WiFiRanger's Poplar router is the most basic indoor unit in their Converge lineup of routers, designed to easily pair with a Converge outdoor router (Teton, Denali, or Everest) installed on an RV roof. It began shipping in October 2019. WiFiRanger was acquired by Winegard in 2020 and WiFiRanger products are now sold by Winegard.
But the Poplar also works standalone - and if you do not need the roof-mounted features, the Poplar by itself is a good value with plenty of future upgrade potential.
The Poplar router is built with the ability to add an option internal Cat-4 LTE modem. It also comes with an SD Card slot for data collection, and a USB 2.0 port to allow tethering cellular devices.
Like the other indoor Converge routers, if you have a powered USB Hub, you can actually tether up to three mobile hotspots and/or cellphones to a WiFiRanger Poplar router to load balance your usage across multiple providers.
But in other ways, the Poplar is a very basic router - only supporting 2.4GHz 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4), with no 5GHz Wi-Fi compatibility at all.
For an overview of the full WiFiRanger product line (and a look at some of the software features in common across different devices), see our gear center entry:
Specifications
- Model: Poplar
- Base Technology: ZBT WE826
- Router Specs:
- # of Connected Devices: Not Specified
- Wi-Fi Router: Yes
- Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) - 2.4 GHz
- Wi-Fi as WAN: Yes
- Wi-Fi Antennas/Ports: 2x MIMO
- Guest Wi-Fi Network: Yes
- Default Control Panel Address and Password:
- Address: mywifiranger.com
- Password: changemenowXXYY (XXYY" are the last four digits of the WFR ID)
- USB Tethering Support: Yes - Up to three devices via a powered USB Hub.
- Ethernet Ports: 5x - Fast Ethernet (2 WAN Switchable)
- Router Throughput: Not Specified
- Cellular Modem Specs: (Optional)
- Cellular Modem: Single 4G
- Modem Module or Chipset: Not Specified
- Supported Networks and Bands: Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile
- LTE Bands: 2, 4, 5, 12/17, 13, 14, 66, 71
- Carrier Certification: Not Specified
- MIMO Support: 2x2
- LTE Performance:
- LTE Performance Category: Category 4 (Max Theoretical Speed: 150 Mbps Down / 50 Mbps Up)
- LTE Carrier Aggregation: No
- Cellular Antennas/Ports: 2x
- SIM Slots: 1x Mini
- Dimensions: 6.4 x 5.7 x 1.3 inches
- Other Ports: MicroSD
- Power Source: 12v or 24v DC Power / AC Power Adapters Optional
- Outdoor Rated: No
- Special Features: Data Usage Tracking, Auto Failover, Load Balancing
- Retail Price: $100.00 | + $100.00 for Internal LTE Cat-4 Modem Upgrade Kit
News, Videos & Status
We do not intend to test the Poplar at this time as we currently have the Spruce, Aspen, Denali, and Everest for testing.
Here is our first look video:
Other Related Videos:
Related News Center Articles
Alternatives to Consider
For other popular mobile routers on the market we are tracking - here are our featured options:
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WiFiRanger Product Shortage
Beginning in June 2023, WiFiRanger started moving its product manufacturing. The WiFiRanger store is also merging with the Winegard Store (Winegard acquired WiFiranger in 2020). This has caused a WiFiRanger product shortage during this transition. It's not clear when production and availability of products at the online store will resume.
If you want to buy both indoor and outdoor units at once - WiFiRanger offers "Packs" that combine units with the required cabling into a single package.
Routers can serve as a central conductor of your local area network in your RV and boat. Mobile routers are different from residential routers in that they typically support multiple internet sources like cellular and Wi-Fi, can be powered off of 12v or AC and support external antenna for better receiving signal.
But you might not need a router in your setup. Here's a quick video overview the variety that routers come in:
Mobile Internet Resource Center (dba Two Steps Beyond LLC) is founded by Chris & Cherie of