Sierra Wireless AirCard 710 User manual

AirCard®710/750 Wireless Network
Card
Installation Guide
2130135
Rev 1.2

Table of Contents
Rev. 1.2 Mar.02 iii
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®710/750 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.
FCC RF Exposure
Information
In August 1996 the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) of the United States with its action in Report and Order
FCC 96-326 adopted an updated safety standard for human
exposure to radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic energy
emitted by FCC regulated transmitters. Those guidelines are

AirCard 710/750 Wireless Network Card Installation Guide
iv 2130135
consistent with the safety standard previously set by both U.S.
and international standards bodies. The design of this wireless
network card complies with the FCC guidelines and these
international standards.
Use only the supplied or an approved antenna. Unauthorized
antennas, modifications, or attachments could impair call
quality, damage the phone, or result in violation of FCC
regulations.
This device is approved for use in typical laptop PCs only. To
comply with FCC RF exposure requirements the AirCard
710/750 PCS GSM modem card must be operated with a
minimum separation distance of 2.5 cm (1 inch) between the
user/nearby persons and the antenna.
For more information about RF exposure, please visit the FCC
web site at www.fcc.gov.
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-
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:
6339405, D452496, D452495, 6327154, D442170, 6199168,
6191741, 6169884, D416857, 5929815, 5890057, 5878234,
5847553, 5845216, 5748449, 5682602, 5629960, 5617106,
D372701, D372248, 5515013, D367062 and other patents pend-
ing.
Copyright ©2002 Sierra Wireless, Inc. All rights reserved.
Trademarks AirCard® and Heart of the Wireless Machine®are registered
trademarks of Sierra Wireless, Inc.

Table of Contents
Rev. 1.2 Mar.02 v
Sierra Wireless, the Sierra Wireless logo, the red wave design,
the red-tipped antenna, and Watcher are trademarks of Sierra
Wireless, Inc.
Other trademarks are the property of the respective owners.
All product specifications are subject to change without notice.

AirCard 710/750 Wireless Network Card Installation Guide
vi 2130135

Rev 1.2 Mar.02 vii
Table of Contents
Introducing the AirCard® 710/750 Network Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
About the AirCard 710/750 wireless network card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Supported computer platforms and wireless networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Care and maintenance of your AirCard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Information you must get from your service provider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
SIM card overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Inserting a SIM card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Removing a SIM card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Installation on Notebook PCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
System requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Setting your Internet connection to use the AirCard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Internet Explorer version 5 and 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Windows 95 OSR 2, 98 SE, 2000, and Me. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Windows XP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Windows NT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Inserting the AirCard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Installing the Network Card Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Installing the Modem Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Changing the Interrupt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Installation on Pocket PCs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
System requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Installing the software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Installing the software on the host . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Downloading the software to the Pocket PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

AirCard 710/750 Wireless Network Card Installation Guide
viii 2130135
Inserting the AirCard into a Pocket PC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Configuring Your Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Notebooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Pocket PC 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Removing the AirCard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Windows NT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Windows 95, 98, 2000, Me, XP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Pocket PC 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
The Watcher™ Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Launching the Watcher program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Components of the Watcher window (notebooks). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Components of the Watcher screen (Pocket PC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Getting more information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Notebooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Pocket PC 2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Radio frequency and electrical specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Environmental specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Regulatory Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Declaration of conformity for CE Marking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Rev 1.2 Mar.02 1
Introducing the AirCard
710/750
1: Introducing the AirCard®710/
750 Network Card
• About the AirCard
• Supported platforms
and networks
• Care and maintenance
About the AirCard 710/750
wireless network card
The AirCard®710/750 wireless network card fits into a
standard Type II PC Card slot (available on most notebook
PCs) and functions as a wireless network card. This card
allows you to connect to the Internet, send and receive e-mail,
and connect to a corporate network, without the need of a
network cable or phone line. The card uses cellular telephone
radio frequencies and the GSM (Global System for Mobile
Communications) digital telephone infrastructure.
When packet mode service is available, the AirCard 710/750
network card uses the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)
infrastructure to provide an “always-on” data connection, just
like an Ethernet card or other wired network adapter.
Supported computer platforms
and wireless networks
Windows computer platforms The AirCard 710/750
wireless network card works in notebook PCs running
Windows 95, 98 SE, Me, NT, XP, and 2000, and in Pocket PCs
running Windows CE 3.0, Pocket PC and Pocket PC 2002. For
more details, see "System requirements" on page 9 (notebooks)
and page 19 (Pocket PCs).
GSM wireless networks The AirCard 710/750 network card
operates over a type of wireless network called GSM (Global
System for Mobile communications), supported by a number
of wireless carriers in North America and around the world.
To use the AirCard 710/750 network card, you must have an
account that gives you access to a GSM network.
Note: Every GSM network worldwide operates on one of three radio
frequency bands. The AirCard 710 network card operates only on the
1900 MHz PCS band used in North America and in some parts of

