Help Needed (please) with a VERY simple script

[tipster69]

Hi,

I have my DM800HD set up for use when on the road (Motorhome) using a Netgear MBR624GU Mobile Router and a Huawei E220 Modem.

It works fine for x amount of time and then it starts to jitter, we seem to have got to the root of the problem in that the Modem drops from HSDPA mode into UMTS because of lack of data (i.e I update the EPG then the jittering stops because the modem goes back to HSDPA Mode).

I have read of a similar problem that was fixed by writing a very simple script to PING an IP address every x amount of seconds (I think it was every 2 seconds) and this worked.

My problem is I have no idea how to write or use a script on a DM800. Could someone PLEASE help me by advising in laymans terms how I do it.

THANKS IN ADVANCE

[tipster69]

Hi,

I have added a one line sript called ping.sh with nothing other than "PING bbc.co.uk" in it.

I have run the script from the script executor on the remote and whilst it has the desired effect of sending a ping every second, I have no way of leaving it running in the background which is what I need to do.

PLEASE HELP!

[tipster69]

Hi,

Can anyone help with this? Any script experts about.

Thanks

[davvo]

you need to set up a crontab and script for your image
a crontab will run the script every 2 seconds

and ping the ip 173.194.78.94

thats google

i will try and make one for you tonight

what image r u using

[tipster69]

Hi Davvo,

That would be VERY MUCH APPRECIATED, the kids are driving me mad with the Disney Channel Jittering like it is.

CHEERS

[davvo]

files at bottom of page

ok iv made the script
it works and setup the crontab on
Dream Elite BH Phoenix Edition 2

the crontab will only work in minutes hours days months
not seconds
so i got it down to ping google every 1 minute


here is the script put in usr/script
name it ping.check.sh give it 755

ping -c 5 173.194.67.94
if [[ $? != 0 ]]; then
    date '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S Connection Unavailable' >> /var/log/checkconnection.log
else
    date '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S Connection Available' >> /var/log/checkconnection.log
fi

make a file in var/log
called checkconnection.log give it 644

then if your using dream elite PHOENIX
go to
var/etc/bhcron
make a file called root
inside root paste this and give it 755

*/1 * * * * /usr/script/ping.check.sh

then reboot

go to var/log checkconnection.log

and you will see that it has pinged google every one minute

and it will log like this

2012-03-27 14:36:05 Connection Available
2012-03-27 14:37:05 Connection Available
2012-03-27 14:38:05 Connection Available
2012-03-27 14:39:05 Connection Available
2012-03-27 14:40:05 Connection Available
2012-03-27 14:41:05 Connection Available
2012-03-27 14:42:05 Connection Available
2012-03-27 14:43:05 Connection Available
2012-03-27 14:44:05 Connection Available

to make it easy
iv also posted all 3 files here
just put in right places give chmod rights as above

[tipster69]

Hi,

MANY THANKS for taking the time out to do this for me it really is VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

I will do this now.

Out of interest, if pinging once every minute is not enough for it to work. Is there an other option of me adding no timer to the ping, i.e it just pings constantly (i.e like every second). I have read of another person having success doing it this way.

THANKS AGAIN for your help.

[davvo]

if 1 minute is not enough

i could try and make a while bash loop script

but give the 1 minute crontab a go first

[tipster69]

Hi,

It is just rebooting now, gonna try it on my 3G Dongle in the house now.

THANKS

[tipster69]

Hi Davvo,

I have the script running now (I have checked the log file it is definitely running).

Unfortunately, the once a minute mustn't be enough to keep the modem in HSDPA Mode as it is still jittering.

Ideally if there was a variable (or just a number that I knew was timing related) I could edit to find the timing that would work best with it, that would be great.

Any further help would also be great.

CHEERS

EDIT: Is the -c for the number of pings it sends? If so could I increase this to keep pinging xx amount of times per minute?

EDIT 2: Changed the count to 20, it is definitely having some effect, as it doesn't glitch nearly as much -DAVVO, I OWE YOU A DRINK MATE, THIS WAS VERY KIND OF YOU - CHEERS

[davvo]

file is at bottom of page

this will ping google every 1 second

keep all the 3 files you had before

now place this in usr/script
and name it every-1-seconds.sh give it 755

while true
do
 /usr/script/ping.check.sh
 sleep 1 then
 echo "ping google 1 sec OK!" >> /var/log/checkconnection.log

 done

start dcc telnet and paste this in

/usr/script/every-1-seconds.sh

that will start the loop script

press CTRL+C to stop

check the log in var/log checkconnection.log


i cant get nohup to run the script
so you will have to start it this way

[tipster69]

Hi,

Thanks again for going out of your way to help. I know I keep repeating myself, but it is genuinely mega appreciated.

CHEERS MATE.

[tipster69]

Hi,

With regards to how I would start this script, does this mean I need to access the box via PC to start it? Because it will be used whilst away in the Motorhome I wouldn't normally have a PC to access the box.

I am unsure if I understand this correctly, though I am sure there is a way around it perhaps via my iphone or ipad?

Cheers

[davvo]

the 1 sec script yes you will need to start it by pc
unless i can get it to run at boot
as the crontab that normally starts is stuck at 1 min

the ping.check.sh script change the -c 5 to -c 60
and see if it pings more

did you try the 1 sec script and did it stop the jittering

[tipster69]

Hi Davvo,

I have been having a play with the -c and currently at -c 35 it is working very very well with only a little jittering (watchable and a 100x times better than before, which is why I am eternally grateful for your help).

Out of interest, I am using my PC now to test this, but I am thinking when out in the field I may want to edit your script to fine tune it to suit the situation. Is there a plugin that will allow me to edit your script via the remote control rather than via ftp?

Cheers

edit: Just when I think it is sussed the bugger starts jittering again though I am hoping it could be down to a poor signal as it as been much better since using your script