Sierra Wireless AirPrime EM8805 Quick setup guide

AirPrime EM8805
Hardware Integration Guide
4112940
Rev 1
Distribution under NDA only
Contents subject to change

Preface
Rev 1 Jan.13 Proprietary and Confidential - Contents subject to change 3
Important
Notice 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 wireless module are used in a normal
manner with a well-constructed network, the Sierra Wireless wireless module
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 wireless module, or for failure of
the Sierra Wireless wireless module to transmit or receive such data.
Safety and
Hazards Do not operate the Sierra Wireless wireless module 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
wireless module MUST BE POWERED OFF. The Sierra Wireless wireless
module can transmit signals that could interfere with this equipment.
Do not operate the Sierra Wireless wireless module in any aircraft, whether the
aircraft is on the ground or in flight. In aircraft, the Sierra Wireless wireless
module MUST BE POWERED OFF. When operating, the Sierra Wireless wireless
module 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 wireless modules may be used at this time.
The driver or operator of any vehicle should not operate the Sierra Wireless
wireless module 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. 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 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.

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Patents This product may contain technology developed by or for Sierra Wireless Inc.
This product includes technology licensed from QUALCOMM®.
This product is manufactured or sold by Sierra Wireless Inc. or its affiliates under
one or more patents licensed from InterDigital Group.
Copyright ©2013 Sierra Wireless. All rights reserved.
Trademarks AirCard®is a registered trademark of Sierra Wireless. Sierra Wireless™,
AirPrime™, Watcher™, and the Sierra Wireless logo are trademarks of Sierra
Wireless.
Windows®is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
QUALCOMM®is a registered trademark of QUALCOMM Incorporated. Used
under license.
Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Contact
Information
Consult our website for up-to-date product descriptions, documentation,
application notes, firmware upgrades, troubleshooting tips, and press releases:
www.sierrawireless.com
Revision
History
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
Technical support: [e-mail]
RMA support: [email protected]
Fax: [phone]
Web: www.sierrawireless.com
Revision
number Release date Changes
1January 2013 FCC submission

Rev 1 Jan.13 Proprietary and Confidential - Contents subject to change 5
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Required connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Module power states . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
RF Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
RF connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Shielding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Antenna and cabling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Ground connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Interference and sensitivity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Interference from other wireless devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Host-generated RF interference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Device-generated RF interference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Methods to mitigate decreased Rx performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Radiated Spurious Emissions (RSE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Radiated sensitivity measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Regulatory Compliance and Industry Certifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Important notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Safety and hazards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Important compliance information for North American users. . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

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1
1: Introduction
The Sierra Wireless EM8805 Embedded Module is an M.2 wireless
module that provides DC-HSPA+, HSPA+, HSDPA, HSUPA,
WCDMA, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, and GNSS connectivity for notebook,
ultrabook, and tablet computers over several radio frequency bands.
The device also supports 2G/3G roaming.
The EM8805 is designed to be carrier-certified (AT&T), Android-
compliant, and Windows 8 Mobile Broadband Interface Model
(MBIM) compliant.
Accessories
A hardware development kit is available for AirPrime M.2 modules.
The kit contains hardware components for evaluating and developing
with the module, including:
•Development board
•Cables
•Antennas
•Other accessories
Required connectors
Tab le 1-1 describes the connectors used to integrate the EM8805
Embedded Module into your host device.
Table 1-1: Required host-module connectors
Connector type Description
RF cables •Mate with M.2-spec connectors
•Two connector jacks
EDGE (67 pin) •Slot B compatible—Per the M.2 standard (PCI Express NGFF
(M.2) Electromechanical Specification Revision 0.7), a generic
75 pin position EDGE connector on the motherboard uses a
mechanical key to mate with the 67 pin notched module
connector.
•Manufacturers include LOTES (part #APCI0018-P001A01),
Kyocera, JAE, Tyco, and Longwell.
SIM •Industry-standard connector.

