Let’s get started.

What is Telecom Site?

Telecom site has played an important role is our daily life, not only for mobile phone subscribers, but also for IoT(internet of things), and IoV(Internet of Vehicles) applications.

A telecom site, cell site, or cellular base station is a cellular-enabled mobile device site where antennas and electronic communications equipment are placed—typically on a radio mast, tower, or other raised structure—to create a cell (or adjacent cells) in a cellular network.

From Barnabas Davoti

Telecom site normally consists of below systems

• Cell Towers

A Physical structure where the antennas, cables and alarm light are attached, to transmit and receive signals, and send alarm light signals to airplanes.

• Power Source

As telecom sites could be built in urban and rural areas, rooftops of high buildings in the city, or mountain tops in remote areas, so the power source is different based on the environment, but normally, it consists of AC electrical power supply, and comes with a diesel generator and battery backup system (UPS, Uninterruptible Power Supply), while for some remote areas where the electricity power supply is hard to get, we can also use solar power, or wind power to generate electricity.

Below are some of the main power sources normally used onsite, while battery bank and generator are mainly for backup power system when AC electrical power is unavailable, or solar panel, and wind power is limited due to bad weather condition.

• AC electricity power supply
• Solar panel
• Wind turbine
• Batter bank
• Generator

• BTS-Base Transceiver Station

The back-haul transmission devices are installed in shelter room, to transmit, receive combine signals, process digital signals, etc.

• Security and access control systems

As the telecom site facilities are expensive, which may target equipment, cooper, fuel theft or even terrorist attack, to reduce such risk, normally, an CCTV security, intrusion alarm system, and access control system (RFID) will be required.

• HVAC Systems (Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning)

To make sure the field devices can work perfectly in certain environments, especially in remote areas where the weather changed days and seasons, there normally will have an HVAC system to make sure the transmission devices work perfectly.

What is Telecom Site Monitoring System? Why We need it?

A telecom site monitoring system utilizes IoT sensors, smart devices (5g/4g IoT gateways, or RTU), and a cloud IoT platform to remotely monitor and control the key systems and parameters mentioned above to help mobile operators to reduce operational costs and the risk of theft.

How IoT Empowers the Telecom Monitoring System?

As there are different types of sensors or devices with different protocols to monitor, an industrial IoT gateway with rich I/O and industrial protocols is required to combine the different data in certain protocols and transfer them to a remote cloud server. Normally, the IoT gateway will come with ethernet ports, digital input, analogy input, RS232, RS485, and relay output to acquire data and control the field devices, a diagram below.

Below are some key systems and parameters to monitor

• Energy Monitoring and Management

There will have an energy meter to monitor the power generation and consumption from generators, solar power, wind power, as well as consumption from electric power. In addition, it’s also used to monitor the health of the battery bank backup system.

• Diesel Generator and Fuel Tank Monitoring

A generator is used to generate electricity to supply power for the telecom sites, so it’s important to remotely monitor its operation status, and provide predictive maintenance to reduce downtime and improve maintenance efficiency. Besides, the real-time level of the fuel tank monitor will help the operator to deliver the fuel in time.

• Environment Monitoring

Weather status will affect the operation of telecom sites too, such as temperature, humidity, or natural disasters(flood), so it requires IoT sensors to remotely monitor the real-time environment and send alarms to the data center.

• Security and Access Control

CCTV surveillance can be used to send real-time video streams to the data centre, together with intrusion alarm systems will help to reduce theft, while access control is good for authorizing operators to access telecom sites and maintain the equipment.

Conclusion

With the fast and massive deployment of 5G, we can see mobile operators will need the telecom site monitoring system to help them remotely monitor and control their field devices, reduce operational costs and the risk of theft.

Image sources:

1. <a href=”https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/tank” title=”tank icons”>Tank icons created by itim2101 – Flaticon</a>
2. <a href=”https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/generator” title=”generator icons”>Generator icons created by smalllikeart – Flaticon</a>
3. <a href=”https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/solar-energy” title=”solar energy icons”>Solar energy icons created by Good Ware – Flaticon</a>
4. <a href=”https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/wind-turbine” title=”wind turbine icons”>Wind turbine icons created by Triangle Squad – Flaticon</a>
5. <a href=”https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/cctv” title=”cctv icons”>Cctv icons created by ultimatearm – Flaticon</a>
6. <a href=”https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/rfid” title=”rfid icons”>Rfid icons created by Freepik – Flaticon</a>
7. <a href=”https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/stairs” title=”stairs icons”>Stairs icons created by catkuro – Flaticon</a>
8. <a href=”https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/temperature-control” title=”temperature control icons”>Temperature control icons created by Good Ware – Flaticon</a>
9. https://www.flaticon.com/free-icon/air-conditioner_1104636?term=hvac&page=1&position=49&page=1&position=49&related_id=1104636&origin=search

The post Remote Telecom Site Monitoring System appeared first on Bivocom.

