Documentation & Information To Keep In Mind
The TPE-R1300 router is pre-configured for use with the USB 4G modem and routes all traffic through the PenguinVPN servers automatically. In order for it to work you will need to activate the SIM card and subscribe to a cellular provider. The VPN service itself is already active and working, but won’t be able to connect until there is an activated SIM card inserted and a service plan paid for (pre-paid or otherwise).
Warning: The router setup process is VERY complicated and difficult to diagnose when random changes are made. It is highly recommended that you do not change anything outside of what is prescribed below. Figuring out how to undo a mistake is near impossible for most end-users and support will probably have trouble figuring it out short of a reset and significant amount of time re-setting the router up. We have directions posted online, but they're not for the faint of heart.
Directions:
Step 1: Activate SIM card
If using an AT&T SIM card you can activate online at: https://www.att.com/prepaid/activations/
Note: You may not be able to activate with Firefox, as the site doesn’t appear to work correctly
Or if you have AT&T PREPAID and don’t want to activate online, call AT&T at 800.901.9878.
2nd Note: Verizon may no longer work well enough or at all alongside the VPN router due to changes with their network configuration and this model of 4G modem. We are hoping to ship a newer generation of modem at some point in the future that will have support again.
Step 2: Insert the SIM card to the USB 4G modem SIM card slot, screw on the antennas, connect the black or nylon USB cable from the 4G modem to the USB port on the mini wireless router.
Note: The white USB cable is not a data cable. Do Not try and utilize this to connect the 4G modem to the router. It won't work.
Step 3: Connect the white (or nylon) power cable to the router and the other end to the USB to wall adapter and finally into a power outlet. Screw on all antennas.
Note: You MUST use a power adapter that is greater than 3W to power the router. We highly recommend purchasing the 18W/3.0A USB Power Adapter (US Plug) with the router such that you can properly power the 4G modem. Otherwise you will experience problems with this setup.
Step 4: Connect to the router via ethernet or via wireless to the libreCMC-VPN access point (default password is librecmc) and go to https://192.168.3.1. If via ethernet cable connect from your computer’s LAN port to the mini wireless router’s LAN port. Now login, default password is the word ‘none’, then go to Network > Interfaces and click the edit button next to WWAN0. In here you will see a box that says APN. You will need to replace what is in this box with that of the APN for your cellular provider. Click the Save & Apply button and go to System > Reboot and cick the Perform reboot button.
Note: You may have to accept a security warning and add an exception to access the router configuration page.
Give the router a minute or two to boot up, connect to the cellular provider, and finally connect to the PenguinVPN service. Until all of these steps have happened you will not be able to access the internet.
Unfortunately it's not perfectly clear when all these things have happened.
There is some level of diagnosing that can be done via router's user interface if need be. This would be through the web browser / router via https://192.168.3.1 and Network > Interfaces and Status > System Log.
Step 5: Verify that you are connected through the VPN by visiting https://www.infosniper.net
You should see that your connection is routed through some random country. The provider will not show up as AT&T. It’ll show some other random internet provider depending on which VPN server your connection is being actively routed through.
That’s it. If you need to restart the router because the internet is not working (depending on the quality of the signal and other factors it’s possible your connection can get dropped from time to time) just pull the white power cable (or maybe grey if you used our nylon cable for this) on the mini wireless router and reconnect. Again, it takes a minute or two for everything to boot up and start working again. Some patience may be required.
You can login to the router at https://192.168.3.1 using the password 'none'. No quotes. You may have to accept a security warning and add an exception to access the router configuration page.
To change the password for the SSID go to Network > Wireless and click the Edit button next to where it says the SSID libreCMC-VPN. Then go to the Interface Configuration section and click the Wireless Security tab. Enter a new password in the box that says key next to it. Click the Save & Apply button. Then go to System > Reboot and click the Perform reboot button. After the router has rebooted you can connect to the libreCMC-VPN network using your newly set password.
If you want to change the password for the router go to System > Administration.
If you want to switch cellular providers you can set the APN for a different provider under Network > Interfaces. Click the edit button next to the WWAN0 interface. In here you will find a box to change the APN. Simply change it and click the Save & Apply button. Then go to System > Reboot and click the Perform reboot button. Don't forget to swap out the SIM card before rebooting the router. After swapping a SIM card and setting a new APN the router must be rebooted.