Sierra Wireless DART 300 User Manual

Introduction 

 

DART 300 Modem 

 

Page 14 

 

2110212 Rev 1.0 

The NEI, and side preference are all that are needed to connect with the network.  These are 
recorded within the modem by using the following AT commands (the AT is omitted for brevity): 

1.  +WPNEI=ip where ip is the NEI address to assign in dotted-decimal format.  You do not 

need leading zeroes in the individual elements of the address.  When you press <enter> the 
modem will respond with a prompt to confirm the change in the table.  The old and new 
values are both shown. 
 Press 

Y (case insensitive) to confirm the change, or 

 Press 

N (or any key other than Y) to cancel the command. 

The modem will respond with OK if the NEI is in a valid IP form. 

2.  +WS174=n where n indicates the application of the channel side (A or B) assigned by your 

CDPD provider.  Values for n are: 
1 – A side preferred, 
2 – B side preferred, 
3 – A side only, 
4 – B side only. 

Setting one side preferred will mean the modem searches channels on that side first, but will also 
check for CDPD channels on the other side should there be no usable signals on the preferred side.  
Restricting the modem to one side only will prevent it from scanning the alternate side channels.  
This is usually discouraged in mobile settings but can be done in the fixed (non-mobile) 
installations for the DART 300. 

When these two elements have been entered, the modem will automatically attempt to register on 
the CDPD network. 

Note that network registration must be performed before communication across the network can 
begin.  Registering on the network is distinct from opening a communication session.  The 
registration process involves an exchange of identification, authentication, encryption keys, and 
CDPD sleep characteristics. 

Data Carrier Detect (DCD) is tied to sessions, not network registration.  A session does not begin 
until you originate a (client) session or answer one (as a server). 

The modem can be set to register manually (on command) or automatically when it starts or resets.  
For this first test auto-registration is used.  This is the factory default setting and no additional 
action is required for this setup. 

The status of the modem’s registration can be read at register +WS56 (Network Registration 
Status).  A value of 1 indicates the modem is registered.  A value of 0 indicates that it is not 
registered.