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.
Peplink is also a key provider of bonding technology that allows a router to combine multiple network connections together for increased performance, or enhanced redundancy and reliability.
While Peplink's Pepwave cellular integrated routers are not specifically designed with individual mobile users in mind, Peplink does offer solid and well supported products that many rely on.
The Pepwave MAX Transit line has earned a reputation as a great choice for RVers and cruisers with more demanding needs.
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 product lineup entry:
Product Lineup: Pepwave Routers by Peplink
The Pepwave MAX Transit models in particular, as the name implies, are primarily geared towards creating public Wi-Fi networks on transit buses or trains to keep a whole load of passengers online.
Some of the models in this lineup strike a unique balance of professional quality, high performance, and relatively consumer accessible pricing - earning our Top Pick status.
Product Variations
The Pepwave MAX Transit is available in several configurations - you can choose one or two integrated modems, and it is available with or without Peplink's PrimeCare support contract (which brings the initial cost way down) as an option.
Here are the models that are typically the most appealing for our audience:
- MAX Transit Duo (Cat-12) with PrimeCare ($999) - Two Cat-12 modems.
- MAX Transit (Cat-18) with PrimeCare ($749) - Single Cat-18 modem.
- MAX Transit 5G (Cat-20/Sub-6GHz 5G) with PrimeCare ($999) - Single Cat-20 / 5G modem.
Other than the modem modules - these are identical routers, with the same Wi-Fi and router capabilities.
For the detailed specifications of these models, and the other MAX Transit variants, explore the tabs below.
Cat-12
The Cat-12 Lineup comes in single and dual modem options, with the Transit Duo with PrimeCare being the most appealing setup, and our Top Pick.
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- Pepwave MAX Transit (Cat-12) ($999) - Single Cat-12 modem version of the MAX Transit.
- Pepwave MAX Transit Duo (Cat-12) ($1,699) - Dual Cat-12 modems.
- Pepwave MAX Transit Duo (Cat-12) with PrimeCare ($999) - The same Transit Duo with Dual Cat-12 modems as above, with an optional ongoing PrimeCare support contract (see our MAX Lineup for information on PrimeCare) required to enable some advanced features after the first year. **TOP PICK**
Specifications
- Model: Pepwave MAX Transit
- Router Specs:
- Cellular Modem Specs:
- Supported Networks and Bands: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint
- LTE Bands (Cat-12 Version): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12/17, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 26, 29, 30, 32, 41, 42, 43, 46, 48, 66
- 4G/3G: HSPA+ 850/1900/2100MHz - Global roaming supported.
- 2G: No
- LTE-Advanced Carrier Aggregation: Yes - 3x
- MIMO Support: 2X2 MIMO
- LTE Performance Category: Cat-12 - Max Theoretical Speed: 600 Mbps Down / 150 Mbps Up
- Cellular Antenna Ports: 2x or 4x SMA/Female Antenna Ports, Basic Indoor Paddle Antennas Included
- SIM Slots: Dual Mini-SIM or Quad Mini-SIM (Transit Duo)
- Dimensions: 3.8" x 7.3" x 1.3" - 1.3lbs
- Other Ports:
- Power Source: 10V - 48V Direct DC Input, 110V AC Adapter Included, Can Be USB-C Powered
- Outdoor Rated: No
- Special Features: Data Usage Tracking, Auto Failover, Integrated GPS, SpeedFusion Bonding
- Retail Price: $999 - $1,699
Cat-18
The Cat 18 version of the MAX Transit is the same physical form factor as the Cat-12 MAX Transit Duo model, but instead of two modems with two antennas each, it uses the four antenna ports to support a single modem.
It also adds LTE Band 71 support, an important feature for T-Mobile customers.
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- Pepwave MAX Transit (Cat-18) with PrimeCare ($749) - Externally nearly identical to the Cat-12 MAX Transit Duo, the Cat-18 model has one modem with four antennas instead of two modems with two antennas each. An ongoing $69/year PrimeCare support contract (see our MAX Lineup for information on PrimeCare) is required to enable certain advanced features, though the first year of PrimeCare is free. **TOP PICK**
Specifications
- Model: Pepwave MAX Transit
- Router Specs:
- # of Connected Devices: Up to 150
- Wi-Fi Router: Yes
- 2.4GHz Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n - 300 Mbps Max (2x2 MIMO)
- 5GHz Wi-Fi: 802.11 ac/a/n - 866 Mbps Max (2x2 MIMO)
- Wi-Fi Antenna: 2x RP-SMA/Female Antenna Port, 5dBi Antennas Included
- Wi-Fi as WAN: Yes
- Claimed Wi-Fi Range: Not specified
- Guest Wi-Fi Network: Yes
- Control Panel: 192.168.50.1
- USB Tethering Support: No
- Etnernet Ports: 2x 1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet (WAN / LAN)
- Cellular Modem Specs:
- Supported Networks and Bands: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint
- LTE Bands (Cat-18 Version): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12/17, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 26, 29, 30, 32, 41, 42, 43, 46, 48, 66, 71
- 4G/3G: HSPA+ 850/1900/2100MHz - Global roaming supported.
