Sierra Wireless AC860 Multi-Mode & Multi-Band Wireless Network Card User Manual AC7xx Notebook Installation Guide
Sierra Wireless Inc. Multi-Mode & Multi-Band Wireless Network Card AC7xx Notebook Installation Guide
User Manual
2130623
Rev 3.1A
AirCard®800 Series
Wireless Network Cards
arInstallation Guide
Preface
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 1
Limitation of
Liability
The information in this manual is subject to change without
notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of
Sierra Wireless or its affiliates. SIERRA WIRELESS AND ITS
AFFILIATES SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR
ANY AND ALL DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, GENERAL,
INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
EXEMPLARY DAMAGES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
TO, LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUE OR ANTICIPATED
PROFITS OR REVENUE ARISING OUT OF THE USE OR
INABILITY TO USE ANY SIERRA WIRELESS PRODUCT,
EVEN IF SIERRA WIRELESS AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES
HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
DAMAGES OR THEY ARE FORESEEABLE OR FOR CLAIMS
BY ANY THIRD PARTY. NOTWITHSTANDING THE
FOREGOING, IN NO EVENT SHALL SIERRA WIRELESS
AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES’ AGGREGATE LIABILITY
ARISING UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SIERRA
WIRELESS PRODUCT, REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF
EVENTS, OCCURRENCES OR CLAIMS GIVING RISE TO
LIABILITY, BE IN EXCESS OF THE PRICE PAID BY THE
PURCHASER FOR THE SIERRA WIRELESS PRODUCT.
Patents Portions of this product may be covered by some or all of the
following US patents:
5,515,013 5,629,960 5,682,602 5,845,216 5,847,553
5,878,234 5,890,057 5,929,815 6,169,884 6,191,741
6,199,168 6,339,405 6,359,591 6,400,336 6,643,501
6,516,204 6,561,851 6,653,979 6,697,030 6,785,830
6,845,249 6,847,830 6,876,697 6,879,585 D442,170
D459,303
and other patents pending.
This product includes
technology licensed from:
Licensed by QUALCOMM Incorporated under one or more of
the following United States patents and/or their counterparts
in other nations:
4,901,307 5,056,109 5,101,501 5,109,390 5,228,054
5,267,261 5,267,262 5,337,338 5,414,796 5,416,797
5,490,165 5,504,773 5,506,865 5,511,073 5,535,239
5,544,196 5,568,483 5,600,754 5,657,420 5,659,569
5,710,784 5,778,338
Manufactured or sold by Sierra Wireless or its licensees under
one or more patents licensed from InterDigital Group.
Copyright ©2005 Sierra Wireless. All rights reserved.
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
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Trademarks AirCard® and Heart of the Wireless Machine® are registered
trademarks of Sierra Wireless.
Sierra Wireless, the Sierra Wireless logo, the red wave design,
the red-tipped antenna, and Watcher are trademarks of Sierra
Wireless.
Other trademarks are the property of the respective owners.
All product specifications are subject to change without notice.
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 3
Table of Contents
Introducing the AirCard 800 Series Wireless Network Cards . . .5
AirCard 800 Series wireless network cards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Supported operating systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The AirCard as a network card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
HSDPA, UMTS, EDGE, and GPRS service support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Frequency band support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Your account and coverage area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
AirCard software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Before you can begin using the AirCard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Package contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
The SIM Card and Your Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Inserting a SIM card into your AirCard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Removing a SIM card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Attaching the antenna to your AirCard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Software and Driver Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
System requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Installation on Windows 98, 2000, Me, and XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Setting Internet Explorer to use the AirCard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Configuring Your Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Setting up a profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Care and Maintenance of Your Network Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Stopping and ejecting the AirCard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
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Watcher™ Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Launching Watcher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
The Watcher window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Icons and indicators on the main Watcher window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
View options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Status icons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Power Down and Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Frequency band and network selection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Frequency band selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Network selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
LED operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Radio frequency and electrical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Environmental specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Sending GSM commands to the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Regulatory and Safety
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Important notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Safety and hazards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Important safety/compliance information for North American users. . . . . . 34
Information pertaining to OEM customers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
EU regulatory conformity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 5
1: Introducing the AirCard 800 Series
Wireless Network Cards
•AirCard 800 Series
wireless network cards
•Your account and
coverage area
•AirCard software
•Before you can begin
using the AirCard
•Package contents
AirCard 800 Series wireless
network cards
The AirCard 800 Series 3G wireless network cards are acces-
sories for your PC that allow you to connect to the Internet,
send and receive e-mail, connect to a corporate network/VPN,
or view streaming video, without the need of a network cable
or phone line.
Caution: Do not insert your
AirCard into your PC Card slot
before installing the software.
The AirCard fits into the standard (Type II) PC Card slot
available on most notebook PCs.
Supported operating systems
The AirCard wireless network cards work in:
•Notebook PCs running Windows 98 SE, NT 4.0, 2000, Me,
and XP. (See Chapter 3 for more details.)
The AirCard as a network card
The AirCard 800 Series network cards can be configured to
provide the “always-on” data connection that an Ethernet card
or other wired LAN card provides. That is, you can set options
in Watcher™ (a program that comes with the AirCard) that
will cause the AirCard to establish a network connection
whenever you insert it, assuming GSM, GPRS, EDGE, UMTS,
or HSDPA service is available. (See “HSDPA, UMTS, EDGE,
and GPRS service support” on page 6.) Otherwise, you can
configure Watcher to connect only when you select a button.