AirCard 710/750 Network Card Installation Guide
22130135
Central and South America. The AirCard 750 is a tri-band product that
operates on the 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz bands used in Europe and
Asia.
Like GSM mobile phones, the AirCard 710/750 network card
requires a SIM card (also known as a “smart card” or “smart
chip”), provided by your wireless service provider, in order to
function. For more information, see "SIM card overview" on
page 6.
Care and maintenance of your
AirCard
Do not apply adhesive labels to the AirCard. This may cause
the AirCard to become jammed inside the card slot, or prevent
it from being inserted properly.
Optimal signal strength is usually obtained when the antenna
is fully extended (applies to the AirCard 710 only) and perpen-
dicular to the card. The antenna should bend easily at the
hinge. Do not forcefully bend the antenna.
Figure 1-1: Proper positioning of the AirCard 710/750 antenna in a notebook
When storing or transporting your PC in a case (such as a
notebook case), retract the AirCard antenna (AirCard 710) or
remove the AirCard antenna (AirCard 750) and position the
computer where the antenna tip cannot be crushed or broken.
The AirCard should fit easily into your computer’s PC Card
slot. Forcing the AirCard into the slot may damage the
connector pins.
Protect the card from liquids, dust, and excessive heat (see
"Environmental specifications" on page 36 for details).

Chapter 1: Introducing the AirCard 555 Network Card
Rev 1.2 Mar.02 3
Introducing the AirCard
710/750
When not installed in your computer, store the AirCard in a
safe place.

AirCard 710/750 Network Card Installation Guide
42130135

Rev 1.2 Mar.02 5
Getting Started
2: Getting Started
• Information you need
from your service
provider
• Inserting the SIM card
• Removing the SIM
card
Before you can begin using the AirCard 710/750 wireless
network card, you must:
1. Obtain certain information from your service provider.
2. Insert the SIM card into the slot in your AirCard PC Card
(page 6).
3. Install the AirCard 710/750 software (notebooks: page 10;
Pocket PC: page 19).
4. Insert the AirCard into your computer.
5. Configure the AirCard to use your account (page 23).
Information you must get from
your service provider
When you purchase an AirCard, you should also receive a SIM
card that holds your account information. Without a valid SIM
card and a valid account, your AirCard will not work.
To activate your account, your service provider needs from
you:
•Billing information (for example, your credit card infor-
mation) used to collect payment for your network usage
•The SIM card serial number (printed on the upper surface
of the SIM card)
Note: Keep a written record, in a
secure place, of the account
information that your service
provider gives you. You will need
this information if you ever need
to re-enter the account infor-
mation.
You require from your service provider:
•A phone number for your AirCard
•APN (Access Point Name), if required by the network
•User name and password, if required by the network
•Whether or not your provider is using header
compression and/or data compression
•IP address, if the network does not automatically assign
one
•Optionally: Primary DNS1and Secondary DNS addresses
1. DNS (Domain Name Server)—a computer that converts web
site names, such as www.sierrawireless.com, into IP
addresses, such as 64.114.87.11.

