Frequently Asked Questions

No, Wave WiFi provides products to help you connect further than you otherwise would, using Cellular and WiFi technologies. We help you connect to Public WiFi Hotspots and Cellular Towers (with a Sim Card and Service from a Cellular Carrier/Provider). We don’t provide the actual Internet Service; we just help you connect to it and share that onto an Onboard Network of wired and wireless devices.

15 – 20 Feet above the water line is ideal for catching signals. Cellular antennas can be installed higher as the cell towers usually are higher up than WiFi systems.

NMEA has a couple of guides online (search in Google) about antenna installations. But in general, 1-foot spacing is good from other antennas and radar. It may not be possible to locate all antennas in optimum locations. Most installations are a compromise. We suggest 3 feet from other obstructions.

WiFi Connections – The range that Wave WiFi equipment can connect to shore stations can vary greatly depending on the type of equipment and antenna positioning on board the vessel, as well as the configuration of the shoreside station. Both frequency and antenna height of Shoreside WiFi hot spots effect signal propagation. 5 GHz WiFi has less range because of its higher frequency (shorter wavelength), but it has better speed and less interference. 5 GHz is typically accessible for 1000’. With a longer wavelength, 2.4 GHz WiFi connects further than 5 GHz. It is typically accessible at 1 mile or less but with a good base hotspot 3-5 miles can sometimes be achieved. Speeds degrade based on signal strength for both frequencies so more distant connections are slower. A stronger signal has more bits that can be packed in the signal, which adds speed and increases the range of connectivity. While Wave WiFi systems have very sensitive receivers, connection distances will vary due to the quality and propagation characteristics of the shoreside station as well as the type of system, set up, and installation on board.

Cellular Connections – Wave WiFi cellular products can connect up to 20 miles offshore with the right antenna placement, etc but will vary from carrier to carrier, the topography, the cell tower height, and antenna beam direction all coming into play. Many have gotten further than that with Wave WiFi cellular products with all conditions perfect but distance and performance changes the further off you are at the fringe. Also some carriers in certain geographies focus their beams more on/inshore which limits what can be picked up near or off-shore on boats. Certainly mountainous areas, rock formations, and tree coverage can also limit signal between you and a tower. Our global multi-carrier sims help overcome some of these variables by providing more than one carrier option. Also the ability to use your phone further off than you otherwise could as a phone via wifi calling (if enabled on your phone), and/or VoiP communication such as skype or whatsapp adds quite a bit of benefit and value toward keeping you connected.

Internet from Cellular and WiFi can vary based on the service provided. We tend to say, “You are only as good as What you are Connected to.” With Cellular, we are capable of up to LTE-Advanced. Speeds published for LTE-A (and WiFi, for that matter) are Theoretical Max. You rarely get Theoretical Max. Our WiFi products have different WiFi technology levels. Rogue Wave products go up to 802.11n (WiFi 4), and Professional Series products go up to 802.11ac (WiFi 5). A marina or other Hotspot will not give you their full bandwidth/speed; whatever that speed is, it’s a shared system. WiFi and Router hops – it is all about division. Every router and WiFi hop loses some speed. More devices connecting to an internal wireless network will cause sharing/division of available bandwidth/speed. Our products don’t limit speed, in general, so if you have an issue with the speed, you may want to contact us for support. There is not an exact number for a given connection. Our products can handle speeds surpassing what you will be provided by most Internet connections. But like we have been saying, your marina probably will not give you the speed our products offer.

How you insert the sim card depends on the product, and there are usually labels on the product to help guide you. You want to insert the sim card per the instructions. You will want to enter the APN in settings in the product. You will also want to “Reset Interface” on Mobile Data 1 if you have just inserted or changed sim cards. Be patient and wait for approximately 5 minutes after resetting interface before expecting it to connect. You will want to click the Mobile Data 1 Interface in the middle of it and click OK to connect to the Internet with that interface. We hope and recommend that you have the cellular topside antenna installed and connected to the product. There should be a Sim Set Up instruction sheet with the device. 

