Category Archives: MOBITEK S80 3G Modem

MOBITEK S80 3G Modem — Send SMS via API and Connect to 3G Network at the Same Time

Problem

Many 3G modems allow you to send SMS via API or connect to 3G network but not both at the same time

 

Solution

MOBITEK® S80 it is a SMS modem and also a 3G modem.

MOBITEK® S80 allows you to do both at the same time — to send SMS via API and connect to your IoT server, cloud server (AWS, Azure) and web server via 3G network.

The pictures below show that MOBITEK S80 is connected to www.mobitek.my (internet) via U Mobile 3G network and at the same time, is able to send out SMS via MOBITEK SMS API.

MOBITEK S80 SMS Modem to Use SMS API and to Access Internet via 3G-03AirCard Watcher-05

 

More Information

 

How to Configure MOBITEK S80 SMS Modem to Use SMS API and to Access Internet via 3G at the Same Time

  1. Goto “AirCard Watcher -> Setting -> Messaging -> Routing option”  and select  “Circuit Switched”.
    MOBITEK S80 SMS Modem to Use SMS API and to Access Internet via 3G-01
    MOBITEK S80 SMS Modem to Use SMS API and to Access Internet via 3G-02
  2. After you have set to “Circuit Switched”, you can use MOBITEK SMS API and access internet via 3G at the same time.
    MOBITEK S80 SMS Modem to Use SMS API and to Access Internet via 3G-03
  3. Note that AirCard Watcher (through Sierra Wireless AirCard HSDPA Modem) uses different COM port, in this example, it is using COM port number 3.
    MOBITEK S80 SMS Modem to Use SMS API and to Access Internet via 3G-04

 

How to Use AirCard Watcher to Connect MOBITEK S80 3G Modem to 3G Network

  1. First, install AirCard Watcher.
  2. Insert SIM card into MOBITEK S80 3G Modem and connect it to PC or laptop.
  3. A new modem in “Device Manager” will appear — “Sierra Wireless AirCard HSDPA Modem”.
    AirCard Watcher-01
  4. Run AirCard Watcher.
    AirCard Watcher-02
  5. AirCard Watcher will automatically detect the MOBITEK S80 3G Modem and show the name of TELCO. In this example, it is “U Mobile”. It will also show “3G”.
    AirCard Watcher-03
  6. Click “Connect” button to connect to 3G network. If successfully connected then the red signal bar will turn to green and the “Connect” button will change to “Disconnect”.
    AirCard Watcher-04
  7. Try accessing the internet via a web browser. AirCard Watcher will show the upload and download speed (refer to red box).
    AirCard Watcher-05
  8. To check data usage, click on the “meter” icon (red box)
    AirCard Watcher-06

How to Set-Up MOBITEK S80 Modem in VirtualBox

  1. Connect modem to host OS.Open VirtualBox, go to the setting of your virtual machine.
    How to Set-Up MOBITEK S80 Modem in VirtualBox-01
  2. Go to Serial Ports and set the setting as below:
    • Enable Serial Port.
    • Set Port Number: (port number inside the guest OS)
    • Port Mode: Host Device
    • Path/Address: (port number of modem that is connected to host OS)
      Note: Windows provides legacy names only for COM ports 1 through to 9. For all other COM ports you must use the full device naming convention under Windows. So if you decide to use COM10 instead of COM9, using COM10 at Path/Address won’t work. Instead you have to use “\\.\COM10”. (source: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/37728628/connection-through-com-port-between-host-and-guest-in-virtualbox)
      Click OK
      How to Set-Up MOBITEK S80 Modem in VirtualBox-02
    • Note: if this step is skipped, hyper terminal will have no response if connected to the “Sierra Wireless AT Command Port”
  3. Run the virtual machine.
    How to Set-Up MOBITEK S80 Modem in VirtualBox-03
  4. Go to device manager in VirtualBox to check the COM Port. In this example, the MOBITEK S80 Modem that is connected to the USB port (COM6) of host machine, the USB port is then mapped serial port (COM1) of VirtualBox.
    How to Set-Up MOBITEK S80 Modem in VirtualBox-04
  5. In VirtualBox, the modem is connected to COM1 which is the serial port .
  6. In the host machine, the same modem is connected to COM6 which is the USB port.

USB Driver of MOBITEK S80 Supports Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2016 and Windows 10

We have conducted a test in 4 different OS which is:-

  • Windows Server 2008 32-bit;
  • Windows Server 2012 64-bit;
  • Windows Server 2016 64-bit; and
  • Windows 10 64-bit.

Note: all the above OS were running in a virtual machine (VirtualBox).

Then we left MOBITEK S80 running for 4 hours in each OS, and the COM Port DID NOT disappear.

MOBITEK S80 was not connected to power cable, it is using power from the USB cable.

The USB driver version is 11.5.

 

OS DID COM PORT DISAPPEAR
AFTER 4 HOURS (YES / NO)		 SCREEN CAPTURE
 Windows 2008 32-bit No  
 Windows 2012 64-bit No  
 Windows 2016 64-bit No  
 Windows 10 64-bit No  

Therefore the USB driver, version 11.5, for MOBITEK S80 works in these 4 OS:-

    • Windows Server 2008 32-bit;
    • Windows Server 2012 64-bit;
    • Windows Server 2016 64-bit and
    • Windows 10 64-bit.

MOBITEK S80 is 99% Compatible with Sierra Wireless FX100

Sierra Wireless FX100 3G Modem has reached end-of-life production cycle. It may be difficult to obtain a new unit. The good news is that  MOBITEK®  S80 is 99% compatible with Sierra Wireless FX100 3G Modem.

SPECIFICATION MOBITEK-S80_backMOBITEK S80 Sierra Wireless FX100Sierra Wireless FX100
SL8082T Module Yes Yes
GSM (2G) Network Quad Band Yes Yes
GPRS Network Yes Yes
WCDMA (3G) Network Dual Band Yes Yes
Serial Port (RS-232) 15-pin Yes Yes
USB Port Yes Yes
Sierra Wireless USB Driver Yes Yes
Open AT Yes Yes
GPS No Yes
Voice Yes Yes

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