Sierra Wireless AirCard 555 Wireless User manual

AirCard®555 Wireless Network Card
User Guide
2130142
Rev 3.3

Preface
Rev. 3.3 02 3
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, Inc. accepts 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 the Sierra Wireless AirCard®555 wireless
network card in areas where blasting is in progress, where
explosive atmospheres may be present, near medical
equipment, life support equipment, or any equipment which
may be susceptible to any form of radio interference. In such
areas, the Sierra Wireless network card MUST BE POWERED
OFF. The Sierra Wireless network card can transmit signals
that could interfere with this equipment.
Do not operate the Sierra Wireless network card in any
aircraft, whether the aircraft is on the ground or in flight. In
aircraft, the Sierra Wireless network card MUST BE
POWERED OFF. When operating, the Sierra Wireless network
card 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 network
cards may be used at this time.
The driver or operator of any vehicle should not operate the
Sierra Wireless network card 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.
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, Inc. SIERRA WIRELESS, INC. SPECIFICALLY
DISCLAIMS LIABILITY FOR ANY AND ALL DIRECT,
INDIRECT, SPECIAL, GENERAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSE-

AirCard 555 Network Card User Guide
42130142
QUENTIAL, 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, INC. PRODUCT, EVEN IF SIERRA
WIRELESS, INC. HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSI-
BILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR THEY ARE FORESEEABLE
OR FOR CLAIMS BY ANY THIRD PARTY.
Patents Portions of this product are covered by some or all of the
following US patents: 5515013, 5617106, 5629960, 5682602,
5748449, 5845216, 5847553, 5878234, 5890057, 5929815, 6169884,
6191741, 6199168, D367062, D372248, D372701, D416857,
D442170 and other patents pending.
Licensed by QUALCOMM Incorporated under one or more of
the following United States Patents and/or their counterparts
in other nations:
4901307 5490165 5056109 5504773
5101501 5506865 5109390 5511073
5228054 5535239 5267261 5544196
5267262 5568483 5337338 5600754
5414796 5657420 5416797 5659569
5710784 5778338 6339405 D452495
D452496
Copyright ©2002 Sierra Wireless, Inc. All rights reserved.
Trademarks Sierra Wireless and the Red Wave design, Watcher, the red-
tipped antenna are trademarks of Sierra Wireless, Inc. Heart of
the Wireless Machine®and AirCard®are registered trade-
marks of Sierra Wireless, Inc. Quick 2 NetSM is a service mark
of Verizon Wireless Communications. Other trademarks are
the property of the respective owners. All product specifica-
tions are subject to change without notice.
Comments Your comments and suggestions on improving this documen-
tation are welcome and appreciated. Please e-mail your
feedback to [email protected]. Thank you.
Consult our web site for up-to-date product descriptions,
documentation, application notes, firmware upgrades, trouble-
shooting tips, and press releases:
www.sierrawireless.com

Preface
Rev. 3.3 02 5
Technical Support For technical support of this product, contact Verizon Wireless
at 1-800-922-0204.

AirCard 555 Network Card User Guide
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Rev 3.3 May.02 7
Table of Contents
AirCard 555 Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Introducing the AirCard® 555 Network Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
A Network Card, a Modem, and a Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
About This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
The AirCard 555 Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Account Activation and Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Care and Maintenance of Your AirCard 555 Wireless Network Card . . . . . . 19
Installation and Use on Notebook PCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Installation on Notebook PCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
AirCard Software Installation Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Windows 95 Pre-Installation Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Installation Procedures for Windows 95, 98, Me, and 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Installation Procedures for Windows XP and NT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Venturi Software Installation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Card Insertion and Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Inserting the AirCard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Removing the AirCard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Account Configuration Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
The Watcher Window and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Components of the Watcher Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
The Menu Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

AirCard 555 Wireless Network Card User Guide
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The Minimize, Toggle Full/Compact, and Close Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Connection Status Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Call Status Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Indicator Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Taskbar Icons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Data Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Dial-Up Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Incoming Data Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Quick 2 Net Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Express Network Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Voice Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
The Dial Pad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
The Scratch Pad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Outgoing Calls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Incoming Calls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
The Watcher Menu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
The View Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Always On Top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Docking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Toggle Full/Compact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
The Tools Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Mobile Messenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Phone Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Call Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Dial-Up Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
KeyGuard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Activation Wizard… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Options… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Table of Contents
Rev 3.3 May.02 9
The Help Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Help Topics… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
About Watcher… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
The Network Adapter Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Windows 95, 98, NT and Me. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Switching Primary Cards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Windows 2000 and XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
On-Line Help and Version Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Closing the Network Adapter Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Problem Causes and Suggestions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Reinstalling the AirCard Driver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Windows 95/98 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Windows Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Windows XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Resolving Resource Conflicts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Windows 95/98 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
Windows 2000 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Windows Me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Windows XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Installation and Use on Handheld/Pocket PCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . .115
Installation on Handheld and Pocket PCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Software Installation Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Card Insertion and Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Inserting the AirCard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

