This article will help you build maritime packages using both Peplink and Starlink components. There are several things to consider; waterproofing, size of the boat, incorporating Starlink, how much cabling you need for different options, how to power the setup etc. All of those topics will be covered in this article.
Building a Maritime setup
Step 1: Start with The HD1 Dome
The HD1 Dome is the perfect place to start when building a maritime mobile internet setup. It is an industrial-grade mobile router that integrates a single CAT20/5G modem with a 4x4 MIMO cellular antenna, now adding WIFI 6 to the package for a complete mobile Internet solution. By integrating the radio and antenna into a single dome enclosure, cellular reception is maximized with minimal loss due to antenna cables. The Dome is also waterproof and comes with cable connectors that will allow the customer to connect to a power source while preventing the elements from getting into the device
*Marine grade stainless steel mount: ($99) Your customer will likely need to add this in order to mount it to their boat. They can add this on from the HD1 Dome listing page.
Peplink MAX HD1 Pro Dome 5G Marine Router – MobileMustHave.com
Step 2: Powering the Dome
- Sim Injector add on: Reg price: $1,500/ When purchased with Dome: $999
The SIM Injector includes an integrated four port switch and PoE along with providing 8 additional remote sim cards for total flexibility. Combine the HD1 Dome Pro with the optional SIM Injector, and the number of SIM cards increases to ten, allowing you to switch sim cards without having to access the dome, which may be mounted permanently up high. If you want to mount the dome (and/or other antennas) on a mast, then never have to climb the mast again, this is the best power option to go with.
- Standard 2 port POE injector: $89
- 5 or 8 port switch: $149-$219
- Managed POE switch: $500
Step 3: Incorporating Starlink (Optional)
How to integrate: You would put the Balance 20x (or any router they want, but the Balance 20x would be cheapest for cellular/expandability) in the cabin and then put the dome in Synergy Mode so that the Balance 20x could control the Dome from a single management console.
Then you would have: The Dome via the wan port, The CAT 7 modem in the Balance 20x, Starlink via the secondary wan port (using vWAN functions included in Primecare), optional USB to add second 5G or other cellular modem, optional expansion port to add another 5G modem. This would give the customer a total of up to 4 cellular connections, one Starlink and then 2x Wifi as Wan connections to marina wifi for a total of up to 7 simultanious wan connections.
- Starlink Full Timer Bundle: $2,913.64
Step 4: Extending the range of the wifi signal (AP)
Most of our maritime customers are putting these setups into long sailboats or yachts, meaning that they will need to add an access point if they want to have coverage throughout the entirety of their boat.
- AP AX Lite: $299 (2x2 mimo)
- AP AX One: $399 (4x4 mimo)
https://mobilemusthave.com/products/ap-one-ax-wireless-access-point?_pos=1&_psq=ap-ax&_ss=e&_v=1.0
We will be adding a new Globetrotter Bundle for our maritime customers that includes the HD1 Dome, a SIM injector, and the Balance 20x. Be on the lookout for that to hit the website soon!
Videos on the products we've covered in this article:
- HD1 Dome Pro 5G Video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cx2TVkROgKA&t=1s&ab_channel=MobileMustHave
- Wireless Access Point Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4&v=gLQDyQlDFfo&embeds_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fmobilemusthave.com%2F&embeds_origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmobilemusthave.com&source_ve_path=MzY4NDIsMjg2NjQsMjM4NTE&feature=emb_title&ab_channel=MobileMustHave
- Balance 20X Video (most recent):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaU1khg_8y8&t=308s&ab_channel=MobileMustHave
MIRC Article to reference:
Additional Things to consider:
- The Dome only requires one cable (power) vs. our other router/ antenna combinations, which require 2-11 cables. This makes it a very attractive option for any maritime customers who want to mount their antenna(s) up high on a mast.
- For any customer who wants to get a stable connection while out at sea they should strongly consider mounting their antenna(s) on the mast. Due to the curvature of the earth, the further you go out to sea the more difficult it is to have line of sight from the antenna to the cell towers on land. For this reason, the higher up the antenna is, the more likely they are to get a connection at further distances.
- The Starlink Maritime kit uses the same hardware that we sell (High performance Starlink kit with wedge mount). As of right now (5/29/23), Starlink allows customers to switch between Starlink Roam and Starlink Maritime whenever they want, as long as they have this hardware. It's important to note that customers can use Roam in most coastal/docked areas, but they will not get service if they go out to sea. This could also change at any time, but as of right now Starlink's geofence includes coastal areas for Roam service.
- Starlink's maritime service is generally only good for up to 10 miles off of US shores. Any distance beyond that is Geo locked because you would technically be crossing into international borders. Officially customers are supposed to be restricted to using Starlink in the country that they purchased it in, though there have been reports of people being able to use US purchased Starlink in Canada and Mexico.
- The sim injector acts as both POE for The Dome (and other components, such as other routers or an access point), and as 8 additional sim slots. This allows you to switch out sim cards from your nav station inside your cabin, rather than having to climb the mast every time you need to switch out a sim card in The Dome.
Recommended Maritime Setup:
HD1 Dome +
Balance 20X +
Sim Injector (POE for the Dome + extra sim slots) +
Starlink