RG650V MBN file for O2 Telefonica missing

IoT Modules 5G Module
1

Hi Quectel Team,

I have some serious issues on a 5G router Mudi 7 from Gl.iNet which runs on a RG650V with a Qualcomm X72 It might be MBN related. This the MBN list I get:

AT Command AT+QMBNCFG=“List”

+QMBNCFG: “List”,0,1,1,“ROW_Commercial”,0x0A010809,202408051
+QMBNCFG: “List”,1,0,0,“Commercial-DT-VOLTE”,0x0A011F1F,202302241
+QMBNCFG: “List”,2,0,0,“Telia_Sweden”,0x0A012400,202302241
+QMBNCFG: “List”,3,0,0,“TIM_Italy_Commercial”,0x0A012B00,202302241
+QMBNCFG: “List”,4,0,0,“France-Commercial-Orange”,0x0A010B21,202302241
+QMBNCFG: “List”,5,0,0,“Germany-VoLTE-Vodafone”,0x0A010449,202408281
+QMBNCFG: “List”,6,0,0,“UK-VoLTE-Vodafone”,0x0A010426,202408281
+QMBNCFG: “List”,7,0,0,“Commercial-EE”,0x0A01220B,202302241
+QMBNCFG: “List”,8,0,0,“VoLTE-CU”,0x0A011561,202307281
+QMBNCFG: “List”,9,0,0,“VoLTE_OPNMKT_CT”,0x0A0113E0,202302241
+QMBNCFG: “List”,10,0,0,“Volte_OpenMkt-Commercial-CMCC”,0x0A012010,202409041

I´m based in Germany and use O2 as provider

In Auto network mode it doesn´t do any carrier aggration between 5G SA + 4G/LTE it remains in 1 x 5G SA band (only one 5G SA band available at test location). Speed difference is like 40Mb/s vs 400Mb/s. (I can manually set it to 4G only then speed is better, but I exclude 5G SA which I don´t want).

I did several tests already together with GL.iNet Support but nothing so far did bring a solution.

I think it has to do with the MBN. We have 3 large network providers in Germany one of them is O2 Telefonica. I cannot find a MBN file for O2 Telefonica. I can see only Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom (DT).

Deutsche Telekom is detected properly. When I use a Telekom SIM Card ist shows:

+QMBNCFG: “List”,0,0,0,“ROW_Commercial”,0x0A010809,202408051
+QMBNCFG: “List”,1,1,1,“Commercial-DT-VOLTE”,0x0A011F1F,202302241

I already moved it manually to “ROW commercial” MBN but this didn´t help either to solve the issue.

Can you help?

Thanks
Martin

2

Just to add:

It does do proper CA when using a Telekom SIM card.
It does do proper CA when using the same O2 SIM Card in a ZTE U60 (MU5251D) router which is also based on X72 Qualcomm but I don´t know the modem module.

It doesn´t do proper CA when using a O2 card in the Mudi 7 router based on Quectel RG650V.

There has been also some user in Canada experiencing it with a SIM card from TELUS. So maybe it is an issue of the ROW ( I assume this means “Rest of Worl” MBN file in general? I don´t know how MBN commands exactly work but it seems to tell the modem to not only prioritize 5G SA but to stick to it instead of initiating CA with available 4G bands on load request.

3

Dear @Martixx72
It doesn’t have corresponding MBN for every operator.
Please share your current firmware.

5

Hi Silvia,

this the current firmware:

QRM650VEU00ADR02A04G8G_OCPU_RGH_01.005.01.005

I have to add that in the meantime I removed 5G SA from my network provider O2 Telefonca contract in order to force the modem/router into 5G NSA and to make sure it is not the network provider forcing the router into 5G SA only.

I have a ZTE U60 (MU5251D) also with X72 chip (same as on Mudi 7) as comparison device.

If I use the Mudi 7 (Quectel modem) with the same SIM card from O2 Telefonica I get following results:

Download 164Mb/s
Upload 7Mb/s

While it uses following bands in CA

+QCAINFO: “PCC”,3350,100,“LTE BAND 7”,1,244,-103,-13,-72,16
+QCAINFO: “SCC”,3500,50,“LTE BAND 8”,1,382,-87,-9,-68,8,0,-,-
+QCAINFO: “SCC”,1600,100,“LTE BAND 3”,1,153,-102,-14,-79,14,0,-,-
+QCAINFO: “SCC”,250,50,“LTE BAND 1”,1,75,-113,-11,-92,11,0,-,-
+QCAINFO: “SCC”,152690,1,“NR5G BAND 28”,909

If I use the ZTE U60 (Modem unknown) with the same SIM card from O2 Telefonica I get following results:

Downlad 313Mb/s
Upload 30Mb/s

While it uses following bands in CA

4G
PCC Band 3
SCC Band 7
SCC Band 1

5G
PCC Band N28

(Not sure how the modem of the ZTE always keeps 2 PCC bands active. Maybe this is bug or a feature by ZTE? )

Why I think it is a matter of the MBN file: If I use a Telekom SIM Card the performance (download/upload) between ZTE U60 and Mudi 7 is 100% the same. Technically the modem chip (X72) is also the same. So this is how it should be.

I have noticed the same issue (router remaining in 5G SA regardless of load) with two other routers ZTE U60 Pro (MU5250) EU and Chinese version. Those are based on X75. I reported this to ZTE.

Not sure if the MBN is supplied by Qualcomm to Quectel. But I would assume so as it impacts several OEMs and (assumable different modem suppliers - don´t know the modem on ZTE mobile routers)

It seems to me it is a programming issue on O2 Telefonica MBN file where it tells the modem to remain always in 5G SA regardless of load - normally it should tell the modem to add 4G bands to increase download/upload speeds when being in Auto Network mode.

The “Auto” mode doesn´t do its job properly. Basically it says “If you find a 5G SA band, remain in it regardless of load”. And most likely it also states: “Don´t aggregate 5G in 5G NSA mode.” or something like it. Otherwise I cannot explain myself the above behavior that only applies to O2 Telefonica and certain routers with Qualcomm chipsets.

Maybe it makes sense to compare the MBN software Telekom vs ROW (or what O2 Telefonica would need)

Brgds
Martin

6

Dear @Martixx72
Currently, it don’t have MBN for O2.
Your firmware version is a customized one.
So what is your requirement? Use NSA and get high speed?

7

Hi Silvia,

my question is why the performance with provider O2 Telefonica is so much worse on the Mudi 7 using the Quectel module in comparison with ZTE U60 using the same chipset (X72 - but unknown modem module), same SIM card, same location and there is no issue with other network providers (i.e. Telekom)

My assumption was that it has to do with the MBN file as this also occured on other routers (i.e. ZTE U60 Pro with X75). Unfortunately ZTE doesn´t disclose MBN files nor the modem module.

If it has to do with the MBN file: Who could fix it? Is it Quectel to look into it or Qualcomm or O2 Telefonica?

If you don´t think it has to do with the MBN file: Do you have any other possible idea / solution what could be the root cause of this behaviour?

Thanks again.

Martin

P.S. I changed the contract to 5G NSA now. But this doesn´t fix the problem really. Upload is 50% and download also slower than what it should be capable of with optimized CA.