- 2G: No
- LTE-Advanced Carrier Aggregation: Yes - 5x
- MIMO Support: 4x4 MIMO
- LTE Performance Category: Cat-18 - Max Theoretical Speed: 1.2 Gbps Down / 150 Mbps Up
- Cellular Antenna Ports: 4x SMA/Female Antenna Ports, Basic Indoor Paddle Antennas Included
- SIM Slots: Dual Mini-SIM
- Dimensions: 3.8" x 7.3" x 1.3" - 1.3lbs
- Other Ports:
- Power Source: 10V - 48V Direct DC Input, 110V AC Adapter Included, Can Be USB-C Powered
- Outdoor Rated: No
- Special Features: Data Usage Tracking, Auto Failover, Integrated GPS, SpeedFusion Bonding
- Retail Price: $749
5G
The most advanced cellular modem in the MAX Transit lineup is only available with PrimeCare, and was announced on March 16th, 2021.
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- Pepwave MAX Transit 5G (Cat-20/Sub-6GHz 5G) with PrimeCare ($999) - The 5G version of the MAX Transit is the same physical form factor as the Cat-18 model, but with an LTE Cat-20 / Sub-6GHz 5G modem module. An ongoing PrimeCare support contract (see our MAX Lineup for information on PrimeCare) is required to enable certain advanced features, though the first year of PrimeCare is free when you purchase a new router.
Specifications
- Model: MAX Transit 5G (Mid-2021)
- Router Specs:
- # of Connected Devices: Up to 150
- Wi-Fi Router: Yes
- 2.4GHz Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n - 300 Mbps Max (2x2 MIMO)
- 5GHz Wi-Fi: 802.11 ac/a/n - 866 Mbps Max (2x2 MIMO)
- Wi-Fi Antenna: 2x RP-SMA/Female Antenna Port, 5dBi Antennas Included
- Wi-Fi as WAN: Yes
- Claimed Wi-Fi Range: Not specified
- Guest Wi-Fi Network: Yes
- Control Panel: 192.168.50.1
- USB Tethering Support: No
- Ethernet Ports: 2x 1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet (WAN / LAN)
- Cellular Modem Specs:
- Supported Networks and Bands: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint
- 5G (NSA) Sub 6GHz : n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n28, n38, n41, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79
- 4GLTE Bands (Cat-20 Version): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12/17, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71
- 4G/3G: HSPA+ 850/1900/2100MHz - Global roaming supported.
- 2G: No
- LTE-Advanced Carrier Aggregation: Yes - 7x
- MIMO Support: 4x4 MIMO
- Performance Category:
- 5G: 4 Gbps Down / 700 Mbps Up
- LTE CAT-20: 2 Gbps Down / 150 Mbps Up
- Cellular Antenna Ports: 4x SMA/Female Antenna Ports, Basic Indoor Paddle Antennas Included
- SIM Slots: Dual Mini-SIM
- Dimensions: 3.8" x 7.3" x 1.3" - 1.3lbs
- Other Ports:
- Power Source: 10V - 48V Direct DC Input, 110V AC Adapter Included, Can Be USB-C Powered
- Outdoor Rated: No
- Special Features: Data Usage Tracking, Auto Failover, Integrated GPS, SpeedFusion Bonding
- Retail Price: $999
NOTE: The Cat-20 modem drops LTE Band 9 and Band 43 that were included on the Cat-18 modem. Band 9 is globally obsolete and unused, and Band 43 is only in use in Argentina, Slovakia, and Iran - with no future expansions likely.
Cat-6
The Cat-6 MAX Transit lineup comes in single and dual modem options, with the Transit Duo with PrimeCare being the most appealing setup.
While a solid option, you get a substantial increase in performance & cellular band support by going with the dual Cat-12 versions for just a couple hundred dollars more.
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- Pepwave MAX Transit (Cat-6) ($999) - Single Cat-6 modem version of the MAX Transit. Price has not been dropped on the Cat-6 version, despite the Cat-12 model coming out at the same price.
- Pepwave MAX Transit Duo (Cat-6) ($1,899) - Dual Cat-6 modems.
- Pepwave MAX Transit Duo (Cat-6) with PrimeCare ($799) - The same Transit Duo discussed above, but with an ongoing PrimeCare support contract (see our MAX Lineup for information on PrimeCare) required to enable all features.
