Setting Up the Nomad 2 GSM Option Second Wind Inc. 2004 Version 1.

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Setting Up the NOMAD 2 GSM Option

Introduction

Second Wind Inc.s GSM modem option adds cellular connectivity to the NOMAD 2. With the option installed
and a cellular telephone account, any computer running Nomad Desktop software can call the NOMAD 2 by
dial-up modem to transfer files and view real-time data. With an ISP account, the NOMAD 2 can also send data
daily via e-mail to anywhere in the world.

About GSM

The Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) cellular network was developed in Europe and is now
available in over 190 countries. GSM is a digital service with higher data transfer rates and lower power
requirements than first generation analog cellular technology. GSM service operates in the 850 (900), 1800,
and 1900 MHz bands, depending on location.

About the NOMAD 2 GSM Package

The GSM modem option is usually provided as part of a GSM Package that also includes a 5-Watt solar
panel, a 12 Volt, 7.2 Ampere-Hour lead acid battery, and a solar charge regulator. Depending on available
sunlight, these may be adequate for powering the GSM modem continuously.

This document assumes that the modem option has been provided as part of the GSM Package. Please take
that into account if other variations of batteries and charging systems are to be used.

Set Up a Cellular Telephone Account

Like all GSM equipment, the GSM modem option needs a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card to operate.
The SIM card contains important account information, including the telephone number, encoded network
identification details, and a Personal Identification Number (PIN). No modem configuration is necessary other
than plugging in a SIM card.

Set up a GSM cellular account from your preferred service provider, and obtain a SIM card. Make sure that the
account:

1. is Data Enabled; and
2. supports Circuit Switched Data (CSD).

In the United States T-Mobile supports CSD but AT&T does not. In Europe most GSM providers lowest cost
accounts do not enable data or support CSD, but their higher-end accounts do.

When setting up an account, consider the airtime you will be using. Circuit switched GSM transfers data no
faster than 1 kilobyte (kB) per second. Your NOMAD 2 configuration is up to you, but it isnt difficult to keep
data acquisition down below 100 kB per day. E-mailing and/or dial-up modem transfers should therefore
probably not take more than a few minutes a day. Other factors can increase airtime, such as GSM network
congestion, or multiple parties calling in often to check the NOMADs status.
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When you set up the account, the service provider will tell you its telephone number. You will use this number
to call in to the modem using Nomad Desktop. Record the number here:

Dial-In Telephone Number:

Requirements for Sending E-Mail

Note: If you dont want your NOMAD 2 to send data by e-mail, skip this section.

To send data by e-mail, your modem-equipped NOMAD 2 will need to have access to a dial-up Internet Service
Provider (ISP). The ISP account may be used exclusively for an individual NOMAD 2, or it may shared with
other NOMAD 2s, or shared with you or other users.

Most "generic" ISPs are appropriate for this application. ISPs with nonstandard features and services, notably
AOL and MSN, will not work for NOMAD 2 dial-up access. A reliable ISP in North America is Earthlink.

Whether using a new account or sharing an existing one, the NOMAD 2 will need:

1. an Account User Name, to identify itself as a subscriber to the ISP. The user name is often its entire
sending e-mail address, in the form: username@ispname, for example: iamnomad@earthlink.net;

2. a Password for the Account User Name that has been registered with the ISP;

3. an ISP Dial-up Access Telephone Number. Most dial-up ISPs have telephone numbers for different areas.
Consider choosing one that minimizes charges to your GSM account;

4. an SMTP Mail Server Name that will actually send the e-mail to named recipients. The ISP provides both
outgoing and incoming mail servers. The NOMAD 2 needs to know the Internet name of the outgoing mail
server. This is usually of the form: smtp.ispname, for example: smtp.earthlink.net.

If you are not sure of the outgoing Mail Server Name to use, check the ISPs website or call the ISPs
technical support to ask.

Record the ISP information here:

ISP Telephone #:

Account User Name:

Account Password:

Mail Server Name:

Modem Setup and Testing

We highly recommend that you set up and bench test the modem option before field installation. This
requires that GSM service is available at the test location, of course.
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The solar panel doesnt need to be installed for bench testing, but the 12 Volt battery will be required to power
the modem. The 12 Volt battery supplied in the GSM Package should be charged adequately for modem setup
and testing purposes.

1. Install the SIM card in the GSM modem

a. Remove 12 Volt power from the NOMAD 2 if it was on.
b. Remove anything plugged into the front panel: Compact Flash card, serial cable, and both 9 Volt
batteries.
c. Unscrew the two captive thumbscrews on the upper corners of the front panel. Use a screwdriver if
needed, but dont turn more than necessary to free the screws.
d. Pivot the front panel down carefully. You should see something like this:



Figure 1. Open front panel and disconnect antenna cable.

e. The modem is connected to a shelf that slides out of the NOMAD 2. Slide the shelf towards you for
easier access to the antenna cable jumper connected to the right side of the modem.
f. Disconnect the antenna cable jumper by unscrewing it at the modem.
g. You should now be able to slide the modem shelf out further, or even remove it from the enclosure. Be
careful not to stress or disconnect the two cables connected to left side of the modem.
h. Use a ballpoint pen to press the yellow ejector button on the right side of the modem. The black SIM
card tray will pop out.

