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Luis Cazares
New member
Username: Lcazares

Post Number: 1
Registered: 07-2014
Posted on Friday, July 04, 2014 - 04:53 pm:   

Hi, i use the nowsms for trial, i have this product for around 5 days and this stop to send message 2 times.

All message are Queue, the workaround i disconnect the Modem and i connect again.

But this is not good, because is in production.

Regards
Des - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Desosms

Post Number: 4939
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Friday, July 04, 2014 - 07:51 pm:   

Hi,

Additional info would be helpful.

What version of NowSMS?

What model modem is this?

If you are not using special developer oriented SMS types, consider using an Android phone as a modem. In most cases, a quality inexpensive Android phone like the Moto G or Moto E will be more reliable than a dedicated modem device.

If this is a USB modem, especially a Huawei brand modem, it may be necessary to have the software that came with the modem active and running while NowSMS is running.

Other modems may require a firmware or driver update from the manufacturer to fix bugs. A lot of these modems ship with old drivers that predate Windows 7 or 8.

If this is a USB modem that uses a Prolific PL2303 chipset, which is very common, especially with Wavecom modems, it may require a driver update. (Look for the screen shots in the following thread for more details: http://support.nowsms.com/discus/messages/1/72456.html)

In 99% of the cases, restarting the NowSMS services will not fix the problem, because the software/firmware inside of the modem has crashed. The only way to recover is to remove power from there modem, then restore power, so the modem can restart. If this is a USB device that draws power from the PC, rebooting the PC will usually fix the problem because rebooting temporarily removes power from the modem so that the modem will restart.

For this reason, there is an option in NowSMS under the properties of the modem in the SMSC list to "Reboot System if modem is not accessible". This is only recommended if the system is dedicated for NowSMS. In this case, if the modem fails and NowSMS cannot recover, it will reboot the PC, which will usually reset the modem.

(In NowSMS Lite, to enable the automatic reboot if the modem cannot be accessed, edit SMSGW.INI. Locate the [Modem - your modem driver name] section header, and underneath of it, add RebootOnModemError=Yes )

To summarize (an add a few tips):

1.) Try restarting the NowSMS services. If this alone fixes the problem, let us know because this requires more investigation.

2.) If this is a USB stick modem (especially Huawei), try loading the software that ams with the modem and see if this improves reliability. (Some modem software may have features that remove received SMS from the modem. If you have problems receiving SMS, look for config settings in the modem software to keep messages on the SIM). If this is a USB Modem with the Prolific PL2303 chipset, see the other post I referenced.

3.) Try the reboot setting, if you are using a dedicated PC for NowSMS.

4.) Configure alerts in NowSMS to send a email when an error condition occurs. This will tell you when the modem fails.

5.) Try a different USB port, different USB cable, and or a different PC. USB power fluctuation is the number 1 reason why these modems crash.

6.) Try a different modem. If you are not using special developer oriented SMS types, consider using an Android phone as a modem. In most cases, a quality inexpensive Android phone like the Moto G or Moto E will be more reliable than a dedicated modem device.

--
Des
NowSMS Support
Luis Cazares
New member
Username: Lcazares

Post Number: 2
Registered: 07-2014
Posted on Friday, July 04, 2014 - 08:04 pm:   

Hi i have a modem USB Nokia Internet Stick CS-10.

The version of the nowsms is : 2013-11-15

I can not restart the pc, because is a server, the OS is Windows server 2008 64 bits.
Exist some workaround to restart the USB modem with nowsms??

I solve the problem i switch the USB modem to another USB port and is working again.

Regards
Des - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Desosms

Post Number: 4940
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Friday, July 04, 2014 - 08:42 pm:   

I don't have any experience with the CS-10, but 64 bit Windows may be the problem. NowSMS is fine with x64, but the drivers for that modem may have never been certified for 64-bit Windows, or for Windows Server. Actually, the Server part may be the bigger issue.

A quick web search on that model number shows people looking for 64 bit compatible drivers for that modem.

I would suggest trying the NowSMS 2014.05.30 download that is currently on our web site. It does have one change to modem handling that might improve things. But chances are it will not make a difference.

I'd suggest trying a PC running a non-server edition of Windows.

Or, the Android modem option that I also mentioned. NowSMS talks to the modem via WiFi so there is no USB driver to interfere. The Android modem quick start is here: http://www.nowsms.com/now-sms-mms-android-modem-quick-start-guide

--
Des
NowSMS Support
Luis Cazares
New member
Username: Lcazares

Post Number: 3
Registered: 07-2014
Posted on Monday, July 14, 2014 - 10:57 pm:   

I change de usb modem and i will wait is this was the problem.
If the the problem persist, i will do you suggestion.

Regards
Luis Cazares
New member
Username: Lcazares

Post Number: 4
Registered: 07-2014
Posted on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 - 10:30 pm:   

I change the USB Modem, and this fail again.

Today i install the USB Modem in a Windows 7 32bits, i hope this time go smoothly.

