Peplink is a large and well respected company in the mobile networking space - primarily focused on high end applications covering everything from providing cellular connectivity to fleets of vehicles to enabling whole-building network installations for hotels and offices.
While Peplink's Pepwave routers are not specifically designed with individual mobile users in mind, they do offer solid and well supported products that many mobile uses have grown to rely on.
In particular, the Pepwave Surf SOHO (Small Office / Home Office) MK3 version released in November 2016 is a capable router with four downstream gigabit ethernet ports, an ethernet WAN port, and great support for tethering cellular modems and hotspots over USB.
This potent combination of features makes the Pepwave Surf SOHO very well suited to be the hub of a mobile network based on Wi-Fi and USB cellular tethering WAN inputs.
Specifications
- Model: Pepwave Surf SOHO MK3
- Router Specs:
- # of Connected Devices: 1-25
- Wi-Fi Router:
- Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) - Simultaneous 2.4 GHz & 5 GHZ
- Max Theoretical Wi-Fi Speed: 450 Mbps (2.4 GHz), 1300 Mbps (5 GHz)
- Wi-Fi Antenna: 3x RP-SMA/Female Antenna Port, 3x Indoor Antennas Included
- Wi-Fi as WAN: Yes
- Claimed Wi-Fi Range: Not specified
- Guest Wi-Fi Network: Yes
- Default Control Panel Address and Password: Not specified
- USB Tethering Support: Yes, most USB modems, hotspots and Android devices supported.
- Ethernet Ports: 4x Gigabit Ethernet LAN, 1x Gigabit WAN
- Integrated Cellular Modem: No
- Dimensions: 9.17" x 5.6" x 1.18"
- Other Ports:
- Power Source: 10V - 24V DC Input, 110V AC Adapter Included
- Outdoor Rated: No
- Special Features: Data Usage Tracking, Auto Failover
- Retail Price: $199
Prior Variations
This is the third version (MK3) of the Pepwave Surf SOHO released in late 2016, and the most significant change to the product line yet.
The second generation Surf SOHO lacks 802.11ac and simultaneous dual-band Wi-Fi, and we have a full review featured in our review center here.
The original first generation version of the Surf SOHO was essentially identical to the second, with the only significant difference being that it had 100Mbps fast ethernet ports rather than 1,000Mbps gigabit ethernet ports, which were added in a quiet product refresh in early 2015.
TIP: You can recognize the third generation SOHO because it has three antenna jacks on the back, rather than two.
View our Peplink product line overview and articles - co-authored with our education & action partner at MobileMustHave (who offers advanced support, guidance and discounts to our members):
News, Videos & Status
Peplink sent us a review unit of the new 8021.11ac version of the Surf SOHO for evaluation in late 2016.
We share our more detailed analysis, hands-on thoughts, and an in-depth video guide with our members below.
And members can view our field testing and range results here:
Mobile Router & Wi-Fi Gear Testing (Winter 2016/2017)
Here is our quick unboxing video and first impressions of the 802.11ac Pepwave Surf SOHO after we received it:
Related News Center Articles
Alternatives to Consider
For other popular mobile routers on the market we are tracking - here are our featured options:
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- Thoughts & Analysis
- Deep Dive
- User Interface Notes
- USB Tethering
- Performance Testing Results
- WiFiRanger Comparison
- Video Tutorial
- Conclusion
Purchasing Options
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NOTE: Do be careful when shopping that you get the new 802.11ac capable version of the SURF SOHO, and not the older model which is lacking in this key feature.
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 multiple 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:
For more on learning about mobile routers and how they might fit in your setup, follow up with our educational resources:
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