MoFi 5500 LTE Router and WiFi Networking for Overlanders and RV
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 23. 07. 2024
- After 5 years of relentless service from our MoFi 4500 Router, we've upgraded to the latest and Greatest MoFi 5500 đ§ Now with Gigabit Ethernet and 5.8 GHz WiFi
In this video, I briefly explain the features and benefits of such a router as we've traveled through 10 countries. It allows us to connect to any cellular carrier or WiFI network and creates our own secure WiFi access point. This allows all of our devices to stay online, connected to the same SSID, without the need to reconfigure everything at every stop.
Check out the full line of MoFi routers here:
amzn.to/3WHtg0n
0:00 Welcome
0:14 Our Backstory
0:57 Our Orignal MoFi 4500
1:31 The New MoFi 5500
1:55 An Abridged Unboxing
3:03 Router Installation
4:00 Let me show you its features!!
5:29 Buying a SIM and getting online
6:34 Bars đ¶ Batteries đ Battlestar Galactica đž
8:00 Vanlife-Sprinter-Van-Can đ
9:34 MoFi's Wi-Fi Repeater Functionality
11:28 Enterprise-Class Features đ§
15:00 VPN Support vs Channel Member Support
15:43 Starlink??? đ°ïž
If you'd like to drop a few pesos in the Sombrero for Fuel or Camera Gear, please consider becoming a member of the channel.
For more information Click Here: czcams.com/users/everlandersjoin - Jak na to + styl
I was looking at that very unit myself. It certainly beats the smoke, drums, and hand signals I feel I'm using with my current communication supplier at times.
I'd recommend it highly...
Its amazing that you're in Colombia! I live in Suesca, Cundinamarca, one hour north of BogotĂĄ. In 2018-19 I built our family overland rig in many ways based on your lead. Thanks!!! I'm a canadian chiropractor living here in Colombia since 2008. My wife is Katty Guzman, the first Colombian woman to have climbed Everest. We're all about adventure. We met Ulf and Berta in MachetĂĄ a couple weeks ago. Same as we told them: you have a base camp in Suesca. I'm sure we can recommend amazing people and places to discover in Colombia!!!
Omg the Joerg Sprave references had me laughing my ass off! Thanks, I really needed that. Another great video, hope you guys are doing well.
I figured you'd like it!
@@Everlanders Lock Picking Lawyer, as well, am I right? I LOL'd đ
@@Everlanders i might sibscribe JUST for that lol
Hey just stumbled upon your videos - You are awesome đ
So funny that you quote Jörg Sprave. Greetings from Germany.
Just one small thing: wood insulates EM Waves "better" than concrete or metal. (I grew up in a wooden house, wifi was terrible)
Thank you for your videos.
I have the Mofi5500 on my boat and LOVE IT! I had the verizon MIFI and holy smokes ... now I know what speed really looks like --- no comparison between the two.
Excellent video and intel Jason!
Thank you.
That is a very nice camping location by the river. Have a great trip!
Bye bye!
Did not realize there was so much more to getting connected .... the geek is strong in this one.
Thank you so much for this video. I was about to build a whole diy network out of a rasberry pi, a client bridge, and a cellular modem. This solution is much more simple, will be more reilable, and I won't have to learn how to use a bunch of different software.
This device will do everything I want, all in one.
Thanks again!
âIf the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handyâ
Aaah yes the Slingshot channel , like you he is very talented in his own area of expertise mainly rubber powered weaponry and magazine fed archery , crossbows .
Yes internet is annoyingly cheap in South America , Noraly paid a mere $1US for 25 gigabytes , here the cheapest rate I could find was $99 for a 12 miserable Gigabytes , however that was three years ago and things have improved slightly though now I use free library WiFi via a WiFi Yagi , I refuse to be mugged by an ISP .
Awesome into...I am envious.
Youâre killing me Smalls! You make my head hurt! Now I have to study more! Thanks! RWB â€
Too many Sâmores??
Thanks, once again! đđđ»
Love all your videos - as always excellent information. I hope to be in Central America next year, Belize, with a plan to do Alaska to Chile so interesting to see what you are doing. .
Keep safe and enjoy your travelling. Have a drink on me.
Belize... đ€Š
@@Everlanders English speaking and a place to plan my trip from - should mention i am from the UK
This is what i need
It's the Best!
