EM7565 in Cradlepoint Router?

[mattvds]

Someone mentioned on the FB group that you can use Sierra Wireless cards in Cradlepoint routers, and therefore save a ton over the officially supported modems that are sold by Cradlepoint. I'm cross posting from FB, because I haven't received a response there, and I find that the forum is a better way to help debug issues, sorry if that is against the rules.

I currently have a LP6 modem in my CRA850 and I was trying to switch it over to a EM7565 so that I could get 3XCA. I have flashed the EM7565 with the generic firmware, provided the APN for Sprint, and have set the band locks. However, the Cradlepoint fails to connect.

Cradlepoint claims that it is in a "suspended" state, and that it had an error of "AutoSelect failed: all profiles failed connection".

When using AT console, it appears that I am registered and connected to sprint:

Code: Select all

Reset Counter: 1 Mode: ONLINE

System mode: LTE PS state: Attached

LTE band: B41 LTE bw: 20 MHz

LTE Rx chan: 40072 LTE Tx chan: 40072

LTE SSC1 state:INACTIVE LTE SSC1 band: B40

LTE SSC1 bw : 20 MHz LTE SSC1 chan: 40270

LTE SSC2 state:NOT ASSIGNED

LTE SSC3 state:NOT ASSIGNED

LTE SSC4 state:NOT ASSIGNED

EMM state: Registered Normal Service

RRC state: RRC Connected

IMS reg state: No Srv

PCC RxM RSSI: -69 PCC RxM RSRP: -98

PCC RxD RSSI: -62 PCC RxD RSRP: -89

SCC1 RxM RSSI: -80 SCC1 RxM RSRP: -100

SCC1 RxD RSSI: -72 SCC1 RxD RSRP: -91

Tx Power: -- TAC: 5307 (21255)

RSRQ (dB): -8.1 Cell ID: XXXXXXX

SINR (dB): 7.8

[JimHelms]

This is generally a simple process.

The first requirement is to make sure you are running no later than the March 25, 2019 software version 7.0.50 on the CBA850.

You will need to program the modem with Band 41. I generally use Putty behind Window’s machine to issue the commands. You can also access the CBA850's "atterm" using Putty which allows to copy and paste the commands.

Code: Select all

AT!ENTERCND="A710"
AT!BAND=10,"B41",0,10000000000

Next, from Connection Manager, edit the EM7565 profile. Enter the APN

Set the APN.png

and then enter the AT command to lock the band to 41 and Save:

Code: Select all

AT!BAND=10

Lock the band to 41.png

It should then connect without issue.

[mattvds]

Thanks! That was the issue. I was missing the APN in cradelpoint's software.

Connected without issue. However appears that its staying in 2X CA. Although I am seeing higher upload speeds, but that is probably just coincidental.

I have a Verizon sim lying around, so going to try that out too to see if it has 3X CA.

[mattvds]

OK this is very bizarre. Thanks to your helpful post, it does indeed connect. I have switched back and forth between the LP4 and the EM7565 multiple times, and although they both appear to be doing 2X CA, I am seeing very different speed test results.

LP4: 70 Mbps down, 5-6 Mbps up. Ping spikes to ~120 during download, and ~300 during upload.
EM7565: 50 Mbps down, 15-20 Mbps up. Ping spikes ~300 during download, and ~100 during upload.

Looks like for some reason the EM7565 is prioritizing upload, and the MC7455 in the LP4 is prioritizing download.

Any ideas behind this bizarre behavior?

[JimHelms]

Did you program and lock the EM7565 to band 41?

[mattvds]

Yep both are on Band 41. Both modems configured with the same antennas on Main and Aux, although if you look at my first post, seems I do have some difference between signal strength on each antenna, maybe that has something to do with it?

[JimHelms]

That is a possibility.

But, I would think you should still be able to see both secondary carriers for 3 x CA.

Sprint Band 41 - 3 x CA.png

[mattvds]

Interesting, I think I see a difference here, for some reason my CA is using B40 instead of B41, even though locked to B41?

As you will see, I don't have 3X CA on this tower.

modem pic.PNG

[JimHelms]

Did you update the EM7565 to the latest firmware, and flash it twice?

Seems someone mentioning the latest firmware had some sort of glitch where it reads the secondary band wrong.

There is also the chance that your tower is not implementing 3 x CA.

[mattvds]

Looks like my sprint tower doesn't support 3xCA. Tried the Verizon Sim from my phone and it correctly got 3xCA.

Anecdotally it seems that the EM7565 is more stable in terms of dropped packets, I'm going to continue to use it for a few weeks and see if it helps with video conferencing.

I think given Verizon supports 3XCA, might be worthwhile switching over to Verizon, but appears they cap streaming at 5Mbps, so unless someone has a way around that, it's probably best to stay with Sprint.

[jgsieve]

does the usb 3 enclosure on your site work with this, and do you use mbim or qmi? thanks

[Didneywhorl]

The USB3 to M.2 key B enclosures that The Wireless Haven sells works great with the CBA850 routers and Sierra modems.

MBIM is my favorite, but sometimes QMI works better. You have to try each in your own case.