Sending USSD-Message with Siemens M20

[Dominique Görsch]

Hi,

i'm using a Siemens M20 GSM-Modem to send and receive SMS. That works
fine for me for several years. Now I want to check the saldo of a
prepaid card. On the mobile I have to dial *100# so get the saldo. The
manual of the Siemens M20 said, that I can send USSD-messages with
AT+CUSD but every variation of this commands produce an ERROR.
An other method should be, to dial the string, but ATD*100# or ATD*100#;
will not work.

Any ideas, how to send the USSD-message to get the saldo?

Kind regards
Dominique Görsch

[John Henderson]

Post by Dominique Görsch
Hi,
i'm using a Siemens M20 GSM-Modem to send and receive SMS. That works
fine for me for several years. Now I want to check the saldo of a
prepaid card. On the mobile I have to dial *100# so get the saldo. The
manual of the Siemens M20 said, that I can send USSD-messages with
AT+CUSD but every variation of this commands produce an ERROR.
An other method should be, to dial the string, but ATD*100# or ATD*100#;
will not work.

What's the modem's response to:

AT+CUSD=1,"#100#",15

?

John

[Dominique Görsch]

Hi,

Post by John Henderson
AT+CUSD=1,"#100#",15
?
John

ERROR

Dominique Görsch

[John Henderson]

Post by Dominique Görsch

Post by John Henderson
AT+CUSD=1,"#100#",15
?
John

ERROR
Dominique Görsch

"AT+CUSD=1,"#100#",15" was a simple copy-and-paste from one of my
USSD programs. But I failed to notice your <str> value of
"*100#" instead of my "#100#" (which is correct for Telstra in
Australia). I assume you've also tried "*100#" with a <dcs> of
15.

The <dcs> value of 15 (7-bit default alphabet, language
unspecified) is required here and works with the USB modems I've
tried (Sierra Wireless, Option iCON, ZTE).

I get "ERROR" with a <dcs> value of 0 (German) or 1 (English)
for example. You may have to inquire, research or experiment to
find the correct value of <dcs> as used by your carrier.

John

[Dominique Görsch]

Hi,

Post by John Henderson
"AT+CUSD=1,"#100#",15" was a simple copy-and-paste from one of my
USSD programs. But I failed to notice your<str> value of
"*100#" instead of my "#100#" (which is correct for Telstra in
Australia). I assume you've also tried "*100#" with a<dcs> of
15.

Yes, i have.

Post by John Henderson
The<dcs> value of 15 (7-bit default alphabet, language
unspecified) is required here and works with the USB modems I've
tried (Sierra Wireless, Option iCON, ZTE).
I get "ERROR" with a<dcs> value of 0 (German) or 1 (English)
for example. You may have to inquire, research or experiment to
find the correct value of<dcs> as used by your carrier.

I tried numerous variation of that command and i always get "ERROR".
Even the check-command AT+CUSD? cause "ERROR".

Something curios: in the german manual, there is an explantation of
AT+CUSD, in the english manual, there is no reference to AT+CUSD.

Dominique Görsch

[John Henderson]

Post by Dominique Görsch
I tried numerous variation of that command and i always get "ERROR".
Even the check-command AT+CUSD? cause "ERROR".

That doesn't look good. How about

AT+CUSD=?

which should list the supported values for the command?

Here's a log of a session with a Sierra Wireless Compass 888
modem:

AT

OK

AT+CUSD?

+CUSD: 0

OK
AT+CUSD=?

+CUSD: (0-2)

OK
AT+CUSD=1,"#100#",15

OK

+CUSD: 1,"My Pre-paid
Bal:$211.87 *
1. Recharge
2. PlusPacks
3. MyBalance
4. CreditMe2U
5. MyHistory
6. AuthCode
00. Home
*charges can take 48hrs",15

AT+CUSD=2

OK

Post by Dominique Görsch
Something curios: in the german manual, there is an explantation of
AT+CUSD, in the english manual, there is no reference to AT+CUSD.

My English M20 manual ("Version 8 dated 15.03.00") covers the
"AT+CUSD" command. But I don't own an M20 myself. Back when I
used RS232 modems, I bough Wavecom instead.

Perhaps your modem firmware is just too old. Is it possible to
upgrade the firmware?

John

[Dominique Görsch]

Hi,

Post by John Henderson

Post by Dominique Görsch
I tried numerous variation of that command and i always get "ERROR".
Even the check-command AT+CUSD? cause "ERROR".

That doesn't look good. How about
AT+CUSD=?
which should list the supported values for the command?

The same sh..

Post by John Henderson

Post by Dominique Görsch
Something curios: in the german manual, there is an explantation of
AT+CUSD, in the english manual, there is no reference to AT+CUSD.

My English M20 manual ("Version 8 dated 15.03.00") covers the
"AT+CUSD" command. But I don't own an M20 myself. Back when I
used RS232 modems, I bough Wavecom instead.

The english manual I have is "Version 5 dated 01.03.99" and my german
manual "Version 8.3 vom 28.02.01".

Post by John Henderson
Perhaps your modem firmware is just too old. Is it possible to
upgrade the firmware?

I hope so, but I cannot find any hints. I mailed to a german supplier
who sold the M20 and always sell its replacement TC35, for further
information. My firmware is from 24.06.99:

,--- snip ---
| ATI
| SIEMENS
| M20
| Revision: 2.3, 24.06.99 13:18
|
| OK
'---

I have a second M20 somewhere in the stack, I will search for it tomorrow.

Post by John Henderson
John

Dominique Görsch

[Dominique Görsch]

Hi,

Post by Dominique Görsch
,--- snip ---
| ATI
| SIEMENS
| M20
| Revision: 2.3, 24.06.99 13:18
|
| OK
'---
I have a second M20 somewhere in the stack, I will search for it tomorrow.

My other M20 has the same version :(

[Dominique Görsch]

Hi,

Post by John Henderson
Perhaps your modem firmware is just too old. Is it possible to
upgrade the firmware?

I found out, how to get the modem in bootstrap-mode to update the
firmware, but where I can get any firmware or update tool?

Has anyone a firmware newer than 2.3 from 24.06.99 for the Siemens M20
gsm modem?

Kind regards
Dominique Görsch

[JohnCena83]

I suggest, you stay connect with your Siemens M20 GSM-Modem as you say
that works fine.