WiFiX NEXR5GO dual modem setup works

[Didneywhorl]

Here are a few screen shots of the WiFiX NEXR5GO running dual modems.

A Quectel EM12G inside the router in the mini-pcie slot, using a mpcie to m.2 adapter. ( Setup on Visible SIM for test )
A Quectel EM160R-GL in a USB3 to M.2 adapter enclosure, plugged into the USB port on the back of the router. ( Setup on ATT SIM for test)

NEXR5GO-Dual-WAN-QuectelEM12-QuectelEM160.png

Modem #1

NEXR5GO-Modem-1-EM12G.png

Modem #2

NEXR5GO-Modem-2-EM160RGL.png

Notice it says /dev/ttyUSB6, versus the other modems ttyUSB2.




Failover "load balancing" setup and works fairly well. If downloading large files it can cause a hiccup, but if general browsing or video streaming, I didn't notice the modem go down. ( I manually rebooted a modem while performing tasks to check the balance feature)


All parts from thewirelesshaven.com

NEXR5GO/EM12G setup
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/routers/wifix-r ... 8ghz-wifi/
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/modems/quectel- ... 2-modem-2/
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/pcie-m-2/mini-p ... card-slot/
2x https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cables/pigtail- ... ail-cable/

EM160 setup
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/pcie-m-2/m-2-ng ... card-slot/
https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/modems/quectel- ... m-2-modem/
2x https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/cables/pigtail- ... ail-cable/
3x https://thewirelesshaven.com/shop/antennas/4g-lte ... ennas-sma/

[cashman04]

Did you have to do any manual configuration for the USB attached modem? I am trying to get something similar working on a Mofi4500 but can't figure out how to configure the USB modem.

[Didneywhorl]

Did you have to do any manual configuration for the USB attached modem? I am trying to get something similar working on a Mofi4500 but can't figure out how to configure the USB modem.

Nope. Just plugged in and it recognized it right away. I just needed to create a custom modem connection profile so that it would know which APN to use for it. very simple with the NEXR5GO, and the WiFi is WAY better performance than the WE826 based routers like the MOFI.

[HomeTownHockeyFan]

Dumb question. I assume you cannot share a single 2x2 external antenna between the 2 modems?

[BillA]

Dumb question. I assume you cannot share a single 2x2 external antenna between the 2 modems?

Technically you could with an antenna splitter, but it wouldn't work as well as with separate antennas.
The old adage "You get what you pay for!"

[Didneywhorl]

I would think it would be massive noise and it might burn up both modems as you would be causing a dead short between the antenna ports of the two modems.

[HomeTownHockeyFan]

Last dumb question.

Would it be possible to use/share a 4x4 MIMO antenna instead of two 2x2 antennas?

My use case is in an RV, and really don't want to mount 2 antennas.

Thanks...David

[Didneywhorl]

Last dumb question.

Would it be possible to use/share a 4x4 MIMO antenna instead of two 2x2 antennas?

My use case is in an RV, and really don't want to mount 2 antennas.

Thanks...David

Meaning 2 modems each using half of the 4x4 MIMO antenna?

Might work. Might present noise. Not really sure. I should try sometime.

[BillA]

Meaning 2 modems each using half of the 4x4 MIMO antenna?

Might work. Might present noise. Not really sure. I should try sometime.

It would probably work, but you would have to play around with the antennas "pairs" to see which combination works best on two 2xMIMO modems.

[maethu]

HI

Thanks for sharing this!
I did a similar setup... well almost the same but different modems here -> https://wirelessjoint.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=2989

Do you mind sharing your load balancing / network / etc. configurations? The hiccup on my end is usually more like a coughing and it takes a bit to "fail over".

Thanks

[polaris]

Didneywhorl,
Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but am I correct that you needed to install either luci-app-mwan3 or mwan3 to make this work?
Or am I completely missing something?

[Didneywhorl]

Correct.

It has been removed from the current release, but I linked you to the version with MWAN3 included.

[polaris]

I saw that, thanks. Someone else (FB) gave me the same link yesterday and I have it installed.
But I'm pretty sure I've got a hardware conflict in that both both modems, internal and external, want to use /dev/ttyUSB2. Or, that's that the interface and syslog seem to show.
I've been looking for somewhere to force one of the modems (both EM12-Gs) to a different USB port, and tried with Custom Modem Ports, but the only thing it gives me to select a modem is Vendor and Product IDs and the two modems have the same values.
I tried Custom Modem Ports with just one EM12, but it's not working or I have it configured wrong.
Until I solve the apparent hardware conflict, I can't really dive into mwan3.

[Didneywhorl]

Make sure both modems are in MBIM or QMI, not one of each.

[polaris]

I currently have them both in MBIM. I have not tried setting them both as QMI, though.
I'll probably make a new post about the apparent hardware/USB port conflict. I need to get some screen shots to show what I'm seeing.