Is the Telecom Industry Bonkers?

A trial sim.... that to me means its free to use for a set time to evaluate it...

Maybe they want your credit card details on file in case you run off with it?

I suppose its similar to getting a free sample and having it arrive with an invoice for the full amount payable after 30 days or return the sample, undamaged and unused etc...!!

Unfortunately to try out this sample you have to use it - so how can it be returned as unused?? its not a free sample now is it??

John.

Send it back postage collect with letter it don't work. After they check it out if they do maybe some one with some knowledge other then the customer service reps you originally talked to will give you a call. Then you can really let them know what you think about their set up.

you can really let them know what you think about their set up.

Rest assured I've already given them the benefit of my opinion

Del

Ha, Calm calm...feeling much better now.. I fianlly got the wireless modem working! After yet another trip up the town! ...
I phoned to get the 'air time' put onto the Orange SIM and they asked for the phone number...but there was no phone number on the packaging!SO... I phoned the shop.. 'It's on a white sticker on the plastic wallet' 'No it'isn't' 'Are you sure?' 'Yes' 'Put it in your phone, they txt you the number' 'I havn't got a phone' 'Errrrr... are you still in town?' 'Near enough' 'Bring it back, we'll stick it in a phone and get the number...' Telecoms eh? Bonkers... They wouldn't give me a refund on the O2 sim which didn't work... They claimed the SIM was free and I'd paid for air time which was non refundable!
I didn't want to get wound up by an existentialist agument about the nature of 'airtime' so I gave up...the company paid for it anyhow... So if anyone wants £10 of airtime I'll post it to you in bubble wrap del

Dear Sirs,

I am also working on similar activity using CDMA network for communication with A-B Micrologix and RSLinx & RSView32 in a PC for remote monitoring & control application. In my case it works well with GSM modems(Wavecom module). However, with CDMA Network when I dial using RSlinx, it keep on dialing even after it is connected. So I am unable to brows the Micrologix using RSwho. As per the service provider they claim that the SIMs are enabled for VOICE & DATA SERVICES. I am using the same type of AT commands in modem dialer configuration that I used for GSM. Can some one help me out for this conectivity using CDMA network.

Thanks in advance

AK Sasee

We have Wavecom modules working on CDMA networks here in the US. Part of the problem may be the type of CDMA network. Back in the 2g days (IS-95), CDMA data was circuit switched. With the advent of 3G (1xRTT and EVDO), all data moved to packet switched, so 3G CDMA networks don't usually support any kind of dial up. What happens is your modem "dials" a number to establish the data session. Once connected, you have a standard IP type connection. If you are trying to dial another number at this point, then nothing will happen.

Interesting comment form the service provider about SIMS -- there are no SIMs on CDMA networks. It is all in the device firmware.

Once the device is connected to your service provider's network, there should be an IP address assigned to your device, as well as a Network Access Identifier (NAI, it looks like an e-mail address). You should be able to use these to establish connectivity with whatever appliances/software you are trying to reach -- as long as it is available from the Internet. If possible, use the NAI. If your service provider uses Mobile IP to assign the IP address, there is no guarantee that you will keep the same IP. In fact, it is quite likely it will change.

One caveat: all of the above comments are based on CDMA implementations in the USA. I am not familiar with the implementations in India, but I don't think they would be much different.

"We have Wavecom modules working on CDMA networks here in the US. Part of the problem may be the type of CDMA network. Back in the 2g days (IS-95), CDMA data was circuit switched. With the advent of 3G (1xRTT and EVDO), all data moved to packet switched, so 3G CDMA networks don't usually support any kind of dial up. What happens is your modem "dials" a number to establish the data session. Once connected, you have a standard IP type connection. If you are trying to dial another number at this point, then nothing will happen."

Thank you very much for this useful information.

"Once the device is connected to your service provider's network, there should be an IP address assigned to your device, as well as a Network Access Identifier (NAI, it looks like an e-mail address). You should be able to use these to establish connectivity with whatever appliances/software you are trying to reach -- as long as it is available from the Internet. If possible, use the NAI. If your service provider uses Mobile IP to assign the IP address, there is no guarantee that you will keep the same IP. In fact, it is quite likely it will change"

This I have already tried using IP Enabled CDMA SIMS with modems(Wavecom & other Modules) for SCADA application. Where in multiple controllers are connected to the SCADA using this connectivity for control & monitoring. This works fine, however the usage charges are very high as the controllers are connected to the SCADA contineously.

"Interesting comment form the service provider about SIMS -- there are no SIMs on CDMA networks. It is all in the device firmware."

Here we have handsets with CDMA service enabled and also CDMA handset/CDMA modems with a provision for SIMS. So we can get the SIM separately from the service provider.

Once again thank you for the support and information.

A K Sasee

Ok, I have learned something new -- about CDMA and SIMS. Good to know. Can you tell me the name of your service provider? I would like to do some research on this -- for my own edification. If you don't want to do it publicly, maybe you wouldn't mind sending me a CR4 e-mail?

Sorry to hear about the usage charges being so high. I guess it depends on the application being supported. Here in the US, billing is on the amount of data sent -- and we do have some plans for M2M, but that is because these devices usually have pretty low usage. It sounds like the applications you are supporting are pretty "chatty" and transmit/receive quite a bit.

Del - customer reps know nothing except what they are told to know, whatever is in their instruction book. It is usually like talking to a merry-go-round, you keep getting the same unhelpful answers. When you demand to speak to a supervisor, they make you hold interminably, then the supervisor spins you for a time with no result. At that time you immediately contact the CEO or president of the company, preferably by telephone, and at least you may get to talk to someone who can straighten out the problem.

When telephoning companies for technical advice, I normally ask to be put through to the service / calibration / repair department ... Its sometimes the only way to get through to someone who has technical knowledge about what the company makes!!!

John.