The AirCard connection provides access to the Internet. Once
the connection is established, you can open your browser and
connect to any web site available on the Internet, or access
other Internet services (such as e-mail).
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HSDPA, UMTS, EDGE, and GPRS service
support
GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, and HSDPA are add-on data services to
GSM mobile phone networks. The maximum data speeds
when connected on these services are:
•GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)—56 kbps
•EDGE (Enhanced Data GSM Environment)—216 kbps
•UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System)—
384 kbps
•HSDPA (High Speed Download Packet Access)—up to
1.8 Mbps on the downlink (receive) with 500 to 800 kbps
typical
GPRS and EDGE are 2G (second generation) data services.
UMTS and HSDPA are 3G (third generation) data services.
When establishing a connection, your AirCard uses the fastest
available service. If, for example, you are using an AirCard in
an area that has GPRS and EDGE service but not UMTS or
HSDPA service, the AirCard connects using EDGE service.
These data connections are Internet connections. Once the
connection is established, you can connect to any web site
accessible through the Internet or use Internet services (such as
e-mail).
Frequency band support
Every GSM network operates on one of these radio frequency
bands, in providing 2G (GPRS or EDGE) service:
•850 MHz band—(also called the cellular band) used by
some North American service providers
•900 MHz band—used by some European service
providers
•1800 MHz band—used by some European and Asian
service providers
•1900 MHz band—(also called the PCS band) used by
many North American service providers
Every network that offers 3G UMTS/HSDPA service does so
on one of these bands:
•WCDMA 850—used by North American service providers
•WCDMA 1900—used by North American service
providers
•WCDMA 2100—used by European, Asian, and Australian
service providers
Introducing the AirCard 800 Series Wireless Network Cards
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 7
The AirCard 850 and AirCard 860 support all of the 2G bands.
The AirCard 850 supports the WCDMA 2100 3G band (for use
outside of North America). The AirCard 860 supports the
WCDMA 850 and WCDMA 1900 bands (for North American
use).
Your account and coverage area
Note: If you purchased the
AirCard from a GSM service
provider, you may already have
an account. Otherwise, your
retailer should be able to provide
you with the names of
companies that provide this
service.
Companies that operate GSM networks and provide access to
those networks are called service providers. You must have an
account with a GSM service provider that offers HSDPA or
UMTS service to use the AirCard’s 3G capability. (The AirCard
is backward compatible to 2G service.)
When you obtain your account, you are given a SIM card, also
called a “smart card” or “smart chip”. (Depending on how you
purchased your AirCard, you may already have an account,
and your SIM card may have been included in your package.)
The SIM card contains account information and must be
inserted in the AirCard anytime you use it.
Before you can use the AirCard, you must install the AirCard
software and ensure that your AirCard is configured to use
your account. Instructions on completing these steps are
provided in the chapters that follow.
Once installed and configured, you can connect to the Internet
with the AirCard in any area in which you can obtain GPRS,
EDGE, UMTS, or HSDPA service. Your ability to obtain service
depends on these factors:
Note: The fee for service is
usually higher when you are
“roaming” (connected to a
network other than the one
belonging to your service
provider).
•Proximity to a GSM network—You must be within the
coverage area of a GSM network in order to use the
AirCard.
•Service provider—If you are within the coverage area of a
network that is not operated by your own service
provider, you can only obtain service if there is a roaming
agreement between your service provider and the network
operator.
•Account provisions—Your account may restrict your
usage to certain networks or limit the amount of time you
can use the network.
•Frequency band—You cannot connect to networks
operating in bands not supported by your AirCard,
regardless of roaming agreements or account provisions.
Most service providers have coverage maps on their web sites.
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AirCard software
The AirCard comes with this software (made by Sierra
Wireless):
•The Watcher program that you use to manage the AirCard
and monitor your connections
•The driver software that forms the interface between the
network card and your Windows operating system
•The Network Adapter Manager software that allows you
to switch between the AirCard and other network cards
Before you can begin using the
AirCard
Before you can use the AirCard for the first time you must:
1. Install the AirCard software: Watcher, the Network
Adapter Manager, and the AirCard driver.
2. Attach the antenna, insert the SIM into the AirCard and
insert the AirCard into your PC Card slot. (Do not insert
the AirCard before installing the software.)
3. Obtain a GSM account (if this wasn’t done when you
purchased the AirCard).
4. Configure the AirCard to use your account (unless it was
pre-configured.)
5. If your Internet browser is configured to use a dial-up
modem, you may need to set it to use a network card.
The next chapters guide you through this process.
Package contents
Your AirCard package contains the following:
•AirCard wireless network card
•Antenna
•Installation CD containing the AirCard software and this
installation guide
•Quick start guide
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 9
2: The SIM Card and Your Account
•Inserting a SIM card
into your AirCard
•Removing a SIM card
•Attaching the antenna
to your AirCard
You require a GSM account and a SIM (Subscriber Identity
Module) card to use the AirCard. The SIM card is a small chip
(about the size of a postage stamp) that you insert into the
AirCard. The SIM contains account information used by the
network to validate your access.
Note: Without a valid SIM card
and a valid account, your
AirCard will not work.
Depending on how you purchased your AirCard, you may
already have an account. In this case, the SIM should be
included in your package. Otherwise, your retailer should
direct you to a local company that provides GSM service.
To activate an account, the service provider needs from you:
•Billing information (such as a credit card number) used to
collect payment for your network usage
•Possibly the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment
Identity)—a number that identifies your device (AirCard
model) on the GSM network. This number is printed on
the AirCard box and on the AirCard label.
