2 General operation

2.1 Start up

Start up mode is AT mode by default, if Persistant Transparent mode is use see AT+UTMP command.

2.2 AT Command types

2.2.1 Set command

A set command configures preferred settings for the specified command. The set command is the only way to set the preferred settings in the DCE. Parameters set with a set command will be used immediately and the parameters can be stored to the start up database using &W. Some Set commands requires a reboot before using. Store with &W and reset with +CPWROFF.

2.2.2 Read command

A read command provides current setting of the command parameters. It is used to find out the current command configuration.

2.2.3 Status command

A status command provides current operating status of the module.

2.2.4 Unsolicited result code (URC)

An unsolicited result code is a string message (provided by the DCE) that is not triggered as a information text response to a previous AT command and can be output, when enabled, at any time to inform the DTE of a specific event or status change. The URC can have the same name of the command that enables it or can be enabled by another command.

2.3 Data types

The definition of each command specifies the data types used for values associated with the command. The different data types are listed below and are described in the following subsections:
  • String
  • Integer
  • Enumerator
  • Byte_Array
  • IPv4_Addr
  • IPv6_Addr
  • MAC_Addr
  • Bd_Addr
  • List
  • Binary

2.3.1 String

A string shall consist of a sequence of displayable characters from the ISO 8859-1 character set, except for characters \, " and some special characters, see table below. A string constant shall be delimited by two double quote " characters, for example, “Donald Duck”. If the double quote character " is to be used within a string, for example, “My friend “Bono” is a singer”, they have to be represented as the escape character \". If the backslash character \ is to be used within a string constant, it has to be represented as the escape character \\. An empty string is represented by two adjacent delimiters - "".
Escape character
Special character
\r
Carriage return
\n
New line
\t
Tab
\b
Backspace
\"
For using " character inside an AT string
\\
Backslash
\0
Null character
\xHH
For representing any byte. HH is 2 hex characters

2.3.2 Integer

An integer value consists of a sequence of characters, all in the range {0..9} plus a possible minus (“-”) sign for negative values. Numeric constants are expressed in decimal format only.

2.3.3 Enumerator

An enumerator value is actually an integer, where all its possible values are specified in each case. Only the defined values are accepted for the command in question.

2.3.4 Byte_Array

A Byte_Array consists of a sequence of characters expressed in two digit hexadecimal in the ranges {0..9}, {a..f} and {A..F}. The hexadecimal values are grouped together without delimiters; an example of Byte_Array (three values) is “800000” (Bit 23 is set), excluding the double quote characters.

2.3.5 IPv4_Addr

An IPv4_Addr is a special text string in dotted decimal notation form (that is, four numbers in the range 0-255 separated by periods). An example IP address is “192.168.0.1”, excluding the double quote characters.

2.3.6 IPv6_Addr

An IPv6_Addr is a special text string represented as eight groups of four hexadecimal digits, each group representing 16 bits (two octets) and surrounded by brackets. The groups are separated by colons (:). An example of an IPv6 address is “[2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334]”, excluding the double quote characters.

2.3.7 MAC_Addr

A MAC_Addr is a Byte_Array of fixed length (6 values). An example MAC_Addr is “01A0F7101C08”, excluding the double quote characters.

2.3.8 Bd_Addr

A Bd_Addr is a MAC_Addr followed an optional address type, “r” for random address and “p” for public address. If the address type is omitted, it will default to public. An example Bd_Addr is “01A0F7101C08p”, excluding the double quote characters.

2.3.9 List

A List is a comma (,) separated list of items, where items can be any of the other data types. For example, channel list is a list of integers, [1,6,11], inluding the two brackets characters. Example AT+UWCL=[1,6,11]

2.3.10 Binary

The binary data starts with \x01 (SOH - Start Of Header), following by the length of the data in two bytes format (UINT16) follwed by the binary data. The binary data shall not be terminated with the normal \x0D (\r - Carriage Return).
The binary header is three bytes: {0x01(SOHStartOfHeader),MSB_datalength,LSB_datalength}
All commands and URC that use binary data are “complete” without the binary data, the binary data is sent directy after the AT command, in most case after the handle.
The AT command follows direcly by the binary data, without any “,” or “\r” or anyting in between.
Example: AT+USOWB=0{0x01,0x00,0x02,0xFF,0xEE} This command writes to socket 0, 2 bytes data the data is 0xFF 0xEE. Note that the brackets { } should not be sent, only indicates the start and end of binary data.
Binary data for Socket, SPS and certicitate upload all use the same Binary data format.

2.3.11 Buffered mode

This is the default data mode, the data is read out after an event has been received. It is possible to stop and control the incoming data flow.

2.3.12 Direct mode

In this mode the data is included in the received event, then data will be sent to the host as soon it is avaliable. It is not possible to stop the incoming data flow.

2.3.13 Transparent mode

In this mode the data is sent and received without any AT commands, the limitation that this mode only works with a point-to-point connection.

2.3.13 Transparent mode persistent

This is the same as transparent mode, but can be storted in flash and be active at startup.

2.4 Host library

To simplify and kick-start the development of a host application interacting with the module running u-connectXpress it is beneficial to use a host library. u-blox provides the open source ubxlib host library, that simplifies the development of embedded applications for u-blox products and services. ubxlib interfaces with most common host SDKs and RTOS to simplify the development of embedded applications for u-blox products and services. The ubxlib repository https://github.com/u-blox/ubxlib is hosted on GitHub.
Last updated: 04 March 2025
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