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Figure 2. Insert the SIM card tray into the GSM modem.

i. Remove the SIM card tray. Note that is upside-down when installed in the NOMAD 2.
j. Orient the SIM card correctly in the tray and hold it so it wont fall out during insertion.
k. Carefully slide the tray back into the modem, also making sure it is oriented correctly.
l. Slide the modem shelf back into the plastic guides on the sides of the enclosure.
m. Reconnect the antenna cable jumper to the modem. The connector should screw on easily if aligned
properly. Tighten it by hand.
n. Carefully rotate the front panel closed without binding any of the cables or connectors.
o. Retighten the captive screws. Do not over tighten.
p. Reinsert the 9V batteries, and the Compact Flash card if one was removed.

2. Connect External Antenna and 12 Volt Power

a. Unscrew the two captive thumbscrews on the upper corners of the Interface Board. Use a screwdriver if
needed, but dont turn more than necessary to free the screws.
b. Pivot the Interface Board down carefully.
c. Screw and hand-tighten the connector at the end of the antenna cable on to the mating connector at the
upper right of the lower enclosure. When installing in the field, you will want to run the antenna cable
through the bottom of the enclosure, but this is not necessary for bench testing.
d. Locate the two polarized, molded connectors that mate the battery to the solar charge regulator. Plug
them together firmly.
e. Close the Interface Board and hand tighten the captive screws.

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Figure 3. Connect the 12 Volt battery. Figure 4. Connect the antenna cable.

3. Create a Communication Configuration

Create a Communication Configuration file to tell the NOMAD 2 that it has the GSM option installed, that the
modem should be on all the time (for testing purposes), and information for sending e-mail. Consult Nomad
Desktop Help for complete instructions on the procedure.

a. Configure communications as follows:

1. Modem Type: SWI GSM
2. On at: 00:00, Off at: 23:59
3. Dial-In Telephone #: (enter your GSM telephone account number)
4. Dial-In Security: unchecked

b. If you are not going to have the NOMAD 2 send e-mail, make sure that E-Mail is unchecked on the
form and go to the next step. If you do want it to send e-mail, further configure communications as
follows:

5. E-Mail: checked
6. Telephone #: (enter the ISP access telephone number)
7. Account User Name: (enter the user name to access the ISP account)
8. Account Password: (enter the password registered for the account user name)
9. Mail Server Name: (enter the ISPs outgoing SMTP server name)
10. Data Recipient(s): (enter the e-mail address(es) the data files will be sent to)
11. Send e-mail daily at: (enter the local time of day when the NOMAD 2 will e-mail data)

Note: The NOMAD 2 can send e-mail at any time of the day, regardless of when the modem is set to
be on or off.

c. Save the Communication Configuration to a file on your computer. The default name is
N2ComCfg.new, the name it must have when transferred to the NOMAD 2. You can save the file with a
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more descriptive name, e.g. N2comcfg for unit 1433 gsm.new, but you will have to make sure it is
properly (re)named for the next step.

d. If you have imported any data files from this NOMAD 2 into Nomad Desktop, the NOMAD 2 will
already be represented by an icon on the Map. In this case, you can also Save to database the
communication configuration, which among other benefits will expedite testing by dialing the correct
modems telephone number with the push of a button.

4. Configure NOMAD 2 with the Communication Configuration File

The NOMAD 2 reconfigures its communications settings only after it finds and reads a Communication
Configuration file named N2ComCfg.new in the root directory of an inserted Compact Flash card. There are
two ways to get it there:

a. Write the file to the card while it is in a card reader and mapped as a computer drive, then plug it into
the NOMAD 2.

b. Establish a Direct Connection with NOMAD 2 and press Upload. Select the new Communication
Configuration file and press Upload Communication File. The file will automatically be renamed and
sent to the root directory of the Compact Flash card inserted in the NOMAD 2.

5. Check Modem Operation from the NOMAD 2 Front Panel

Wake up the front panel display, go to the Main Menu, select Nomad2 Operation, and scroll down to and
select Remote Access. If everything is working properly, the display should now look something like this:

Modem:Idle, 45% RSS
On@ 00:00-23:59

Send test email

Idle means the modem is on but not communicating. 45% RSS indicates the Received Signal Strength (as a
percentage of maximum) of transmissions from the connected cellular tower. If the RSS is below 30% move the
antenna around to try to get a better signal. The RSS display will update about every 5 seconds.

