AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem Installation Guide 2130536 Rev 2
Preface Important Notice Due to the nature of wireless communications, transmission and reception of data can never be guaranteed. Data may be delayed, corrupted (i.e., have errors) or be totally lost.
AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem - Installation Guide 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 HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR THEY ARE FORESEEABLE OR FOR CLAIMS BY ANY THIRD PARTY.
Preface 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. Windows® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. QUALCOMM® is a registered trademark of QUALCOMM Incorporated. InstallShield® is a registered trademark and service mark of InstallShield Corporation.
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Table of Contents Introducing the AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Welcome. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Feature summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wireless WAN modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CDMA 3G services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem - Installation Guide Automated activation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Care and Maintenance of Your AirCard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Watcher Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Starting and closing Watcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1: Introducing the AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem • Welcome • Feature summary • Package contents Note: Do not insert the AirCard into your PC Card slot prior to installing the software. It is important to install the software and driver in the correct order. For detailed procedures, see page 15. 1 Welcome The Sierra Wireless AirCard 580 wireless WAN modem is a dual‐band wireless PC Card for cellular and North American PCS networks.
AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem - Installation Guide Wireless WAN modem Once installed and configured, the AirCard can connect to the CDMA network automatically. You just insert the AirCard, allow Watcher to autolaunch and authenticate your account on the network, then launch your Internet browser—you’re online! As a modem, the AirCard also allows you to dial up any other modem (such as a corporate server).
Introducing the AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem Additional AirCard features Beyond the features of the CDMA network, the AirCard provides additional software features: • PIN security code to protect your AirCard and account from unauthorized use. • An Activation Wizard (page 19) to assist with configuring your CDMA account. • Sound options to customize ringtones for incoming calls, SMS messages. • A Call Log to track incoming, outgoing, missed calls and determine the amount of data transferred.
AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem - Installation Guide The AirCard 580 wireless WAN modem Along with the antenna, this equips your computer with a radio modem. The AirCard fits into a standard Type II PC Card slot available on most notebook PCs. Every CDMA network operates on one of three radio frequency bands. As a dual‐band product, the AirCard operates on two of these bands (see page 33), providing a wide coverage area.
Introducing the AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem Note: You can use the Lock Code feature to prevent others from using your account should your AirCard be stolen. For information on this feature, see the online help. Each service provider has its own pricing options. There may be flat rate accounts, which provide you a maximum number of minutes of network usage for a fixed monthly fee. There may be accounts for which you are charged for network usage by the minute or by the amount of data transmitted.
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2: Getting Started • The AirCard 580 software • Account activation and configuration 2 Before you can begin using the AirCard, you must: 1. Install the AirCard enabling software and driver. 2. Activate an account and configure the AirCard to use your account (unless the AirCard has been pre‐activated). This section provides an overview of this process.
AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem - Installation Guide Configuring the AirCard involves setting the phone number assigned by your service provider and may involve entering other network parameters and settings such as a user name and password to access services. Your service provider needs to know: • The billing information to use to collect payment for your network usage. • The ESN (Electronic Serial Number) assigned to your modem during the manufacturing process.
3: Installation • • • • System requirements Installation Inserting the AirCard Removing the AirCard 3 This chapter guides you through the steps necessary to install the AirCard on a notebook PC. Note: Do not insert the AirCard into your PC Card slot before installing the software. The basic steps are: 1. Insert the AirCard 580 installation CD into your CD‐ROM drive and install Watcher and the Network Adapter Man‐ ager. 2.
AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem - Installation Guide To install the AirCard, you require these system resources: Table 3-1: System resource requirements Card Slots 1 Type II PCMCIA (PC Card) Slot Communications Ports 1 Available Disk Drive CD-ROM (for installation only) I/O Resources 1 IRQ, 40 bytes I/O Space Memory 10 MB Disk Space 2 MB AirCard software installation procedures To install Watcher, the Network Adapter Manager, and the AirCard driver: Note: Users of Windows 2000 must be logged in w
Installation Note: Do not forcefully insert the AirCard. This may damage connector pins. For instructions on removing the AirCard, see page 18. 5. Use the Next and Back buttons to navigate through the wizard noting the following: · To proceed with the installation, you must click I accept the terms in the license agreement to indicate your accep‐ tance of the terms of the license agreement.
AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem - Installation Guide Card insertion and removal Inserting the AirCard To insert the AirCard into a notebook: 1. With the picture label facing up, insert the AirCard into the slot. When you insert the AirCard, the following should occur: • If sound effects are enabled, the PC beeps. • The PC Card icon appears in the system tray, if it is not already displayed for another card, (and unless the feature has been disabled).
4: Activation • Account configuration procedures • Manual activation • Automated activation 4 Account configuration procedures The final step to making the AirCard operational is config‐ uring it to use your CDMA service provider account. The process of activation configures your AirCard with the required account parameters (phone number, username, password, etc.). If you purchased a pre‐activated AirCard, this step is not necessary.
AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem - Installation Guide Manual activation Activation involves phoning your service provider, exchanging information, and entering your account infor‐ mation into the appropriate fields in the wizard. (To use this method, you require a phone.
Activation The next chapters explain how to use Watcher to manage and monitor your connections. Rev 2 Mar.
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5: Care and Maintenance of Your AirCard 5 As with any electronic device, the AirCard must be handled with care to ensure reliable operation. Follow these guidelines in using and storing the AirCard: Rev 2 Mar.11 • Do not apply adhesive labels to the AirCard. This may cause the AirCard to become jammed inside the card slot. • Optimal signal strength is usually obtained when the antenna is perpendicular to the modem. The antenna should bend easily at the hinge. Do not forcefully bend the antenna.
