AMIT VHG87B-0G018 5G Marine Router
A 4×4 MIMO 5G router for boats with dual-SIM redundancy that connects directly to 12/24 V boat power. Poynting marine antennas on the mast, uninterrupted Wi-Fi 6 internet in the cabin.
- 9–36 V DCDirect to 12/24 V boat battery
- 2 × SIMOperator redundancy
- 4×4 MIMO5G NR Sub-6 GHz / LTE
- Wi-Fi 6AX1800, cabin and deck
Why Is 5G Difficult on a Boat?
A mobile phone or home router that works perfectly on land is often not enough on a boat. Base stations are aimed at users on land; the signal weakens as you move away from the coast, and as the boat moves, the connection keeps handing over between base stations.
The right solution has three parts: a reliable 5G router inside, a marine antenna mounted high on the mast and a short, low-loss cable joining the two. The AMIT VHG87B-0G018 is an industrial 5G router for boats, designed for the router side of this setup.
You can find more detail on what coverage at sea depends on in 4G/5G coverage at sea, on range calculation in signal distance at sea and on the effect of antenna height in Fresnel zone.
- Distance from shoreSignal level drops with distance; antenna height and gain become decisive.
- Hull and cabin lossMetal, carbon and fibreglass structures attenuate the signal; the router's internal antennas fall short inside.
- Constant movementAs the boat changes heading and position, the connection hands over between base stations.
- Limited power, harsh environment12/24 V DC systems, vibration, humidity and temperature changes push consumer devices to their limits.
Installing a 5G Router for Boats
The router sits in a dry, protected interior space; the antenna stands at the highest, clearest point on the mast. Four cellular cables and one GPS cable connect the antenna to the router; Wi-Fi 6 covers the cabin and deck.
- Marine antennaOn the mast, at the highest and clearest point; 4 cellular + GPS.
- 5G routerInside, in a dry and ventilated location.
- Power12/24 V DC line, fused terminal block connection.
- UsersWi-Fi 6 for the cabin, 4 × GbE for fixed devices.
Why the AMIT VHG87B-0G018 on a Boat?
Developed for vehicle and transport applications, the VHG87B-0G018's hardware and software features match the needs on board directly.
Direct 12/24 V Power
With a wide 9–36 V DC input range, it connects to the boat battery without an adapter; maximum consumption is 15 W.
Ignition Sense
With the ignition sense input, router power-up and shutdown can be tied to the boat's electrical system, so it does not drain the battery needlessly.
Dual-SIM Redundancy
SIM cards from two different operators can be fitted; when coverage weakens along the coast, it switches to the other line automatically.
Ethernet WAN in the Marina
If a wired connection is available in the marina, a LAN port can be used as Ether-WAN, with automatic failover to and from cellular.
GPS Location Tracking
The built-in GPS/GLONASS receiver allows the boat's position to be tracked; useful for fleet and charter boat management.
Secure Remote Access
Secure remote access to the boat with IPSec, WireGuard and OpenVPN; central management with SNMPv3 and TR-069.
Unattended Operation
Dual firmware images and self-recovery; the device recovers on its own while at anchor or waiting in the marina.
Vibration Resistant
Compliant with EN50155, the railway rolling stock electronics standard, with a −30 °C to +60 °C operating range.
Wi-Fi 6 Hotspot
AX1800 dual band, with Multi SSID to separate crew and guest networks.
Poynting Marine Antennas for the VHG87B-0G018
To make full use of the router's 4×4 MIMO capability, a marine antenna with four cellular ports should be used. A two-port antenna will establish the connection, but half of the MIMO gain is left unused.
- 4 × SMA (F) 5G/LTE
- 2 × RP-SMA (F) Wi-Fi
- 1 × SMA (F) GPS
Poynting OMNI-414
A 4×4 MIMO, 5G/LTE omnidirectional marine antenna. Its four cellular ports match the VHG87B's four cellular ports one to one; as it has N-type connectors, an N-to-SMA cable is used on the router side. Poynting's OMNI-414 announcement
Poynting Marine Antennas
Poynting SWIRL-4
A compact marine antenna combining cellular and Wi-Fi ports in a single housing; a single mounting point on small and mid-size boats.
SWIRL MarineFor all options, see the Poynting marine antennas page.
What to Consider When Installing a Marine Router
- Keep the router insideNo IP rating is specified in the datasheet; the device should be mounted in a dry, ventilated interior space not exposed to salt water.
- Antenna as high as possibleAntenna height directly determines the radio horizon and range from shore. The masthead is usually the best position.
- Short, low-loss cableEvery metre of cable adds loss, especially at 3.5 GHz. Place the router at the nearest suitable interior point to the antenna.
- Away from radar and other antennasPlace the antenna outside the radar beam and with enough spacing from VHF and satellite antennas. For details, see the marine antenna installation page.
- Fused DC supplyConnect the router to the 12/24 V line through a fuse with a terminal block. If ignition sense is used, plan the relevant line according to the boat's electrical system.
- Lightning protectionAdding an RF lightning arrestor to the antenna cable coming down the mast is recommended. See lightning protection for boats.
AMIT VHG87B-0G018 Specifications
| Cellular module | 1 × 5G NR Sub-6 GHz (SA/NSA) / LTE, 3GPP Rel.16, 2 × Nano SIM |
|---|---|
| MIMO | DL 4×4 MIMO (incl. n78), UL 2×2 MIMO (SA, incl. n78) |
| WAN | Cellular and configurable Ether-WAN, failover; connection monitoring via ICMP / DNS |
| Ethernet | 4 × RJ-45 Gigabit |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 AX1800 dual band; Multi SSID, band steering, MU-MIMO, WPA3 |
| GNSS | GPS / GLONASS, location tracking |
| Antenna connectors | 4 × SMA (F) 5G/LTE, 2 × RP-SMA (F) Wi-Fi, 1 × SMA (F) GPS |
| VPN | IPSec, WireGuard, OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, GRE |
| Management | Web interface, CLI, scripting, SNMPv3, TR-069 |
| Power | 9–36 V DC terminal block, max. 15 W; ignition sense |
| Environment | Operating −30 °C to +60 °C, storage −40 °C to +85 °C, 10–95% humidity (non-condensing) |
| Dimensions | 160 × 125 × 47 mm |
| Standards / certification | EN50155; NCC, CE, FCC, JATE, TELEC |
Specifications are based on the manufacturer's datasheet. Manufacturer: AMIT Wireless
5G Router for Boats: Frequently Asked Questions
Can it use the marina's Wi-Fi network as an internet source (WAN)?
Can it be used on 12 V and 24 V boats?
Do both SIM cards work at the same time?
How far from shore can a connection be maintained?
Can I mount the router on deck, outdoors?
Aren't the router's own antennas enough?
Let's plan the right system for your boat
Get support choosing the 5G router for boats, antenna and cable according to your boat's length, mast structure and cruising area. For other marine solutions, see the BağLAN boat internet page.