RM520N-GL
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Overview
RM520N-GL is a 5G sub-6GHz module designed for IoT/EMBB applications. Adopts the 3GPP Release16 technology and supports 5G non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) modes. Designed in an M.2 form factor, RM520N-GL is compatible with Quectel RM50xQ 5G module, LTE-A Cat 6 module EM06, Cat 12 modules EM12/EM12xR/EM121R-GL, and Cat 16 module EM160R-GL, which facilitate the migration from LTE-A to 5G. This industrial-grade module is for industrial and commercial applications.
The RM520N-GL series nearly covers all the mainstream carriers worldwide. Integrated GNSS receiver (supports GPS, GLONASS, BDS, and Galileo) greatly simplifies the product design and makes positioning capabilities quicker and more accurate.
Integrates built-in network protocol, and multiple industry-standard interfaces and supports multiple drivers and software functions (such as Windows7, 8, 8.1, 10, USB/PCIe drivers under Linux, Android. etc), which greatly expands its application in IoT and eMBB fields including Industrial Routers, Home Gateways, Set Top Box, industrial laptops, consumer laptops, Industrial PDAs, Rugged Industrial Tablet PCs, Cameras and Surveillance and Digital Signage.
Features
- Designed for IoT/eMBB applications, support 5G/4G/3G, M.2 form factor.
- Full coverage of multi-network standards including 5G and LTE-A.
- Supports NSA and SA modes.
- Multi-constellation GNSS receiver available for applications requiring fast and accurate positioning in any environment.
- Supports multi functions: DFOTA and VoLTE (optional).
- Supports 3GPP Release16.
Selection Guide
| 5G Sub-6 | RM500U-CNV | RM500Q-GL 5G HAT | RM502Q-AE 5G HAT | RM520N-GL | RM530N-GL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| 5G Standard | 3GPP R15 | 3GPP R16 | ||||
| 5G Chip | UNISOC | Qualcomm | ||||
| 5G | Sub-6 GHz | Sub-6 GHz & mmWave | ||||
| Region/Operator | China, EMEA, Asia-Pacific | except Americas | except China | Global | ||
| Operating Temperature | -30°C ~ +75°C | |||||
| Extension Temperature | -40°C ~ +85°C | |||||
| Module Size | 30.0 × 52.0 × 2.3 (mm) | |||||
| Module Weight | 8.8g | 8.7g | 8.8g | |||
| Power Supply | 3.3~4.4V, Typ. 3.7V | 3.135~4.4V, Typ. 3.7V | ||||
| Power Consumption | 78μA @ shutdown; 5.1mA @ hibernate; |
70μA @ shutdown; 4.0mA @ hibernate; |
80μA @ shutdown; 4.2mA @ hibernate; |
195μA @ shutdown; 4.7mA @ hibernate; |
173μA @ shutdown; 5.1mA @ hibernate; | |
| Frequency Band | ||||||
| 5G | 5G NR | - | n257, n258, n260, n261 | |||
| 5G NR NSA | n41, n78, n79 | n41, n77, n78, n79 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n13, n14, n18, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n76, n77, n78, n79 | ||
| 5G NR SA | n1, n3, n5, n8, n28A, n41, n77, n78, n79 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n20, n25, n28, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n71, n77, n78, n79 | n1, n2, n3, n5, n7, n8, n12, n13, n14, n18, n20, n25, n26, n28, n29, n30, n38, n40, n41, n48, n66, n70, n71, n75, n76, n77, n78, n79 | |||
| LTE | LTE-FDD | B1, B3, B5, B8 | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, B8, B12, B13, B14, B17, B18, B19, B20, B25, B26, B28, B29, B30, B32, B66, B71 | |||
| LTE-TDD | B34, B38, B39, B40, B41 | B34, B38, B39, B40, B41, B42, B43, B48 | ||||
| LAA | - | B46 | ||||
| UMTS | WCDMA | B1, B5, B8 | B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B8, B19 | B1, B2, B4, B5, B8, B19 | ||
| GNSS | - | GPS / GLONASS / BeiDou(Compass) / Galileo / QZSS (only RM520N-GL and RM530N-GL support) | ||||
| Data Rate | ||||||
| 5G mmWave | - | DL 4.0Gbps； UL 1.4Gbps | ||||
| 5G SA Sub-6 | DL 2Gbps; UL 1Gbps |
DL 2.1Gbps; UL 900Mbps |
DL 4.2Gbps; UL 450Mbps |
DL 2.4Gbps; UL 900Mbps | ||
| 5G NSA Sub-6 | DL 2.2Gbps; UL 575Mbps |
DL 2.5Gbps; UL 600/650Mbps |
DL 5Gbps; UL 650Mbps |
DL 3.4Gbps; UL 550Mbps | ||
| LTE | DL 600Mbps; UL 150Mbps |
DL 1.0Gbps; UL 200Mbps |
DL 2Gbps; UL 200Mbps |
DL 1.6Gbps; UL 200Mbps | ||
| UMTS | DL 42.2Mbps; UL 11Mbps |
DL 42Mbps; UL 5.76Mbps | ||||
Recommended Carrier Board
RM520N-GL adopts the standard M.2 Key B slot, which is compatible with the Waveshare's 4G/5G module with M.2 slot. The two commonly used carrier board for 4G/5G M.2 tests is listed below:
| Model | USB TO M.2 B KEY | M.2 TO 4G/5G HAT |
|---|---|---|
| Picture |  |
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| Module Interface | M.2 port | M.2 port |
| Communication Interface | USB 3.0 | USB 3.0 |
| Application | 5G Dongle with access to Windows/Linux computers | 4G/5G Module designed for Raspberry Pi |
| OS | Windows/Linux | Raspberry OS/OpenWRT and other common Linux systems for Raspberry Pi |
USB TO M.2 B KEY
For more details about USB TO M.2 KEY, you can click here to see its hardware and user manual.