Our products are not locked to a particular cellular provider (carrier). Our products take a 2FF size (Form Factor) Sim Card (usually given on a 1FF credit card sized card) that must already be activated, data only, and no E911 services provisioned on it. We are not a cell service provider, yet do provide various sim cards and competitive multi-carrier plans to help you stay connected and are tailored to the transient, seasonal, and/or high data boating community.

Prepaid / Third Party Sim providers may limit what you can do on the network (allow 3G, not 4G).

Our MBR550 router comes with a USB flash drive that needs to be plugged into the router’s left front (USB slot). The extra storage is required during Carrier Update processing. For ALL products, you need an ACTIVE INTERNET CONNECTION to something other than Cellular. That usually means WiFi unless you have another WAN/Internet source.

Our Routers have a page within Settings > Miscellaneous – found near the bottom under “Advanced Settings”. There is a hyperlink (a weblink) “click here” that accesses that.

This first presents the WiFi AP country and power settings, and below that section, it will start by “Checking for installed mobile data interfaces”. Then it will show a list of installed carrier firmware(s). There is a paragraph about that with a “Click here” link to check for available carrier updates. Click that link.

After that, it will come back with a line in GREEN telling you of success and presenting an updated list. If you get Radio Buttons (checkboxes) between installed and needed carrier firmware(s), you need to update. You do not have to update carrier drivers that you do not use. Most are named by the carrier. T-Mobile uses GENERIC. Some other carriers that do not have specifically named firmware updates may also use GENERIC.

From there, you are checking the boxes you need and click the “Update” button at the bottom of that section.

Our Cat 20 5G cellular products are not locked to a particular cellular provider (carrier) but are limited to the sim cards/5G plans that We provide and have verified. All carrier networks are not fully completed and still transitioning across the globe. Please also recognize the limitation in distance for true 5G cellular on the water.

No, Wave WiFi provides products to help you connect further than you otherwise would, using Cellular and WiFi technologies. We help you connect to Public WiFi Hotspots and Cellular Towers (with a Sim Card and Service from a Cellular Carrier/Provider). We don’t provide the actual Internet Service; we just help you connect to it and share that onto an Onboard Network of wired and wireless devices.

Our products are not locked to a particular cellular provider (carrier). Our products take a 2FF size (Form Factor) Sim Card (usually given on a 1FF credit card sized card) that must already be activated, data only, and no E911 services provisioned on it. We are not a cell service provider, yet do provide various sim cards and competitive multi-carrier plans to help you stay connected and are tailored to the transient, seasonal, and/or high data boating community.

Our Cat 20 5G cellular products are not locked to a particular cellular provider (carrier) but are limited to the sim cards/5G plans that We provide and have verified. All carrier networks are not fully completed and still transitioning across the globe. Please also recognize the limitation in distance for true 5G cellular on the water.

No, Wave WiFi provides products to help you connect further than you otherwise would, using Cellular and WiFi technologies. We help you connect to Public WiFi Hotspots and Cellular Towers (with a Sim Card and Service from a Cellular Carrier/Provider). We don’t provide the actual Internet Service; we just help you connect to it and share that onto an Onboard Network of wired and wireless devices.

Internet from Cellular and WiFi can vary based on the service provided. We tend to say, “You are only as good as What you are Connected to.” With Cellular, we are capable of up to LTE-Advanced. Speeds published for LTE-A (and WiFi, for that matter) are Theoretical Max. You rarely get Theoretical Max. Our WiFi products have different WiFi technology levels. Rogue Wave products go up to 802.11n (WiFi 4), and Professional Series products go up to 802.11ac (WiFi 5). A marina or other Hotspot will not give you their full bandwidth/speed; whatever that speed is, it’s a shared system. WiFi and Router hops – it is all about division. Every router and WiFi hop loses some speed. More devices connecting to an internal wireless network will cause sharing/division of available bandwidth/speed. Our products don’t limit speed, in general, so if you have an issue with the speed, you may want to contact us for support. There is not an exact number for a given connection. Our products can handle speeds surpassing what you will be provided by most Internet connections. But like we have been saying, your marina probably will not give you the speed our products offer.

