Sierra Wireless AirCard 800 Series User manual

Includes:
· 875U
· 880U
· 881U
2130784
Rev 1.2
AirCard® 800 Series
Wireless USB Modem
Installation Guide

Preface
Important Notice
Safety and Hazards
Limitation of
Liability
Rev 1.2 May.07
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.
Although significant delays or losses of data are rare when
wireless devices such as the Sierra Wireless modem are used in
a normal manner with a well-constructed network, the Sierra
Wireless modem 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 accepts no responsibility for damages of any kind
resulting from delays or errors in data transmitted or received
using the Sierra Wireless modem, or for failure of the Sierra
Wireless modem to transmit or receive such data.
Do not operate the Sierra Wireless modem in areas where
blasting is in progress, where explosive atmospheres may be
present, near medical equipment, near life support equipment,
or any equipment which may be susceptible to any form of
radio interference. In such areas, the Sierra Wireless modem
MUST BE POWERED OFF. The Sierra Wireless modem can
transmit signals that could interfere with this equipment.
Do not operate the Sierra Wireless modem in any aircraft,
whether the aircraft is on the ground or in flight. In aircraft, the
Sierra Wireless modem MUST BE POWERED OFF. When
operating, the Sierra Wireless modem can transmit signals that
could interfere with various onboard systems.
Note: Some airlines may permit the use of cellular phones while the
aircraft is on the ground and the door is open. Sierra Wireless
modems may be used at this time.
The driver or operator of any vehicle should not operate the
Sierra Wireless modem while in control of a vehicle. Doing so
will detract from the driver or operator's control and operation
of that vehicle. In some states and provinces, operating such
communications devices while in control of a vehicle is an
offence.
The information in this manual is subject to change without
notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of
Sierra Wireless. 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
3

AirCard 800 Series USB Modem Installation Guide
Patents
Copyright
Trademarks
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.
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.
Portions of this product may be covered by some or all of the
following US patents:
5,515,013 5,629,960 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 6,516,204 6,561,851
6,643,501 6,653,979 6,697,030 6,785,830 6,845,249
6,847,830 6,876,697 6,879,585 6,886,049 6,968,171
6,985,757 7,023,878 7,053,843 7,106,569 7,145,267
7,200,512 D442,170 D459,303
and other patents pending.
This product includes
technology licensed from:
QUALCOMM
®
3G
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.
©2007 Sierra Wireless. All rights reserved.
AirCard® and “Heart of the Wireless Machine®” are registered
trademarks of Sierra Wireless. Watcher®is a trademark of
Sierra Wireless, registered in the European Community.
Sierra Wireless, the Sierra Wireless logo, the red wave design,
and the red-tipped antenna are trademarks of Sierra Wireless.
Windows®is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
21307844

Preface
Rev 1.2 May.07 5
QUALCOMM® is a registered trademark of QUALCOMM
Incorporated. Used under license.
Other trademarks are the property of the respective owners.
Contact
Information
Consult our website for up-to-date product descriptions,
documentation, application notes, firmware upgrades, trouble-
shooting tips, and press releases:
www.sierrawireless.com
Revision History
Revision
number
Release
date
Changes
1.2 May 16, 2007 • Revised Guide to encompass the 880U and 881U in addition to
the 875U.
• HSUPA is now supported.
• MAC OS X 10.4 and later are supported.
• Windows NT, 98, and Me are no longer supported.
• Simplified AirCard USB modem removal process.
• Added FCC and IC ID numbers for the 880U and 881U.
Sales Desk: Phone: [phone]
Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time
E-mail: [email protected]
Post: Sierra Wireless
13811 Wireless Way
Richmond, BC
Canada V6V 3A4
Fax: [phone]
Web: www.sierrawireless.com

AirCard 800 Series USB Modem Installation Guide
6 2130784

Table of Contents
Welcome to the AirCard 800 Series wireless USB modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
AirCard 800 Series wireless USB modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Supported operating systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The AirCard USB modem as a network card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, and HSDPA/HSUPA service support . . . . . . . . . . 10
Frequency band support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Your account and coverage area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
AirCard USB modem software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Package contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
The SIM card and your account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Before you begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
System requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Install the AirCard USB modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Insert the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Insert the SIM card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Install Watcher software and the AirCard USB modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Set Internet Explorer to use the AirCard USB modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Remove the AirCard USB modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Remove the SIM card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Configure your account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Set up a profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
3G Watcher basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Launch 3G Watcher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
The 3G Watcher window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Rev 1.2 May.07 7

AirCard 800 Series USB Modem Installation Guide
Icons and indicators on the main 3G Watcher window. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
View options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Status icons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Turn the radio on and off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Frequency band and network selection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Frequency band selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Network selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Care and maintenance of your USB modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Technical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
LED operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Radio frequency and electrical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Environmental specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Regulatory and safety
information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Important notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Safety and hazards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Important safety / compliance information for North American users. . . . . 38
EU regulatory conformity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
8 2130784

