Peplink Router Setup: Wi-Fi with Starlink or Backup Internet
Connect your Peplink router to an external Wi-Fi network, set Starlink or another connection as backup, and configure automatic failover.
Before you start
Wi-Fi WAN connects your router to an outside network. Your vehicle's Wi-Fi connects your phone, laptop, and other devices to the router.
Before you start
- Access to the router's Wi-Fi and administrator login.
- The outside Wi-Fi network name and password, including any sign-in details.
- Starlink or another backup connected to the router and online.
Set up your connections
Open the Peplink dashboard
Connect to your vehicle's Wi-Fi and open https://192.168.50.1. This is a common Peplink address. If it doesn't open, use the router address provided with your build or check your device's Router / Default Gateway details.
Sign in with the administrator credentials for your router.
Connect Wi-Fi WAN to outside Wi-Fi
In WAN Connection Status, choose Wi-Fi WAN on 5 GHz or Wi-Fi WAN on 2.4 GHz, based on what the outside access point supports. Scan, select the network, enter its password, then save and apply.
Confirm the dashboard shows the selected network and an IP address. Open a website and complete any campground sign-in page. If the network isn't listed, try the other band.
Use this screen as a reference for Wi-Fi WAN on 5 GHz. Its MTU setting applies to that interface. Set MTU 1500 on the Starlink-facing interface in Step 3.
Set Wi-Fi as Priority 1 and backup as Priority 2
In WAN Connection Status, move your chosen Wi-Fi WAN connection to Priority 1. Move Starlink or another working backup to Priority 2. For Ethernet-connected Starlink, use the WAN port where its cable is connected and confirm it has an IP address.
| Priority | Connection |
|---|---|
| Priority 1 | Outside Wi-Fi WAN |
| Priority 2 | Starlink or another working backup |
flowchart TD Primary["Wi-Fi WAN: Priority 1"] -->|Healthy| Internet["Internet"] Primary -->|3 failed health checks| Backup["Starlink or other backup: Priority 2"] Backup --> Internet
Open the Starlink-facing connection. Under Physical Interface Settings, set MTU to Custom and enter 1500, then save and apply. This is our recommended setting for the Starlink connection.
Set internet health checks
Set these values in Health Check Settings for both the primary and backup connections:
| Setting | Recommended value |
|---|---|
| Health Check Method | PING |
| PING Hosts | Host 1: 1.1.1.1; Host 2: 8.8.8.8 |
| Use first two DNS servers as PING Hosts | Unchecked |
| Timeout / Health Check Interval | 10 seconds / 10 seconds |
| Health Check Retries / Recovery Retries | 3 / 3 |
Three failed checks mark a connection unhealthy; three successful checks mark it recovered. Switching time depends on the check timing. Active calls or streams may need to reconnect.
Test backup and recovery
Confirm Wi-Fi WAN is online. If you control the outside access point, interrupt its internet feed while leaving Wi-Fi on. On a shared network, disable only the Peplink Wi-Fi WAN connection; this checks backup routing but not internet-loss detection.
Confirm Starlink takes over and a new webpage loads. Restore the outside internet or re-enable Wi-Fi WAN, then confirm the primary becomes preferred again. Don't leave Wi-Fi WAN disabled.
Troubleshooting
The dashboard won't open.
Connect to the vehicle's Wi-Fi. Use the router address supplied with your build or check your device's Router / Default Gateway details.
Wi-Fi is connected, but there's no internet.
Complete any outside-network sign-in. Check that the outside service is online and the WAN health check passes.
Starlink doesn't take over.
Confirm Starlink is online, connected to the expected WAN port, and set to Priority 2. Check that it has an IP address and passes its health check.
Will slow Wi-Fi trigger the backup?
Not always. PING checks detect loss of reachability, not slow speeds. If the Wi-Fi is slow but still passes, move the working backup to Priority 1 temporarily, then restore your preferred order later.