Looking for a Specific Topic?
Protectli 4G/5G Modem Firmware
Introduction
Protectli offers multiple options for cellular service modems. There are internal modem cards which can be installed inside of a Vault or Vault Pro, as well as standalone external modems that can be used in tandem with a Vault, Vault Pro, or even non-Protectli branded computers. Every modem utilizes it's own firmware, and new firmware will become available as issues are found and new features are added. Keep this page bookmarked and check in every once in a while to see if a new firmware is available for your modem. A general overview of modems can be found on this page.
** Please note that modems sold from our European website use different firmware and slightly different hardware than modems sold in North America. If you flash NA firmware to EU, or vice versa, you could potentially brick the modem.
For an overview of current modem offerings, please refer to the chart below:
| Model Name | Cellular Standard | Modem Type |
|---|---|---|
| MDG100 (Deprecated) | 4G LTE | mPCIe Internal Modem |
| MDG200 | 4G LTE | M.2 or mPCIe Internal Modem |
| MDG230 (Coming Soon) | 5G | M.2 3052 Internal Modem |
| IDG400 | 4G LTE | External Modem |
| IDG450 | 5G | External Modem |
Newest Firmware Versions
In the table below, you can find the most recent firmware versions available for each modem. Instructions on how to properly update the firmware are found just below the table. Old (outdated) versions of the firmware can be found near the bottom of this page.
**North America is signified by NA, Europe is signified by EU.
Model Name Geographical Location Download File Notes
MDG100 NA Download Minor fixes, 7/13/21
MDG200 NA Download Initial Release, 09/28/22
MDG200 EU Download Initial Release, 01/13/2025
IDG400 NA Download Minor fixes, 3/18/22
IDG450 NA Download Improved optimization of SIM detection by API, 12/12/2024
IDG450 EU Download Improved optimization of SIM detection by API, 12/12/2024
Firmware Upgrading Instructions
Verify that you have downloaded the correct firmware file from the table above. DOUBLE CHECK YOU DOWNLOADED THE CORRECT FIRMWARE!
Please keep in mind if you are updating the firmware for an internal modem, the Vault will need to have an Operating System installed in order to access the modem's web GUI. In the example below, we used Ubuntu 24.04 to update the MDG200's firmware.
- Access the modem's web GUI by navigating to the modem's default gateway address in a web browser of your choice
- Internal modems are typically 172.16.0.1
- External modems are typically 192.168.123.254, and you will need to use a computer connected to modem via ethernet to access it
- Navigate to Administrator > Manager > FW Upgrade
- Click on the "Browse" button to open up your file explorer
- Find the firmware .bin file and select it
- If the firmware file is in a .zip folder, make sure to extract the image first
- Click on the "Upgrade" button and do not power off the unit! This process shouldn't take very long (potentially up to 5 minutes). When the firmware has successfully updated, the modem will restart automatically.
Once everything is completed, you are good to go.
Old Firmware Versions (Outdated)
Conclusion
As always, feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or run into any issues. We are here to help!