latest version of communication manager

[reb0957]

    What is the latest version of the communication manager and where do i download it from?

I have 6.09.0115.0
Thanks in Advance!

[Maleficent]

The most recent version of the AT&T Communication Manager can always be downloaded at:

http://www.att.com/acm

[Yoakum]

I was browsing some of the posts just now and I saw that the reply to your post was to download the latest verions of CCM.  When I went to it myself the version posted is the one you have.  I continued reading some of the other posts from today and there is one posted today "_11/19/09 by mobbo talking about the version you have. " One of the responses to his post was to download the newest version of CCM .118.  If you go to this post you will find the download link for the new version even though it was not showing on the download page yet.  I just checked and .115 is still showing as latest version although it apparently isn't.  I just minimized this and checked again and .115 is still showing as latest vesion.  Check his post out.  I think it is about two below your post.

[Maleficent]

---

Yoakum wrote:

I was browsing some of the posts just now and I saw that the reply to your post was to download the latest verions of CCM.  When I went to it myself the version posted is the one you have.  I continued reading some of the other posts from today and there is one posted today "_11/19/09 by mobbo talking about the version you have. " One of the responses to his post was to download the newest version of CCM .118.  If you go to this post you will find the download link for the new version even though it was not showing on the download page yet.  I just checked and .115 is still showing as latest version although it apparently isn't.  I just minimized this and checked again and .115 is still showing as latest vesion.  Check his post out.  I think it is about two below your post.

---

ACM 6.9.115 (also written as 6.09.0115) is the latest version as of November 19, 2008.

ACM 6.9.118 is a patched version of ACM 6.9.115 that is only for users who are affected by the XP SP3/Sierra Wireless device/6.9.115 connected-but-unable-to-browse-after-restarting issue.

[Martens]

I have actually replaced 115 with 118, am running XP with service pack 3 and the Option GT 3.6 card. This is the smoothest communication manager yet you just need to be aware it is locked on 3G network only. There is a simple procedure for making the change in tools, settings, hardware, then click on the 3 dots under properties in the upper right hand corner. You can then change back to automatic if need be.

[Maleficent]

---

Martens wrote:
I have actually replaced 115 with 118, am running XP with service pack 3 and the Option GT 3.6 card. This is the smoothest communication manager yet you just need to be aware it is locked on 3G network only. There is a simple procedure for making the change in tools, settings, hardware, then click on the 3 dots under properties in the upper right hand corner. You can then change back to automatic if need be.

---

6.9.115 and 6.9.118 are identical versions of the AT&T Communication Manager. The only difference is that 6.9.118 has a fix included for Sierra Wireless devices (which the Option GT Max 3.6 is not) that can cause a computer running Windows XP SP3 and 6.9.115 to become unable to browse after it's restarted.

[lukeswr]

I have been experiencing significant and substantial problems with my Option GT MAX 3.6 card. It is to a point where I REGRET getting into  this BALL and CHAIN contract with AT&T. I have four months until my prison sentence is completed.

Problems with this card:

1) Fails to understand the "Hibernate" and "Stand-by" functions built into Windows. STRIKE ONE!

2) Locks up routinely. I have to perform a hard reboot of the PC. STRIKE TWO!

3) I can not find driver updates on the AT&T website.

4) When I can not connect to a 3G network and I am connected to a CDMA connection, the cell tower bumps me off the network every 5 to 15 minutes. This really screws up internet browsing.

5) I can not up load pictures to facebook. Fails 100% of the time.

6) If you are travelling down the road and changes towers, my PC locks up hard! STRIKE THREE!

Customer service treats me like a person in elementary school kid instead of a college graduate, registered professional engineer with 22 years of experience! I design integrated circuits and write real-time software applications. I have forgotten more about electronics and software than most technical support personel can ever dream or imagine about. When I call customer service, there is a REAL PROBLEM with your system. Connect me to a REAL ENGINEER NOW!

[shenanigans]

---

lukeswr wrote:

I have been experiencing significant and substantial problems with my Option GT MAX 3.6 card. It is to a point where I REGRET getting into  this BALL and CHAIN contract with AT&T. I have four months until my prison sentence is completed.

Problems with this card:

1) Fails to understand the "Hibernate" and "Stand-by" functions built into Windows. STRIKE ONE! This is a known issue with some PCMCIA/Express/USB devices. Unplug the device before putting your computer into Hibernate or Stand-by and you should have no issues.

2) Locks up routinely. I have to perform a hard reboot of the PC. STRIKE TWO!

3) I can not find driver updates on the AT&T website. Drivers are installed with the AT&T Communication Manager software. If you have the latest version of ACM, you have the latest drivers.

