Quectel EM160 AT commands

[Didneywhorl]

As some of you may know, or have recently found out, the newest Quectel modems (EM160, EM120, RM500, RM510, RM502) do NOT use all of the same AT commands as the predecessor modems.

Here are a list of a few new commands and what they should do, and a list of commands that I've found not working anymore.


New:

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AT+QRSRP?

: Check the signal info on each antenna port. This one was supposed to work on the EM20, and EM12 I think, but never made it.

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AT+QNWPREFCFG: "roam_pref",255

This one replaces AT+QCFG="roamservice",1 . I have not been able to get roamservice to work on the EM160.
255 is for Auto ( basically the same as full roaming imo )
1 is for Roam on Home Networks only (I'm guessing this is 'dont roam lite' )
3 is for Roam on Affiliate Networks (full on roaming)

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AT+QNWPREFCFG="mode_pref",LTE

This replaces AT+QCFG="NWSCANMODE",3,1 which is also a command that the EM160 wont accept.
LTE, CDMA, AUTO are the options I believe. I'll have to dbl check those.


BAND LOCKING!!!

So this one is all new and MUCH simpler:

The see the current band setting:

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AT+QNWPREFCFG="lte_band"?

example to set to bands 2,4,12,66,71 only:

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AT+QNWPREFCFG="lte_band",2:4:12:66:71

that's it.

After setting it, remember to hard reset the modem with

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AT+CFUN=1,1

this will make the modem disappear and come back rebooted. Entering

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AT+CFUN=0; +CFUN=1

does nothing really. You have to run the '=1,1' version or power cycle your router to get the modem to actually reboot.


Voice Centric Use or Data centric use: (this one Im still toying with to really get the purpose of

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AT+QNWPREFCFG="ue_usage_setting",<settingNumber>

In place of <settingNumber>:
0 for Voice centric
1 for Data centric

There are a few others, but these are the popular ones that come to mind.

And as an extra bonus:

Quectel_EG512R&EM1x0R_Series_AT_Commands_Manual_V1.0.pdf

Post replies for any commands you've found for the new Quectel modems, and what they do.

[toddw]

Many thanks for this. Will come in handy this weekend.

[BillA]

The following commands have been tested and work on the EM16 (EM160R), and possibly on other newer models.

Disable auto-MBN mode, and set it to generic profile:

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AT+QMBNCFG="AutoSel",0  < 0=deactivate / 1=activate
AT+QMBNCFG="Deactivate"  < Activate / Deactivate
AT+QMBNCFG="Select","ROW_Commercial"

MBN profile list:
+QMBNCFG: "List",0,1,1,"ROW_Commercial",0x08010809,201907031
+QMBNCFG: "List",1,0,0,"Commercial-TMO",0x0801050F,202005251
+QMBNCFG: "List",2,0,0,"Telstra_Australia_Commercial",0x08010F00,202005111
+QMBNCFG: "List",3,0,0,"ROW_Generic_3GPP_PTCRB_GCF",0x0801FE02,201910231
+QMBNCFG: "List",4,0,0,"Germany-VoLTE-Vodafone",0x08010449,202004261
+QMBNCFG: "List",5,0,0,"Swiss-Comm",0x08010411,202004261
+QMBNCFG: "List",6,0,0,"Commercial-EE",0x0801220B,202004261
+QMBNCFG: "List",7,0,0,"hVoLTE-Verizon",0x0801010E,202006091
+QMBNCFG: "List",8,0,0,"Commercial-Sprint",0x08010204,201907031
+QMBNCFG: "List",9,0,0,"FirstNet",0x08015300,202004301
+QMBNCFG: "List",10,0,0,"VoLTE-ATT",0x08010335,202001101
+QMBNCFG: "List",11,0,0,"VoLTE-CU",0x08011561,202003131
+QMBNCFG: "List",12,0,0,"VoLTE_OPNMKT_CT",0x080113E0,202004261
+QMBNCFG: "List",13,0,0,"Volte_OpenMkt-Commercial-CMCC",0x08012010,201907031
+QMBNCFG: "List",14,0,0,"Commercial-KDDI",0x08010709,202006181
+QMBNCFG: "List",15,0,0,"Commercial-DCM",0x08010D0D,202004261
+QMBNCFG: "List",16,0,0,"Commercial-SBM",0x08011C0B,201907031


Other commands:

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AT+QCFG="usbnet",0  < 0=QMI/PPP/Default / 1=ECM / 2=MBIM
AT+QPRTPARA=3  < Factory reset NVM items (careful, you may lose modem control!)
AT+QPRTPARA=1  < Save NVM items

It's funny how a year ago Sierra was the most popular modem on here, till I started posting about Quectel and even Simcom brands. It must be the "magic"! ;D

[Didneywhorl]

The following commands have been tested and work on the EM16 (EM160R), and possibly on other newer models.

