Peplink B One

As technology continues to evolve, so does the Peplink product line of routers. The Peplink B One (B-ONE-T-PRM) has just emerged and is already showing off to be a powerhouse. It seamlessly combines the best features of Peplink’s renowned Pepwave Surf SOHO and Peplink Balance 20 routers. The Surf SOHO MK3 in particular was one of the most reviewed products here at 5Gstore.com. Even with such a great following, the Surf SOHO MK3 was discontinued in the fall of 2022. 

Unlike the next best thing, the Peplink Balance 20X, the Surf SOHO MK3 lacked a built-in cellular 4G/5G modem. This made more sense to users looking for a low-cost, reliable, multi-WAN solution. So with the Surf SOHO, as well as the Balance 20 gone, it leaves room for the B One to come in and provide a SOHO like solution for those in need. The Peplink B One stands out above the Surf SOHO MK3 with its improved speeds, enterprise software features, and robust connectivity options. 

Improved Speeds and WiFi Excellence

The Peplink B One boasts impressive throughput speeds of up to 1Gbps, catering to the needs of 1 to 150 users. It’s equipped with built-in WiFi 6 technology, providing advanced wireless capabilities for both WiFi WAN and/or WiFi AP connections. This ensures a fast and reliable internet experience for all connected devices. If we compare this to the Surf SOHO, it’s quite an increase in speed from 120 Mbps up to a full gigabit. The SOHO also only supported WiFi 5 technology, so users planning on upgrading should see better performance overall.

Enterprise Software Features for Enhanced Control

Efficiently separate devices into Virtual LANs, which enhance network management and security. 4 total LAN ports are available for these connections, but note one of the WAN ports is convertible into a 5th LAN Port (this requires special firmware from Peplink). If WiFi connections are required, you may further secure your network by creating multiple SSIDs for different purposes such as personal, guest, and IoT. 

The B One also has a built-in WiFi access point (AP) that supports 2×2 MiMO connections. If you find this doesn’t provide enough range for your location, seamlessly integrate external WiFi APs. Through the WLAN Controller, you’ll not only have extended coverage and performance, but enhanced control over your wireless local network.

Robust & Reliable Connectivity

Aside from the 2 wired WAN ports, you can provide your network redundancy by connecting a USB cellular modem or a nearby WiFi hotspot (using WiFi WAN – 2.4GHz or 5GHz). This can even be an Android phone or iPhone hotspot. Note that unlike the previously mentioned Peplink hardware, the B One uses a USB-C type port rather than type A. While most USB cellular modems use type A, modern cell Android, iPhones and Peplink’s own MAX Adapters utilize type C.

Be aware that not all USB cellular modems are created alike. If you find you cannot connect yours to the B One, Peplink support will work with you and attempt to get it functioning. For more information on modems that are known to work with the Peplink routers, check out Peplink’s supported list of USB modems

With the inclusion of PrimeCare warranty, the Peplink B One supports SpeedFusion technology. This enables the use of Hot Failover, WAN Smoothing, and bonding of multiple internet connections for a more reliable and faster internet feed. This can be any combination of Internet connections, whether it be a wired WAN, USB WAN or WiFi WAN. That’s a total of 5 WAN connections that the Peplink B One can support right out of the box! It is unknown at this time if a LAN port can be used as a 3rd WAN port, but we will update this article accordingly.

Easy Integration with Starlink and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)

The router supports dual WAN ports, which is where you can connect your Starlink dish or Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) cellular modem/ router. Note that the Peplink does not have an integrated satellite or cellular LTE/ 5G modem, but can connect to them externally. Simply take an Ethernet cable from your Starlink dish, or fixed wireless modem, and connect it to one of the WAN ports on the Peplink B One.

When utilizing multiple WAN connections, you may optimize your network by bonding multiple Starlink connections together, or even one Starlink and one FWA connection. Keep in mind that this requires SpeedFusion connectivity, which is included with the PrimeCare warranty plan. 

If bonding is not necessary to your application, you can still achieve optimal performance by using Load Balancing. Balance Starlink with other internet services like 5G/LTE, Cable, Fiber, and Fixed Wireless Access.

Included Management and Cloud Integration

Effortlessly manage your router locally or through Peplink’s cloud manager service, InControl 2, included for 1 year with the PrimeCare warranty. When linked to your devices, InControl 2 consolidates data to produce informative reports covering every facet of your network. With just one screen, you can deploy configurations to all your endpoints. For a more in-depth analysis, you can remotely connect to the web admin of any device within your network.

InControl enables you to streamline configuration processes, reduce the need for on-site visits, monitor your network’s status efficiently, and proactively address emerging issues with speed and accuracy. Furthermore, with the InTouch feature, you can easily access devices connected behind your Peplink B One router. 

That’s not all the InControl 2 cloud management offers. With regular backups of your configuration, you can always rest assured that any changes can quickly be undone as needed. In a future update, you may even be able to upload saved configurations from different Peplink models onto the B One. We’ll update this article as we find out more information. 