1. Hardware Connection
【Hardware Preparation】
- RM520N-GL × 1
- USB TO M.2 B KEY × 1
- 5G SIM card × 1
【Installation Guide】
Please refer to the following diagram to install the Nano SIM card (5G function should be enabled) and 5G module, and then install the heat sink, cooling silicone, and 5G antenna, see the following figure:
Using the USB TO M.2 B KEY board, the RM520N-GL 5G module can be plugged into a Linux host board such as a Windows computer/laptop, Raspberry Pi, or Jetson Nano via the USB 3.0 interface.
2. Connecting with Windows
2.1 Driver Installation in Windows
- Refer to the hardware connection above and connect the module to the Windows PC via USB TO M.2 B KEY.
- Install Windows-related drivers:
- RM520N-GL Windows NDIS Driver
- RM520N-GL Windows MBIM Driver
- Comparison of device manager recognition before and after driver installation (the following figure is a screenshot of the actual test under the Windows 10 system).
2.2 5G Network Speed Test
- Under the Windows system, it is recommended to use MBIM mode for 5G networking.
In general, after installing the driver according to the section 2.1 Windows Driver Installation, the computer device manager and network connection can be identified normally.
RM520N-GL network card, as shown in the following figure:
At this point, as long as the SIM card and band of the RM520N-GL 5G module that is connected to the RM520N-GL 5G module are available in the test area, the 5G network can be obtained automatically, as shown in the following figure:
- If the driver is installed and the
Quectel USB AT Port (COM)is identified, but the RM520N-GL NIC device is not identified, it is possible that the factory default of the 5G module is not MBIM mode or you have modified it to other modes in use. At this time, you can try to use SSCOM or QCOM serial assistant, openQuectel USB AT Port (COM)to send AT command to set to MBIM mode, the command is as follows:
AT+QCFG="usbnet",2 AT+CFUN=1,1
- After confirming that the module can normally access the Internet through 5G, we can use network speed test tools to test the speed of 5G Internet access, the following figure is a screenshot of the actual test with speed test software:
①The actual speed measurement results are affected by the network coverage, network congestion, and base station distribution.
②As the power consumption of the 5G module is large when testing the speed, the USB TO M.2 B KEY must be connected to a full-power USB3.0 interface for speed measurement, to avoid insufficient power affecting the speed measurement or reset the module to reconnect.
③If the NIC is identified as normal, the NET light is not on, and you cannot connect to the network, you can refer to FAQ.
2.3 GNSS Positioning Test
- Connect the passive GPS antenna to ANT3 of the module (corresponding to L1 of GNSS), note that the lettered side is facing down and the antenna is placed in an open outdoor test (note that GNSS positioning test cannot be performed in rainy weather).
- Then SSCOM or QCOM serial assistant opens
Quectel USB AT Port (COM)to send AT commands:
AT+QGPS=1 //Open GPS positioning AT+QGPSLOC=0 //Get GPS position
- With GNSS positioning enabled, you can open the
Quectel USB NMEA Port (COM)through SSCOM, QCOM serial assistant, or other positioning software to see the NMEA GPS positioning data output from this port, as shown below:
- GNSS positioning test completed, AT command can be sent to
Quectel USB AT Port (COM)to turn off GNSS positioning:
AT+QGPS=0 //disable GNSS positioning
3. Connect to other Linux main control such as Raspberry Pi/Jetson Nano
- Note: Linux system usage, same as M.2 TO 4G/5G HAT Raspberry Pi Linux Usage section.