AirCard 555 Wireless Network Card User Guide
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Removing the AirCard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Account Configuration Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
The Watcher Window and Indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Components of the Watcher Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
The Menu Bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Connection Status Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Call Status Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Indicator Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
The Minimize, Toggle Full/Compact, and Close Boxes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Taskbar Icons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Data Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Dial-Up Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Incoming Data Calls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Quick 2 Net Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Express Network Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Voice Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
The Dial Pad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
The Scratch Pad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Outgoing Calls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Incoming Calls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
The Watcher Menu Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
The View Menu (Handheld PCs). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Always On Top . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Docking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Toggle Full/Compact . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
The Tools Menu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

Table of Contents
Rev 3.3 May.02 11
Mobile Messenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Phone Book . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Call Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Dial-Up Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
KeyGuard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Activation Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Options… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
The Admin Menu (Pocket PCs). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
About Watcher… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Administration > Activation Wizard… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
The Help Menu (Handhelds PC). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Help Topics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
About Watcher … . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Problem Causes and Suggestions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Uninstalling the AirCard Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .185
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
LED Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Radio Frequency and Electrical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Environmental Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Regulatory Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .189
Regulatory Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193

AirCard 555 Wireless Network Card User Guide
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AirCard 555 Basics

Rev 3.3 May.02 15
AirCard 555
Basics
1: Introducing the AirCard®555
Network Card
• A Network Card, a
Modem, and a Phone
• Package Contents
• About this Guide
The AirCard®555 wireless network card fits into a standard
Type II PC Card slot (available on most notebook PCs) and
functions as a wireless network card, a modem, and a mobile
phone. This card allows you to connect to the Internet, send
and receive e-mail, connect to a corporate network, and make
phone calls, without the need of a network cable or phone line.
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.
See Chapter 3 (notebook PCs)
or Chapter 10 (Handheld and
Pocket PCs) for detailed proce-
dures.
The AirCard 555 functions in notebook PCs with these
Windows® operating systems: 95, 98, NT, 2000, Me, and XP.
The AirCard 555 also functions in Handheld and Pocket PCs
with the Windows CE 3.0 operating system.
The AirCard 555 operates over a type of wireless network
called CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). This network
technology has many features beyond providing a wireless
link, including:
•SMS (Short Message Service), which allows you to send
and receive short messages using the AirCard
•Quick 2 Net, which provides a direct Internet connection
Use of the AirCard 555 requires that you have an account that
gives you access to a CDMA network.
Every CDMA network operates on one of three radio
frequency bands. As a dual band product, the AirCard 555
operates on two of these bands, providing a wide coverage
area.
Note: The Venturi compression
software that allows for dial-up
data transmission speeds of
56 kbps is available for notebook
PCs running Windows 95, 98,
NT, 2000, and Me only.
The AirCard operates on the original CDMA network (IS-95A)
that provides data transmission speeds of up to 14.4 kbps
(kilobits per second) or 56 kbps where Venturi compression is
in use. The AirCard also runs on the newer 1xRTT network
technology that provides data transmission speeds up to
144 kbps. The AirCard 555 provides all the advantages of
1xRTT where it is available while allowing you to use the older
CDMA IS-95A standard where 1xRTT has not yet been imple-
mented. The benefits to you are that you can use the AirCard
in any area that has coverage (assuming there are no account
restrictions) and you will be able to take advantage of the
fastest possible data transmission speed.

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Note: More information about
CDMA networks is available on
the CDMA Development Group
web site, www.cdg.org.
A Network Card, a Modem, and a Phone
On notebook PCs, during 1xRTT connections, the AirCard 555
is a true network card, functioning just like the network cards
familiar to most corporate computer users. Once installed and
configured, the AirCard connects instantly to the CDMA
network with a few mouse clicks. You can just insert the
AirCard 555, click a few buttons, launch your Internet
browser, and you’re ready to web surf.
As a modem, the AirCard 555 allows you to dial up any other
modem, or send and receive faxes. You can also connect a
headset to the AirCard 555 and use it as a phone.
Package Contents
Your AirCard 555 package contains the following components:
•AirCard 555 wireless network card
•Antenna
•Installation CD containing the AirCard software and this
user guide
•Quick reference card
If you want to use the AirCard as a phone, a headset is
necessary. See the Sierra Wireless web site,
www.sierrawireless.com, for a listing of approved headsets
that will work with the AirCard.
About This Guide
This user guide is designed to provide you with all the infor-
mation you need to install and use your network card.
•Section 1 (which you are reading) gives you an overview
of the AirCard 555, providing the background infor-
mation that is the basis for understanding the following
sections.
•Section 2 provides step-by-step instructions on installing,
configuring, and using the AirCard 555 on notebook PCs.
•Section 3 provides step-by-step instructions on installing,
configuring, and using the AirCard 555 on Handheld and
Pocket PCs.
•Section 4 provides electrical, radio frequency, and other
parameters of the AirCard 555 for those who require
technical information.
•Section 5 provides regulatory information.

