Quectel EM160R-GL

[dbshelton]

Just got my EM160R modem. Put it in a USB3 box from The Wireless Haven, plugged it in to a WE826 I already had, T-Mobile sim. Using 2x2 mimo antennas for now. Started right up after making a couple of changes and disabling 4x4. In testing I get 3CA every now and then but same speeds as EM7455 I was using. I guess there will be no real gains until I go to 4x4 mimo?

[56387f]

Hello,

but same speeds as EM7455 I was using.

I am just curios how fast was EM7455?

[dbshelton]

32-35Dn 2-4Up.

[56387f]

32-35Dn 2-4Up.

I see, this is well within capabilities of WE826. Actually, I have seen the same situation (30-40 Mbps down/ 3-15 Mbps up) when I tried my new WG1608 + EM160R and compared it with WE826 using MC7455 / EM12G. To me it meant that all modems connected to the same bands and additional CA did not play a big role since it involved very busy bands as well.

So, I figured out what bands are available, went to

https://cacombos.com/device/EM160R-GL?c ... t=hardware

have found the several attractive CA combinations, selected the best one and locked EM160R to make sure that it uses only the chosen bands. This way I am getting about 150 Mbps (max 180Mbps) down / 20 Mbps (40 Mbps max) and that is more than I could get from WE826 (due to the slow LAN speed even if I used EM12G).

[dbshelton]

The only bands on that tower are 2,12,66,71
Usually CA 2,12,66 but a speed test doesn't seem to be any better than 1 band

[dbshelton]

I added another 2x2 mimo antenna. How can I tell if my modem is in 4x4 mimo?

[Didneywhorl]

AT+QRSRP should report all 4 antennas if its using them in 4x4. Not all towers support it, but if it does it should show it. Setup a video stream and download then run that command. Only seems to eork on A07 and newer firmware.

[dbshelton]

Is the EM160 installed in a USB3 enclosure as good as if it is installed directly in a router?

[Didneywhorl]

Is the EM160 installed in a USB3 enclosure as good as if it is installed directly in a router?

Generally I think so, yes. It is one more piece of hardware, and I typcially prefer modem in the router, but the enclosure has power advantages as well as USB3 bus access, when usually the internal slot is USB2 on many routers.

[Iam74Gibson]

AT+QRSRP should report all 4 antennas if its using them in 4x4. Not all towers support it, but if it does it should show it. Setup a video stream and download then run that command. Only seems to eork on A07 and newer firmware.

Hi, just got my new Quectel EM160R-GL... I run the following commands, but nothing changes

AT+QCFG="lte4x4mimo/swmethod",0

AT+QCFG="lte4x4mimo/disable",1

or

AT+QCFG="lte4x4mimo/disable",0

AT+CFUN=1,1

Then check with

AT+QRSRP

Always get the same

+QRSRP: -85,-100,-129,-96

OK

I want to make sure I am running 4x4 or 2x2 and be able to change in between.

any ideas?

Thanks

[Didneywhorl]

I think that is going to be a question for Quectel. I never really mess with disabling or checking the 4x4. I just fire em up and run.

https://forums.quectel.com/

[mtl26637]

For what its worth, if you are seeing readings on all 4 ports (from your post it looks as if you are) then it is using all 4 ports. You will notice this change all of the time. Typically when the modem is idle and you aren't in the middle of an upload/download you will only see readings on the first 2 ports and the other 2 readings will show -44 or something similar. It will only use all 4 ports when needed to save on power since most 'LTE' devices run from battery source.

[Iam74Gibson]

Ok, thanks, makes sense what you are saying... I am just trying things due to some dropouts... I was thinking it may have something to do with the setting.... I am going to post a log below, I would appreciated it if you guys can take a look and see if there is anything wrong... nwscanmode fails, but i have read that its not used and normal.---thanks
OK
AT+QRSRP
+QRSRP: -82,-84,-140,-140
OK
AT+QCAINFO
OK
AT+QCFG="nwscanmode"
ERROR
AT+QNWPREFCFG="mode_pref"
+QNWPREFCFG: "mode_pref",AUTO
OK
AT+QTEMP
+QTEMP: "aoss-usr","47"
+QTEMP: "mdm-q6-usr","48"
+QTEMP: "ddrss-usr","47"
+QTEMP: "cpu-usr","48"
+QTEMP: "mdm-core-usr","47"
+QTEMP: "xo-therm-adc","44"
+QTEMP: "pa-therm1-adc","42"
+QTEMP: "mdm-case-therm-adc","44"
OK

Fri Dec 10 14:10:37 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CSQ
+CSQ: 30,99
OK
AT+QENG="servingcell"
+QENG: "servingcell","NOCONN","LTE","FDD",310,410,8206A0F,436,5780,17,3,3,7111,-82,-12,-53,10,-
OK
AT+QRSRP
+QRSRP: -83,-84,-140,-140
OK
AT+QCAINFO
OK
AT+QCFG="nwscanmode"
ERROR
AT+QNWPREFCFG="mode_pref"
+QNWPREFCFG: "mode_pref",AUTO
OK
AT+QTEMP
+QTEMP: "aoss-usr","47"
+QTEMP: "mdm-q6-usr","48"
+QTEMP: "ddrss-usr","47"
+QTEMP: "cpu-usr","47"
+QTEMP: "mdm-core-usr","47"
+QTEMP: "xo-therm-adc","44"
+QTEMP: "pa-therm1-adc","42"
+QTEMP: "mdm-case-therm-adc","43"
OK

Fri Dec 10 14:10:39 2021 : /dev/ttyUSB2 AT+CPMS="SM"
+CPMS: 16,30,16,30,16,30
OK

[mtl26637]

From prior post:
"+QRSRP: -85,-100,-129,-96"
This is indicating all port are being used.