Our products are not locked to a particular cellular provider (carrier). Our products take a 2FF size (Form Factor) Sim Card (usually given on a 1FF credit card sized card) that must already be activated, data only, and no E911 services provisioned on it. We are not a cell service provider, yet do provide various sim cards and competitive multi-carrier plans to help you stay connected and are tailored to the transient, seasonal, and/or high data boating community.

Our Cat 20 5G cellular products are not locked to a particular cellular provider (carrier) but are limited to the sim cards/5G plans that We provide and have verified. All carrier networks are not fully completed and still transitioning across the globe. Please also recognize the limitation in distance for true 5G cellular on the water.

15 – 20 Feet above the water line is ideal for catching signals. Cellular antennas can be installed higher as the cell towers usually are higher up than WiFi systems.

NMEA has a couple of guides online (search in Google) about antenna installations. But in general, 1-foot spacing is good from other antennas and radar. It may not be possible to locate all antennas in optimum locations. Most installations are a compromise. We suggest 3 feet from other obstructions.

WiFi Connections – The range that Wave WiFi equipment can connect to shore stations can vary greatly depending on the type of equipment and antenna positioning on board the vessel, as well as the configuration of the shoreside station. Both frequency and antenna height of Shoreside WiFi hot spots effect signal propagation. 5 GHz WiFi has less range because of its higher frequency (shorter wavelength), but it has better speed and less interference. 5 GHz is typically accessible for 1000’. With a longer wavelength, 2.4 GHz WiFi connects further than 5 GHz. It is typically accessible at 1 mile or less but with a good base hotspot 3-5 miles can sometimes be achieved. Speeds degrade based on signal strength for both frequencies so more distant connections are slower. A stronger signal has more bits that can be packed in the signal, which adds speed and increases the range of connectivity. While Wave WiFi systems have very sensitive receivers, connection distances will vary due to the quality and propagation characteristics of the shoreside station as well as the type of system, set up, and installation on board.

Cellular Connections – Wave WiFi cellular products can connect up to 20 miles offshore with the right antenna placement, etc but will vary from carrier to carrier, the topography, the cell tower height, and antenna beam direction all coming into play. Many have gotten further than that with Wave WiFi cellular products with all conditions perfect but distance and performance changes the further off you are at the fringe. Also some carriers in certain geographies focus their beams more on/inshore which limits what can be picked up near or off-shore on boats. Certainly mountainous areas, rock formations, and tree coverage can also limit signal between you and a tower. Our global multi-carrier sims help overcome some of these variables by providing more than one carrier option. Also the ability to use your phone further off than you otherwise could as a phone via wifi calling (if enabled on your phone), and/or VoiP communication such as skype or whatsapp adds quite a bit of benefit and value toward keeping you connected.

How you insert the sim card depends on the product, and there are usually labels on the product to help guide you. You want to insert the sim card per the instructions. You will want to enter the APN in settings in the product. You will also want to “Reset Interface” on Mobile Data 1 if you have just inserted or changed sim cards. Be patient and wait for approximately 5 minutes after resetting interface before expecting it to connect. You will want to click the Mobile Data 1 Interface in the middle of it and click OK to connect to the Internet with that interface. We hope and recommend that you have the cellular topside antenna installed and connected to the product. There should be a Sim Set Up instruction sheet with the device. 

Our products are not locked to a particular cellular provider (carrier). Our products take a 2FF size (Form Factor) Sim Card (usually given on a 1FF credit card sized card) that must already be activated, data only, and no E911 services provisioned on it. We are not a cell service provider, yet do provide various sim cards and competitive multi-carrier plans to help you stay connected and are tailored to the transient, seasonal, and/or high data boating community.

Our Cat 20 5G cellular products are not locked to a particular cellular provider (carrier) but are limited to the sim cards/5G plans that We provide and have verified. All carrier networks are not fully completed and still transitioning across the globe. Please also recognize the limitation in distance for true 5G cellular on the water.

15 – 20 Feet above the water line is ideal for catching signals. Cellular antennas can be installed higher as the cell towers usually are higher up than WiFi systems.

