Peplink Introduces Dome Pro LR (Long Range) For Supercharged Marine Connectivity

Peplink this week introduced a new flagship mobile router targeting the marine market - the Dome Pro LR.

The LR stands for "Long Range" - and Peplink is claiming reported ranges of over 25 miles from the coastline, extending cellular range further than is possible with many other solutions.

The Dome Pro LR integrates two 5G modems with closely mated high-gain long range 4x4 MIMO antennas, all packaged together into an outdoor rated dome designed to be installed high up on a boat's radar arch or mast.

Because the modems and antennas are all integrated into the dome, this design eliminates the cable losses that come from having a router indoors, and the cellular antennas outdoors.

The Dome Pro LR also includes powerful WiFi-as-WAN capability for connecting upstream to marina Wi-Fi, and the capability to combine all these connections together with an additional WAN input such as a Starlink system as well.

But all this capability comes at a cost.

The $7,999 list price makes it clear that this powerhouse is targeting the premium end of the marine market.

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Peplink Dome Pro LR Key Details

The Dome Pro LR is the new big brother of the existing HD1 Dome Pro - which has just a single cellular modem and much smaller antennas, packaged into a much much smaller dome that is basically the size of a kitchen colander.

The Dome Pro LR on the other hand is a hefty beast - and it stands nearly 19" high, and 14.6" in diameter.

The big case is needed to fit the eight high-gain long range cellular antennas needed for the two 5G modems, as well as a dual-band 2x2 MIMO Wi-Fi antenna, and a GPS receiver as well.

Both the Dome Pro LR and the HD1 Dome Pro use the same very capable "Pro" internals that we have been testing on other indoor Peplink routers, like the MAX BR2 Pro and MAX BR1 Pro.

This router CPU can handle gigabit raw throughput, 400 Mbps speeds when using Peplink's SpeedFusion VPN when unencrypted, and 200 Mbps while encrypted.

The Dome Pro LR features two Qualcomm X62-based 5G modem modules.

This is a very capable 5G modem that has become the standard offering in most recent Peplink product updates.

Peplink actually decided to hold back releasing the Dome Pro LR model last year until they could bring it to market with this more capable "5G Phase 2" modem which is more future proof and globally compatible.

The Dome Pro LR has four internal physical SIM slots (two for each modem) - but Peplink knows that physically swapping SIM cards on a mast-mounted dome is often prohibitive, so the Dome Pro LR can also use SIM cards from a nearby SIM Injector or remote FusionSIM service provider, and each modem can also have two eSIM profiles installed via Peplink's InControl management portal.

To facilitate simple installation - the Dome Pro LR uses just a single Ethernet cable, receiving power from a PoE+ injector located indoors. This primary LAN port support 2.5 Gbps Ethernet, and can be used to connect to an indoor switch for hosting a wired network.

Or you could pair the Dome Pro LR with an indoor Peplink router using Synergy Mode to allow the two routers to work together as one for even more WAN capability.

For maximum capability - the Mega-Yacht crowd might easily embrace two Dome Pro LR's connected together with Synergy via a third indoor Peplink router.

The Dome Pro LR also has a second Ethernet port that can be used for LAN or WAN functionality, and which passes through PoE power so that it can connect and power a security camera or Wi-Fi access point without any additional wiring.

Speaking of a Wi-Fi access point - you will probably want to pair an indoor access point (or multiple ones for larger yachts) with the Dome Pro LR, allowing the Dome Pro's Wi-Fi 6 radio and antennas to focus on connecting to marina Wi-Fi when it is available.

The Dome Pro LR can also use Starlink as a WAN input - connected either to the secondary Ethernet port on the Dome, or to an Ethernet port on an indoor managed switch controlled with Peplink's vWAN remote WAN port technology.

All in all - the Dome Pro LR packs a pretty comprehensive set of capabilities into one BIG package.

Concluding Thoughts

The Dome Pro LR is physically too tall to permanently install on most RV's, and it is actually large enough that it would look out of place even on many modestly sized cruising boats.

But that is fine - the Dome Pro LR is undeniably a niche product - targeting the higher end of the marine market where physical size and price are absolutely secondary concerns.

For those that are used to investing in the best-of-the-best - the Dome Pro LR actually makes a pretty compelling case to be embraced as the heart of an onboard connectivity arsenal.

But for those on a more limited budget, there are other options to consider, showing off the range of price points Peplink is now hitting in the market:

• HD1 Dome Pro ($2,799) - A similar (but much smaller) dome design with just a single 5G modem (now also upgraded to Qualcomm X62), and much lower gain antennas. 
• MAX BR2 Pro ($2,899 + antennas) - Peplink's indoor dual-5G flagship router. But you will also need a pair of outdoor marine-rated 5G antennas to make the most of it. The 4x4 MIMO Peplink Maritime 40G antenna lists for $649, plus you need to consider the cost and complexity of installing such a thick bundle of antenna cables.
• MAX BR1 Pro ($999 + antenna) - Peplink's indoor single-5G mobile router has much of the capability of the BR2, but at a fraction of the cost. This setup plus Starlink is likely plenty of capability for many cruisers.
• B One Pro 5G ($599 + antenna) - Peplink's brand new mainstream consumer offering has a single 5G X62 modem and much of the same core capabilities as the other higher end offerings here, but at a price that is extremely hard to beat. Read our news story for more details and analysis of this exciting new router.

As always - there is no one universal best option.

When considering the Dome Pro LR - you will need to assess whether you need the redundancy of dual 5G modems, or the extra range that comes from larger higher gain antennas.

The Dome Pro LR is not for everyone - but it is great to have choices!

Member Exclusive Analysis

MIA members, be sure to log in for some exclusive analysis and inside info on the Dome Pro LR - diving deeper into the technical specs and our analysis of what the Long Range antennas should be capable of when compared to the HD1 Dome Pro and the Peplink Maritime 40G antenna.

Ordering the Dome Pro LR

The Dome Pro LR has a list price of $7,999, and it is now available for pre-order from Peplink retailers that cater to the high-end market. The first orders are expected to ship in early May 2024.

Affiliate Purchasing Links:

• MobileMustHave
• Onboard Wireless

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Our MIA members (the awesome folks who provide the primary funding so we can create our advertising-free, in-depth content) enjoy exclusive discounts from trusted vendors like MobileMustHave, TechnoRV, and Onboard Wireless.  

When shopping for high-end Peplink routers - this discount can add up, and in the case of the Dome Pro LR, the discount will FAR exceed the membership cost!

Our MIAs can visit our member-exclusive discounts page to get their discount codes for up to 10% off.

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