Teltonika RUTX50 and RUTC50 users - don't upgrade modem firmware!

[cheesegas]

I know these are popular on boats so I thought I'd let people know - I have one, and a couple of companies I work with use Teltonikas for telemetry for generators so I'm fairly familiar with them.

 

It seems that the latest modem firmware (not main RUT OS firmware) update for routers with the Quechtel RG520 modem breaks the 5G functionality on most networks in the UK. It's version RG520NEBDCR03A05M4G. From what I can tell, it pushes 5G standalone mode aggressively on networks which don't support it, causing the modem to repeatedly connect and disconnect every 10-15 mins, sometimes taking a long time to reconnect. Turning non standalone mode on crashes the modem and needs a router restart.

 

There's a lot of people on the Teltonika support forums saying the same thing and there's no official fix yet, nor is there an officially supported way to roll back the firmware. The only workaround is to force it to flash the old firmware which carries a risk, there's a post on the forums about it.

 

Changing the cellular mode to 4G works fine, but the router obviously only works at 4G speeds.

[robtheplod]

Thanks for this, so its not the usual updates you get - mine is on RUTX_R_00.07.21.3. I'm not sure how I would update the other one?

[cheesegas]

3 minutes ago, robtheplod said:

Thanks for this, so its not the usual updates you get - mine is on RUTX_R_00.07.21.3. I'm not sure how I would update the other one?

If you click the Modem button under Firmware Type, and it shows there's a modem update available in the red box, you can update it - modem firmware can only be updated over the air though, not from a local file.

 

Generally it's a good idea to keep the modem firmware up to date as 5G standards and networking are still changing all the time, but this is an exception!

 

 

[robtheplod]

Is this in the RMS or direct to the router?

[cheesegas]

1 minute ago, robtheplod said:

Is this in the RMS or direct to the router?

Direct to the router on web UI. I think modem firmware has been moved to its own tab though on versions above 7.20 so that screenshot may not be accurate actually...

Edited April 7 by cheesegas

[robtheplod]

9 minutes ago, cheesegas said:

Direct to the router on web UI. I think modem firmware has been moved to its own tab though on versions above 7.20 so that screenshot may not be accurate actually...

fab thanks... I'll just keep well away, although fortunately locally we only have 4G so should be ok.....

[Hudds Lad]

Assuming there's not an auto-update setting, i'm not onboard to check and all boat electrics are off barring the bilge pump.

 

I usually sift through device settings and disable such things so i choose when to update, but it's been a while and there were many, many, many pages of settings on the router  

 

Good info to have though, so cheers for that  

[cheesegas]

Just now, Hudds Lad said:

Assuming there's not an auto-update setting, i'm not onboard to check and all boat electrics are off barring the bilge pump.

Yep you're right, there's no auto update for both RUTos firmware and modem so it won't break itself luckily!

[robtheplod]

31 minutes ago, Hudds Lad said:

Assuming there's not an auto-update setting, i'm not onboard to check and all boat electrics are off barring the bilge pump.

 

I usually sift through device settings and disable such things so i choose when to update, but it's been a while and there were many, many, many pages of settings on the router  

 

Good info to have though, so cheers for that  

I didnt know you were in the Teltonika club..  

[Hudds Lad]

16 minutes ago, robtheplod said:

I didnt know you were in the Teltonika club..  

jumped ship from Huawei last year, saw a deal too good to miss

[JoeC]

I'ea RUTX50, not on that modem firmware version and am up to date. How do you know what type of modem you have as the Op mentions Quechtel RG520.

Edited April 7 by JoeC

[Hudds Lad]

2 hours ago, JoeC said:

I'ea RUTX50, not on that modem firmware version and am up to date. How do you know what type of modem you have as the Op mentions Quechtel RG520.

Login to the web interface and should be under the Network -> Mobile tab

[wakey_wake]

10 hours ago, cheesegas said:

I know these are popular on boats [...] and a couple of companies I work with use Teltonikas for telemetry for generators so I'm fairly familiar with them.

I thought this was blah blah other people's firmware is failing, what can I learn and then...

 

7 hours ago, Hudds Lad said:

jumped ship from Huawei last year, saw a deal too good to miss

OK, now I'm interested!

https://www.teltonika-iot-group.com/who-we-are says

Quote

We are proud of working on unique made-in-Lithuania products that help people worldwide.

 

so I think they're over in Eurasia and that means they've always been a stout ally to us on Airstrip One.

 

My last was a D-Link but I may be ready for another...

[cheesegas]

19 hours ago, JoeC said:

I'ea RUTX50, not on that modem firmware version and am up to date. How do you know what type of modem you have as the Op mentions Quechtel RG520.

As far as I can tell, it's only the newer hardware revision RUTX50s which have the RG520 modem, since late last year. You probably have an older hardware revision with a different modem.