AirCard 710/750 Network Card Installation Guide
62130135
SIM card overview
Note: 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 enter your new
profile information into the
Watcher software (see “Config-
uring Your Account” on page 23).
Inserting a SIM card
To install your SIM card into the AirCard 710/750 network
card, follow these steps:
1. Hold the AirCard 710/750 network card with the label on
top and the antenna closest to you.
2. Locate the thin SIM card slot on the left side of the AirCard
PC Card’s antenna end.
3. Orient the SIM card, as shown in the diagram on the
bottom side of the AirCard.
4. Insert the end of the SIM card into the slot, and gently
push it until it clicks into place.
Figure 2-1: Inserting the SIM card Into the AirCard 710/750 SIM card slot
5. Once the SIM card is properly inserted, it should not
extend beyond the end of the card. See Figure 2-2.
Figure 2-2: A SIM card properly inserted
Removing a SIM card
To remove the SIM card, you will need a slim object, such as
the tip of a pen or a straightened paper clip, to push into the
eject hole.

Chapter 1: Introducing the AirCard 555 Network Card
Rev 1.2 Mar.02 7
Getting Started
1. Place the AirCard 710/750 PC Card on a smooth, hard
surface such as a tabletop, as shown in Figure 2-3.
Figure 2-3: Positioning a pen to eject the SIM card
2. Position your pen or paperclip above the eject hole, which
is on the top surface of the AirCard housing, just to the
right of the SIM card slot (left photo in Figure 2-4).
3. Press down firmly (but without excessive force) on the
eject hole. The SIM card should pop out of its slot.
Figure 2-4: Ejecting and removing the SIM card
4. Gently pull the SIM card from the slot until it slides free.

AirCard 710/750 Network Card Installation Guide
82130135

Rev 1.2 Mar.02 9
Notebook PCs
3: Installation on Notebook PCs
• System requirements
• Setting up your
Internet connection
• Installing the AirCard
software
System requirements
Note: Dial-up Networking and
Winsock are components of the
Windows operating system
required by the AirCard 710/750.
The versions of these compo-
nents shipped with Windows 95
OSR2 do not meet the AirCard
710/750 requirements. If you are
using Windows 95 OSR2 and
have not yet upgraded to
Winsock2 and Dial-up
Networking version 1.3 or later,
you must do so before installing
the AirCard. The required
versions can be downloaded
from the Microsoft web site,
www.microsoft.com.
The AirCard 710/750 wireless network card is supported on:
•Windows 95 OSR2 and higher with Winsock2 and Dial-up
Networking 1.3 or higher
•Windows 98 SE
•Windows 2000 with Service Pack 1
•Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 6a and Networking
installed
•Windows Me
•Windows XP (Home and Professional versions)
To install the AirCard, you require these system resources:
Setting your Internet
connection to use the AirCard
Most likely, your computer will be set to use a modem to
connect to the Internet.
To use the AirCard, you must set your computer to connect to
the Internet through a LAN (local area network).
The specific steps to do this will depend on the browser you
are using.
Internet Explorer version 5 and 6
1. In Internet Explorer, select Tools > Internet Options.
2. Click the Connections tab.
Table 3-1: System resource requirements
Card Slots 1 Type II PCMCIA (PC Card) Slot
Disk Drive CD-ROM
I/O Resources 1 IRQ, 40 bytes I/O Space
Memory 32 MB