WiFi Connections – The range that Wave WiFi equipment can connect to shore stations can vary greatly depending on the type of equipment and antenna positioning on board the vessel, as well as the configuration of the shoreside station. Both frequency and antenna height of Shoreside WiFi hot spots effect signal propagation. 5 GHz WiFi has less range because of its higher frequency (shorter wavelength), but it has better speed and less interference. 5 GHz is typically accessible for 1000’. With a longer wavelength, 2.4 GHz WiFi connects further than 5 GHz. It is typically accessible at 1 mile or less but with a good base hotspot 3-5 miles can sometimes be achieved. Speeds degrade based on signal strength for both frequencies so more distant connections are slower. A stronger signal has more bits that can be packed in the signal, which adds speed and increases the range of connectivity. While Wave WiFi systems have very sensitive receivers, connection distances will vary due to the quality and propagation characteristics of the shoreside station as well as the type of system, set up, and installation on board.

Cellular Connections – Wave WiFi cellular products can connect up to 20 miles offshore with the right antenna placement, etc but will vary from carrier to carrier, the topography, the cell tower height, and antenna beam direction all coming into play. Many have gotten further than that with Wave WiFi cellular products with all conditions perfect but distance and performance changes the further off you are at the fringe. Also some carriers in certain geographies focus their beams more on/inshore which limits what can be picked up near or off-shore on boats. Certainly mountainous areas, rock formations, and tree coverage can also limit signal between you and a tower. Our global multi-carrier sims help overcome some of these variables by providing more than one carrier option. Also the ability to use your phone further off than you otherwise could as a phone via wifi calling (if enabled on your phone), and/or VoiP communication such as skype or whatsapp adds quite a bit of benefit and value toward keeping you connected.

How you insert the sim card depends on the product, and there are usually labels on the product to help guide you. You want to insert the sim card per the instructions. You will want to enter the APN in settings in the product. You will also want to “Reset Interface” on Mobile Data 1 if you have just inserted or changed sim cards. Be patient and wait for approximately 5 minutes after resetting interface before expecting it to connect. You will want to click the Mobile Data 1 Interface in the middle of it and click OK to connect to the Internet with that interface. We hope and recommend that you have the cellular topside antenna installed and connected to the product. There should be a Sim Set Up instruction sheet with the device. 

Our products are not locked to a particular cellular provider (carrier). Our products take a 2FF size (Form Factor) Sim Card (usually given on a 1FF credit card sized card) that must already be activated, data only, and no E911 services provisioned on it. We are not a cell service provider, yet do provide various sim cards and competitive multi-carrier plans to help you stay connected and are tailored to the transient, seasonal, and/or high data boating community.

Prepaid / Third Party Sim providers may limit what you can do on the network (allow 3G, not 4G).

Our MBR550 router comes with a USB flash drive that needs to be plugged into the router’s left front (USB slot). The extra storage is required during Carrier Update processing. For ALL products, you need an ACTIVE INTERNET CONNECTION to something other than Cellular. That usually means WiFi unless you have another WAN/Internet source.

Our Routers have a page within Settings > Miscellaneous – found near the bottom under “Advanced Settings”. There is a hyperlink (a weblink) “click here” that accesses that.

This first presents the WiFi AP country and power settings, and below that section, it will start by “Checking for installed mobile data interfaces”. Then it will show a list of installed carrier firmware(s). There is a paragraph about that with a “Click here” link to check for available carrier updates. Click that link.

After that, it will come back with a line in GREEN telling you of success and presenting an updated list. If you get Radio Buttons (checkboxes) between installed and needed carrier firmware(s), you need to update. You do not have to update carrier drivers that you do not use. Most are named by the carrier. T-Mobile uses GENERIC. Some other carriers that do not have specifically named firmware updates may also use GENERIC.

From there, you are checking the boxes you need and click the “Update” button at the bottom of that section.

Our Cat 20 5G cellular products are not locked to a particular cellular provider (carrier) but are limited to the sim cards/5G plans that We provide and have verified. All carrier networks are not fully completed and still transitioning across the globe. Please also recognize the limitation in distance for true 5G cellular on the water.