Sierra Wireless 881 USB

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Paul Danter
New member
Username: Pauldanter

Post Number: 1
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 07:54 pm:   

Hi,

I'm having problems sending SMS using this Aircard. The log says:

ERROR - Modem Response (1): OK

I've tried setting up the modem using the modem name (in the SMSC config) as well as the COM port it is assigned to. I can term into the modem without any problems.

I also tried with the drivers that come with the AT&T modem, plus downloaded the generic Sierra Wireless software. I tried sending SMS messages with the native Sierra Wireless app running and without.

All these approaches give me the same error message.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

-Paul
Des - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Desosms

Post Number: 66
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Friday, August 29, 2008 - 10:18 pm:   

Hi Paul,

It sounds like the modem might not have support for the AT command standard for sending/receiving SMS (ETSI GSM 07.05, 3GPP TS 27.005).

What's happening is that NowSMS is sending the AT+CMGS command, which is a multi-step command. The modem is supposed to respond with a ">" character, indicating that it is ready fo rthe next step of the command. Instead, it is responding "OK" ... which seems to suggest that the modem does not really understand this command.

We see this situation most frequently with Blackberry devices, which don't support these AT commands, but simply return "OK" to a variety of different commands that they don't really understand.

Is it possible for you to connect to the modem using HyperTerminal? I'd like to see the results of the following commands (press Enter after each command):

ATE1V1

AT+CSMS=0

AT+CSMS?

AT+CSMS=?

AT+CMGF=1

(Above puts the modem into text mode for SMS for the next test ... NowSMS usually uses binary PDU mode)

AT+CMGS="SomePhoneNumberHere"
Modem should respond with ">" ... after getting the ">" prompt, put in some text and then press CTRL-Z

--
Des
NowSMS Support
masaharu kiyomiya
New member
Username: Kiyo

Post Number: 1
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 10:14 am:   

Hello, NowSMS Support

I've got the same problem, then try to do the solution you indicate.i have no idea how to use HyperTerminal, can you tell me how to use it?


Des - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Desosms

Post Number: 78
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Tuesday, September 02, 2008 - 06:53 pm:   

Hi,

HyperTerminal is a program included in Windows XP (but unfortunately not in Windows Vista). I believe it is also in Windows 2003 Server, but that you need to add/remove Windows components to install it, as it is not installed by default.

HyperTerminal is useful for troubleshooting modem issues, and situations like this where it is necessary to determine whether or not a modem actually supports particular functionality.

In Windows XP, you'll find HyperTerminal under Programs/Accessories/Communication in the Start menu.

When you start HyperTerminal, it has a user interface quirk that it wants you to assign a name to your session. Enter anything, it doesn't matter.

Select your modem, but leave the phone number to dial blank. Press OK. HyperTerminal will tell you the phone number is invalid, press Cancel, and you will be connected to the modem and able to issue AT commands.

The modem might not echo back what you type initially. But if you type ATE1V1 and press Enter, the modem should respond with OK ... and after this it will now echo back anything that you type.

I'm curious to see how the modem responds to the commands mentioned above.

Unfortunately, there's no good alternative for HyperTerminal under Windows Vista. When in a bind, I've used the trial version of Absolute Telnet, which you can find at http://www.celestialsoftware.net/telnet/.

When using Absolute Telnet, you need to go into "Options/Properties/Connection", and configure the COM port under "Direct to COM". Then use "File/Connect" to connect to the modem so that you can send commands to it.


--
Des
NowSMS Support
Des - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Desosms

Post Number: 117
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Monday, September 29, 2008 - 09:34 pm:   

(Another lost post from last week's web serve crash. This was originally posted by G Romeo: )

On a Sierra MP 875 i have :
=======================
AT
OK
AT+CPMS?
+CPMS: "SM",3,40,"SM",3,40,"SM",3,40

OK
AT+CPMS="ME","SM"
+CPMS: 0,255,3,40,3,40

OK
AT+CMGF=1
OK
AT+CSCA?
+CSCA: "+3093599000",145

OK
AT+CMGF=1
OK
AT+CMGW="+306937156235",145
>
ERROR

And after this very first ERROR
on every +cm, +cs command return error

AT+CMGF?
>
ERROR

AT+CSCA?
>
ERROR

AT+CSCA?
>
ERROR

AT+CPMS?
>
ERROR
Des - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Desosms

Post Number: 118
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Monday, September 29, 2008 - 09:36 pm:   

My suggestions were to try AT+CMGS instead of AT+CMGW ... but that is still an interesting log.

Press CTRL-Z to get out of the ">" mode.

Try editing SMSGW.INI, and under the [Modem - driver name] section for your modem, try adding ModemTextMode=Yes.

Let's see if that works properly. (The modem might have a problem with PDU mode that is required for sending binary messages.)

--
Des
NowSMS Support
G Romeo
New member
Username: Corfiot

Post Number: 2
Registered: 09-2008
Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 09:49 am:   

I have this response from SIERRA:

>None of our 3G MP modems support SMS.
>Thank You
>Sierra Wireless Tech Support
>877-231-1144}}
Des - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Desosms

Post Number: 123
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 - 03:32 pm:   

Thanks for that update.

It is strange that they appear to have some support for some of the commands.

It might still be worth trying the ModemTextMode=Yes setting. But, then again, if the manufacturer says it is not supported, there's probably good reason for them to say so.

--
Des
NowSMS Support
Bryce Norwood - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Bryce

Post Number: 7669
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, October 16, 2008 - 02:15 am:   

Hi,

If anyone is still following this thread, you might want to take a look at the updated information in http://support.nowsms.com/discus/messages/1/24431.html.

Apparently, contrary to the information that G Romeo got back from Sierra Wireless Tech Support, this modem does have SMS support.

The issue is that the modem installs with multiple COM ports. The COM port associated with the modem driver "Sierra Wireless AirCard 881U HSDPA Modem" does not properly implement SMS support. However, there is another COM port that gets defined by the modem driver which does include SMS support.

We are trying to get more information to determine how you identify the other COM port that gets defined by the modem driver. If no additional follow-up information is posted in this thread, please visit http://support.nowsms.com/discus/messages/1/24431.html where there is continuing active discussion regarding the Sierra Wireless 881 USB modem.

-bn