Cradlepoint AER 2100 User manual

©2005-2016 Cradlepoint. All Rights Reserved. |+1.855.813.3385 |cradlepoint.com 1
Quick Start Guide /AER2100 Series
AER2100 Series
TEMPORARY, POP-UP & MOBILE BRANCH NETWORKING
THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING
CRADLEPOINT
Cradlepoint is the leading provider of secure
cloud-managed 3G/4G/LTE networking solutions
for the Distributed Enterprise with hundreds
or thousands of locations. Our broad family
of high-performance routers are designed for
deployment in mission-critical applications
that require 24x7 connectivity.
Always Connected. Always Protected.
Part Number: 170626-005
+ Cloud-managed
+ Dual modem-Multi
Carrier Support
+ Dual-band, dual
concurrent WiFi
(802.11 a/b/g/n/ac)
+ WAN Diversity for
backup, hybrid, or
primary WAN
+ Industry-leading
4G failover
+ Advanced routing
& best-in-class,
cloud-based security
options
+ Extensible & easily
integrated enterprise
applications via an
Open API
AER2100 Key Features:
Go to cradlepoint.com/aer2100 to learn more.
MC400 3G/4G Modem 12V 3A AC/DC
Power Adapter
Modem & WiFi
Antennas
Ethernet Cable Multipurpose
Retaining Tool
WHAT’S INCLUDED:

HARDWARE
Quick Start Guide /AER2100 Series
©2005-2016 Cradlepoint. All Rights Reserved. |+1.855.813.3385 |cradlepoint.com
2
LED Indicators
Power: The Cradlepoint AER2100 must
be powered using an approved 12V DC
power source.
+ Green = Powered ON
+ No Light = Not receiving power.
Check the power switch and the
power source connection.
+ Flashing Amber = Attention. Open
the administration pages (see
page 4) and check the router
status.
Ethernet WAN: Indicates information
about a data source connected to the
Ethernet WAN port.
+ Blue = Connected to an active
Ethernet WAN interface.
WiFi Broadcast: These two LEDs
indicate activity on the WiFi
broadcast for both the 2.4 GHz
and 5 GHz bands.
+ 2.4G (green) = 2.4 GHz WiFi is on
and operating normally.
+ 5G (blue) = 5 GHz WiFi is on and
operating normally.
Signal Strength: Blue LED bars
indicate the active modem’s signal
strength.
+ 4 Solid Bars = Strongest signal
+ 1 Blinking Bar = Weakest signal.
(A blinking bar indicates half of
a bar.)
External USB Modem: Indicates the
status of external USB modem. All
modems have the following LED
indicators:
(continued on page 3)

Quick Start Guide /AER2100 Series
©2005-2016 Cradlepoint. All Rights Reserved. |+1.855.813.3385 |cradlepoint.com 3 Part Number: 170626-005
+ Green = Modem has established an
active connection.
+ Blinking Green = Modem is connecting.
+ Amber = Modem is not active.
+ Blinking Amber = Data connection error.
No modem connection possible.
+ Blinking Red = Modem is in the process
of resetting.
Integrated Modem: Indicates the status of
integrated modems.
Additional LED Indications
+ Several dierent LEDs ash when the
factory reset button is detected.
+ Two of the modem LEDs blink red in
unison for 10 seconds when there is an
error during rmware upgrade.
AER2100 DEVICE DETAILS
Accessories:
+ Additional MC400 integrated
4G LTE modem*
+ Rack mounting bracket
+ Power adapters and
international power cords
+ External modem antennas
and cabling
Model Numbers:
AER2100
AER2150
S4A340A
S4A345A
*A Cradlepoint MC400 integrated 4G LTE modem comes standard with the AER2100.
Add a second integrated MC400 modem for a complete “Cut-the-Wire” 4G LTE
solution, fusing enterprise reliability with unparalleled agility.
Enterprise Support
For enhanced services including enterprise-level support, extended
warranties, site surveys, and expert installation, learn more about
Cradlepoint’s CradleCare suite of services at cradlepoint.com/
cradlecare.

GETTING STARTED
Insert an Activated SIM
A wireless broadband data plan must be added to your Cradlepoint AER2100.
Wireless broadband data plans are available from wireless carriers such as
Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, EE, and Vodafone. The SIM must be provisioned with
the carrier. Contact your carrier for details about selecting a data plan and
about the process for provisioning your SIM.
Once you have an activated SIM, insert it into the integrated modem. Insert
the SIM card into the slot marked SIM 1 (use the other slot, SIM 2, for a
secondary/backup SIM). Be sure to insert the card with the notch-end rst
and the gold contacts facing down—it will click into place.
Attach the Internal Modem
Follow these steps to attach the internal modem:
1. Remove the left side panel cover from the router. Use a Phillips
screwdriver to remove the screws, and use the Multipurpose Retaining
Tool (included in the router package) to remove the cover.
2. Slide the modem into the side of the router
(left slot rst). The protruding section of the
modem ts into the groove.
3. Reattach the panel cover and screw it back on.
(When necessary, remove the cover and modem
using the Multipurpose Retaining Tool.)
Attach the WiFi & Modem Antennas
Attach the three included WiFi antennas and two included modem antennas to
the connectors. Antennas are jointed, which enables you to position them for
optimal signal. To attach, hold the antenna straight and twist the base of the
antenna to connect, folding the joint if needed.
When connecting the provided antennas, review the connection points.
+ WiFi antennas have at circular bases (RSMA).
+ Modem antennas have protruding pins (SMA).
Care should be taken to ensure that the router antennas are not near metal or
other RF reective surfaces.
Connect the Power Source
Plug the provided power supply (12V DC wall adapter) into an electrical outlet.
Then connect the power supply to the router. Ensure power is switched on.
When you set the power switch
to the ‘On’ position, watch for the
power LED to illuminate.
If you would like to secure the power
supply cord, attach the Multipurpose
Retaining Tool as shown. Secure with
included screws.
Quick Start Guide /AER2100 Series
©2005-2016 Cradlepoint. All Rights Reserved. |+1.855.813.3385 |cradlepoint.com
4

