KINTECH ENGINEERING
ORBIT 360 | USER GUIDE
110
are some restrictions on the type of telephone line used, as it has to be an analogue line
connected to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). This is the case of the
lines used by fax machines. Many GSM telephones can be used as GSM modems when
connected to the PC, either by USB connector or by Bluetooth connection. The only
prerequisite is that a COM port is created in the computer for that connection.
When Atlas is told to connect via CSD to a given data logger, it will dial the telephone
number of the SIM card on the logger.
CSD allows speeds up to one kilobyte per second. The cost of communication depends
on the time the communication lasts and not on the amount of bytes transferred.
Unfortunately, this service is not always offered by the GSM operators. It often takes too
much time to find it and contract it as this type of M2M communications is a small
business for GSM operators when compared with voice services. To learn more about
contracting a new GSM line check the related chapter.
CSD technology, which was cutting edge in the past, has now become outdated by
internet connectivity. After 2010 many telecommunication carriers dropped support for
CSD, and CSD has been superseded by GPRS and EDGE (E-GPRS). As a matter of fact,
Kintech Global SIM cards are intended for internet connection only and they do not
support modem calls.
9.1.3
SMS
The SMS transmissions have a very low byte transfer capacity, which makes it very
effective when there is poor GSM coverage on-site. Although there is no way SMS can be
used to retrieve stored data, it can be employed to check the current met mast status,
get instantaneous monitoring and modify logger settings.
One of its advantages is that there is no need to use any specific software, modem or
internet connection. Any standard cell phone can be used to send an SMS to the
telephone number of the SIM card on the logger. The Orbit 360 data logger will answer
with other SMS containing information of the last average values of the input channels,
along with its internal status.
You can request this message at any time by sending an SMS with the text “ORB”
(uppercase) to the telephone number of the SIM card on the logger.
