(25/08/2024, 04:55 PM)Seán Wrote: On Saturday Three appeared to be doing some work or testing with the mast I'm on as I was getting the best download speeds I've seen since the 5G band swap for a few hours with Band 20+3+3 CA while EARFCN 1275 is active.  I connected the EG18-EA modem to the Chateau LTE12 using an Waveshare m.2 USB adapter and transferred the SIM and antenna leads to see how speeds compare with the EG12-EA modem. 

Surprisingly, the EG18-EA modem gives about 3dB lower RSRP readings on band 3 than the EG12-EA in the Chateau and roughly the same readings on bands 20 and 28.  The SINR readings were comparable.  With just the main two antenna leads, both modems gave roughly the same download and upload speeds with band 20+3+3 CA, i.e. around 120Mbps to 145Mbps down.  When I attached the 3rd and 4th leads for 4x4 MIMO, the EG18-EA improved by about 30Mbps giving around 150 to 175Mbps down. 



By around 7pm, the speeds fell way back and today they are back to their new 4G normal, i.e. as low as 20Mbps with EARFCN 1275 offline here today.

I came upon the RM520N-GL Carrier Aggregation combinations and unfortunately the RM520N-GL module does not look like a good upgrade for 4G only use on Three, i.e. where 5G is out of range.  The following are its band 3, 20 and 28 CA capabilities:



Like the RG502Q-EA, the RM520N-GL is capable of both band 3+3+20 and 3+3+28 CA as indicated by the blue arrows above.  The problem I have with the RG502Q-EA is that it prefers to connect with Upload CA, which results in just one band 3 carrier being aggregated as indicated by the red arrows above.  In 5G NSA mode, the modem does not use 4G upload carrier aggregation, so will connect both band 3 carriers as shown in the screenshot from aleesi above.

As I am too far to connect with 4G band 3 as the primary band, I am unable to tell whether it prefers band 20+3 or 20+28 with upload CA over band 3+3 CA without upload CA, i.e. the purple arrow above.  The mast I'm on no longer allows band 20+28 CA, however, the modem is capable of that CA with one band 3 carrier as indicated by the green arrow above. 

For Eir and Vodafone, the RM520N-GL would be a worthwhile upgrade even in 4G only areas that operate both bands 20 and 28 as it is capable of band 20+28 CA.  The EG12-EA and EG18-EA do not support band 20+28 CA and I am not aware of any other 4G only modem that can aggregate 4G band 20 with band 28.

The RG502Q-EA (in MikroTik's 5G routers) does not one small advantage for Eir and Vodafone in that it supports 4G band 1+3+20+28 CA.  The RG520F-EU in the Chateau 5G R16 is capable of 4x4 MIMO on 4G bands 20 and 28, which I'm not aware of any m.2 module capable of.  However, I don't know whether any mobile network here is using 4x4 MIMO on the lower bands.

(09/09/2024, 07:55 PM)Seán Wrote: That is great getting MikroTik to add eSIM support, which hopefully means it will reach the public beta soon.  It certainly would make a good selling point for their outdoor routers, especially once they release a 5G capable one.  Changing provider to another eSIM capable one would also be straight forward without having to climb a ladder, at least to another operating in the same direction / tower.

For those that have an OPPO eSIM phone, I think there may be a workaround for the eSIM based APPs.  In GoMoWorld's troubleshooting section, is has a specific section for OPPO phones which mentions to make sure eSIM is enabled in the phone's SIM menu settings, with a screenshot showing that enabling eSIM will disable the second physical SIM slot.  It makes me wonder if placing the 5ber SIM in the second slot with slot enabled will lead to the App installing the eSIM on the 5ber eSIM...

1. What method was used to safely remove and attach the UFL and MHF4 connectors? Due to their size they appear to be very fragile.
   
