NR5101 randomly loses network connection (log says: QMI error)

bastigrun · November 2024

After having worked well for about a year, my NR5101 stopped working correctly.

It disconnects to the network and stays disconnected. It also doesn't try to reconnect anymore. This happens about 6-9 times per week. The log file gives out QMI errors and the system freezes. Only a full reboot does help.

Below is the log file right before it happens. You can see:

06:56:40 - Connection is still up
06.56:49 - LTE connection is lost
06:56:51 - Tries to search
06:56:54 - modem is ready to re-connect
06:56:57 - This is when the Qualcomm MSM interface error happens and the whole system effectively freezes.

Nov 22 06:56:40 user.notice RILCMD: Current Tech = NR-NSA EN-DC, PCID:483, RFCN:100, DL_BandWidth:20MHz, UL_BandWidth:20MHz, RSSI:-60dBm, RSRQ:-8dB, RSRP:-88dBm
Nov 22 06:56:49 user.notice RILCMD: set_LTE_connection_status: Down
Nov 22 06:56:51 user.notice RILCMD: CREG_INTERNAL_NOT_REG_DO_SEARCH detected
Nov 22 06:56:52 user.notice zcmdModuleCfg: System: Wan interface Cellular WAN 1 connection lost
Nov 22 06:56:54 user.notice RILCMD: quectel_rg500q_ready() Next to RS_ATTACH state
Nov 22 06:56:57 user.notice RILCMD: Reset LTE module because of QMI error.

What I tried: I used the same SIM card in another device without any problems for many days, so I don't believe it's the SIM card. I also tried turning of auto band selection and stayed on particular bands to avoid switching - without any difference to the behaviour.

What can I do? I starts to get worse, too. It happened about 4 times a day recently and during things like video conferences, which is bad. Some research told me, that this might even be a hardware fault.

Lanttu42 · December 2024

Just wanted to came to say that I NR7102 and I am having same issues. Started about a month ago and modem WAN connection keeps resetting couple of times / day. All I have in log files is this same haunting message:

Reset LTE module because of QMI error.

Seems like a bug?

SELBERG · December 2024

https://community.zyxel.com/en/discussion/26991/nr5101-randomly-loses-network-connection-log-says-qmi-error

Updated to latest firmware from 13/12-24?

Lanttu42 · December 2024

Hi again!

I also installed the newest firmware when the issues started about a month ago. I have a very good 5G connection, and this area isn't very densely populated, so the connection (when it works) reaches almost 600 Mbit/s, which is the limit of my contract. The modem has been in place for about a year now without any changes to our setup.

I also use the same provider on my cell phone, and I don't notice any issues with it when the modem's connection drops. That "QMI module error" seems suspicious, and to me, it sounds like an issue with the modem itself rather than the signal.

The connection provider claims there are no current issues or events reported at the local towers. While it's possible they could be mistaken, I have a strong feeling the problem lies within the modem.

The error in the log file is:
RILCMD: Reset LTE module because of QMI error.

Here are the log events leading up to the error:

