Group pages dialing one at a time

[hindsey]

Recently, our PageGate environment while sending groups has started to act up. Now, when sending to a group, there is a rather large delay (maybe 30-90 seconds) in between EACH pager receiving the page. I suspect that the program is dialing out for each recipient, instead of sending out all the messages for recipients among the same carrier. I found the following post here in the forums:
[i]Exceptions [to all messages being delivered in a single connection]:
1. You have the 'Msg Limit' setting for the carrier set to something other than zero.
2. The carrier limits the number of messages they will accept in a single connection.
3. The recipients are setup to deliver messages to different carriers.[/i]

I have checked the 'Msg Limit' and it is set for 0. I had a colleague test the same carrier at another Fire Department (using NotePager) and it worked without any delay, so it's not the carrier itself. And I have created a group with just 2 users in it, both with the same carrier, and sending a test page right now, the delay was 73 seconds.

This started happening overnight on 11/29-11/30. Nothing else that I can find happened on the system during that time frame. Before the 30th of November, the system was working fine, pages going out right away...

Please help!!

[OzCom]

What protocol(s) is being used in the delayed pages? I've seen the symptoms you described when using SMTP and a firewall and/or antivirus update changes the way the sending system looks at outbound traffic on port 25.

_________________
Aaron D. Osgood
Streamline Communications, LLC
* Authorized Notepage, Inc. Development Partner and Re-seller
TEL: 207-518-8455
AOsgood@streamline-solutions.net
Creators of AutoPage Spillman CAD interface for PageGate

[hindsey]

It is just using TAP, dialing out on a modem.

[Tech Support]

Can you post a section of the dialer log that shows the delivery for that group. Please be sure to replace your PIN numbers with '*'s.

Thanks.

[hindsey]

Below is a copy of the log...

