RM520N-GLAA and Waveshare PCIe to M.2 4G/5G And USB 3.2 HAT for Raspberry Pi 5

Nementon · May 12, 2025, 1:15am

Hi,

My question is not fully about RM520N module, rather to the Waveshare PCIe to USB 3.2 HAT and the compatibility with the two (according the their Wiki it is compatible)

But maybe someone had the same issue has me and did solved it, let see.

I’ve their Raspberry PI - PCIe to TO 4G/5G M.2 USB3.2 HAT+, but when in used with RM520N-GLAA (the rasberry and the hat is powered), the modem is not reconized:

hal9000@piwwan:~ $ sudo su -
root@piwwan:~# lsusb
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 2109:3431 VIA Labs, Inc. Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

root@piwwan:~# lspci
0001:00:00.0 PCI bridge: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM2712 PCIe Bridge (rev 30)
0001:01:00.0 USB controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VL805/806 xHCI USB 3.0 Controller (rev 01)
0002:00:00.0 PCI bridge: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM2712 PCIe Bridge (rev 30)
0002:01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Raspberry Pi Ltd RP1 PCIe 2.0 South Bridge

root@piwwan:~# mmcli -L
No modems were found

I know that the hat is working, as I’m able to use it with a SIMCOM 7600 modem:

hal9000@piwwan:~ $ sudo su -
root@piwwan:~# lsusb
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 1e0e:9001 Qualcomm / Option SimTech, Incorporated
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 2109:3431 VIA Labs, Inc. Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

root@piwwan:~# lspci
0001:00:00.0 PCI bridge: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM2712 PCIe Bridge (rev 30)
0001:01:00.0 USB controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VL805/806 xHCI USB 3.0 Controller (rev 01)
0002:00:00.0 PCI bridge: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM2712 PCIe Bridge (rev 30)
0002:01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Raspberry Pi Ltd RP1 PCIe 2.0 South Bridge


root@piwwan:~# mmcli -L
    /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/0 [QUALCOMM INCORPORATED] SIMCOM_SIM7600G-H

The RM520N-GL is correctly configured to use USB communication not PCIe. As I know the modem is working, as I’m able to use it with an other of their hat (for previous Raspberry Pi gen)

root@mystberry:~# lsusb
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 2c7c:0801 Quectel Wireless Solutions Co., Ltd. RM520N-GL
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0424:ec00 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC) SMSC9512/9514 Fast Ethernet Adapter
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:9514 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC) SMC9514 Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

root@mystberry:~# mmcli -L
    /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/0 [Quectel] RM520N-GL


root@mystberry:~# mmcli -m 0
(...)
-----------------------------------
  System   |                  device: /sys/devices/platform/soc/3f980000.usb/usb1/1-1/1-1.2
           |                 drivers: qmi_wwan, option1
           |                  plugin: quectel
           |            primary port: cdc-wdm0
           |                   ports: cdc-wdm0 (qmi), ttyUSB2 (at), ttyUSB3 (at), wwan0 (net)

Modem infos from AT commands:

ATI

Quectel
RM520N-GL
Revision: RM520NGLAAR03A03M4G

AT+QCFG="usbcfg"
+QCFG: "usbcfg",0x2C7C,0x0801,1,1,1,1,1,1,0

AT+QCFG="usbnet"
+QCFG: "usbnet",0

AT+QCFG="pcie/mode"
+QCFG: "pcie/mode",0

AT+QCFG="usbspeed"
+QCFG: "usbspeed","311" // USB3 5Gbps

AT+QCFG="usbspeed","20"
OK
AT+QCFG="usbspeed"
+QCFG: "usbspeed","20" // USB2 480mbps

AT+QCFG="data_interface"
+QCFG: "data_interface",0,0 // network port and network diagnostic via USB

So far I’ve tried to changes the ubspeed (just in case), but without any changes.

Does anyone has been able to use RM520x modem with Waveshare latest PCIe to USB hat+?
Does anyone has any clues on what can goes wrong here?