Great review and I learned more, as always. Thank you! Question re video production: I saw Divinci Resolve on the screen, s I assume that is the editing software you are using, but can you tell me the mfgr/model of that tabletop editing console you were using? Looks like a great unit. Thanks again and have fun!
Thanks, it's the Resolve Speed Editor.
www.blackmagicdesign.com/products/davinciresolve/keyboard
really good video
Glad you enjoyed it
Thanks
Wow!!! Thank you very much!
ÂĄGracias!
No, Thank you!
Thanks!
Toonies!!! Thanks!
Hi mate, first of great channel and I appreciate your technical outlook. (I am an Electrician and Telecommunications technician)
I live in Australia and have recently taken possession of an RV that I had custom made to tour Aussie in.
I found your channel because of your Starlink adaption, great solution and I will be doing the same (PS: have you thought about making these as a product that you can sell online)
I have also been looking for a 4G solution and have purchased the aerials already and will now likely go down the route that you have with the motorised pole mount.
Would it be possible to do a more in-depth video of the solution you showed, as Aussie is sparsely populated therefore good mobile (cell) signal is mostly difficult to obtain.
After I have watched the rest of this video I will also be going online to purchase the router you reviewed her, as I am a great believer in going with a system that someone has already proven works.
So how would you go about extending the antenna to the outside of a "metal box van"? What would you use CAT6?
Again another great video! But have you solved the bushing problem??
Nope, will try the UHMW ones next...
Bummer about Starlink... or more like the bureaucratic regulatory process. I know a few folks with the RV plan in the US and it works great. The base-station Dishy I have here in Italy has been awesome. Fingers crossed the country to country process gets smoothed out.
We agree!
Hi Jason! First, thank you for all of the information you've freely shared. Second, I'm hoping you will offer your opinion as to whether the MOFI5500 would be a useful and perhaps more flexible alternative to the Netgear M6 (MR6150) Mobile Hotspot router which sells for $700 on sale. TY!
While I've never used that Netgear router, the MoFi 5500 (and the 4500 before that) have served us very well, lots more features than we even need. Plus it seems cheaper, so I'd say to give it a go...
Curious if you checked out the Peplink MAX BR1 Mini? I've just started researching this type of off-grid connectivity and was attracted to its claims of seamless "instant hot failover from Starlink to LTE" and their "WAN smoothing" feature to stabilize the zoom calls.
Nope never considered it.
I travel thru Canada and Alaska in some places there are no cell service, what would you recommend to buy something that works great in that king of area ?
Thanks!
Is a MoFi router load balancing better or similar to a bonded collection of connections through Speedify? Contemplating setting it up on a raspbery pi vs. going straight to the MoFi. With failovers, starlink obstructions and apparently when mobile switches between 4 and 5g, my work (forticlient) VPN drops off.
Jason, thanks for the great videos! I have a question on the MOFI 5500 bridging you mentioned. I bought one based on this video for my new trailer. It seems that every time you link to a new Access Point you reset the WIFI information, and have to fill it back in. Do you also have this problem? And how did you set failover to use the bridged AP as primary so it doesn't use up the cell data when not needed? Maybe a more in-depth follow up video idea, and aid us on the nuances of the MOFI software. Thanks again! You always have such great content and quality in your videos!
Yes, it always resets the WiFi Settings when changing AP's, PITA...
And if you're connected to WiFi, it doesn't use the cellular, it should fail over automatically.
you had me at optimal tweeting performance on the toilet đ
That's great Frank, I'm actually replying from that very strong Wi-Fi location now!
@@Everlanders I was watching your video from that location as well. đ The full circle of life is now complete!
đ FTW
Tweet Elon to request the sub and patronage while youâre there.
Great upload! No benefit to adding external cell antennas?
I guess I should have watched the entire video :)
Yes, I explained this at 8:25
Great video. Question...if this was installed in a travel trailer, would the Wi-Fi signal be strong enough in the pulling vehicle to use while you're driving? Also, would the 5G model EM9191 be worth the extra money if traveling in the US?
Oh yeah, I get 2 or 300 meters...
Hard to see the value in upgrading from the 4500 for me. Taking notes on that antenna rig though! Nice work on the video.
For me the Gigabit Ethernet was the big thing. Transferring large amounts of Video Data to the NAS was quite slow... I could also have gone with an external switch, but this was a tidy solution.