AirCard 710/750 Network Card Installation Guide
10 2130135
3. Click Setup to run the Internet Connection Wizard.
4. Select the option "I want to set up my Internet connection
manually, or I want to connect through a local area network
(LAN)." Click Next.
5. Select "I connect through a local area network (LAN)". Click
Next.
6. In the “Local area network Internet configuration“
window, ensure no checkboxes are selected. Click Next.
Windows 95 OSR 2, 98 SE, 2000,
and Me
Note: Users of Windows 2000
must be logged in with adminis-
trative privileges.
Note: Users of Windows 95 must have Winsock2 and Dial-up
Networking version 1.3 installed. These versions of the components
were not included in Windows 95 OSR as it was originally shipped.
You can download them from the Microsoft web site.
You must also verify that your PC card slots are enabled and that
TCP/IP is installed. For instructions on installing Dial-Up Networking
and TCP/IP and enabling your PC card slots, see the Windows 95
online Help (available by selecting Start > Help).
Note: You may require your Windows CD (particularly if you are using
Windows 95). Ensure you have the CD before proceeding.
1. If the AirCard CD is not already in your CD-ROM drive,
insert it. The CD should auto-start and display a menu.
·If the CD does not auto-start, select Start > Run and enter
d:\launch.exe where dis the drive letter of your CD-ROM
drive.
2. From the CD start-up menu, select notebook installation and
documentation and then notebook software installation to
launch the InstallShield®Wizard.
3. Use the Next and Back buttons to navigate through the
wizard.
Using the default settings for the Destination Location and
Program Folder is recommended unless you have special
requirements and an advanced understanding of PC con-
figuration.
Windows 2000 4. If the Digital Signature Not Found window appears (this may
happen several times), click Yes (to continue the instal-
lation).

Chapter 1: Introducing the AirCard 555 Network Card
Rev 1.2 Mar.02 11
Notebook PCs
5. When prompted to insert the AirCard:
AirCard 750 only a. Attach the antenna to the AirCard 750. (The AirCard
710 has a built-in antenna.)
Note: Do not forcefully insert the
AirCard. This may damage
connector pins.
b. With the SIM card inserted into the AirCard (page 6)
and the label of the AirCard facing up, carefully insert
the AirCard into your PC Card slot.
Figure 3-1: Inserting the AirCard 710/750 network card
c. Click OK in the window requesting you to insert the
AirCard.
Windows detects that a new device has been inserted and
launches a wizard that guides you through the driver
installation.
Windows 2000 6. If the Digital Signature Not Found window appears (this may
happen several times), click Yes (to continue the instal-
lation).
AirCard 710 only 7. Grasp the tip of the AirCard 710 antenna and pull it to
extend the antenna fully (it should click into place).
8. Pivot the antenna hinge so that the antenna is vertical to
your keyboard.
Figure 3-2: Pivoting the antenna at the hinge
Windows 95, 98 and Me 9. If prompted to eject the card and then restart the PC:
a. Eject the AirCard.

AirCard 710/750 Network Card Installation Guide
12 2130135
b. Click Yes to restart your computer.
c. Only after your computer has restarted and Windows
has finished launching, insert the AirCard.
10. To close the CD start-up menu, use the exit option in the
lower right corner of the window.
Watcher should start, and a window prompting you to
configure your account should display.
11. Click Yes. See “Configuring Your Account” on page 23.
Windows XP
Note: Depending on the XP
installation, you may require
administrative privileges.
1. If the AirCard CD is not already in your CD-ROM drive,
insert it. The CD should auto-start and display a menu.
·If the CD does not auto-start, select Start > Run and enter
d:\launch.exe where dis the drive letter of your CD-ROM
drive.
2. From the CD start-up menu, select notebook installation and
documentation and then notebook software installation to
launch the InstallShield Wizard.
3. Use the Next and Back buttons to navigate through the
wizard.
Using the default settings for the Destination Location and
Program Folder is recommended unless you have special
requirements and an advanced understanding of PC con-
figuration.
4. Each time the Software Installation window appears, click
Continue Anyway.
5. When prompted to insert the AirCard:
AirCard 750 only a. Attach the antenna to the AirCard 750. (The AirCard
710 has a built-in antenna.)