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6: Watcher Basics • Starting and Closing Watcher • Components of the Watcher Window • Interpreting Icons • Online Help • Troubleshooting 6 Watcher is the application that allows you to manage and monitor the connection between the AirCard and the CDMA network.
AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem - Installation Guide Components of the Watcher window The window has three areas that display messages and icons: the Connection Status Area (page 28), Call Status Area (page 29), and Indicator Area (page 30). These areas are shown in Figure 6‐1 that follows. Subject to feature availability, there are several tabs: • DATA • WIFI , allowing you to manage and monitor connec‐ tions with a WiFi device. , allowing you to connect and disconnect Internet and data services.
Watcher Basics • The Toggle Full/Compact button is used to switch between the full Watcher window and the compact view: The compact view allows you to see connection status and indicators while using less space on the desktop. To make data connections, disconnect, or access Watcher features, you must use full view. To return to full view, select the view toggle button in the top right. • The Close button is used to exit Watcher.
AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem - Installation Guide Connection Status Area The Connection Status Area uses the icons shown in the following table. Table 6-1: Connection Status Area icons Icon Meaning AirCard not detected (displayed in the left part of the Connection Status Area). The Signal Strength indicator (displayed in the left part of the Connection Status Area) uses bars to show the intensity of the radio signal of the CDMA network.
Watcher Basics Table 6-1: Connection Status Area icons (continued) Icon Meaning In WiFi coverage; not connected WiFi connected WiFi signal strength (displayed in the right part of the Connection Status Area) The In Use indicator shows whether a call is in progress. No icon is displayed when the AirCard is idle. Otherwise, one of these icons is displayed: A high-speed (1xEV-DO) packet data call is in progress. A high-speed (1X) packet data call is in progress. A circuit switched data call is in progress.
AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem - Installation Guide Indicator area The Indicator area displays an icon that notifies you when you receive SMS messages. The icon is black when “on” and gray when “off”. Table 6-2: Indicator Area icons Icon Meaning (If Watcher is integrated with Outlook and Outlook is running, this information does not apply.) The SMS message indicator shows whether you have unread messages. A blinking icon indicates that there are one or more urgent or important unread messages.
Watcher Basics Table 6-3: System tray icons (continued) Icon Meaning You missed (failed to answer) an incoming call. You can view the number of the caller in the Call Log. (If Watcher is integrated with Outlook and Outlook is running, this information does not apply.) You have a new SMS message. Only one icon can be displayed at a time. The priority of icons, from highest to lowest, is: • Missed call(s) • SMS message(s) • Active or inactive connection.
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7: Technical Specifications • LED operation • Radio frequency and electrical specifications • Environmental specifications 7 This chapter describes the function of the LED, and provides technical product data for the AirCard. LED operation The AirCard has a single red/green LED on the antenna end of the card. The LED operates as follows: Table 7-1: LED operation LED Behavior Indicates Red blinking slowly The AirCard is powering up, or no service is available.
AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem - Installation Guide Table 7-2: Radio frequency and electrical specifications (continued) Current Maximum: 950 mA Typical data call current (talk mode): 370 mA (1X) 470 mA (1xEV-DO) Standby: 110 mA (1xEV-DO/IS2000 hybrid mode) Transmitter power 200 mW (+23 dBm) Transmit PCS: 1805 to 1870 MHz Cellular: 824 to 849 MHz Receive PCS: 1715 to 1780 MHz Cellular: 868 to 894 MHz Channel spacing 1.
Appendix A: Glossary 1X One Times Radio Transmission Technology (the ʺone timesʺ refers to the frequency spectrum). Supports Internet connec‐ tions with data rates up to 153.6 kbps (downlink from the network) and 76.8 kbps (uplink to the network). Actual speed depends on the network conditions. Compare to 1x‐EVDO. 1x-EVDO A high‐speed standard for cellular packet data communica‐ tions. Supports Internet connections with data rates up to 2.4 Mbps (downlink from the network) and 153.
AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem - Installation Guide firmware host IS 1. A computer that uses a modem or a similar device to answer a calling computer. 2. A source or destination in the communication network. 3. A computer that contains data or files to be accessed by client computers. Also known as a server. Interim Standard—After receiving industry consensus, the TIA forwards the standard to ANSI for approval. IS-95 The standard for CDMA.
Glossary TIA Rev 2 Mar.11 Telecommunications Industry Association—A standards setting trade organization, whose members provide communi‐ cations and information technology products, systems, distri‐ bution services and professional services in the United States and around the world. Consult www.tiaonline.org. VPN Virtual Private Network WiFi Wireless Fidelity—a high‐frequency wireless local area network (WLAN), known as 802.11.
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Index Numerics 1X description, 8 indicator, 28 1xEV‐DO description, 8 indicator, 28 3G description, 8 indicator (1xEV‐DO and 1X), 28 A account activation, 13 configuration, 19 activation overview, 13 automated, 20 manual, 20 Activation Wizard, 19 always on top, 27 automated activation, 20 B bands, frequency, 10 C call status area, 29 care and maintenance, 23 CDMA 1X description, 8 indicator, 28 CDMA 1xEV‐DO description, 8 indicator, 28 CDMA network 3G services, 8 frequency bands, 10 service providers, 10
AirCard® 580 Wireless WAN Modem - Installation Guide icons connection status, 28 indicator area, 30 minimized, 30 system tray, 30 see also indicators in use indicator, 29 indicator area, 30 indicators 1X, 28 1xEV‐DO, 28 circuit‐switched data call, 29 connection status, 30 missed call, 31 SMS messages, 30, 31 inserting the AirCard, 18 installation hardware, 18 software, 15– 18 Internet, 8 IRQ (interrupt request), 16 R removing the AirCard, 18 requirements, system, 15 roaming definition, 11 indicator, 28 S
