Peplink came out with the Maritime series of antennas in the tail end of 2021. This was the first real competition that Poynting, my favorite antenna vendor for a number of years, has had in this space, and I was eager to get them up and running.
The Lineup
In the Maritime lineup, we have two different models to choose from:
- Maritime 20G - a 2x2 MIMO antenna with GPS (data sheet)
- Maritime 40G - a 4x4 MIMO antenna with GPS (data sheet)
In the Box
Both antennas come with:
- Marine mount base & seal
- Entrance hole and plug for side cable entry
- L-bracket with hardware to mount on a vertical surface
- Pole mount hardware
Interestingly, the 40G comes with the rather expensive $99 Peplink marine stainless steel mounting base, but the 20G does not. It would be nice to see that for both antennas....
Specifications
Maritime 20G
Maritime 40G
Both antennas cover a wide range of frequencies making them ideal for 4G LTE, 5G and WiFi uses. In particular, I was impressed with the lower frequency gain claims particularly in the 617-960MHz range, as this has been an area that other antenna manufacturers have struggled with.
It's also interesting to note that the 20G has much better gain numbers of 5.4dBi in that range over the 40G's 3.8dBi. There are other variances as well, but the rest are much smaller.
In terms of general specifications, the Maritime series looks extremely good on paper.
Physical
The antenna is well built and feels hefty in the hand. The entire setup is similar to the Poynting OMNI series of antennas I've reviewed before, specifically around it being purpose designed for the marine world, which is excellent. This includes a removable base that can be screwed on to a standard 1-1/4" marine mount with options to pass the cables through the mount, or out through a hole in the base of the antenna mount. This saves having to deal with twisting cables or other machinations that always compromise the quality of the install.
It should be mentioned that the Maritime 40G antenna is a big, hefty antenna. It is by far the biggest cellular antenna I've ever seen. It's overall length is 35" which is 6" longer than the comparable Poynting OMNI-414 at 29". However, it feels quite a bit heavier (Peplink does not publish a weight) and it is quite a bit wider than other antennas a 3.78". Antenna size usually helps with performance, but just be aware that the Maritime 40G is bigger than what you might have seen before, and will require a proper mounting setup.
The antenna cables come out of the bottom of the unit and are about 6 feet in length. Both the 20G and 40G have both cellular antenna leads and a single GPS antenna lead.
The connectors and cabling feel well built and are clearly labeled with nice shrink wrap coverings that survive being pulled through conduit and other places.
The antenna isn't circular - it is sort of cricket bat shaped and has some bevels and angles. It is quite a bit thicker around than a Poynting OMNI-series as well.
Maritime mounting base
The mounting base is well thought out and includes a rubber weather seal, cable pass through hole, and a set screw!
The set screw is super nice so that you can orient the entire antenna the way you want without having to use a jam nut (another purchase) from somewhere else, or just be stuck with the antenna facing some random direction.
Cable plug a disappointment
The biggest disappointment is the plug for the cable pass through. If I am using a standard 1-1/4 marine mount, like you see above, I don't want this hole to be open or exposed. The way this was solved for the Maritime series was a very cheap, fiddly plastic plug that does not provide a weather tight seal, and is difficult to even get into the hole. After all of the other weatherproofing put into this antenna, this is a clear miss in the design department. Using some sort of sealant is an option, but a bit of a mess will likely result.
Performance & Usage
I've been using both antennas for a number of months now with CAT-18 and 5G modems from multiple manufacturers. In addition, I've used the 20G as a WiFi as WAN antenna connected to Peplink routers.
In general I have been very pleased with the overall performance. In metro areas where the signal is strong, I have seen excellent performance and good signal strength. In remote areas with known challenges, I've seen good performance as well.
The lower band performance has been very good specifically in the 617-960MHz range. This is where the all-important Band 71 lives which is useful mostly for T-Mobile. Lower frequencies with longer wavelengths travel farther, and this means more coverage further away in isolated areas, which is perfect for the boat.
5G performance has also been very good in all of my testing with the Maritime antennas pulling in a signal in many places where I hadn't had 5G before.
Compared to the Peplink Mobility 42G, the 20G and 40G do much better with lower signal areas, which I would expect given the sheer size difference. The 42G has better gain numbers for some frequencies on paper, but the overall size, design, and radiation pattern of the Maritime series will be better for a boat setup because of the constant movement and tendency to be further away from towers.
Steve Mitchell
I also used the Peplink Maritime 20G as a WiFi as WAN antenna connected to various Peplink devices. In particular, I wanted to see how it did compared to the venerable Poynting OMNI-496 which I've recommended for a number of years. The OMNI-496 is a single element antenna, whereas the Maritime 20G is a 2x2 or dual element antenna, so it's not an exact 1:1 comparison.
In my testing, I've seen great performance from the Maritime 20G as a WiFi as WAN antenna - very similar to the OMNI-496. You will need some RP-SMA adapters if you decide to use the 20G with WiFi ports on a router.