Does the router have the ability to do captive portal or whatever it is called? Like have to agree to terms before it allows the internet? I have been forced to ok them with my phone or laptop and then clone the MAC address as a workaround in trucks stops, itâs an annoyance but works.
Yup
Awesome video! Do you know if there is a way to 'split' devices by MAC per connection? So that say one laptop can be using Starlink while the other can be using LTE?
Sure, It seems to me that you can set "Policies" and "Members" and then assign them to certain "Interfaces" within the "Load Balancing" functionality.
Got a link for the hardware you use to rotate the wireng yagis? Thanks.
You Betcha, like I said, I MacGyvered it together with what I had, scraps of aluminum angles and tubes, but these non-affiliate links should get you started.
www.amazon.com/Pololu-Universal-Aluminum-MOUNTING-Shaft/dp/B00B887FX8
www.amazon.com/Torque-Turbo-Geared-Motor-100RPM/dp/B01M30I4E7
www.amazon.com/RioRand-Upgraded-Adjustable-Controller-Reversing/dp/B00HTZD9YI
Hi Jason, Did you use the MoFI 12V power supply limiter or did you power straight from your house 12VDC?
Are these routers power input temperamental? Our Victron house system seems stable enough to use with out a limiterâŠ. Thx
We have a regulated 12.000 volt rail that we run ours from. But the fellow I gave our 4500 to is running it at 13.8 without issues...
It could be an interesting experiment to see how well a Livestream works using the mofi in different antenna configurations. The biggest concern I've gotten from employers is that we won't have reliable internet for video calls.
Great idea... I should include that in the testing...
Wan-Bonding. its like loadbalancing, just 1000 times better. i use openmptcprouter, its free and opensource. i only pay for 4G data plans and 2$/month for a cheap vps Server, acting as the endpoint for my bonding router.
@@juri14111996 I've used Speedify... their youtube channel guy is wild. Can you detail your setup a little more here? Genuinely curious.
Will it act as a cellular booster if you don't want to install a sim? Might be useful if it would just boost the signal and enabling you to just use regular phone and plan but through the router.
Nope
would really like to see a video on your lte antenna setup
Here in Ecuador and in Colombia LTE signal strength is not the issue, We get full bars with the stock little antennas - The issue is that we get 0.1mbps, max. the towers are just saturated as many people have no home wifi and their only internet source is their cellular phone. For that reason this is our new antenna setup: czcams.com/video/gRSnTMrUPrQ/video.html
I was looking at Teltonika TRB500 :) It does 4 by 4 MIMO on LTE+ and 5G
Curently running Huawei router with Fuj: tech P-60MIMO and a MikroTik LTE18 router on loadbalancing from two ISPs in đ±đ» :)
You should start a CZcams channel and promote it there...
Are there any alternatives for a lower budget? I have seen some AliExpress unita that have decent specs, my main thing I would love is the ability to change sources whilst keeping the same network .
I haven't tried any others, sorry... But I think it's the firmware that sets it apart...
I could use that antenna array in our Boler! Just have to convince my wife the thousand Canadian pesos is worth it for us.
There are $349 options too, check out the 4500 we had originally... mofinetwork.com/
Apple Time Share đ€Łđ€Łđ€Ł I would love a followup about the high gain antennas; do you just spin them until you find good signal?
Yes, that works, but there are several apps that have the tower locations on a map that I've used too.
In the early days, I had a script that polled the signal strength from the modem and moved a few degrees until the signal went up and then started going back down. Then it knew it was at the strongest point.
WRT should have QoS. Does this router have it? Pretty easy config or is it complex? Some have easy out of box QoS. Others not so much. I imagine on a larger network like yours with sometimes poor connection/speed it can be critical. Works well?
Yes, the MoFi has QoS, Works great...
i would love to see more info about the antenna performance with the MOFI
We use Starlink now.
@@Everlanders how good did it work when you used it?
Yup, works great
Does the starlink McFlatface generate an IP4 address/IP6 address? And does it change IP address if powered down?
Yes, I always seem to get the same IP
Jason, you mentioned MoFi removed NTP services, that's normal now, in the Linux world, NTP is dead. I found this out the hard way about 4 years ago, while firing up an embedded Linux distro. I'm was so used to inputting the NTP server IP address but forgot to do it during setup, but than I noticed the system already had the correct time. How in the world did that happen. After hours of digging around, and help of the programmer responsible, it turns out DHCP Option 042 manages time. Its really neat, every time your devices renews its DHCP lease, your device also gets TIME updated.