1/2/2006 6:55:57 AM ========================================
1/2/2006 6:55:57 AM Start connection to carrier: RadioCenter
1/2/2006 6:55:57 AM Connect using TAP protocol
1/2/2006 6:55:57 AM Setting communication parameters
1/2/2006 6:55:58 AM Attempting to reset modem
1/2/2006 6:56:00 AM Sent:AT<CR>
1/2/2006 6:56:01 AM Received:<CR><LF>OK<CR><LF>
1/2/2006 6:56:01 AM Modem reset
1/2/2006 6:56:01 AM Attempting to send dialer init string
1/2/2006 6:56:02 AM Sent:AT&FQ0V1X4&D2N0+MS=B103,0<CR>
1/2/2006 6:56:02 AM Received:<CR><LF>OK<CR><LF>
1/2/2006 6:56:03 AM Dialer init string sent
1/2/2006 6:56:03 AM Dialing carrier
1/2/2006 6:56:03 AM Sent:ATDT5292499<CR>
1/2/2006 6:56:11 AM Waiting for connection
1/2/2006 6:56:13 AM Received:<CR><LF>CONNECT 300 NoEC<CR><LF>
1/2/2006 6:56:13 AM Connected to carrier
1/2/2006 6:56:13 AM Waiting for protocol initialization
1/2/2006 6:56:17 AM Sent:<CR>
1/2/2006 6:56:18 AM Received:ID=
1/2/2006 6:56:18 AM TAP protocol detected
1/2/2006 6:56:18 AM Sent:<ESC>PG1<CR>
1/2/2006 6:56:19 AM Received:<ACK><CR>
1/2/2006 6:56:20 AM Received:<ACK><CR><LF>* Logon accepted *<ESC>[p<CR><LF>
1/2/2006 6:56:20 AM Automatic TAP mode accepted
1/2/2006 6:56:20 AM ----------------------------------------
1/2/2006 6:56:20 AM Working on message to: guesteric from: NGFD
1/2/2006 6:56:20 AM Formatting message
1/2/2006 6:56:20 AM Message contained in single packet
1/2/2006 6:56:20 AM Message contained in single block
1/2/2006 6:56:20 AM Sending block
1/2/2006 6:56:20 AM Sent:<STX>*******<CR>NGFD:SQ274 ON DUTY W/ LT BILL LAWRENCE 2C107.<CR><ETX><;<<CR>
1/2/2006 6:56:23 AM Received:<ACK><CR>
1/2/2006 6:56:23 AM Block sent successfully
1/2/2006 6:56:23 AM Packet sent successfully
1/2/2006 6:56:23 AM SUCCESSFUL Stn:10 To:guesteric Frm:NGFD Msg:SQ274 ON DUTY W/ LT BILL LAWRENCE 2C107.
1/2/2006 6:56:23 AM ----------------------------------------
1/2/2006 6:56:23 AM Working on message to: walkerchief from: NGFD
1/2/2006 6:56:23 AM Formatting message
1/2/2006 6:56:23 AM Message contained in single packet
1/2/2006 6:56:23 AM Message contained in single block
1/2/2006 6:56:23 AM Sending block
1/2/2006 6:56:23 AM Sent:<STX>*******<CR>NGFD:SQ274 ON DUTY W/ LT BILL LAWRENCE 2C107.<CR><ETX><;><CR>
1/2/2006 6:56:26 AM Received:nsaction 1 acknowledged<CR><LF><ESC><EOT><CR><LF>1 tra
1/2/2006 6:56:26 AM Disconnect requested by carrier. Disconnecting
1/2/2006 6:56:26 AM Sent:<EOT><CR>
1/2/2006 6:56:26 AM Attempting to hang up modem
1/2/2006 6:56:31 AM Sent:AT<CR>
1/2/2006 6:56:31 AM Received:<CR><LF>OK<CR><LF>
1/2/2006 6:56:31 AM Modem hung up