2. When securing the back plate was new silicone applied or is the original soft enough to be reused?
   
3. I have seen a few different mappings of the antenna connections. Which one of the below is most appropriate?
   

(17/09/2024, 05:42 PM)egauk Wrote: I have the ATL LTE18 on order and will be working through the same process to install the RM520N-GL. I have a few questions.

1. What method was used to safely remove and attach the UFL and MHF4 connectors? Due to their size they appear to be very fragile.
   
2. When securing the back plate was new silicone applied or is the original soft enough to be reused?
   
3. I have seen a few different mappings of the antenna connections. Which one of the below is most appropriate?
   

EG18-EA DIV1 -> RM520N-GL ANT3
EG18-EA DIV2 -> RM520N-GL ANT1
EG18-EA MAIN -> RM520N-GL ANT0
EG18-EA DIV3 -> RM520N-GL ANT2

EG18-EA DIV1 -> RM520N-GL ANT0
EG18-EA DIV2 -> RM520N-GL ANT1
EG18-EA MAIN -> RM520N-GL ANT3
EG18-EA DIV3 -> RM520N-GL ANT2

Thanks!

• EG18-EA ANT0 (DIV1) -> RM520N-GL ANT0
  
• EG18-EA ANT1 (DIV2) -> RM520N-GL ANT1
  
• EG18-EA ANT2 (MAIN) -> RM520N-GL ANT3
  
• EG18-EA ANT3 (DIV3) -> RM520N-GL ANT2
  

(18/09/2024, 08:35 AM)aleesi Wrote: 1. Precision tweezers + patience. Even having plenty of experience dealing with SMD components I broke a connector and had to solder it back (not an easy task). But I can be very impatient some times  just take your time and you'll be grand.
2. There is no silicon "per se", it's a block of TIM (thermal interface material), and it is reusable. 
3. Regarding the pinout, I followed Sean recommendations. He posted the pinout from both Global and EU versions datasheets a few posts back. 
It would depend on the modem you get. The RM520N-GL (global) is slightly different than the EU version (I got the global) and have the below mapping that seems to work just fine. 

FYI 1 there is no gain charts for the ATL LTE18 beyond 3GHz but I suspect the performance is similar to the chart available for the LHG.
FYI 2 the 5cm pigtails are just OK, a bit tight I'd say. Up to you if you'd prefer to get the 10cm ones (links to aliexpress a few posts back). 
FYI 3 the firmware update feature in mikrotik doesn't work (yet) otherwise the modem is fully supported

• EG18-EA ANT0 (DIV1) -> RM520N-GL ANT0
  
• EG18-EA ANT1 (DIV2) -> RM520N-GL ANT1
  
• EG18-EA ANT2 (MAIN) -> RM520N-GL ANT3
  
• EG18-EA ANT3 (DIV3) -> RM520N-GL ANT2
  

1. I have the same problem at times, impatience leading to broken components! I will do my best to stay patient as my soldering skills are not up to par. I may also order the special removal tools that are available, they are pricey but probably worth the piece of mind.
   
2. Good to hear the thermal paste/material is reusable.
   
3. I will go with the connector mapping Sean recommended and you used.
   

• I appreciate the other tips as well, I previously ordered both the 5cm and the 7.5cm pigtails from the same link so hopefully that will provide enough wiggle room.
  
• The RM520N-GL is ready to go with the latest firmware (RM520NGLAAR03A04M4G_01.202.01.202).
  

(18/09/2024, 12:46 PM)egauk Wrote:

1. I have the same problem at times, impatience leading to broken components! I will do my best to stay patient as my soldering skills are not up to par. I may also order the special removal tools that are available, they are pricey but probably worth the piece of mind.
   
2. Good to hear the thermal paste/material is reusable.
   
3. I will go with the connector mapping Sean recommended and you used.
   

• I appreciate the other tips as well, I previously ordered both the 5cm and the 7.5cm pigtails from the same link so hopefully that will provide enough wiggle room.
  
