SW startup guide for Vayu 3G
Contents
Software overview for using Vayu-3G-A/Vayu-3GP-A Cape
For using the Vayu-3G-A/Vayu-3GP-A Cape, please ensure that you have the following :
Debian Wheezy image which has following :
- USB drivers for the modem (21f5:2012) installed in kernel
- PPS drivers enabled in kernel, required if GPS module is present.
- VAYU Device tree overlay file
You can either download kernel patches containing the same to use with your existing images or you can download our prebuilt MicroSD card image or EMMC flasher image.
All the images and files and extra support on software can be found here: Vayu_Cape_SW_images_and_drivers
Note : On most beaglebones, there is a known bug with USB hotplug for using USB HUB with Beaglebone black host port. So to efficiently be able to use the modem, follow our documentations for HW guide on it properly. An alternative easier approach is to keep the second host port on cape populated with a usb device.
Device enable for Vayu-3G-A or 3GP-A Cape
The 3G/WCDMA modem has following interfaces available on the Cape:
- Mini USB B Device port on Cape (P9): It has to be connected to USB host port on Beaglebone Black.
- SMA connector for GSM/WCDMA antenna(P7): Antenna is connected here.
- LED D2 (5V Power LED of Cape) : This LED indicates that the Cape is powered on with 5V and GSM/WCDMA modem is also powered.
- LED D4 (SIGNAL LED) : This LED is the SIGNAL LED for the GSM/WCDMA modem whose various blinking states denote the different states of the WCDMA Modem.
- GPIO45 (ON/OFF PIN) : It is the GPIO connected to Power ON/OFF pin of GSM/WCDMA Modem.
- GPIO60 (Hard Reset Pin) : It is the GPIO connected to Reset pin of GSM/WCDMA Modem.
- S1 (ON/OFF switch) : This push button switch is connected to Power ON/OFF pin of GSM/WCDMA modem.
- S2 (RESET switch) : This push button switch is connected to Hard Reset pin of GSM/WCDMA modem.
GPIO45 and GPIO60 should be set high at all instances for the GSM/WCDMA modem to be available for use.
Power On Modem
The Modem can be powered on by providing a low level pulse at ON/OFF Pin for 3-4s when the module is off. It can be achieved by either using the push button switch S1 or GPIO45.
Power Off Modem
The modem can be powered off by providing a low level pulse at ON/OFF pin for 3-4s when the module is On. It can be achieved by either using the push button switch S1 or GPIO45.
Soft Resetting the Modem
Steps -
- Power Off the Modem.
- Wait for 1-2s atleast.
- Power on the modem
Wvdial Configuration for Debian Wheezy :
Note : All commands are recommended to executed as root user.
Note : USB drivers need to be installed in the kernel for the WCDMA modem to work.
Wvdial Configuration for Debian Wheezy :
Note : All commands are recommended to executed as root user.
Download and install Wvdial
$ apt-get install wvdial
Executing the following command usually sets the wvdial.conf file which is used for dialing to GPRS communication, but since here our modem port is on a UART(/dev/ttyO1) and not on /dev/ttyS* or /dev/ttyUSB* ports, we will have to manually configure it.
$ wvdialconf
So, open the wvdial.conf file
$ nano /etc/wvdial.conf
Considering that, you have the USERNAME, PASSWORD and APN available for the service provider of the sim card being used, edit and make wvdial.conf file like this.
[Dialer Defaults] Modem Type = Analog ModemPhone = *99# ISDN = 0 Baud = 115200 Username = USERNAME Password = PASSWORD Modem = /dev/ttyO1 Init1 = ATZ Init2 = at+cgdcont=1,"ip","APN" Stupid Mode = 1
Usually for GSM Networks, Modemphone is *99# or *99***1# After editing save and exit, now run wvdial for establishing communication.
$ wvdial
You can also edit the wvdial.conf file for multiple service providers by providing its name here [Dialer Defaults] :
[Dialer Vodafone] Modem Type = Analog Modem Phone = *99# ISDN = 0 Baud = 115200 Username = 0 Password = 0 Modem = /dev/ttyO1 Init1 = ATZ Init2 = at+cgdcont=1,"ip","www" Stupid Mode = 1 [Dialer Airtel] Modem Type = Analog Modem Phone = *99# ISDN = 0 Baud = 115200 Username = airtel Password = airtel Modem = /dev/ttyO1 Init1 = ATZ Init2 = at+cgdcont=1,"ip","airtelgprs.com" Stupid Mode = 1
And run wvdial for the required service provider as follows:
wvdial airtel
A list of running commands should be visible on the shell, trying to establish PPP connection. Once PPP connection has been established, you will see a ppp0 IP. To check the status of wvdial and find out its IP open a new shell and use either of following:
- Run ifconfig and find ppp0 in the list of network connections.
