The MikroTik Chateau 5G has no software configurable antenna settings, unlike the LTE12 model. In its factory supplied state, the Chateau 5G only uses the two external antenna connections for 5G on band n77/78, i.e. the 3.6GHz band.
To use the Chateau 5G with an external 4G antenna, it requires disassembly to either rewire the existing external antenna sockets or the addition of two 20cm or longer U.fl to SMA pigtails.
To remove the cover, first remove the rear screw, then carefully separate the front seam at the top/bottom using a Spudger or similar DIY repair tool, until the front cover lifts off. I came across this YouTube video for opening the Chateau LTE12, which has the same outer casing as the 5G model.
The following shows the original wiring in the Chateau 5G:
Original internal antenna wiring:
A0 - Top-right antenna
A1 - Lower-right antenna
A2 - Small 4.6-5.9 antenna bottom wire
A3 - Small 4.6-5.9 antenna top wire
A4 - External antenna port ANT4
A5 - External antenna port ANT1
A6 - Top-left antenna
A7 - Lower-left antenna
Notes: Take care when detaching a U.fl connector, gently tilt up from the wire end about 30 degrees and it should come off. Do not use any tool as this can damage the port or connector. These connectors only handle a few insertion/removal cycles. When attaching, align the connector with the port, then push down. The connector only requires a little force to snap on.
To convert the existing external antenna ports for 4G, swap antenna ports A0 and A1 with ports A4 and A5 on the PCIe card. In this configuration, the router will use the external ports for 2x2 MIMO on all bands below 2690MHz, including 5G on these lower bands, such as n3. If there is sufficient indoor coverage, it will use the internal antennae for 4x4 MIMO including on band n78, where available.
Before powering on, ensure every port A0-A7 has an antenna attached. Do not leave any ports empty. Before refitting the cover, ensure no wire passes over the circuit board or screw hole where it could get pinched inside the cover.
RG502Q-EA Cellular Antenna Mapping:
Frequency bands in table
LB = Low Bands - All bands up to 960MHz
LMHB = Low/Middle/High Bands - All bands up to 2690MHz
MHB = Middle/High Bands - All bands from 1452MHz or 1710MHz to 2690MHz
UHB = Ultra High Bands - Bands from 3400 to 3800MHz
4G LTE Antenna connections
TRX = Transmit/Receive - Antenna #1 for 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO
DRX = Diversity Receive - Antenna #2 for 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO
PRX MIMO = Primary Receive #2 - Antenna #3 for 4x4 MIMO
DRX MIMO = Diversity Receive #2 - Antenna #4 for 4x4 MIMO
TRX1 = LTE Antenna #1 paired with a 5G NSA connection over FDD LMH bands (see table notes 1 & 3 above)
5G NR Antenna connections
TRX(0) - Transmit/Receive - Antenna #1 for 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO
DRX(0) - Diversity Receive - Antenna #2 for 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO
TRX1 - Transmit/Receive #2 - Antenna #3 for 4x4 MIMO
DRX1 - Diversity Receive #2 - Antenna #4 for 4x4 MIMO
External antenna configuration suggestions
If you have an existing 2x2 MIMO external antenna and would like to upgrade to 4x4 MIMO, you can purchase another of the same or similar 2x2 MIMO external antenna. Mount the second MIMO antenna at a 45 degree offset to the primary antenna. For example, if the primary MIMO antenna is polarised vertical/horizontal, mount the second MIMO antenna at +/-45 degrees. For two Poynting XPOL-2's, the bracket has a 45 degree mounting position to mount the second XPOL-2 with a 45 degree offset. Further info in this post.
For 5G band n78, the antenna must cover frequencies to 3.8GHz. If the existing antenna does not cover band n78, another option would be to purchase a second MIMO antenna that covers up to 3.8GHz and go with configuration #1 or #3 below, using the band n78 capable antenna for leads #3 and #4.
Configuration 1 - For best 4G or combined 4G/5G in all coverage areas
A1 - Lead #2 of 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO antenna
A4 - Lead #3 of 4x4 MIMO antenna
A6 - Lead #4 of 4x4 MIMO antenna
Note: Eir and Three will use band 20 or 28 as the 4G carrier with a 5G NSA connection on band n3. These low 4G bands use ports A0/A1, so this 4x4 configuration should work even where indoor 4G coverage is poor.
Configuration 2 - For best 5G band n78 performance, requires adequate indoor 4G coverage
A5 - Lead #2 of 4x4 MIMO antenna
A6 - Lead #3 of 4x4 MIMO antenna
A7 - Lead #4 of 4x4 MIMO antenna
Configuration 3 - For best aggregated 4G+5G upload performance in all coverage areas
A1 - Lead #2 of 2x2 MIMO 4G antenna
A4 - Lead #1 of 2x2 MIMO 5G n78 capable antenna
A5 - Lead #2 of 2x2 MIMO 5G n78 capable antenna
To use the Chateau 5G with an external 4G antenna, it requires disassembly to either rewire the existing external antenna sockets or the addition of two 20cm or longer U.fl to SMA pigtails.
To remove the cover, first remove the rear screw, then carefully separate the front seam at the top/bottom using a Spudger or similar DIY repair tool, until the front cover lifts off. I came across this YouTube video for opening the Chateau LTE12, which has the same outer casing as the 5G model.
