So is this implying that 5G data does work? Even that would be progress. It would future-proof the phone and you could still make calls using VoIP. (I understand that it’s not that big a deal because 4G isn’t going to disappear soon.)
The modem may just be lacking some configuration data.
I guess one question that comes up for me is … how good is the support from the manufacturer? is it possible to get answers to some of the questions that have come up in this topic? can the firmware be updated? how is that done? are new firmware versions forthcoming?
No, in this case at least. What I was trying to convey was that 5G fails because selecting “5G only” doesn’t use LTE. But it seems that it may not be about the modem - it’s specs seem to cover VoNR - but the limitations of my network (how it’s set up, what are the defaults and possibly my voice/data plans - configuration data indeed). Again, it seems that networks may be implementing 5G features incrementally and it’s hard to know which parts are used to create the 5G experience atm. I’m actually trying out keeping the modem in “3G, 4G (preferred)” to see how that works.
I haven’t had any contact with manufacturer but I’m not sure any is needed by us. There’s plenty of info in the published manuals and it’s a tested and used modem (not new to linux). Firmware is updatable but I haven’t been able to get a hold of a newer one (haven’t had the need to either). For now, I’d have Purism sort that out as a support issue (think of that as you may).
[edit to add: I got an almost timely reply to one support question via Simcom form from last week, but the issue had already solved itself. But responsiveness is a good sign. Additional info was to know that 8202g is heading to EOL (from the perspective that it’s not developed nor manufactured anymore, but there are plenty around and they work fine) - 8262 E/A variants are potentially direct replacements.]
But I’m talking about data, not voice. So in “5G only” mode, forget about making voice calls, can you even get on the internet (mobile data)? (I guess you would need to have WiFi off while testing more of this.)
I did too. If “5G only” is selected, it blocks use of LTE data and thus 5G has no data connection. The network seems to operate in such a way that 5G is implemented using LTE as the data channel for mobile data (and both VoLTE and VoNR need data to make voice call). Apparently 4G is tied to LTE in the settings, so if 4G not selected, LTE data is blocked - or so it seems. There’s no effect on or with wifi - it works (I don’t think VoFi calling is possible in this network or with this system, if that’s of interest). So, hard to get to the bottom of this as there are many variables.
Not that I have observed when tested. The real world situation is such that the network capability fluctuates so much that any affect disappears into it. But i would expect it not to change if I understand the situation right: the network may not offer other than LTE for both, 4G and 5G, and so there wouldn’t be a difference. As I’ve come to understand, 5G may be implemented partly by the service provider and in a way that user may not notice. I kinda have to trust what the system interprets as 5G when it has the connection. The modem is (should be) capable of more but currently it’s not possible for me to test the limits.
After a weeks somewhat intermittent use (I haven’t configured Mobian to my liking yet [it doesn’t have LUKS either] so it’s not my main device atm) a subjective feel is that the modem is very stable as is, no difference in using just 4G or prefer 5G. At least once it didn’t come back after suspend and I resorted to restart but couldn’t reproduce the issue. Testing continues after I get more free time again…
5G maybe, in theory, but not this modem - I tested.
I’m hoping a ticket about it might appear to Crimson but who knows if such could be pushed until Dawn.
