C-881G Router with Cell module, signal strength monitor s/w

[fsebera]

We have Cisco routers with Cell modules - which work very well, however when the end-user gets involved, singal strength becomes our major troubleshooting call. The user has no way of logging into the router to run ANY commands. The blinking indicator light on the front of the router is NOT working for us.

Is there some type of monitoring software that can interface with the Cisco router /end-user pc and provide some type of real-time signal strength to the end-user.  Additionally, most of the time the router will be in motion - while in use.

Thanks

Frank

[mavespig]

Hi Frank,

would it be an option to poll remotely the router via SNMP?

In that case you can use the MIB ciscoWan3gMIB.

For example, to retrieve the RSSI on a GSM card, use the object c3gCurrentGsmRssi (1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.661.1.3.4.1.1.1)

See: http://tools.cisco.com/Support/SNMP/do/BrowseOID.do?local=en&translate=Translate&objectInput=1.3.6.1.4.1.9.9.661.1.3.4.1.1.1#oidContent

Cheers

Marco

[fsebera]

Hi Marco,

Yes, the router could be polled remotely but that puts the "output" back at the Hub site, not where the remote user could actually view the details. And of course if the signal strength is nill, neither the Hub site or the remote user can communicate.

Thank anyway

Frank

[mavespig · Accepted solution]

ah ok, I didn't understand that the data needs to be collected locally

What about an SNMP poll done locally?

They can run the SNMP poll on the LAN, from any device connected to the router.

If the local user does not know how to use SNMP, you can write a simple script to execute it.

Or even easier, use a program like SNMPmon, that polls regularly the router and draw the graph for the value polled.

Perhaps you can also think about a script that transparently telnet to the router and collect the info. The user will be unaware of telnet procedure, password, etc,

I'm afraid there must be some kind of interaction between user and router, you don't have external indicators showing exactly the quality of the signal.

Hope this helps

Marco

[fsebera]

Thanks, your suggestions are helpful.

We'll have to see how the user community can utilize some local tool while having no cli access to the router and no admin access to some sort of local snmp based graph tool.

Futher, if Cisco could just follow the "standard" and this would also solve the issue. Seems so simple.

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Frank