Configuring and Optimizing your Pepwave MAX Cellular and WiFi Router

[ebourlet]

Does anyone know if it possible to change the IMEI of the Cell modem?

[CaptainGizmo]

Originally Posted by ebourlet

Does anyone know if it possible to change the IMEI of the Cell modem?

No. That is hard-coded for a reason. It’s basically the VIN for electronic devices.

[PS95Bx]

I have long resisted asking this question for what will be obvious in a moment I have been around electronics since tubes and I am reasonably proficient with computers although sometimes I have difficulty following discussions like the above however I am also extremely intuitive and that’s where the question comes in. Frankly is there anybody else using a pep wave (I have a BRV Mini)or even just a MIFi device that finds their signal slows down down in the presence of a WiFi Ranger ? Is there any way to test this admittedly strange gut reaction?

[tjs90241]

Originally Posted by PS95Bx

I have long resisted asking this question for what will be obvious in a moment I have been around electronics since tubes and I am reasonably proficient with computers although sometimes I have difficulty following discussions like the above however I am also extremely intuitive and that’s where the question comes in. Frankly is there anybody else using a pep wave (I have a BRV Mini)or even just a MIFi device that finds their signal slows down down in the presence of a WiFi Ranger ? Is there any way to test this admittedly strange gut reaction?

Are you connecting to the PW/MiFi with 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequency? Is your WiFi ranger only amplifying 2.4GHz signals?

A WiFi ranger just boosts WiFi signals, much like putting the signal in front of a large megaphone. It may just be taking that otherwise fine signal from your PW and making it too loud/distorted.

That or the WiFI Ranger may picking up "noise" from another station on the 2.4GHz channel and amplifying it over your PW signal, much like you trying to listen to music through speakers on your phone when somebody else is blasting something on a megaphone in the background. There are really only (3) 2.4GHz channels that you can reasonably use without really wreaking havoc on neighboring 2.4GHz signals, so interference between stations in likely in an environment with a lot of people using 2.4GHz WiFI.

Anyways... a WiFI ranger is really best used to boost a signal far away (e.g., park WiFi) and won't do you any good if you're right next to your PW... may even do harm as you are noticing.

[ebourlet]

Thanks for the great info on configuring. I tried to read through all the post in this thread but cant figure out how to search only a specific thread. So if this has been asked and answered please point me to the post.
I have an AT&T SIM prepaid tablet plan. Today is the first time I've been in good signal area getting good speeds around 35MPBS up and down. My MBR1mk2 dashboard is only showing the Blue LTE not LTE-A. Im in Coos Bay Oregon at the moment. Is there something I' missing on when LTE-A should indicate or did I miss something in the configuration.

[tnedator]

Originally Posted by ebourlet

Thanks for the great info on configuring. I tried to read through all the post in this thread but cant figure out how to search only a specific thread. So if this has been asked and answered please point me to the post.
I have an AT&T SIM prepaid tablet plan. Today is the first time I've been in good signal area getting good speeds around 35MPBS up and down. My MBR1mk2 dashboard is only showing the Blue LTE not LTE-A. Im in Coos Bay Oregon at the moment. Is there something I' missing on when LTE-A should indicate or did I miss something in the configuration.

Others might have been insight, but I don't believe there is anything you need to do configuration wise for the LTE-A. It's more likely that you might be in an hour where it simply isn't connecting to another band, or that tower doesn't support LTE-A.

Are you using a roof mounted antenna or the blades on the unit? If the blades, I think the recommended orientation is at 90* angle, so if one is pointing straight up, then the other should be pointing to the side, or both pointing up at 45* angles away from each other. It's unlikely the antenna orientation will make the difference in LTE-A or not, but I did find that it made a difference on my speed tests.

[ebourlet]

Has anyone go a VISIBLE SIM working in a Pepwave?

[Lynette..Don]

Neal - thank you so much for the detailed instructions. I know that took a while to upload and I very much appreciate your efforts. Changing our Pepwave to match yours improved the Mbps considerably! ~ Much appreciated ~

Lynette

[Airedale]

Help! We have been using the Pepwave Max BR1 and roof mounted Poynting antenna for a year now. We have a Verizon sim in Slot A. We are now in an area where the Verizon signal is almost nonexistent. We purchased an AT&T sim, which I put in slot B and changed Cellular Setting to Sim B only. System recognizes sim, but when I try to connect, it just says "obtaining IP address". I let it go for an hour and nothing happened so switched back to "sim a only" under the Cellular settings. Is there something else I need to do? I have updated firmware and unplugged/replugged unit and tried again with no success. At a loss...any suggestions much appreciated! (Note: I have previously configured all settings per Neal's advice at beginning of thread).

[CaptainGizmo]

Originally Posted by Airedale

Help! We have been using the Pepwave Max BR1 and roof mounted Poynting antenna for a year now. We have a Verizon sim in Slot A. We are now in an area where the Verizon signal is almost nonexistent. We purchased an AT&T sim, which I put in slot B and changed Cellular Setting to Sim B only. System recognizes sim, but when I try to connect, it just says "obtaining IP address". I let it go for an hour and nothing happened so switched back to "sim a only" under the Cellular settings. Is there something else I need to do? I have updated firmware and unplugged/replugged unit and tried again with no success. At a loss...any suggestions much appreciated! (Note: I have previously configured all settings per Neal's advice at beginning of thread).

So, most likely...a simple Reboot fixes the issue. I can’t think of a time this hasn’t worked, including yesterday for my buddy. Interestingly enough, it seems to be a more frequent issue with AT$T.

But, seeing you’ve done this, I’d reseat or even swap positions.

If it still fails, I’d put the sim in another device like my iPhone or iPad.

There’s a chance the SIM wasn’t provisioned correctly upon purchase and needs to be activated in a device...stand by for problems with service though. [emoji35]

[Massparanoia]

I pulled the trigger on a pepwave BR1. Any new recommendations on a data plan to get? We don’t full time or anything. I have a T-Mobile unlimited sim in our iPad now, will that work in the pepwave?

[06smokey]

Originally Posted by Massparanoia

I pulled the trigger on a pepwave BR1. Any new recommendations on a data plan to get? We don’t full time or anything. I have a T-Mobile unlimited sim in our iPad now, will that work in the pepwave?

I just added a additional T-Mobile line and put the sim card in the Pepwave. Worked perfectly. My plan has unlimited data and the Pepwave acts like a cellphone. Don't see why the sim from your IPad wouldn't work. Just try it.

Mike

[Massparanoia]

Originally Posted by 06smokey

I just added a additional T-Mobile line and put the sim card in the Pepwave. Worked perfectly. My plan has unlimited data and the Pepwave acts like a cellphone. Don't see why the sim from your IPad wouldn't work. Just try it.

Mike

Awesome I’ll definitely give that a go when it comes in. Thanks!

[Massparanoia]

Originally Posted by 06smokey

I just added a additional T-Mobile line and put the sim card in the Pepwave. Worked perfectly. My plan has unlimited data and the Pepwave acts like a cellphone. Don't see why the sim from your IPad wouldn't work. Just try it.

Mike

Mike, any modem specific settings for T-Mobile?