Note: Keep a written record, in a
secure place, of the account
information that your service
provider gives you. Instructions
on creating a profile are in the
section “Configuring Your
Account” on page 17.
Your AirCard must be configured to use your account. If
purchased from a service provider, your AirCard may have
been pre-configured. Otherwise, you must set up a profile in
Watcher. Instructions on setting up a profile are described in
Chapter 4.
If you change GSM service providers (such as if you move to a
new city), you will need a new SIM card from your new
service provider. You will also need to set up a new profile.
Inserting a SIM card into your
AirCard
To install your SIM card into the AirCard network card, follow
these steps:
1. If your SIM is attached to a card, detach it and remove any
fragments of the card stuck to the SIM.
2. Hold the AirCard network card with the label on top and
the antenna closest to you.
3. Locate the thin SIM card slot on the left side of the AirCard
PC Card’s antenna end.
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
10 2130623
4. Orient the SIM card, as shown in the diagram on the
bottom side of the AirCard.
Note: To prevent the SIM from
becoming jammed in the AirCard
slot, ensure the edge of the SIM
is smooth before inserting it. Do
not attach labels to your SIM as
this may also cause it to become
jammed.
5. Insert the end of the SIM card into the slot, and gently
push it until it is fully inserted.
Figure 2-1: Inserting the SIM card Into the AirCard SIM card slot
Once the SIM card is properly inserted, it should not
extend beyond the end of the card.
Removing a SIM card
To remove the SIM card, you will need a narrow object, such
as a pen or a straightened paper clip, to push into the eject
hole.
1. Place the AirCard PC Card on a smooth, hard surface such
as a tabletop.
2. Position your pen or paper-clip above the eject hole, which
is on the top surface of the AirCard housing, just to the
right of the SIM card slot. (See Figure 2-2.)
3. Press down gently (without excessive force) on the eject
hole. The SIM card should pop out of its slot.
The SIM Card and Your Account
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 11
Figure 2-2: Ejecting the SIM card
4. Gently pull the SIM card from the slot until it slides free.
Attaching the antenna to your
AirCard
The antenna attaches to the gold-plated connector on the end
of the AirCard.
Figure 2-3: Attaching the antenna to the AirCard
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
12 2130623
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 13
3: Software and Driver Installation
•System requirements
•Installation on
Windows 98, 2000,
Me, and XP
•Setting Internet
Explorer to use the
AirCard
System requirements
The AirCard wireless network card is supported on:
•Windows 98 SE
•Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4
•Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 6a and Networking
installed
•Windows Me
•Windows XP (Home and Professional versions) with
Service Pack 1
Note: The installation CD and this guide provide the software and
instructions for installing on Windows 98 SE, 2000, Me, and XP. For
Windows NT 4.0 software and instructions, see the Sierra Wireless
web site, www.sierrawireless.com.
To install the AirCard, you require these system resources:
Installation on Windows 98,
2000, Me, and XP
Note: Users of Windows 2000
must be logged in with adminis-
trative privileges. Users of
Windows XP may require admin-
istrative privileges.
Note: If you are running Windows 98 SE, Me, or 2000, Windows
Installer Redistributable 2.0 must be installed. This is available on the
Microsoft website, www.microsoft.com.
Table 3-1: System resource requirements
Card slots 1 Type II PCMCIA (PC Card) slot
Disk drive CD-ROM
I/O resources 1 IRQ, 40 bytes I/O space
Memory 32 MB
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
14 2130623
Note: You may require your Windows CD. Ensure you have the CD
before proceeding.
1. If the AirCard CD is not already in your CD-ROM drive,
insert it. The CD should autostart and display a menu.
·If the CD does not autostart, select Start > Run and enter
d:\setup.exe where d is the drive letter of your CD-ROM
drive.
2. From the CD start-up menu, select your language, then
notebook installation, and then notebook software installation to
launch the installer.
Note: The installer runs twice—
once to install Watcher and once
to install the Network Adapter
Manager.
3. Use the Next and Back buttons to navigate through the
installer.
4. If the SIM is not already inserted in your AirCard, insert it.
(See page 9.) If the antenna is not yet attached, attach it.
(See page 11.) With the label facing up, insert the AirCard
into your PC Card slot.
Note: Do not forcefully insert the
AirCard. This may damage
connector pins. If you have more
than one PC Card slot, you may
obtain better signal strength
using the top slot.
Figure 3-1: Inserting the AirCard
Watcher should launch automatically when the AirCard is
inserted. If your AirCard has not yet been configured to use
your account, you are prompted to do so. See “Setting up a
profile” on page 18.
To close the CD start-up menu, click the exit option in the
lower right corner of the window.
Software and Driver Installation
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 15
Setting Internet Explorer to use
the AirCard
If you are using Internet Explorer as your browser, and it is set
to connect to the Internet through a dial-up modem, you must
set it to use a LAN (local area network) card.
To set Internet Explorer version 5 or 6 to use a LAN, follow
these steps:
1. In Internet Explorer, select Tools > Internet Options.
2. Click the Connections tab.
3. Click Setup to run the Internet Connection Wizard.
4. Select the option “I want to set up my Internet connection
manually, or I want to connect through a local area network
(LAN).” Click Next.
5. Select “I connect through a local area network (LAN)”. Click
Next.
6. Ensure no check boxes are selected in the “Local area
network Internet configuration” window and click Next.
7. Select No when prompted to set up an Internet mail
account and click Next.
