Iridium 9601 Instruction Manual

9601 Short Burst Data Transceiver
Product Developers Guide
Revision 1.24
December 5t h 2005
Iridium Satellite LLC Proprietary & Confidential Information
Iridium Satellite LLC
6701 Democracy Blvd., Suite 500
Bethesda, MD 20817 USA
www.iridium.com
Toll Free: +1.866.947.4348 [US Only]
International +1.480.752.5155
email: [email protected]

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LEGAL DISCLAIMER
This document contains information for the Iridium 9601 Short Burst Data Transceiver. The purpose of
providing such information is to enable Value Added Resellers and Value Added Manufacturers to
understand the product and how to integrate it into a wireless data solution. Reasonable effort has been
made to make the information in this document reliable and consistent with specifications, test
measurements and other information. However, Iridium Satellite LLC makes no guarantee or warranty of,
and does not assume liability with respect to, the accuracy or the completeness of such information, or as
to the results of use of the transceiver in any specific instance, and hereby expressly disclaims any
implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, or any other warranties or
representations whatsoever, express or implied. The application developer assumes the full risk of using
this specification and any other information provided. In no event shall Iridium Satellite LLC be liable for
any actual, direct, indirect, punitive, or consequential damages arising from such use, even if advised of
the possibility of such damages.
Iridium Satellite LLC does not warrant that this document is accurate or complete and reserves the right in
its sole discretion to change product specifications and materials without notice to you at any time.
Export Compliance Information
This product is controlled by the export laws and regulations of the United States of America. The U.S.
Government may restrict the export or re-export of this product to certain individuals and/or destinations.
For further information, contact the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security or
visit www.bis.doc.gov.
Revision History
Revision Date Comment
1.0 May 02 2005 First revision
1.2 Aug 28 2005
Second revision incorporating major updates. Key updates are:
Product name change to “9601 SBD Transceiver”
Physical packaging
Connector types updated
AT Commands added and updated
1.21 Sep 29 2005 Mechanical dimensions drawings re-imported to enable them to be read
correctly. No changes to any specifications.
1.22 Nov 04 2005
1.2 Note on regulatory status of 9601-P3 and 9601-PP added.
2.1 Weight of transceiver card and final enclosure added
2.2 Updates to current consumption
2.3 & 1.2 Typographical errors corrected in list of standards
3.1 VSWR automatic trip removed from specification.
3.1.2 Power cable length restriction added
4.3 Uplink margin added
1.23 Nov 23 2005 3.2.2 Added typical power consumption profile information Change of nomenclature from “Ring Alert” to “Automatic Notification”
DCD is driven OFF at all times.
1.24 Dec 05 2005 Added photograph instead of renderings 1.3 Added
3.5 Added additional detail to the “Network Available” function description

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Contents
Revision History............................................................................................................................................ 2
List of Abbreviations ..................................................................................................................................... 4
1.0 Product Overview .................................................................................................................. 5
1.1 Key Features ......................................................................................................................... 5
1.2 Transceiver Packaging and Regulatory Certification ............................................................ 6
1.3 Software Revision.................................................................................................................. 6
2.0 Physical Specifications.......................................................................................................... 7
2.1 Dimensions............................................................................................................................ 7
2.2 Mechanical Dimensions –Mounting...................................................................................... 9
2.2.1 Mounting - Stackable Design............................................................................................... 10
2.2.2 Mounting to a Panel/Surface –For use with cable connections ......................................... 12
2.3 Environmental...................................................................................................................... 14
2.4 Interface Connectors........................................................................................................... 14
3.0 Electrical Interfaces ............................................................................................................. 15
3.1 Multi-Interface Connector.................................................................................................... 15
3.1.1 Connector Type................................................................................................................... 15
3.1.2 Connector Pin Allocation..................................................................................................... 16
3.2 DC Power Interface............................................................................................................. 18
3.2.1 Power On/Off Control.......................................................................................................... 18
3.2.2 Typical Power Profile........................................................................................................... 19
3.3 Serial Data Interface............................................................................................................ 21
3.3.1 9-Wire and 3-Wire Operation............................................................................................... 22
3.3.2 Configuration Settings......................................................................................................... 23
3.3.3 Modes of Operation............................................................................................................. 24
3.4 Hardware Failure Reporting ................................................................................................ 24
3.5 Network Available Output.................................................................................................... 24
3.6 DC Power Output ................................................................................................................ 25
4.0 RF Interface......................................................................................................................... 26
4.1 Antenna Connector.............................................................................................................. 26
4.1.1 Antenna Connector Type..................................................................................................... 26
4.2 RF Interface Specifications ........................................................................................ 27
4.3 Radio Characteristics ..................................................................................................... 27
Appendix A –AT Command Set for 9601 SBD Transceiver...................................................................... 28