5
©2015-2016 Cradlepoint. All Rights Reserved. |+1.855.813.3385 |cradlepoint.com
Access the Administration Pages
To make conguration changes to your router, open the
AER2100’s GUI-based administration pages.
1. Connect to the router
via Ethernet or WiFi.
For WiFi, the default
SSID is found on the
product label on the
bottom of the router.
2. Open a browser
window and type
“cp/” or “192.168.0.1”
in the address bar and
press return/enter.
3. When prompted for the Administrator password,
type the default eight character password found on
the product.
4. Upon log in for the rst time, you are automatically
directed to the First Time Setup Wizard to congure
Admin Password, Time Zone, WiFi Security, APN and
WAN failure check.
FIRST TIME SETUP WIZARD
When you log in to the local administration pages for
the rst time, you will be automatically directed to the
First Time Setup Wizard, which will walk you through
basic steps to customize your Cradlepoint AER2100.
Quick Start Guide /AER2100 Series
Part Number: 170626-005
Deploy and Manage the
Intelligent Network with
Cradlepoint Enterprise Cloud
Manager (ECM)
Cradlepoint’s network management
and application platform, Enterprise
Cloud Manager, integrates cloud
management with your Cradlepoint
devices to improve productivity,
increase reliability, reduce costs, and
enhance the intelligence of your
network and business operations.
To learn more and begin a free
30-day trial:
[e-mail]
cradlepoint.com/ecm
You have the ability to
congure any of the
following:
+ Administrator
Password
+ Time Zone
+ WiFi Network Name
+ Security Mode
+ Access Point Name
(APN)
+ Modem Authentication
+ Failure Check
If you are currently using the router’s WiFi network,
you will need to reconnect your devices to the
network using the newly established wireless
network name and password.
To return to the First Time Setup Wizard after your
initial login, select ‘System’ on the left navigation bar
and First Time Setup from the Setup Wizards drop-
down menu.
To restore the router to its factory default settings,
press and hold the RESET button on the side of
the device for ten seconds. Reset returns the login
password to the default password and resets all

Part Number: XXXXX-XXX ©2015-2016 Cradlepoint. All Rights Reserved. |+1.855.813.3385 |cradlepoint.com
6
conguration changes.
UPDATING FIRMWARE
Via Enterprise Cloud Manager
1. Log in at cradlepointecm.com using your
Enterprise Cloud Manager credentials.
2. Navigate to the Groups page. (This can also
be done for an individual device on the
Devices page.)
3. Select a group and click on the Firmware option
in the top toolbar. In the dropdown menu that
opens, select the desired rmware version.
4. Wait a moment while rmware is updated and
the router reboots.
Via the Local Administration Pages
1. Log into the local administration pages
(see page 5). You may have changed the
Administrator Password.
2. Select ‘System > System Control > System
Firmware’.
3. If new rmware is available, select ‘Automatic
(Internet)’.
4. Wait a moment while rmware is updated and
the router reboots (do not close the browser
window when updating).
If you do not have an active Internet connection,
you may need to use the ‘Manual Firmware
Upload’ option. To use this option, download new
rmware to a local device and then upload it to
the router on the System > System Control >
System Firmware page.
SETTING THE APN
Depending on your modem, you may need to
specify the APN (Access Point Name).
SELECT THE APN
1. Log into the administration pages (see page 5).
2. Select ‘Connection Manager’.
3. Select the modem you would like to manage.
Click ‘Edit’ to open the WAN Conguration
editor.
4. Select the ‘SIM/APN/AUTH Settings’ tab. In the
‘Access Point Conguration’ eld, either select
the desired APN from the options displayed or
enter it manually.
5. Input the username and password for
authentication if required by your carrier.
6. Click ‘Submit’.
ROUTER COMMUNICATION /
DATA USAGE
The factory default conguration of the router
is set to communicate with Cradlepoint and
other resources at regular intervals to access
the latest rmware and modem updates, clock
synchronization (NTP), and Enterprise Cloud
Manager (ECM) membership. Such communication
may result in data usage and applicable charges
regardless of whether the router uses a wired or
wireless Internet connection. To avoid such data
usage and potential charges, consult the following
Knowledge Base article:
knowledgebase.cradlepoint.com/articles/support/
router-communication-data-usage
Quick Start Guide /AER2100 Series