Cellular for out-of-band access to Router

[deadseasquirrel]

Is there an easy way to connect a Verizon Wireless cell phone (or any cellular service provider for that matter) up to an external US Robotics modem to allow out-of-band dial access to the router in case of a WAN failure? I suppose it doesn't have to be a USR modem, as some Cisco routers have built-in modems. Concept would remain the same, however.

Any ideas?

 

[kevnich2]

A kyocera Kr2 can do this

 

[deadseasquirrel]

A third-party maintains and manages the 1841 Cisco routers at each site. They require an out-of-band phone line in order to provide this service. They will not manage the Kr2.

 

[kevnich2]

phone lines and modems have nothing to do with cellular internet access. A USR modem will only communicate via 56k dialup access. If you want cellular internet access, you will need a cellular router to communicate with the cellular card.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

I'm not doing a very good job of explaining what I am looking for. I don't want cellular internet access. I want to be able to give the 3rd party management company a Verizon Wireless phone number that will ring to a cell phone which will *somehow* be tethered to that Cisco 1841/2811. It's that "somehow" where I get fuzzy. Basically, I want to do away with Bell CO lines and toss the USRs and have the cell phone provide out-of-band access to the router.

Is there a way to accomplish this?

 

[jersiq]

Possibly check some products from Ventus.
I don't have any experience from them, and it looks like they may dial out, not dial in. But their sales department would know best.

There are ways to do async connections between lines, I just have to see if I can find the information.

 

[Goosemaster]

Originally posted by: deadseasquirrel
I'm not doing a very good job of explaining what I am looking for. I don't want cellular internet access. I want to be able to give the 3rd party management company a Verizon Wireless phone number that will ring to a cell phone which will *somehow* be tethered to that Cisco 1841/2811. It's that "somehow" where I get fuzzy. Basically, I want to do away with Bell CO lines and toss the USRs and have the cell phone provide out-of-band access to the router.

Is there a way to accomplish this?

kyocera ----->cell--->cell network:

That, by default, means that if you configure NAT correctly and no ports are blocked along the connection route(cell provider's network), you should be able to connect to any device behind the kyocera.

This would provide you with an Ethernet access however, and you are looking for analog phone access for the cisco. You have to tether the device somehow, and the router only gives you Ethernet for this.

I would mention VOIP over cell but that has certain issues related to it.

 

[spidey07]

This begs the question - WHY???

There is a perfectly good solution that is rock solid and doesn't need extra gear. Just slap a modem in the router and be done with it. This is how all networks are managed remotely and it's done that way for a reason - reliability.

 

[deadseasquirrel]

Understood. There is a price to pay for reliability. So it all comes down to costs. With 150 locations and a CO line in each location for management costing upwards of $40/mo each, there's a significant savings since VzW will provide free handsets and, most likely, any usage on the cell plan for access wouldn't amount to much. So it would eliminate a good $70k per year. BUT, if extra equipment costs eat into that too much, then it isn't worthwhile. I agree that sacrificing reliability for pennies isn't worth it.

 

[kevnich2]

Renegotiate for a cheaper monthly landline price? Obviously those lines don't have much activity and they only receive incoming calls, I would think you'd be able to get these for cheaper than $40/month? Every dollar you save per line each month is 1,800 per year savings?

 

[drebo]

Seriously, $40/mo is way steep. Resale lines from the telco we generally work with run about $12/mo with local and inbound service. Short of that, buy an ATA (or FXS port) and tie it into your PBX. That way it's just bundled in with your PRIs (or whatever other trunks you use).

 

[cmetz]

deadseasquirrel, the call channel on a cellular connection is compressed with an algorithm designed for human voice. It is definitely possible to create a device that will couple the analog side of a standard telephone modem to the cell phone, but you will find that you will get a connect speed in the 1200 baud range if you're lucky, and you better have ARQ enabled because you're going to be retransmitting a lot.

If you want to carry data on a cellular system in a rational way, you need to use (and pay for) a data channel. This costs actual money. Not unreasonable amounts of money, mind you, but if $40/mo for an analog is cost prohibitive, then just give up.

I second what spidey07 has to say - everybody I know of REALLY who cares about this problem brings in a POTS phone line outside of their normal phone system and connects it to an analog module. It's highly low-tech, which is exactly what you want when things are on fire.

 

[jersiq]

Originally posted by: cmetz
deadseasquirrel, the call channel on a cellular connection is compressed with an algorithm designed for human voice. It is definitely possible to create a device that will couple the analog side of a standard telephone modem to the cell phone, but you will find that you will get a connect speed in the 1200 baud range if you're lucky, and you better have ARQ enabled because you're going to be retransmitting a lot.

If you want to carry data on a cellular system in a rational way, you need to use (and pay for) a data channel. This costs actual money. Not unreasonable amounts of money, mind you, but if $40/mo for an analog is cost prohibitive, then just give up.

I second what spidey07 has to say - everybody I know of REALLY who cares about this problem brings in a POTS phone line outside of their normal phone system and connects it to an analog module. It's highly low-tech, which is exactly what you want when things are on fire.

The IWF (Interworking Function) chassis handles negotiation of modems on voice channels, and I can assure you it is much quicker than 1200 baud. Heck, even IS-95a has a channel limit of 14.4 kbps (limited due to the ASIC channel elements on cell site hardware)
CDMA-2000 hardware of course changed the air interface, but also introduced logical channels as opposed to physical channels which provide the suplemental burst for datat applications, which is what would be used. The Federal government uses it for their phones in either manner (voice to voice, or data to data) to pass encryption for their voice/data calls securely. Even telemtry devices that a utility company would use to "phone home" are simple phone devices, no data plan needed.

I have done many tests, Hyperterm to Hyperterm with each of two PCs tethered to a phone to pass data between the two. A channel is a channel, it doesn't matter in the air interface, if you need more, you get more up to a theoretical limit, but at a VERY minimum you will get 14k, your type of call will be routed on the backhaul appropriately.

At any rate, I was able to finally look up my notes, and you would need a sort of terminal server that, like Goosemaster said, you could tether the device to to allow the termination of PPP.
OP, like the others I do agree that this would be an odd way to maintain a mission critical piece of equipment. Too many factors, not just limited to RF coverage, could affect the actual connection.