Competition
Poynting is the obvious major competitor to these antennas, and while they have several offerings that are new, there are still some gaps.
The Maritime 40G has a good competitor in the Poynting OMNI-414 which I am also testing. The major differences are that the Poynting does not cover as many frequencies as the Maritime 40G, is quite a bit smaller (not a bad thing!), and is white in color instead of cream.
This means for a 5G + WiFi as WAN system you'd need different antennas specifically for WiFi. I do like the smaller form factor of the Poynting, and I prefer the white color over the Peplink cream color. The lack of some frequencies or bands with the Poynting antennas will be an area of focus in my testing as well.
In my initial testing of the Poynting OMNI-414 versus the Peplink Maritime 40G, I see very similar results in many areas. I will still reserve my opinion on which one is ultimately the best choice until I have a bit more time with the OMNI-414.
Wrap Up
If you're looking for a high quality marine-grade cellular or WiFi antenna, the Peplink Maritime series definitely fits that bill. Quality mounting options, excellent performance, and lots of flexibility with the number of connections make it an easy antenna to pair with a good router.
Pros
- Excellent marine antenna features
- Well built hardware, cabling, etc.
- Performs extremely well with 4G LTE and 5G
- Can be used for WiFi or cellular
Cons
- The 40G is enormous - this may be a concern for mounting, windage, and space.
- The 40G comes with a 1-1/4" mount, the 20G does not
- The color is off-white which doesn't match most boats
- Weatherproofing for cable pass through is not as waterproof as I'd like
Archived Community Comments
These comments were posted on the SeaBits forum before February 2026. Scroll down to join the current discussion.
Thanks for another great detailed review/description of these LTE/5G/WiFi MIMO omni antennas.
I’m curious if you ever have use cases for WiFI-only MIMO antennas? If so, have you ever looked at these?
https://www.l-com.com/wireless-antenna-24-5-ghz-11-dbi-dual-frequency-dual-polarized-omni-antenna
Regards.
Not really in the boating world. For installations and systems I’ve worked on for marinas or other land-based setups, I’ve used antennas from a number of vendors including Ubiquiti/UniFi and others that are dual or single frequencies and other similar configs to the one you linked.
I’m considering adding a 40G for cellular and a 20G for wifi-as-WAN. I’ve noticed you have yours mounted on the radar arch. Mine will likely be ahead of the radar, on either side of the flybridge Bimini. Any concerns with these antennas wrt placement ahead of the radar dome?
As long as they’re not super close to the radar, it shouldn’t be that big of an issue. The other thing I always think about is that while underway, you might not be getting the best signal anyhow because you’re moving. If the radar degrades it a bit more, that’s probably not the end of the world, but they shouldn’t conflict too much.
Hi Steve,
Love this review and the review you did on the Peplink MAX BR1 Pro 5G (which we have bought). We own a 56 Catamaran and looking to max out the range our 80’ mast can offer us. The only thing at the top now is our VHF/AIS antenna (which often gets AIS targets on our Vesper Cortex at 40 miles).
Anyhow my question is will it be worth it to add 100’ of cable to get the 40g to the top of the mast vs the loss of that run? We could instead mount it on our spreaders at 60, 40, or 20’ above our waterline as well (but assume that would also bring in pretty good interference from our mast too).
We’re using Starlink now as well with great success, and getting ready to move it over to 12v power and take out the included router… but we have a feeling it will be a long time before Starlink cuts a deal in the Bahamas, and we need to have a working alternative ready at all times.
Cheers,
Brandon
I never exceed 30 feet with cellular cable because of the loss associated with it. If you look at the antenna performance information, you’ll see only 1-2dB in some frequency ranges, and anything longer than 30 feet would eat into that. If you have connectors or joints/splices, those affect things even more.
Based on the length you’re talking about, you’d need extremely thick cabling, and even then, I think you’d still negate most of the benefits by the length of the cable.
I’d stick with something that is less than 30’ of overall cable.
Hello Steve.
Thank you for another great post! I have a slightly different question and wonder if you could help. We are a live-a-board couple on our 53 foot sailboat and currently in Gibraltar and slowly sailing south to Canaries with intention to cross this year.
Do you know of any Maritiime antennas that would work with 4G/5G and Iridium GO? It seems like the impedance and frequencies are compatible, however there are other antennas characteristics that are not clear to me and might be very different. We use Peplink MAX BR1 MK2(all based on your wonderful reviews) with Wilson 4G antenna with a very quality good cable installed on our first spreaders(about 12 meters up from Peplink). We would only use Iridium GO while doing ocean crossing. I would like to use our existing or newer and better 4G/5G antenna for IRIDIUM GO if possible.This would prevent me from installing yet another antenna and pulling another cable.
Thank you!
Serge
That’s an interesting idea - I’ve never tested this, but if things overlap, you could potentially do this. I know the newer Maritime Series of antennas from Peplink have a pretty wide support of bands, as do some of the newer ones from Poynting. Might be worth checking out…
Thanks, Steve. I have ordered a custom pigtail cable from a UK based RF shop with TS9 and SMA connectors, so I can connect my existing antenna cable to Iridium GO. I will let you know if it works.