4) When I can not connect to a 3G network and I am connected to a CDMA GSM/EDGE connection, the cell tower bumps me off the network every 5 to 15 minutes. This really screws up internet browsing.

5) I can not up load pictures to facebook. Fails 100% of the time. If you use Windows XP (or ACM 6.10 and Vista 32-bit), have you tried disabling the Bytemobile Web Accelerator?  Tools -> Settings -> Acceleration. Change to Manual, click OK. Close and reopen ACM and reconnect. If that fails, make sure your firewall/AV software allows full access to 'attcm.exe', 'bmctl.exe', and 'bmop.exe'. If that fails, make sure your browser and Java are up-to-date. 

6) If you are travelling down the road and changes towers, my PC locks up hard! STRIKE THREE!

---

Comments in red.

Sounds like you've been having a frustrating experience with your card, but dude, have a little sympathy for the technical support agents. You may have spent 22 years in engineering, but they spend every day working specifically with these devices. (Also, no way would you ever be transferred to an actual engineer. They have much better things to do with their time than listen to someone complain about their GSM modem.)

[lukeswr]

If there is a KNOWN ISSUE with the hibernate and stand-by modes, why won't ATT (or their supplier) replace my card? Notebook and laptop PCs routinely use STAND-BY and HIBERNATE modes. This is beyond a bug; THIS IS A RECALL AND APOLOGY. This is the standard that I have to engineer to; is that asking TOO MUCH of your suppliers?

[ChrisLandin]

Hope this help:

Option GT Max 3.6 Firmare Updater is at http://support.option.com/att/data/SuperFire_1.0.0.31_FW1.12.1H.zip

AT&T Communication Manager version 6.10 is at http://www.wireless.att.com/businesscenter/en_US/download/Setup-ACM-6.10.exe

Option GT Max 3.6 laptop compatability table is at http://support.option.com/att/index.php?title=Laptop compatibility&action=module5/index

Option Knowledge Base is at http://support.option.com/att/index.php?title=Knowledge%20base&action=module2/index

Good Luck

and

Merry Christmas

[shenanigans]

---

lukeswr wrote:
If there is a KNOWN ISSUE with the hibernate and stand-by modes, why won't ATT (or their supplier) replace my card? Notebook and laptop PCs routinely use STAND-BY and HIBERNATE modes. This is beyond a bug; THIS IS A RECALL AND APOLOGY. This is the standard that I have to engineer to; is that asking TOO MUCH of your suppliers?

---

By 'known issue', I actually meant that many devices from many different manufacturers have this same problem. It is not specific to the Option GT Max 3.6 Express. It seems to be an issue with how Windows powers ports before and after going into Hibernate and Stand-by. 

I apologize for being unclear. 

[shenanigans]

---

ChrisLandin wrote:

Hope this help:

Option GT Max 3.6 Firmare Updater is at http://support.option.com/att/data/SuperFire_1.0.0.31_FW1.12.1H.zip

AT&T Communication Manager version 6.10 is at http://www.wireless.att.com/businesscenter/en_US/download/Setup-ACM-6.10.exe

Option GT Max 3.6 laptop compatability table is at http://support.option.com/att/index.php?title=Laptop compatibility&action=module5/index

Option Knowledge Base is at http://support.option.com/att/index.php?title=Knowledge%20base&action=module2/index

Good Luck

and

Merry Christmas

---

Good links!

The link to the Knowledge Base, however, is actually the AT&T Knowledge Base, not Option's. These may be easier links to follow:

Device tutorial for the Option GT Max 3.6 Express. 

The AT&T Answer Center

[lukeswr]

I found a Sprint Network hotspot and downloaded the new ACM. The AT&T hot spot wanted to charge me. Talk about insult to injury. Somebody is hungry and it is not AT&T.

I am trying the new ACM 6.10. I have updated the firmware months ago to no avail. The firmware software reported that the card was already up to date. The concern I have is that the ACM is still using the buggy 11/10/2006 driver.

Bugs with the ACM 6.10 installer:

1) It takes forever to update the driver and the status bar does not report accurate progress.

2) The installer relocates my shortcut on my desktop.

The GSM mode is only slightly faster than dialup. 117kbps download 28kbps upload. I would hate to see the "...nation's slowest network...". Location: Lake Havasu City, NV.

[lukeswr]

That's right. Blame microsoft.

If the engineer would read the Microsoft Device Driver manual (also located in the MSDN pages), they would quickly realize that they must respond to the appropriate events, such as...

private void powerModeChanged(System.Object sender, _
Microsoft.Win32.PowerModeChangedEventArgs e)
{
    int si = SystemInformation.PowerStatus;
    switch (si)
        {
        case BatteryChargeStatus.Low:
            MessageBox.Show("Battery is running low", _ MessageBoxIcon.Exclamation);
        case BatteryChargeStatus.Low:
            MessageBox.Show("Battery is critcally low", _ MessageBoxIcon.Stop);
        Default:
            // Battery is okay.
        }
}
if (SystemInformation.PowerStatus.BatteryChargeStatus.ToString() == _
"Critical")
    {
        Application.SetSuspenState (PowerState.Hibernate, false, false);
    }

Someones performance review needs to be revised.