Before you start, make sure your firmware version is Python programmable version or later.

Bivocom463-63.1.0.14-python3.4-202206151537.img

Note: Standard firmware version of TG463 doesn’t support Python programmable, so you’ll have to ask Bivocom team to get the customized firmware version.(support@bivocom.com)

What is Python?

https://www.python.org/doc/essays/blurb/

1.  Telnet to login the gateway, username and password are “admin”

2.  Create a Python program test.py

3.  Run Python

The post 3 Steps to Run Python Program on IoT Gateway appeared first on Bivocom.

The following article tells you how to upgrade your legacy PLC with Bivocom TR321 industrial IoT router. Benefit from Bivocom cellular network communication technology, Bivocom TR321 helps to connect your legacy PLC and controller to cloud, which is smart and easy for remote management.

Bivocom TR321 industrial router supports multiple protocols to communicate between your PLC/controller and your SCADA platform. It supports Modbus TCP/RTU, MQTT, TCP/IP, UDP, HTTP, etc.

We all know Modbus protocol is widely used for IoT and M2M, Bivocom TR321 can work as a Modbus Master to acquire data from PLC or sensors via RS232, RS485, and RJ45 ports. Normally, PLC provides Ethernet RJ45 for communication, in this case we can setup TR321 as Modbus TCP Client to acquire data from PLC following the preset rules, and transmit data to cloud server via TCP/UDP/MQTT/HTTP, etc.

This article will tell you how to setup Bivocom TR321 Modbus TCP feature to acquire PLC data and transmit to your cloud data center.

Steps

1. Setup Bivocom TR321 and connect your laptop network in TR321’s LAN by Ethernet cable or WiFi.
2. Ensure the firmware is higher than 21.1.1.37. If not, please ask Bivocom support for latest firmware.
3. Telnet to TR321 from your laptop by “telnet 192.168.1.1” the username password both “admin” as default.

4. Execute a command “hw_info set model 2:S:E:S:1” to enable Modbus TCP feature.

5. Full reset to factory by long press the “Reset” hole.
6. Enable the Data Acquire feature by setting on “Basic Setting”, set the collect period, report period, and other related settings.

7. Reconnect to your TR321 and access to its WebUI, there is an “Interface Setting” menu for Modbus TCP setting.
8. Enable a Modbus TCP server and config the IP address according to your PLC IP address.

     9. Setting the Modbus Rules according your PLC device datasheet. On the “Modbus Rules setting” menu, choose the Interface as “Modbus Server 1” which we enabled in previous step, and configure other Modbus rule settings then “Add” and “Save & Apply”.

10. Setting your data center server. Transmit the data to your data center by configuring the Server Settings, Bivocom TR321 supports multiple protocols like MQTT, TCP, UDP…, and reform the data format as Json, Transprant, or HJ212 (special for some Environment SCADA in China).

After all previous settings done, Bivocom TR321 will connect your PLC and your SCADA platform for data communication without any manual operation. Contact Bivocom representative to get a demo now, it’s time to upgrade your legacy PLC by using Bivocom IoT routers.

Success Case

Bivocom Onsite

The post How to Upgrade Your Legacy PLC to Cloud by IoT Router? appeared first on Bivocom.

Note: Node-RED is only available on customized firmware of TG452, if you need it, please tell Bivocom sales rep. before you order it.

1. Check IP of Gateway TG452

For the default gateway, you have to open “cmd”, then execute “ipconfig” command to query ip.

you can also define your gateway address at LAN setting. in my case the TG452 gateway is 192.168.1.1.

2. Telnet TG452 to run Node-RED

For the Node-RED, you have to telnet to the CLI of TG452 (telnet 192.168.1.1), and then execute “node-RED” command to run it, then you will have 192.168.1.1:1880 Node-RED portal.

3. Login the Node-RED portal and experience it

Then you can login 192.168.1.1:1880 as below. Then you can start to experience the Node-RED programming environment to see how flexible it is for your IoT applications.

The post 3 Steps to Enable Node-RED of Bivocom TG452 appeared first on Bivocom.

What You Need?

