PCI Express M.2 and Sierra Wireless EM7565 LTE Module

[coltonconor]

I see that some RouterBOARDs, like the RBM33G, have a PCIe M.2 slot built in. Most of the documentation I have seen regarding this PCIe M.2 slot is for it to be used for storage devices such as Solid State Drives (SSD).

This RBM33G also has two miniPCIe slots which the documentation says is for 3G/LTE modems (two SIM slots provided).

I would like to know if this PCIe M.2 slot can be used for other PCIe M.2 devices? I am mainly interested in using Sierra Wireless’s M.2 LTE Modules. Sierra has two LTE Module Lines:

1. MC Series are on the Mini Card standard from PCI-SIG® and will not be supporting next-gen technologies according to Sierra Wireless. This is the miniPCIe standard. I see several of Sierra Wireless MC cards are supported according to https://wiki.mikrotik.com/wiki/Manual:Peripherals

2. EM Series are on the newer M.2 standard from PCI-SIG® and recommended for new designs. I want to use on of the new EM cards, the EM7565, to be exact.

Can Mikrotik support this? The only issue I can see if the M.2 slot doesn’t have a SIM card built in like the two miniPCIe do. Also, no clue if Mirotik will support the EM7565?

[Cha0s]

According to Normis the miniPCIe slots can be used for wireless adapters as well.

http://forum.mikrotik.com/t/newsletter-79-mum-europe-announced/114867/6

[cron410]

I would also like to know about compatibility. Did this work for you? I am looking at the EM7565 and the EM7455 for use with an RBM33G on a rooftop install. Normis made no mention of the m.2 slot being used for radio cards. I would certainly think this is possible, but would really like to know as the EM7565 is a very expensive modem, over twice the price of the RBM33G system board.

[repcio]

On OpenWRT forums there are writing that m.2 modem is not working on RBM33g
You have to use M.2 → miniPCIe converter (preffered with SIM slot on it) to work properly.

I found this here: https://github.com/danielewood/sierra-wireless-modems/pull/7