GPRS statuses

[Antony Daugh]

Dear all,

Can anybody tell me how can I detect from WindowsCE (and also from PocketPC)
the GRPS status of my connection? When I established GPRS connection e.g.
using RAS, I'd like to use paralelly AT commands to detect roaming or GSM
signal. How can I achieve it?

Thank you.

 

[Mike]

Sorry I don't know the answer to your question, but I was wondering if you
know how well GPRS works indoors? Our customers are inside large buildings
where cell phones usually don't work, so I guess GPRS wouldn't work either.

 

[Martin Robins]

This will depend entirely on the device that you are using; or more
specifically on the installed GPRS modem.

By default, a single-port device will have the port tied up being used by
RAS to handle the connection. If yours is a sigle-port device then you
cannot use the port at the same time as RAS.

Other devices, such as the Siemens MC45 have a multiplexed-port which
(theoretically) can be used by two programs at the same time. In this case
you should be able to configure RAS to use the port, and then open it a
second time from another program to interrogate using AT commands. (I am
currently trying to make this work using the Siemens and have had no luck!)

I suggest you investigate the device you are using before you tie up too
much time in this venture - you may be flogging a dead horse!

Martin.

 

[Martin Robins]

GPRS tends to work independantly of the mobile to a certain extent: You can
have a full phone signal with voice capabilities and still have zero GPRS or
you can have nothing.

Although most networks use the same infrastructure to carry GPRS and voice,
that infrastructure tends to be oriented more toward void at this time (this
is certainly true of the UK anyway). Incidentally, different networks
provide different coverages in different areas do a device connected to
network A mihgt fail whilst a device on network B works. The only way to be
sure is to try it, however if the voice don;t work ...

Also, from the wording of your post, "Our customers are inside large
buildings ...", do you mean that your customers are using PDA'a in their own
offices or your customers are field personnel working in other peoples
offices. If it is the first, you may want to look at wireless LAN connection
instead of GPRS; it is considerably cheaper in the long run and far more
reliable in controlled environments.

Martin.

 

[Mike]

Thanks for the info. Our customers are using PDA's in their own offices
(hospitals actually). Yes, wireless LAN would be great, but most of them
don't have that.