Help needed on connecting Modem

[Agnes Lesage-Possolo]

Hi all

I have installed the software and try follow the instructions to install the modem, and in spite of reading through the troubleshooting, can not  get it to work.

I am in Lesotho and bought a cheap Econet sim card, loaded 10 rands, got it to work on a phone to send a SMS and make a call. I removed PIN.

I have a laptop (W7 64 bits) that has a built in 3G slot (but I never used). I put the sim card there and FSMS says "detected" on some coms, but nothing more.I did not insist as I am not sure any software is installed for this, but I mention it because it may mess up something else.

I have a ZTE modem AC8710.I have plugged it in the computer and it installed the drives. Semt it stalled, but finally did. It then comes with a small "ZTE wireless terminal" and a diagnose tool. I have set mode to Hybrid (see shot). The diagnose tool says it is fine exc cept for internet connection (I dont have data plan).  However, when I send SMS it says OK but the SMS is not received, and when I try make a call it says "call disconnected".
Do I need to get this fixed, or I don't care as anyhow FrontlineSMS uses its own ways?
I have no idea how... as otherwsise the siim works on a phone.And ZTE does not seem to me best in customer service.

I close the ZTE terminal and open FrontlineSMS, go to phones, autodetect phones; doing different manipulations, I have had several messages here: either "failed to connect", "failed to register GSM network"  "detected", or even "FrontlineSMS is the owner". I have tried restart, etc as said in the troubleshooting, and now am still blocked with "GSM network registration failed" on 2 ports, and "failed to connect" on another one. Please see the screenshot
I also try connect manually, no success.

So should I insist and how? 

Or just consider  this modem can't work?

I also have a Nokia 1618-2, a ZTE 1588? (S by SFR114) but no cable (and not sure these phones would work)

As well as a Vodafone 250 that does not trigger anything when I plug it into my PC through the mini-USB.

Any help appreciated, Agnes

[Agnes Lesage-Possolo]

I have made few more attempts:

- I have checked my Windows peripherals and under modems, both the built in "globe trotter module HSxPA" and the ZTE USB modem show fine.

- using my built-in Globetrotter 3G modem with the econet sim card, I actually also get a "GSM network registration failed"  message in FSMS on port 3 and 4

- Using another Econet Sim card with the ZTE modem gives same results as above : with no ability to call, and I get on FSMS (see previous screenshot) "GSM network registration failed" on ports 3 and 4 (the built in modem, that seems to give this message whether there is a sim card in or not) and "failed to connect" on port 13, that seems to be the ZTE modem.

[Florence Scialom]

Hi Agnes,

Thanks for getting in touch about this. It sounds like you have tried nearly everything here! I'm afraid I'm not sure what the issue is - it may be that your modem is just not compatible - but I will check with the technical members of the FrontlineSMS team, and see if they can get back to you with any additional advice.

Thanks

Flo

[Agnes Lesage-Possolo]

Thanks Flo! I'll try to see what is the ZTE modem available here hrouègh Vodacom, and then also I'll try the IntelliSMS and Clickatell options.

[Domingo Liotta]

Hi Agnes:

I'm not a techie just another user but you should try to get the SIM card to send and receive messages outside FrontlineSMS to be sure that the problem isn't the provider.

i'd go trough the modems compatible list database and print the modems part. Go to the service providers you have in your region and ask for those models that have been tested and are functional.

I did that till I got the E173 modem that plugged in and worked immediately. I have your same windows so I can assist you in case you run into any more tweaking

Oh! If you get the external software to send/receive messages then disable it; as FrontlineSMS uses the same COM ports and will compete with the external software and not connect.

Hope this helps

Best of luck with your project

Domingo

[ssembajjwe geoffrey]

Hi Agnes,sorry about this.Sometimes modems come with the Internet connectivity user interface.For your modem to work with the Frontlinesm make sure you close this UI interface for the modem.

In certain instances,this may close but a process remains running in the pool.Just warm boot your machine and terminate this process.The rest will be ok.The modem internet interface uses the same port with frontlinesms so youy need this port free before your modem can be detected.

Hope this helps.

[Domingo Liotta]

Yes Geoffrey but it seems she cannot send/receive with the external software either. At least i understood that...

:)

[Agnes Lesage-Possolo]

This is a nice community, thanks for all the suggestion!

Goeffrey, I have closed the software and could not see anything left in the process list. When I reboot, and plug the modem, it triggers the app immediately and I could not find how to disable that (althiugh I browsed the installed soft directory).

Anyhow, I'll see other modems as suggested!

I guess the fact I get a "failed to connect" message in Frotnline SMS and also fail to call from the modem software shows something is wrong that is not about FSMS.

[Domingo Liotta]

Hi Agnes:

Great to be friends now :) In windows you may try to disable autorun. The failed to connect in FrontlineSMS is the port conflict Geoffrey has mentioned.

The fail to call from the modem software is the providers problem.

Nokia has a wide range of compatible phones for FrontlineSMS maybe all you need is the cable :)

Best of luck

Domingo

[Agnes Lesage-Possolo]

I have disabled autorun and restarted the PC so I am sure the ports are not used.

I can see the ports used by the modem from my notification area: COM14 for service, COM15 for Voice, COM16 for Diasgnosis. However, FSMS does not succeed ont these ports and says "no phone detected"

So I tried on IntelliSMS but also have a probklem, I 'll do another post

[Domingo Liotta]

Hi Agnes:

I checked into the devices database as I recalled ZTE Modems are supported, but not your model:

• ZTE Incorporated DC87-0
• ZTE Incorporated MF627 GSM modem
  
  
• Other older Nokia (not the 1618)