[shenanigans]

Have you tried contacting Option to submit feedback?

Hopefully they can take some of your advice for their next cards. 

http://www.option.com

[lukeswr]

I have tried contacting Option. The first thing they ask for is my SNR and IMEI
number. Their response, "Contact AT&T. (click)"

Meanwhile back at "...the buck stops here..." forum.

There are still bugs with the ACM, specifically:
1) If the user changes the default install path, there is a license manager
called "SMITH" that chokes issuing numerous registry error messages. I could not
invoke the ACM. The only solution was to uninstall and reinstall the ACM
software.
2) The loss of connectivity to the AT&T network is WORSE than it was under 6.06
version of the ACM. I can not stay connected more than 1 to 2 minutes MAX. This
problem may be attributed to the fact that I am located directly on the CA and
AZ border. My AT&T cellphones are constantly changing between CA and AZ
timezones. This indicates that I am right in the middle between two cell towers.
Even though my phones and card indicate 4 and 5 bars, the voice coverage is
spotty and we have been disconnected several times.

Facts:
1) ACM 6.10.0025.0
2) Location: Lake Havasu City, AZ 1.5 miles south of London Bridge on AZ Highway 95.
3) Card: Model: GX0202 SNR: {Personal content removed for your saftey}  IMEI: {Personal content removed for your saftey}

 4) I determine that I have lost connectivity when I perform an "ipconfig /all".
The application output indicates no PPP connectivity information even though the
ACM indicates that I am still connected.

Message Edited by mod.moose on 12-25-2008 09:40:14 AM

[lukeswr]

More debug information regarding the ACM...

It appears the ACM performing some questionable practices regarding the
assignment of IP addresses and Default Gateway in the PPP/SLIP interface,
specifically:

1) The PHYSICAL ADDRESS assignment on the Option MAX 36 GX0202 card is fixed at
00-53-45-00-00-00. I get the bad feeling that Option is not uniquifying the
physical address of their PCMCIA cards. THIS IS A VERY BAD PRACTICE! There are
not supposed to be ANY duplicate physical addresses of devices anywhere in the
world.

2) My assigned IP address and Default Gateway address is the same. I have been
networking computers since the early 80's. I have not seen the practice of
assigning the same address to the IP and Default Gateway of a client. This
raises some eyebrows.

3) My assigned IP address is being changed dynamically even though the ACM
reports continuous connectivity. This forces my VPN client application to
disconnect. This is an unexceptable practice given the fact that I use remote
VPN routinely to access work systems. What does it take to get a more reliable
connection with a fixed IP address?

[lukeswr]

Vanishing PPP/SLIP interface.

Why does my PPP/SLIP interface disappear while ACM reports continuous connectivity?

It appears that the ONLY way to restore the PPP/SLIP interface is to DISCONNECT and reCONNECT the ACM. Why?

[LCT]

---

lukeswr wrote:

More debug information regarding the ACM...

It appears the ACM performing some questionable practices regarding the
assignment of IP addresses and Default Gateway in the PPP/SLIP interface,
specifically:

1) The PHYSICAL ADDRESS assignment on the Option MAX 36 GX0202 card is fixed at
00-53-45-00-00-00. I get the bad feeling that Option is not uniquifying the
physical address of their PCMCIA cards. THIS IS A VERY BAD PRACTICE! There are
not supposed to be ANY duplicate physical addresses of devices anywhere in the
world.

2) My assigned IP address and Default Gateway address is the same. I have been
networking computers since the early 80's. I have not seen the practice of
assigning the same address to the IP and Default Gateway of a client. This
raises some eyebrows.

This throws a lot of people.  Don't worry, it's normal for AT&Ts network.

3) My assigned IP address is being changed dynamically even though the ACM
reports continuous connectivity. This forces my VPN client application to
disconnect. This is an unexceptable practice given the fact that I use remote
VPN routinely to access work systems. What does it take to get a more reliable
connection with a fixed IP address?

Could you provide a little more detail?  On the surface it just sounds like DHCP is renewing your IP, but I imagine its more than that.

---

[lukeswr]

The symptoms are:

1) The connection (PPP/SLIP) appears functional. I verify this by opening a cmd.exe and entering ipconfig /all.

2) After 6 to 12 minutes the PPP/SLIP interface is no longer present (ipconfig /all). The ACM reports that I am still connected. The internet is non-accessable since there are no active DNS.

