VT740 / LTE slot modem (for VT335t, VT336t, VT825t, VT855t, VT960t)

The modem is used in the system to send SMS notifications and receive SMS commands.

To operate with a modem:

1. Install the SIM card in the mobile phone and make sure that it is functional, check the PIN code;

2. Insert the SIM card in the modem;

3. Turn on the power of the monitoring system;

4. Configure the modem;

5. Add SMS notifications and configure the logic or group notifications.

Configuring the modem for sending and receiving SMS

To configure the modem, use the modem settings tab (Main Menu→SMS messages):

Fields characterizing the properties of the modem element in a system:

• Status – the state of the cellular network;

• Operator – the state of the cellular network;

• Signal level – the signal level;

• PIN code – pin-code of sim-card;

• Choose an operator – an actual list of operators present on the GSM network and the button for refreshing this list;

• SMS center number – SMS service center number, leave it blank to auto-detect;

  We highly recommend writing the SMS center number in this field manually. Some SIM cards have problems with auto-detect features.

• Request current balance – the number on which the account balance is requested, to see the answer, click on the "OK" button and wait for an answer, which will be shown in the log;

  USSD is not supported in LTE mode. The USSD query has a specific format, usually starts with an asterisk, for example: *111# or *222*
  Do not enter the phone number in this field.
  Some operators abandoned the use of USSD and do not support it.

• Clear SMS list – clear list of SMS messages.

The "List of SMS messages" contains up to 100 recent SMS messages (1000 for VT9xx systems) that the system or user attempted to send. When the device is rebooted, the list is not saved.

If the sim card has a pin, you must specify this pin in the corresponding field in the configuration form.

GSM operators list

The list of operators is updated once a few minutes after the system is turned on. Next time the list can be updated by the button. Getting the list is a long procedure and can take several minutes. When successfully receiving the list the corresponding message is displayed in the log.

If it is not possible to set up the connection with the network of the selected operator, then the modem switches to the automatic selection mode.

The name of the operator on the network that works the modem is shown in the Operator field.

GSM modem elements

The “System Tree” menu has elements corresponding to the status of the modem. These elements do not affect the state of the element "System". Elements can be used in logical schemes.

• GSM Signal Level - analog value, shows the signal level in percent from 0 to 100%;

• GSM State - discrete value, shows the state of the GSM network:

  • Not connected - if the connection has not yet been established;

  • Alarm - if an error has occurred;

  • Normal - if the connection is established successfully.

• LTE State - discrete value, shows the state of the LTE connection if the modem supports it:

  • Not connected - if the connection has not yet been established or disabled;

  • Alarm - if an error has occurred;

  • Normal - if the connection is established successfully.

SMS messages

To add an SMS notification recipient, first, open the System Tree menu, further open the window →SMS:

• Name – name of the notification. Can be arbitrary (name, the position of the recipient, ...);

• Phone number – the telephone number to which the notification has to be sent.  

• Message text – text messages can be in any language. Also in this field, you can use various macros (%1 - %8), which insert the current values of variables into the text.

To apply the settings, click the "Save" button. To test SMS, click the "Test" button.

After filling in the notification parameters, you must specify the event (events) by which the SMS message will be sent. To do this, open the Preferences → Logic schemes → Add window and specify the condition for sending the SMS message in the logic. In one logic, it is possible to send SMS notifications to not more than 15 recipients for one or more events. If you need to send SMS notifications to more than 15 recipients in the same logic, then create new logic with the same input condition.

SMS messages are sent to the queue, which allows you not to wait until the end of sending the previous message. The information about the sent messages is displayed in the monitoring system log. The capacity of the queue is 100 messages, if overflowed, the sent messages are automatically deleted.

If an error occurs while the message is being sent, the message with the status of SMS send error is displayed in the log, the reasons of which may be:

• the negative balance on the SIM card account.

• low signal level;

• the wrong format or nonexistent recipient phone number.

If these items do not fit your situation, try to restart the monitoring system. Also, check the sending of messages from your mobile phone.