/Br

Bean.Wang-Q · May 12, 2025, 1:44am

The SIM7600 should be compared with Quectel’s EC25/EG25.
You can check it with
lsusb -t

Nementon · May 12, 2025, 5:29pm

Hi, thanks for feedback.

However here the use of SIMCOM 7600 (that was hanging around) was mainly to determine if I had a faulty hat or not.

The Hat is working with SIMCOM, but Quectel RM520N is not recognised and not shown on the system usb devices
RM520N is working perfectly with a different hat of previous generation

Which let me think that:

Modem and Hats are working fine

Even if that true, the RM520N is way more power angry as SIMCOM 7600 or equivalent only supporting up to 5G.

As the hat should support RM520N according to Waveshare official wiki – as the hat and rasberry pi is powered.

Either, I have a faulty hat, not able to provide the correct power to the modem (somehow works with modem with lower power consumption requirements), either some internal configuration of the RM520N needs to be tuned.

But Waveshare wiki doesn’t provide any instructions on it. So, if anyone have any clues, had the same issue and where able to solved it, you’re my last hope.

RM520N configured on USB communication (not PCie)
Attempted to changes usbspeed (USB.2, USB3. 5Gbps, USB10Gbps) – without any success

Bean.Wang-Q · May 13, 2025, 6:06am

Just check
lsusb
—> we should be able to see the 2C7C 0801.
lsusb -t
—> We should see the qmi_wwan rather than any other drver such as qmi_wwan_q or cdc_ecm.

Nementon · May 23, 2025, 5:18pm

Hi,

That’s my current issue, is that with the Raspberry PI 5 Hat, I do not see the Quectel modem:

root@piwwan:~# lsusb -t
/:  Bus 06.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci-hcd/1p, 5000M
/:  Bus 05.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci-hcd/2p, 480M
/:  Bus 04.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci-hcd/1p, 5000M
/:  Bus 03.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci-hcd/2p, 480M
/:  Bus 02.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/4p, 5000M
/:  Bus 01.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=xhci_hcd/1p, 480M
    |__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/4p, 480M

root@piwwan:~# lsusb
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 2109:3431 VIA Labs, Inc. Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

But:

Using Raspberry PI 4 Hat, I do see the modem

root@mystberry:~# lsusb
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 2c7c:0801 Quectel Wireless Solutions Co., Ltd. RM520N-GL
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0424:ec00 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC) SMSC9512/9514 Fast Ethernet Adapter
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0424:9514 Microchip Technology, Inc. (formerly SMSC) SMC9514 Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

As using the Raspberry Pi 5 Hat, and an other modem, I see it:

hal9000@piwwan:~ $ sudo su -
root@piwwan:~# lsusb
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 1e0e:9001 Qualcomm / Option SimTech, Incorporated
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 2109:3431 VIA Labs, Inc. Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

root@piwwan:~# lspci
0001:00:00.0 PCI bridge: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM2712 PCIe Bridge (rev 30)
0001:01:00.0 USB controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VL805/806 xHCI USB 3.0 Controller (rev 01)
0002:00:00.0 PCI bridge: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries BCM2712 PCIe Bridge (rev 30)
0002:01:00.0 Ethernet controller: Raspberry Pi Ltd RP1 PCIe 2.0 South Bridge


root@piwwan:~# mmcli -L
    /org/freedesktop/ModemManager1/Modem/0 [QUALCOMM INCORPORATED] SIMCOM_SIM7600G-H

The Pi 5 Hat board and RM520N-GLAA modem looks to works, but somehow not together

Bean.Wang-Q · May 24, 2025, 12:43pm

Seems lika a hardware problem. We don’t know what the HAT look like.

nodebug · April 7, 2026, 7:36pm

Hi @Nementon,

Did you ever solve the issue? I am currently experiencing something similar! Seems like there are lots of people having issues with the rm520 w/ waveshare pi hat but no clear cut solution yet.