1: Welcome to the AirCard 800
Series wireless USB modem
1
• AirCard 800 Series
wireless USB
modem
• Your account and
coverage area
• AirCard USB modem
software
• Package contents
Caution: Do not insert your
AirCard USB modem into the
USB slot before installing the
software.
AirCard 800 Series wireless
USB modem
The AirCard 800 Series 3G wireless USB modem enables 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.
The AirCard USB modem fits into the USB slot on your
notebook or desktop PC.
Supported operating systems
The AirCard USBmodem works in notebook or desktop PCs
running Windows®Vista™, XP, or 2000 or Mac OS®X.
The AirCard USB modem as a network
card
The AirCard USB modem 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 USB
modem) that cause the AirCard USB modem to establish a
network connection whenever you insert it, assuming GSM,
GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, or HSDPA/HSUPA1service is available.
(See “GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, and HSDPA/HSUPA service
support” on page 10.) Otherwise, you can configure Watcher
to connect only when you click the Connect button.
1. HSUPA is only available for the 880U and 881U USB modems.
Rev 1.2 May.07 9

AirCard 800 Series USB Modem Installation Guide
The AirCard USB modem 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).
GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, and HSDPA/
HSUPA service support
GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, and HSDPA/HSUPA are add-on data
services to GSM mobile phone networks. The maximum
theoretical data speeds when connected on these services are:
• GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)—56 kbps (kilobits
per second)
• EDGE (Enhanced Data GSM Environment)—236 kbps
• UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System)—
384 kbps
• HSDPA (High Speed Download Packet Access)—up to
3.6 Mbps (Megabits per second)
• HSUPA (High Speed Upload Packet Access)—up to
2.0 Mbps.
GPRS and EDGE are 2G (second generation) data services.
UMTS and HSDPA/HSUPA are 3G (third generation) data
services.
When establishing a connection, your AirCard USB modem
uses the fastest available service. If, for example, you are using
an AirCard USB modem in an area that has GPRS and EDGE
service but not UMTS or HSDPA/HSUPA service, the AirCard
USB modem connects using EDGE service.
Once the connection is established, you have access to all
Internet services.
Frequency band support
Every GSM network operates on one of these radio frequency
bands when 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
213078410

Welcome to the AirCard 800 Series wireless USB modem
Note: If you purchased the
AirCard USB modem 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.
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).
Rev 1.2 May.07
Every network that offers 3G UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA 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
The AirCard USB modem supports quad-band 850 / 900 / 1800
/ 1900 MHz GSM / GPRS /EDGE, and tri-band 850 / 1900 / 2100
MHz WCDMA / HSDPA/HSUPA frequency bands.
Your account and coverage area
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/
HSUPA or UMTS service to use the AirCard USB modem’s 3G
capability. (The AirCard USB modem 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 USB modem, 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 USB modem anytime you use
it.
Before you can use the AirCard USB modem, you must install
the AirCard USB modem software and ensure that your
AirCard USB modem 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 USB modem in any area in which you can
obtain GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, or HSDPA/HSUPA service.
Your ability to obtain service depends on these factors:
• Proximity to a GSM network—You must be within the
coverage area of a GSM network in order to use the
AirCard USB modem.
• Service provider—If you are within the coverage area of a
network that is not operated by your own service
provider, you can obtain service only if there is a roaming
agreement between your service provider and the network
operator.
11

AirCard 800 Series USB Modem Installation Guide
• 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 USB
modem, regardless of roaming agreements or account
provisions.
Most service providers have coverage maps on their web sites.
AirCard USB modem software
The AirCard USB modem comes with the following software
(made by Sierra Wireless):
• The Watcher program for Windows that you use to
manage the AirCard USB modem and monitor your
connections .
• The driver software that forms the interface between the
network card and your Windows operating system.
Package contents
Your AirCard USB modem package contains the following:
• AirCard USB modem
• Rechargeable battery
• Docking cradle with attached cable (inclusion dependent
on service provider)
• Installation CD containing the AirCard USB modem
software for Windows and this installation guide
• Quick Start Guide
213078412

2: The SIM card and your account 2
Note: Without a valid SIM card
and a valid account, your
AirCard USB modem will not
work.
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 “Configure your
account” on page 23.
You require a GSM account and a SIM (Subscriber Identity
Module) card to use the AirCard USB modem. The SIM card is
a small chip (about the size of a postage stamp) that you insert
into the AirCard USB modem. The SIM contains account infor-
mation used by the network to validate your access.
Depending on how you purchased your AirCard USB modem,
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), depending on your service provider. This
number, printed on the AirCard USB modem box and on
the AirCard USB modem label, identifies your device
(AirCard USB modem model) on the GSM network.
Your AirCard USB modem must be configured to use your
account. If purchased from a service provider, your AirCard
USB modem 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 on page 23.
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.
For information on installing the SIM card, see “Insert the SIM
card” on page 16.
For information on removing the SIM card, see “Remove the
SIM card” on page 21.
Rev 1.2 May.07 13

