Controlling the iDirect Modem
What you need | iSite and the iDirect Option File | Connecting the PC to the modem | Loading an option file with iSite. | Beamselector commands | To Enable Telnet on your PC | To ping an IP address |
Modem IP address and network access to modem
Option file from your provider loaded in your modem
Correct version of iSite program installed on your PC
Modem password from your service provider
Telnet enabled on your PC
The iDirect modem has an option file that configures the modem for the satellite network that you will access. The option file is generated by the satellite service provider and either "pushed" to your modem over the network by the NOC, or loaded locally, using a program called iSite.
If you have a green receive light on the modem, the NOC will be able to transmit or "push" a revised option file over the satellite network to your modem. You just need to call the NOC, tell them what satellite you are tracking and ask them to push the new file.
The NOC will periodically push revised option files, as required, when network changes are made. If, for some reason, the network changed, while your terminal was offline, or if you are changing to a new area of operation, and you do not have a green receive light on the modem, the NOC will have to send the option file by email, and you, or a technician will need to load the option file, into the modem using a program called iSite.
It is important that you have the correct version of iSite for the level of software that is loaded in your modem, although, in an emergency, some incorrect versions of iSite have been known to work OK. Check with the network operator.
If you have a green receive light on the modem, the NOC will be able to transmit or "push" a revised option file over the satellite network to your modem. You just need to call the NOC, tell them what satellite you are tracking and ask them to push the new file.
The NOC will periodically push revised option files, as required, when network changes are made. If, for some reason, the network changed, while your terminal was offline, or if you are changing to a new area of operation, and you do not have a green receive light on the modem, the NOC will have to send the option file by email, and you, or a technician will need to load the option file, into the modem using a program called iSite.
It is important that you have the correct version of iSite for the level of software that is loaded in your modem, although, in an emergency, some incorrect versions of iSite have been known to work OK. Check with the network operator.
The PC running iSite must have network access to the modem, via wifi, via the ship's router, via a switch connected to the modem, or by directly connecting the PC to the modem LAN port.
If you know the IP address of the modem (which on good installations will be on a label on the front of the modem), try to ping the modem address. If you do not get a reply from the modem, then you do not have access via the network or via the wifi.
The satellite provider Network Operations Center (NOC) should be able to supply you with the IP address and the password for the modem.
If you do not have the modem IP address, you can open the option file with Wordpad, and scroll down until you find
[LAN]
lan_ip = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx.
Be careful not to save any changes to the option file when closing it.
If there is a network switch connected to the LAN port of the modem, you can try to connect the PC with an ethernet cable via the switch.
Otherwise, you will need to connect the PC directly to the modem LAN port while loading the options file. Remove the current LAN connection from the back of the modem and connect the PC in it's place.
If your PC Local Area Connection is set to obtain and IP address automatically, and the modem LAN port has DHCP, then you should be able to ping the modem. If not, you will need to set the IP address of the PC's ethernet Local Area Connection (not wifi) at one digit above the modem IP address. For example, if the modem is 192.168.10.15, you would set the PC to 192.168.10.16.
When using an ethernet connection, it is advisable to shut down the wifi on the PC to avoid any conflict. In some cases, it helps to turn off windows firewall.
When properly connected, and the PC can see the modem gateway, the Local Area Connection should show up as a valid network.
When you can succesfully ping the modem, you are ready to run the iSite program or telnet to the modem.
If you know the IP address of the modem (which on good installations will be on a label on the front of the modem), try to ping the modem address. If you do not get a reply from the modem, then you do not have access via the network or via the wifi.
The satellite provider Network Operations Center (NOC) should be able to supply you with the IP address and the password for the modem.
If you do not have the modem IP address, you can open the option file with Wordpad, and scroll down until you find
[LAN]
lan_ip = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx.
Be careful not to save any changes to the option file when closing it.
If there is a network switch connected to the LAN port of the modem, you can try to connect the PC with an ethernet cable via the switch.
Otherwise, you will need to connect the PC directly to the modem LAN port while loading the options file. Remove the current LAN connection from the back of the modem and connect the PC in it's place.
If your PC Local Area Connection is set to obtain and IP address automatically, and the modem LAN port has DHCP, then you should be able to ping the modem. If not, you will need to set the IP address of the PC's ethernet Local Area Connection (not wifi) at one digit above the modem IP address. For example, if the modem is 192.168.10.15, you would set the PC to 192.168.10.16.
When using an ethernet connection, it is advisable to shut down the wifi on the PC to avoid any conflict. In some cases, it helps to turn off windows firewall.
When properly connected, and the PC can see the modem gateway, the Local Area Connection should show up as a valid network.
When you can succesfully ping the modem, you are ready to run the iSite program or telnet to the modem.
