PLS8: modem interface | Thales IoT Developer Community
September 26, 2016 - 9:30am, 2963 views
Hi,
Is it possible to use the modem interface for entering AT commands and getting their responses, without interfering with the data transmissions?
If, for example, there's a main application which makes use of the modem interface for discrete data transfers, could a second application use that same interface for getting information about the modem/network status (monitoring serving cell, read operator name and so) without interrupting the main data transfer?
Is any kind of priority policy applicable?
Thanks in advance.
BR.
Hello,
You can use some other interface for it. When there is a data transfer you can't switch to AT commands **** without interrupting the data transfer.
Regards,
Bartłomiej
Hi Bartłomiej,
Thanks for your answer.
I'm not able to use the application interface, since it would also be busy in this scenario. As far as I know, there's no other interface for this purpose, am I wrong?
What about the multiplex ****? If enabled, could the ****m interface be used without interrupting the transfer?
Thanks and regards,
Raul.
Hello,
The multiplexer will not help here - you will still have 2 interfaces that can be used for AT commands.
Can you describe your scenario? Maybe there's other way. You could use the wwan adapter for data connection and then have two free interfaces. Please also write what version you are using (ATI1 command reply).
Best regards,
Bartłomiej
Bartłomiej,
The module version is: Cinterion PLS8-E REVISION 02.011.
In this scenario, there's a main application which uses the PLS8 Application instance for controlling the module. This application also sends data over the network using the PLS8. What I want to do is to also communicate with the module (get information about cells, operators...) without disturbing the main application acceses to the PLS8 Application instance, nor the data transfer.
Could you clarify me in which conditions the WWAN adapter or the MODEM instance are used?
I've done some testing cases in which I activate the first WWAN connection to send data over it (AT^SWWAN=1,1) and then start a ping test. Once the ping was ongoing, I opened the MODEM interface via serial and sent some AT commands ("AT+COPS=?", for example). Depending on the RAT used for the cases, either the ping test was paused until the command replied or the ping continued running and the PLS8 replied with an error for the command entered.
I assumed I was using WWAN adapters for the data transfer, but I'm not sure now, having this in mind.
Thanks.
Regards,
Raúl
Hello,
If you connect the module to the PC you can see it the Device Manager as a modem and network card. In case of the modem you need to establish a dialup connection and then your application (in this case Windows system) ***** to have a ppp protocol implementation to initiate the connection and transfer data. The modem interface is used for this connection. In case you use the network adapter the modem interface is not used.
Sending commands on modem interface should not disturb the data transfer on wwan interface. AT+COPS=? is a special command, because the module deregisters from the current network and and performs a complete network scan. Have you observed this behaviour also with other commands?
Best regards,
Bartłomiej
Hello,
I understand it now.
I've tested some other commands and there's no disturbance in the ping test, except for the "AT+COPN" command (used this one for its long lasting reply) which affects the latency, making it higher while the command is being replied.
Would it be safe to use modem interface for AT commands while using WWAN interface for data transfer then, in general terms?
Thanks.
Bests,
Raul
If you see the increased latency while executing "AT+COPN" command on modem interface you'd probably see the same while executing this command on application interface. Long lasting output takes probably some processor time or other HW resource and maybe that's the reason of that.
It should be safe to use modem and application interfaces while using wwan for data transfer.
The conclusion from that would rather be that you should generally take into account that if the main purpose of the device is data transfer, it should not be overloaded with other activities like AT commands executed too frequently for example.
Regards,
Bartłomiej
Hi Bartłomiej,
You were right, I issued the same command on the application interface and latency was also affected.
Thank you for all the information. It seems to be all clear now.
Best regards,
Raul.