Click Finish to exit the wizard.
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
16 2130623
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 17
4: Configuring Your Account
•Setting up a profile Profiles contain account information used by the AirCard to
establish connections. At least one profile must be set up on
the AirCard before you can use it. The profile(s) may have
been stored on the AirCard before you purchased it.
Otherwise, your service provider should give you all the infor-
mation you need to set up the profile(s) you require.
Depending on your service provider, some or all of this infor-
mation must be entered into your profile:
•User Name
•Password
•APN (Access Point Name)
•IP (Internet Protocol) Address (if the address is not
automatically assigned by the network)
•Use of IP header compression
•DNS (Domain Name Server) address or addresses
Your service provider may give you only one APN in which
case you require only one profile. Some service providers
assign separate APNs for separate purposes. For example,
some service providers supply one APN to use for Internet
browsing and a different APN to use with a VPN. In this case
you must set up multiple profiles. The AirCard allows for up
to twelve profiles.
Most service providers have one or two standard profiles that
all or most of their subscribers are expected to use. Most of
these standard profiles have been pre-defined in Watcher,
allowing you to select a standard profile, rather than creating it
manually.
One of your profiles must be set as the “default” profile. This is
the one that is used if you select the Connect button without
selecting a profile. The default profile is also used if you set the
AirCard to autoconnect. If you are using the AirCard to access
a network that requires you to provide a password each time
you connect, you must set the connection mode for your
profile to prompt for password (in which case you must
connect manually).
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
18 2130623
Setting up a profile
Note: You cannot set up a
profile before installing the
software. (See page 13.)
To determine whether you have a profile:
1. Insert the SIM into the AirCard if it is not already inserted.
(See page 9.)
2. Insert the AirCard into the PC Card slot if it is not already
inserted. (See page 14.)
3. If Watcher is not running, start Watcher, by selecting
Start > Programs > Sierra Wireless > AirCard Watcher for GSM >
AirCard Watcher
or double-click the desktop shortcut.
If Watcher detects that no profile has been set up, you are
prompted, “Would you like to configure a profile now?”
Select Yes.
If this prompt does not appear, your AirCard may have
been preconfigured. You can verify that you have a profile
by selecting Tools > Connections to access the AirCard tab of
the Connections window which lists all profiles.
To create a profile:
1. On the Connections window, select the Add button.
2. If you want to use a pre-defined profile, in the Profile Name
field, select the profile from the drop-down list. Then skip
to Step 5.
3. Complete the fields in the AirCard Profile window by
entering a Profile Name (any meaningful description of the
profile, such as the name of your service provider) and
User Name, Password, and/or APN, if applicable.
4. Select whether you want to make connections automati-
cally or manually, or whether you are required to provide
a password each time you make a connection:
·If you select Autoconnect, a connection is established
automatically whenever you insert the AirCard.
·If you select Manual, you must select the Connect button
on the main Watcher window to make a connection.
·If you select Prompt for Password, you must select Connect
and enter a password to make a connection. Use this
option if you have an external device that provides a
time-scheduled secure password for your corporate
network.
5. If you want to set Watcher to launch your Internet
browser, VPN, or any other program automatically, or if
Configuring Your Account
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 19
your service provider specified an IP address, DNS
address(es), or Quality of Service (QoS) parameters, select
the Advanced button to open the Advanced Profile
window. Otherwise, click OK and skip to Step 12.
6. On the Autolaunch tab, select which application, if any,
you want Watcher to automatically launch when a
connection is established with this profile:
·None—Select this if you do not want any application to
be autolaunched.
·Browser—Select this if you want Watcher to autolaunch
your Internet browser (such as Internet Explorer or
Netscape Communicator) when a connection is estab-
lished with this profile. In the URL field, specify the web
site (such as http://www.sierrawireless.com) you want to
view on connection.
·Microsoft VPN (PPTP) Connection—Select this if you
want Watcher to autolaunch a VPN connection that you
have set up in Windows when a GPRS, EDGE, or UMTS
connection is established with this profile. From the
drop-down list, select the VPN connection.
·Application (VPN Client, etc...)—Select this if you want
Watcher to autolaunch an installed VPN program, or
any other program, when a GPRS, EDGE, or UMTS
connection is established with this profile. In the field
below, enter the path to the program, or use the Browse
button to locate the program.
7. If your service provider has given you an IP address, on
the TCP/IP tab, select Use static IP address and enter the
address in the field below. Otherwise select Use dynamic IP
address. (This is the default because most networks use
dynamic IP addressing.) Use the check boxes to enable
data compression or IP header compression if supported
by your service provider.
Note: The
Use IP header compression
field should NOT be checked
unless your service provider is using this compression. The AirCard
cannot maintain a connection if this is enabled but not supported on
the network.
8. If you have a DNS address or addresses, select the DNS
tab and enter the address(es). (In most cases, it is not
necessary to enter a DNS address.)
9. If your service provider specifies values for Quality of
Service (QoS) parameters, enter those settings on the
appropriate tabs (Minimum QoS and Requested QoS). (In
most cases it is not necessary to adjust Quality of Service
parameters and the tabs do not appear.) Do NOT change
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
20 2130623
any Quality of Service parameters unless advised to do so
by your service provider.
10. Select OK to close the Advanced Profile window.
11. Select OK to close the GPRS Profile window.
12. If you have more than one profile, use the Default Profile
radio button to select which is the default. (The “default”
profile is the one used by the autoconnect feature and is
used if you select Connect without selecting a profile.)
