Just a heads up for anyone looking to move to Peplink 5G devices, looks like every Peplink 5G requires Primecare, which in our case that means our fleet of Max BR1-MK2’s go from $26 a year for incontrol2 management to $250 a year. $1300 vs $12,500. Not upgrading anytime soon, and honestly probably looking at different solutions. That’s just crazy.
There is no non-prime care option for it?!
Nope. I can’t find any 5G peplink options that doesn’t require prime care.
Darn
That is not going to bode well for my clients that only use the device 4 or so months of the year on their boats.
Primecare
This is a PrimeCare device. PrimeCare includes a factory replacement warranty, centralized cloud management, and SpeedFusion and SpeedFusion Hub licenses for WAN Bonding functionality. PrimeCare devices include 1 Year of PrimeCare with your purchase. Licensing PrimeCare beyond year one can be purchased now (options above). Basic functionality will remain if PrimeCare expires. Factory Warranty, InControl Cloud Management and SpeedFusion will stop functioning until the PrimeCare license is renewed.
The issue is:
- speedfusion stops if primecare stops, that was not the case on past devices
- there is no less expensive ic2 option, that was not the case on past devices
My issue is Peplink has no 5G device that isnt a "PrimeCare"Device. Its a complete money grab and will completly remove any prosumer/consumer interest in the product line going forward. These devices are built and sold as “tough” devices suitable for van/boat/industrial settings - and in my experience dont generally fail. So prime care forces a 10x in cost, for a warranty you probably wont use, for support thats not that good, and to keep pepfusion VPN working (that worked on previous peplink devices). Like i mentioned before we’ll be looking at different solutions for 5G, no way this is acceptable.
the problem i have with larger enterprise clients is they are fine paying support for 1-3 years no problem, but after 3 they want to stop, and will just replace the devices with new ones if they fail (keep a couple spares on hand). the issue is if features are removed such as speedfusion, that would never fly with them.
That statement is not accurate, there are 5G Peplink devices that do not require PrimeCare, they just might not be things you would consider in your budget or use case.
The MBX 5G, MBX Mini and the 310X 5G are all available without PrimeCare and have perpetually licensed features for Speedfusion, that said you are also tied into buying EssentialCare if you want to use Ic2 which is potentially costly over a 3-5 year period vs just a subscription to allow the use of Ic2.
This model of driving revenue to recurring subscriptions and licences that expire is not exactly new in the networking space, many other vendors have been at this for years - some with even more consequences than “losing features” to “does not function at all” if you let a support contract lapse.
Choice is important here though, hopefully Peplink will realise that one size doesn’t fit all needs and actually let us have our cake and eat it - i.e. offering more models with the option of PrimeCare which does work for certain customers and how they budget for equipment (CAPEX vs OPEX over the life cycle of the device) but also allowing people to buy them in the traditional fashion with perpetual licences and a lower cost option for just permitting the use of InControl2.
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Keep in mind the PrimeCare SKU’s are priced more aggressive and have all SpeedFusion features included in the PrimeCare license. Especially if you compare it with EssentialCare licenses (including warranty and more) it’s actually cheaper.
If you compare the Transit Duo for example:
MAX Transit Duo LTEA (PrimeCare) → €959
SpeedFusion Hot Failover/Bonding/Smoothing/Cloud included
PrimeCare 1YR → €199
MAX Transit Duo LTEA → €1499
SpeedFusion Hot Failover/Bonding/Smoothing → €999
EssentialCare 1YR → €259
Looking at the Pricing of the MAX BR1 Pro 5G, it would be minimal €1999 for a non PrimeCare SKU and also €999 for the SpeedFusion license, seems to be the norm across many SKU’s. The higher end SKU’s don’t have a inControl2 only license, never had.