So it appears that if I idle on a TCP connection a TCP RST takes place. At first I thought this was something in my software, then I assumed it was something in pppd. After a discussion on #openmoko I think this is something happening at the Vodafone NAT/router. It is easy to simulate by simply ssh’ng to a remote server and remaining idle. After several minutes (not timed yet) your ssh session will be disconnected but the ppp link remains active. I was able to exhibit the same behaviour on my Neo and my Eee PC connected with a different phone. I wonder if this is Vodafone specific or other networks are implementing this? It seems a bit annoying to have to periodically send traffic over a metered network to keep a TCP session alive! Will have to do some more research…
Handhelds
This version has some improved exception handling. I have been testing over GPRS and notice that if a TCP connection is idle for a certain amount of time the client initiates a TCP RST which terminates the connection. The client should now be able to alert the user of these network problems and you can re-login by entering ‘/l’. I need to investigate the source of the reset but I imagine it is a ‘pppd’ setting.
To install from scratch:
ipkg install http://zedstar.org/ipk/chicken-scheme-interpreter_2.733_armv4t.ipk
ipkg install http://zedstar.org/ipk/thumbtribes-client_0.16_armv4t.ipk
If you are updating just install the thumbtribes-client package.
thumbtribes
It was a nice clear sky so ideal conditions for testing my first GPS micro blog post from my Neo. In true “twitter” style I posted a couple of trivial messages directly to the thumbtribes.mobi site. The results are here.
The GPRS connection appears to be a bit temperamental but it has helped highlight some possible areas where I can make the TCP code a bit more robust.
thumbtribes
In this version, when the user does:
/b some message
The message will be posted directly to their blog on thumbtribes.mobi and the GPS location of the post will appear as a link to Google maps. Now I have GPRS working I hope to take my Neo out and try my first GPS micro blog soon.
To install:
ipkg install http://zedstar.org/ipk/thumbtribes-client_0.15_armv4t.ipk
thumbtribes
I managed to get my Neo connected to Vodafone PAYG using the scripts I found here. In ‘/etc/ppp/peers/vodafone’ I replaced ‘/dev/modem’ with ‘/dev/ttySAC0 115200′ and set user and password both to ‘web’. In the ‘/etc/ppp/vodafone-chat’ I changed the APN from ‘internet’ to ‘pp.vodafone.co.uk’.
I can now actually test my software without being connected to my PC which is how my Neo has been since I bought it. The battery life should hopefully be enough to do the tests I need to do with GPS.
Handhelds
I have started work on a micro blogging feature. I am quite excited about the prospect of bookmarking locations when I am out and about with my phone. For example, “Here is a good pub…”. This version of the client can now write directly to the thumbtribes site by simply entering
/b Here is a good pub!
I will add location information/link to google maps etc automatically in the next version.
To install:
ipkg install http://zedstar.org/ipk/thumbtribes-client_0.14_armv4t.ipk
thumbtribes