12-20-2019, 11:53 AM
Two things make a modem 5G capable - the frequency bands and the way the modem accesses them. AT&T is using 850Mhz to start for theirs and standard LTE as the method (they call it 5G E) T-Mobile is using 600Mhz, augmented by 700 MHz, and 2500 MHz if their merger with Sprint happens also starting with LTE-A. The Quectel modems are capable of the base 5G standard (LTE). So, although not really any faster, technically it can be called 5G. I need to read the spec sheets more to see if their modem is capable of the follow on 5GNR standard and I'll probably have to discuss it with their engineers. Or you can. I'll gladly relay who I've been talking to at Quectel if it will help get the ball rolling on maybe using their EC25-AF or another North American optimized modem in a run of PinePhones.
Here's some technical data on the 5G standards
https://www.t-mobile.com/news/americas-f...5g-network
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_5G_NR_networks
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/5G_NR
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/5G
The first article from T-mobile says they will let anyone with a 5G capable modern on their Network - which is band 71. So I don't know anything about it being closed or having to register your device specially with them to gain access. But then I haven't talked to T-mobile about it. You obviously have so you must know more about that then me.
Or maybe see if their RG500Q is pin compatible https://www.quectel.com/product/rg500q.htm Or one of the higher bandwidth LTE-A modems, if what I'm reading here is coorect - that at&t and T-Mobile don't intend to use anything other than standard LTE or LTE-A on their 600 and 700 MHz spectrum for now. But if they require device whitelisting ... That would be wasted money if they won't whitelist Pinephone
The RG500Q is a different kind of animal and I have the draft spec. Regarding the AT&T "5G ready" is a marketing term, may not afford to create a PinePhone SKU for this purpose which involve a lot of financial burden (inventory costs).
Here's some technical data on the 5G standards
https://www.t-mobile.com/news/americas-f...5g-network
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_5G_NR_networks
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/5G_NR
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/5G
The first article from T-mobile says they will let anyone with a 5G capable modern on their Network - which is band 71. So I don't know anything about it being closed or having to register your device specially with them to gain access. But then I haven't talked to T-mobile about it. You obviously have so you must know more about that then me.
Or maybe see if their RG500Q is pin compatible https://www.quectel.com/product/rg500q.htm Or one of the higher bandwidth LTE-A modems, if what I'm reading here is coorect - that at&t and T-Mobile don't intend to use anything other than standard LTE or LTE-A on their 600 and 700 MHz spectrum for now. But if they require device whitelisting ... That would be wasted money if they won't whitelist Pinephone
The RG500Q is a different kind of animal and I have the draft spec. Regarding the AT&T "5G ready" is a marketing term, may not afford to create a PinePhone SKU for this purpose which involve a lot of financial burden (inventory costs).