$ ifconfig or $ ifconfig ppp0
- Check the network statistics for IP and their gateways and check the Iface column for ppp0
$ netstat -arn * Kernel IP routing table Destination Gateway Genmask Flags MSS Window irtt Iface 0.0.0.0 192.168.1.1 0.0.0.0 UG 0 0 0 eth0 192.168.1.0 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.0 U 0 0 0 eth0 192.168.7.0 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.252 U 0 0 0 usb0 192.200.1.21 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.255 UH 0 0 0 ppp0
3. Read the system messages as
$ cat /var/log/messages
It lists all the attempts at establishing ppp communication using the modem and ips for the successful attempt. Now all that is left is to route the network traffic over the gateway of ppp0 instead of eth0 so that GPRS communication is fully completed.
For that, download and run this script
$ chmod +x 0000routefix $ ./0000routefix
Now on Ip table should look like this :
$ netstat -arn Kernel IP routing table Destination Gateway Genmask Flags MSS Window irtt Iface 0.0.0.0 192.168.1.1 0.0.0.0 UG 0 0 0 eth0 192.168.1.0 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.0 U 0 0 0 eth0 192.168.7.0 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.252 U 0 0 0 usb0 192.200.1.21 0.0.0.0 255.255.255.255 UH 0 0 0 ppp0
PPP connection has been established over GPRS using 2G module and wvdial.
After PPP has been established, the following is the status of the LEDs and GPIOs 1. STATUS LED D3 – It is continuously glowing, once the Modem was turned on. 2. SIGNAL LED D4 – It is now blinking at 64ms ON/300ms OFF . Earlier when PPP was not established but SIMcard was detected by modem, then it was blinking at 64ms ON/3000ms OFF. 3. STATUS GPIO23 – Its value is be 1, once modem was turned on. 4. ON/OFF GPIO45 – Its value should be 1. 5. RESET GPIO60 – Its value should always be 1.
You can alternately run wvdial for multiple service providers and store their wvdial.conf files too by this way also
$ wvdial -C /etc/wvdial.conf.provider_name
where wvdial.conf.provider_name is wvdial.conf for the SIM card currently inserted. Also, you can Wvdial in background to free up the shell instead of opening another new shell by :
$ wvdial & disown
Sample Wvdial files for some service providers can be downloaded from below mentioned links :
1. Airtel, India 2. Vodafone, India 3. MTNL, India 4. Sample wvdial.conf with all above three providers in one file.
Adding a DNS if BBB doesnt get it
nano /etc/resolv.conf add following nameserver 8.8.8.8 nameserver 208.67.222.222
Using GPS module with Debian Wheezy
Vayu -2GP-A cape , Vayu-3GHP-A, Vayu-3GCP-A and Vayu-P cape come with a GPS module.
It has following interfaces with available to user and connecting to Beaglebone Black :
1. UART4 (/dev/ttyO4) : It is used for reading the GPS NMEA messages from UART port of GPS module. It should be configured for use at baud rate 19200 raw after ttyO4 has been enabled in the kernel by applying device tree overlay for UART4.
2. GPIO50 : It is used for resetting the GPS modules. It should be pulled high all the time.
3. GPIO27 : It is used as an input GPIO to receive 1 PPS output from the GPS module.
4. Switch S3 on Cape : It is push button Reset switch. To reset the module , push this button for atleast 1s or set the reset GPIO50 low for atleast 1s.
5. LED D5 on Cape : It is GPS fix LED of the GPS Module. When the Module has acquired GPS fix, this LED starts blinking at 1s OFF/1s ON . Also 1PPS output can be detected at GPIO27 after that.
6. LED D7 on Cape : It is 3.3V power Led for cape, also indicating that it should be always glowing for the GPS module to be powered on.
Connect the GPS antenna at SMA connector P6 and place the antenna under open sky for better operations and Boot up Beaglebone Black with cape mounted on it. Notice LED D7 powering up.
Depending on the GPS module had a cold start , warm start or hot start , You should soon see LED D5 to start blinking, denoting that GPS Fix has been acquired.
To read the NMEA messages from the GPS Module on Beaglebone Black :
Step 1 : Enable UART4 (/dev/ttyO4) in device tree kernel.
cd /lib/firmware
echo BB-UART4 > /sys/devices/bone_capemgr.9/slots
You can read the slots or use dmesg to see that UART4 has been enabled.
cat /sys/devices/bone_capemgr.9/slots
Output will be like this :
0: 54:PF---
1: 55:PF---
2: 56:PF---
3: 57:PF---
4: ff:P-O-L Bone-LT-eMMC-2G,00A0,Texas Instrument,BB-BONE-EMMC-2G
5: ff:P-O-L Bone-Black-HDMI,00A0,Texas Instrument,BB-BONELT-HDMI
7: ff:P-O-L Override Board Name,00A0,Override Manuf,BB-UART4
Step 2 : Install Minicom or use the following commands to see NMEA messages
apt-get install minicom
minicom –s (port settings /dev/ttyO4 19200 8N1 )
or
stty –F /dev/ttyO4 19200 raw
cat /dev/ttyO4
For more information and detailed guide on Time synchronization and GPS Location , please refer to the following :
http://www.yantrr.com/wiki/Configuring_for_GPS_Location_and_Time_Synchronization
