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AirCard® 580 Wireless Modem
User Guide
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Copyright ©2004 Sierra Wireless. All rights reserved. Trademarks AirCard and “Heart of the Wireless Machine” are registered trademarks of Sierra Wireless Sierra Wireless, the Sierra Wireless logo, the red wave design, the red-tipped antenna, and Watcher are trademarks of Sierra Wireless. Windows® is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Qualcomm® is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Other trademarks are the property of the respective owners. C
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Table of Contents 1: Introducing the AirCard 580 Wireless Modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Welcome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . .6 Package contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Feature summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 CLARO EVDO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 System components . . . . . . . . . .
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Security incorrect lock code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Software mismatch alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Tray mode alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 6: Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 7: Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33 8: Regulatory and Safety Inf
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1: Introducing the AirCard® 580 1 Wireless Modem • Welcome • Package contents • Feature summary • System components • Care and maintenance 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: “Installation Procedures”, beginning on page 11). Welcome The AirCard® 580 wireless modem is a dual-band wireless PC Card that provides true wireless Internet
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network. You just insert the AirCard 580, allow Watcher to auto-launch, click connect, then launch your Internet browser—you’re on-line! CLARO EVDO The AirCard 580 operates on CLARO networks which leverage a 3G wireless cellular technology called CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access). 3G CDMA technology provides a variety of connectivity features, depending on network coverage availabilty and account features: • EvDO is CLARO premier high-speed wireless data network and is one of
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to use the widely available Express Network network where EvDO has not yet been implemented. 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. AirCard software and driver Required to control, monitor, and manage your wireless connections is the Sierra Wireless Watcher™ software. The driver enables the AirCard to work
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Care and maintenance 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
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2 2: Getting Started • The AirCard 580 software • Your account and coverage area Before you can begin using the AirCard 580 wireless modem, you must: 1. Install the Watcher software and the AirCard drivers. 2. Obtain a CDMA account (if this wasn’t done when you purchased the card). 3. 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 580 software Th
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3 3: Installation Procedures • Overview • Part 1: AirCard 580 software installation • Part 2: Inserting and removing the AirCard 580 and driver installation • Part 3: Activating the AirCard 580 with a service provider Overview This chapter is separated into three parts that guide you through the steps necessary to install and to begin using the AirCard 580. Note: Do not insert the AirCard 580 into your PC Card slot before installing the software. The basic steps are: 1.
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Part 1: AirCard 580 software installation Windows 98 SE, Me, 2000, and XP installation procedures To install Watcher and the AirCard 580 drivers: Windows 2000 & XP: You may require administrative privileges to install the AirCard 580. 1. The Installation CD launches automatically. Select Install Watcher Setup Welcome and a welcome window appears. 2. Click Next on the Watcher Setup Welcome window. 3. Use the Next and Back buttons to navigate through the wizard noting the followin
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Figure 3-3: Watcher Full Mode view - Please Insert Card Part 2: Inserting and removing the AirCard 580 and driver installation This section outlines proper insertion and removal of the AirCard 580 into your notebook PC and explains the steps of driver installation. Inserting the AirCard 580 To insert the AirCard 580 into your notebook PC: Note: Before inserting the AirCard 580 into your PC Card slot, it is recommended that you remove the Installation CD from your CD-ROM d
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4. Select the following menu selection from the Unplug or Eject Hardware window for your operating system and click Stop to proceed: • Windows 98 SE and Me ONLY: Select Wireless PC Card USB Open Host Controller • Windows 2000 ONLY: Select “Standard OpenHCD USB Host Controller” • Windows XP ONLY: Select “Lucent USB OpenHost Controller” 5. Select the appropriate menu selection for your operating system from the "Stop a Hardware Device" window. (Refer to step 4) Tip: Windows shortc
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• If you have installed an earlier version of the drivers, click Yes to upgrade to the current version. (Recommended). • If you have already installed the current version of the drivers onto your PC, click Yes to keep the current drivers. • In the event that you have installed a later version of the drivers, click Yes to keep the latest version of drivers on your PC. 15
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Part 3: Activating the AirCard with CLARO Wireless Once the AirCard 580 is properly installed into the Type II PC Card slot of your notebook PC, the Activation Wizard will automatically appear. (In order to use your AirCard 580, you must have an account set up with CLARO). The process of setting up an account is called activation. You are now ready to use the Sierra Wireless AirCard 580! 4 16
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4: Watcher™ Basics 4 • Launching and exiting • Watcher • Connect and • disconnect • Components of the • Watcher window • System tray mode Launching and exiting Watcher Watcher is the application that allows you to manage and monitor the connection between the AirCard 580 wireless modem and the CDMA network. You use Watcher to: • Determine your signal strength, roaming status, 1xEVDO • high-speed data availability, and other network • connection parameters • Initiate data
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Disconnect” in this chapter on page 18). 1. Click the Watcher system tray icon found in the system tray and a menu appears: Figure 4-1: System tray shortcut menu 2. Select Exit from the menu. (This closes and exits Watcher and the icon disappears from the system tray). Powering the AirCard 580 (On/Off) To power the AirCard 580 on and off: 1. Click the Watcher icon found in your system tray. 2. Select “Power Off Card” or “Power On Card” from the shortcut menu. Note: P
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Figure 4-2: Watcher in Full Mode view - Connect action button 2. Watcher will take a few moments to connect to the network. Once a connection is established, the dialog box at the bottom of the Watcher window displays the word “Connected,” notifying that a connection has been established. The Connect button changes to read Disconnect. Disconnect 1. To end the current connection, click the Disconnect button. Figure 4-3: Watcher in Full Mode view - Disconnect action but
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Each time Watcher launches, it launches in Full Mode view. In Full Mode view all menus, indicators, and buttons are displayed. The window contains: • The indicator area which contains icons showing your signal strength, coverage, and roaming status. • Action buttons to connect and disconnect, links to customization menus, a digital help guide, and a shortcut that closes Full Mode view and enables System Tray Mode. In the alternate view, System Tray Mode, Watcher remains running in t
