Cell Modem

The cellmodem plugin is a monitoring plugin for cellular modems. It reports provider and signal quality for GPRS/UMTS(3G)/HSDPA(3.5G) modem cards. It works with (mostly) all cards which support an out-of-band channel for monitoring purposes.

The current features include:

• Display the current network type (GPRS/UMTS)
• Display the current signal level
• Configure the maximum signal level
• Configure the low and critical signal level
• Asking for PIN if modem needs it
• Quick visual feedback on modem and registration status via LEDs

You can download the latest releases from http://goodies.xfce.org/releases/xfce4-cellmodem-plugin/

Tue 16 January 2007

Uploaded version 0.0.5. Changelog:

• Support for autodetecting known modem devices (PCI/USB)
• Support for HSDPA detection (for modems which support it using _OHCIP)
• Smaller leds - most people use absurdely low resolutions.
• No more error after sending pin.
• Added the Czech translation by Michal Várady. Thanks Michal!

Thu 05 October 2006

Uploaded version 0.0.4. Changelog:

• Support for –enable-debug in configure

Wed 04 October 2006

Uploaded version 0.0.3. Changelog:

• Better error handling - Error messages included
• Fixed bugs in remove_leading_chars and remove_trailing_chars
• Fixed modem pin reply in fake driver.
• Added vasprintf - needed for error messages
• Moved some prototypes into cellmodem.h
• Removed C++ style comments
• Enforce pin '1234' on fake driver.
• Cancel pending timers when reinitializing modem.

Sun 01 October 2006

Uploaded version 0.0.2 to SVN. Changelog:

• Fixed error handling.
• Disabled the ask for pin. You can click on the plugin to enter the pin, if it is required.
• Fixed initialization of IO channel in modem_driver_generic.

Screenshot of the modem registered and working. The signal level is low.

Screenshot of the modem requiring a PIN. The yellow LED flashes:

• [Wish] Support to start and stop pppd.
• [ToDo] Add keyboard shortcut to enter PIN
• [ToDo] Feedback if PIN worked, and if not how many attempts left.
• [ToDo] Entering PUK to unlock after invalid PIN entries

• Some cards/drivers sometimes stop to respond on the control channel. This is a driver issue and not a plugin issue. If you come across this problem please e-mail me so we can find a workaround for it.
• Some cards/drivers (happened with me with nozomi driver, Globethrotter 3G/EDGE card) sometimes reply no registration when it is registered. This seems to be related to the card firmware. I will try to find a workaround when it happens again.

You can contact me through the following e-mail address:

alvieboy «@» alvie «.» com

Just remove the spaces and the « and » characters.