182	Dec 30 14:14:01	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: Reset LTE module because of QMI error.
183	Dec 30 14:14:00	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: RILCMD STATE: RS_UPDATE ============> RS_READY
184	Dec 30 14:13:59	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: RILCMD STATE: RS_INIT ============> RS_UPDATE
185	Dec 30 14:13:59	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: Change state from RS_INIT to RS_UPDATE.
186	Dec 30 14:13:59	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: Preffered Access Technology: Auto
187	Dec 30 14:13:58	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: PrevSetAccessTechnology: Auto
188	Dec 30 14:13:58	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: RILCMD_AUTO_APN flag enable.
189	Dec 30 14:13:52	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: Current activate MBN: ROW_Commercial
190	Dec 30 14:13:52	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: zcfg_get_CellWanConfig() doModuleReset = 1
191	Dec 30 14:13:52	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: zcfg_get_CellWanConfig ()item_ptr->refreshInterval = 10
192	Dec 30 14:13:47	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: GNSS function enable
193	Dec 30 14:13:45	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: NR7101 with RG500Q/RG502Q module
194	Dec 30 14:13:45	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: SIM card ready after initialization
195	Dec 30 14:13:44	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: Profile Shift = 0
196	Dec 30 14:13:40	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: [317] DeviceFirmwareVersion: RG502QEUAAR12A03M4G
197	Dec 30 14:13:40	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: Support Auto Connection: 0
198	Dec 30 14:13:36	daemon	debug	dhcpd	dnsmasq-dhcp: sendLeaseMessageToESMD esmd ret=1
199	Dec 30 14:13:36	daemon	debug	dhcpd	dnsmasq-dhcp: sendLeaseMessageToESMD send to esmd buf = {\"ac\":\"add\",\"expire\":\"298613\",\"mac\":\"20:23:51:59:00:e8\",\"ip\":\"192.168.1.185\",\"host\":\"deco-M5\",\"vendor\":\"udhcp 1.22.1\",\"moui\":\"\",\"serial\":\"\",\"pclass\":\"*\",\"cid\":\"01:20:23:51:59:00:e8\",\"ifname\":\"br1\"}
200	Dec 30 14:13:36	daemon	info	dhcpd	dnsmasq-dhcp: sendLeaseMessageToESMD
201	Dec 30 14:13:35	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: set_LTE_connection_status: Down
202	Dec 30 14:13:34	user	alert	cellwan	RILCMD: [RESET] State back to RS_INIT
203	Dec 30 14:13:34	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: RILCMD STATE: RS_UPDATE ============> RS_INIT
204	Dec 30 14:13:34	user	alert	cellwan	RILCMD: [RESET] Module state unsync with CM
205	Dec 30 14:13:15	user	info	esmd	esmd: receving ZCFG_MSG_WAN_INTERNET_LED_UPDATE
206	Dec 30 14:13:15	user	info	esmd	esmd: check3GWanStatus: Enter
207	Dec 30 14:13:15	user	info	esmd	esmd: wanConnctionLostHandle: Enter
208	Dec 30 14:13:14	user	notice	system	zcmdModuleCfg: System: Wan interface Cellular WAN 1 connection lost
209	Dec 30 14:13:14	user	info	esmd	esmd: receving ZCFG_MSG_WAN_INTERNET_LED_UPDATE
210	Dec 30 14:13:13	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: RILCMD STATE: RS_READY ============> RS_UPDATE
211	Dec 30 14:13:13	kern	debug	tr69	ZTR69: [STATUS] cwmp_main_proc(): *state change to 1*
212	Dec 30 14:13:13	kern	debug	tr69	ZTR69: [STATUS] cwmp_main_proc(): *current state=1, cmd=1*
213	Dec 30 14:13:13	kern	debug	tr69	ZTR69: [DB ] cwmp_cmd_proc(): ipcCmd=1, data={ }
214	Dec 30 14:13:08	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: Close all the qmiclientIds of idx=0.
215	Dec 30 14:13:08	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: Close qmiclientId[0][11] 54
216	Dec 30 14:13:08	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: Close qmiclientId[0][3] 53
217	Dec 30 14:13:08	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: Close qmiclientId[0][2] 52
218	Dec 30 14:13:08	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: Close qmiclientId[0][1] 51
219	Dec 30 14:13:08	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: set_LTE_connection_status: Down
220	Dec 30 14:13:08	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: Rilcmd: Status change to Down.
221	Dec 30 14:13:07	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: cid[1]: ip address change from 10.188.204.205 to 10.156.73.208.
222	Dec 30 14:13:07	user	notice	cellwan	RILCMD: isChange=1, old IP=[10.188.204.205], new IP=[10.156.73.208]

There’s that ominous IP address change, which might indicate a problem at the mobile cell level rather than the device itself. However, it seems that every WAN IP change is followed by the next events and eventually the connection dropping.

Here is some basic information:

Mobile Band: Auto Select
Cellular Lock: Disabled
Device Model: NR7102 (Serial: S220Z03005524)
Firmware Version: 1.00(ABYD.3)C0
Qualcomm Module Firmware: RG502QEUAAR12A03M4G (no updates found)

This device is now two years old. I got it as a replacement for my previous modem, which suddenly died on November 25th, 2022. These modems aren't the cheapest, but unfortunately, they seem to fail at a similar age.

bastigrun · December 2024

I'm the OP and I can confirm that I still have that issue as well. I'm on the up-to-date firmware, of course. I also updated the modem module firmware which seemed to help a little bit - it's not as often anymore, but it still happens.

I have pretty much the same setup like the posting before: I have a great 5G connection, living next to a powerful cell tower, everything works great until the router decides to freeze with the QMI error. Other devices continue to work just fine.

What gets on my nerve the most is that after the QMI error, nothing works. I have to manually restart the router. That's especially nervewrecking when it happens when I'm in bed using my internet or watching Netflix and suddendly the connection is just gone. If it would at least reset automatically - but it won't! Even worse is the error when I'm not at home, but I need my WiFi up and running.

If at least the device would reboot on it's on when the error appears, then the problem wouldn't be as severe and I'm baffled that the firmware doesn't account for that. It does account for other connection loss cases, though - so it can't be that difficult.

My device is around one year old now. I still do have warranty, but it's hard to tell if sending it in will solve it, especially after the problem improved a little bit after the module update. On the other hand, it did work well for a year. So it still might be a degrading hardware issue.

I'm still in the process of collecting logs and doing some debugging here and there or trying out different settings to see if something improves. However, as it currently doesn't improve (and especially as others have the same issue), I guess I need to call up Zyxel (again) and see what the options are.

I agree that the devices aren't cheap and currently -after having been a satisfied Fritz-User for over a decade- I'm not convinced by their reliability, sadly. Probably we're lucky and someone from Zyxel is willing to take a closer look and do their on research.

Lanttu42 · December 2024

I am also on a warranty, but as this is the second device malfunctioning and I need to make some arrangements to change the modem outside of the building, I am now looking for some other manufacturers as I have slight trust issues with Zyxel now (again). Funny thou, that I used to be against Zyxel because of their low quality of Pro devices when I was younger IT-guy 25 years ago and I decided to give them a try with these modems….

Sadly it seems that nothing is changed…

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Lanttu42 · January 2

I dropped to LTE from 5G and at the moment it seems to be more stable. I know that it is not the solution, but give some ideas what is happening.

Friday · January 8

Hi @bastigrun,

What module fw are you using currently?

bastigrun · January 8

Mine is RG502QEAACR13A02M4G_ZYXEL.

NR5101 randomly loses network connection (log says: QMI error)

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