And if you have no connectivity at that time, then what?
@@Everlanders DHCP Option 42 just defines a Time Server (NTP/SNTP) as far as i understand. this just saves you the truble from entering this information on every client, just like DNS Server, Gateway, ...
@@Everlanders The next time your cellular service links to a local tower, the mofi may update the time, same goes for your wifi, when your mofi registers to a Access Point, that's a DHCP request, and time is synced. I would think your mofi connects to either of the two wireless services you have available every 24 or 48 hours. That should take care of your various computer clocks before they drift too far, due temperature conditions through the week. FYI Linux OS use "timedatectl" for clock syncing. I couldn't find any manuals for your mofi device so I couldn't figure out if it has other options.
Jason, I need advice. I have a Mofi 4500 lte2 and it used to work with my Verizon sim but no mas. Now they can detect the mofi and terminate service. So how can I get cel signal in the metal barn now. Weboost increases bars but drops speed so it is worthless. I don't want my $ spent on the mofi to be worthless too. It is hooked to a double WirEng antenna like yours. I've searched for a celular carrier for just data and found Visible but it is also Verizon and violates TOS in a router. So what good are they?
Frustrated in Wyoming.
TIA!
Would you consider peplink router? Since it has dual sim?
I have no need for a dual sim router... we're mainly on Starlink now anyway.
I just rewatched this video again, to see if Mofi has solved the issue I have with my Teltonika router when trying to connect to a external WLAN that require a web based login or using a captive portal? At least here in Europe thatâs starting to become the norm for public and semi-public hotspots. Teltonika doesnât have any kind of built in browser in the UI, which should be able to solve this as far as I can understand. How about the Mofi 5500?
I have no problems signing into such portals, it just passes it on to my phone somehow.
@@Everlanders That sound perfect! I'll just have to try getting my hands on a MoFi router here in Europe... Or hope Teltonika fixes their sh*t.. :D
I'm curious how it compares to peplink products. I use a Max BR2 and I'm very happy with it but it's not a cheap router.
On first glance it seems they are 3 times the price for the same feature set.
i dont like peplink. its just to epensive and only a single device. I prefere to have a seperate modem and (Bonding) Router and Accespoint.
My setup consists of 3 LTE Modems, one DSL Line while stationary and somtimes phones. All these uplinks feed in my openmptcprouter so i get one hight bandwith internetconection, even if a modem loses connection, without a lost of connectifity.
Whats your thoughts on WeBoost for US travel? Is it still viable?
I returned the weBoost after 2 days...
Let me show you its features....perfecto
I guess this video is obsolete if having installed flat mounted Starlink with Dishy Dualie DC Power Supply and POE Router like TP-Link Omada EAP610? Or is there a reason to have an LTE System together with Starlink?
Yes, we still fail over to LTE when we're in thick jungle cover or in citys with tall buildings.
Which model of Router do you have, I see there are a bunch of 5500 models with different models.
MoFi-5500-EM7690
@@Everlanders Thanks from Esterhazy! Only you guys will know where that is!!!
@@Everlanders Yep and important as this one does the carrier aggregation...along with the 5G version. The dual sim does not.
From whom do you purchase your sim card and data in canada đšđŠ?
Starlink
6:33 I have Spectrum HOME internet and I get less upload than that, even their 1Gig plan only has 1000/30
too lazy to scroll through the comments, does the wan port allow you to plug in other systems (such as the starlink) so that it becomes part of your suite of connectivity ( south africa has a very large "no starlink" zone, so even if it does come out here, there are large swathes of the country where i would have to use 4g anyway from 2 seperate providers)
(on anothe rtack, i am using your channel for alot of inspiration for my build, which is just starting over on my channel, improvatech)
Yes, you can plug any source of internet into the WAN, just like your home router... It will use that preferentially, and if it goes offline, it will switch over to cellular.
Odd, We know several overlanders wo have Starlink there already, even though it's not supported, it's still working.
the best thing for reliable, highbandwith internet is wan bonding. peplink has some complete devices, but theyr realy expensive and theyr service is costly to. I personaly and for work use openmptcprouter. its a free and opensource wan-bonding solution, working realy great.
Lol....and tweeting performance is the real sales pitch here...seriously! Lol
Truth! âïž
Jason, I'm looking to buy on of these routers. Don't you need an external antenna?
