Routers & Failover

Peplink Routers (B One, MAX BR1) with Cellular Failover

Setting up a Peplink B One or MAX BR1 router and configuring cellular failover so your business stays online when your primary internet goes down. Covers initial login, WAN priorities, SIM setup, and testing that failover actually works before you need it.

Setup steps

  1. 1For models with cellular (MAX BR1 and B One variants with LTE/5G): with the router powered off, insert the SIM card from your carrier, and attach the included cellular antennas finger-tight to their connectors.
  2. 2Connect your primary internet (cable modem or fiber ONT) to the router's WAN port, and your computer or switch to a LAN port. Power it on.
  3. 3From a computer on the LAN, browse to http://192.168.50.1 — the Peplink default address. Sign in with username admin and password admin.
  4. 4You'll be required to change the admin password on first login (Peplink enforces a strong one). Save it in your password manager.
  5. 5Check the Dashboard: your wired WAN should show Connected with an address. Most cable/fiber services connect automatically via DHCP; if your provider issued static IP details or PPPoE credentials, enter them in that WAN's settings.
  6. 6Bring up cellular: on the Dashboard, the Cellular connection should detect the SIM and connect. Most major-carrier SIMs configure themselves; if the connection sits at 'connecting,' the SIM may need an APN value from your carrier entered in the cellular WAN details.
  7. 7Set failover priorities on the Dashboard: Peplink uses drag-and-drop priority levels — put your wired internet in Priority 1 and Cellular in Priority 2. In this arrangement, cellular stays on standby and carries traffic only when the wired line fails.
  8. 8Confirm health checks are enabled on each WAN (they are by default): the router continuously tests each connection and this is what triggers failover. Leave the defaults unless we advise otherwise.
  9. 9Test failover for real: start a video call or streaming audio, then unplug the wired WAN cable. Traffic should shift to cellular within roughly a minute or less. Plug the wired WAN back in and confirm it returns to primary.
  10. 10Optional but recommended: create a free InControl2 account at incontrol2.peplink.com and add the router (it's tied to the serial number). InControl2 gives remote monitoring, alerts when failover happens, and lets Business IT Solutions support the router without a site visit.
  11. 11Set up email or InControl2 alerts for WAN failure — failover is silent by design, and you want to know you're running on cellular before the data bill does. Call us at (207) 819-8229 if you'd like the alerting and data-cap settings dialed in.

Troubleshooting

Cellular shows no signal or won't connect+

Check the antennas are attached snugly — cellular without antennas connects poorly or not at all. Verify the SIM is seated correctly (inserted with the router powered off) and is activated with the carrier. If signal is fine but it sits at connecting, set the APN in the cellular WAN settings to the value your carrier specifies for data plans.

Internet went down and it did NOT fail over to cellular+

Check the Dashboard: is Cellular listed in a priority level (not disabled), and does it show Standby or Connected? A SIM that was never tested, an expired data plan, or cellular left out of the priority list are the usual causes. Also confirm the health check is enabled on the wired WAN — without it, the router can't tell the line is dead if the modem still shows a link.

We were on cellular for days without noticing and used a pile of data+

Two fixes: set up alerts (InControl2 or email) so failover notifies you, and set the monthly usage allowance on the cellular WAN so the router tracks and warns on data consumption. Also investigate why the primary failed silently — the alert should have been the modem, not the phone bill.

Failover works, but phone calls drop the moment it switches+

Standard failover changes your public address, which drops active calls and VPN sessions — new calls will work immediately after the switch. Seamless session handoff across connections is possible with Peplink's SpeedFusion technology, which needs additional setup and a second endpoint. If dropped calls during failover are unacceptable for your business, call us at (207) 819-8229 to discuss SpeedFusion.

Cellular is connected but painfully slow+

Check the signal bars/reading on the Dashboard — router placement matters, and a metal building can reduce signal drastically. Try relocating the router near a window or adding external/roof antennas, which make a dramatic difference in fringe areas. Also check the SIM's plan: some 'IoT' or backup plans are speed-capped by the carrier.

Can't reach the router page at 192.168.50.1+

Make sure you're wired to (or on the WiFi of) the Peplink itself, and your computer gets its address automatically. If the address was changed during setup, check your computer's gateway address — that's the router. As a last resort, hold the reset button about 10 seconds to restore factory settings (you'll need to redo setup).

Pro tips

  • Test failover quarterly by pulling the WAN cable — a backup that's never tested isn't a backup.
  • Register the router in InControl2 even if you don't need it daily: remote visibility during an outage is exactly when you can't drive to the site.
  • Put the router where cellular signal is decent, not in the basement rack — or budget for external antennas up front.
  • Pick a cellular plan sized for real outage use (a business day of cloud apps and card processing), not the cheapest 1 GB plan — failover you can't afford to run isn't failover.

Still stuck? We're local and happy to help.

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