M.2 TO 4G/5G HAT
- For more information about the M.2 TO 4G/5G HAT, you can click here to see its hardware and user manual.
- Connect to the Raspberry Pi Board
【Hardware Preparation】
- 5G SIM Card x 1
- RM520N-GL 5G HAT (with case) x 1 (kits included as shown below):
【Installation Guide】
- Use the double-plug USB 3.0 cable to connect the 5G HAT, and then connect the external 5V power to the Type-C power port of the 5G HAT. As shown below:
| Raspberry Pi Board | Pi 4B | Pi 3B/3B+ | CM4-IO-BASE |
|---|---|---|---|
| USB adapter | USB3.0 adapter | USB2.0 adapter | USB3.0 adapter |
| Connection Diagram |  |
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|
- If it is used for PI4B, there is a matching case with the following installation schematic:
【Raspberry Pi 5G Networking Guide】
Working with Raspberry Pi OS
- It is recommended to use it in the newest Raspberry Pi OS with driver-free support.
Working with OpenWRT System
- Reference: 5G/4G Raspberry 4B openWrt Sample Tutorial
Resource
Software
Driver
Datasheet
Related Link
Software
- Install Driver using the manual update method for RM500U-CNV, RM500U-CN and other UNISOC modules
- Install Driver manually for RM520N-GL, RM530N-GL, RM5XXQ and other Qualcomm modules
- Ensure that the module has been properly powered on ->Open Device Manager ->Other Devices ->"the outermost folder of after driver decompression" ->Update driver ->Browse my computer to find driver files ->Select the path where the driver files are stored based on the system ->Installation complete.
Refer to Driver installation video
Different operators have different APNs, so it's important to distinguish and set them correctly. The configuration steps for some operators are shown below:
*China Mobile: AT+CGDCONT=1,"IPV4V6","CMNET" *China Unicom: AT+CGDCONT=1,"IPV4V6","3GNET" *China Telecom: AT+CGDCONT=1,"IPV4V6","CTNET" *AT&T: AT+CGDCONT=1,"IPV4V6","PHONE" *Vodafone: AT+CGDCONT=1,"IPV4V6","portalnmms *Add username and password: AT+QICSGP=1,1,"Your_apn"," Username "," Password ",1
There are the following dialing types:
AT+QCFG="usbnet",0 The drive type is NDIS(QMI); AT+QCFG="usbnet",1 The drive type is ECM; AT+QCFG="usbnet",2 The drive type is MBIM; (RM5XXQ support) AT+QCFG="usbnet",3 The drive type is RNDIS; AT+QCFG="usbnet",5 The drive type is NCM.
Please refer to the following document for detailed instructions:
Network card dial-up user guide
- No, currently all the cellular modules on the shelves require base station communication
- Cellular modules are nodes and cannot be used as base stations. They need to bridge communication through base stations and cannot communicate point-to-point
- For example, the RM500U-CN 5G HAT A module Raspberry Pi dial-up Internet access, after connecting to the base station, you can use TCP, MQTT, email or WeChat to communicate with B Raspberry Pi
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By default, it is turned off. If support is required, a customized version is needed. If VoLTE functionality is needed, it is recommended to use the SIM8XXX module, which is turned on by default or can be turned off with commands
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RM520 and other cellular modules that support positioning can support up to 1Hz. If you want faster speeds, you can consider dedicated positioning modules
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Hardware
Please connect to ANT3, which is the antenna interface for positioning function
- The RM530N-GL has additional mmWave frequency band, and other functions are the same as those of the RM520N-GL
- The RM530N-GL currently does not have Verizon or AT&T certification. If you need these certifications, please select RM520N-GL
- No, it may come into contact with metal cover during storage and transportation, which will not affect its function at all. If you encounter any issues with use, please feel free to contact customer service at any time
- To ensure the quality of the module, each module is tested before shipment. During the testing process, it is inevitable that the module may be slightly touched, so there may be some traces
The power consumption of 5G is relatively high, and the host's USB port may not provide enough power. Please use a USB double-headed cable to supply adequate power to the module, as shown in the figure:
As RM500U-CN and RM500Q-GL modules support simultaneous access to two SIM cards, dual-card single standby, can be switched to enable one of the SIM cards to work through the AT command:
*SIM card 1 is used by default, you can use the following commands to check: AT+CMEE=2 AT+QUIMSLOT? *Switch to SIM card 2 using the following command: AT+QUIMSLOT=2 *Switch back to SIM card 1 using the following command: AT+QUIMSLOT=1 *Query whether the corresponding card slot identifies the SIM card: AT+CPIN?
