How to Choose the Right Pepwave Router for You

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Pepwave has a strong lineup of cellular routers that help you stay connected on the road.  In addition to connectivity, the Pepwave routers allow you to manage multiple internet sources in one device, whether it be cellular plans, campground WiFi, or even Starlink. The settings are robust and can be personalized to meet your connection needs.


There are a few questions to ask yourself when deciding which Pepwave Cellular Router is best for you (or if you need one at all).

What type of cellular and/or data plan(s) do you have?

I only have a phone plan.

If you only use a cell phone as a hotspot, and this is how you want to continue to operate, then the Pepwave Cellular Router is not what you are looking for. The Pepwave is for those that are looking for a dedicated cellular hotspot in their RV. If you are looking to boost your cell signal on your cell phone to then use as a hotspot, then you may want to consider a WeBoost Reach Cell Booster.

I have a phone plan and a tablet data plan. 

Although you would not be able to use the router with your phone service, you may be able to use your tablet data plan. You would need to check the plan and be sure it can be used in a router. Some tablet plans are unlimited, but if you take them out of a tablet and put them in a router, you may lose the unlimited plan and it may become a hotspot plan with data caps. You would need to check with your carrier to confirm what your plan offers. 

Redundancy is important when you are trying to stay connected on the road.  Having multiple options to connect to the internet is key, so if you only have one plan whether it be in a phone, tablet or hotspot, you may want to consider adding another way to stay connected.  You can add a data plan to your current cell phone carrier and use it in a Pepwave, or you may consider adding a different carrier altogether so you have options as you travel. At TechnoRV, you can get a 300GB data plan from Verizon which works perfectly in any Pepwave router.  

I only have one cell plan that is used in a dedicated mobile hotspot. 

If you have a cell plan that is designed for a router like a Jetpack or MiFi, you would be able to use a Pepwave router. You would simply remove the SIM card from the hotspot and place it in the Pepwave.  

Since you only have one data plan, you would need to focus on the 3 single modem routers available at TechnoRV. They range in price from $479 to $999.

The only router that you would need to avoid is the dual-modem Max Transit Pro DUO Router. This router is designed to operate with 2 data plans at the same time, which is not necessary if you do not have more than one data plan.  Dual-modem routers are designed for those who want an unbreakable connection which is needed for Zoom, Skype, or other video conferencing programs. With dual-modems, if you lose one cell connection, it would instantly use the second data plan without losing an internet connection.

You can use two data plans in a single-modem router as well, but they cannot be used at the same time like they can in a dual-modem.  If you lost connection with one plan, it would switch over to the other cell plan, but there would be a brief interruption while the modem switched from one to the other.

The most affordable single-modem option is the Pepwave Max BR1 Mini Cat 7 LTE Router. At $479, it is a great solution for those with one data plan who want to utilize the capabilities of Pepwave.

In addition to the Pepwave Max BR1 Mini Cat 7 LTE mentioned above, there are 2 more single-modem routers at TechnoRV: the Pepwave Max BR1 Pro Cat 20 and the Pepwave Max BR1 Pro 5G Cat 20. The only difference in these is the second has 5G capability and the first does not.

I have 2 or more cell plans that are being used in dedicated mobile hotspots. 

If you have multiple hotspots in your RV, you can choose any of the routers we offer since they all have 2 or more SIM slots. The decision here is whether you want a single-modem router which allows you to use one plan at a time, or a dual-modem router which allows you to use two plans at the same time.

If you want to use two data plans at the same time, then you would need our dual-modem Max Transit Pro DUO Cat 7 - Cat 12 LTE Router.  This router allows you to use two data plans at the same time which allows for hot failover using SpeedFusion and a seamless transfer from one data plan to another.  This is helpful with video conferencing and uploading large files. The Pepwave dual-modem routers can also bond together two different cell plans to give you better speeds.  

You could also use two cell plans with a single-modem Pepwave router, although they only allow you to use one at a time. They will failover to the other plan if there are service interruptions, but this is not a seamless change like the dual-modem router provides.  It take a few seconds to switch over, and service is briefly interrupted.

Having multiple data plans in one Pepwave is helpful when it comes to data management, since the Pepwave can prioritize one plan over the other to conserve data.  It can also ensure you are using the data plan that has the best signal available without you having to do speed tests and manually switching from one plan to the other.

