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Education & Action Explained

This article is divided into two main sections, Education & Action. The Action Section refers to content with step-by-step how-to articles on this topic. The Education section links to related content and deeper dive information from our friends at the Mobile Internet Resource Center. Enjoy and your feedback is always welcome!


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Products Covered

The following guide was made to support the following products. 


Stand Alone Pepwave Max Series Mobile Routers Including:

  • Peplink Max Series Routers including the Balance series, BR Series, ENT series, HD Dome series, and Transit series.


Internet Bundles by MMH Including: 

  • Full-Timer Bundle
  • Speed Demon Bundles (all versions)
  • Road Warrior Bundles (all versions)
  • Ultimate Road Warrior Bundles (all versions)

Article Summary

This article provides written instructions on setting up Peplink and MMH Internet Bundle products. The article includes written instructions along with supplemental videos. Our written instructions in this guide provide more details on setup and are updated more frequently as we identify common questions from our customers. 

Action

Let's get started with an introduction video that outlines this guide and what steps you will follow to configure your new Peplink device. Then we will continue onwards in this article to help you get your device set up for operation and use. 


Setup Introduction Video



What's in the Box

Peplink Max Series Modems come with the following components. 

  • Peplink Mobile Router
  • AC Power Adapter
  • 2 or 4 or 8 Cellular "Stubby" Antennas (quantity depends on if your modem is a category 6, 12, 18, 20, or, 5G modem and if it has one or two embedded modems)
  • 1 or 2 WiFi "stubby" Antennas (quantity depends on if your modem has 2Ghz WiFi only or 2Ghz & 5Ghz Dual Band WiFi)
  • GPS Antenna (only antenna with a cable lead attached to it - small square with wire attached to it)

The Following Components are Optional Based on Your Purchase Selections at Checkout

  • Fused DC Power Cord for Direct to Battery or other 12-24 Volt DC Power Installations
  • SIM Card & Optional Data Plans

All Peplink Max Series Bundles come with the following components. 

  • Peplink Mobile Router
  • Exterior Roof Antenna or similar (2-in-1, 5-in-1, 7-in-1, or 11-in-1 Antenna Depending on Bundle)
  • AC Power Adapter
  • 2 or 4  or 8 Cellular "Stubby" Antennas (quantity depends on if your modem is a category 6, 12, 18, 20, or 5G modem and if it has one or two embedded modems)
  • 1 or 2 WiFi "stubby" Antennas (quantity depends on if your modem has 2Ghz WiFi only or 2Ghz & 5Ghz Dual Band WiFi)
  • GPS Antenna (generally not used as roof antenna has GPS antenna)
  • Fused DC Power Cord for Direct to Battery or other 12-24 Volt DC Power Installations

Unboxing & Initial Setup

Now that we've verified the contents of your setup it is time to get things set up. Quick Start Videos and written instructions are provided below to help you get started. 


The first step is to hook up the small "stubby" antennas to the device that comes included in the box with the Peplink router. We suggest starting with the stock antenna for the first-round setup and then moving to a roof antenna if applicable. This ensures you have basic operation and function before installing anything that would then not be returnable. 

Your device includes 3 types of antennae. Cellular, WIFI, and GPS antennas. WiFi and Cellular antennas look very similar but connect to different ports on your Peplink mobile router. Before you begin, separate your antennas into groups based on their length and appearance. 

Look at the center pin of each antenna. You'll notice that certain antennas have a center pin and others do not. The antennas with center pins are "cellular" antennas. The antenna(s) missing the center pins are your "WiFi" Antenna(s). By reversing the center pin, Peplink allows you to quickly identify which antenna goes to which port. 

The GPS antenna is optional but if you wish to take advantage of the GPS cloud functions in Peplink's Incontrol2 Cloud Portal you'll need to install this antenna. The GPS antenna can be installed and placed near a window, it does not need to be mounted outside the vehicle in most cases to function. 

Connect the small black cellular and WiFi antennas to your device taking special care to note the origination of the center pin as outlined above. Hand-tighten the antennas. Never use a wrench to tighten the antenna as you can damage the connection port by applying too much torque. 

