet. There are 3 antenna paddles on the unit - are these there to detect an available wireless network to attach to or are they there to produce a wireless signal for onboard use - OR BOTH ?
• Is there a screen that will show incoming signal strength, thereby allowing me a view to mount the unit for the best possible reception?
• Should the priority be the 2.4 or the 5 ?
• As of this moment the 2.4 for Homeland Security has yet to connect - should I disconnect from the 5 on the same source?

THANKS TO Y'ALL AGAIN !

RWS

just ran a speed test here at the home dock:

View attachment 138078

Probably the only question I can answer in this thread is that 2.4 is better for distance and 5.0 is better for speed. Note: I may be wrong here also. Lol

 

[alnav]

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED WITH THIS ISSUE ! ! !

Couple of questions:

• I ordered the recommended antenna for this unit (1 x MobileMark Covert Mount Dual Band WiFi Antenna - 8ft Cable (CVL-WIFI-2400500) = $41.32)
  but it did not arrive yet. There are 3 antenna paddles on the unit - are these there to detect an available wireless network to attach to or are they there to produce a wireless signal for onboard use - OR BOTH ?
• Is there a screen that will show incoming signal strength, thereby allowing me a view to mount the unit for the best possible reception?
• Should the priority be the 2.4 or the 5 ?
• As of this moment the 2.4 for Homeland Security has yet to connect - should I disconnect from the 5 on the same source?

THANKS TO Y'ALL AGAIN !

RWS

- Does the antenna you ordered have one, two or three leads? If less than three I think you should use paddles on the open connectors. I believe all three send/receive both wifi as WAN and AP signals.
- Click on the "Wireless Networks" buttons and you should get a list of networks the device can see along with signal strength in dbm. Lower negative number is better - -50dbm is better than -75dbm.
- If you are close to the source, generally 5ghz is faster.
- I would drag the 5ghz source down to disabled and see if the 2.4 will resolve the connection, then restore the 5.

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

Also, I don't believe the Pepwave Surf SOHO will "save" the most recent wireless link after being powered down/back up.

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

- Does the antenna you ordered have one, two or three leads? If less than three I think you should use paddles on the open connectors. I believe all three send/receive both wifi as WAN and AP signals.
- Click on the "Wireless Networks" buttons and you should get a list of networks the device can see along with signal strength in dbm. Lower negative number is better - -50dbm is better than -75dbm.
- If you are close to the source, generally 5ghz is faster.
- I would drag the 5ghz source down to disabled and see if the 2.4 will resolve the connection, then restore the 5.

=====================

Did that but no joy.

Will next attempt to power everything off to relocate the unit to the former entertainment center cavity and attach cables to Fusion, blue ray player (not sure why it has a LAN port) and TV

 

[Maybe A Dancer]

Tied IPHONE to peplink - connected fine but got message "weak security"

any fine tuning suggestions?

 

[alnav]

Also, I don't believe the Pepwave Surf SOHO will "save" the most recent wireless link after being powered down/back up.

It should based on my experience.

 

[Skybolt]

Also, I don't believe the Pepwave Surf SOHO will "save" the most recent wireless link after being powered down/back up.

All of the PL software is the same baring missing hardware. It is saved when you connect with a valid username and password. It is located at the bottom of the details page of the wifi wan, not in the wireless page where you would think it would be. It should also automatically connect when the signal is stronger then the current one.

 

[ocgrant]

Well thanks for the help. Went to the boat today and wired the Fusion to the Linksys, turned off the Starlink and Peplink AP's, tested and programed access on the boats microsoft Surface pro that stays on it so I have full access to everything in case I want to make a change it is all at my fingertips. I learned a lot from just diving in on this stuff and you all have been great. Programmed all the fire sticks and smart tvs to the new AP setup and my Fusion is even working perfectly now...imagine that. Now I think I am good to go for awhile...LOL until one of you guys shows me something cooler....