Additional Specifications and Notes

  • Dimensions:
    • 10.31 x 6.33 x 1.31 inches (262 x 161 x 33.5mm)
  • The Peplink B One package includes:
    • 2x Dual Band Wi-Fi Antennas 
    • 1x 12V 3A 4 Pin Power Supply
  • PrimeCare warranty renewal for 1 year is available for $49
    • In addition to SpeedFusion features, PrimeCare (PRM-A-1Y / PCP-A-1Y) includes a hardware warranty, support and cloud management. Without PrimeCare, the router functions normally, less these features and cloud control.
    • For those looking to renew the PrimeCare for longer periods, check out product code PRM-A-2Y or PCP-A-2Y for 2 years, and either PRM-A-4Y or PCP-A-4Y for 4 years.

In conclusion, the Peplink B One router delivers on its promise of exceptional speed, reliability, and flexibility. Whether you’re looking for a replacement to your Surf SOHO or Balance 20 router, advanced enterprise features, or multi-WAN connectivity, the B One stands as a versatile and robust networking solution. With its compact design and easy management options, it’s a reliable choice for businesses and users seeking top-tier performance. 

Reach out to the 5Gstore sales team today to place your order for the Peplink B One and be sure to check out our Peplink B One FAQ!

Do I Need the Feature Pack for My Peplink MAX BR1 Mini HW3?

The Peplink MAX BR1 Mini has been a versatile solution since its hardware revision one release. With its small size and reliable cellular connection, many users found it to be the right fit for their application. Peplink even released a similar version called the BR1 Mini Core, which is meant for users who don’t require WiFi or GPS support. 

At its third hardware release, Peplink created a feature pack to add additional WAN support, if needed. If you’re unaware, the BR1 Mini comes only with the Cellular WAN active. This feature pack license is a one time fee, which activates the Ethernet WAN and WiFi WAN connections. It also provides support for SpeedFusion Hot Failover and Bandwidth Bonding. 

Now, BR1 Mini users can rejoice as the feature pack will no longer be needed when you have a valid PrimeCare subscription (warranty plan). This will however require a firmware upgrade to the recently released version of 8.3.1 (download 8.3.1 firmware for BR1 Mini HW3 here). 

For more information about these routers, check out our Peplink MAX BR1 Mini pages, or contact the 5Gstore team.

How do I Purchase a Peplink License After My Warranty has Expired?

If you own a Peplink or Pepwave device, you may already be aware of their warranty renewal process. If not, you can read about it in detail here (see Renewal Policy). 

In cases where your device is outside of the 30 day grace period, you will need to supply something called a Diagnostic Report. This is a unique report that only the Peplink engineers can open and read. It is used not only to help diagnose device issues, but also to verify the device is operating properly. 

As long as the device’s operation is normal, the Report will pass Peplink Support’s test. If they find an issue however, it will cause a failure, in which case you may not be able to proceed with purchasing the warranty license. It is for this reason that we have implemented a new feature on our website. 

When you go to purchase a new warranty for your device, but you’re outside the grace period, you’ll be prompted to upload a Diagnostic Report. How exactly is that done you ask? There’s two ways to do this. Let’s take a look. 

Obtain Your Diagnostic Report through the Web Admin

First, we have the Web Admin method. If you are connected directly to your Peplink device via Ethernet or WiFi, and you can log into the web admin page, follow the steps* below. 

  1. Open a web browser and log into the web admin page (default login is admin/ admin)
    • For Balance routers, the default address is 192.168.1.1
    • For Max and SOHO routers, the default address is 192.168.50.1
  2. Navigate to the “Status” tab and confirm you’re at “Device” on the left (it should automatically load to this page)
  3. Find “Diagnostic Report” towards the bottom of the page
  4. Click “Download” (it may take a few moments to begin as it is loading the data)
  5. Save this file (you will not be able to open it)

*For a video of these steps, see below

Obtain Your Diagnostic Report through InControl 2

Alternatively, if you are remotely located from the device, but have access to it through InControl 2, you can download from there. Follow the steps** below.

  1. Log into your account at https://incontrol2.peplink.com
  2. Select the “Organization” and then the “Group” your device is saved within
  3. Select the device from the “Device List” here and you’ll be taken to the “Device Details” page
  4. On the left, see the “Information” section and click the “Show All” link beside the “Device Name” – Additional details will be revealed
  5. Find “Diagnostic Report” towards the bottom and click “Download
  6. A window will appear with a button that reads “Request for a report” – click this and wait while the request is sent to the device.
  7. After a few moments, a “Download” button will appear – click on this and save the file. 

**For a video of these steps, see below. 

If you need assistance or have any questions about this process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We’re available Monday thru Friday from 9am to 6pm CST via phone, email, or chat.

How Much SpeedFusion Cloud Usage Do I Get with My Peplink Care Plan?

In November of 2020, Peplink added SpeedFusion Cloud (also known as SpeedFusion Connect) to their Care plans (EssentialCare, PrimeCare, SmartCare and TotalCare). This means any Peplink model under a Care plan can take advantage of the global infrastructure of their SpeedFusion network. 

SpeedFusion Cloud is a VPN technology. It utilizes Peplink’s infrastructure that provides access to a global network of SpeedFusion endpoints and technology without requiring additional hardware. This includes Bandwidth Bonding, Hot Failover, WAN Smoothing, and Bandwidth Overflow features. Simply enable the SpeedFusion Connect VPN on your Peplink device and you’re ready to go.

Each Peplink model comes with a different SpeedFusion Cloud package. Check out the chart below to see what your model includes. 

Still have questions? Check out Peplink’s FAQ here

Want to know more about the SpeedFusion configuration? Watch our setup video here. You may also reach out to our team by phone, email, or chat!