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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Picture | 
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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, n2, n3, n5, n8, n28, 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 |  |
 |
|
- 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
FAQ
As the 5G power consumption is relatively high, and the host computer's USB port may not be able to provide it with sufficient power, please refer to the USB dual plug cable to provide the module with sufficient power, as shown in the figure:
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RM500U-CN and RM500Q-GL modules support installing two SIM cards at the same time, and you can enable one SIM card to work with AT commands:
*Select SIM card 1 by default, and check it with the following command: AT+QUIMSLOT? *Switch it to SIM card 2 with the following command: AT+QUIMSLOT=2 *Switch it to SIM card 1 with the following command: AT+QUIMSLOT=1 *Query whether the corresponding card slot identify the SIM card: AT+CPIN?
- If the corresponding SIM card can not be identified, it may because the DIP switch has not enable the corresponding module, please make the DIP switch corresponding to C turn on:
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Quectel/Qualcomm:
AT+QCFG="data_interface" AT+QCFG="data_interface",0,0 //switch to the default USB mode
Quectel/Spreadtrum:
AT+QCFG="ethernet",1 AT+QCFG="data_interface",1,0 AT+QCFG="pcie/mode",1 AT+QETH="eth_driver","r8125"
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Please use the following commands to set it to the stable router mode:
AT+QCFG="nat",1
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- Please check whether the SIM card is connected to four antennas.
- Please check hardware connection is right and check the network with the following AT Log:
AT+CMEE=2 AT+CPIN? AT+COPS? AT+QCSQ AT+QENG="servingcell" AT+CGDCONT? AT+QNWPREFCFG="mode_pref"
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- The following modules that support it after testing:
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
- 5G modules are NOT included. If used with other modules and the pin compatibility should be tested.
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RM500U-CN: based on Spreadtrum platform.
RM500Q-GL: based on Qualcomm platform, supports GNSS positioning, mainly for domestic use.
RM500Q-AE/RM502Q-AE: based on Qualcomm platform, support GNSS positioning, mainly used abroad.
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It is because the 5G power consumption is high, and the Raspberry Pi is limited in power supply, you can power it with 5V (3A) through Type-C interface.
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When using the external power supply, the Raspberry Pi reboots and RM500U does not reboot. You can use the command to reboot the RS500U.
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Use the following command to turn on the echo, and press Enter after entering: (Blind typing is required here):
ATE1
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- Raspberry PI 2B/zero, the user serial port device number is ttyAMA0;
ls -l /dev/serial*
- The following command line can be used to confirm that serial0 is the serial port device number selected, as shown in the figure below:
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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:
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There are the following dial types:
AT+QCFG="usbnet",0 driver type is NDIS(QMI)); AT+QCFG="usbnet",1 The driver type is ECM; AT+QCFG="usbnet",2 The driver type is MBIM; (RM5XXQ support) AT+QCFG="usbnet",3 The driver type is RNDIS AT+QCFG="usbnet",5 The driver type is NCM;
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Yes.
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Please use the following command to enable the Ethernet port to access the network.
AT+GTUSBMODE=36 AT+GTAUTOCONNECT=1
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- For ABS modules, you can manually update it with the driver.
- For Qualcommm modules, you can manually install the driver.
- Ensure the module is normally on -> Open Device Manager -> Other Devices -> "Corresponding file folder after unzipping the drivers" -> Update the driver demo -> Browse the PC to find the corresponding driver demo files -> Select a path to store the driver file according to your system -> Finish.
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Jetson Nano series can be supported, the hardware structure is customized for ordinary JETSON-NANO-LITE-DEV-KIT, if you use other Jetson nano version, the adapter needs to be changed to a dual male adapter cable to connect; if it is an orin nano, please use this verified Jetpack 6.0 (Ubuntu) version of the system, some of the validation is not possible, some of them are not suitable for Jetson nano. Ubuntu 22.04), some system drivers are not supported.
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- USB TO M.2 B KEY does not include a module by default, you need to add a module before using.
- For example, after adding SIM8262E-M2 module, it can support Linxu and Windows system devices, if your router is OPenwrt and other Linux systems, it can be supported.
- Openwrt router configuration steps reference.
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