Peplink is a large and respected company in the high-end mobile networking space, particularly well known for providing cellular connectivity for everything from fleets of vehicles to cruise ships to dispersed corporate offices.
This Gear Center entry covers Peplink's most affordable Pepwave MAX "mini" routers, which come in two major flavors.
The MAX BR1 Mini and MAX Transit Mini routers are (in name) the little brothers of the Pepwave MAX BR1 (our review) and Max Transit (our review).
The BR1 Mini and Transit Mini share a lot more in common with each other than their big brothers however. They are really just two variants of the same basic device, and they share most of their features in common.
Even their sturdy metal cases are nearly identical.
In general, the Mini routers are smaller, less expensive, and less capable than the full MAX BR1 - and substantially less capable than the MAX Transit.
But they also cost a lot less, which makes them a good potential value buy.
Differences from Non-Mini Versions
Here are the essential differences from the Mini's big brothers, the MAX BR1 and MAX Transit:
- The Minis are physically smaller.
- By default the Minis can only use cellular as an upstream connection. WiFi-as-WAN, Ethernet WAN, and failover features are disabled in the Minis - but these features can be unlocked with an extra fee:
- MAX BR1 Mini: A one-time $100 licensing fee will unlock these features.
- MAX Transit Mini: A Primecare subscription ($49/year) is required to unlock these features - one free year of Primecare is included with the router purchase.
- The Ethernet ports are Fast Ethernet (100Mbps).
- The Minis only come with single-band 802.11n 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, and the Wi-Fi radio is less powerful.
- The Mini routers are capable of peaking routing throughput of 100Mbps, the same as the MAX BR1 but way less than the 400Mbps the MAX Transit is capable.
For an overview of the full Pepwave MAX product line (and a look at some of the software features in common across different devices), see our gear center product line overview:
Product Lineup: Pepwave MAX Series by Peplink
Product Variations
Here are the key differences between the two Minis:
- The MAX BR1 Mini has a choice of a Cat-4 or Cat-6 internal cellular modem. The MAX Transit Mini only comes with a Cat-4 modem. In many circumstances, a Cat-6 modem can double the download speeds over a Cat-4 modem.
- The MAX Transit Mini has support for Band 14 (AT&T's FirstNet) and T-Mobile's long-range LTE Band 71.
- The MAX BR1 Mini lacked support for these two bands, but a newer Cat-4 modem first available in July 2021 supports these two key bands. If you are shopping for a MAX BR1 Mini be sure to get the version with the newer modem.
- The MAX Transit Mini has 3 Ethernet ports, compared to the MAX BR1 Mini's 2.
- The MAX BR1 Mini uses a round DC power plug, the MAX Transit Mini utilizes a 4-prong connector.
MAX BR1 Mini
The Pepwave MAX BR1 Mini is a stripped-down version of the popular Pepwave MAX BR1 (our review) with WiFi-as-WAN, Ethernet WAN, and failover features disabled - though you can unlock these features later for $100 if needed. It is available with either a Cat-4 or Cat-6 cellular modem. There is also a "Core" version available for $50 less, with Wi-Fi and GPS functionality removed entirely.
NOTE: Pepwave updated the modems used in the MAX BR1 Mini which started coming to market in July 2021. The new Cat-4 version supports additional key bands: 14, 66, & 71.
Specifications
- Model: MAX BR1 Mini
- Router Specs:
- # of Connected Devices: Up to 60 (recommended)
- Wi-Fi Router: Yes
- 2.4GHz Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n (150Mbps, no MIMO)
- 5GHz Wi-Fi: None
- Wi-Fi Antenna: 1x RP-SMA/Female Antenna Port
- Wi-Fi as WAN: Available for an additional fee
- Claimed Wi-Fi Range:
- Guest Wi-Fi Network: Yes
- Control Panel and Default Password: Not specified
- USB Tethering Support: No USB Port
- Ethernet Ports: 2x 100Mbps Fast Ethernet - 1x LAN/Console and 1x LAN/WAN
- Cellular Modem Specs: Yes
- Supported Networks and Bands: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile/Sprint
- Cat-4 New Version (Sold starting July 2021)
- LTE Bands : 2, 4, 5, 12/17, 13, 14, 66, 71
- 4G/3G Bands : HSPA+: Bands 2, 5
- Cat-4 Old Version (Sold before the summer of 2021)
- LTE Bands : 2, 4, 5, 12/17, 13
- 4G/3G Bands : HSPA+: Bands 2, 5
- Cat-6 Version
- LTE Bands: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 , 12/17, 13, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 41
- 4G/3G Bands: WCDMA/HSPA+/DC-HSPA+: Bands 1, 5, 8
- 2G: No
- Cat-4 New Version (Sold starting July 2021)
- LTE-Advanced Carrier Aggregation: Yes (only on Cat-6 Version)
- MIMO Support: 2x2
- LTE Performance Category:
- Cat-4 Max Theoretical Speed: 150Mbps Down / 50Mbps Up
- Cat-6 Max Theoretical Speed: 300Mbps Down / 50Mbps Up
- Cellular Antennas: 2x SMA/Female Antenna Ports
- SIM Slots: Dual Mini-SIM
- Supported Networks and Bands: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile/Sprint
- Dimensions: 4.1" x 4.3" x 1.2" - 0.54lbs
- Other Ports:
- Power Source: 12V – 28V Direct DC Input
- Outdoor Rated: No
- Special Features: Data Usage Tracking, Integrated GPS
- Retail Price: $299 (Cat-4 MAX BR1 Mini) | $399 (Cat-6 MAX BR1 Mini) | $249 (MAX BR1 Mini Core - Cat-4, No Wi-Fi)
MAX Transit Mini
The Pepwave MAX Transit Mini is, despite the name, more closely related to the Pepwave MAX BR1 Mini than the full-size Pepwave MAX Transit line. The MAX Transit Mini is currently the only Pepwave device with support for T-Mobile's LTE Band 71 and it also supports AT&T FirstNet Band 14. But it is currently only available with a limited Cat-4 LTE modem.