Nope
@@Everlanders I think my assumption that your rig had a metal skin is wrong.
Ahh yes, metal skins would be problematic...
are you using starlink with this now? I thought I saw it in a vid but no explanation? Great vid and Ill be looking at this as an option!
Yup, still using it with Starlink.
@@Everlanders do you have a video uploaded or can you tell me how you use them together without the starlink router?
czcams.com/video/gRSnTMrUPrQ/video.html
@@Everlanders would I still need the Tycoon PoE injector if I purchased the Starlink DC power supply from your vid 5 months ago or would this video's set up still be needed?
@@heatherm4276 Dishy DC is the method of choice these days.
That is a sexy sexy router đ openwrt, multiple radios đ„°
Can Confirm!
Great video. So around 1:22 why does the subliminal message HORSE appear?
Because the white horse ran by and distracted me...
First, yes, follow up videos. Doesn't matter what it is, we love followup videos, no need to ask.
StarLink is expensive. I have 100GB on my t-mobile phone plan, unlimited on my t-mob "5G Home internet" which goes everywhere with me and StarLink RV. The T-Mob 5G Home is the best deal at $50/mo for truly unlimited and the device costing $99, (or free, I can't remember). It works like the access point only you power externally and it has external antenna hookup. Tons of T-Mob 5G in the western US But spotty other places. The StarLink RV cost me $500 for the dish and is $130/mo for service. A service that gets throttled when the sat gets busy or when they feel like limiting you. In time, when there are tens of thousands of Sats and viable competitors, prices might just become more competitive. I think the future is bright for Sat Internet though. That MoFi device is pretty much perfect for you all, with a very high geek factor for you, so that's worth the cost right there.
Dig that StarShip hanging on the wall. At first I thought it was a lamp. Where did you acquire such a fine piece of art? I spent last winter down at StarBase and had a blast only didn't see a blast off as I wanted to.
Keep on geeking on!
Yeah, Sadly no T-Mobile for us... The "Fine Art" was printed on the 3D printer shown here: czcams.com/video/5MXkD7Z_ndc/video.html
Starlink RV is $48 USD a month here in South America, Such an amazing time to be alive.
@@Everlanders Starlink works great in rural areas where there are no cell towers, and in coastal areas offshore. People complain about starlink being throttled but I don't think they are in rural areas-- its only throttled because there are too many people (and thus they didn't really need starlink anyway.)
@@RogerWilco1 Agreed...
Does the "home" T-mob unlimited work well when traveling with it? (Wondering, since it is meant for home use and is not available at every address.). Thanks.
@@bkanegson I went to T-Mobile to get a Hot Spot but the lady there said that I should get the Home Unlimited as that is what others are using. Its half the price and unlimited service. Not sure if its available everywhere, but I haven't had any issues as long as I have a T-Mob 5G signal. $50/mo and unlimited isn't bad. My StarLink is they downshift me whenever they feel like it. Both generally works ok for me until StarLink has a more consistent plan.
Oof that's awesome and expensive. Where's the discount code and I'll get one? đđ
No codes here...
Well Joerg, you can always use the Starlink dish to staple targets to. Figures a guy named "Musk" would be putting out vaporware.
I'm glad someone got the Jorge reference... đđ€Ł
Are you two ok?
This should answer your question: czcams.com/users/shorts8T6PBA7f8ZQ
@@Everlanders Yikes. Sorry for all the troubles, but I'm glad you're okay.
Great video. But I have no clue what you just said. Thanks anyway.
... It makes the Wi-Fi...
I just wish it had a battery
It would take about 5 seconds to add one... I doubt that very many people would find that to be useful enough to justify the cost to everyone else who didn't need it.
Canât you just use iPad or iPhones with a 5G sim?
You missed the point completely.
I love how you have to leave the USA and go to "third world countries" to get good cell coverage.
I love it very much!
just dont go to germany, theyr mobile networks are horrible.
Horse
Musk Link is almost as fast as wired phone internet use to be in the 90s ... well, I exaggerate but the whole idea and control freak aspects simply are not appealing .... and known issues. wayyyyy too expensive too... waste
We're paying $45/mo for the RV package in South America and getting 250mbps pretty reliably... If that's what you got in the 90's đ€Ż - What "Known Issues" should we be on the lookout for?
I have Starlink RV and it sucks. A waste of $700 for me.
Horse
đŻ points for you!