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 21
5: Care and Maintenance of Your
Network Card
•Stopping and ejecting
the AirCard You can ensure reliable operation and long life of your
AirCard by adhering to these guidelines in storage and use:
•Do not apply adhesive labels to the AirCard or SIM. This
may cause the AirCard or SIM to become jammed inside
the slot, or prevent it from being inserted properly.
•When not installed in your computer, store the AirCard
and SIM in a safe place.
Note: Do not insert the AirCard
before installing the software.
See “Software and Driver Instal-
lation” on page 13.
•Protect the card from liquids, dust, and excessive heat (see
“Environmental specifications” on page 31 for details).
•The AirCard should fit easily into your computer’s PC
Card slot. Forcing the AirCard into the slot may damage
the connector pins.
•Optimal signal strength is usually obtained when the
antenna is pointing straight up. The antenna should bend
easily at the hinge. Do not forcefully bend the antenna.
Figure 5-1: Proper positioning of the AirCard antenna
When you insert the AirCard in a notebook PC, the following
should happen:
•The PC beeps (unless the effect is disabled).
•The PC Card icon appears in the status area (usually
located in the lower right corner of the screen) unless the
feature is disabled.
•The Network Adapter Manager icon for the AirCard
also appears in the status area.
•Watcher launches (unless the autolaunch option is
disabled).
Windows PC Card icons
Me/2000 XP
98
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
22 2130623
Stopping and ejecting the
AirCard
To remove the AirCard:
1. Close Watcher if it is open.
2. Click the PC Card icon in the status area to display the
option to stop the card.
3. Click “Stop Sierra Wireless AirCard 3G Adapter Parent”
(Windows 98,2000, or Me) or “Safely remove Sierra
Wireless AirCard 3G Adapter Parent” (Windows XP).
4. If a dialog box appears notifying you that it is safe to
remove the card, click OK.
5. Push the PC Card eject button on your computer to eject
the card.
Figure 5-2: Ejecting the AirCard from its slot
6. Grasp the AirCard and remove it from the slot.
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 23
6: Watcher™ Basics
•Launching Watcher
•The Watcher window
•Icons and indicators
on the main Watcher
window
•View options
•Status icons
•Power Down and Up
•Frequency band and
network selection
Watcher is the program you use to manage and monitor your
AirCard connections. Watcher allows you to:
•Create an account profile. (This is explained under “The
SIM Card and Your Account” on page 9.)
•Determine signal strength, roaming status, GPRS/EDGE/
UMTS/HSDPA availability, and other network connection
parameters
•Monitor the status of the AirCard and GSM service
•Initiate data connections
•Enable or disable SIM security that prevents others from
using your SIM card if it is lost or stolen
•Set options related to notifications and the Watcher
window
Note: It takes up to 20 seconds
for Watcher to become fully
functional after launch.
If you set your account profile to autoconnect (see page 18),
you do not need to run Watcher when you use the AirCard,
but Watcher does provide useful status information.
Launching Watcher
On notebook PCs, unless the feature has been disabled,
Watcher launches automatically anytime you insert the
AirCard. You can also launch Watcher by:
•Double clicking the desktop shortcut, or
•Selecting Start > Programs > Sierra Wireless > AirCard 800
Series > Watcher for AirCard 800 Series
Depending on how your profile is configured, your browser,
VPN, or other program may launch automatically anytime you
launch Watcher. See page 19.
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
24 2130623
The Watcher window
Note: To get help in Watcher,
select Help > Help Topics. You
can also display help by pressing
<F1> in most windows.
Figure 6-1: The Watcher window.
Icons and indicators on the
main Watcher window
These icons are used on the main Watcher window:
Table 6-1: Icons and indicators in Watcher
Icon Meaning
Device status. If an AirCard icon with an
“X” is displayed, Watcher is unable to
detect the AirCard. The ToolTip that
displays when you position the mouse
pointer over this indicator says, “Device not
available”. This usually indicates that the
AirCard is not fully inserted into the PC
Card slot.
If an AirCard icon with a “?” is displayed,
Watcher has detected the AirCard but is
unable to communicate with it. The ToolTip
that displays when you position the mouse
pointer over this indicator says, “Device not
responding”. You may be able to resolve
this problem by restarting Watcher, by
stopping, ejecting, and reinserting the
AirCard, or by restarting your PC.
Indicator area
Profile drop-down list
Roaming
G
PRS/EDGE/UMTS/
Compact
Close
Minimize
view
Signal strength
HSDPA coveraage
Watcher™ Basics
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 25
Depending on
your AirCard
configuration,
you may have
two signal
strength
indicators. If you
have two, the
indicator on the
right shows the
WiFi signal
strength (the
hotspot with the
strongest signal).
Signal strength and service status. The
number of bars beside the antenna
increases as signal strength increases, to a
maximum of five bars. The ToolTip that
displays when you position the mouse
pointer over this indicator, shows the
numeric value of the RSSI (Received
Signal Strength Indication in dBm).
Blank bars in the signal strength indicator
mean that you are outside of the coverage
area or have insufficient signal strength to
maintain a GSM data connection.
A red thermometer icon indicates
overheating. In the unlikely event that this
occurs, the AirCard suspends data
transmission until the temperature drops,
then normal operation is resumed. (This
usually takes no more than 10 seconds.)
A red flashing antenna icon indicates an
antenna problem. If this occurs, try
reorienting the antenna and ensure that
there is nothing on or near the antenna that
could be blocking the signal.
