Hello, I am thinking about purchasing a MT KNOT. Since I already have an R11e-LR8, I wonder whether the non-LoRa KNOT is user upgradeable (has an empty mPCIe slot). Thank you.

If you mean:
https://mikrotik.com/product/knot
It does not have a free miniPCIe slot that you can use.

Devices, like:
https://mikrotik.com/product/RBwAPR-2nD
Do have one. You need to check the specifications page and check the "Peripherals" section. If the device has a usable miniPCIe slot, it will indicate it under there.

@denissMT

Why then does Getic sell them with and without the LR8?

https://www.getic.com/product/mikrotik-knot-lr8-kit

https://www.getic.com/product/mikrotik-knot

The knot that is not the LR8 kit should have a spare mini pcie slot?

I don't have one to check, but Mikrotik would know. I suspect it's like the Audience: the non-LTE one doesn't have the miniPCIe slot soldered to the board, while the LTE ones come with both the needed slot and module (e.g. you can't add LTE to the non-LTE Audience) – imagine same situation with KNOT vs KNOT LR8 kit.

If you're buying a new device for just for LoRa and have the LR8 modules, the wAPacR does have a slot (and actually more powerful ARM than MIPSBE KNOT). All the KNOT have Bluetooth and the serial/etc pins for sensors, stuff not on other RouterBoards, so why the sell separately.

@denissMT

Why then does Getic sell them with and without the LR8?

https://www.getic.com/product/mikrotik-knot-lr8-kit

https://www.getic.com/product/mikrotik-knot

The knot that is not the LR8 kit should have a spare mini pcie slot?

As mentioned above, we have KNOT and KNOT LR8:
https://mikrotik.com/product/knot
and
https://mikrotik.com/product/knot_lr8

The "basic" KNOT does not have a usable miniPCIe slot - it is not meant to be used with miniPCIe cards by design.
For the "LR8/LR9" KNOT, we've added it and pre-installed a LoRa card there.

They are two different products.

@denissMT thank you for the confirmation.

I have LoRa-less KNOT, but I was just curious if this can be added. I soldered miniPCIe slot, but no success. A little investigation what is connected where, and the result is that modem and LR8 are using USB. CPU in KNOT has only one USB port, so it has to be switched. I discovered 2 very small resistors close to modem that can be used to route USB lines to modem or to miniPCIe slot. I re-soldered them, and then LR8 is working, but modem is not...

What You do when You have not enough USB ports? I use the HUB

I developed small one, and embedded into KNOT to connect botm - modem and miniPCIe slot at the same time. And.. it works

That's some good info, thanks. Also nice mod. As a bonus you now have two more USB ports usable for something else (sensors, serial ports, etc.).

Hey,

I bought a KNOT without LoRa, because I have a R11e-lr8 laying around. And was disappointed because there is no Mini PCIe Slot

@Boa82 I need one

I also face the same problem. KNOT (RB924i-2nD-BT5&BG77) was available at our distributor and also R11e-LR8 cards were on stock. But after the delivery I was really disapointed. Why do you at MikroTik call RB924i-2nD-BT5&BG77&R11e-LR8 as KNOT LR8 kit? As the name suggests, for me, KIT means that there is some option pre-installed in the factory, in this case R11e-LR8 card. But I would never think, that KNOT without R11e-LR8 card would be manufactured without miniPCIe slot... Please change the name as many of us gets confused and disapointed...

I tend to agree that it is confusing - especially since the LR8/9 use the word "kit". And for a flexible device like the KNOT, that the "base model" doesn't have miniPCIe slot is bit surprising.

In fairness, spec do show miniPCIe as "1" in spec ONLY on the LoRa "kits", so is in written down. But that's not the first place someone look if ordering parts.