Mobile Router Remote management (Reboot)

... 300 cellular Kiosks to offer information and conectivity ... they are having some rpoblems with the speed, but the most important issue that we have is that [they] want to do a warm reset to the KRI via software.

.. detect automatic (pings) if the aircard is disconnected ... program ... a subrutine to rebbot the KRI remote. Can we do this? is only put a subrutin in the aplication saying to the router reebot.? Do you think we can doit with other router? {support request}

I believe this is very possible. Have not personally written such a script for this router but I know the source code for the KR1 is publicly available under GNU GPL (General Public License). In any case, even without getting too fancy, since the KR1 can be rebooted using the HTTP-based web portal and since the KR1 supports remote web management then the bank could write a subroutine to authenticate to the KR1 and issue reboot command remotely.

There are other routers that have a more solid remote management capability in particular the Junxion Box http://www.rfwel.com/shop/?target=pr...&cat=72&page=1 (the link shows the WiFi version but we have a LAN-only version for $100 cheaper).

You can read more about the remote management feature (they call it Field Commander) here: http://www.junxion.com/fieldcommander/

On the KR1 Speed issue: What aircards are you using? We have found that for most supported aircards, if you use the correct firmware with the KR1 (or simply the latest firmware), we end up with the advertised EVDO speed similar to using the EVDO data card directly on a PC. Sometimes due to placement of the Aircard & Mobile router you might get some RF shielding which affects the receiver sensitivity and/or transmit radiated power. In this case you can use as little as a 5+dBi omnidirectional antenna such as http://www.rfwel.com/shop/?target=pr...&cat=64&page=1 which connects directly to the EVDO data card. This is assuming of course that the speed issue is NOT from the WiFi side due to frequency channel overlap and/or proximity of the mobile routers.

Another solution for might be to get a router than has failover capability such as the Junxion above or even a more cost-effective solution would be the ZTE BAVO H110 here: http://www.rfwel.com/shop/?target=pr...&cat=72&page=1. Since these routers support Ethernet uplink what you could do is cascade 2 routers together to back-up each other (i.e the output of one router goes to the ethernet input of the other and vice versa). When an EVDO modem loses tower connection it obtains its Internet backhaul from an adjacent router. We are currently testing how practical this application is so were not sure it would be completely workable. {support response}

KF7RCQ

Speaking of rebooting EVDO routers...the company I work for (Stealth Labs) has been getting a lot of requests for a device that power cycles a mobile router if it loses its internet connection. We already had an internet monitor product that trips a relay when a broadband connection is lost (ILF-100), so we did some timing tweaks and just released the ILF-100WD. This product is designed to be a hardware "Watch Dog" for a mobile EVDO router. If the internet connection goes down, the router's power is interrupted for a user-defined period of time, then restored. A further user-defined time period is provided to allow for login time of the EVDO modem (to prevent getting into an endless loop of power cycling). Stealth Labs normally sells through distribution in the Security Industry via distributors such as ADI, so you'll have to call our sales deptartment to see if we are going to sell through any kind of retail outlet or direct. You can get more info about the ILF-100WD at the Stealth Labs website.

Internet line fault monitor for mobile router question

Checked this out it's a great product - was wondering what it meant by "Signals interruption of connection by a Form C relay to back-up transmitter or other device" also know what a relay is but what is form c?

Connectivity monitor for cellular modems

yes this definitely a nice product especially for those cellular routers that only support one backhaul method or even those that have multiple internet backhaul but are only using one method each time. Also a lot of the mobile routers that have multiple WAN backhaul capability don't support seamless failover. In any case as we know all too well even when we have multiple WAN and seamless failover the mobile cellular router (or any wireless router for that matter) is prone to lock up requiring a power cycling which might be inconvenient to do if using it for a remote application.

danidi Form C relays are really break-before-make SPDT's (Single Pull Double Throw) switches. Form A's are normally-open SPST's and From B are normally-closed SPST's.

I would guess in the mobile cellular router power cycling application you would normally use this relay just for power interruption not really to switch in another device.

KF7RCQ

Originally posted by danidi: Checked this out it's a great product - was wondering what it meant by "Signals interruption of connection by a Form C relay to back-up transmitter or other device" also know what a relay is but what is form c?

That term is very common in the security industry. Form C refers to the relay contact configuration. Form C means SPDT (Single Pole, Double Throw). Just like a SPDT switch, it means there is a COMmon terminal, a Normally Closed terminal and a Normally Open terminal. When the relay is not energized, NC and COM are connected; when energized, NO and COM are connected.

The back-up transmitter is referring to a cellular backup radio (which wouldn't be used for this version of the product since the relay is switching power to the mobile router). The security version of the ILF-100 might be connected to something like Uplink's AnyNET radio. It would then send a trouble signal via SMS to Uplink's back-end server, which would then notify the security monitoring company, etc.

Last edited by StealthLabs; 11-08-2007, 12:19 PM.

So is this product really an OEM product or is it already packaged for consumer sale -- i.e i realize you guys don't sell directly to consumer but is it already packaged for such? Also do you have any info on how much current the system draws to power itself -- important for battery powered setups such as redundant systems (rought estimate is fine).

Finally just to clarify something that is quite confusing at first glance .. this system can be used for routers in general. There's nothing special with "EVDO routers" other than the fact that EVDO routers have perhaps an arguably better market penetration. From my understanding this then means that we can use this for HSDPA/UMTS/EDGE routers, LAN/WLAN routers or any other system for that matter that:

1. has internet connectivity regardless of the internet backhaul method
2. whose live status (whether its up or down) can be determined by presence or absence of that connectivity
3. that can benefit from power cycling to restore such a connectivity if lost

KF7RCQ

We sell it packaged in a metal utility box with a 12V DC power supply and a 16.5V AC wall wart transformer. Backup battery and zip cord for the transformer are not included, as these are readily available from the distributors. For those who would rather deal on the pc board-level, we also sell the ILF-100WD as a board-only product (a common practice in the security industry). It comes in a blister pack with the ubiquitous double-sided mounting tape.

You are correct that this product can be used to reboot ANY type of router, not just EVDO. The initial customers who requested this product were using EVDO, so that is what we used in our example. We are working on a 120V outlet box with a relay that can be switched by 12V DC for those who don't wish to run 120V into their enclosure (most security installers get squeamish above 24V). Still waiting on the metal box quote on that product, but there are other similar products out there already.

Our specs state current draw as 150mA, but this is a rough estimate, since it depends on how many LEDs are illuminated, if relay is energized, etc.

Last edited by StealthLabs; 11-09-2007, 04:37 AM.