# Peplink and Pepwave router SIM cards, tested with ThingSIM

> Peplink's Pepwave MAX routers are built for vehicles and sites that cannot drop a connection. A ThingSIM goes in any SIM slot, and with two slots or two modems you can pair it with a second link for SpeedFusion bonding or failover.

## Setting up a ThingSIM in the Peplink web admin and InControl 2

The APN goes in **Network → WAN → Details (cellular WAN) → Cellular Settings**.

1. Activate the SIM in the ThingSIM portal, then insert it in SIM A (or SIM B) with the router powered off.
2. Log in to the web admin, go to Network → WAN and click Details on the cellular WAN.
3. Under Cellular Settings, choose the SIM slot the ThingSIM is in.
4. Tick Data Roaming for that SIM. It is off by default and a ThingSIM needs it.
5. Set Operator Settings to Custom, enter the APN from the portal, leave the login and password blank and Authentication on Auto.
6. Save, then Apply Changes.
7. The dashboard's WAN Connection Status shows the carrier, signal and IP address.

**Two SIMs:** On the same Cellular Settings page, SIM Card sets the order the router tries SIM A, SIM B or a remote SIM, and when it falls back to the preferred one. A ThingSIM can also sit alongside other WANs for SpeedFusion bonding or failover.

**Checking it works:** Dashboard → WAN Connection Status, and Status → WAN Quality for signal over the last hour. InControl 2 shows the same across a fleet.

## BR1 Pro

- **MAX BR1 Pro 5G (5GN)**: Vehicle router, 5G, 2 SIM slots, Wi-Fi. High-throughput 5G router for branch and vehicles.
- **MAX BR1 Pro CAT-20**: Vehicle router, 4G LTE-A Cat 20, 2 SIM slots, Wi-Fi. Fast LTE router with SpeedFusion for fixed or mobile.

## BR1

- **MAX BR1 Mini (HW3)**: Vehicle router, 4G LTE Cat 4 / LTE-A, 2 SIM slots, Wi-Fi. Rugged compact router for IoT, retail failover, vehicles.
- **MAX BR1 Mini 5G**: Industrial router, 5G. Low-cost 5G router for mass deployments.
- **MAX BR1 Mini Core**: Industrial router, 4G LTE Cat 4 / LTE-A, 2 SIM slots. Stripped-back telemetry router with GPIO, C1D2.
- **MAX BR1 Mini M2M**: Industrial router, 4G LTE, 2 SIM slots. Compact router with serial port for industrial equipment.

## B One

- **B One 5G**: Branch router, 5G, 2 SIM slots, Wi-Fi. Branch/retail router with 5G backup.
- **B One Plus**: Branch router, 4G LTE, 2 SIM slots, Wi-Fi. Branch/retail router with LTE backup.

## Balance

- **Balance 20X**: Branch router, optional embedded 4G LTE / LTE-A. Dual-WAN branch router with optional LTE.
- **Balance 310 5G**: Branch router, 5G. Branch router with 5G failover and PoE+.
- **Balance 310 Fiber 5G**: Branch router, 5G. Branch router with SFP, Ethernet and 5G WAN.
- **Balance 310 X**: Branch router, 5G or LTE-A. 2.5 Gbps SD-WAN router for medium branches.

## BR Pro

- **BR2 Pro (5GK)**: Vehicle router, 5G SA/NSA x2, physical SIM + eSIM, Wi-Fi. Dual-5G professional router for vehicles/government.
- **BR1 Pro (5GK)**: Vehicle router, 5G SA/NSA, LTE fallback, physical SIM + eSIM, Wi-Fi. Public-safety certified 5G router with Docker and PoE-in.