Rev 3.3 May.02 17
AirCard 555
Basics
2: Getting Started
• The AirCard 555
Software
• Account Activation and
Configuration
• Care and Maintenance
Before you can begin using the AirCard 555 wireless network
card, you must:
1. Install the AirCard 555 software.
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.
The AirCard 555 Software
The AirCard comes with this software:
•An application called Watcher™ that you use to manage
the AirCard and monitor your connections
•An application called the Network Adapter Manager that
allows you to switch between the AirCard 555 and other
network cards (for notebook PCs only)
•The driver software that forms the interface between the
network card and your Windows operating system
•Venturi compression software that increases data
throughput, effectively increasing the data transmission
speed (for notebook PCs only)
Note: When you have the
Venturi software installed and
enabled, the compression will
automatically be used where it is
available on the network. In
areas where the Venturi server is
implemented, you should notice
an increase in the speed of your
dial-up data connections.
The Watcher software (and on notebook PCs, the Network
Adapter Manager) should be installed before you insert the
AirCard 555 for the first time. The Venturi software should
only be installed after the driver is installed. Detailed instruc-
tions are provided in Chapter 3.
Account Activation and
Configuration
Companies that operate CDMA networks and provide access
to these networks are called service providers. You must have an
account with a CDMA service provider to use the AirCard 555.
The process of setting up an account is called activation.

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If you purchased the AirCard from a service provider, you
may already have an account. (That is, your network card is
pre-activated.) Otherwise, you can refer to the Sierra Wireless
web site, www.sierrawireless.com, for a list of service
providers.
When selecting a service provider, it is important to consider
the following:
•Coverage
Note: Most service providers
have coverage maps on their
web sites.
There are CDMA networks, that operate in the frequency
bands supported by the AirCard 555, throughout North
America and parts of Latin America, Asia, New Zealand,
and Australia. However, each service provider operates a
network that covers a limited geographical area within the
overall CDMA coverage area. Most service providers have
“roaming” agreements with other service providers, so
that they can offer service outside of the coverage area of
their own networks. For example, assuming you live in
Vancouver and travel frequently to Seattle, you can obtain
an account with a Vancouver service provider that has a
roaming agreement with a service provider in Seattle. You
would then have local service in Vancouver, and roaming
service in Seattle. (Most service providers charge more for
roaming service than local service.)
Select a service provider that gives you network coverage
in all areas you intend to use the AirCard 555.
•Pricing
Note: The fee for service is
usually higher when you are
roaming (connecting to a
network other than the one
belonging to your service
provider).
Each service provider has its own pricing options. There
are flat rate accounts which provide you a maximum num-
ber of minutes of network usage for a fixed monthly fee.
There are accounts for which you are charged for network
usage by the minute or by the amount of data transmitted.
You may want to shop around to find the best value.
Your service provider will activate your account. To do so
your service provider requires from you:
•The billing information used to collect payment for your
network usage
•The ESN (electronic serial number) assigned to your
modem during the manufacturing process. (This number
is printed on a label on the AirCard and can be displayed
in Watcher.)

Chapter 2: Getting Started
Rev 3.3 May.02 19
AirCard 555
Basics
Note: You can use the Lock
Code feature to prevent others
from using your account should
your AirCard be stolen. See
page 84 (notebook PCs) or
page 168 (Handheld and Pocket
PCs) for instructions on using
this feature.
You require from your service provider:
•A phone number for your AirCard
•An activation code that gives you access to the window in
which the phone number is entered
•A SID (System Identifier) that identifies your home
network area and is used in conjunction with your phone
number to identify your account when you connect to the
CDMA network
Unless your AirCard has been pre-activated, Watcher will
automatically detect that no account has been configured
when you run it for the first time. Watcher will then run the
Activation Wizard to guide you through the activation and
configuration process.
Care and Maintenance of Your
AirCard 555 Wireless Network
Card
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:
•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.
•When storing or transporting your PC in a case (such as a
notebook case), remove the AirCard antenna and store it in
a compartment where it cannot be crushed or broken.
•The AirCard should fit easily into your PC slot. Forcing
the AirCard into a slot may damage connector pins.
•Protect the card from liquids, dust, and excessive heat.
•When not installed in your computer, store the AirCard in
a safe place.

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