Starlink and Peplink Configuration for Seamless Failover

In this video, we explore how to set up the router most often encountered in the Airstream Connect or Airstream Smart configurations for Integrated Starlink operation. It is possible to retain most of the functions of the Airstream Smart app while performing these modifications to the router configuration and you end up with a seamless failover between Starlink, Campground Wifi (WiFi WAN) and a cellular connection. This allows you to maintain a constant internet connection while saving money on your cellular bill and changing to the high performance Starlink when you arrive. If any connection fails or is turned off, the system will automatically use the next higher priority connection.
Note that Airstream has changed from the Peplink Max BR1 mini to the Peplink Transit router in later versions of their Connect, but the setup is the same for all of Peplink’s routers.
If you are looking for a new router, I highly recommend the HW3 version of the Peplink Max BR1 mini. Personally, I would stay away from 5G cellular routers until the industry stabilizes more and 5G specification become more regular.
Peplink Max BR1 mini HW3 with Cat 4 LTE Modem - $349 + $99 for the Feature Pack (WAN port functionality)
5gstore.com/pr...
or
Peplink Max BR1 mini HW3 with Cat 7 LTE Modem - $479 + $99 for the Feature Pack (WAN port functionality)
5gstore.com/pr...
The original HW1 version that came in our 2019 Classic was a Cat 4 modem and is more than adequate. The Starlink is capable of greater speeds than the Peplink is (~250Mb/s for the Starlink and 100Mb/s for the HW1 versions of the Peplink). The HW3 versions are capable of 300Mb/s.
If you don’t need more than 100Mb/s speed, but you want a Cat 6 modem, you can buy the HW1 version with a Cat 6 modem.
5gstore.com/pr...
#Airstream
#Starlink
#Peplink

[@DownsizingMakesCents]

I have a pepwave max transit router which is what I installed for two years before I got starlink. I am in the process of doing a permanent installation of starlink and integrating it with our pepwave router. Most of the time starlink is our primary connection but sometimes trees prevent a good connection to the satellites. I have had starlink for 4 months and have used it from 12 states and Ontario canada, it has worked great so far. Love the videos. Larry

[@stevenfrazier7959]

Great video. Thanks for sharing

[@hsgsports]

Loved the video and have been reading your posts for years on Airforums.

[@elimlife5980]

Glad you like them! We have a lot more videos planned. My son has been pushing me to record these for a while now.

[@hsgsports]

@@elimlife5980 are you going to Fryeberg? This will be my first time at an International.

[@elimlife5980]

Not this year. We've been concentrating on trips to the Northwest this year.

[@11Bretired]

This was very easy to follow. Thank you

[@bobcoffel]

You are making the perfect set of videos at the right time for me. I do have one question though, what do you lose by not having Airstream manage the router or if you factory reset the router? Can you still use the Airstream Connect app, if so what do you lose?

[@elimlife5980]

The biggest loss is you don't have Airstream breaking your connectivity anymore. I'm pretty sure my Internet was nonfunctional about 20% of the time. It's hit or miss whether the Smart Control features work. Peplink is an enterprise system designed for the transit market and it is rock solid. Since removing Airstream from controlling it, I've not had a single outage related to "upgrades". Airstream's tech department likes to point the finger at peplink, but peplink isn't the problem. As to your question, You will no longer have the location function working in the app and you will not be able to control your "Campground WiFi" or change WiFi passwords. You will be able to access all of those things through the peplink interface though. In my 2019 Classic, everything else in the Smart Control app works (when Airstream hasn't broken it). We are working on an alternative to the Smart Control and will post a video about it soon.

[@bobcoffel]

@@elimlife5980 When you say everything else is available in the Smart Control app, is that remotely as well, can you see things like the temp, control the A/C and see the tank levels. It is especially important to us because we travel with two dogs and we want to make sure they are ok while we are away.

[@elimlife5980]

I don't have access to the customized zone network interface that Airstream uses. Airstream says that only Czone has access and Czone says only Airstream has access. Without that access, I can't guarantee any app stuff. It does work remotely in my Classic, but that is all I know. That is why we are working on an alternative. Airstream has regularly broken it. I suspect that there is a server somewhere that the system connects to (as does your app), but that is closed to us mere mortals. Frankly, I think there is a third party in there somewhere because I don't think Airstream could make the app with the tech department they have.

[@YOYOCrescendo]

Thanks for the tips.

