Will external modem increase SMS throughput?

Will external modem increase SMS throughput? SearchSearch
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Phil Yuen
New member
Username: Philyuen

Post Number: 1
Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 10:09 am:   

We just tested SMS receiving throughput on a nokia 6102. It receives 10 per minute.

We were wondering if we switched to a real GPRS modem like an aircard or wavecom/sierra external modem, will that increase throughput?

BTW, is sending SMS through the phone or modem done using the data plan or SMS plan?

Thanks!

Bryce Norwood - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Bryce

Post Number: 5653
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Thursday, March 16, 2006 - 04:09 pm:   

Hi Phil,

I would expect better throughput with a dedicated GPRS modem device, but exactly how much better throughput would depend on your mobile operator's system.

Make sure you have "SMS Access" set to "GPRS". And try setting "SMS Message Storage" to "Direct to Modem" for best performance.

Most phone modems don't support this latter "Direct to Modem" setting, and usually NowSMS will automatically fall back to the default mode for receiving SMS messages in those instances.

But dedicated GPRS modem devices do support this setting, and it speeds up the process of receiving messages because there is less work that must be done by the device in processing the received message.

Sending SMS always comes out of the SMS plan. You're still sending through the operator SMSC, it's just going over the packet switched network, which is faster. (However, not all mobile operators support SMS over the packet switched network.) The sending does not use up any data on a "data plan" because the SMS sending occurs at a lower level protocol, and data plans only charge for IP traffic.

-bn
Phil Yuen
New member
Username: Philyuen

Post Number: 2
Registered: 03-2006
Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 02:54 pm:   

Thanks for your reply.

Our operator is Cingular in the US, do you know from your experience that a modem would help in that network or should be move to T-Mobile?

I had "Direct to Modem" checked when we tested it already, I'll try GPRS.

What's the best throughput you have seen in the US? Can you share what the network and device is?

Thanks!
Bryce Norwood - NowSMS Support
Board Administrator
Username: Bryce

Post Number: 5670
Registered: 10-2002
Posted on Friday, March 17, 2006 - 06:15 pm:   

Hi Phil,

I have not done any throughput testing on Cingular. And I can't say that I've gotten any feedback from anyone with regard to this issue on the Cingular network.

I have done some testing on T-Mobile in the US ... focused more on sending than receiving. And I did see rates of about 55 messages per minute possible using a Multitech GPRS modem (and similar throughput on a Sierra Wireless Aircard).

However, I can also tell you that "SMS over GPRS" support does not seem to be everywhere in T-Mobile's coverage area. I worked on a project last year with someone who found that they were not able to get SMS over GPRS working with T-Mobile in New York City ... however they were in Baltimore. So this is one of those things that can also be location dependent (possibly related to how many of these US networks were built with a series of acquisitions of smaller networks).

-bn