Newer Peplink routers utilize NANO sim cards (4FF), older devices (pre 2023) utilize larger full size cards also known as 2FF sim cards. The summary videos below may show a different sim card than your device. Proceed to the SIM card installation section of this guide for more information. 


Always hand tighten your antennas. Never tighten using a wrench which may damage the router or antenna. Check your antenna connections regularly and ensure they are snug. Roof antenna instructions are located in sections below.

Quick-Start Installation Videos

To expedite setup, we have provided videos below that summarize the setup of your Peplink mobile router. Note that the exact model shown in the video as well as the screenshots may vary slightly depending on your model and firmware however the basic instructions remain the same across all models. 


Max BR1 Series Setup Video



Max TRANSIT Series Setup Video




Getting Started with Cellular Data Plans


Traditional Data plans

While your Peplink mobile router does not require a cellular data plan to function, its functionality is greatly improved when you add a cellular data plan. Cellular data plans from just about any carrier are compatible but you must select a "data only" cellular plan designed for use in a data-only device commonly referred to as a MiFi. To add a data-only plan visit your cellular carrier and request a data-only plan be added to your existing or new cellular account. Remember that data plans that are advertised as "unlimited" are not actually unlimited so plan accordingly and keep an eye on your usage using the Pepwave administration panel under the Status Tab. 


MobileMustHave Wireless (B, R, P Series Data Plans)

If you have purchased a data plan through MobileMustHave Wireless then your activation instructions were emailed to you at the time of shipment. Below is a link for data plan activation frequently asked questions. 


Data Plan Activation Frequently Asked Questions


SIM Card Installation


Peplink devices support both "Full Size" and "nano" sim cards. Make sure to carefully follow the instructions below to avoid issues and always assume you need the larger size to avoid loosing your sim card and needing to send your modem in for a costly repair.



Next, it's time to install your SIM Card(s). Peplink accepts ONLY ONE SIZE of sim and this can vary based on the model you have purchased. Select the correct sim card size based on the chart below. When in doubt always select the largest size. If you are unsure please reach out to us to avoid a costly repair if a smaller sim than designed is inserted which is not covered by Peplink's warranty.

SIM Card Installation Video


Next, it's time to install your SIM Card(s).  Depending on the model of your Peplink, the SIM card size requirements will differ.  Some Pepwaves (mostly older models) use the full-size 2FF SIM.  Other, newer models (such as the new Max BR1 Pro 5G or Max BR1 Pro Cat 20 use the smaller Nano-sized SIM.  Essentially, the best thing to do is make sure the SIM just barely fits into the SIM card slot.  If the SIM seems too small for the SIM card slot, it probably is.  

If you make a mistake and install a SIM that is too small, it will most likely get lost inside the Peplink. We do offer a service to take apart your Pepwave and remove the SIM, but it is expensive. If you need this service, please purchase it here.

Router Configuration

You have completed the physical setup of your Peplink, now it's time to log into the administration panel and configure it to your own personal settings.  The router administration page has a lot of settings and options and can be complicated so we've put together a brief video on getting connected to your router, setting up the standard settings, and getting surfing. 


You do NOT need to be connected to the Internet to access the Peplink Admin Panel. The Peplink Admin Panel is located on the Pepwave device so you can connect to it anytime you are connected to the Pepwave WIFI or to the Pepwave LAN port via ethernet cable. This is the most common mistake for new users so double check your WIFI is connected to the Pepwave and follow the instructions below.



The following video will walk you through the setup we recommend for just about everyone.   These are commercial-grade devices so the setup is a bit more manual, but this allows for a lot of great options.   This video will walk you through the following:

  1. Getting Connected to Your Peplink (Detailed Article Here)
  2. How the Dashboard functions
  3. Suggested settings for Cell Connections
  4. How to set up/change the Wifi name and password  (Best Practices Here)
  5. Connect to external WiFi sources  (Detailed Article here (for password-protected networks) and here (for Public WIFI networks with Captive Portal pages)
  6. Set up application priorities
  7. General device settings
  8. Reporting & Data Usage


DC Wiring to House Batteries (Wiring Diagrams)

Wiring your unit directly to your house or chassis batteries is possible and supported with most Peplink Devices. This is covered in our summary installation videos above however DC Wiring Diagrams are also available below for your convenience. 

