Dear All,
I have a couple of Campbell Scinetific branded COM110 modems that were supplied to us from the UK, with some other equipment. They seem to be set up for the UK mobile phone GSM 2G system as far as I can gather. We use the 3G system here, although 2G is still available for the moment. I have both a 2G and a NextG SIM card available to try, and I'm trying to talk to the modem using Hyperterminal, but I can't even get a connection.
Does anyone know anything about these devices and whether it is possible to set them up for use in Australia?
Any ideas much appreciated.
Frank
Try 9600 or 115200 baud
Thank you Steve. I have tried connecting to the modem at 9600 and at 115200 and in fact most other speed options, but it won't talk. I've tried hardware flow control and "no flow control" but no difference.
Baud rate is usually the issue so next to look at are the cables you are using from the modem to the PC. This should be a serial cable male to female. For the COM110 you need a 15 pin male to 9 pin female db9.
I have made these up using a 15 pin VGA cable off an old computer screen.
Again, thanks for your efforts Steve. I have plenty of these 15 pin to 9 pin cables that have been supplied with other modems that use the same system. I assume that the pinouts used would be pretty standard.
Maybe I'll look into that a bit more.
I am starting to run out of ideas now.
Just to check that I understand.
The COM110 is powered up and the 15 pin to 9 pin cable is connected directly between the modem and your PC.
Is this the set up?
yES, that's it. I have an rs232 serial cable connected to the COM1 port on my computer, this then plugs into the 9 pin end of the 9/15 blue cable; the 15 pin end goes to the socket on the com110 modem.
I've powered up the modem with a 12V battery and the red LED flashes. I have an antenna connected and there is a SIM card in the slot.
I should be able to connect to it with Hyperterminal, either with or without a card inserted, I believe.
This is how I've been doing it with Modmax and SAM3G modems.
I have 2 of the com110's and I've tried both; I've tried at all baud rates from 1200 to 115200, with and without hardware flow control.
I don't understand why this won't work.
I do not understand either! The COM110 are supplied as either GSM or GPRS with baud rates of 9600 and 115200 respectively.
Obviously there are other AT setting differences but none of these will affect the HyperTerminal link.
As you have succeeded with other modems again obviously your cables and HyperTerminal settings are not the issue.
Are the COM110s new?
I have come across this issue with modems in general and the assumption has been that the modem is broken and a new one purchased. But I have never been convinced that they were broken.
I have checked the datasheets for the Modmax and SAM3G and they do not use the 15-9 cable.
Your 15-9 cables should connect 2-3, 6-2, 9-5 (I have checked one I use). But these cables are standard and I see no reason yours should be different.
There are two types of cable we sell. One is a black hand-made cable with black connectors on each end. It is a null modem cable and is designed to plug in between the modem and the logger RS232 port. This will not work for connecting the modem to a PC.
The other cable is light grey, has moulded connectors and is designed for modem configuration with a PC or for use between the modem and an SC105. This can be used to connect the modem to a PC for configuration.
One other issue we have seen in the past is when users have used one of these modems with a PC as a base station TAPI modem. Windows will often turn off echo of commands sent to the modem, during its dialling process. If you then try to configure the modem manually it appears not to respond. You can turn echo back on using ATE1<Enter>
Please note we offer a free setup tool for the COM110 which can be found here:
http://www.campbellsci.co.uk/19_1_9999_278
This does require the correct cable and the modem to be setup to run at either 9600 or 115200 baud with echo on.
Thanks very much Andrew, I'll try that setup tool.
I do believe I have the right cable. It isn't a null-modem cable.
Steve/Earlybird, thanks also. You're right, the SAM3G doesn't use that 15/9 cable, but the Modmax MM6280 does.
I'll check out the pin connections you suggested.
Missed the Modmax 15/9 connector.
Having checked the data sheet again the pins are different to what I gave. 2 is Rx and 3 is Tx. Not the same as I use on the COM110.
This could be the issue then. Assuming you are using the Modmax cable of course.
Ah! That's interesting. Thanks for that bit of detective work Steve. I'll follow that up. Looks like that could b e the problem.