1/2/2006 6:56:41 AM ========================================
1/2/2006 6:56:41 AM Start connection to carrier: RadioCenter
1/2/2006 6:56:41 AM Connect using TAP protocol
1/2/2006 6:56:41 AM Setting communication parameters
1/2/2006 6:56:42 AM Attempting to reset modem
1/2/2006 6:56:44 AM Sent:AT<CR>
1/2/2006 6:56:45 AM Received:<CR><LF>OK<CR><LF>
1/2/2006 6:56:46 AM Modem reset
1/2/2006 6:56:46 AM Attempting to send dialer init string
1/2/2006 6:56:46 AM Sent:AT&FQ0V1X4&D2N0+MS=B103,0<CR>
1/2/2006 6:56:46 AM Received:<CR><LF>OK<CR><LF>
1/2/2006 6:56:47 AM Dialer init string sent
1/2/2006 6:56:47 AM Dialing carrier
1/2/2006 6:56:47 AM Sent:ATDT5292499<CR>
1/2/2006 6:56:55 AM Waiting for connection
1/2/2006 6:56:57 AM Received:<CR><LF>CONNECT 300 NoEC<CR><LF>
1/2/2006 6:56:57 AM Connected to carrier
1/2/2006 6:56:57 AM Waiting for protocol initialization
1/2/2006 6:57:02 AM Sent:<CR>
1/2/2006 6:57:02 AM Received:ID=
1/2/2006 6:57:02 AM TAP protocol detected
1/2/2006 6:57:03 AM Sent:<ESC>PG1<CR>
1/2/2006 6:57:03 AM Received:<ACK><CR>
1/2/2006 6:57:04 AM Received:<ACK><CR><LF>* Logon accepted *<ESC>[p<CR><LF>
1/2/2006 6:57:04 AM Automatic TAP mode accepted
1/2/2006 6:57:04 AM ----------------------------------------
1/2/2006 6:57:04 AM Working on message to: spencerportchief from: NGFD
1/2/2006 6:57:04 AM Formatting message
1/2/2006 6:57:04 AM Message contained in single packet
1/2/2006 6:57:04 AM Message contained in single block
1/2/2006 6:57:04 AM Sending block
1/2/2006 6:57:04 AM Sent:<STX>*******<CR>NGFD:SQ274 ON DUTY W/ LT BILL LAWRENCE 2C107.<CR><ETX><;=<CR>
1/2/2006 6:57:08 AM Received:<ACK><CR><LF>transaction
1/2/2006 6:57:08 AM Block sent successfully
1/2/2006 6:57:08 AM Packet sent successfully
1/2/2006 6:57:08 AM SUCCESSFUL Stn:10 To:spencerportchief Frm:NGFD Msg:SQ274 ON DUTY W/ LT BILL LAWRENCE 2C107.
1/2/2006 6:57:08 AM ----------------------------------------
1/2/2006 6:57:08 AM Working on message to: munizjoe from: NGFD
1/2/2006 6:57:08 AM Formatting message
1/2/2006 6:57:08 AM Message contained in single packet
1/2/2006 6:57:08 AM Message contained in single block
1/2/2006 6:57:08 AM Sending block
1/2/2006 6:57:08 AM Sent:<STX>*******<CR>NGFD:SQ274 ON DUTY W/ LT BILL LAWRENCE 2C107.<CR><ETX><<3<CR>
1/2/2006 6:57:11 AM Received:knowledged<CR><LF><ESC><EOT><CR><LF>1 t
1/2/2006 6:57:11 AM Disconnect requested by carrier. Disconnecting
1/2/2006 6:57:11 AM Sent:<EOT><CR>
1/2/2006 6:57:11 AM Attempting to hang up modem
1/2/2006 6:57:15 AM Sent:AT<CR>
1/2/2006 6:57:16 AM Received:<CR><LF>OK<CR><LF>
1/2/2006 6:57:16 AM Modem hung up