First, thanks for sharing these great blogs. As an avid boater and communications expert “wanna be”, I found your articles outstanding. Have you had a chance to look at the new HD1 Dome Pro (5G)? I’d be curious to get your thoughts on the pros and cons of using it as an alternative to the Maritime 40G + MAX BR1 Pro setup. I have a catamaran being built and the best antenna location is likely on the spreader, halfway up the mast, but about 35-40 ft away from the router location in the cabin. So the cable length concerns me and the HD1 Dome Pro would address that. And I wouldn’t need cable extensions that would require connections in the mast. But I am worried about losing range with the dome setup.
Hi there,
I did a review of the Peplink MAX HD1 Dome a couple of years ago, and I used the domes (2x) as my primary connectivity for a number of years. The HD1 Dome Pro has the newer 5G modem and WiFi in it as well, which was a feature request I asked for (among other folks) several years ago.
I’ve tested the HD1 Dome Pro and it works very similar to the original domes. The 5G radio works well, and the WiFi radio is good too. Routers with appropriate cables combined with the Peplink Maritime Antennas will perform a bit better in low signal areas because of the size of the antennas, but it’s a pretty small difference in most folks use cases.
If your only location for antennas is 35-40 feet away from a router, then the dome is the best choice.
Thanks Steve. That was my assessment also. The losses associated a 40+ with a couple of connectors in between would be pretty significant. And there’s no room in the conduits for LMR 400 cable. HD1 Dome Pro it is! I did contact Peplink and they recommended the same.
Hi Steve, I purchased a Pepwave 40G Maritime Antenna and paired it with a Pepwave MAX BR1 Pro router.My question is about orientation of the antenna. The antenna is approx. 2.75 inches thick and 3.75 inches wide. Should it be installed with the thin edge facing forward with the boat, which would be a more aerodynamical install (not that it matters, my boat only cruises at 7 knots)? Or should it be installed with the wide edge facing forward?
Will the orientation affect the reception quality?
Thanks,
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Since your boat will constantly change direction and orientation, it won’t really matter which way it faces for performance reasons. Even with a 7 knot boat, facing the thin edge forwards might still be desirable if you’re headed into a strong wind, I suppose, but that’s about all I could come up with
You could have it oriented any way you want and it shouldn’t matter. I know a lot of folks with multi-antenna setups (customers and my own install!) who orient them all the same way for looks.
Thanks for your input Steve. Aerodynamic install it is. Don’t want to slow down my speed demon!
Any idea if the 40G would work on a side-mounted base? Like the kind Shakespeare makes for VHF and other whip antenna styles? Like their 4187 ratchet mount. I’m likewise wondering if the cut-out through that base is going to provide enough room for the cabling from the 40G.
4187 on this page: Antenna Mounts – Shakespeare Marine
My thought is side-mount it on the flybridge of my EB47, with the ratchet allowing fold-down during winter storage. I have my existing VHF & AIS antennas on those mounts, both with some 3/4" Starboard between them and the fiberglass. I’d prefer to avoid having to stack a bunch of material to make it work, if just for the sake of not being ugly.
I think the mount could hold the antenna weight if that is one of the questions. It would depend on how it is backed and mounted. The hole for the wires might be an issue - the 40G has a lot of them. I usually cut off the GPS wire just because I never use it and it gets in the way, but even that might not help here.
I use bulkhead mounts from Morad for my two 40Gs and have no issues.
Paired with their piping, there is enough room for two of the wires to go on either side of the bolt that runs through the pipe, and it allows me the ability to lay the antennas down and access them for maintenance.
A product I hadn’t thought about was on Morad’s website, the stanchion adapter with a cut-out.
That’d allow bringing the cables out while still using a ratcheting mount. Though the more you add to the length of something, the more pendulum stress…
I was assuming I’d be using a backing plate to help handle the weight/loads of the antenna on it. How well the mount itself handles the loads… is an interesting question.
I’m inclined toward the ratcheting style to allow all positions to be locked. As in, by the folks that’re doing the winterizing. Loosen, turn, tighten… less possibility for anything to move around or parts to get lost. As this is only the outside edge of the flybridge I could definitely imagine a retaining clip going ‘bloop’ overboard.
Though I definitely see the merit to using a pole-adapter arrangement like the M600. Thanks for the ideas.
Ah yes, those thread adapters are awesome. I’ve used them for customer installs as well as on my own boats. They’re great for the cellular antenna cables and amounts of them. Good luck!
I neglected to realize there’s already a knock-out hole in the bottom of the mount that comes with the 40G. No need to go through the ratchet mount split-thread part. Funny what happens when you actually READ the datasheets… https://download.peplink.com/resources/pepwave_maritime_antenna_40G_datasheet.pdf
LOL, and I knew that as well and didn’t even mention it. Oops!