[@gcam474]

Really great! Thanks

[@clayton9309]

At the 2:21 mark you mention a\doing another video about creating world class connection with the pep link and starlink….. is this video available?

[@chadsmith5710]

Do you have any understanding Cradlepoint vs Peplink? Why would one choose other and so on

[@robertwasha7234]

Can the pep wave be used as a wan? I simply want the starlink connected to the pep wave with a pepwave lan port connected to my own mesh WiFi hub and the pep wave cellular configured for cellular backup for the starlink.

[@BC-mi9st]

so interesting! If you bypass the SL router, can you use a router on 12v? Also, does Dishy work on 12v? TIA

[@elimlife5980]

Yes to both questions. The peplink routers are designed for transit use so they automatically run on 12 or 24 V. In my hardware install video, I walk you through powering Dishy with 12 V (kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnymaniOorqrbaM). You do have to cut the default cable and if you are nervous about that, I cover that in the Starlink Wiring video (kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6nZaaJ-oLyDa6c). My Starlink setup completely does away with the Starlink router. I do keep it in the storage case though because I occasionally have to use the Starlink away from our airstream and the router comes in handy then.

[@twesslen]

I'm curious if the pepwave will act as a cell phone signal booster or does it only provide a wifi signal to the cell phone signal provided by the SIM card? Does that make sense? In other words, will it make my cell phone work better in my airstream without having a SIM card / cellular data plan activated on the Pepwave itself.

[@elimlife5980]

If your cell phone is capable cellular connection over WiFi (most smart phones are, but you need to check with your carrier) it will enhance your coverage by being able to use whatever data connection is being used by the peplink. Just know that you have to change the registered e911 address in your phone whenever you do that. Some jurisdictions have severe penalties for incorrect usage of e911 calls and it does you no good to have your emergency cellular call routed to someplace you are not.

[@twesslen]

@@elimlife5980 I suppose I was asking more about making a voice call, NOT over wifi. Does it boost the signal for that kind of coverage? I assume the answer is no. BTW thanks for your videos. I'm gearing up to use many of your ideas on my own Airstream. Very Helpful.

[@elimlife5980]

No. It would seem that one of the cell carriers has inked out an agreement with Starlink where they may use it as a backup in the future, but to my knowledge, there are no common carrier phones with satellite (Starlink) to make voice calls as of right now. Starlink is data only.

[@twesslen]

@@elimlife5980 Sorry, I'm still not clearly asking my question. Will the 42G antenna connected to the Peplink act as a cell signal booster inside the trailer. In other words if I had an iPhone without wifi turned on will the cell signal be boosted on the inside of the trailer? Again, I believe the answer is NO but just checking.

[@elimlife5980]

Ahh, I see. No it won't. The antenna simply terminates in an SMA connector on the back of the Peplink. The Peplink has it's own cellular modem which needs the antenna. You could, if you wanted to, disconnect the antenna from the Peplink and connect it to a cell booster to get that functionality, but then you lose the data-over-cellular in the Peplink. If you are not using the Peplink cellular data at all, I don't see why you couldn't do that, but you will need a cellular boosting device to connect to the antenna. I think the only thing you would gain by that is having a slightly better antenna outside the Airstream. If it were me, my first choice would be to use cellular-over-WiFi through the Peplink data, and the second choice would be to get a better antenna mounted on a pole (better height and more directionality for a better signal.)

[@robin5453]

Great video. The BR1 mini seems quite a deal. If I dont pay the $99, I just dont get the WAN, but still get the dual LTEs, right? I also saw someone using the Pep Transit router and it is quite expensive, what is the main differences? Why someone will chose that one? Thanks.

[@elimlife5980]

If you get the hw3 version, the BR1 is a great deal. The earlier versions have some drawbacks so I would stay away from them if you can. In particular, the hw1 version has some real throughput issues when using WiFi wan and local WiFi at the same time.

[@jongrote5387]

While the BR1 Mini does have 2 SIM slots, it has only a single LTE modem, so only 1 SIM can be used at a time. With the Transit DUO, that has 2 modems, and each modem has 2 SIM slots, so you can insert up to 4 SIM's, but you can use both modems simultaneously.

[@rogerbrooks]

How do you physically connect the Starlink cable or modem to the PepWave router?

[@elimlife5980]

the other side of the POE (the non-powered side) is connected with a regular ethernet cable to the WAN port of the peplink router.