Ready for an upgrade . . I think

[jasonw]

I live in quite a rural area and have found a setup that I can "get by" with.

I started with the MOFI4500 SIM4 with an unlimited TMobile business plan through a reseller. Used it mostly on Band 12 speeds usually hovered right around 7-8Mbps.

When TMobile turned on Band 71 I "upgraded" to the MOFI4500 SIM7. I've been able to get decent speeds locked to Band 71, usually 10-14Mbps.

I don't mind spending the money on a better modem/router, God knows I've dumped a ton of money into getting to where I'm at now and am able to work from home without problems.

I do have 4 antennas, 2 parabolic grid, 1 Yagi - 700mhz and a smaller Wilson multi band antenna.

Just looking for some advice from more experienced people.

Here are the results from a Band Scan performed on my MOFI 4500 SIM7.

Band: B2 (Bandwidth 15 MHz Down | 15 MHz Up) Signal: -122 (RSRP) (dBm) Cell ID: 02 (2) LAC: 7BF8 (31736) (310260)
Band: B4(*) (Bandwidth 10 MHz Down | 10 MHz Up) Signal: -112 (RSRP) (dBm) Cell ID: 0C (12) LAC: 9E03 (40451) (311480)
Band: B5(*) (Bandwidth 5 MHz Down | 5 MHz Up) Signal: -113 (RSRP) (dBm) Cell ID: 01 (1) LAC: 0305 (773) (311589)
Band: B12 (Bandwidth 5 MHz Down | 5 MHz Up) Signal: -88 (RSRP) (dBm) Cell ID: 15 (21) LAC: 7BF8 (31736) (310260)
Band: B13(*) (Bandwidth 10 MHz Down | 10 MHz Up) Signal: -97 (RSRP) (dBm) Cell ID: 01 (1) LAC: 9E03 (40451) (311480)
Band: B14(*) (Bandwidth 10 MHz Down | 10 MHz Up) Signal: -115 (RSRP) (dBm) Cell ID: DF (223) LAC: 161D (5661) (310410)
Band: B66(*) (Bandwidth 10 MHz Down | 10 MHz Up) Signal: -110 (RSRP) (dBm) Cell ID: 0C (12) LAC: 9E03 (40451) (311480)
Band: B71 (Bandwidth 5 MHz Down | 5 MHz Up) Signal: -100 (RSRP) (dBm) Cell ID: 3D (61) LAC: 7BF8 (31736) (310260)

[Actinidia_arguta]

So first off, I would make sure that your antennas support band 71. Most off-the-shelf antennas list 698 or 700mhz as minimum frequency for advertised gains. Band 71 downlink frequency is 617 - 652mhz. Another user pointed this out to me a few days ago. It looks like band 12 & 71 are coming off the same tower, but you're just not tuned to receive 71. There are new LTE antennae on the market that start at 600 or 617mhz though, so that's fixable. And I assume there are other 600mhz spectrum antennas for non-LTE purposes that you could use as well.

It looks like 2, 12, and 71 are your three available frequencies. 12 is coming in strong, but I assume it's pretty congested with only 5mhz bandwidth. Band 2 has 15mhz bandwidth available, so trying to get that dialed in might be worth a shot. Where are your antennae placed? Have you noticed any combinations or positions that improve that particular band?

I am also in the process of replacing my MoFi SIM7, and I ended up getting a Quectel EM12-G modem, which has every band under the sun EXCEPT for band 71, lol. BUT I was also looking at the Sierra Wireless EM7411, which supports bands 2, 12 & 71 and 2x Carrier Aggregation. thewirelesshaven.com has them in stock for $175, so that's a good mid-range upgrade which is likely to net you real improvements. I don't know how much luck you will have popping it into the MoFi though, or if anyone has tested it. So you might need a new router too. Also, it's m.2 form factor so you will need a mPCI-e to m.2 adapter for most routers, including your MoFi. Also, MHF4 to SMA bulkhead pigtails to replace your U.FL pigtails.

Anyway, just some food for thought. I'd be happy to help you look into anything, as I'm quite enjoying geeking out over everything LTE at the moment.

[jasonw]

Thanks for the reply. I have 1 antenna that will pick up band 71 it's this one: https://www.signalboosters.com/bolton-t ... l-antenna/

I may start with cracking open the SIM4 that I have to check out the innards and see about flashing custom firmware(?)

[Adm1jtg]

I remeber reading somewhere that you can flash rooter onto a mofi unit but you need to use bootloader mode to do it. As far as compatability the sim7 uses an ec25 modem, so depending on your modem choice you will more then likely need the above mentioned adaptor and pigtail replacements

Also keep in mind that antennas in general have stronger dpi/gain at the higher frequencies. With yours for example at 600 frequency the "26 db antenna" is actually 13-17dbi as per the detailed graphical picture. Still a good gain but the higher frequencies get an even better gain. So might be worth trying a band 71 but also something like a band 4 or band 66

And to add just a little more complexity when/if you upgrade that modem you have to figure out which carrier aggregation combinations that are supported make the best combination. No idea what 71 can aggregate with as my modem doesnt do band 71

[jasonw]

I just flashed r00ter to my unused mofi4500 SIM4. I'm going to play around with that a bit as a way to start learning some of this stuff. I think want to squeeze as much speed as I can out of my in the sticks location.

[Adm1jtg]

Congrats, you now have a very overpriced 826 unit with a sierra 7455

[toddw]

I'm a band 71 user as well on Tmobile. I just started using a MC7411 and now can Carrier Aggregate band 71 with 2 and 4. Details here...

https://wirelessjoint.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&p=13263#p13263

Am pleased with the results and didn't break the bank doing so.

[Adm1jtg]

Just remember if using band 71 make sure your external antennas support the 600mhz range, many start at 700 and work their way up

[jasonw]

Just remember if using band 71 make sure your external antennas support the 600mhz range, many start at 700 and work their way up

I have 1 antenna now that supports the 600mhz range. The others are in the 700mhz range because I was primarily using B12 prior to B71 becoming available in my area. I do have a MIMO panel antenna on the way that supports the 600mhz range as well.

[jasonw]

I'm a band 71 user as well on Tmobile. I just started using a MC7411 and now can Carrier Aggregate band 71 with 2 and 4. Details here...

https://wirelessjoint.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&p=13263#p13263

Am pleased with the results and didn't break the bank doing so.

I've not been able to track down an MC7411.

[toddw]

I've not been able to track down an MC7411.

I got 3 engineering samples from Richardson RFPD. They are going through final carrier approval which will result in a firmware update/production version.

[toddw]

Also, I have tested the following antennas that support 617Mhz and above for 71 with good success...

RSRF Yagi
RSRF 2xMIMO Panel
Bolton 26db Grid Parabolic
ShureCall yagi (newer model)

Please note stock on the RSRF and Shurecall's have dried up multiple times this summer, so get them when you can. With Wilson and ShureCall on the verge of releasing their residential 5G boosters, the demand for the antennas will increase. From talking with Shurecall, their antennas go quick for folks implementing the commercial 5G units that are already out.

[Didneywhorl]

thewirelesshaven.com is trying to get them asap. But supplies are spotty. Some suppliers are stating the end of the year at the worst.

[DadsHockeyLife]

For anyone reading this post, I found another post that shows how to fix the issue without the need to flash the firmware and reset the modem....here's the link. Was a HUGE help to me at 2am as I was fretting over the fact that I was going to have to wait a few days before I could have an adapter arrive....

https://wirelessjoint.com/viewtopic.php?f=16 ... ware#p5922

Just takes a little knowledge on using SSH to access your device...

Learn Lots, Live Long, Love Well.