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2
2: Power
Power supply
The host provides power to the EM8805 through multiple power and
ground pins. The host must provide safe and continuous power (via
battery or a regulated power supply) at all times; the module does not
have an independent power supply, or protection circuits to guard
against electrical issues.
For detailed pinout and voltage/current requirements of this module,
see the AirPrime EM8805 Product Technical Specification &
Customer Design Guidelines.
Module power states
The module has five power states, as described in Ta b l e 2-1.
Table 2-1: Module power states
State Details
Host is powered Module is powered USB interface active RF enabled
Normal
(Default
state)
•Module is active
•Default state. Occurs when VCC is first applied, Full_Card_Power_Off# is
deasserted (pulled high), and W_DISABLE#1 is deasserted
•Module is capable of placing/receiving calls, or establishing data connections on the
wireless network
•Current consumption is affected by several factors, including:
•Radio band being used
•Transmit power
•Receive gain settings
•Data rate
   
Low power
(‘Airplane
mode’)
•Module is active
•Module enters this state:
•Under host interface control:
·Host issues AT+CFUN=0 ([1] AT Command Set for User Equipment (UE)
(Release 6) (Doc# 3GPP TS 27.007))), or
·Host asserts W_DISABLE#1, after AT!PCOFFEN=0 has been issued.
•Automatically, when critical temperature or voltage trigger limits have been
reached))
   

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Sleep •Normal state of module between calls or data connections
•Module cycles between wake (polling the network) and sleep, at network provider-
determined interval.
   
Off •Host keeps module powered off by asserting Full_Card_Power_Off# (signal pulled
low or left floating)
•Module draws minimal current
  
Disconnected •Host power source is disconnected from the module and all voltages associated with
the module are at 0 V.    
Table 2-1: Module power states (Continued)
State Details
Host is powered Module is powered USB interface active RF enabled

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3
3: RF Specifications
The EM8805 operates on the frequency bands listed below:
RF connections
When attaching antennas to the module:
•Use any of the following (or compatible) 2x2 mm 
RF receptacle connectors to attach antennas to the module’s
connection points: Foxconn (KK12011-02-7H), Longwell
Table 3-1: WCDMA frequency band support1
1. WCDMA channel spacing is 5 MHz, but this can be adjusted to
optimize performance in a particular deployment scenario.
Band Frequencies
Band 1
WCDMA 2100 Tx: 1920–1980 MHz Rx: 2110–2170 MHz
Band 2
WCDMA 1900 Tx: 1850–1910 MHz Rx: 1930–1990 MHz
Band 5
WCDMA 850 Tx: 824–849 MHz Rx: 869–894 MHz
Band 8
WCDMA 900 Tx: 880–915 MHz Rx: 925–960 MHz
Table 3-2: GSM frequency band support
Band Frequencies
GSM 850 Tx: 824–849 MHz
Rx: 869–894 MHz
EGSM 900 Tx: 880–915 MHz
Rx: 925–960 MHz
GSM 1800 Tx: 1710–1785 MHz
Rx: 1805–1880 MHz
GSM 1900 Tx: 1850–1910 MHz
Rx: 1930–1990 MHz
Table 3-3: GNSS frequency band support
Band Frequencies
GPS Rx: 1575.42 MHz
GLONASS Rx: 1602 MHz

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(911-002-0006R), Speedtech (C87P101-00001-H), Murata
(MM4829-2702RA4 (HSC)), IPEX (20449-001E (MHF4))
•Match coaxial connections between the module and the antenna to 50 .
•Minimize RF cable losses to the antenna; the recommended maximum cable
loss for antenna cabling is 0.5 dB.
•To ensure best thermal performance, if possible use the mounting hole to
attach (ground) the device to a metal chassis.
Note: If the antenna connection is shorted or open, the wireless module will not sustain
permanent damage.
Shielding
The module is fully shielded to protect against EMI and must not be removed.
Antenna and cabling
When selecting the antenna and cable, it is critical to RF performance to match
antenna gain and cable loss.
Choosing the correct antenna and cabling
When matching antennas and cabling:
•The antenna (and associated circuitry) should have a nominal impedance of
50 with a return loss of better than 10 dB across each frequency band of
operation.
•The system gain value affects both radiated power and regulatory (FCC, IC,
CE, etc.) test results.
Designing custom antennas
Consider the following points when designing custom antennas:
•A skilled RF engineer should do the development to ensure that the RF
performance is maintained.
•If both UMTS and CDMA modules will be installed in the same platform, you
may want to develop separate antennas for maximum performance.
Determining the antenna’s location
When deciding where to put the antennas:
•Antenna location may affect RF performance. Although the module is
shielded to prevent interference in most applications, the placement of the
antenna is still very important—if the host device is insufficiently shielded,
high levels of broadband or spurious noise can degrade the module’s perfor-
mance.
•Connecting cables between the module and the antenna must have 50 
impedance. If the impedance of the module is mismatched, RF performance
is reduced significantly.

