FLSMS version 1 + Sierra Wireless GL6110 - How to Increase the speed of transmission.

[Shragi Leitner]

Hi

Last month I posted about using the Sierra Wireless GL6110 GSM Gateway with FLSMS version 2 and the problems we were having with very slow transmission of messages. We are now using FLSMS v1 and we are managing to squeeze out about 3-4 messages per minute.

I have been in touch with my Gateway supplier and they have presented me with 2 questions and options how to increase the speed. According to them I should be able to send about 6-8 messages per minute (which was my experience too while using the same sim card on a mobile handset).

The questions they have asked were:

1. If we are waiting for the network “OK” response and then sending the next message?
2. Are we using the SIM memory or the modem memory?

Can someone please clarify this for me and indeed is there a way for me to make these changes to leave out the network response.

Thanks

S. Leitner

[MIchael Wanyoike]

Hi Shragi,

On your first question, FrontlineSMS does wait for the OK response before sending the next message. But it doesn't wait for the delivery notification.

On the second question, FrontlineSMS uses both the SIM and Modem memory.

Hope that helps. Please don't hesitate to ask more questions.

Thanks,

Michael

[Shragi Leitner]

Hi MIchael and thanks for your responses.

Is there a way to set FLSMS to send the next message before waiting for the OK response as I believe this would increase the send rate by an extra 3-4 messages per minute. At the moment the max we are getting is 4 messages per minute. On a mobile phone using the same sim we managed 6-8 messages per minute.

Thanks in advance.

Kind regards

Shragi

[MIchael Wanyoike]

Hi Shragi,

Unfortunately that's not possible, however I can recommend you to do the following to increase the send rate:

In the office we use Huawei USB modems. The modem when connected to a windows machine displays 3 ports e.g. COM1, COM2, COM3. We figured that the first and last COM ports can be used to send and receive messages. To improve performance, we created a connection to the first port on the modem and configured it to receive messages only. Then we created a second connection to the last port and configured to send messages only. This way the modem can be used to send and receive messages simultaneously.
However, I am not familiar with the Sierra Wireless modem you are using, so am not sure how many COM ports it has, and which ones can be used for sending and receiving text messages. You may have to play around with it and figure out which COM ports are useful.
I hope this will increase the send rate. Let me know how it turns out.

Thanks,
Michael.

[Shragi Leitner]

Hi Michael

Thanks for your swift reply.

Our messages are informational only and do not require a response. For every 1000 messages we send out we get about 2 - 3 responses, so it's not the incoming messages that are causing the delay.

How many messages per minute are you able to send using the Huawei USB modem? I have actually tried a Huawei & Option USB modems with the same performance. So I don't think it's down to the modem, rather the software.

Thanks

Shragi

[MIchael Wanyoike]

Hi Shragi,

We were able to send 6 - 8 messages per minute using the Huawei modem. Perhaps you can take a look at this article and see the contributing factors to improving message send rate : http://www.frontlinesms.com/user-resources/help/what-is-the-speed-o....

I don't know if this will be cost-effective in your country but perhaps you might consider using online sms gateway providers such as clickatell or intellisms. Speeds are way much faster than sending messages via modem SIM card. All you need to access the gateway providers is a reliable Internet connection.

Hope this helps.

Thanks,

Michael.