FYI Pepwave 8.5.0 firmware released

[Neal]

Thanks for the heads up @starlinkdany - Pepwave 8.5.0 is now available. Click System at the top, Firmware on the left and when updating don't forget to click the option in the prompt to download your current config file should you need to restore your pepwave later. Release notes for all units can be found here but here is the Pepwave BR1 Pro 5G release notes if interested.

https://download.peplink.com/resources/firmware-8.5.0-release-notes.pdf

 

[Neal]

Firmware 8.5.0

With enhancements from security to Starlink integration to Wi-Fi, Peplink’s latest Firmware 8.5.0 offers new improvements to elevate your network experience.

www.peplink.com

 

[sheridany]

I'm too busy speed testing to watch it. Can you ask Elon to send up my personal satellite so that I don't have to deal with all the other less critical connections slowing things down?

 

[sheridany]

I don't know what the starlink obstruction check box obstruction is supposed to do. I saw a noticeable decline in downloads and uploads, and it barely crawled last night during prime time. Even this morning, the speeds were still noticeably slower, So I am turning it off until I understand what it is doing and why I need it. Speeds seem back to normal this morning after.

 

[sheridany]

noticed SL is going down from obstruction as we moved yesterday. There is some obstruction in this location, but a clear view of the sky remains. I reset the obstruction map and turned back on the ignore. We will see if this makes any difference.

Aug 30 10:49:59	WAN: Starlink (Priority 1) connected via Starlink (100.88.130.109)
Aug 30 10:49:53	WAN: Cellular (Priority 2) connected to T-Mobile (21.173.8.73) in SIM slot A
Aug 30 10:49:53	WAN: Starlink (Priority 1) disconnected (Starlink Outage Obstructed)
Aug 30 10:49:52	WAN: Starlink (Starlink) down (obstructed)
Aug 30 10:48:49	WAN: Cellular (Priority 2) standby (21.173.8.73) in SIM slot A
Aug 30 10:48:49	WAN: Starlink (Priority 1) connected via Starlink (100.88.130.109)
Aug 30 10:48:44	WAN: Cellular (Priority 2) connected to T-Mobile (21.173.8.73) in SIM slot A
Aug 30 10:48:44	WAN: Starlink (Priority 1) disconnected (Starlink Outage Obstructed)
Aug 30 10:48:43	WAN: Starlink (Starlink) down (obstructed)
Aug 30 10:47:44	WAN: Cellular (Priority 2) standby (21.173.8.73) in SIM slot A
Aug 30 10:47:44	WAN: Starlink (Priority 1) connected via Starlink (100.88.130.109)
Aug 30 10:47:38	WAN: Cellular (Priority 2) connected to T-Mobile (21.173.8.73) in SIM slot A
Aug 30 10:47:38	WAN: Starlink (Priority 1) disconnected (Starlink Outage No Schedule)
Aug 30 10:47:37	WAN: Starlink (Starlink) down (no schedule)
Aug 30 10:47:33	WAN: Cellular (Priority 2) standby (21.173.8.73) in SIM slot A
Aug 30 10:47:33	WAN: Starlink (Priority 1) connected via Starlink (100.88.130.109)
Aug 30 10:47:03	WAN: Cellular (Priority 2) connected to T-Mobile (21.173.8.73) in SIM slot A
Aug 30 10:47:03	WAN: Starlink (Priority 1) disconnected (Starlink Outage Obstructed)
Aug 30 10:47:03	WAN: Starlink (Starlink) down (obstructed)

 

[Neal]

What are your health check settings? Screenshot if able.

 

[sheridany]

Recommended settings by 5G store.

 

[Neal]

Try checking "Include public DNS servers"

Change the lower 4 to 10:10:5:3

 

[sheridany]

Something to be said for the excellent sys admin support.

 

[Neal]

Well? How are things working?

 

[sheridany]

I have tested with and without the obstruction checkbox on 8.5 and didn’t notice any difference that was significant. It always comes down to place, obstructions if any, positioning facing direction and time of day. Speeds vary from 50-70 down to 200+ down depending on the factors above but it is consistently reliable meaning the uptime is 99.9 and latency is 28 ms. I find that there are a lot of inconsistencies between speed test platforms. I just ran it from the starlink app and I get 54 mps down and I get 157 down on ookla. So you can’t read into to the speed tests too much other than directional. I think Starlink is the right choice as many will agree and its popularity will continue but your buddy Elon needs to keep sending up more satellites so the demand doesn’t start to impact performance. Have you gotten yours yet?

 

[Neal]

Yes, speed tests vary widely, I am past that Yes, I think SL is valuable but it is expensive for many and compared to my cellular options it's significant and for me typically not needed so it's a backup option for me still. I'm fortunate to the have the Mobley still going for unlimited AT&T at $23/mo, and the Verizon pre-paid unlimited at $65/mo and I hold on to the 100 GB AT&T for 5G play only, I think that's $55/mo. I think cell plans will have to rethink the competition as SL adoption grows. It still has the problem of obstructions just like with our SAT TV days but with a long cord that can often be overcome unlike a fixed dish on the roof, oh wait, never mind

Yes, I got mine, haven't touched it yet and won't until the first billing hits 30 days after shipping, then I'll activate/test it and suspend it as my travels are and will remain minimal for the unforeseen future. But I wanted to nab it while on sale as my Gen2 is damaged, but works. I'd love to pick up a mini someday if that goes on sale for the plane, but we'll see, and I have yet to airplane camp so that's TBD too.

I'll likely store my Gen3 in the shell it came in, but have discarded the box. I did get the carry bag just in case I want to use that, for later when I hit the road again I'll figure that out.

 

[sheridany]

Totally agree on keeping a cellular option. I am keeping t mobile as my backup just in case but I let AT&T go as I didn’t feel I needed two of them. Hopefully not a mistake. I only have the paddle antennas for the pepwave so that’s a limiting factor. In a perfect world, I’d have a cellular antenna up top as well. We will see as we spend more time on the road what the best option is.