The following shows the original wiring in the Chateau 5G:
Original internal antenna wiring:
A0 - Top-right antenna
A1 - Lower-right antenna
A2 - Small 4.6-5.9 antenna bottom wire
A3 - Small 4.6-5.9 antenna top wire
A4 - External antenna port ANT4
A5 - External antenna port ANT1
A6 - Top-left antenna
A7 - Lower-left antenna
Notes: Take care when detaching a U.fl connector, gently tilt up from the wire end about 30 degrees and it should come off. Do not use any tool as this can damage the port or connector. These connectors only handle a few insertion/removal cycles. When attaching, align the connector with the port, then push down. The connector only requires a little force to snap on.
To convert the existing external antenna ports for 4G, swap antenna ports A0 and A1 with ports A4 and A5 on the PCIe card. In this configuration, the router will use the external ports for 2x2 MIMO on all bands below 2690MHz, including 5G on these lower bands, such as n3. If there is sufficient indoor coverage, it will use the internal antennae for 4x4 MIMO including on band n78, where available.
Before powering on, ensure every port A0-A7 has an antenna attached. Do not leave any ports empty. Before refitting the cover, ensure no wire passes over the circuit board or screw hole where it could get pinched inside the cover.
RG502Q-EA Cellular Antenna Mapping:
- 1) LTE LB_TRX1 is activated when 5G NR FDD low bands are supported in NSA mode.
- 2) LTE UHB frequency range: 3400–3800 MHz.
- 3) LTE MHB_TRX1 is activated when 5G NR FDD middle/high bands are supported in NSA mode.
Frequency bands in table
LB = Low Bands - All bands up to 960MHz
LMHB = Low/Middle/High Bands - All bands up to 2690MHz
MHB = Middle/High Bands - All bands from 1452MHz or 1710MHz to 2690MHz
UHB = Ultra High Bands - Bands from 3400 to 3800MHz
4G LTE Antenna connections
TRX = Transmit/Receive - Antenna #1 for 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO
DRX = Diversity Receive - Antenna #2 for 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO
PRX MIMO = Primary Receive #2 - Antenna #3 for 4x4 MIMO
DRX MIMO = Diversity Receive #2 - Antenna #4 for 4x4 MIMO
TRX1 = LTE Antenna #1 paired with a 5G NSA connection over FDD LMH bands (see table notes 1 & 3 above)
5G NR Antenna connections
TRX(0) - Transmit/Receive - Antenna #1 for 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO
DRX(0) - Diversity Receive - Antenna #2 for 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO
TRX1 - Transmit/Receive #2 - Antenna #3 for 4x4 MIMO
DRX1 - Diversity Receive #2 - Antenna #4 for 4x4 MIMO
External antenna configuration suggestions
If you have an existing 2x2 MIMO external antenna and would like to upgrade to 4x4 MIMO, you can purchase another of the same or similar 2x2 MIMO external antenna. Mount the second MIMO antenna at a 45 degree offset to the primary antenna. For example, if the primary MIMO antenna is polarised vertical/horizontal, mount the second MIMO antenna at +/-45 degrees. For two Poynting XPOL-2's, the bracket has a 45 degree mounting position to mount the second XPOL-2 with a 45 degree offset. Further info in this post.
For 5G band n78, the antenna must cover frequencies to 3.8GHz. If the existing antenna does not cover band n78, another option would be to purchase a second MIMO antenna that covers up to 3.8GHz and go with configuration #1 or #3 below, using the band n78 capable antenna for leads #3 and #4.
Configuration 1 - For best 4G or combined 4G/5G in all coverage areas
- 4G 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO on all 4G bands 1/3/20/28 and future bands 7/38/40
- 5G 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO on all refarmed bands such as n1 or n3
- 5G 2x2 MIMO on band n78 (No external upload MIMO)
A1 - Lead #2 of 2x2 or 4x4 MIMO antenna
A4 - Lead #3 of 4x4 MIMO antenna
A6 - Lead #4 of 4x4 MIMO antenna
Note: Eir and Three will use band 20 or 28 as the 4G carrier with a 5G NSA connection on band n3. These low 4G bands use ports A0/A1, so this 4x4 configuration should work even where indoor 4G coverage is poor.
Configuration 2 - For best 5G band n78 performance, requires adequate indoor 4G coverage
- 4G uses internal antennas
- 5G 4x4 MIMO on band n78
A5 - Lead #2 of 4x4 MIMO antenna
A6 - Lead #3 of 4x4 MIMO antenna
A7 - Lead #4 of 4x4 MIMO antenna
Configuration 3 - For best aggregated 4G+5G upload performance in all coverage areas
- 4G 2x2 MIMO on all 4G bands 1/3/20/28 and future bands 7/38/40
- 5G 2x2 MIMO on band n78 with upload MIMO (faster upload than configuration #1)
- 5G 2x2 MIMO on all refarmed bands such as n1 or n3
A1 - Lead #2 of 2x2 MIMO 4G antenna
A4 - Lead #1 of 2x2 MIMO 5G n78 capable antenna
A5 - Lead #2 of 2x2 MIMO 5G n78 capable antenna