What is the "byte" size of message overheads?

[Guest Hax]

Hi guys, sorry if this has been posted before, but could you give us an idea of how many bytes are sent/received per message (on top of the number of characters in the actual message) using the SPV's "native" app.

For example, if we write a message containing just 40 characters, then the total transfer used is going to be 40 + ??? bytes overhead

And then, if a message breaks the 155 character limit per SMS (I've noticed that the app moves onto a second message at about 155 characters - I thought it was 160?) does the per message overhead double or is the message splitting handled server-side?

Example: Will a 210 character message use 210 bytes + (2 x ??? bytes overhead) or just 210 bytes + ??? byets overhead.

Hope I've been clear enough!

Thanks for the great service guys - spot on! ;)

Hax

[Guest ubergeek]

The message splitting is handled server side. The first message should be 160 characters but when messages are joined together, you can only have 155 characters per message (This will have to be checked - different providers seem to have different limits). The message overhead is about 80bytes, so a 210 character message will use a total of 290bytes.

Hope that helps.

Supposed to be 80 not 70, it depends on the length of your username/password/message

[Guest Hax]

That's great thanks Ben. ;)

Just wanted to know for when we have to start paying for GPRS with Orange :)

Hax

[Guest ajb3000]

Thats not entirely true, it depends on variables like the length of your username and password, sender id etc. It seems to use about 1kb per sms I send, I'll try and get exact figures for the overheads if I can.

[Guest Hax]

Oh - one more little thought - is the text transmitted as plain ol' 8-bit ANSI, or are you using 16 (or even 32!) bit UNICODE?

Thanks,

Hax

[Guest Hax]

Any more news on this topic guys? You said you were going to do some testing for us... Any results yet?

[Guest ajb3000]

As I said an average message uses approx 1kb of data, thats total sent and recieved. All message splitting is done server side so the difference between 155 and 156 characters will be 1b, not 2x total. I'm not sure how the rest of the 1kb is made up, I think is must use some data to connect to GPRS, but I will get exact figures for the data sent and recieved by our app off the programmer next time I speak to him.

[Guest ubergeek]

Whoops, sorry for not responding. Our code uses plain old ANSI but the gateway support UNICODE, for future expansion 8)