Transparent Modem; Allow Transparent Mode - Honeywell CNI2 Operating And Installation Manual

CNI2 Operating and Installation Guide
But there may be obstacles to sending an SMS. First, the computer running the data collection
system may not have access to an SMTP server. Or if the computer is using a cellular modem
to connect to the Internet it may not be able to send SMS messages without first terminating the
Internet connection. Finally, for security reasons, some cellular providers only allow SMS
messages to be exchanged between two mobile devices, and not between a mobile device and
an SMTP server.
The SMS Modem is a special configuration of a CNI2. Its sole purpose is to allow the central
computer to send mobile-to-mobile SMS messages via the cellular network without interfering
with existing Internet connections or requiring an email server connection.

Transparent Modem

In this mode the CNI2 serves as a communications device only and does not count pulses or
report alarms. It establishes a two-way connection between the central office and any serial
device connected to one of its serial ports.
As a transparent modem a call can be triggered by an alarm event (CALL switch, TAMPER
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switch, etc.). However since it is not calling a known data collection system such as DC-2009
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or MV90 it has no way to report the actual reason for the call.

Allow Transparent Mode

This checkbox only applies when the CNI2 is configured as a Metretek SIP, a Mercury MINI-
MAX or Mercury Pulse Accumulator.
At the beginning of a call the CNI2 will attempt to communicate with the data collection system
using the Metretek or Mercury protocol. If after a short period of time there is no recognizable
response from the system, and if the "Allow Transparent" box is checked, the CNI2 will establish
a transparent communications link between the device attached to its serial port and the host
system.
Here's an example of how this might be used. Let's say the CNI2 is counting pulses from its
UMB index and its serial port is connected to a digital camera. The CNI2 will normally call into
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DC-2009 or MV90 to report its UMB count information. The data collection system does not
know that there is a camera at the site and wouldn't know how to communicate with it anyway.
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Now another application program (not DC-2009 or MV90 ) wants to capture an image of the
site where the CNI2 is located. After the CNI2 connects and does not receive a recognizable
Metretek or Mercury response it will establish a connection to the camera. At this point the
application program can now communicate directly with the camera and will close the
connection when finished.
On the Cellular Settings configuration screen (to be discussed shortly) is a setting called
"Session Timeout". During transparent mode if there is no communications between the host
system and the serial device for this period of time, the CNI2 will terminate the connection by
itself. This period of time has a direct impact on battery life and should be kept as short as is
reasonable for the application.
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