How to set up a USB cellular modem to a BlueZoo sensor?

USB cellular modem setup

Prior to connecting the cellular modem, you need to install the SIM card.  Pry open the cover with your fingernail at the location shown with the blue arrow on the image below.  Insert the SIM card.  Replace the modem cover.

Then, plug the Vodafone cellular modem to the BlueZoo sensor via the USB port. Sensor firmware version must be v5.1.85 or above.

Vodafone USB cellular modem LED

If the cellular connection is properly established, the modem LED is Blue. If there is a connection issue, the LED is red.

How to set the Access Point Name (APN)

Access Point Names (APNs) are associated with a telecom service provider’s backend (and each telecom service provider may have more than one APN).   The BlueZoo sensor must deliver the same APN as defined for the telecom service.

Matching APNs allows delivery of a local IP address, most often in the form 10.x.x.x. BlueZoo provides Vodafone SIM cards that are set to an APN of "sims.bluezoo.io".  Our sensors are set to this same APN by default, but can be configured to present a different APN to the SIM card.

Go to the sensor hardware properties and update the APN as needed:

For the APN to be communicated to the sensor, the sensor must be on-line, either via Ethernet (best) or Wi-Fi (good).  If the sensor is securely on-line, the new APN value will require up to one minute to be communicated from the dashboard/cloud to the sensor.