Start the iSite program and watch the window on the left, where the program should recognise the modem and show it's serial number and IP address. There might be some other addresses in the window from previous modems, or from the software default. These can be deleted by right clicking on them and clicking Delete.If your modem does not show up in the window, you can right click where it says iDirect and click "New", then right click the new modem and click Login, and enter the modem IP address and password. If the modem shows up, right click and Login and enter the password from the service provider. In most cases, admin should be checked and Secure Connection.
Once connected, hover the mouse over the icons in the menu until you see Upload Option to Disk. It is a good idea to get the existing option file off the modem in case you need to reference information in the file, or reload it. Put the old file somewhere safe on your PC and label it old. It will download and automatically open in Notepad, which often does not recognize the formatting. It is best to reopen it in Wordpad if you need to inspect the file.
Locate the new option file on your PC. Again, in iSite, hover your mouse along the icon menu until you see Download Option File From Disk. Browse to the new option file and make sure it is the right file. Beware of uploading the wrong file, as you can "brick" the modem.
iSite will ask if you are sure that you want to download it, so click Yes and it should quickly say "Download successful Reset reguired". Click Reset Now and the modem should reset and load the new file.
The terms Upload and Download are sometimes confusing but remember that the modem (not the PC) is uploading and downloading, but the key to watch is From Disk and To Disk referring to the PC harddrive.
| 1. Start Command prompt | Start/Run cmd | On your PC go to START/ RUN and type in cmd and or type cmd into the search box. |
| 2. Telnet to modem | C:/users/mypc>telnet 192.168.xxx.xxx | At the DOS prompt in the command box, type in telnet 192.168.xxx.xxx and using your own modem ip address. If telnet does not run, you will need to enable telnet on your PC. |
| 3. Enter username | Username: admin | If you do not get the user prompt, you may not have network access to the modem. |
| 4. Enter password | Password: ********* | You need to get the password from the service provider |
| 5. Modem responds | [RMT:90625] admin@telnet:::ffff:xxx.xxx.xx.xx;49220 LAT-LONG : [LAT = 25.766N LONG = 80.182W] |
Your modem response will be different. The modem will keep outputting these strings. Ignore the modem output while you type in the next commands, or you can stop the output by typing xoff. |
| 6. Beamselector list | >beamselector list | Type beamselector list and <enter> |
| 7. Modem responds | 142 is currently selected 136 = T14R @ 63W Atlantic 142 =T11N @ 37.6W Caribbean 145 = T12 @15W Europe |
Modem shows the current beam and available beams |
| 8. Switch beams | >beamselector switch 136 -f | Type beamselector switch <beam number> -f and <enter> |
| 9. Modem responds and restarts | Enter switch to new beam function Switching to beam "NT14R @63W Atlantic" based on Console command > Scheduling Service Restart Modem Demod is unlocked Connection to host lost. C:\Users\mypc> |
If openAMIP is enabled, the modem will command the DAC to switch to the new SAT, FREQ and POL. If openAMIP is not enabled, you will need to enter the satellite parameters on the antenna controller manually. |
| 10. Beamselector lock | >beamselector lock | Type beamselector lock and to stop modem switching beams. The beam will stay locked until the modem is reset |
If telnet is not enabled, your PC will respond that telnet is not a recognized command.
To enable telnet on a Windows PC, go to START/ CONTROL PANEL/ Programs and Features then click Turn Windows features on or off. Scroll down the list to find Telnet Client and put a check mark in the box.
See Wikihow.com here
To enable telnet on a Windows PC, go to START/ CONTROL PANEL/ Programs and Features then click Turn Windows features on or off. Scroll down the list to find Telnet Client and put a check mark in the box.
See Wikihow.com here
From the command line or DOS prompt, type
C:/user/mypc> ping 192.168.xxx.xxx or whatever the address might be.
The modem should respond with four successful pings something like the following:
Reply from 192.168.xxx.xxx: bytes=32 time=94ms TTL=45
Reply from 192.168.xxx.xxx: bytes=32 time=94ms TTL=45
Reply from 192.168.xxx.xxx: bytes=32 time=94ms TTL=45
Reply from 192.168.xxx.xxx: bytes=32 time=94ms TTL=45
C:/user/mypc> ping 192.168.xxx.xxx or whatever the address might be.
The modem should respond with four successful pings something like the following:
Reply from 192.168.xxx.xxx: bytes=32 time=94ms TTL=45
Reply from 192.168.xxx.xxx: bytes=32 time=94ms TTL=45
Reply from 192.168.xxx.xxx: bytes=32 time=94ms TTL=45
Reply from 192.168.xxx.xxx: bytes=32 time=94ms TTL=45