Bigpond 4G USB driver

[wedgetail]

derekf
I am a bit slow now as we are having a visitor for a couple of days. The result of ifconfig is fine it confirms you have the system running.

You seem to have a method of making the system work for you.  I am of course a bit lost as I do not get a feel for the procedure of using the modem. What do you want to do?

About drkgs suggestion of using the python script there may be people on the forum who can sort this out for us, I had a quick look about pyserial a search did not show that up in Synaptic.

Edit:
No python-serial is listed in  Synaptic, so I don't think it will be a big problem.

[derekf]

wedgetail, all is working good now. i can connect and disconnect from the connection icon in the panel. no more needs to be done.

Shall i set this topic as SOLVED now ?

 Derek.

[AS]

Glad you got it sorted out! 

Congrats to wedgetail too! 

AS

[wedgetail]

derekf
With AS showing up, no way.  

I think he can advise us on the use of the python stuff, if it is possible.

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1870382&p=3

AS
You did the work. Many thanks.  I just had a bit of fun when I started figuring out what the AT was about.  Not that I know but I recognise a lot of what we are doing, thanks to the link above.  Fair credit the those guys too, they are tenacious.

If you get a minute, in the link there is a python script.  Your opinion on that will run in Our PCLOS Linux?

[derekf]

Many Thanks to AS, wedgetail, Ramchu, Old-Polack, djohnston, muungwana, drkgs for all your links and help with my setup.

[AS]

derekf
With AS showing up, no way.  

I think he can advise us on the use of the python stuff, if it is possible.

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=1870382&p=3

AS
You did the work. Many thanks.  I just had a bit of fun when I started figuring out what the AT was about.  Not that I know but I recognise a lot of what we are doing, thanks to the link above.  Fair credit the those guys too, they are tenacious.

If you get a minute, in the link there is a python script.  Your opinion on that will run in Our PCLOS Linux?

Sorry, I don't know/use python, still I think it could work.

I see that there is another alternative solution, using bash:
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?r=33180496#r33180496

Code: [Select]

#!/bin/sh
sudo echo -e "AT+CFUN=0\r" > /dev/ttyUSB2

that could be changed as follow:

Code: [Select]

#!/bin/sh
su -c "echo -e "AT!SCACT=1,2\r" > /dev/ttyUSB2"

save that code to a file connect.sh and then apply:

Code: [Select]

chmod a+x connect.sh
a subsequent call to ./connect.sh should effectively activate the connection, a similar script could be used to deactivate the connection.

[and then..]

derekf,

Dare I ask again, since you have everything working so well - did you get a chance to try GPS on your 4G USB?

Enabling the GPS

Note: These instructions are not supported by Whirlpool or Sierra Wireless. Using them is entirely at your own risk!

To enable the GPS, connect to the appropriate port with a terminal emulator (such as Hyperterm on Windows, or minicom on Linux) and issue the following AT commands:
AT!ENTERCND="A710"
AT!CUSTOM="GPSENABLE",1

Once the modem is reconnected, you will have an additional serial device for accessing the GPS.
Note: On Linux this becomes device ttyUSB2, so you will need to connect to ttyUSB3 to send commands to the modem and ttyUSB4 for PPP connections if the GPS is enabled.

To test the GPS, you can use the following AT command:
AT!GPSFIX=1,30,10

This requests a non-assisted GPS fix with a 30 second timeout to within 10 metre accuracy. These options can be adjusted as required, AT!GPSFIX=? will give a list of valid values.

To read the position, use the command AT!GPSLOC?

Other GPS commands of interest:
AT!GPSSTATUS?
AT!GPSTRACK

http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/hw_model_1210

Cages     

[wedgetail]

AS
You thinking it may work, is enough.  I have copied the script into kwrite and had a careful look down the lines to see if there is anything obvious out of line.
Did not find anything.

Yes the bash lines may also be worth it. Good to prove it works in pclos.

derekf
I guess you would like to enjoy just playing with the setup now instead of tinkering around the corners. You could take a break and leave the thread open for a few days, or if you mark it solved you can always re-open it again.

I only have a reservation about not following a whirlpool listed  control procedure, is there a possibility that the modem or SIM card gets screwed up without. I don't know at this stage. We ought keep in mind that jhend would recommend it for a reason     I guess since you are using Linux Telstr/Bigpond will not want to know you or any problems you may have.

Whatever, I hope you may enjoy being able to use it, I got quite interested having being involved here as my ADSL is marginal. I am however very close to a communications tower so tells me there is replacement for ADSL.  Though I am not sure I am prepared to pay for much higher speed I don't really need.

drkgs
   Of course these commands can be sent via Putty. Are you considering using this in a moving vehicls, aircraft or boat? In that case have you got mapping software in mind to use?

[derekf]

I will try to get the GPS to work. Just one question is, what is or does the GPS do ? dumb question probably.

[root@8 ~]# AT!GPSFIX=1,30,10
-bash: !GPSFIX=1,30,10: event not found
[root@8 ~]# AT!GPSFIX=?
-bash: !GPSFIX=?: event not found

[wedgetail]

derekf
Notice AT in front of the commands.  These are not linux konsole commands, this is the commands for the modem. Needs to be done in Putty  

GPS = Global Postioning System, like car GPS if you know, except the modem is able to send out information using NMEA protocol, ie simple textual information one line per instruction.  The information is of various nature but most of interest might be very accurate time and even more interesting coordinate X,Y,Z of the location of the modem.

If you connect the NMEA output to mapping software application you can see where you are in real time, fascinating.  It is also possible just to record the information in a file and then you could upload this to google maps ans show goodness how many people  where you have been.

[derekf]

I have Putty loaded now. where abouts do i put in AT!GPSFIX=1,30,10 in Putty settings ?

[wedgetail]

derekf
No like before you connect Putty to the modem, get the Putty terminal screen up with the blinking cursor, this is the window where you insert the commands.

The response will then be a line every 30 seconds giving you the location, in this case it ought to be the same value within reason as the modem does not move.

[derekf]

I did it the right way and once i am connected to the net, now to test the GPS, i used the following AT command: AT!GPSFIX=1,30,10 and got a errcode =26 message.

Update. since i tried to see if the GPS would work, i now can`t connect to the net. Checked the settings in Putty and all is right in there.

In Putty settings i changed /dev/ttyUSB1 to /dev/ttyUSB3 but it didn`t connect

[wedgetail]

derekf
The GPS exercise has been dealt with to some extent starting here  http://whrl.pl/RcWh9Z

The error = 26 starts approximately here. Lots of reading an no solution as to get GPS working properly.



Whirlpool member jhend
Here http://whrl.pl/RcXemb

It has the advantage of letting you shut down the modem as you shut down the system. In turn, this prevents the possibility of corrupting the SIM by turning off the power while the modem is trying to write something to it.

Can you post your script as it stands so that we can suggest fixes and additions?

This was the reason I earlier suggested that you need some scripting to start/stop the modem or being very disciplined in manually handling the modem via Putty.

There is a Python scrip in this thread too I have not checked if that is the same.

By the way where did you buy the modem and did you buy it outright and use it on pre-paid?

[derekf]

With scripting, i have no idea how make one or where to put it. complete dumbo at doing that kind of stuff !