Depending on
your AirCard
configuration,
you may not have
this indicator.
Coverage. The icon shows the best
service available where the:
•gprs icon—indicates that GPRS is
the fastest service available
•edge icon—indicates that EDGE is
the fastest service available
•3G—indicates that UMTS is the
fastest service available
•HS—indicates that HSDPA is the
fastest service available.
When only the letters are displayed, you
are within coverage but have not yet
acquired the service.
When the indicator has an outline, you
have acquired service and are able to
establish a connection.
When the indicator is filled, you have a
connection on the service.
Table 6-1: Icons and indicators in Watcher
Icon Meaning
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
26 2130623
View options
On notebook PCs, you have these options concerning the
Watcher window:
•You can enable/disable always on top from the View
menu. When enabled, the Watcher window always
appears in front of other application windows.
•You can switch between the full Watcher window and the
compact window from the View menu or by using the
Compact View button:
•You can use the Minimize button to close the Watcher
window but leave the program running.
Depending on
your AirCard
configuration,
you may not have
this indicator
Roaming. When displayed, you are
connected to a network other than your
local service provider's. There may be a
surcharge for roaming service.
New SMS message. Select the icon to
open the SMS Express window and read
your messages. When your SIM becomes
full, this icon flashes and turns red.
Data transmission. When this indicator is
on and neither circle is shaded, you have a
connection but no data transmission is
occurring.
A shaded top circle indicates that data is
being sent and a shaded bottom circle that
data is being received.
These statistics are displayed during
GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA connections
only; no statistics are displayed for dial-up
connections.
Table 6-1: Icons and indicators in Watcher
Icon Meaning
Compact View
Minimize Close
Watcher™ Basics
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 27
Status icons
These icons appear in the system tray (usually in the lower
right corner of your screen).
Power Down and Up
The power down/power up option allows you to conserve
your battery by powering the AirCard down when you are not
using it.
To power down the AirCard:
1. Select Tools > Power Down
When powered down, the menu option switches to Power Up
and the message, “Device powered down” is displayed on the
Watcher window.
You cannot maintain a connection when the AirCard is
powered down.
Frequency band and network
selection
Watcher has two options that affect your ability to obtain
GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, or HSDPA service in any given area. You
can select:
•The frequency band you want to use
•The network you want to use, if you are within the
coverage area of more than one network
Table 6-2: Status icons
Icon Meaning
You have a GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, or
HSDPA connection.
You do not have a GPRS, EDGE, UMTS,
or HSDPA connection.
You have one or more unread SMS
messages.
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
28 2130623
Frequency band selection
Every GSM network operates on one set of frequency bands.
(See “Frequency band selection” on page 28.) The AirCard is
designed to change frequency bands automatically as required
to obtain network service. You can also change frequency
bands manually from the Network tab of the Options window
(Tools > Options > Network).
Note: Unless your service provider specifies otherwise, it is recom-
mended that you use the Auto setting.
Network selection
Depending on your location, you may be within the coverage
area of several networks. Your ability to obtain service on each
network is dependent on your account.
Your options for network selection are:
•Automatic—The AirCard automatically selects a network
based on your account and network availability.
•Manual—The AirCard scans the area and displays a list of
detected GSM networks. You can then choose from a list of
available networks.
If you select a network on which you cannot obtain service, the
message, “Failed to register with network” appears. You
should then choose a different network.
This option is set on the Network tab of the Options window
(Tools > Options > Network).
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 29
7: Technical Specifications
•LED operation
•Radio frequency and
electrical
specifications
•Environmental
specifications
•Sending GSM
commands to the
network
This chapter describes the operation of the LED and provides
technical data for the AirCard 800 Series wireless network
card.
LED operation
The AirCard has a single LED (Light Emitting Diode) located
on the antenna end of the card beneath the SIM slot. The color
(red, green or amber) and state (off, on solid, or blinking) of the
LED indicate the connection status as follows:
Radio frequency and electrical
specifications
Table 7-1: LED operation
LED state How to interpret
Solid
ambera
a. The LED is red/green. The amber color occurs when both red and
green are lit.
The AirCard is powering up, or a firmware
download is in progress.
Blinking
amber The AirCard is scanning for service.
Blinking
green The AirCard is in service and registered on the
network.
Blinking red There is a hardware problem.
Off The AirCard is powered down.
Table 7-2: Radio frequency & electrical
specifications
Compliance GSM Release 99
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
30 2130623
Multi-slot class Class 10
Transmit PCS:
1850 to 1910 MHz
DCS1800:
1710 to 1785 MHz
EGSM900:
880 to 915 MHz
GSM850
824 to 849 MHz
WCDMA2100 (AirCard 850 only)
1920 to 1980 MHz
WCDMA850 (AirCard 860 only)
824 to 849 MHz
WCDMA1900 (AirCard 860 only)
1850 to 1910 MHz
Receive PCS:
1930 to 1990 MHz
DDCS1800:
1805 to 1880 MHz
EGSM900:
925 to 960 MHz
GSM850:
869 to 894 MHz
WCDMA2100 (AirCard 850 only)
2110 to 2170 MHz
WCDMA850 (AirCard 860 only)
869 to 894 MHz
WCDMA1900 (AirCard 860 only)
1930 to 1990 MHz
Channel spacing 200 kHz (GSM)
5 MHz (WCDMA)
Channel raster 200 kHz
Frequency
stability 0.1 ppm
Table 7-2: Radio frequency & electrical
specifications
Technical Specifications
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 31
Environmental specifications
Sending GSM commands to the
network
GSM commands are used to:
•Access network services
•Display network and device parameters
•Provide account status information (for example, indicate
whether a subscribed service is available to you)
If your service provider asks you to enter a specific command:
1. Using your keyboard or the keypad on the VOICE tab in
the main Watcher window, type the command.
