Just some basic questions on this product, hopefully all simple. I tried asking Peplink directly via the inquiry form, but was directed over to a reseller.
I think this is basic stuff, but anyhow, this is what I was asking:
Can the unit be powered by both the main PSU and the USB-C port at the same time (data sheet suggests this is the case)?
Looking for vendors for a data plan with minimal bandwidth (but not insane charges if we go over) - related, a static IP would be nice. I understand this is a “big” question, but I have no idea what’s out there. Don’t need much bandwidth, just looking for out of band access to a cab in a datacenter.
What SMS functionality is available? Can I send SMS messages via this unit’s API or some other method?
new one:
This thing is an actual “router” even if it’s called a “modem”, right? The user manual talks about DHCP and NAT. Reseller said it is not a router, so I wanted to clarify.
Would love to get some good answers here so I can pull the trigger on this (working on a deadline). Especially interested in where others are getting data/sms-only plans at a reasonable cost.
I’m kind of bummed at how hard it is to get info - Peplink’s own site just shuffled my query off to a reseller, so the only option for finding out basic product capabilities is begging on the forum. Any employees around? Any sales folks?
So where exactly can I find these answers? I’m ready to buy, I think these are pretty basic questions? No 3rd party sales outfit wants to spend time answering Q’s on a $200 device I don’t think, and the one I was connected with doesn’t think this device does routing, so… I don’t know what my next step is? Just buy it and cross my fingers?
Travis - thank you so much! I thought I had the right answers from the document, but the reseller’s different answers kind of threw me.
I know the full-on router devices offer SMS send/receive via the REST API, just wanted to check if this device, which is a bit simpler it seems also does that.
Also just confirming that the Peplink data plans do NOT include any SMS capabilities, correct? I’m going to keep digging through the forums here to see who others are using for data plans. We need very little data - if this datacenter loses connectivity, we have bigger issues, but it’s still good to have a back way in if something we/I do screws up external connectivity. Letting our alert system send SMS through this is a huge bonus as more carriers now are shutting down their email to SMS gateways (which is how we currently “page” people about issues).
Well, it arrived and I can confirm it is a) a full router b) you do NOT need to use the USB-C port as a LAN adapter (not supported on macOS) and can configure it from the LAN 1 port w/no issues c) It just already has some tiny peplink data plan, which is fantastic for being able to verify it functions without popping weird APN crap and all first d) it has no issues with USB-C and main power at the same time and plugging and unplugging either cord causes no issues on a running unit e) it does seem to have SMS support, including remote control via SMS, so I do still think it would be nice if Peplink offered a data plan with SMS. I’d pay a premium for the “Just Works” of it all…
Even more interesting, some commands I’m finding in the javascript for dealing with SMS message reading look very much like a ZTE modem’s API command set. Hmmm… is this a ZTE dongle inside a Peplink device?
Which other models are running this firmware base? Based on picking apart the firmware this device is very different from other Peplink-branded devices. What in the product line is a simple cellular gateway like this that has full API support?
Your resellers seem very in the dark on this whole situation.