Woot! New forum... Mac Driver w/status...

rcw3 · EVDO User Joined: 29 Apr 2005 Posts: 47

Ok, we have this wonderful new forum....

I'm a software developer, a Mac user, and have a Kyocera KPC650. While I'm glad that the data functions properly when using this card with the modified plist and the "Standard Verizon" driver, as everyone knows - no status information - no signal level, no 1XRTT or EVDO status, and no way to activate.

I've read through the 5220 open source driver. It's not that complicated. I've scoured the internet for information. I've found all the lovely AT commands that can provide you some semblance of the data we need.

The problem is, these cards have two serial channels - one that acts like a fairly normal modem - providing an extended Hayes AT command set, and one that is a proprietary binary "Control and Status" serial channel. To provide the real-time status information as well as the ability to activate, we need the documentation of this Control and Status channel. The data channel and AT commands won't cut it.

It's obvious that it varies slightly between cards (since the std driver doesn't work for all cards). I can't tell if this is tied to the primary Qualcomm MSM chip (5500 for the older cards, 6500 for the KPC650 -- possibly others?) or whether it specific to the card vendors (Sierra, Kyocera, etc). Either way, we need this information.

Can anyone get access to this information? If someone can provide the information, I'll do my best to build a driver that is generic and will work for all EVDO cards that I have protocol info for and/or that I have access to.

PLEASE!! Any information or a hint of the right direction and I will pursue it...

Thanks!
Rich

Zorog · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 135

Have you tried "+CSQ?" for Signal info? I don't have the rest, I use the PST to program the cards...

Query Received Signal Quality.
Returns the Signal Quality
Measure <SQM> and the Frame
Error Rate <FER> as follows:
Signal Quality Measure <SQM>
�� 0 to 31 – Signal Quality
Measurement (see “Note”
below)
�� 99 – SQM is not known or is
not detectable
All other values are reserved.
Frame Error Rate <FER>
�� 0 – <0.01%
�� 1 – 0.01% to less than 0.1%
�� 2 – 0.1% to less than 0.5%
�� 3 – 0.5% to less than 1.0%
�� 4 – 1.0% to less than 2.0%
�� 5 – 2.0% to less than 4.0%
�� 6 – 4.0% to less than 8.0%
�� 7 – ≥8.0%
�� 99 – <FER> is not known or is
not detectable
All other values are reserved

rcw3 · EVDO User Joined: 29 Apr 2005 Posts: 47

Yeah - I have all the AT commands.... unfortunately, these are not sufficient while connected. I need the protocol for the Control and Status channel - which is actually a separate serial channel.

Michael · Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2005 6:27 pm Post subject:

I have sent an email to the developer of the Novatel V620 drivers to inform him of this new forum. Hopefully, he can join in and help out (he has already gone down this road).
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Guest · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 8:54 pm Post subject:

Per Sierra Wireless, the contral and status channel is considered proprietary and is not publicly released. Sierra happens to provide an SDK that wraps these communications, but ONLY for Windows. None of the other card manufacturers even provide that...

So, unless someone happens to know this "proprietary" information for one of the other cards and wants to share it, or someone (like Apple) gains access to this information for the other cards and provides drivers (like they do for the 5220), us Mac users are pretty much out of luck.

You can't access any status information while connected without access to this control channel.

rcw3 · EVDO User Joined: 29 Apr 2005 Posts: 47

Ooops... that last message was mine, but I wasn't logged in so it came across as guest...

Michael · Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2005 8:22 am Post subject:

I have contacts at both Sierra and Kyocera, I will see what I can find and post my results here.
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rcw3 · EVDO User Joined: 29 Apr 2005 Posts: 47

Thanks Mike!!!

I would be happy to sign a NDA and release the finished product / driver under a proprietary license if required.

rcw3 · EVDO User Joined: 29 Apr 2005 Posts: 47

That should be fairly easy to create since it's basically using the fairly well known extended Hayes AT command set and the primary data serial port. This would only work when the card is not connected of course.

I haven't had any response on the protocol for the control and status channel. Until we have access to this information, a "full" featured driver will be out of reach unfortunately.

Michael · Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2005 5:29 am Post subject:

Sierra and Kyocera have developer programs that you need to sign up for and they you can get their developer kit. I know there are a few people up on the forums that have already gone down this road.
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rcw3 · EVDO User Joined: 29 Apr 2005 Posts: 47

I've signed up for the Sierra developer program. Unfortunately, they've wrapped the protocol for the Control and Status channel in an API that is only useable on Windows. Someone asking how to use the API or access the CnS protocol to develop something on the Mac was pretty much told he was out of luck.

I'll check into the Kyocera developer program.

stuartbh · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Posts: 14

rcw3 · EVDO User Joined: 29 Apr 2005 Posts: 47

Trust me... I would much rather get it straight from Verizon than developing it myself!!! Cool

I got plenty of other pet projects to work on. Especially considering that it appears the only way to figure out the CnS channel is through brute force reverse engineering.

I just want connection / signal status on my Mac!

Here's hoping that Verizon offers decent, non-buggy EVDO card support shortly!

Michael · Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2005 9:53 pm Post subject:

I think it is a great thing that Verizon officially support Mac. There has been talk of VZAccess for Mac for the last 2 months.

Here is my take on Verizon supporting Mac:

- It is a GREAT thing
- it is about time!
- There has been support by Apple for the PC5220 for the last year (since 10.3.5)
- do you think that Verizon Store Reps will know anything about Macs can just see it now, "Sure this will work with your PowerBook 12 inch or iBook).
- do you think that Verizon Store Reps will be able to troubleshoot/help with Macs?
- do you think that Verizon Tech Support will be much better?
- some won't need any additional support, just the Mac VZAccess CD
- there will be a definite need for Mac EVDO support/service/troubleshooting/advice/etc.
- I have been in this exact position previously. This will legitimize using Macs for EVDO - which is a GOOD thing for all Mac Users. This will allow Mac users to know what a only a few know now (EVDO works with Mac).

We are working with contacts at Verizon to try to get the exact details. As we know more (for sure), or when we get software, we will post additional information for Mac users here on our Mac EVDO page on EVDOinfo.com.
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stuartbh · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 03 Aug 2005 Posts: 14

Michael, et al.:

Well, I appreciate all your comments Michael, but saying that support for EVDO on the Mac is a good thing to a this group, is a bit like telling a group of Rabbis that it's a good thing to be a moral person, I doubt anyone will disagree.

That being said, I have been placed on a list at Verizon of people that will be contacted directly once the VZ Access Manager is officially release and available in a GA release.

It was also indicated to me that the current PC Version of VZ Access Manager is available for download via the www.verizonwireless.com website, and when a Mac Version comes out, it too will be available for download from the same site. The support engineer said that I could as well check that download link each day, as it could be released beofre the 22nd of August on the web also, he was not sure.

Thanks,

Stuart
Beverly Hills, CA