• Bivocom Router TR321
• TCP/UDP Net Assistant(To simulate a TCP server)
• Bivocom config tool of TD210(to simulate a sensor to generate data)

1.     RS232 or RS485 Cable Wiring

All of Bivocom routes’ serial port are designed with industrial terminal block interface, you can finish the cable wiring as below.

RS232 cable wiring:  Blue—TX, Brown—RX, Black–GND

RS485 cable wiring:  Red–A, Black—B

2.     Configuration on Web GUI page

2.1 Disable online detection

If Bivocom router is dialed up via wired cable, but without SIM card, please disable the online detection before the testing. See as the detail following operation. You can go to next step if you’re using 4G/LTE.

1. Click “Setup”–”Online Detection”, and then select “Disable”
2. Click “Save & Apply” for configuration to take effect.

2.2 Serial communication configuration

RS232 communication configuration

1. Click “Advanced”–”Serial Communication”, select “Enable” of “Enable Serial 232”
2. Type in the relative parameters of baud rate, data bit, stop bit, parity according to your sensors or devices’ parameters.
3. Select the relative protocol from “PURE UDP”, “PURE TCP”, “Self Defined TCP”, “FTCP”, “HTCP”, “HUDP”, “TCP Sever”, “Modbus TCP”, “Modbus RTU”, “HTTP Client”, “MQTT”.
4. Type in other additional parameters on the page once you select some protocols.
5. Click “Save & Apply” for configuration to take effect.

RS485 communication configuration

1. Click “Advanced”–”Serial Communication”, select “Enable” of “Enable Serial 485”
2. Type in the relative parameters of baud rate, data bit, stop bit, parity according to your sensors or devices’ parameters.
3. Select the relative protocol from “PURE UDP”, “PURE TCP”, “Self Defined TCP”, “FTCP”, “HTCP”, “HUDP”, “TCP Sever”, “Modbus TCP”, “Modbus RTU”, “HTTP Client”, “MQTT”.
4. Type in other additional parameters on the page once you select some protocols.
5. Click “Save & Apply” for configuration to take effect.

2.3 Traffic rules configuration

Click “Secure”–”Traffic Rules”, and then go to “Open ports on router”, and type in the relative “Name”, “Protocol”, and “External port”. Then click “Add”, and “Save & Apply” for configuration to take effect.

3.     Debug Testing via Data Software.

Hereby take the debug testing via “TCP/UDP Net Assistant” (can be valued as data server software) as an example.

3.1 TCP server configuration

1) Running ” TCP/UDP Net Assistant”, select “TCP Server” from “Protocol”, type “Local host addr” with 192.168.1.100, type “Local host port” with 10000.

2) Click “Open” to enable a virtual local TCP server.

3.2 Serial communication configuration on Web GUI page

Go to Bivocom local Web GUI page, and enable serial port. Hereby take RS485 as an example.

1. Click “Advanced”–”Serial Communication”, select “Enable” of “Enable Serial 485”.
2. Set Baudrate as “9600”, Databit as “8”, Stopbit as “1”, Parity as “None”, Frame interval as “200ms”
3. Select “PURE TCP” protocol.
4. Set “Server Address” as “192.168.1.100”, “Serial Port” as “10000”.
5. Click “Save & Apply” for configuration to take effect.
6. Then you will find the “Connection Status” will be “CONNECTED”. That means the connection between Bivocom router and virtual local TCP server has been established successfully.

3.3 Verification serial communication

We would like to introduce “Serial Port Debug Tool” here to finish this simulation testing, which will play for a role of kinds of PLC/sensors.

1. Running a local “Serial Port Debug Tool” on your PC, and do following configuration.
2. Select “COM1” or the other one of “Port”. Please ensure “COM1” or any one serial port has been open on your PC side!
3. Set “Baud Rate” as “9600”, Databit as “8”, Stopbit as “1”, Parity as “None”.

• Click “Open Port”

Data communication verify

1. Type” 111” at the “Sending String” area on “Serial Port Debug Tool”.
2. Check if the “Data Receive” area of “TCP/UDP Net Assistant” get “111” string too.
3. Type ” 222” at the “Sending” area on “TCP/UDP Net Assistant”, and click “Sending”.
4. Check if the “Receiving Area” of “Serial Port Debug Tool” get “222” string too.

The post How to Get Serial Data from IoT Router? appeared first on Bivocom.

Most customers remotely configure their 4G IoT router via DMP(device management platform), a WEB portal service platform that allows users to remotely monitor the status of routers, and remotely configure the devices too. While for such service, normally the vendor will charge you license fee for DMP. Frankly speaking, the DMP is really a helpful tool when you have hundreds of routers deployed and want to remote configure or check some parameters of router, but what if you only have 10, or 50pcs routers onsite, but you only need to reboot the routers, or check signal strength of the routers, and upgrade the firmware only, while using SMS to configure and set up your router remotely is also a great idea.