Disable auto-MBN mode, and set it to generic profile:

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AT+QMBNCFG="AutoSel",0  < 0=deactivate / 1=activate
AT+QMBNCFG="Deactivate"  < Activate / Deactivate
AT+QMBNCFG="Select","ROW_Commercial"

MBN profile list:
+QMBNCFG: "List",0,1,1,"ROW_Commercial",0x08010809,201907031
+QMBNCFG: "List",1,0,0,"Commercial-TMO",0x0801050F,202005251
+QMBNCFG: "List",2,0,0,"Telstra_Australia_Commercial",0x08010F00,202005111
+QMBNCFG: "List",3,0,0,"ROW_Generic_3GPP_PTCRB_GCF",0x0801FE02,201910231
+QMBNCFG: "List",4,0,0,"Germany-VoLTE-Vodafone",0x08010449,202004261
+QMBNCFG: "List",5,0,0,"Swiss-Comm",0x08010411,202004261
+QMBNCFG: "List",6,0,0,"Commercial-EE",0x0801220B,202004261
+QMBNCFG: "List",7,0,0,"hVoLTE-Verizon",0x0801010E,202006091
+QMBNCFG: "List",8,0,0,"Commercial-Sprint",0x08010204,201907031
+QMBNCFG: "List",9,0,0,"FirstNet",0x08015300,202004301
+QMBNCFG: "List",10,0,0,"VoLTE-ATT",0x08010335,202001101
+QMBNCFG: "List",11,0,0,"VoLTE-CU",0x08011561,202003131
+QMBNCFG: "List",12,0,0,"VoLTE_OPNMKT_CT",0x080113E0,202004261
+QMBNCFG: "List",13,0,0,"Volte_OpenMkt-Commercial-CMCC",0x08012010,201907031
+QMBNCFG: "List",14,0,0,"Commercial-KDDI",0x08010709,202006181
+QMBNCFG: "List",15,0,0,"Commercial-DCM",0x08010D0D,202004261
+QMBNCFG: "List",16,0,0,"Commercial-SBM",0x08011C0B,201907031


Other commands:

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AT+QCFG="usbnet",0  < 0=QMI/PPP/Default / 1=ECM / 2=MBIM
AT+QPRTPARA=3  < Factory reset NVM items (careful, you may lose modem control!)
AT+QPRTPARA=1  < Save NVM items

It's funny how a year ago the most popular modems were Sierra's, and now Quectel and even Simcom have taken over. Hmmm... I wonder why?! No need to answer it. ;D

Good stuff Bill!

I don't think the: AT+QMBNCFG="Activate" thing you listed as an option is a working command though. I think The: AT+QMBNCFG="Select"..... does that. The Deactivate command simply 'deactivates' the selected MBN profile. I could be wrong, but AT+QMBNCFG="Deactivate" is a listed command, with no options, when AT+QMBNCFG=? is queried.

[leopardus2]

I wonder if the EM160 performs any better than the EM20.
I just received my EM160 yesterday so I'll replace the EM20 I have been using since couple months and run some tests.

[leopardus2]

First tests show that the EM160 is unable to perform more than 2CA.
Very likely there is a problem with the firmware. The EM20 goes back in service!

[leopardus2]

I found a way to make it behave properly . Need to lock the explicit bands with AT+QNWPREFCFG="lte_band",1:3:7 then it will do 3CA or 4CA. If you leave it "free" it will stick to 2CA... buggy firmware, as usual from Quectel

[leopardus2]

I am happy to tell you that, although not documented, the EM160 supports EM20 way of locking PCC to a cell id (and therefore a tower) using at+qnwlock=\"common/4g\",1,EARFCN,CELLID

[Didneywhorl]

Good find!

[toddw]

The EM160 I just got from The Wireless Haven is doing 3xCA out of the box with no changes out in the country, which isn't bad at all. I plan to take it into the city and see what it does like I did with the Telit 960.

EDIT: Just now, as load comes off the towers they tend to open up...

3xca.png

[leopardus2]

I believe what it does with CA depends on the supported combinations for the bands you have available.
Here we have B1 B3 B7 and B20 and no it will not do anything other than 2CA unless you restrict the band set. But I think that's just a not so mature firmware.

Anyway the EM20 performs better in both DL and UL (everything else being the same), at least here. Ran many tests in different times of the day.

[davidb]

I am running a EM160. I have been learning and experimenting, and greatly appreciate this site.

Is there a way to bump a band down in priority, but still keep it?

For example if 14 is giving me the strongest signal but 66 gives me higher speeds then to make it push to 66 but still keep 14. When 66 is priority and it aggregates with 14 I am getting 50Mbs down. 12 seemed like it was slowing me down so I excluded it altogether.

I used the command AT+QNWPREFCFG="lte_band",2:4:14:30:66 to set the bands I wanted to aggregate.

[Didneywhorl]

There is a command in there that allows you to define your top 3 bands you prefer. I've not seen how well it works though. I'd have to dig. Its under the QENG command set I think, but it may be under NWPREFCFG commands.

[BillA]

There is a command in there that allows you to define your top 3 bands you prefer. I've not seen how well it works though. I'd have to dig. Its under the QENG command set I think, but it may be under NWPREFCFG commands.