Roof Antenna Installation (bundle only customers)

Now that we have the Peplink setup, tested, and online, we can start thinking about your roof antenna installation.  Roof antennas greatly improve your cellular reception and also give you the ability to pick up more distant free wifi networks such as campground wifi with the majority of our modems. In the first video below we talk about antenna installation basics. If you don't feel like installing the antenna yourself you can have the antenna installed by just about any RV dealer who can install a satellite dish or TV antenna. Just make sure to pick a spot where not only does your antenna fit nicely on the roof at least 18 inches away from any other antenna or interference (like an ac unit for example) but also in a location where you can route wires down easily to the Pepwave device. 

Remember to avoid mounting your roof antenna above any RV slides which will make running wires very difficult. Pick a location such as an existing media cabinet or closet centrally located in the RV that will give you access to 12v house battery power. Tip you can usually tap power for the Peplink off of a light, Satellite dish power switch or other 12v source in your RV.



Once you are ready to install your roof antenna and route the antenna wires down from the roof, there are some key considerations. Can you safely run the wires down from the roof to your Peplink router location using the cable lengths provided? Is there power at the location where your mobile router will reside? Are any components too close to anything that could cause interference (microwave, AC, or metal enclosure)?  

Antenna Physical Installation Considerations

The overall steps for installing any of the omnidirectional antennas are close to the same.  Prepare the roof surface area with a solvent to clean the area. Poynting and Parsec antennas have a sticky pad on the bottom which makes that installation very straightforward, the MobileMark antennas generally are screwed down using the optional ground plane which is required for installation on a fiberglass roof. While not shown in the videos, simply drill 4 small holes near the 12, 3, 6, and 9 o'clock positions on the grounding plane. Then install the Mobilemark to the ground plane using the locking nut provided. If you have purchased our Full Timer + Bundle that includes a Parsec Doberman antenna we recommend using a ground plane. The installation is identical to the Mobilemark instructions provided earlier in this paragraph.  Route the wires down through the RV making sure to drill a hole large enough to accommodate the locking nut. Apply Dicor self-leveling sealant in a circle around the hole before pressing the antenna down to provide a watertight seal between the ground plane and the roof. Secure the antenna using 4 self-taping screws and then cover the screw heads with dabs of Dicor to complete the installation. 

Below is a video installation of our Poynting Series Antenna. The Parsec Husky Series antennas in our store would be installed in a nearly identical fashion.

Antenna Wiring Diagrams


Since the antenna and modem manufacturers are different in our bundles, they use slightly different naming conventions on the cable wiring which can be confusing to a first-time installer. We have put together wiring diagrams for our Popular Bundles shown below. 



Troubleshooting Internet Connectivity


Most Internet connectivity issues on the road are either environmental (cellular reception, location, bad free WIFI) or because of a configuration issue. We've put together this video to help you navigate the basics of troubleshooting internet connection issues while on the road.



Manufacturer Detailed Instruction Manual


Peplink's detailed user manual for Max Series routers is downloadable below. 


Education


Additional Member Content Available

A host of articles are available to our members hosted by the Mobile Internet Resource Center: 

Peplink Learning Center

 Some content is provided free of charge, members have full access as well as access to our pre recorded webinars on this topic. Learn More About Memberships...


Additional Content & Links from Mobile Internet Resource Center

Need More Help? Consider Joining Our Membership & Support our Community


MMH Explore members can join the conversation and gain access to our support forums located within the Mobile Internet Resource Center. Senior members of MobileMustHave's Technical Staff moderate the MobileMustHave.com Support Forum and tackle more advanced configurations, troubleshooting, and general advice.  


In addition, MobileMustHave hosts monthly live webinars on advanced topics. These sessions cover everything from the basics to the more nuanced areas of configurations on Peplink devices.  Past Webinars have included deep dives into; SpeedFusion Connect Protect (Cloud), Outbound Policies, VLANs, and much more.  


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