Custom SMS Gateway: Configuration Recommendations

[alex_koskov]

For customers using custom SMS gateways:

Please leave feedback about your custom SMS gateway setup, including pricing, limits, and the region where you are using it. This will help others choose the most suitable SMS gateway for their needs in Powerlynx.

[alex_koskov]

NextSMS is a recognized and fairly popular local SMS gateway in Tanzania, particularly among SMEs, NGOs, and community projects. It is valued for its competitive pricing, local language support, customer service, and reliable deliverability across Tanzanian mobile networks.

API documentation: Developer API

Configuration Example

1. Create an account at nextsms.co.tz.
2. Encode your username and password in Base64 format.
3. Configure your custom SMS gateway in Powerlynx using the encoded credentials and API URL.

[alex_koskov]

Apex (Cue) SMS Gateway

Configuration Example

1. Create an account.
2. Configure your custom SMS gateway in Powerlynx using your credentials and the API URL.

[zedbbb]

how to intergrate with beem africa sms api?

[alex_koskov]

Beem SMS Africa API: https://docs.beem.africa/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=none#api-

Configuration Example:

1. Create an account.
2. Retrieve your Sender ID from the Beem platform.
3. Configure the settings on the Powerlynx platform.

[alex_koskov]

BulkSMS config example:

1. Create API token and perform base64 encode BulkSMS API Specification
2. Setup SMS in Powerlynx.
   
   

[alex_koskov]

BlessedTexts SMS: https://blessedtexts.com/

Configuration Example:

1. Create an account.

2. Retrieve your API key (from your Profile) and assigned Sender ID from the BlessedTexts platform.

3. Configure the settings on the Powerlynx platform.

[alex_koskov]

Configure the Clickatell SMS Gateway in Powerlynx

To successfully integrate Clickatell with Powerlynx, you must generate an API key and apply it to your system configuration. Please follow the steps below to complete the setup.

1. Get an API key from the Clickatell Side

First, you will need to get an API key on your Clickatell account. For detailed instructions please refer to the official documentation:

• Clickatell SMS Gateway Documentation: Getting started - Clickatell

2. Set Up SMS in Powerlynx

Once your API key is retrieved, log into your Powerlynx instance to finalize the configuration.

Example:

How to check the balance:

[metrixa]

How do I configure SMS gateway for Africa’s Talking (https://africastalking.com)

[alex_koskov]

Good day,

Sorry for delay.

Thank you for reaching to Powerlynx forum.

How to configure Africa’s Talking Custom SMS Gateway in Powerlynx

If you are looking to integrate Africa’s Talking as your SMS provider in Powerlynx, you can do so using the Custom SMS Gateway feature.

I recently tested this integration using their Sandbox mode.

Here is the complete, working configuration.

(Note: I will provide the Sandbox configuration first so you can test it safely, followed by the exact changes you need to make to go Live).

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Step 1: Add a Custom SMS Gateway

In your Powerlynx dashboard, navigate to Config > SMS, click Add, and select Custom as the type.

Example can be found here: SMS Module | Powerlynx

Step 2: Sandbox Configuration Settings

Fill out the form with the following details exactly as shown:

• Name: Africa’s Talking (Sandbox)
• Type: Custom
• Url: https://api.sandbox.africastalking.com/version1/messaging
• Method: POST
• Content type: application/x-www-form-urlencoded
• Payload: username=sandbox&to=%TO%&message=%MESSAGE%&from=YOUR_SHORTCODE
  • Make sure to replace YOUR_SHORTCODE with your actual sandbox shortcode (e.g., 12345).
  • Crucial: Ensure there is an & before the from parameter!
• Verify SSL certificate: Enabled (toggle on)
• Success response: 101
  • Important: Do NOT use "statusCode": 101. Because we aren’t passing an Accept: application/json header, the API returns XML. Powerlynx just needs to find the 101 string to verify success.
• Custom header name: apikey
  • Important: Make sure the ‘k’ is lowercase! Using apiKey may result in a 401 Unauthorized error.
• Custom header value: atsk_YOUR_SANDBOX_API_KEY_HERE

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Step 3: Testing in Sandbox

Africa’s Talking Sandbox does not send real text messages. It only routes to their web simulator.

1. Log into your Africa’s Talking dashboard and launch the Simulator.
2. Register your test phone number in the simulator.
3. In Powerlynx, go to the bottom of the SMS page, enter that same test phone number, and hit Run test.
4. The message will appear in your Africa’s Talking Simulator!

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Going Live (Sandbox vs. Live Mode Differences)

Once you have verified the connection works in the Sandbox, you are ready to switch to Production. You only need to change four values in your Powerlynx configuration:

Setting	Sandbox Mode	Live (Production) Mode
URL	https://api.sandbox.africastalking.com...	https://api.africastalking.com... (remove .sandbox)
Payload: Username	username=sandbox	username=YourAppUsername (Your actual AT app name)
Payload: From	&from=YOUR_SANDBOX_SHORTCODE	&from=YOUR_LIVE_SENDER_ID
API Key (Header Value)	Sandbox API Key	Live API Key (Generated from main dashboard)

Everything else, including the apikey header name and the 101 success response, remains exactly the same.

Feel free to ask if you run into any 401 Unauthorized or validation errors! If you need assistance, please reach out to support@powerlynx.app.