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List of Abbreviations
Abbreviation Description
CE Conformité Européene
DC Direct Current
DTE Data Terminal Equipment
ESS ETC SBD Subsystem
ETC Earth Terminal Controller
FA Field Application
FCC Federal Communications Commission
GND Ground
IC Industry Canada
LBT L-Band Transceiver
MOMSN Mobile Originated Message Sequence Number
MTMSN Mobile Terminated Message Sequence Number
RHCP Right Hand Circular Polarization
SBD Short Burst Data
SMS Short Message Service
TBA To Be Advised
VAM Value Added Manufacturer
VAR Value Added Reseller
VSWR Voltage Standing Wave Ratio

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1.0 Product Overview
The Iridium 9601 Short Burst Data Only Transceiver (9601) is designed to be integrated into a wireless
data application with other hardware and software to produce a full solution designed for a specific
application or vertical market. Examples of these solutions include tracking a maritime vessel or automatic
vehicle location.
The 9601 only supports Iridium’s Short Burst Data (SBD) capability. It does not support voice, circuit
switched data, or short message service (SMS). This is a new product and has no functional
predecessor.
The 9601 will be designed to meet the regulatory requirements for approval for FCC, Canada, and CE
assuming an antenna with a gain of ~3 dBi and adequate shielding. This allows the 9601 to be integrated
into a variety of wireless data applications or retrofitted into existing SBD only applications that utilize SBD
with the current Iridium 9522A or 9522 L-Band Transceiver-based product. (Note that additional
development work will be required.) Such finished products, when integrated together, require regulatory
testing to be conducted by the integrator.
The 9601 is designed as a single board transceiver and is essentially provided as a ‘black box’
transceiver with all device interfaces provided by a single multi-pin interface connector in addition to the
antenna connector. The product only provides the core transceiver. All other end user application functions
such as GPS, microprocessor based logic control, digital and analog inputs, digital and analog outputs
power supply and antenna must be provided by the solution developer. The device interface consists of the
serial interface, power input, network available output and power on/off control line.
The 9601 does not incorporate nor require a Subscriber Identity Module (also know as a SIM Card) to be
inserted into the transceiver. The 9601 will be designed to comply with the standards for Radio Emissions
Compliance, Electromagnetic Compatibility, and AC Safety in the United States, European Union and
Canada.
The 9601 is described within this document as “9601”, “9601 SBD Transceiver”and “9601 SBD
Transceiver”all of these terms refer to the same product.
1.1 Key Features
Single board transceiver
Small form factor
No SIM card
Designed to be incorporated into an OEM solution
Maximum mobile originated message size 205 bytes
Maximum mobile terminated message size 135 bytes
Automatic Notification to the transceiver that a mobile terminated message is queued at the
Gateway
Uses small omni-directional antenna
Global operating capability