## BR2

- **MAX BR2 Pro (5GN)**: Vehicle router, 5G x2, Several SIM slots, Wi-Fi. Dual-5G router for mobile professionals and vehicles.
- **MAX BR2**: Vehicle router, 4G LTE / LTE-A x2, Several SIM slots, Wi-Fi. Rugged dual-cellular router for remote/mobile use.
- **BR2 Micro**: Vehicle router, 4G LTE / LTE-A x2, Several SIM slots. Tiny dual-cellular router for space-limited installs.

## Adapters

- **5G Adapter**: Failover router, 5G, 2 SIM slots + eSIM. Adds 5G to an existing network over 2.5G Ethernet (PoE, GPS, ignition).
- **MAX Adapter**: Cellular adapter, 4G LTE Cat 4, physical SIM + eSIM. Small LTE modem via Ethernet or USB-C.

## MBX

- **HD2 MBX / HD4 MBX**: Vehicle router, 5G or LTE-A x2 / x4 modems, up to 16 SIMs, Wi-Fi. Multi-cellular bonding router for vehicles and temporary sites.

## Transit

- **MAX Transit Duo Pro**: Vehicle router, 4G LTE-A x2, Several SIM slots, Wi-Fi. Dual-LTE router for buses/rail (E-Mark, EN 50155).
- **MAX Transit Pro E**: Vehicle router, 5G, Wi-Fi. Rugged 5G vehicle router with edge compute.

## PDX

- **PDX**: Vehicle router, 5G or LTE-A x4 modems, Several SIM slots, Wi-Fi. Battery carry-case quad-cellular router for rapid deployment.

## SDX

- **Balance SDX**: Branch router, 5G / LTE via FlexModules, up to 56 SIM slots (Nano). Modular head-end router with cellular FlexModules.
- **Balance SDX Pro**: Branch router, 5G / LTE via FlexModules, up to 56 SIM slots (Nano). 24 Gbps modular router with cellular FlexModules.

## Dome

- **HD1 Dome Pro**: Outdoor unit, 5G, up to 10 physical SIMs, Wi-Fi. IP67 outdoor 5G router for vehicles, vessels, poles.
- **Dome Pro Duo**: Outdoor unit, 5G x2, Several SIM slots. IP67 dual-5G outdoor router.
- **Dome Pro LR**: Outdoor unit, 5G x2, high-gain antennas, Several SIM slots. Long-range maritime dual-5G router.

## Older models

- **MAX BR1 Mini (HW1)** (no longer sold): Vehicle router, 4G LTE. First-gen BR1 Mini (still widely deployed).
- **BR1 Pro 5G (5GH/5GD)** (no longer sold): Vehicle router, 5G. Earlier BR1 Pro 5G modem variants (still widely deployed).
- **MAX BR1 Pro (LTE-A)** (no longer sold): Vehicle router, 4G LTE-A. Earlier BR1 Pro (still widely deployed).
- **MAX BR1 MK2** (no longer sold): Vehicle router, 4G LTE. BR1 Mk2 (still widely deployed).
- **MAX HD2** (no longer sold): Vehicle router, 4G LTE x2. Dual-cellular bonding router (still widely deployed).
- **MAX HD4** (no longer sold): Vehicle router, 4G LTE x4. Quad-cellular bonding router (still widely deployed).
- **Balance 310 5G (HW1-2)** (no longer sold): Branch router, 5G. Earlier Balance 310 5G hardware (still widely deployed).
- **MAX Transit 5G** (no longer sold): Vehicle router, 5G. 5G transport router (still widely deployed).

## Questions

### Does a ThingSIM work in a Pepwave MAX BR1 Mini?

Yes. Put the SIM in, set the APN from the portal on the cellular WAN and the router connects. The same steps apply to the BR1 Pro, Transit and Balance models.

### Can I use ThingSIM with SpeedFusion?

Yes. A ThingSIM is an ordinary cellular WAN to the router, so it can be bonded or used as a failover link alongside fixed lines or other SIMs.

Suggested plan: 5 GB, UK 4-network, £8.85 a month per active SIM, ex VAT.

Source: https://thingsim.com/devices/peplink