Just noticed a thing that I didn't think was possible:

I have a RB912 that is equipped with a r11e-5HACD MiniPCIe card and I'm still able to use the USB port for a 3G modem!

Shouldn't the r11e in the MiniPCIe slot disable the USB port? Or is it just odd luck that it happens to work when load on the network is low?

that is by design.

If you use miniPCI wireless card your USB port works as USB. only if you switch to USB mode for 3g modem in minipcie port your usb port will be disabled.

USB will be disabled only if you use a modem in the miniPCIe slot. in your case it is a 802.11 wireless card, not a modem

Cool! This opens up new options in my network design now!

USB will be disabled only if you use a modem in the miniPCIe slot. in your case it is a 802.11 wireless card, not a modem

So if you have a 4G modem in the mPCIe slot the USB port becomes essentially useless?

USB will be disabled only if you use a modem in the miniPCIe slot. in your case it is a 802.11 wireless card, not a modem

So if you have a 4G modem in the mPCIe slot the USB port becomes essentially useless?

Yes, this is specified in the quick guide and other information pages
http://i.mt.lv/routerboard/files/rb912G ... 088731.pdf

USB will be disabled only if you use a modem in the miniPCIe slot. in your case it is a 802.11 wireless card, not a modem

So if you have a 4G modem in the mPCIe slot the USB port becomes essentially useless?

Yes, this is specified in the quick guide and other information pages
http://i.mt.lv/routerboard/files/rb912G ... 088731.pdf

What about the RB922UAGS-5HPacD?

Any word on this Normis?

The mini-pci express slot offers several connectivities: PCI express, USB 2.0, SMBus, SIM card, LEDs and power.
Modem cards use the USB lanes, so essentially the USB port will get "hijacked" by them.
Wireless cards on the other hand use the PCI express lanes, leaving the USB port available.
So if only a single USB connection is available to the CPU, this is unavoidable for modems, unless the devices feature an internal USB hub.

The mini-pci express slot offers several connectivities: PCI express, USB 2.0, SMBus, SIM card, LEDs and power.
Modem cards use the USB lanes, so essentially the USB port will get "hijacked" by them.
Wireless cards on the other hand use the PCI express lanes, leaving the USB port available.
So if only a single USB connection is available to the CPU, this is unavoidable for modems, unless the devices feature an internal USB hub.

True, thanks for that. It seems odd marketing the USB port AND mPCIe for modems when one excludes the other.

So the next question is, does the RB953GS-5HnT have a USB hub so that one can run 2 miniPCIe modems AND a USB device at the same time?

http://routerboard.com/RB953GS-5HnT

edit: answer was in the pdf: One powered USB 2.0 port, cannot be used simultaneously with J404 miniPCIe slot for 3G modem (software selectable USB/miniPCIe)

So the next question is, does the RB953GS-5HnT have a USB hub so that one can run 2 miniPCIe modems AND a USB device at the same time?

http://routerboard.com/RB953GS-5HnT

edit: answer was in the pdf: One powered USB 2.0 port, cannot be used simultaneously with J404 miniPCIe slot for 3G modem (software selectable USB/miniPCIe)

Pity the RB922UAGS-5HPacD doesn't have the PDF uploaded. I can't find any info in the QCA9557-AT4A-R CPU on the internet either.
@MikroTik: can you please help with this one?

@MikroTik: does the RB922UAGS-5HPacD suffer the same problem?

I emailed support: the answer is no, the USB port is inactive too with the 912UAG.

@MikroTik: would one of these work: mPCIe to dual USB adapter work in allowing more than one USB device?

Could you please let me know how did you activate the MiniPCIe slot?

I have installed R11e-5HacD on RB/953GS-5HnT but it’s not shown in the interface list!

I have installed R11e-5HacD on RB/953GS-5HnT but it’s not shown in the interface list!

Remember that you need to activate the wireless-fp package to enable the R11e-5HacD...