Let’s get started!

1. Reboot your IoT router

• SMS Command: reboot, admin
• Description:

Reboot: the command the reboot your router.

admin: verification password of your router. (you can change this password from router WEB UI)

Note: there is a comma between reboot and admin, when you send the SMS command out, you’ll get a response SMS: Start to reboot

2. Check signal strength of IoT router

• SMS Command: signal
• Response SMS: signal is 26(26 is an example signal strength, it will be related to your region’s cellular network coverage)

3. Setting up L2TP/PPTP VPN

• SMS Command: <vpn_type>, <server_addr>, <username>,<account_password>, <mppe_enabled>, <password>
• Description:

vpn_type: it could be PPTP, or L2TP

server_addr: the VPN server address, it could an IP address or domain name.

username: VPN username

account_password: account password

mppe_enabled: Whether to enable MPPE encryption

password: verify password, default is admin

• Example：”pptp, isodev.picp.net, test, test, 1, admin”

If the configuration is successful, there will return a confirmation message.

4. Upgrade Firmware

• SMS Command:

upgrade, <server_addr>, <port>, <device_id>, <image_name>, <password>

• Description:

upgrade：message header

server_addr：server address where firmware stored, it could be an IP address or domain name

port: port of server address

device_id：device ID of router，8 digit(configured from router WEB UI)

image_name：firmware name

password：verify password, default is admin

• Example:

”upgrade, isodev.picp.net, 30001, 33334444, tr341-1.0.0.18.img, admin”

If the configuration is successful, there will return a confirmation message.

The post How to use SMS to remotely set up your 4G IoT Router? appeared first on Bivocom.

As we all know, 2G/3G have been serving us for decades, thanks to this wireless technology and IoT technology, our world has become more connected and smarter-business owners can use the technology to remotely publish their advertisement via LED display, power companies are able to remotely monitor their substation and power meter, banks have expanded their branches and ATM using cellular routers, etc.

While as the 2G/3G technology is aging, it has to be replaced with newer and modern technology. Today, we’re going to show you some solutions to get your IoT equipment upgraded prior to 2G/3G sunset, to ensure your legacy IoT solutions smooth transition to newer technology.

Before this, do you know why the global mobile network operators are going to shut down their 2G/3G network in schedule?

Why shut down 2G/3G?

This article may help you to know more.

Time frame of switch off 2G/3G

Although carriers in different countries have their own plan to shut down the 2G/3G, most of them will do that within this decade, let’s take a look at some countries and carriers below

1. Australia

Telstra plans to shut down its 3G network by June, 2024

https://www.telstra.com.au/business-enterprise/support/3g-service-closure

2. USA

AT&T has phased out its 3G network by Feb, 2022.

https://www.att.com/support/article/wireless/KM1324171/

3. UK

Vodafone is switching off 3G in 2023

https://www.vodafone.co.uk/help-and-information/3g-switch-off

4. Germany

Deutsche Telekom has shut down its 3G in June 2021

https://www.telekom.com/en/media/media-information/archive/bye-bye-3g-now-lte-is-coming-for-everyone-608220

You can check this link to learn more about other carriers’ plans of 3G shut down in Europe.

https://blog.telegeography.com/3gs-sun-is-setting-in-europe

Time to get your legacy IoT solutions upgraded by right choice

If your IoT solutions were using 3G/2G modems, routers, or gateways, it’s time to think about when to upgrade your legacy IoT solutions to newer and better technology before your 3G/2G network shutdown. While you may wonder what solutions to choose to replace the legacy modems, routers and gateways, below are some solutions you can consider, and this article may help to choose the right solutions.

1. LTE CAT M1/NB-IoT
2. LTE CAT 1

Image source: U-blox

Bivocom Solutions

1. TW810

An industrial serial modem, supports both LTE-M/NB-IoT, back supports EDGE/GPRS, with industrial protocols such as, Modbus RTU, TCP/UDP, and RS232, RS485, a great solution to upgrade your legacy 2G modem.

2. TD210

It has built-in MCU, reliable and stable, has choice of LTE CAT 1 or CAT 4, with MQTT, Modbus RTU protocols, RS232, RS485, which is a good choice for replacing 3G/2G serial modems.

