Biometrics.co.za - Vodafone 3G Dialer

biometrics

biometrics

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I noticed in another thread that by opening the com port you can use dial up networking.

So I wrote the "Biometrics.co.za - Vodafone 3G Dialer" application this morning. Works pretty well actually. Let me know what you think.

3G Dialer Screen:

3GDialerScreen.JPG


Download from here: ftp://ftp.biometrics.co.za/Miscellaneous/Biometrics.co.za_Vodafone_3G_Dialer.EXE

The com port control I used only allows for ports 1 - 16. I had to change mine in Device Manager to 16 from 23. If there's interest in this app I'll change it later.
 
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Update 1.1

I've been using my software rather than Vodafone Mobile Connect and I must say I'm a much happier.

I've made some more changes, now version 1.1:

3G Dialer Screen:

3GDialerScreen1.1.JPG


Download from here: ftp://ftp.biometrics.co.za/Miscellaneous/Biometrics.co.za_Vodafone_3G_Dialer_1.1.EXE

New:
Reconnect if disconnected (Keep alive)
Command line option: /connect
Two Start menu options: Manual and Connect
Drop down list rather than a list
Saves all settings

To Do:
Auto find com port
Use any com port number
Connect to a secondary connection after primary connected (e.g. VPN)
 
biometrics.co.za 3G dialer

I downloaded the biometrics 3G dialer yesterday

Using com port 4(on my laptop) the aplication is able to start the device with blue lights flashing and all but allas! err 633 apears

Any advice?

Anyway thanks for the application, i've been searching for something like this everywhere. :)
 
Debugging ...

Mmm, not sure. Admittedly I've only tested it on my laptop which is a 1.3 GHz Centrino (IBM R40). What is your PC's speed?

The reason I ask is I found I needed to put a delay between the opening of the com port and dialing. I found a 10 second delay to be good on my PC. Best would be to query the modem to check when it's ready ... will need to investigate when I have more time. I assume the AT commands will work. If not then I'll make the delay variable if that is the problem.

Note I've only tried this with a Novatel U630 card. Also you must not be running Vodafone Mobile Connect.

Can you try version 1.1, I am handling the process a bit differently. If you already downloaded the full kit then just grab the updated .exe from ftp://ftp.biometrics.co.za/Miscellaneous/Vodafone3GDialer.exe and copy to C:\Program Files\Biometrics.co.za - Vodafone 3G Dialer\.
 
My laptop:
Intel celeron 2.4Ghz
512 Mb Ram
Novatel U630 firmware v.14

Modem query definitely takes less then 10s, maybe 1 or 2s.

I've also tried ver 1.1 but the same thing happens.

Maybe you can separate the steps(starting device and connecting) so you can manually start the device and then connect using your application or windows DUN…might be easier to see where the problem lies; timing etc.
 
Oops!! Found the problem.

Seems that you should actually enter the secondary ports COM in your application instead of the primary port for Novatel UMTS modem. Works fine now.

I must say the application connects and disconnects much faster than Dashboard. Will test it vigorously tonight. Will let you know what happens

Thanks a mil
 
I see what you mean in Control Panel/Phone and Modem Options/Modems. I use Control Panel/System/Hardware/Device Manager/Ports (COM & LPT)/Novatel Wireless UMTS Modem Secondary Port (COMxx). Where xx is the port you enter.

I'll see if I can make a working Find com port button ...
 
Update - Find com port

Here's another update. This one has a Find button to find the com port number. Also changed the reconnect timer to five seconds from one - sometimes tried to reconnect as it connected though it didn't do any harm ("Already connected" message).

ftp://ftp.biometrics.co.za/Miscellaneous/Vodafone3GDialer.exe

This is not the full install, only the program file. Install the above 1.1 kit and then replace with this file as described above. I'll update the full setup kit again after doing VPN and com port number (max 16) issue.
 
