US Data Plan on LTE CAT-18 Models

Everything Else Wireless Carrier Troubleshooting
21

I ordered a never-throttled plan, I’ll report back how it goes.

4 Likes
22

I’ve used all of these in CAT-18 model…

ATT post-paid ‘tablet’
ATT pre-paid - unlimited RV Plan
Puretalk | ATT
Redpocket | ATT - would only connect 3G. unusable
Verizon post-paid
Verizon pre-paid
Xfinity Mobile | Verizon - LTE but throttled to 500kb
T-Mobile pre-paid
GoogleFi | T-Mobile

3 Likes
24

Has anyone used a plan from https://bixwireless.com/ on a peplink cat18 device?

1 Like
25

I can confirm Visible does work but the latency seems to be about double all the other plans I’ve tried (whether AT&T- or Verizon-based).

1 Like
26

I need to amend my earlier statement about the AT&T Business Wireless Broadband plan - I ordered a new line/SIM and this one works. I’m not sure what the original issue I was having was, but thankfully it’s either been resolved, or there was something weird going on in that case.

1 Like
27

Is this the plan you are talking about? https://www.business.att.com/content/dam/attbusiness/briefs/att-wireless-broadband-pricing-brochure.pdf

1 Like
28

Yes, correct. I’m using the 50 Mbps service built in antennas and am getting 30+ Mbps regularly, which I’m happy with for now. Hoping with an external antenna to improve this.

1 Like
30

I just today recieved my CAT 18 modem, first pepwave device ever and was just now on the phone with Verizon rep to add it to my account and order a SIM card. The IMEI is not authorized for access on their network. Will head to the local store here tomorrow to see if they can get it on the network. I live in New Mexico (Albuquerque) and we travel mainly north and into southern Colorado and southeast Utah. I plan on ordering a second SIM from Tmobile. Love this site, so informative! Any thoughts on how to get around the IMEI issue? We have 2 iPhonex’s, so no other hotspot device with a SIM.

32

Hey thanks for the tip, not a fan of hacking but I guess that’s what I have to do. Is the T mobile block just unlimited or all, would hate to make a leap and it not work. Feel like I have 1k brick right now.

33

So I got it working on my verizon plan by purchasing a MIFI and swapping the SIM over, tested it in the store. The looks I got having the pepwave with the puma 401 attached and my laptop connected. Litterally across the parking lot was Tmobile, and it was even easier there, did the 10 bucks a month plan for 2gb since its a backup connection, it worked immediatly. Too bad Tmobile coverage in the Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado area is stinky… Lol… All up and running!

6 Likes
34

Has anyone tried a Cricket Wireless Simply Data Plan (data only plan) with a peplink cat-18?

35

yes cricket plans work, up to data cap then lowered.

2 Likes
36

Thanks!!! How does the cricket simply data plan speed compare with at&t speeds?

37

My experience so far:

  • T-Mobile Magenta Tablet (unlimited) will NOT work. It stays on “Obtaining IP Address” indefinitely. The same SIM will work fine in any other non-Cat-18 router.
  • T-Mobile metered “Mobile Internet” plans work (e.g., 14GB then throttled to 128kbps aka “3G speeds”).
  • OTR Mobile through T-Mobile (“Pink Blast”) does NOT work, but they are switching back to AT&T next month.
  • AT&T postpaid iPad unlimited plan works great.

Edit: These were tested with TTL enforced to 64.

2 Likes
38

Let me ask the question that appears to be the real question users of the CAT 18 need to know. It has been alluded to on this thread & flat out asked on several others on this forum.

Has Verizon certified the MAX Transit CAT 18 for use on their network? I have yet to see a definitive response from Peplink on this question anywhere on this forum. Should be an easy question to answer.

Can it be activated on the Verizon network? Certainly, but, that’s not the issue most users are probably encountering when trying to set this thing up. I would submit the majority of the people encountering activation issues with Verizon are providing Verizon the IMEI # on the box/unit & Verizon responds that IMEI # is not compatible.

Yeah, Verizon is being a PITA, but, this Verizon certification thing with the Max Transit CAT 18 is going to come back to bite Peplink & some of you partners in the @$$ if the certification issue isn’t resolved.

My seller was very upfront about the Verizon certification & was very helpful both prior to the sale as well as after the sale in getting this thing to work on Verizon.

39

When using the AT&T post paid iPad unlimited plan in the max transit cat 18, did you simply switch the SIM to the max transit while keeping the IMEI from the iPad?
Thanks.

40

I never put the SIM in an iPad. Just gave AT&T an iPad IMEI and put it straight into the router.

41

Perfect. Thank you.
How’s it been working for you? Stream video OK?
I heard they network manage after 22GB. I estimate our needs will be about 30-50GB/mo.

42

Yeah, video streaming works fine. I think 200GB-300GB is typical usage for our lines. I’ve heard of people using much more without issues.

43

On the (current) postpaid plan or the pre-paid (now dead) plan? Your behavior matches the pre-paid plan, but I’ve heard a bunch of people in the past say the postpaid plan IS actually throttled per their marketing.