3. TR321

Openwrt powered Linux OS IoT router, with option of LTE CAT M1/NB-IoT, or LTE CAT 1, CAT 4, with ethernet ports, serial ports RS232, RS485, and Modbus RTU/TCP, MQTT, VPN, has been widely used for different IoT applications, such as EV charger, LED display advertisement, power meter reading, IP camera, etc.

The post Get Your Legacy IoT Solutions Upgraded Prior to 2G/3G Sunset appeared first on Bivocom.

• What is SNMP?
• How SNMP work?

1.     What you need?

1.1 Bivocom Gateway/Router

A Bivocom gateway TG451 with customized firmware of SNMP feature.

https://www.bivocom.com/products/iot-gateways/industrial-gateway-tg451

Note: if your TG451 doesn’t support SNMP, please contact Bivocom to get the customized firmware at info@bivocom.com, support@bivocom.com.

1.2  SNMP Client APP

You can use a third party SNMP app, such as, MG-SOFT MIB Browser

https://www.mg-soft.si/mgMibBrowserPE.html

1.3  Test environment

The SNMP MG-SOFT MIB Browser was installed in the same LAN of TG451, not a cloud server.

2. Get Started

2.1 Configure parameters on TG451

Go to “Adavnced” and click “SNMP” in dropdown menu of TG451 to configure the parameters.

The default LAN IP and port of TG451 for this example is 192.168.1.1 and port 161.

2.2 Test Record

Enter the IP segment range you want to query. After clicking the following buttons, all SNMP devices that can communicate in this IP range will appear in the result list.

Compare parameters between SNMP APP and Web UI of Bivocom TG451, you’ll find the parameters you configured on TG451 displayed on SNMP APP, which means the connection is successful.

• Query Network Status

Go to MIB tree to find the IP of TG451.

• Check the device network parameters

• MAC Address Query

• Offline Status

If the TG451 is offline, you can only get the local LAN port IP

The post How to Quickly Set Up SNMP on Bivocom Gateways appeared first on Bivocom.

TD210 is an industrial MCU based serial modem, supports RS232, RS485, and industrial protocols Modbus, MQTT, TCP/UDP, with hardware and software watchdog built in, to ensure a reliable and stable connectivity with cloud IoT platform, which is an ideal solution for power meter reading, water level, gas pipeline, temperature and humidity monitor application.

TD210

TR321 is a compact design IoT router, based openwrt Linux OS, comes with RJ45, RS232, RS485, WIFI, GNSS, supports VPN(PPTP, L2TP, IPsec, OpenVPN, GRE), MQTT, Modbus RTU/TCP, TCP/UDP, HTTPS protocol, is a cost effective IoT router for industrial IoT, such as, smart EV charger, solar power, genset monitor, power meter reading, IP camera, vending machine, air compressor, PLC remote control, etc.

TR321

You may wonder what is LTE CAT 1, and what are the differences between LTE CAT 4 and LTE CAT M1/NB-IoT? How to choose the right solution for IoT application?

This article may help you to understand more about their differences, after that, you’ll have idea of what application to choose LTE CAT 1 modem, router, and LTE CAT 4 or CAT M1, NB-IoT modem and router.

What Do You Know About LTE Cat 1 in IoT

The post Bivocom Launched LTE CAT 1 Modems and Routers appeared first on Bivocom.

About TR331

TR331 is a compact design embedded IoT router, and its size is only 5x5x1cm(WxLxH), allows EV charger supplier to install or embed to their controllers. In addition, it’s designed on Openwrt based Linux OS with Bivocom own kernel, it supports Python/C/C++ programming, allowing IoT developer and engineer to install their own application by using Bivocom toolchain. Besides, it has 2 Ethernet port, RS232, RS485, TTL for diverse field IoT sensors or controllers, and supports 4G LTE or LTE CAT M1/NB-IoT, VPN(PP2TP, L2TP, IPsec, GRE, OpenVPN), Modbus, MQTT protocols.

Mini embedded router TR331

Related Product for EV charger: TR321, a compact IoT router for upgrading your legacy 3G/2G router to 4G.

Bivocom OEM/ODM Service

We’re living in a fast-changing world, so is the IoT! Getting a standard IoT hardware to fit all your IoT applications is incredible and expensive, so it’s critical to find an IoT partner that allows and supports you to customize your own IoT solutions.

Bivocom offers free SDK, open API, and customizable hardware and firmware OEM/ODM service for partners and customers from IoT sensors, IoT platforms, as well as IoT hardware suppliers.

We help you to bring your IoT concepts and ideas to reality!

Come and join us to create a smart and better world together!

The post Bivocom Launched Embedded Router for EV Charger appeared first on Bivocom.