If the command was valid and accepted by the network,
the results are displayed in the Watcher window. Other-
wise, the message “Invalid GSM Command” is displayed.
For example, enter *#06#. This command displays the IMEI1.
You can send GSM commands even when a data transfer is in
progress.
Table 7-3: Environmental specifications
Operating
temperature -20 to +65 °C (ambient, outside PCMCIA
enclosure)
Storage
temperature -30 to +85 °C
Humidity 95%, non-condensing
Vibration 15 g peak 10 to 2000 Hz (non-operating)
1. IMEI—International Mobile Equipment Identity—a
number that uniquely identifies your device (AirCard
wireless network card) on the GSM network
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
32 2130623
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 33
8: Regulatory and Safety
Information
•Important notice
•Important safety/
compliance
information for North
American users
•EU regulatory
conformity
Important notice
Because of the nature of wireless communications, trans-
mission and reception of data can never be guaranteed. Data
may be delayed, corrupted (i.e., have errors) or be totally lost.
Although significant delays or losses of data are rare when
wireless devices such as the Sierra Wireless network card are
used in a normal manner with a well-constructed network, the
Sierra Wireless network card should not be used in situations
where failure to transmit or receive data could result in
damage of any kind to the user or any other party, including
but not limited to personal injury, death, or loss of property.
Sierra Wireless and its affiliates accept no responsibility for
damages of any kind resulting from delays or errors in data
transmitted or received using the Sierra Wireless network
card, or for failure of the Sierra Wireless network card to
transmit or receive such data.
Safety and hazards
Do not operate your AirCard wireless network card:
•In areas where blasting is in progress
•Where explosive atmospheres may be present including
refuelling points, fuel depots, and chemical plants
•Near medical equipment
•Near life support equipment, or any equipment which
may be susceptible to any form of radio interference. In
such areas, the AirCard MUST BE POWERED OFF.
Otherwise, the AirCard can transmit signals that could
interfere with this equipment.
In an aircraft, the AirCard MUST BE POWERED OFF.
Otherwise, the AirCard can transmit signals that could
interfere with various onboard systems and may be dangerous
to the operation of the aircraft or disrupt the cellular network.
Use of a cellular phone in an aircraft is illegal in some jurisdi-
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
34 2130623
cations. Failure to observe this instruction may lead to
suspension or denial of cellular telephone services to the
offender, or legal action or both.
Some airlines may permit the use of cellular phones while the
aircraft is on the ground and the door is open. The AirCard
may be used normally at this time.
Important safety/compliance
information for North American
users
CAUTION: Unauthorized modifications or changes not
expressly approved by Sierra Wireless, Inc. could void
compliance with regulatory rules, and thereby your authority
to use this equipment.
The design of the AirCard 850/860 complies with U.S. Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) and Industry Canada
(IC) guidelines respecting safety levels of radio frequency (RF)
exposure for portable devices, which in turn are consistent
with the following safety standards previously set by
Canadian, U.S. and international standards bodies:
• ANSI / IEEE C95.1-1999, IEEE Standard for Safety Levels
with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electro-
magnetic Fields, 3kHz to 300 GHz
•National Council on Radiation Protection and Measure-
ments (NCRP) Report 86, -1986, Biological Effects and
Exposure Criteria for Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields
•Health Canada, Safety Code 6, 1999, Limits of Human
Exposure to Radio frequency Electromagnetic Fields in the
Frequency Range from 3 kHz to 300 GHz
•International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation
Protection (ICNIRP) 1998, Guidelines for limiting exposure to
time-varying electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields (up
to 300 GHz)
CAUTION: The AirCard 850/860 has been tested for
compliance with FCC / IC RF exposure limits in the laptop
computer(s) configurations with side PCMCIA slot and can be
used in laptop computers with substantially similar physical
dimensions, construction, and electrical and RF character-
istics. Always place the antenna in the upright position
(oriented vertically) when using the AirCard in a notebook
computer. Note: If this PC Card is intended for use in any
Regulatory and Safety Information
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 35
other portable device, you are responsible for separate
approval to satisfy the SAR requirements of Part 2.1093 of FCC
rules.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation
is subject to the condition that this device does not cause
harmful interference.
Where appropriate, the use of the equipment is subject to the
following conditions:
WARNING (EMI) – United States FCC Information – This
equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
limits pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference in an appropriate installation. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with the instructions,
may cause harmful interference to radio communication.
However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur
in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct
the interference by one or more of the following measures:
•Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna
•Increase the separation between the equipment and
receiver
•Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different
from that to which the receiver is connected
•Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician
for help
If you have purchased this product under a United States
Government contract, it shall be subject to restrictions as set
forth in subparagraph (c)(1)(ii) of Defense Federal Acquisitions
Regulations (DFARs) Section 252.227-7013 for Department of
Defense contracts, and as set forth in Federal Acquisitions
Regulations (FARs) Section 52.227-19 for civilian agency
contracts or any successor regulations. If further government
regulations apply, it is your responsibility to ensure
compliance with such regulations.
Information pertaining to OEM customers
The AirCard 850/860 wireless network card has been granted
modular approval for mobile applications. Integrators may use
the AirCard 850/860 card in their final products without
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
36 2130623
additional FCC / IC certification if they meet the following
conditions. Otherwise, additional FCC / IC approvals must be
obtained.