Specifications
- Model: Pepwave MAX Transit
- Router Specs:
- # of Connected Devices: Up to 150
- Wi-Fi Router: Yes
- 2.4GHz Wi-Fi: 802.11 b/g/n - 300 Mbps Max (2x2 MIMO)
- 5GHz Wi-Fi: 802.11 ac/a/n - 866 Mbps Max (2x2 MIMO)
- Wi-Fi Antenna: 2x RP-SMA/Female Antenna Port, 5dBi Antennas Included
- Wi-Fi as WAN: Yes
- Claimed Wi-Fi Range: Not specified
- Guest Wi-Fi Network: Yes
- Control Panel: 192.168.50.1
- USB Tethering Support: No
- Etnernet Ports: 2x 1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet (WAN / LAN)
- Cellular Modem Specs:
- Supported Networks and Bands: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint
- LTE Bands (Cat-6 Version): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12/17, 13, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 41
- 4G/3G: HSPA+ 850/1900/2100MHz - Global roaming supported.
- 2G: No
- LTE-Advanced Carrier Aggregation: Yes - 2x
- MIMO Support: 2X2 MIMO
- LTE Performance Category: Cat-6 Max Theoretical Speed: 300Mbps Down / 50Mbps Up
- Cellular Antenna Ports: 2x or 4x SMA/Female Antenna Ports, Basic Indoor Paddle Antennas Included
- SIM Slots: Dual Mini-SIM or Quad Mini-SIM (Transit Duo)
- Dimensions: 3.8" x 7.3" x 1.3" - 1.3lbs
- Other Ports:
- Power Source: 10V - 48V Direct DC Input, 110V AC Adapter Included, Can Be USB-C Powered
- Outdoor Rated: No
- Special Features: Data Usage Tracking, Auto Failover, Integrated GPS, SpeedFusion Bonding
- Retail Price: $799 - $1,899
FAQ: Why are the higher end options only single modem?
All of the routers in the MAX Transit lineup uses that same physical form factor, which only has room for four cellular antenna ports. The Cat-6 and Cat-12 modems only require 2 antennas for 2x2 MIMO, which means a single modem needs two antenna ports, and dual modems need four ports in total.
The Cat-18 and 5G modems however each require 4 antennas for 4x4 MIMO support to achieve their higher performance. The MAX Transit form factor thus only has space to support the antenna jacks for one modem.
When picking between MAX Transit options, it comes down to deciding which is more important - the reliability of being able to be connected to two different cellular carriers at once with the dual-modem models, or the potential increases in peak speed and remote signal sensitivity from the single-modem Cat-18 or 5G models with a more advanced single modem and support for 4x4 MIMO antennas?
There is no one simple universal answer - it all depends on your needs.
The other thing you will need to consider is whether or not to go with PrimeCare - though it almost certainly makes sense to buy a PrimeCare model even if you have no intention of subscribing to PrimeCare long term.
As you can see - if you choose a PrimeCare model, the up front price is substantially discounted.
But be sure you understand the long-term costs if you plan to take advantage of some of the advanced features that are only available if you choose to pay to keep PrimeCare active annually.
Read more about PrimeCare in our Pepwave Product Lineup Overview.
What is the Pepwave MAX Transit Mini?
Despite the name, the "MAX Transit Mini" has little in common with the full sized Pepwave MAX Transit described here. The MAX Transit Mini is actually very closely related to the Pepwave MAX BR1 Mini.
We cover these Mini products in this gear guide:
News, Videos & Status
In September 2019, MobileMustHave sent us the Cat-12 MAX Transit Duo w/ PrimeCare for extended evaluation, and we have used this router extensively ever since. We have also had some hands-on time with a pre-release MAX Transit 5G.
We have also purchased a Cat-18 MAX Transit for one of our team members - and they have put that version through extensive hands-on usage.
We have granted this router a Top Pick status, and it remains the personal "daily driver" of our founders Chris & Cherie.
We have tested the MAX Transit with several different antenna options, a paired access point, and we have actively explored load balancing & bonding as well.
Our members-only review below has been kept updated with our ongoing observations and experiences.
Members can find additional more-raw details shared in these places:
- [Testing Lab Report] Pepwave MAX Transit Duo vs WiFiRanger Converge, MIMO Antennas (Fall/Winter 2019/2020)
- Testing Forum Notes (Includes several other members sharing their experiences as well, and more on using SpeedFusion bonding)
Video Overviews
Related News 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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Member Exclusive Content Below
- Thoughts & Analysis - Favorite Features & Potential Downsides
- Deep Dive
- Is the MAX Transit a Good Deal?
- One Modem, Or Two?
- MAX Transit 5G Thoughts
- Is Bonding worth the effort?
- Alternative Options to Consider
- Summary
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. Some of these discounts can actually exceed the cost of membership here!
- MobileMustHave: Cat-6 | Cat-12 | Cat-18 | 5G
- MMH also sells the MAX Transit in several bundles with exterior antennas: Mobile Internet Bundles
- TechnoRV: Cat-6 / Cat-12 / Cat-18
- 5G Store
- SinglePoint - The SinglePoint 'WiFi in Motion' bundles are built around the Pepwave MAX routers, bundled with RV-friendly antennas, service plans, and support.
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 checked 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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