These newer modems are nice since they let you lock the bands using decimal numbers ("lte_band",X:Y:Z) instead of those crazy binary bit masks on previous models. While band-locking may help narrow down the operating bands, it can also prevent the modem from scanning and using newly enabled or changed band assignments by the carrier, which can happen at any time. Therefore I highly recommend running the modem in auto-scan mode, or at least setting it to auto-scan once in a while to prevent missing out on some new goodies.

[prillersp]

Ok so I understand now how to set the bands now thanks to this!! I'm wanting to set my own but how would I go back to default (using all available bands) without resetting everthing? sorry i'm new to this lol and can you choose which is the main band to use out of the 3 bands I'd like to use? I'm trying to exclude just band 66 really but then again as long as band 66 isn't the primary band its connected to then it's wonderful actually, just doesn't like being the "main" band.

[Didneywhorl]

Ok so I understand now how to set the bands now thanks to this!! I'm wanting to set my own but how would I go back to default (using all available bands) without resetting everthing? sorry i'm new to this lol and can you choose which is the main band to use out of the 3 bands I'd like to use? I'm trying to exclude just band 66 really but then again as long as band 66 isn't the primary band its connected to then it's wonderful actually, just doesn't like being the "main" band.

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AT+QNWPREFCFG="lte_band",1:2:3:4:5:7:8:12:13:14:18:19:20:25:26:28:29:30:32:38:39:40:41:42:43:46:48:66

I like to exclude all non-US bands.

[BV2020]

Ok... Nice read on the EM160, but I have one question:

1- I want to use 2 2x2 mimo antennas with this. What are the at commands to activate the secondary pair?

[BDF1234]

Check out this thread:
https://wirelessjoint.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2294

I have tried to do the same thing but cannot get it to work. If I run:
AT+QCFG=?
then it shows
"lte4x4mimo/disable", (0,1)
as a valid command, but if I try to execute the command, it returns an error.

If anyone figures out how to make it work, please let me know.

[.IceG.]

Removed due to duplication.

[.IceG.]

If anyone figures out how to make it work, please let me know.

Try these commands

[Didneywhorl]

Try these commands

What firmware version are you using on yours?

[.IceG.]

What firmware version are you using on yours?

From what I read it is

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EM160RGLAUR02A05M4G

[timmytimtim]

I am running a EM160. I have been learning and experimenting, and greatly appreciate this site.

Is there a way to bump a band down in priority, but still keep it?

For example if 14 is giving me the strongest signal but 66 gives me higher speeds then to make it push to 66 but still keep 14. When 66 is priority and it aggregates with 14 I am getting 50Mbs down. 12 seemed like it was slowing me down so I excluded it altogether.

I used the command AT+QNWPREFCFG="lte_band",2:4:14:30:66 to set the bands I wanted to aggregate.

I would also like to know how to set a main or primary band.

and I can not seem to get the "tower locking" command to do anything? It returns "OK" but makes no changes using:

at+qnwlock=\"common/4g\",1,EARFCN,CELLID

[x-code]

How to change IMEI?

[Didneywhorl]

How to change IMEI?

Due to the legality of the changing of IMEI on devices in the US and the fact that this forum is hosted in the US, we can't talk about that here. You can find it with search engines. The modem is Quectel, and the way is the same for all Quectel modems.

[JoshKelly]

There is a command in there that allows you to define your top 3 bands you prefer. I've not seen how well it works though. I'd have to dig. Its under the QENG command set I think, but it may be under NWPREFCFG commands.

Is there a way to set priority on the EM160 to below:?

1: 30
2: 12
3: 66

Mine wants to connect to 66, 12, 2 which results in less than 10mbs.

If I lock it to 30, 12 I get over 80mbs.

I have tried to lock 66 and 30 but 66 won't CA with 30 for some reason?

Band 66 use to be awesome in my area but ever since they added 5G in the area it is terrible.

I generally have left it to autoscan with all the bands in the past but if I don't lock 30 and 12 it is pretty much not useable.

Also I am having problems with not staying connected to the same tower, which also results in bad speeds. But that is for a different time and probably thread.

[Didneywhorl]

closest you can do is: AT+QCFG="lte/bandprior",30,12

I believe that's the one

Run the commands AT+QCFG=?
and AT+QNWCFG=?
and AT+QNWPREFCFG=?


to get a list of all the possible commands.

[punkguy00017]

Can someone make a cheat sheet of all the commands

[JoshKelly]

closest you can do is: AT+QCFG="lte/bandprior",30,12

I believe that's the one

Run the commands AT+QCFG=?
and AT+QNWCFG=?
and AT+QNWPREFCFG=?


to get a list of all the possible commands.

Thank you so much !

[tradewinds]

closest you can do is: AT+QCFG="lte/bandprior",30,12

I believe that's the one

Run the commands AT+QCFG=?
and AT+QNWCFG=?
and AT+QNWPREFCFG=?


to get a list of all the possible commands.

Just to say thank you