6. Call NOMAD 2 from Nomad Desktop

This and subsequent steps requires your computer to have an installed, configured modem, connected to an
outgoing telephone line.

a. Click the Communication Tab to display the Communication Buttons.
b. Using the Connect to Nomad2 by Dial-up Modem button, call the NOMAD 2. See Nomad Desktop
Help for instructions. If you followed step 3d, you will be connecting automatically. If not, connect
manually, entering the test NOMAD 2s telephone number and leaving Dial-In Security unchecked.
c. If the connection is successful, test communications clicking the Zoom Inputs button. The Zoom Inputs
form should appear in a few seconds, then data should be displayed and updated every second.
d. Press Disconnect to terminate the connection.

7. Send a test e-mail from the NOMAD 2

Skip this step if you havent set the NOMAD 2 up to send e-mail.
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Wake up the front panel display again, go to the Main Menu, select Nomad2 Operation, and scroll down to
and select Remote Access. Once again you should see something like:

Modem:Idle, 45% RSS
On@ 00:00-23:59

Send test email

With the cursor next to Send test email, press the Select button on the front panel. The first and last lines of the
display will change as the NOMAD 2 proceeds with the test. Here is an example:

Modem:Connecting
On@ 00:00-23:59

Email in progress

After several minutes, the test will finish and the last line of the display should read Email sent OK. Press Select
to clear the message.

Check one of the e-mail recipient accounts for the test message sent from the NOMAD 2. Look for mail sent
from the configured Account Name with the subject Nomad2 Test Email.

8. Final Configuration

If the NOMAD 2 performed acceptably in the preceding tests, its GSM option is ready for the field.

You may first want to make a few changes to the Communication Configuration before field installation, such
as:

a. instead of leaving it on all the time, turn the modem on by time of day;
b. invoke Dial-In Security to prevent others from calling in to the NOMAD 2;
c. change the e-mail recipient list.

Make such changes by following steps 3 and 4 in this section. If you invoked Dial-In Security you should retest
to make sure you can connect.

Once you have finished testing and configuration, disconnect the 12 Volt power and antenna. The
configuration will be saved even if there is no power to the logger.

Field Deployment

Once the GSM option has been configured and tested, field deployment involves very little more than
reconnecting 12 Volt power and the external antenna.

The 12 Volt power gets connected the same as in bench testing, but the external solar panel needs to be
mounted and wired to the solar charge regulator on the NOMAD 2 Interface Board.

Antenna connection in the field will require running the connector end of the antenna cable through a cable
clamp at the bottom of the NOMAD 2 enclosure. It shouldnt be necessary to cut the antenna cable, but if using
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a waterproof gland clamp you may have to slit the side of the rubbery gland insert to fit the cable. Run the
antenna cable up to the connector behind the upper right side of the Interface Board as you did in testing.

Monitor and adjust for Received Signal Strength (RSS) by moving the antenna around just like in testing. In the
field, you may find it helpful to move the antenna a little up the tower for a better signal. If you are unable to
get an adequate signal, consider getting a directional Yagi antenna. Contact Second Wind Inc. for details.

Troubleshooting

If you have trouble calling the NOMAD 2 by dial-up modem from Nomad Desktop:

Make sure that your computers modem is actually dialing out. Set the volume up to listen to the
modem dial, and watch the status lights if it is an external modem.
If your modem is dialing but youre not sure if the NOMAD 2s modem is answering, try calling it by
telephone. You should hear a modem tone.
Navigate to Remote Access using NOMAD 2s front panel operator interface. Then:
a. Confirm that the modem is on. The display should read Modem: Idle x% RSS.
b. Check that the signals strength (RSS) is above 30%. If it is not, move the antenna to a location
with better signal strength.
c. Check that the modem will be turned on when you call in.
Open the NOMAD 2 front panel using the same procedures as in Modem Setup and Testing. Then:
a. Look for a red status LED on the modem right behind the SIM card holder.

If the LED is: then the Modem:
off has no power or is otherwise not working.
on is on and trying to connect to GSM network.
flashing slowly has found a GSM network and is idle (waiting for calls).
flashing quickly is on, and an outgoing or incoming call is in progress.

b. Check that the two cables on the left of the modem are connected securely at their other ends to
the NOMAD 2 main circuit board.

If sending a test e-mail fails:

Confirm that you have entered the correct user name, password, SMTP mail server name, and ISP
telephone number.
Dial the ISP number with a telephone and listen for a modem tone.
Try the same ISP access number, user name, and password using e-mail client software (e.g. Outlook
Express) on your computer.
In the United States, try the ISP number with and without the 1 before the area code.

If you still need help, prepare to call Second Wind Inc. for technical help from our support staff. Before you
call:

Have your Nomad Desktop running.
Copy the file named SYSTEM.LOG from the root directory of the Compact Flash card in the NOMAD 2
to your computer. The System Log is a text file that NOMAD 2 writes to whenever there is modem
activity, among other things. Have the System Log handy to read or e-mail to the staff if requested.