RF Specifications
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•Antenna cables should be routed, if possible, away from noise sources
(switching power supplies, LCD assemblies, etc.). If the cables are near the
noise sources, the noise may be coupled into the RF cable and into the
antenna.
Disabling the diversity antenna
•Use the AT command !RXDEN=0 to disable receive diversity or !RXDEN=1 to
enable receive diversity.
Note: A diversity antenna is used to improve connection quality and reliability through
redundancy. Because two antennas may experience difference interference effects (signal
distortion, delay, etc.), when one antenna receives a degraded signal, the other may not be
similarly affected.
Ground connection
When connecting the module to system ground:
•Prevent noise leakage by establishing a very good ground connection to the
module through the host connector.
•Connect to system ground using the module’s mounting hole.
•Minimize ground noise leakage into the RF.
Depending on the host board design, noise could potentially be coupled to
the module from the host board. This is mainly an issue for host designs that
have signals traveling along the length of the module, or circuitry operating at
both ends of the module interconnects.
Interference and sensitivity
Several interference sources can affect the module’s RF performance
(RF desense). Common sources include power supply noise and device-
generated RF.
RF desense can be addressed through a combination of mitigation techniques
(Methods to mitigate decreased Rx performance on page 14) and radiated
sensitivity measurement (Radiated sensitivity measurement on page 15).
Note: The EM8805 is based on ZIF (Zero Intermediate Frequency) technologies. When
performing EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility) tests, there are no IF (Intermediate
Frequency) components from the module to consider.

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Interference from other wireless devices
Wireless devices operating inside the host device can cause interference that
affects the module.
To determine the most suitable locations for antennas on your host device,
evaluate each wireless device’s radio system, considering the following:
•Any harmonics, sub-harmonics, or cross-products of signals generated by
wireless devices that fall in the module’s Rx range may cause spurious
response, resulting in decreased Rx performance.
•The Tx power and corresponding broadband noise of other wireless devices
may overload or increase the noise floor of the module’s receiver, resulting in
Rx desense.
The severity of this interference depends on the closeness of the other antennas
to the module’s antenna. To determine suitable locations for each wireless
device’s antenna, thoroughly evaluate your host device’s design.
Host-generated RF interference
All electronic computing devices generate RF interference that can negatively
affect the receive sensitivity of the module.
Proximity of host electronics to the antenna in wireless devices can contribute to
decreased Rx performance. Components that are most likely to cause this
include:
•Microprocessor and memory
•Display panel and display drivers
•Switching-mode power supplies
Device-generated RF interference
The module can cause interference with other devices. Wireless devices such as
AirPrime embedded modules transmit in bursts (pulse transients) for set durations
(RF burst frequencies). Hearing aids and speakers convert these burst
frequencies into audible frequencies, resulting in audible noise.
Methods to mitigate decreased Rx performance
It is important to investigate sources of localized interference early in the design
cycle. To reduce the effect of device-generated RF on Rx performance:
•Put the antenna as far as possible from sources of interference. The
drawback is that the module may be less convenient to use.
•Shield the host device. The module itself is well shielded to avoid external
interference. However, the antenna cannot be shielded for obvious reasons.
In most instances, it is necessary to employ shielding on the components of
the host device (such as the main processor and parallel bus) that have the
highest RF emissions.
•Filter out unwanted high-order harmonic energy by using discrete filtering on
low frequency lines.

RF Specifications
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•Form shielding layers around high-speed clock traces by using multi-layer
PCBs.
•Route antenna cables away from noise sources.
Radiated Spurious Emissions (RSE)
When designing an antenna for use with AirPrime embedded modules, the host
device with an AirPrime embedded module must satisfy the radiated spurious
emission (RSE) test cases described in:
•CE/ETSI EN 301 908 (WCDMA), test numbers 5.3.1 (‘Radiated Emissions
(UE)’)
•CE/ETSI EN 301 511 (GSM), test 5.2.16 (‘Radiated Spurious Emissions - MS
allocated a channel’). This test uses the procedure and requirement outlined
in 3GPP 51.010 (GSM) section 12.2.1 of the same test name.
Note that antenna impedance affects radiated emissions, which must be
compared against the conducted 50-ohm emissions baseline. (AirPrime
embedded modules meet the 50-ohm conducted emissions requirement.)
Note: GSM spurious emissions are most likely to have RSE issues, but in general, RSE
requirements must be met on all models with user-designed antennas.
Radiated sensitivity measurement
A wireless host device contains many noise sources that contribute to a reduction
in Rx performance.
To determine the extent of any receiver performance desensitization due to self-
generated noise in the host device, over-the-air (OTA) or radiated testing is
required. This testing can be performed by Sierra Wireless or you can use your
own OTA test chamber for in-house testing.

