FriendlyELEC-Forum

Hello,
Given that those devices have the M.2 slot, I was wondering if it is possible to get 5G cellular internet by using one of theses adaptors:

https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/10050053 ... pt=glo2fra

Do you think it would work out of the box, or it would require crazy mods on FirendlyWRT to get it working?

I'm also interested in the same subject. Would it be possible to connect a 5G modem directly to the M.2 slot without any adapter and have it working with the integrated sim reader?
From the OS perspective, does the kernel already include the drivers for any 5G Modem manufacturer (Fibocom, Quectel)?

If you check posted schematics, the SIM socket on a NanoPC-T6 (do R6S & R6C have SIM slots at all?) is wired only to the miniPCIe slot on top, not to either m.2 slot underneath. So, you wouldn't be able to use it as a native m.2 device. Certain miniPCIe-to-m.2 adapter boards may work, but probably won't fit alongside this card in the very tight, official aluminum case, if you have that.

Note that the miniPCIe slot wired to that SIM tray has only USB2.0 lines connected, no actual PCIe lanes, since typical 4G modem cards use only USB. A Quectel RM520N can communicate purely over USB2.0 if you wish, but it cat become a bottleneck with 5G service.

Also, the Qualcomm x62 chipset in an RM520N, although capable of running from m.2-standard 3.3V, operates better if you provide it with 3.7V power (like from a phone's lithium cell).

All in all, that external USB adapter is probably the best way to go with these. When connected a USB 3.0/3.1 port (m.2, unlike mini-PCIe, includes extra pins for USB3), it should be able to operate at full 5G speeds, multiple hundreds of Mbit/s.