Description

Our USB3 to M.2 Key B 4G 5G Modem Adapter Enclosure with SIM Card Slot – V7 is the newest version of our USB3 to M.2 adapter. It is a device for connecting a 5G 3050 (M.2) cellular modem card (Tested with the Quectel Wireless RM500Q, RM510Q, Sierra Wireless EM919x series, and  SIMCOM SIM8200 series) as well as 4G LTE NGFF 3040 (M.2) modem cards (i.e., Sierra Wireless EM7565, EM7455, EM7354, Quectel EM160R-GL, EM12-G, EM20-G, EM06-A, and Telit 4G LTE M.2 Modems.), behind a PC or router via a USB port.
It is said to also support the Fibocom 5G modems and includes a jumper to enable Fibocom 4×4 MIMO antenna configuration. (We have not tested this in house.)
This product does not support the slightly different length of the Telit FN980xx series 5G modems.

NOTICE : This version has a micro-B USB port for it’s auxiliary power input. Recommended 5VDC, like from a standard cell phone charger.

NOTICE: The Auxiliary power input is not necessary for normal operation of the adapter. This port is only to back up the power supplied via the USB3 primary input. The Aux. power input is a switched power supply for the modem that will not power the modem unless the USB3 primary port is powered. This is a protective mechanism that keeps the modem from being powered when the host device, like a router, is not powered. Again, the adapter and modem will not power up when only Auxiliary power is applied, it must have power on the USB3 port to power on the adapter.

Recommended power input voltage for Aux power input port: 5 VDC

NOTICE : This version works with most all version of cellular 5G modems including the Sierra EM919x series as well as Telit FN990x 5G modems. The Telit FN980xx modems are 2mm shorter and so they do not have a supporting screw hold down on this adapter.

LED FUNCTION: There are two colors of LEDs that show on the LED display. The RED LED states that the device is powered. The GREEN LED states modem activity. Each modem manufacturer and model uses this output differently. Some modems will flash the Green LED when in use, and some will remain solid, and some will not light up Green at all. This is a GPIO setting of modem interface PIN 10. You will need to look at your particular modems hardware design manual and AT Commands manual to see how to set or modify this if necessary, as well as for how this GPIO output may work. If you need more information on it, please reach out to your modem manufacturer directly.

Note on the Sierra EM919x and EM7690 series modems: The Sierra EM919x series 5G cards require a different voltage level than other 5G modems on a certain set of pin. This requires the side of board jumper pins to be set properly to enable the EM919x module to be in USB mode for use in this adapter. For the EM919x/EM7690 modem to work in this adapter, you must use the included jumpers on the pins labeled “1.8V” and “MODLE” for the first jumper and then the pins labeled “1.8V” and “MODLE1” (Notice the “1” on this pin) for the second jumper. No other pins should be jumped together.

We recommend adding a quality heat sink to the top of the modem card to protect your modem equipment investment. We advise placing the included thermal pad between the modem and the adapter surface. You may also want to place a thermal heat transfer pad between the adapters PCB (Printed Circuit Board) and the metal case it is mounted to.

The enclosure’s SIM Card slot is equipped with ESD protection and uses a “Mini” SIM Card Slot.The USB 3.0 A Male to Micro-B Male plug (AM-Micro BM) provides a durable and solid connection to the enclosure.   The data power cable may be extended with the use of quality USB 3.0 extension cables. We do not recommend a length of more than 10 feet.

USB3.0 (capable of up to 4.8Gbps) provides ten times the capability of USB 2.0.  It also provides 900mA power as opposed to 500mA utilized thru USB 2.0.  Type A connectors are are backwards compatible to USB 2.0 and/or USB 1.1.

The PCB is designed with the utmost attention to industry standards, taking into consideration the needs of our customers. As a result, we have incorporated an auxilliary power supply via an extra Micro USB power port to cater to modem applications that demand additional power. With this option for auxiliary power input, it accommodates even the most power intensive M.2 modems.

The enclosure may be used on a desktop or mounted to a wall.  It uses the industry standard SMA Male 4G LTE antennas (purchased separately, see antenna options below) and includes four MHF4 to SMA female bulkhead (1.13 cables) pigtails (to connect the M.2 modem to the antennas).

There are six cutout holes totaled in the cases (two in front and 4 in the rear) for adding additional antennas to accommodate 2×2 and 4×4 MIMO M.2 modems.

Compatible Cellular Omni SMA Male Antennas:

• 700-2700MHz Rectangular 3.5dBi-4dBi 4G LTE Omni Antenna with SMA Male Connectors (PAIR)
• 600-3800MHz Cellular Omni-Directional Paddle Antennas (SMA Connectors) PAIR
• 698-2700MHz Cradlepoint 3dBi 4G LTE Omni Antenna (PAIR)
• 700-2700MHz 5dBi Cellular Hotspot Omni-Directional Antennas (SMA Connectors) – Pair

Suggestions:

1. When extending the USB3.0 cable use only large diameter and quality cable to prevent voltage drop which can and will lead to disconnect issues.
2. When adding antennas, select the SMA antenna upgrades.  The RP-SMA will not work without installing MHF4 connector to RP-SMA bulkhead connector pigtails.
3. When using a SIM Card adapter (i.e., micro to standard, etc), take precaution that the SIM card fits “freely” and flat into the adapter.  In other words, you should not have to force the SIM card into the adapter.  A SIM card that is too tight, when installed in the SIM slot, can rise and cause a misalignment between the adapter pins and SIM card.  All tits/nubs on the side of the SIM card should be sanded smooth.  This is easily done with a laying a nail file/emery board/piece of sand paper flat on table top, and working the SIM card evenly across until smooth.
4. This USB adapter will not work on the Mini PCI-E modem cards (i.e., Sierra Wireless MC series cards).
5. In order for a Windows based PC to recognize a Sierra Wireless modem card, regardless of how it is being attached, the Sierra Wireless Windows drivers must first be installed on the Windows device.  Refer to our LTE FIX IT Series tutorial

Package Content:

• 1 x  USB 3.0 to NGFF (M.2) 4G 5G PCB and Enclosure
• 1 x USB3.0 to  Micro-B Male 15.75 Inch power Cable
• 4 x MHF4 to SMA Female Bulkhead connector 1.13 pigtails
• 2 x 2 Pin Jumper
• 1 x Thermal Heat Transfer Pad
• 4 x Antenna Cable Case Hole Plugs
• 1 x M2 Modem Screw

**Antennas and M.2 Modem are not included

Example of a 4×4 MIMO install:

A very common mistake is leaving the orange insulating sticker over the screw pillar and trying to screw the modem hold down screw into it.