Sending SMS using third-party programs

To send SMS, you can use, for example, the cURL utility. Either other programs with similar functionality.

To send an SMS, use the following command in the console:

gcc -O2 -o sendsms sendsms.c

Script for sending SMS

In case of errors, leave comments below on the page or at our forum. Please indicate in the message the current version of the firmware of the monitoring system (System menu → About this system → Firmware version).

Check if the modem is operational.

1. Make sure the SIM card is inserted into the modem. Make sure you have sufficient funds on the card or a contract for an LTE connection.

2. Make sure the external antennas are mounted onto the modem. Both "MAIN" and "AUXILIARY".

3. Turn on the system. When the system loads, the modem will appear in the system automatically.

4. If you inserted the SIM card while the system was already "ON", it may take up to 15 minutes for the operator to register.

5. If the modem is installed, the panel "SMS messages" should appear in the menu panel.

6. Check the strength of the signal. E.g. in the window below the strength of the signal is 48%.

7. See the image below:

8. You can test if the modem is working correctly with your SIM card. press "+" to the right of "List of SMS messages". A model window should appear.

9. See the image below:

10. Fill in your mobile number and a text message and press "OK".

11. You should receive a message on this mobile phone number.

12. See the image below:

13. You should see a confirmation that the message has been sent.

14. See image below:

Connecting to the Internet

From version 2.7.4, when installing an LTE modem, it becomes possible to use an LTE connection to connect to Internet services (VPN, SMTP, FTP, etc.) and access the device.

LTE settings are available in the "Preferences" menu, in the "LTE" tab.

Here are the following items available for configuration:

• Enable LTE modem - allows you to enable or disable the LTE modem if the installed modem support it;

• Connect at startup - working mode of LTE connection, always maintaining connection (at startup) or setting up a connection only when necessary;

• APN - Access point name;

• PIN - PIN code, if modem uses it;

• Authorization type - set authorization type if needed, supported PAP, CHAP or 'none' authorization modes;

• User name - user name for provider authentication, if needed;

• Password - user password, if needed;

• Enable routing for the internal network - allow devices in the internal network to use this connection like a gateway for internet access (if available);

• Enable Watchdog - use watchdog ping to verify connection status;

• Watchdog period - watchdog ping frequency, in seconds;

• Watchdog timeout - if during this time there is no ping, the connection is considered to be broken, in seconds;

• IP Address or hostname of ping destination - address to verify the LTE connection;

• Enable logging - set this checkbox to enable the connection log. Use this only to find out the cause of a failed connection, don't keep the log enabled on all the time;

• Save the log to disk - button for connection log downloading.

LTE modem operation mode is used as a failover connection. If the checkbox Connect at startup is clear, then the LTE connection is automatically established when there is no response (ICMP ping via the Ethernet interface) from the DNS servers specified in the "Network" settings. The established connection is terminated if at least access to one of the DNS servers is restored via the Ethernet interface. Thus, for normal failover, the DNS must be located outside the local network.

If the checkbox Connect at startup is set, then the LTE connection is established right after the modem initialization and the unit uses it as the primary connection for internet domains (like e-mail servers, etc.). VT900 unit only supports this mode of LTE connection.

Watchdog Ping can be used to restore the LTE connection. When setting a timeout, it is recommended that it be at least 3 times longer than the ping period. If during the timeout period, no successful ping passes to the specified address, the connection is considered to be broken and the modem will attempt to establish a new LTE connection.

If the device requires constant access to the Internet, then you can use the OpenVPN client. The connection to the VPN server will be maintained when connected via Ethernet or LTE (if the connection to the Internet via Ethernet is lost) and thus it ensures permanent access to the protected private network and the device’s permanent IP address (with the appropriate settings of the VPN server).

Connecting to the device from the Internet using LTE

If the installed SIM card supports a personal APN with a static IP address, then the unit can be accessed by this IP address directly. To obtain these SIM cards contact your mobile service provider.

You can find this LTE IP address in the Network tab when it is assigned (LTE IP address field). Or use the Determination of IP-address procedure: Network settings.