Your latest posts:
"+QRSRP: -82,-84,-140,-140"
This is indicating either the modem is in an 'idle' state or is not using all ports.

You could start a large download and run the AT+QRSRP command a few times and it should show signal numbers for all 4 ports. Everything else looks good to me. Pretty decent signal really.

[Iam74Gibson]

I had previously mentioned getting dropouts. After some testing, I have found something interesting... first , let me say, I am not sure if it is the firmware or the modem, or the router, but I bought a new WG1608D router using the latest Wifix FW... on the misc. page you can lock and unlock bands as easy as clicking a checkbox... this is awesome. SO back to the issue... I have found that B2 (ATT) is by far the strongest signal. 90-100%.... but it either gives really good speed, then slows to a crawl, then speeds up/slows down... very inconsistent even though the signal stays strong... I have found that even when CA kicks in (B12, B66, etc) when running a speed test.. the speed does not change... seems CA has no effect.
So B2 is so inconsistent, I removed it... the router usually settles on B17.... the ping on this is really fast , like 18ms , but the download speed rarely gets past 4-5 mbps, it open web pages really fast, but not good for streaming. I noticed B17 never uses CA.... the bands I have left active are B4,B5,B12,B14,B17,B29,B30,B66..... I never see B4, B5... I sometimes see B12,B14,B17 (as mentioned) and B66....

Last, B2 seems to be the only band that uses 4x4 mimo... I see signal from 4 antennas...

Any thought on anything I can try would be appreciated... if B2 would just be consistent it would be perfect, sometimes the ping is around 32ms, then a little later it will be 1345ms (or something crazy like that) for no apparent reason... I live in a rurl area, so doubt if it is cell traffic.

thanks

[mtl26637]

I have a couple ATT setups myself. B2 seems to be ATT's goto primary 4G band. My setups always latch onto B2 unless it is removed from the list. Bands available are 2, 4, 5, 12,, 14, 66. Things are pretty average to slow unless I remove B2 and then speeds increase drastically. I've always assumed this is because B2 was the busy channel. Even though you are in rural location like me, it doesn't mean that B2 isn't congested. Rural towers tend to cover larger radius so can still be crowded.

As for disconnects, this seems to be a pretty common issue unfortunately. As long as your setup automatically reconnects it shouldn't be much of a problem. Trying to keep a wireless RF connection to the tower with zero disconnects is going to difficult to achieve.

[mtl26637]

In regards to ATT CA, this is all dependent on the tower. It is also very dependent on your signal quality. The tower may only offer a couple different CA combinations and when you lock out B2 you are blocking most of the combinations that the tower is offering I would assume. It may also be related to the quality of the remaining bands. Maybe you have poor quality on the remaining bands so the modem is using those antenna ports for RX diversity to improve the signal quality rather than for CA. Really hard to say as there are so many different variables that come into play. Best thing to do is just play around with things and see what you can get via trial and error.

[dbshelton]

Since I am still having problems with getting internet, I thought I would flash the firmware. Can I flash it with the modem in the enclosure through the USB cable to a windows computer?

[Didneywhorl]

Since I am still having problems with getting internet, I thought I would flash the firmware. Can I flash it with the modem in the enclosure through the USB cable to a windows computer?

Yep, that's the best way.

[dbshelton]

Even after reading over several times, I don't fully understand how to do this. Is Windows 8 OK?

[Didneywhorl]

Yep. I use Windows 7 to flash my modems

[dbshelton]

Tried it 4 times today and it won't even install the modem as a device. I give up. Maybe it will fix itself.
The speeds are great but it is so damn unreliable. Must have gotten a lemon.

[Didneywhorl]

The "BETA" firmware A07 is the firmware that Quectel released to help with disconnects. They basically admitted they messed up their firmware.

The modem is a good one, they just need to continue fixing the fw.


Also, itsnot your modem. Its likely Windows. I can't flash mine in Windows above Win7. NFI why. Never tried 8, but it must be like 10 if you are having trouble.

[dbshelton]

I tried Windows 10 also. I have an old "Mini-Laptop" with Windows 7 starter on it. Would that possibly work?
I really need to find someone to do it for me. Are there reliable people who do that?

[Didneywhorl]

Windows 10 always gives me issues with it. Win7 is rock solid every time for me

[dbshelton]

Finally upgraded the firmware to the Beta on my old Windows 7 mini laptop after explicit instructions from the Facebook Hacks and getting (110dn 28up). Now to see how reliable it is.
Actually the EPO6-A has been pretty good for me (82dn 15up).