NetComm Wireless SMS Diagnostics and Commands Feature Spotlight

What are the SMS Diagnostics and Commands? SMS Diagnostics and Commands is a feature set of the NetComm Wireless router which allows it to receive an SMS message containing instructions, perform the instructions and optionally reply with an outcome. This provides the means to control most features of the device remotely, even when the router is not connected with a packet data connection.

Some of the supported features include the ability to: receive run-time variables from the device (e.g. Uptime, IMEI, RSSI) on request via SMS. change live configuration on the device (e.g. connection APN) via SMS. execute supported commands (e.g. reboot) via SMS. trigger the router to download and install a firmware upgrade. trigger the router to download and apply a configuration file. What can you do with the SMS Diagnostics and Commands feature?

Configuring SMS Diagnostics and Commands

Enables the SMS Diagnostics and commands feature Only accepts SMS messages from specific numbers and include an optional password Sends an SMS response of the outcome when you send a “set” command to the router Selects the number to which the SMS response messages are sent Sends an SMS response when there is an error performing the command Select the number to which the SMS error message is sent Sets the maximum number of SMS replies and the period to which the limit applies

Security You can create a white list of numbers which are able to send “get”, “set” and “execute” commands. SMSs from numbers not on the whitelist are ignored. The white listed numbers can optionally include a password which must be entered by the sender each time a command is sent. If the password is missing/incorrect or the sender’s number is not on the white list, the command is ignored.

Example use scenarios Using the “get” command To report on the 3G signal strength of the router, send an SMS containing the text: get rssi If authentication is enabled, you must send the message from a whitelisted number and enter the password in front of the command, for example: abcd1234 get rssi The router retrieves the 3G signal and responds with a result, for example: “rssi=-73dBm”

Example use scenarios Using the “set” command To set the LEDs on the front of the router to turn off after 10 minutes, send an SMS containing the text: set ledmode=10 If authentication is enabled, you must send the message from a whitelisted number and enter the password in front of the command, for example: abcd1234 set ledmode=10 If Set acknowledgment replies are turned on, the router responds with a result, for example: ledmode:ledpower timer=10 min

Example use scenarios Using the “execute” command To force the router to connect to the mobile broadband network using the default connection profile when it is currently set to off, use the command: execute pdpup If authentication is enabled, you must send the message from a whitelisted number and enter the password in front of the command, for example: abcd1234 execute pdpup The router responds with a result, for example: “Successfully executed command pdpup” OR Profile 1 is already activated. No need to run pdpup !

Further information More information: There is a very detailed and informative section in the user guide dedicated to this feature. There are many more supported commands listed in the user guide.