If the corresponding SIM card is still not recognized, consider that the dip switches do not enable the corresponding module, please see if C corresponding dip switches are turned ON:
There is no sequence, please connect it nearby, align it with the interface and press it in. You can refer to IPEX1-IPEX4 adapter cable installation steps
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Comprehensive
- Quectel and Qualcomm
Change the ETH mode
AT+QENG="servingcell" at+qcfg="pcie/mode",1 at+qcfg="data_interface",1,0 at+qeth="eth_driver","r8125",1 AT+QMAPWAC=1 at+qmap="mpdn_rule",0,1,0,1,1,"FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF" AT+CFUN=1,1
Change back to USB mode
AT+QENG="servingcell" at+qcfg="pcie/mode",0 at+qcfg="data_interface",0,0 AT+QCFG="usbnet",0 AT+CFUN=1,1
- Quectel and Unisoc
Set USB+ETH mode (some firmware support, after the configuration is completed, unplug and plug the USB port to enable it), RM500UCNVAAR03A05M2G_01.001.01.001 firmware, and China Unicom mobile phone card as an example to test:
AT+QENG="servingcell" AT+QCFG="pcie/mode",1 AT+QCFG="ethernet",1 AT+QNETDEVCTL=1,3,1 AT+QCFG="usbnet",3 AT+QCFG="nat",2 AT+CGDCONT=1,"IPV4V6","3gnet" AT+CFUN=1,1
Set network port mode
AT+QENG="servingcell" AT+QCFG="pcie/mode",1 AT+QCFG="ethernet",1 AT+QNETDEVCTL=1,3,1 AT+QCFG="usbnet",5 AT+QCFG="ethernet",1 AT+QCFG="nat",0 AT+CFUN=1,1
Change back to USB mode
AT+QENG="servingcell" AT+QCFG="ethernet",0 at+qcfg="pcie/mode",0 AT+QCFG="usbnet",2 AT+CFUN=1,1
Please use the following command to configure the dial-up mode to a stable routing mode:
AT+QCFG="nat",1
- It is recommended to replace the SIM cards of different operators. Under the comparative test, the network frequency bands and base station layout supported by different operators are different. Changing the card can also eliminate problems such as card arrears.
- Check whether the SIM card and antenna are connected, all four antennas must be connected.
- After confirming that the hardware connection is correct, please use the following AT Log to check the network:
AT+CMEE=2 AT+CPIN? AT+COPS? AT+QENG="servingcell" AT+CGDCONT? AT+QNWPREFCFG="mode_pref" AT+C5GREG?
- We do not guarantee that the modules that have not been verified will be supported, but the following modules have been verified and supported:
Fibocom: FM650-CN FM160-EAU SIMCOM: SIM8202G-M2 SIM8262E-M2 SIM8262A-M2 Quectel: (AA version)RM500U-CNV RM500Q-GL/RM502Q-AE RM520N-GL RM530N-GL
- The 5G module must be purchased separately; if used with other modules, pin compatibility must be confirmed based on actual testing.
- This is USB3.0 protocol, not supporting PCIE protocol modules, such as most WIFI modules. The FM350 series is a custom module for a certain brand's computer and does not support it either.
RM500Q-GLbased on the Qualcomm platform, supports GNSS positioning, mainly for China
RM500Q-AE/RM502Q-AE: based on the Qualcomm platform, supports GNSS positioning, mainly for countries and regions except for China.
Please refer to the following document for detailed instructions:
Network card dial-up user guide
Use the following command to turn on the echo, and press Enter after entering: (Blind typing is required here)
ATE1
- Raspberry Pi 2B/zero, with user serial device number ttyAMA0;
ls -l /dev/serial*
- You can confirm that serial0 is the selected serial device number with the following command line, as follows:
The USB power supply capability of the Raspberry Pi is worse than that of the computer. It needs to be connected to an external power supply. Please set the switch to EXT PWR, and connect the HAT interface to a 5V 3A power supply:
Yes, it is a Qualcomm X62 platform like RM520.
Please enable the network port to surf the Internet using the following command:
AT+GTUSBMODE=36 AT+GTAUTOCONNECT=1
The Jetson Nano series can be supported, and the hardware structure is tailored for the regular JETSON-NANO-LITE-DEV-KIT. If other Jetson Nano versions are used, the adapter needs to be changed to a dual male adapter cable for connection; If it is Orin Nano, please use the verified Jetpack 6.0 (Ubuntu 22.04) version system, as some system drivers are not supported
- The USB TO M.2 B KEY does not have a module by default and requires an additional module for use
- For example, after adding the SIM8262E-M2 module, it supports devices used in Linux and Windows systems. If your router is a Linux system such as OPEnwrt, it is supported
- Refer to Openwrt router configuration steps
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This network port light only serves as a power indicator light and does not function as a network indicator light. It stays on when powered on
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