diff --git a/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/dlsim.c b/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/dlsim.c
index 2bd70021f7..c158f682d9 100644
--- a/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/dlsim.c
+++ b/openair1/SIMULATION/NR_PHY/dlsim.c
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ void update_dmrs_config(NR_CellGroupConfig_t *scg,PHY_VARS_NR_UE *ue, int8_t* dm
 
 /* specific dlsim DL preprocessor: uses rbStart/rbSize/mcs from command line of
    dlsim, does not search for CCE/PUCCH occasion but simply sets to 0 */
-int g_mcsIndex = -1, g_rbStart = -1, g_rbSize = -1;
+int g_mcsIndex = -1, g_mcsTableIdx = 0, g_rbStart = -1, g_rbSize = -1;
 void nr_dlsim_preprocessor(module_id_t module_id,
                            frame_t frame,
                            sub_frame_t slot,
@@ -181,10 +181,11 @@ void nr_dlsim_preprocessor(module_id_t module_id,
   sched_ctrl->rbSize = g_rbSize;
   sched_ctrl->mcs = g_mcsIndex;
   sched_ctrl->time_domain_allocation = 2;
-  sched_ctrl->mcsTableIdx = 0;
+  sched_ctrl->mcsTableIdx = g_mcsTableIdx;
   AssertFatal(sched_ctrl->rbStart >= 0, "invalid rbStart %d\n", sched_ctrl->rbStart);
   AssertFatal(sched_ctrl->rbSize > 0, "invalid rbSize %d\n", sched_ctrl->rbSize);
   AssertFatal(sched_ctrl->mcs >= 0, "invalid sched_ctrl->mcs %d\n", sched_ctrl->mcs);
+  AssertFatal(sched_ctrl->mcsTableIdx >= 0 && sched_ctrl->mcsTableIdx <= 2, "invalid sched_ctrl->mcsTableIdx %d\n", sched_ctrl->mcsTableIdx);
   sched_ctrl->numDmrsCdmGrpsNoData = 1;
 }
 
@@ -280,7 +281,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
   FILE *scg_fd=NULL;
   
-  while ((c = getopt (argc, argv, "f:hA:pf:g:i:j:n:s:S:t:x:y:z:M:N:F:GR:dPIL:Ea:b:e:m:w:T:U:")) != -1) {
+  while ((c = getopt (argc, argv, "f:hA:pf:g:i:j:n:s:S:t:x:y:z:M:N:F:GR:dPIL:Ea:b:e:m:w:T:U:q")) != -1) {
     switch (c) {
     case 'f':
       scg_fd = fopen(optarg,"r");
@@ -452,6 +453,11 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
       g_mcsIndex = atoi(optarg);
       break;
 
+    case 'q':
+      g_mcsTableIdx = 1;
+      get_softmodem_params()->use_256qam_table = 1;
+      break;
+
     case 'm':
       mu = atoi(optarg);
       break;
@@ -507,6 +513,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
       printf("-c Start symbol for PDSCH (fixed for now)\n");
       printf("-j Number of symbols for PDSCH (fixed for now)\n");
       printf("-e MSC index\n");
+      printf("-q Use 2nd MCS table (256 QAM table) for PDSCH\n");
       printf("-t Acceptable effective throughput (in percentage)\n");
       printf("-T Enable PTRS, arguments list L_PTRS{0,1,2} K_PTRS{2,4}, e.g. -T 2 0 2 \n");
       printf("-U Change DMRS Config, arguments list DMRS TYPE{0=A,1=B} DMRS AddPos{0:2}, e.g. -U 2 0 2 \n");
diff --git a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/nr_ue_procedures.c b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/nr_ue_procedures.c
index aa569289e1..7f767ef3ff 100644
--- a/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/nr_ue_procedures.c
+++ b/openair2/LAYER2/NR_MAC_UE/nr_ue_procedures.c
@@ -3859,8 +3859,6 @@ int8_t nr_ue_process_dci(module_id_t module_id, int cc_id, uint8_t gNB_index, fr
     dlsch_config_pdu_1_1->rate_matching_ind = dci->rate_matching_indicator.val;
     /* ZP_CSI_RS_TRIGGER */
     dlsch_config_pdu_1_1->zp_csi_rs_trigger = dci->zp_csi_rs_trigger.val;
-    /* MCS TABLE INDEX */
-    dlsch_config_pdu_1_1->mcs_table = (pdsch_config->mcs_Table) ? (*pdsch_config->mcs_Table + 1) : 0;
     /* MCS (for transport block 1)*/
     dlsch_config_pdu_1_1->mcs = dci->mcs;
     // Basic sanity check for MCS value to check for a false or erroneous DCI
@@ -4014,7 +4012,7 @@ int8_t nr_ue_process_dci(module_id_t module_id, int cc_id, uint8_t gNB_index, fr
             
     dl_config->number_pdus = dl_config->number_pdus + 1;
     /* TODO same calculation for MCS table as done in UL */
-    dlsch_config_pdu_1_1->mcs_table = 0;
+    dlsch_config_pdu_1_1->mcs_table = (pdsch_config->mcs_Table) ? (*pdsch_config->mcs_Table + 1) : 0;
     /*PTRS configuration */
     if(mac->DLbwp[0]->bwp_Dedicated->pdsch_Config->choice.setup->dmrs_DownlinkForPDSCH_MappingTypeA->choice.setup->phaseTrackingRS != NULL) {
       valid_ptrs_setup = set_dl_ptrs_values(mac->DLbwp[0]->bwp_Dedicated->pdsch_Config->choice.setup->dmrs_DownlinkForPDSCH_MappingTypeA->choice.setup->phaseTrackingRS->choice.setup,