Texecom COM-GSM No signal??

squowse · 23 Apr 2013

I recently upgraded my house alarm with a Texecom Premier Elite 24 polycarb model. So far so good, I am getting the hang of the programming and have got through the basics and have a working alarm. I then moved onto the COM-GSM unit. The signal strength is showing as -999dB or -113dB depending on whether you believe the keypad or wintex. The unit itself is flashing LED3 which means marginal signal I think?
Anyway I am getting errors COM2 - No signal and ATS Fault on the keypad and they will not reset.

The funny thing is after changing a few settings it suddenly started working and I can now send commands to the panel by text message and receive notifications.
But I still have the system errors...

The alarm is near central manchester and mobile reception is generally excellent as you would expect. SIM card is vodafone and the aerial is in the cellar just under the floorboard next to the front door so only has a floorboard and a wooden door panel between it and the outside world. I realise this is not ideal but the cable won't stretch up to the attic and I'm not going to put it outside! The signal measured on my phone is about -80dB. I will try putting the aerial outside as a last check to see if it is bad location of the aerial.

I have a feeling there is not a signal problem, just the panel is not reading it correctly. The reason I think this is that the LED3 on the GSM unit isshowing a signal and the fact that the device is working.

If anyone would care to have a look at the configuration in case there is something I have missed please see the screen shots here -
https://picasaweb.google.com/109312...gCI-Gr4qhmu2ODg#slideshow/5869786897680860018

thanks a million
Roger

pcaouolte · 23 Apr 2013

Try increasing the ATS Fault Delay in Global System Timers to 30 minutes.

Is it any different if plugged into COM1 on the panel rather than COM2?

Have you got the aerial mounted so that the "stick" is vertical? Having the aerial horizontal reduces the signal strength.

Moving the aerial a few feet can make a lot of difference to the signal strength. Experiment.

I can't see anything wrong with your settings.

squowse · 23 Apr 2013

Thanks for the reply. I might try swapping the COM ports although in the manual it did say use COM2 for the 24, COM1 or 2 for the 48 etc;
The stick is vertical, next I'll try putting it outside the front door and see if it makes any difference, and thanks for the ATS fault delay tip I will try that.
Roger

squowse · 23 Apr 2013

Swapped COM ports - no difference.
Put aerial outside as high at head height - no difference.
Tried Orange SIM card (the network of my mobile which works fine down in the cellar) - no difference
I have been on the phone to Texecom and they advise either
"put the aerial somewhere else" or
"switch off the ATS error notifying" which is what I have done with their help.
It seems to need switching off in a few places. So no faults notified now (so far), but it doesn't seem right does it?
Roger

Jibbeh · 23 Apr 2013

squowse said:
Put aerial outside as high at head height - no difference.

How long you leave it for? Dont expect it to be an instantaneous change so you may wanna leave it a couple mins tops. Wouldn't be certain if the signal strength is updated on wintex or if you need to close the diagnostics page and reload it to get an update too.

squowse · 23 Apr 2013

it's still there! I haven't seen any change in the signal strength which makes me think that the panel/wintex/keypad isn't reading it correctly.
The COM-GSM LED3 is blinking which indicates "marginal signal strength" or -88 to -77dB accoding to the instructions.
I have been in and out of the diagnostics page many times. It always reads the same.

Jibbeh · 23 Apr 2013

Remove it completely? Make sure it disapears then add it back?

pcaouolte · 23 Apr 2013

The display on a physical keypad usually gives a reliable indication with numbers that match what the LED on the COM-GSM is indicating.

No, you shouldn't need to switch off ATS path monitoring, I usually just increase the ATS fault delay time to prevent spurious messages from occasional signal loss.

squowse · 23 Apr 2013

Ok, I have hung the aerial up even higher off a hanging basket hook and now LED3 on the GSM is steady (strong signal). At least I know the aerial is working.

I have once again uninstalled the GSM module in Wintex, unplugged it and rebooted the panel.
Plugged it in, left it to settle, installed in Wintex - still on -113dB in Wintex, -999dB on keypad. "COM2 No signal" error shown in Wintex (but not "Com port Fault" interestingly??). The keypad does not notify of the faults ( as the panel has been instructed not to)

Europlex · 23 Apr 2013

Sounds to me that a High Gain Aerial is needed.

Jibbeh · 23 Apr 2013

Taken from manual:

The signal strength LED works for both GSM and GPRS modes; owever the dBm reading is only seen on the keypad in GSM mode.

Sadly Ive never used a ComGSM but could be worth checking the dip switches on the unit itself?

Maybe someone can answer me too, are these both ComGSm?

Jibbeh · 23 Apr 2013

Also mentions baud rate in the manual, depends on what the dip switches are set to as to what you may wanna set com 2 port rate as?

Straws and clutching.

squowse · 23 Apr 2013

yes I have checked and re-checked them. They are all in the off position so GSM mode. I think it must be something like that though.
I think your top picture is an older model. I don't know what the bottom picture is. This is the one I have-

pcaouolte · 23 Apr 2013

Jibbeh said:
Maybe someone can answer me too, are these both ComGSm?

Yes, both are ComGSM the bottom one is an old and very expensive version. The one in your top picture was current until a few weeks ago. The latest version, just released, is in a casing smaller than the one in your top picture. All do the same job.

The OP seems to have an issue with the ComGSM not talking to the panel properly, it doesn't look like a signal strength issue as the LEDs in the unit are indicating signal strength in a sensible way. The panel dBm readouts are not what would be expected.

Edit: The one in the OPs post above is the latest model.

squowse · 23 Apr 2013

my instructions say "for future use only leave off" for dip switch 3.
thanks for your replies fellas.

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Texecom COM-GSM No signal??

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