• The RM520N-GL is ready to go with the latest firmware (RM520NGLAAR03A04M4G_01.202.01.202) so the modem should be good to go.
  

Thank you for your help. This thread has been really helpful.

• I received the ATL and removed the rear plate successfully. The sealant on my unit does appear to be silicone and not a thermal material. So once everything is confirmed working I plan to reseal with silicone.
  
• The SIM slot on the ATL is a little janky and not properly aligned. I was able to insert the SIM at an angle but now it is stuck. I will likely need to dissasembly the front of the ATL to remove it as there is no access from the rear. 
  
• All four ports on my EG18-EA are U.FL
  
• The pigtails on my RM520 were glued in place with something much more solid than hot glue, which typically easily peals away. After soaking the glue in 91% isopropyl alchohol I was able to carefully pry away the glue without damaging anything.
  
• The U.FL to MHF4 pigtails should arrive tomorrow and I hope to be able to start the install of the RM520 and then begin testing.
  

• Pigtails arrived and all is working well. The MHF4 connectors are very difficult to connect but I was able to accomplish safely.
  
• RouterOS does not show CA Band(s) even though CA is un use. Maybe a limitation of support for the RM520N-GL.
  
• Indoor modem temp (mostly idle) is ~39C/102F. What temp is everyone else seeing, indoor/outdoor?
  
• I noticed that RouterOS v7.16 was released so I upgraded to that version, everything seems to be working well.
  
• I plan to confirm stability for a few days and then seal up the back plate in preparation for outdoor use.
  

(25/08/2024, 04:55 PM)Seán Wrote: On Saturday Three appeared to be doing some work or testing with the mast I'm on as I was getting the best download speeds I've seen since the 5G band swap for a few hours with Band 20+3+3 CA while EARFCN 1275 is active.  I connected the EG18-EA modem to the Chateau LTE12 using an Waveshare m.2 USB adapter and transferred the SIM and antenna leads to see how speeds compare with the EG12-EA modem. 

Surprisingly, the EG18-EA modem gives about 3dB lower RSRP readings on band 3 than the EG12-EA in the Chateau and roughly the same readings on bands 20 and 28.  The SINR readings were comparable.  With just the main two antenna leads, both modems gave roughly the same download and upload speeds with band 20+3+3 CA, i.e. around 120Mbps to 145Mbps down.  When I attached the 3rd and 4th leads for 4x4 MIMO, the EG18-EA improved by about 30Mbps giving around 150 to 175Mbps down. 



By around 7pm, the speeds fell way back and today they are back to their new 4G normal, i.e. as low as 20Mbps with EARFCN 1275 offline here today.

I came upon the RM520N-GL Carrier Aggregation combinations and unfortunately the RM520N-GL module does not look like a good upgrade for 4G only use on Three, i.e. where 5G is out of range.  The following are its band 3, 20 and 28 CA capabilities:



Like the RG502Q-EA, the RM520N-GL is capable of both band 3+3+20 and 3+3+28 CA as indicated by the blue arrows above.  The problem I have with the RG502Q-EA is that it prefers to connect with Upload CA, which results in just one band 3 carrier being aggregated as indicated by the red arrows above.  In 5G NSA mode, the modem does not use 4G upload carrier aggregation, so will connect both band 3 carriers as shown in the screenshot from aleesi above.

As I am too far to connect with 4G band 3 as the primary band, I am unable to tell whether it prefers band 20+3 or 20+28 with upload CA over band 3+3 CA without upload CA, i.e. the purple arrow above.  The mast I'm on no longer allows band 20+28 CA, however, the modem is capable of that CA with one band 3 carrier as indicated by the green arrow above. 

For Eir and Vodafone, the RM520N-GL would be a worthwhile upgrade even in 4G only areas that operate both bands 20 and 28 as it is capable of band 20+28 CA.  The EG12-EA and EG18-EA do not support band 20+28 CA and I am not aware of any other 4G only modem that can aggregate 4G band 20 with band 28.