Regards
Luis Cazares
New member
Username: Lcazares

Post Number: 6
Registered: 07-2014
Posted on Monday, August 25, 2014 - 08:30 pm:   

i still have the problem.

What i need to do?
Des - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Desosms

Post Number: 5011
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - 05:22 pm:   

Hi Luis,

OK ... let's start over, because as I read back through this thread, I realize that I have very little information about the problem that you are experiencing.

Please answer each of the following questions:

1.) When the messages are stuck, is NowSMS reporting a modem error?

I am referring to the "Status" page in NowSMS Lite or the "Service" page in NowSMS, as shown in the following examples.




2.) Does the SMSOUT-yyyymmdd.LOG report any errors? If yes, what errors?

3.) When the problem occurs, does restarting the NowSMS service resolve the problem or do you have to remove and reinsert the modem?

(Restart the service via the Stop/Start buttons shown in the above screen captures.)

4.) You tried another modem. Is it the same model (Nokia CS-10) or a different model?

5.) Are you both sending or receiving messages, or sending only?

6.) Did you update the NowSMS version, as previously recommended? To update, download the latest trial version from our web site (http://www.nowsms.com/download-free-trial) and run the install program (nowsms-install.exe or nowsms.exe). This will upgrade and preserve all settings. DO NOT UNINSTALL as part of this process.

7.) Answer the above questions first, then do the following as a next step:

Enable the SMSDEBUG.LOG using the checkbox setting on the "Serial #" page. When the problem is again noticed, before removing and reinserting the modem, save a copy of the SMSDEBUG.LOG and SMSDEBUG.BAK files, and email them to nowsms@nowsms.com with Attention: Des in the subject line of the email. This will help me understand what is failing on the system. (If you do email these files, please post a quick reply here also, in case I need the message is not routed to me properly and I need to look for the message.)

--
Des
NowSMS Support
Luis Cazares
New member
Username: Lcazares

Post Number: 8
Registered: 07-2014
Posted on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - 07:06 pm:   

I don´t have the log right now, but dont show any error.

All message go queue and dont send, the workaround is disconnect the USB modem and connect again, the restart service is not working with this issue.

We try to another modem and i had the same problem.

Here some images.

SMS
Erro2
Luis Cazares
New member
Username: Lcazares

Post Number: 9
Registered: 07-2014
Posted on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - 07:09 pm:   

I dont know if is problem of the USB Modem, because my client send around of 1000 sms for month, i dont know if exist some limitation with the program nowsms or the usb modem.

Do you know some special usb modem to do this and support more than 1000 messages at month??

Regards
Des - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Desosms

Post Number: 5012
Registered: 08-2008
Posted on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - 10:01 pm:   


quote:

We try to another modem and i had the same problem.




The same model/manufacturer or different? Both modems are Nokia CS-10?

If you have to remove/reinsert the modem, it does suggest the modem is failing.

But I would like to see logs or screen captures that show the problem. I mentioned SMSOUT-yyyymmdd.LOG, for example. To be clear, yyyymmdd = year month day, like 20140826.

When the system stops sending, I would expect "Outbound SMS Queue" to show a number greater than 0, meaning there are messages waiting to be sent out. I would also expect either a red status error (like in my examples), or messages retrying and failing.

The event log shows a problem accessing the modem on July 1, and it was resolved 1 minute later.

To have any hope of troubleshooting this, we need more information. So I'm going to refer back to my message of earlier today...

#2 - Look back at SMSOUT-yyyymmdd.LOG. Were any errors logged in this log around the date/time that errors occurred?

#4 - You tried another modem. Is it the same model (Nokia CS-10) or a different model?

#6 - Update the NowSMS version. See the more detailed instructions in my earlier message.

#7 - Enable the SMSDEBUG.LOG as previously described, and let's see what that log shows us is happening before and during the time when the modem is not working.


quote:

Do you know some special usb modem to do this and support more than 1000 messages at month??




1000 is not a lot ... around 35 per day.

There are hundreds of different models of these modems, often with operator specific versions, and different models available in different countries, so it is difficult to make a recommendation.

The current version of NowSMS supports using an Android phone as a modem, and for most modem scenarios, I would prefer an Android phone instead of a USB modem. (Exception is if you have a nee to send binary message types.) Moto G is a reasonably priced unlocked Android phone and decent specs, which is a good choice.

Using an Android phone as a modem offers significant advantages if you are sending and/or receiving MMS, and for multiple modem configurations. (Many USB modems were not designed with the consideration that multiple devices might be installed in the same machine and their drivers cannot sometimes handle it.)

For USB modems, older Option ICON modems were quite good (3xx and 2xx series). Generally speaking, Huawei modems are ok, but there are probably 100 different models just from Huawei. The E160 and E173 are budget models we have had good experience with. AVOID any models with "router" or WiFi support as they tend to not work well for SMS or MMS. Novotel, Sierra Wireless and iTegno are other brands that generally work well.

--
Des
NowSMS Support