WSAL21705 – RM500Q-GL 5G HAT/en

Documentation notice: This technical documentation was independently rewritten from an archived supplier source. Check technical details and commands against the product version and manufacturer documentation before use.

Summary

The RM500Q-GL 5G HAT is an M.2 B-Key expansion board that connects a Quectel RM500Q-GL module to a host such as a Raspberry Pi, PC, or Jetson Nano. It provides USB 3.1 (backward compatible with USB 2.0), four antenna connectors, two SIM slots, and integrated power via USB-C.

Related products at JW Tech

Technical overview

Interfaces: Standard M.2 B-Key slot, compatible with RM500U-CN, RM500Q-GL, RM500Q-AE, and RM502Q-AE modules; USB 3.1 connector (USB 2.0 backward compatible) for connecting to a PC, Raspberry Pi, or Jetson Nano.
Controls: DIP switches enable the UART, PWR, and RST pins; a separate switch enables the USB-C power input; additional power switch, reset button, and status LED.
SIM cards: Two SIM slots in dual-card single-standby mode; slot 1 is active by default, slot 2 is on the back and must be selected via AT command; support depends on the installed module.
RM500Q-GL band support: 5G NR Sub-6 (n41, n78, n79), LTE-FDD (B1, B3, B5, B8), LTE-TDD (B34, B38, B39, B40, B41); no mmWave; no GNSS; voice calls via headphone port are not supported.
Power supply: High-efficiency onboard power circuitry rated up to 3 A output current; external power can be supplied through USB-C (5 V, 3 A); the power switch selects between USB power (via the USB 3.1 port) and external power (via USB-C).
Cooling: An onboard cooling fan cools both the Raspberry Pi and the 5G module simultaneously; the fan header supplies 5 V to the fan.
OS compatibility note: Do not use RNDIS or ECM mode under Windows; MBIM is recommended there. Under Linux, RNDIS or ECM modes are available.
Module selection: Choosing the right module (e.g., RM500Q-GL vs. RM502Q-AE) depends on region, frequency bands, and desired features (GNSS, voice, dual SIM).

Commands and examples – verify before use:

AT
ATE1 / ATE0
AT+CGMI
AT+CGMM
AT+CGSN
AT+CSUB
AT+QGMR
AT+IPR?
AT+CFUN=1,1
AT+QUIMSLOT?
AT+CPIN?
AT+COPS?
AT+CEREG?
AT+C5GREG?
AT+QENG="servingcell"
AT+QNWPREFCFG="mode_pref",AUTO
AT+QNWPREFCFG="mode_pref",N

Notes and version constraints

Exact compatibility with hosts other than PC, Raspberry Pi, and Jetson Nano is not fully documented; pin conflicts must be checked before using other hosts.
A 5G module must be installed for operation; the card will not function without one inserted.
Dual-SIM switching requires module support; not all modules support both slots.
Under Windows, drivers must be installed manually; without correct drivers, unknown devices appear in Device Manager.
When using Ubuntu/Raspberry Pi, network configuration must be done via AT commands; if the connection fails, use AT+CPIN?, AT+COPS?, and AT+QENG="servingcell" for troubleshooting.
Supported frequency bands depend on the chosen module variant; regional band coverage should be verified before purchase.

Source and revision record

RM500Q-GL 5G HAT - Waveshare Wiki
Source revision: 78059
Captured: 2026-09-03T03:17:49+00:00
SHA-256: 136df2e63185847a68db75976958b59926e605f32e5e42c7fa7fff274afe11f1