LTE Connectivity

The Web3 Pi UPS accepts an optional plug-in LTE-M module (Cat-M1 / NB-IoT cellular) that gives the UPS its own cellular link — completely independent of your home network and mains power. When the power goes out and your router goes dark, the UPS keeps reporting.

With the module fitted you get:

• Remote monitoring — telemetry (battery, inputs, host state) uplinked roughly every 30 seconds, wherever the device is.
• Instant alerts — power-state changes (mains lost/restored) and faults are pushed immediately, not on the next 30 s tick.
• Remote commands — reboot or shut down the host, power-cycle the output, trigger a beep.
• No network setup — the module is an outbound-only client, so it works behind carrier-grade NAT. No public IP, port forwarding, or VPN required.

Backend Modes

The module reports to one of three backends — exactly one active at a time. MQTT is the default and recommended mode: zero configuration, and the full web panel experience. HTTP and Arkiv are alternatives for specific needs. All three use secure, authenticated communication.

Mode	Where your data goes	Best for
MQTT (default)	Web3 Pi cloud + web panel	Most users — zero-config remote monitoring and commands
HTTP	Your own server — HTTP mode	Self-hosters who want data on their own infrastructure
Arkiv	Arkiv blockchain — Arkiv mode	Verifiable, tamper-evident records for special/compliance needs

MQTT and Arkiv devices are fully managed in the web panel. In HTTP mode your own server is the backend — the panel can still list such a device, but its live data and commands go through your server.

Switching Modes

Modes are switched on the device itself, from the OLED menu:

1. On the Home screen, hold LEFT for 2 seconds to open the menu.
2. Select Network (requires the LTE-M module — shows NO MODEM otherwise).
3. Select Mode, then pick MQTT, ARKIV, or HTTP — * marks the active mode.
4. The setting is saved and the LTE-M module reboots into the new mode.

The choice persists across reboots and power loss. The module reboot only pauses telemetry for about 30 seconds — power to the Pi and battery backup are handled in hardware and are never interrupted.

Without the Module

The LTE-M module adds remote visibility; it is not required for protection. Without it, the UPS still provides the full power path and battery backup, the OLED display, buttons, buzzer alarms, and the local settings menu — plus telemetry, event logging, and graceful shutdown for the connected Pi over the single USB-C cable (see Host Integration).