Do you want to be able to access campground WiFi through your Pepwave router?

All Pepwave routers from TechnoRV  can be used to access campground WiFi using 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Having the ability to connect to a local WiFi access point is a great option to have to reduce the data load on your cell plans. It also comes in handy when you are driveway camping and have internet available through a home nearby.

What is the price range you are comfortable with?

I want the improvement a router gives over a mobile hotspot, but I do not want to spend a lot. 

If you are wanting to see an improvement over your current hotspot without spending tons, you should consider the single-modem Pepwave Max BR1 Mini Cat 7 LTE Router for $479.  

The other single-modem routers range from $849 to $999, although they do offer faster speeds and more features.

I don’t mind spending more for more bandwidth and faster speeds. 

If you don’t mind spending more, then you have a couple of options:

The Pepwave Max BR1 Pro Cat 20 Modem is $849 and offers the fastest speeds available at an equally impressive price point. It is a single modem router so you will only be able to use one SIM card at a time, however even with the limitation of one SIM card, it is still the fastest router due to the increase in bands used and the number of antennas used. 

The Max BR1 Pro comes in a 5G model as well.  The price for the Pepwave Max BR1 Pro 5G Cat 20 Modem is $999 and has the same speeds and features as the $849 model, but can access 5G as well as LTE.

The Pepwave Max Transit Pro Duo Cat 7-Cat 12 LTE Advanced Router at $999 offers great speeds using 2 cell plans at the same time increasing your bandwidth which is great when multiple devices are using the router. It also allows you to use two data plans at the same time when using SpeedFusion which allows for hot failover and bonding. This is great for video conferencing and large data uploads.

Do I need to mount an antenna on my RV roof to use a Pepwave?

All of the Pepwave routers at TechnoRV work best when you use them with a roof-mounted antenna; however, all of the Pepwave routers will work without a roof-mounted antenna as well.  Of course, you will receive higher speeds and a better experience when you do add an antenna on the roof since it offers better line of sight along with stronger antennas.

We have several options for Pepwave antennas at TechnoRV, and we would be happy to help if you have questions on which is best for you. You can always Contact Us if you need assistance.

I am not great at technology, but I want a Pepwave router. Can I get help with setup?

When you buy from TechnoRV, you receive our exclusive Pepwave Learning Series through email which contains everything you need to know to get your new Pepwave router setup and running including videos and FAQs. If you need additional help after using the Learning Series, don’t worry! We offer free phone, email, and chat support on Pepwave and all of our products Monday through Friday 9:00 - 4:30 CST. We will be sure you are successful with the products you buy from us.

If you still need help deciding which Pepwave cellular router is right for you, feel free to email us at info@technorv.com, chat with us from our website at TechnoRV.com, Monday - Friday, or call us at 866-324-7915, Monday - Friday.  We would be happy to walk through the decision with you.

You can also watch our  Pepwave Comparison Video to help you decide what Pepwave best meets your needs:

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3 comments


  • TechnoRV Team

    Glad you enjoyed it Steve. Please let us know of other content you might find helpful.


  • Mark

    Great article. We are now full time rv’ers.
    We didn’t realize how difficult it would be to get wifi especially state parts.

    We use AT&T as our carrier with unlimited data. We purchased a 2nd SIM card for extra hot spot wifi 100gig but it doesn’t last long we use it up quickly.
    Mainly interested in watching tv, Saturday and Sunday sports and browsing.
    What would you recommend.
    Thank you
    Mark & Charlene


  • Steve

    GREAT article!!! Thank-you for taking the time to write it! :)


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  • TechnoRV Team

    Glad you enjoyed it Steve. Please let us know of other content you might find helpful.


  • Mark

    Great article. We are now full time rv’ers.
    We didn’t realize how difficult it would be to get wifi especially state parts.

    We use AT&T as our carrier with unlimited data. We purchased a 2nd SIM card for extra hot spot wifi 100gig but it doesn’t last long we use it up quickly.
    Mainly interested in watching tv, Saturday and Sunday sports and browsing.
    What would you recommend.
    Thank you
    Mark & Charlene


  • Steve

    GREAT article!!! Thank-you for taking the time to write it! :)


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This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

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