Specifications
- Model: MAX Transit Mini
- Router Specs:
- # of Connected Devices: Up to 60 (recommended)
- Wi-Fi Router: Yes
- 2.4GHz Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n (150Mbps, no MIMO)
- 5GHz Wi-Fi: None
- Wi-Fi Antenna: 1x RP-SMA/Female Antenna Port
- Wi-Fi as WAN: Available for an additional fee
- Claimed Wi-Fi Range:
- Guest Wi-Fi Network: Yes
- Control Panel and Default Password: Not specified
- USB Tethering Support: No USB Port
- Ethernet Ports: 3x 100Mbps Fast Ethernet - 1x LAN, 1x LAN/WAN, 1x LAN/Serial
- Cellular Modem Specs: Yes
- Supported Networks and Bands: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint
- LTE Bands: 2, 4, 5, 12/17, 13, 14, 66, 71
- 4G/3G Bands: WCDMA/HSPA+/DC-HSPA+: Bands 2, 4, 5
- 2G: No
- LTE-Advanced Carrier Aggregation: No
- MIMO Support: 2x2
- LTE Performance Category: Category 4
(Cat-4 Max Theoretical Speed: 150Mbps Down / 50Mbps Up) - Cellular Antennas: 2x SMA/Female Antenna Ports
- SIM Slots: Dual Mini-SIM
- Supported Networks and Bands: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint
- Dimensions: 4.1" x 4.3" x 1.2" - 0.54lbs
- Other Ports:
- Power Source: 12V – 28V Direct DC Input
- Outdoor Rated: No
- Special Features: Data Usage Tracking, Integrated GPS
- Retail Price: $399
News, Videos & Status
We have years of first-hand experience with the MAX Mini's big brother, the MAX BR1 (our hands-on review).
The MAX line of routers shares the same software foundation and user interface, so details on that aspect of the Mini can be found in the BR1 review.
We have had some brief hands-on time with a MAX BR1 Mini and MAX Transit Mini - additional testing and review notes will be found in the member section below.
Related News Center Articles
Potential Alternatives to Consider:
For other popular mobile routers on the market we are tracking - here are our featured options:
Learn More About Selecting Mobile Routers
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Purchasing Options
Links Provided for Convenience
We do not sell any gear or equipment. These links are provided to make your shopping easier, and we do not endorse any specific vendor. Unless otherwise disclosed, only Amazon links are affiliate links (see our disclaimer).
To remain unbiased as possible, our primary source of funding comes from our premium members, and we have negotiated higher discounts from some vendors instead of accepting affiliate relationships.
Members - be sure to check the Member Discounts page for some potentially substantial savings on purchasing Pepwave routers.
- MobileMustHave
- Essentials RV & Boat Internet Access Bundle - The Cat-6 MAX BR1 Mini hardware and Poynting antenna - same setup that Airstream is using.
- Pepwave MAX BR1 MINI Cat 4
- Pepwave MAX BR1 MINI Cat 6
- Pepwave MAX Transit Mini Cat 4
- TechnoRV
- 5G Store
- WiFi In Motion (formerly SinglePoint) - Not listed on the website, but is available via phone, chat, or email.
- Amazon - MAX BR1 Mini Cat 4 | MAX BR1 MINI Cat 6
WARNING: Pepwave doesn't tend to give their products new model numbers when they refresh them, and they also tend to keep older models around for a while. Make sure that you know what you are getting by checking specs carefully and don't end up with a device that is incompatible with your preferred networks or that is lacking capabilities!
Routers can serve as a central conductor of your local area network in your RV and boat. Mobile routers are different from residential routers in that they typically support internet sources like cellular and Wi-Fi, can be powered off of 12v or AC and support external antenna for better receiving signal.
But you might not need a router in your setup. Here's a quick video overview the variety that routers come in:
To learn more, head on over to our guides that cover these topics further:
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