[dc-ops] Suggestions for USB cell modem for SMS alerting

[Patrick Shoemaker]

I use the Wavecom / Sierra Wireless GSM modems:

Serial: 
http://www.sierrawireless.com/productsandservices/AirLink/Programmable_Modems/Fastrack_Xtend_EDGE.aspx

USB:
http://www.sierrawireless.com/productsandservices/AirLink/Programmable_Modems/GL6100_GL6110.aspx 

Several open source tools will drive them. The serial one just uses an AT command set. Simple and well documented. You can get them for a couple hundred bucks new, or used/Chinese knockoffs for less than $100 on ebay. Make sure the model you're ordering is compatible with the frequency band your intended carrier uses.

If you're using AT&T gophone prepaid service with this ($20/month unlimited text, no voice; $5/month 200 text, no voice) you'll need to get a "real" AT&T sim, not a gophone SIM. Take your gophone SIM to an AT&T store, tell them it's broken, and ask for a new one. They'll give you a SIM that works with the modem.

Don't use an external antenna unless you absolutely must. Don't mount it outside the building unless you absolutely must. You'll need to consider lightning/ESD protection if you're using an outdoor antenna.

-- 
Patrick Shoemaker


-----Original Message-----


Message: 4
Date: Fri, 9 Sep 2011 09:44:32 -0400
From: Matthew Huff <mhuff at ox.com>
To: "'dc-ops at puck.nether.net'" <dc-ops at puck.nether.net>
Subject: [dc-ops] Suggestions for USB cell modem for SMS alerting
Message-ID:
	<483E6B0272B0284BA86D7596C40D29F9012127145948 at PUR-EXCH07.ox.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

I'm trying to setup a box to send critical nagios alerts via SMS directly to operations staff's phones using either kannel or smstools. Does anyone have any suggestion for a USB cell modem that will work in a datacenter in the NE US? Verizon & AT&T have decent service in our region. Ideally the modem would be able to be connected to an external antenna we would run up to the roof.

----
Matthew Huff             | 1 Manhattanville Rd
Director of Operations   | Purchase, NY 10577
OTA Management LLC       | Phone: 914-460-4039
aim: matthewbhuff        | Fax:   914-460-4139

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End of dc-ops Digest, Vol 1, Issue 4
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