1. At least 20 cm separation distance between the antenna
and the user’s body must be maintained at all times.
2. To comply with FCC / IC regulations limiting both
maximum RF output power and human exposure to RF
radiation, the maximum antenna gain must not exceed 8
dBi in the Cellular band and 4 dBi in the PCS band.
3. The AirCard 850/860 card and its antenna must not be
colocated with any other transmitter or antenna within a
host device.
4. A label must be affixed to the outside of the end product
into which the AirCard 850/860 is incorporated, with a
statement similar to the following:
For an end product with an embedded AirCard 850:
This device contains TX FCC ID: N7NAC850.
This equipment contains equipment certified under IC:
2417C-AC850.
For an end product with an embedded AirCard 860
This device contains TX FCC ID: N7NAC860.
This equipment contains equipment certified under IC:
2417C-AC860.
5. A user manual with the end product must clearly indicate
the operating requirements and conditions that must be
observed to ensure compliance with current FCC / IC RF
exposure guidelines.
The end product with an embedded AirCard 850/860 card
must pass the unintentional emission testing and properly
authorized per FCC Part 15 requirements.
Note: If this PC Card is intended for use in a portable device,
you are responsible for separate approval to satisfy the SAR
requirements of FCC Part 2.1093 and IC RSS-102.
EU regulatory conformity
Sierra Wireless hereby declares that the AirCard 850 is in
conformity to all the essential requirements of Directive 1999/
5/EC.:
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
38 2130623
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 39
Index
Numerics
1800 MHz band 6
1900 MHz band 6
850 MHz band 6
900 MHz band 6
A
account 7
always-on data connection 5
antenna 14
attaching 11
antenna icon 25
APN 17
autoconnect 18
autolaunch
browser on connection 19
VPN on connection 19
B
browser, launch automatically on connection 19
C
care and maintenance 21
circles on main window 26
class, multi-slot 30
compact view 26
connect automatically 18
copyright information 1
coverage 25
EDGE 25
GPRS 25
HSDPA 25
UMTS 25
coverage area 7
D
data transmission indicator 26
device not available 24
device not responding 24
DNS 17
driver 8
E
EDGE connection
status 25
EDGE indicator 25
ejecting a SIM card 10
ejecting the card 22
electrical specifications 29
envelope icon 26
environmental specifications 31
F
frequencies
receive 30
transmit 30
frequency bands 6
selection 27
G
GPRS connection
status 25
GPRS indicator 25
GSM commands, sending to the network 31
GSM networks supported 6
H
HSDPA connection
status 25
HSDPA indicator 25
humidity 31
I
I/O space (input/output space) 13
icon
data transmission 26
If 23
IMEI 9
indicator
data transmission 26
device status 24
EDGE coverage 25
GPRS coverage 25
HSDPA coverage 25
roaming 26
signal strength 25
SMS message 26
UMTS coverage 25
inserting a SIM card 9
inserting the card
Windows 98, 2000, Me 14
installation 13–14
Internet Explorer
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
40 2130623
setting to use the card 15
IP address 17
IRQ (interrupt request) 13
L
launch
browser automatically on connection 19
VPN automatically on connection 19
Launching 23
LED operation 29
liability, limitation of 1
M
maintenance 21
memory required 13
multi-slot class 30
N
network 7
send GSM commands to 31
networks supported 5
notebook PC
inserting the card 14
installing the software 13–??
removing the card 22
system requirements 13
O
online help
Handheld PCs 24
notebook PCs 24
operating systems supported 5
P
password 17
prompt for 18
PC Card slots required 13
PCS frequency band 6
platforms supported 5
Power 27
power options
power up/down 27
profiles 17–20
default 17
prompt for password 18
Q
quad-band 6
quality of service parameters 19
R
radio frequency specifications 29
receive frequencies 30
removing a SIM card 10
removing the card 22
RF specifications 29
roaming 7
roaming indicator 26
RSSI 25
S
service
EDGE 25
GPRS 25
HSDPA 25
UMTS 25
signal strength indicator 25
SIM card
inserting 9
removing 10
SMS messages
indicator 26
software installation
notebook PCs
Windows 98, 2000, Me 13–??
Windows XP 13–??
specifications 29–31
electrical 29
environmental 31
radio frequency 29
status
data transmission 26
device 24
EDGE connection 25
EDGE service 25
GPRS connection 25
GPRS service 25
HSDPA connection 25
HSDPA service 25
roaming 26
signal strength 25
SMS messages 26
UMTS connection 25
UMTS service 25
storage
temperature 31
when not using card 21
system requirements
notebook PCs 13
T
technical specifications 29–31
temperature 31
The 24
thermometer icon 25
Index
Rev 3.1A Sep.05 41
time-scheduled password 18
trademarks 2
transmit frequencies 30
triangle icon 26
tri-band 6
U
UMTS connection
status 25
UMTS indicator 25
user name 17
V
vibration 31
VPN, launch on connection 19
W
Windows
operating systems supported 5
Windows 2000
as a supported operating system
service pack 13
inserting the card 14
installation 13–??
Windows 98
as a supported operating system 13
inserting the card 14
installation 13–??
Windows Me
as a supported operating system 13
inserting the card 14
installation 13–??
Windows NT
as a supported operating system 13
Windows XP
as a supported operating system 13
installation 13–??
wireless networks supported 5
AirCard 800 Series Installation Guide
42 2130623