The RG502Q-EA (in MikroTik's 5G routers) does not one small advantage for Eir and Vodafone in that it supports 4G band 1+3+20+28 CA.  The RG520F-EU in the Chateau 5G R16 is capable of 4x4 MIMO on 4G bands 20 and 28, which I'm not aware of any m.2 module capable of.  However, I don't know whether any mobile network here is using 4x4 MIMO on the lower bands.

(24/09/2024, 06:58 PM)egauk Wrote: Some final updates.

• Pigtails arrived and all is working well. The MHF4 connectors are very difficult to connect but I was able to accomplish safely.
  
• RouterOS does not show CA Band(s) even though CA is un use. Maybe a limitation of support for the RM520N-GL.
  
• Indoor modem temp (mostly idle) is ~39C/102F. What temp is everyone else seeing, indoor/outdoor?
  
• I noticed that RouterOS v7.16 was released so I upgraded to that version, everything seems to be working well.
  
• I plan to confirm stability for a few days and then seal up the back plate in preparation for outdoor use.
  

I will report back if I come across anything else that might be helpful for the community!

---

Will you share your camonitor and mimomonitor scripts? These look awesome and should help when tuning my ATL. Thanks!

Edit: Looks like I can grab them from this thread, https://confusedbird.com/thread-123.html

(03/11/2024, 10:00 PM)Seán Wrote: Modem port A0 must be connected.  Power off the LHGG or disable the modem interface in the meantime as leaving A0 detached could damage the modem with no antenna to carry away transmissions on that port. 

Going by the picture, A1 and A3 are connected and A0 and A2 are empty.  I suggest swapping the pigtail from A1 to A0.

(03/11/2024, 10:00 PM)Seán Wrote: Modem port A0 must be connected.  Power off the LHGG or disable the modem interface in the meantime as leaving A0 detached could damage the modem with no antenna to carry away transmissions on that port. 

Going by the picture, A1 and A3 are connected and A0 and A2 are empty.  I suggest swapping the pigtail from A1 to A0.

Quote:22 MHB TX1 will be active when supporting Sub 2.6 GHz EN-DC.
23 LB TX1 n20 will be active when supporting DC_B28_n20.
24 LB TX1 B20 will be active when supporting DC_B20_n28.

(04/11/2024, 08:59 PM)Seán Wrote: From looking at the antenna interface table, I see a few TX notes, which are as follows from the datasheet:
MHB TX1 is modem antenna port A2, which means when it connects on 5G band n3, it switches to transmitting on this antenna port.  As the 4G connection is already established when it tries setting up the 5G carrier, the port switch is likely causing the modem to crash with it switching to an empty antenna port while continuing to transmit. 

For notes 23 the modem antenna switches to port A3 for 4G band 20 transmissions when it connects to 5G on band n28. 

Unfortunately this means that modem ports A0, A2 and A3 all need to be connected for 5G, even for 2x2 MIMO.  For example, when it initially connects to 4G, it starts by transmitting on modem port A0.  When it sets up a 5G connection on band n3, it transmits its 5G carrier on modem port A2, while using port A3 for the 4G and 5G diversity, i.e. 2x2 MIMO.  If it connects on 5G band n28 while using 4G band 20 as the anchor, it transmits on modem port A3. 

As 5G band n3 is a DSS band (which shares the bandwidth with 4G) you can try selecting just 5G band n28 to see if it will connect on 5G using that band.  5G band n28 is a dedicated band, so may give improved speeds unlike 5G band n3.  If it connects on 4G band 1 as the anchor band, I suspect it will still try switching to transmitting 4G on modem port A2 once it establishes the 5G carrier.

The only workaround I can think of would be to add another wideband directional antenna using an MHF4 to SMA female pigtail (to attach the extra external antenna).  In this case I suggest connecting modem ports A0 and A2 to the LHGG PCB and the external antenna to modem port A3.