...some deleted here, in order to show the end of the series...

1/2/2006 7:04:48 AM ========================================
1/2/2006 7:04:48 AM Start connection to carrier: RadioCenter
1/2/2006 7:04:48 AM Connect using TAP protocol
1/2/2006 7:04:48 AM Setting communication parameters
1/2/2006 7:04:49 AM Attempting to reset modem
1/2/2006 7:04:51 AM Sent:AT<CR>
1/2/2006 7:04:52 AM Received:<CR><LF>OK<CR><LF>
1/2/2006 7:04:52 AM Modem reset
1/2/2006 7:04:52 AM Attempting to send dialer init string
1/2/2006 7:04:53 AM Sent:AT&FQ0V1X4&D2N0+MS=B103,0<CR>
1/2/2006 7:04:53 AM Received:<CR><LF>OK<CR><LF>
1/2/2006 7:04:54 AM Dialer init string sent
1/2/2006 7:04:54 AM Dialing carrier
1/2/2006 7:04:54 AM Sent:ATDT5292499<CR>
1/2/2006 7:05:02 AM Waiting for connection
1/2/2006 7:05:04 AM Received:<CR><LF>CONNECT 300 NoEC<CR><LF>
1/2/2006 7:05:04 AM Connected to carrier
1/2/2006 7:05:04 AM Waiting for protocol initialization
1/2/2006 7:05:08 AM Sent:<CR>
1/2/2006 7:05:09 AM Received:ID=
1/2/2006 7:05:09 AM TAP protocol detected
1/2/2006 7:05:10 AM Sent:<ESC>PG1<CR>
1/2/2006 7:05:10 AM Received:<ACK>
1/2/2006 7:05:11 AM Received:<ACK><CR><LF>* Logon accepted *<ESC>[p<CR><LF>
1/2/2006 7:05:11 AM Automatic TAP mode accepted
1/2/2006 7:05:11 AM ----------------------------------------
1/2/2006 7:05:11 AM Working on message to: munizjoe from: NGFD
1/2/2006 7:05:11 AM Formatting message
1/2/2006 7:05:11 AM Message contained in single packet
1/2/2006 7:05:11 AM Message contained in single block
1/2/2006 7:05:11 AM Sending block
1/2/2006 7:05:11 AM Sent:<STX>5292664<CR>NGFD:SQ274 ON DUTY W/ LT BILL LAWRENCE 2C107.<CR><ETX><<3<CR>
1/2/2006 7:05:15 AM Received:<ACK><CR><LF>transaction
1/2/2006 7:05:15 AM Block sent successfully
1/2/2006 7:05:15 AM Packet sent successfully
1/2/2006 7:05:15 AM SUCCESSFUL Stn:10 To:munizjoe Frm:NGFD Msg:SQ274 ON DUTY W/ LT BILL LAWRENCE 2C107.
1/2/2006 7:05:15 AM ----------------------------------------
1/2/2006 7:05:15 AM Working on message to: cappondan from: NGFD
1/2/2006 7:05:15 AM Formatting message
1/2/2006 7:05:15 AM Message contained in single packet
1/2/2006 7:05:15 AM Message contained in single block
1/2/2006 7:05:15 AM Sending block
1/2/2006 7:05:15 AM Sent:<STX>4632202<CR>NGFD:SQ274 ON DUTY W/ LT BILL LAWRENCE 2C107.<CR><ETX><;4<CR>
1/2/2006 7:05:35 AM Received:cknowledged<CR><LF>n<CR><LF>NO CARRIER<CR><LF>
1/2/2006 7:05:35 AM No response from carrier. Disconnecting
1/2/2006 7:05:35 AM Message retry limit reached
1/2/2006 7:05:35 AM FAILED Stn:10 To:cappondan Frm:NGFD Msg:SQ274 ON DUTY W/ LT BILL LAWRENCE 2C107.
1/2/2006 7:05:35 AM Sent:<EOT><CR>
1/2/2006 7:05:36 AM Attempting to hang up modem
1/2/2006 7:05:38 AM Sent:AT<CR>
1/2/2006 7:05:38 AM Received:<CR><LF>OK<CR><LF>
1/2/2006 7:05:38 AM Modem hung up

[Tech Support]

Initially, it looks like the carrier is asking for a disconnect after each message.

I am going to try to run some tests from here. What is the area code of the carrier's paging terminal? The phone number appears to be 529-2499, but I need the area code to try from here.

Thanks.

[hindsey]

The area code is 585

Thanks

[hindsey]

Any luck coming up with a suggestion?

[Tech Support]

Before you do this, make a copy of the init string you're currently using just in case it's a custom string and not one that was autodetected.

We've done some testing and have found out that the problem goes away if you connect at 1200 baud. The command/response sequence of the terminal CAN communicate at 300 baud but the replies are too slow to actually catch up with the message, so you run into the error that you're having.

What you'll need to do is to go into the settings of your Radiocenter carrier and reset the init string to (auto) and change the baud rate to 1200. See if you can connect and send group pages like that.

[hindsey]

I changed the baud rate in the carrier settings: no problem.
I set the string to auto, and kept getting "NO CARRIER." I copied back in the old string and the pages go out, but they still go out one at a time to the groups. I do see a line in the log that perplexes me:

1/9/2006 2:30:58 PM Received:<CR><LF>CONNECT 300 NoEC<CR><LF>

the Connect 300 part is the confusing part to me. The modem in the control panel of Windows is set for 115200, so I don't know where the 300 is coming from now...

What next!? This problem is starting to get bigger here, with those people involved!!

Thanks a bunch!

[OzCom]

What is the make and model of the modem?

_________________
Aaron D. Osgood
Streamline Communications, LLC
* Authorized Notepage, Inc. Development Partner and Re-seller
TEL: 207-518-8455
AOsgood@streamline-solutions.net
Creators of AutoPage Spillman CAD interface for PageGate

[hindsey]

It is an Agere 56k that came with my HP/Compaq DC5000