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Biometrics saved my laptop

I've been using the biometrics 3G dialer for 2 days now and must say it works much better than dashboard.

Tried all versions of Vodafones dashboard including v.5.01 and found them all to be mildly unstable at best. Many times I had to suppress the urge to smash my laptop or burn my datacard in some sadistic ritual.

Now at last I can surf the internet without having malicious feelings towards anyone.

Thanks biometrics, you saved my laptop from certain destruction!

Ps. Now if you could just add a usage-o-meter in your application I'd be happy as hindu cows :)

Pps. Think Vodacom should get you on the payroll if they haven't allready
 
Happy to help. I was freaked out myself with their software.

Does the Find button work for you? If it does I'll take out the whole com port setup and simplify the interface.

Haven't even had a peep out of V3G ... V3G, have you given the dialer a spin yet?

Next up, VPN support ...

Not sure about counting the bytes though. Mmm, wonder if DUN will tell me ...
 
Haven't had a chance yet, but been following the thread with great interrest.

Do we need an integrated usage meter? There're quite a few available such as Netstats.

Regarding stats on DUN, I've seen if you turn on logging on the modem, it keeps stats.
 
VPN Support

I've added support for a secondary connection, e.g. VPN. I use it to connect to the office to access the server and mail.

So now after the primary connection (3G) is made the secondary connection is made (VPN). Only difference is that the primary displays the Dial Up Networking window but the secondary does not.

Nice.

As before this is an interim release. It's just the program file, install one of the above full kits (e.g. 1.1) and replace in Program Files with ftp://ftp.biometrics.co.za/Miscellaneous/Vodafone3GDialer.exe

I need some feedback if the Find button is reliable. If so then I'll remove the com port setup and build the final installation kit.

I'm not going to bother with usage data, there are many tools for that. I like DU Meter (www.dumeter.com). Anyway the thrill of writing this app is wearing off ...
 
biometrics

I'm using your app with great success, thanks! Any chance of including the signal strength? No fancy bars, maybe just a number from 1 - 5 indicating signal strength?

Grub
 
Signal strength etc

I have written to Novatel asking them for technical info or a programmers reference. Don't hold your breath though ...
 
Nice, works great for me, just a few questions:

Where does the whole 3G-only, 3G-preferred , GPRS-only stuff come in?

Is this tool basically meant to be of used AFTER you installed the drivers+dash+profiles ? If not, how would one set up the specific profiles [is there a specific DUN setting?]. [In short, do you have to install the dash anyway, even though you will never use it?]

It would be nice if it can set up the DUN connection as well [actually maybe a hint as to what the DUN settings should be maybe, although if i need the dash installed anyway then it doesnt matter] , i actually had the dash but i deleted my connections, then ran this tool and had to go through the dash to recreate the connections because i didnt know the Dial up number [**999..etc].

Oh, and is there a manual? i see theres a shortcut, but it just opens up the connector.

All in all, very nice and fast tool.
 
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I've not tested this great little app yet (shame on me, I know), but here's how I would use it. Maybe the other users can confirm?

a) You still need to install the dash and use it to create the connections.
b) Once you've connected, with the dash, using a specific profile, the card will automatically use that profile the next time around.

So I'd do the following:

1) Create profiles using dash and connect with say ' 3G-only'
2) Close dash and use Biometrics 3G Dialer. Connection should be the same profile.

Make sense?
 
Yea, seems to be working like that. I created a 3G-only and GRRS-only profile [thus 2 connections in network settings]. Even though i can select a connection from the drop-down in the app it will still connect with whatever i last connected in the dash. So if i want to connect with GPRS i have to open dash, change profile , connect in dash, disconnect in dash, close dash and then connect with the app.

Rather it'll "use" the GPRS-only connection to dial-up but it will still go on 3G and vice versa.
 
Thanks for the feedback.

I normally stay on the '3G-only' profile as long as possible, so very seldom need to change profiles. Often work at full speed with 1 to zero bars!
 
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