3) The only way to reestablish connection is to perform an ACM DISCONNECT and ACM CONNECT operation.

Whether or not is is a DHCP issue is not the point. ACM and the ATT network manage the IP address. I have a log file but this forum does not provide a means of uploading files.

[lukeswr]

Also, this problem only occurs when I am in GSM (non-3G) mode. I have yet to replicate it when I am connected to a 3G network. It also only appears when I am on a boundary are of two cell towers located in different time-zones. (see previous posts).

[LCT]

---

lukeswr wrote:

 I have a log file but this forum does not provide a means of uploading files.

---

I agree with you 100%.  It would be nice if the mods, especially for this forum, would enable a code box feature.

[LCT]

---

lukeswr wrote:

2) After 6 to 12 minutes the PPP/SLIP interface is no longer present (ipconfig /all). The ACM reports that I am still connected. The internet is non-accessable since there are no active DNS.

---

Didn't you say that you were using an Ultra Express?  Is it possible that you are having the same timeout issue that other people are expressing with these card types?  Just trying to tie you're issue in with other board memebers, if possible.

[lukeswr]

No. Option GT MAX 3.6 Model: GX0202

[cs41]

 I'm using a GT Ultra (not express).  I "upgraded" yesterday from ACM 6.8 to 6.10.  With 6.10, it disconnects every minute or so, even after I uninstalled the accelleration software. 

I installed Option's software and it hasn't disconnected once but is slower than ACM 6.8.  I've read here on the board there are power fluctuations in the Option card that put it into the fault mode with flashing red/blue lights.   That would happen every couple of days with ACM 6.8 but happens every minute with ACM 6.10.  That combined with no faults when using Option's software leads me to believe its a problem with ACM 6.10.

Anyone know where I can download ACM 6.8 until they fix 6.10?  (I know I should have made sure I had a copy).  Its a little buggy but faster than the Option Connect software.

[lukeswr]

Couple of strange things:

1) I was driving through NW AZ and SW UT on I-15 without being disconnected. I was absolutely shocked. One thing to note AZ and UT are currently on the same time-zone.

2) The problem of disconnect only occurred at Lake Havasu City, AZ. I am convenced that I was picking up both a CA tower and AZ tower which are on different time-zones. My cell-phones (AT&T) were changing the display times every 10 minutes or so.

3) Another thing that I notice is that QOS is directly corelated to your proximity to an interstate freeway.

Could you provide more details regarding physical location? This might assist ATT debug their system.

[berg1011]

good link,thanks

[mike2009]

I have to agree with lukesr, Option GT and the SW is horrible, I have the same problems.

(I use Win XP Pro SP2 & 3 and have tried on 2 different computers, desktop w PCMCIA/PCI add-on card and a Compaq laptop.)

In my case I dont use Com.mngr, instead I use the Globetrotter Connect a smaller piece of SW, but still all the same problems.

In worst cases I am not able to exit the SW, some times even the process can't be killed menaing you can ONLY hardpower -off by holding the power button pressed for 5 seconds/alternatively if you want to do it in zero seconds is to unplug tha mains power, why... because even Windows can't shut down properly, it hangs!!!!!!

I have never had such a terrible piece of SW that has been so difficult to kill and I have use PC for nearly 20 years!!!

Ok, sometimes you can right-click on "my computer" and go to the HW manager and disable the PCMCIA and enable it again where after you have to enter the PIN code again and so on..., but even here it fails some times the disabling of the PCMCIA hangs, something is hanging very hard, so again... hard power-off is the only solution.

Even I tried Option homepage but with my serial and IMEI from my Cingular card the Option page doesnt recognize it as one of their products because it is some operators...

And It is not we the customers who should solve it and go to Option, it is in fact AT&T's responsibility to address the problem them self with Option.

Please AT&T do something for God sake, I am myself an IT engineer so I am not guessing here, you HAVE to do something!

At least the SW's process must be able to be killed so Windows can at least power off properly, so rewrite that SW.

Thanks!

[shenanigans]

---

mike2009 wrote:

Please AT&T do something for God sake, I am myself an IT engineer so I am not guessing here, you HAVE to do something!

At least the SW's process must be able to be killed so Windows can at least power off properly, so rewrite that SW.

Thanks!

---

AT&T is only involved in producing the AT&T Communication Manager software. Option writes GTConnect (available from the Option/AT&T support page) and questions or comments related to that program need to be directed to Option.

I haven't had problems such as you describe with GTConnect, but I've only used the Max 3.6 and the Ultra versions, not the Quicksilver one. What kind of computer are you using?

[lukeswr]

Hey guys, mike2009 is right. All we see is AT&T. If AT&T sub-contracts, great! It is still AT&T's problem.

60 days until my contract expires.