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4
4: Regulatory Compliance and Industry
Certifications
This module is designed to meet, and upon commercial release, will
meet the requirements of the following regulatory bodies and
regulations, where applicable:
•Federal Communications Commission (FCC) of the United States
•The National Communications Commission (NCC) of Taiwan,
Republic of China
•Radio Equipment and Telecommunications Terminal Equipment
(R&TTE) Directive of the European Union
Upon commercial release, the following industry certifications will
have been obtained, where applicable:
•GCF-CC
•Full GCF
Additional certifications may be obtained upon customer request—
contact your Sierra Wireless account representative for details.
Additional testing and certification may be required for the end
product with an embedded EM8805 wireless module and are the
responsibility of the OEM. Sierra Wireless offers professional
services-based assistance to OEMs with the testing and certification
process, if required.
Important notice
Because of 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 wireless module are used in a normal manner with a
well-constructed network, the Sierra Wireless wireless module 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 and its affiliates accept no responsibility for damages
of any kind resulting from delays or errors in data transmitted or
received using the Sierra Wireless wireless module, or for failure of
the Sierra Wireless wireless module to transmit or receive such data.
Safety and hazards
Do not operate your EM8805 wireless module:
•In areas where blasting is in progress

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•Where explosive atmospheres may be present including refuelling points, fuel
depots, and chemical plants
•Near medical equipment, life support equipment, or any equipment which
may be susceptible to any form of radio interference. In such areas, the
EM8805 wireless module MUST BE POWERED OFF. Otherwise, the
EM8805 wireless module can transmit signals that could interfere with this
equipment.
In an aircraft, the EM8805 wireless module MUST BE POWERED OFF.
Otherwise, the EM8805 wireless module can transmit signals that could interfere
with various onboard systems and may be dangerous to the operation of the
aircraft or disrupt the cellular network. Use of a cellular phone in an aircraft is
illegal in some jurisdictions. Failure to observe this instruction may lead to
suspension or denial of cellular telephone services to the offender, or legal action
or both.
Some airlines may permit the use of cellular phones while the aircraft is on the
ground and the door is open. The EM8805 wireless module may be used
normally at this time.
Important compliance information for
North American users
Note: Details are preliminary and subject to change.
The EM8805 wireless module has been granted modular approval for mobile
applications. Integrators may use the EM8805 wireless module in their final
products without additional FCC certification if they meet the following conditions.
Otherwise, additional FCC approvals must be obtained.
1. At least 20 cm separation distance between the antenna and the user’s body
must be maintained at all times.
2. To comply with FCC/IC regulations limiting both maximum RF output power
and human exposure to RF radiation, the maximum antenna gain including
cable loss in a mobile-only exposure condition must not exceed:
Note: Gain values are
preliminary and subject to
change.
·(TBD) 6.5 dBi in Cellular band
·(TBD) 3 dBi in PCS band
3. The EM8805 wireless module may transmit simultaneously with other collo-
cated radio transmitters within a host device, provided the following conditions
are met:
·Each collocated radio transmitter has been certfied by FCC for mobile
application.
·At least 20 cm separation distance between the antennas of the collocated
transmitters and the user’s body must be maintained at all times.

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·The output power and antenna gain must not exceed the limits and configu-
rations stipulated in the following table.
4. A label must be affixed to the outside of the end product into which the
EM8805 wireless module is incorporated, with a statement similar to the
following:
· This device contains FCC ID: N7NEM8805
5. A user manual with the end product must clearly indicate the operating
requirements and conditions that must be observed to ensure compliance
with current FCC/IC RF exposure guidelines.
The end product with an embedded EM8805 wireless module may also need to
pass the FCC Part 15 unintentional emission testing requirements and be
properly authorized per FCC Part 15.
Note: If this module is intended for use in a portable device, you are responsible
for separate approval to satisfy the SAR requirements of FCC Part 2.1093.
Device Technology Band Frequency
(MHz) Maximum conducted power
(dBm)
Maximum
antenna gain
(dBi)
EM8805
Embedded
Module
UMTS 21850–1910 23.5 3
5824–849 23.5 3
GSM 850 824–849 33 3
1900 1850–1910 30 3
Collocated
transmitters1WLAN 2400–2500 29 5.0
5150–5850 29 5.0
WiMAX 2300–2400 29 5.0
2500–2700 29 5.0
3300–3800 29 5.0
BT 2400–2500 15 5.0
1. Valid collocated transmitter combinations: WLAN+BT; WiMAX+BT.
(WLAN+WiMAX+BT is not permitted.)

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