AirCard 800 Series USB Modem Installation Guide
14 2130784

3: Installation 3
• Before you begin
• Install the AirCard
USB modem
• Remove the AirCard
USB modem
• Remove the SIM card
This chapter guides you through the steps necessary to install
the AirCard USB modem on a notebook or desktop computer.
Note: Do not insert the AirCard USB modem into your USB slot
before installing the software.
Before you begin
1. Obtain a GSM account (if this wasn’t done when you
purchased the AirCard USB modem).
2. Ensure that your PC meets the system and hardware
requirements described below.
System requirements
The AirCard modem is supported on:
• Windows Vista
• Windows XP (Home and Professional versions)
• Windows 2000
• Mac OS X 10.4 or newer
To install the AirCard USB modem, you require these system
resources:
Table 3-1: System resource requirements
USB slot 1 USB slot
Disk drive CD-ROM (for installation only)
I/O resources 1 IRQ, 40 bytes I/O space
Memory 32 MB
Rev 1.2 May.07 15

AirCard 800 Series USB Modem Installation Guide
Install the AirCard USB modem
The main steps are:
1. Insert the battery into the modem.
2. Insert the SIM card.
3. Install the Watcher software.
4. When instructed to do so, insert the AirCard USB modem
into the USB slot.
5. Configure the AirCard USB modem to use your account
(unless it was pre-configured).
6. If your Internet browser is configured to use a dial-up
modem, you may need to set the browser to use a network
card.
Insert the battery
Caution: A risk of explosive exists if the battery is replaced by an
incorrect type. Dispose of batteries according to the instructions on
the battery.
To insert the battery into the AirCard USB modem:
1. Slide the front panel off the AirCard USB modem.
2. Hold the battery so that the side with two white arrows
faces up and the gold contact points on the end of the
battery line up with the gold contact points on the modem.
Insert the battery into the AirCard USB modem.
3. If you also need to install a SIM card, proceed to the next
section, “Insert the SIM card”. Otherwise, slide the front
panel onto the AirCard USB modem, and push it gently
until the panel clicks in place.
For additional battery information, see page 33.
Insert the SIM card
To install your SIM card into the AirCard USB modem:
1. If your SIM card is attached to a larger card, detach the
SIM card and remove any fragments stuck to it.
2. If you haven’t already done so, slide the front panel off the
AirCard USB modem.
3. Slide the SIM card slot cover to the OPEN position and lift
the cover.
2130784
Note: To prevent the SIM from
becoming jammed in the AirCard
USB modem 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.
16

Installation
Note: Users of Windows 2000
must be logged in with adminis-
trative privileges. Users of
Windows XP may require admin-
istrative privileges.
4. Insert the SIM card, with the gold contact points facing
down.
5. Close the SIM card cover and slide it into the LOCK
position.
6. Slide the front panel onto the AirCard USB modem, and
push it gently until the panel clicks in place.
Install Watcher software and the AirCard
USB modem
Note: If you are running Mac OS X, please refer to the Quick Start
Guide for Watcher Lite in the Support section of
www.sierrawireless.com. The following applies only for Windows
users.
Note: If you are running Windows 2000, Windows Installer Redistrib-
utable 2.0 must be installed. This is available on the Microsoft web
site, www.microsoft.com.
Note: You may require your Windows CD. Ensure you have the CD
before proceeding.
1. Insert the Installation CD into your CD-ROM drive. 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 the link under notebook
software installation to launch the installer.
3. Use the Next and Back buttons to navigate through the
installer.
4. If the battery and the SIM card are not already inserted in
your AirCard USB modem, insert them. (“Insert the
battery”and “Insert the SIM card” on page 16.)
5. When prompted to do so, insert the AirCard USB modem
into the USB slot:
Rev 1.2 May.07 17

AirCard 800 Series USB Modem Installation Guide
a. Slide the lever on the back of the modem, in the
direction indicated by the triangle, to release the
modem's USB connector.
Figure 3-1: USB connector
b. Adjust the USB connector to the desired angle. The
USB connector is adjustable to a 90, 135 or 160 degree
angle.
Figure 3-2: USB connector adjustments
c. Gently insert the modem into the USB slot. (Alterna-
tively, you can attach the docking cradle to your
computer’s USB slot, and insert the AirCard USB
modem into the docking cradle.)
Figure 3-3: Correct way to insert the AirCard USB modem
2130784
Note: Do not forcefully insert the
AirCard USB modem. This may
damage connector pins. If you
have more than one USB slot,
you may obtain better signal
strength using the top slot.
18

Installation
Note: If your computer’s USB slot is vertical, use the docking cradle.
Do not insert the AirCard USB modem into a USB hub or a USB slot
on a keyboard.
Rev 1.2 May.07 19

AirCard 800 Series USB Modem Installation Guide
20 2130784
Warning: Do not insert the AirCard USB modem as
shown in the following illustrations.
Figure 3-4: Wrong way to insert the USB modem
Note: A red PWR LED indicates that the battery is not fully charged.
The battery begins charging when you insert the AirCard USB modem
into the USB slot. You can continue to use the modem while the
battery is charging. If the PWR LED is red, it is best to leave the
modem in the USB slot until the battery is fully charged and the LED
turns green. (This should take about an hour.)
Set Internet Explorer to use the AirCard
USB modem
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. Follow the steps in the Wizard.
Remove the AirCard USB
modem
To remove the AirCard USB modem:
1. Close Watcher if it is open.