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How to test SMS-Modem using minicom?

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How do I test my SMS-Modem using a terminal emulator such as Minicom?

Answer Copied

Please Note ITRS does not directly support hardware or issues related to GSM/SMS modems, this FAQ is provided as a guidance only.

Jump to step 5 to skip Minicom configuration.

  1. Use the built in logs to identify the different serial ports on your system.
root@monitor:~# dmesg | grep ttyserial8250: ttyS0 at I/O 0x3f8 (irq = 4) is a 16550A serial8250: ttyS1 at I/O 0x2f8 (irq = 3) is a 16550A 00:06: ttyS0 at I/O 0x3f8 (irq = 4) is a 16550A 00:07: ttyS1 at I/O 0x2f8 (irq = 3) is a 16550A
  1. Start Minicom
root@monitor:~# minicom

You should see “Initializing Modem” followed by “Welcome to Minicom”.

If you get something like:

minicom: WARNING: configuration file not found, using defaults Device /dev/modem access failed: No such file or directory.

Then run:

root@monitor:~# minicom -s

Select Serial port setup > A and set correct device, i.e. /dev/ttyS0

Baud rate should be 115200 in minicom.

Press Enter, then select Save setup asdfl. You should now see “Initializing Modem” or be able to run Minicom

  1. If necessary, Press CTRL-A then Z to enter menu.

Select port connected to modem:

Press O > Serial port setup, press A to G for device to use and settings. Press Enter to exit.

  1. You may want to turn local Echo on so that you can see your commands: From Menu (CTRL-A then Z), press E.

From Welcome screen “E1” and Enter

  1. Test modem:

From Welcome screen, type “ATI” to get status:

ATISIEMENS MC35i REVISION 01.03

Type: AT+CREG? to get network status:

AT+CREG?+CREG: 0,1

+CREG: ,[,,[,]]

where 0 - not registered, ME is not currently searching a new operator to register to 1 - registered, home network 2 - not registered, but ME is currently searching a new operator to register to 3 - registration denied 4 -unknown 5 - registered, roaming where: - Local Area Code for the currently registered on cell - Cell Id for the currently registered on cell : access technology of the registered network: 0 GSM 2 UTRAN Note: , and and are reported only if =2 and the mobile is registered on some network cell.

Type: AT+CPIN? to get SIM PIN status:

AT+CPIN?+CPIN: READY

+CPIN: where: - PIN/PUK/PUK2 request status code READY - ME is not pending for any password SIM PIN - ME is waiting SIM PIN to be given SIM PUK - ME is waiting SIM PUK to be given PH-SIM PIN - ME is waiting phone-to-SIM card password to be given PH-FSIM PIN - ME is waiting phone-to-very first SIM card password to be given PH-FSIM PUK - ME is waiting phone-to-very first SIM card unblocking password to be given SIM PIN2 - ME iswaiting SIM PIN2 to be given; this is returned only when the last executed command resulted in PIN2 authentication failure (i.e. +CME ERROR: 17)

SIM PUK2 - ME is waitingSIM PUK2 to be given; this is returned only when the last executed command resulted in PUK2 authentication failure (i.e. +CME ERROR: 18) PH-NET PIN - ME is waiting network personalization password to be given PH-NET PUK - ME is waiting network personalization unblocking password to be given PH-NETSUB PIN - ME is waiting network subset personalization password to be given PH-NETSUB PUK - ME is waiting network subset personalization unblocking password to be given PH-SP PIN - ME is waiting service provider personalization password to be given PH-SP PUK - ME is waiting service provider personalization unblocking password to be given PH-CORP PIN - ME is waiting corporate personalization password to be given PH-CORP PUK -ME iswaiting corporate personalization unblocking password to be given

Type: AT+CSQ to get signal strength:

AT+CSQ+CSQ: 17,99

+CSQ: , where - received signal strength indication 0 - (-113) dBm or less 1 - (-111) dBm 2..30 - (-109)dBm..(-53)dBm / 2 dBm per step 31 - (-51)dBm or greater 99 - not known or not detectable - bit error rate (in percent) 0 - less than 0.2% 1 - 0.2% to 0.4% 2 - 0.4% to 0.8% 3 - 0.8% to 1.6% 4 - 1.6% to 3.2% 5 - 3.2% to 6.4% 6 - 6.4% to 12.8% 7 - more than 12.8% 99 - not known or not detectable

  1. Exit Minicom:

CTRL-A then Z then X, you should see “Resetting modem”

For more help about minicom, either do: man minicom or minicom –help.

Other useful commands/information Copied

Sending SMS

AT+CMGF=1AT+CMGS="+4670xxxxxx"Write message here. <ctrl+z>

Human readable signal strength Copied

Signal strength will be reported insmsd.logif verbosity is increased to 7 in /etc/smsd.conf. If there’s alot of information in /var/log/smsd/smsd.log and you can’t find the right line, use grep and search for dBm.

["Geneos"] ["FAQ"]

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