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1.2 Transceiver Packaging and Regulatory Certification
The 9601 SBD Transceiver is a regulatory approved transceiver that is provided in an enclosure and with
appropriate connectors that permit the full transceiver to be regulatory tested by Iridium and sold as a
Regulatory Certified product that meets CE, FCC and IC requirements.
The 9601 is tested to the regulatory and technical certifications shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Regulatory and Technical Certifications.
Regulatory
Approvals Radio Tests EMC Tests
Electrical /
Mechanical /
Operational
Safety Tests
CE
FCC
Industry
Canada
ETSI EN 301 441 V1.1.1
(2000-05)
FCC CFR47 parts 2, 15,
and 25
Industry Canada
RSS170 Issue 1, Rev 1,
November 6, 1999
ETSI EN 301 489-1 V1.4.1 (2002-
08)
ETSI EN 301 489-20 V1.2.1(2002-
11)
EN61000-4-2 : 1995/A2 : 2001 Part 4.2
EN61000-4-3 : 2002 Part 4.3
EN61000-4-4 : 1995/A1 : 2001/A2 : 2001
Part 4.4
EN61000-4-6 : 1996/A1 : 2001 Part 4.6
EN55022:1998/A1:2000/A2:2003
EN60950-1:2001
Part 1
UL60950-1 Part 1
Note: The initial 9601 units [shipped as 9601-P3 and 9601-PP] are different from the commercially produced 9601
SBD Transceivers from a regulatory and certification perspective. Those initial units cannot and should not be used
for any regulatory certification purposes or compliance. Only the commercial 9601 units conform to the
regulatory approved design and the regulatory and technical certifications listed in Table 1.
1.3 Software Revision
Developers should read this document in conjunction with the “Software Release Notes” relevant to the
revision of the software that is loaded into their 9601 SBD Transceiver.

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2.0 Physical Specifications
For illustrative purposes a rendering of the 9601 ISU is shown in Figure 1 with a ribbon cable connector
inserted. (Note that the ribbon cable and connector is to be provided by the developer and is not supplied
as part of the commercial product.)
Figure 1: The 9601 SBD Transceiver.
2.1 Dimensions
The overall dimensions of the 9601 and its weight are summarized in Table 2 and represented graphically
in third angle projection in Figure 2
Table 2: 9601 Mechanical Dimensions
Parameter Value
Length 106 mm
Width 56.2 mm
Depth 13 mm
Weight (approximate) 117g
Note that these dimensions are for the enclosure and do not take into account the connectors or mounting
hardware. Additionally developers should plan for additional space for the reciprocal connectors for the
antenna and user connector.

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Figure 2 (Part 1 of 2): Dimensions of the 9601 SBD Transceiver.
(Not to scale, dimensions in millimeters)

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Figure 2 (Part 2 of 2): Dimensions of the 9601 SBD Transceiver.
(Not to scale, dimensions in millimeters)
2.2 Mechanical Dimensions –Mounting
The 9601 SBD Transceiver is provided with four mounting holes, one at each corner. During manufacture
four screws are inserted for shipping purposes. These screws need to be removed for mounting. There
are two basic options for mounting –stackable and mounting to a surface such as a mounting plate or
enclosure wall. The following sections provide further information.

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2.2.1 Mounting - Stackable Design
An example stackable design is shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3: 9601 SBD Transceiver mounted to a unpopulated PCB.
The figures and tables below provides mechanical information design information for a suitable
‘stackable’ 9601 to developer PCB configuration
Figure 4: Assembly Item Number Identification.
Item Numbers in Figure 4 are described in Table 3. Not to scale. Dimensions in millimeters.
Table 3: Item Number Description for Figure 4
Item Type Description Quantity
1 Assembly 9601 SBD Transceiver 1
2 Part M3 Shake-proof washer, zinc plated steel [4 supplied with item 1] 8
3 Part M3 x 20 Pan head screw, pozidrive, zinc plated steel [4 supplied with item 1] 4
4 Part M3 Threaded standoff, 6.0 A/F HEX x 12.00 mm 4
5 Part M3 x 8 Pan head screw, pozidrive, zinc plated steel 4
6 Assembly Solution developer PCB fitted with Samtec connector ESQT-113-02-L-D-425.
[This item is the same item as Item 1 in Figure 5.] 1