Setup:
Chateau 5G R16 + ISKRA P-62 external antennas (MIMO)
RouterOS: 7.15.3 (+ latest radio interface firmware)
Fixed bands: B7 (LTE) and N78 (5G)
Distance (operator antennas): 3km (almost clear, 1-2 trees)
Antenna gain pattern for 2600MHz (B7 band) and 3700Mhz (N78 band):
Chateau radio signal from Winbox:
Why B7 signal is lower then N78? Does Chateau use only internal antennas for LTE bands?
Are you sure that B7 cell (FDD 2600MHz) and N78 cell (TDD 3500MHz) are actually served from the same cell tower? They could actually be two different towers in different directions and your P62 antennas are directed at the N78 cell tower?
Yes, I’m 100% positive that I’m connected to the same tower for B7 and N78 bands. I know exact cellid from operator and it is the one which is connected. I don’t have other cell towers around.
I also know operator’s cellid for N78 but I’m unable to see it with Winbox. Command “interface lte monitor lte1” shows only B7 cell info but doesn’t show CA band details. If I disable LTE and leave only 5G then Chateau doesn’t connect at all. No idea why because as you see, my signal is very good. I dont know exactly but it might be operator’s side because it is 5G NSA (not stand alone).
Exactly … 5G NSA requires connection zo LTE cell for signalling. So in essence, 5G NSA is simply another CA carrier (with distinction that it can’t be serving cell).
As to the weak B7 LTE cell signal … can you verify signal strength of both cells (LTE and 5G) using another device, such as 5G smart phone (or even using Chateau, but without using external antennas)? Somewhere in same general area … simply to see if the difference in signal strengths is the same or something completely different.
Just googled up this page: https://confusedbird.com/thread-119.html
If I understand things correctly, then for N78 device uses external antennas. But for LTE B7, which is a MHB (2600MHz), it uses internal antennas (A0-top right and A7-lower left).
Which explains the signal strength difference you see.
mkx, thank you for information!
After reading that thread I need to try this combination:
A0 - Lead #1 of 2x2 MIMO 4G antenna
A1 - Lead #2 of 2x2 MIMO 4G antenna
A4 - Lead #1 of 2x2 MIMO 5G n78 capable antenna
A5 - Lead #2 of 2x2 MIMO 5G n78 capable antenna
I have one spare 4G (2x2MIMO) antenna so I just need to buy pigtails and test.
It can get nasty for the LTE part, read the note 3) for the RG502Q-EA Cellular Antenna Mapping table. I’m not sure what exactly it means, but it might mean that it’s either A1 or A7, depending on whether N78 5G NSA is used or not.