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RIM 802D OEM Radio Modem Integrator’s Guide
Last Updated: August 24, 1999

Model No. R802D-2-O

1999, RESEARCH IN MOTI ON LIMITED

©

Research In Motion and RIM are registered trademarks of Research In Motion Ltd.
MS-DOS is a registered trademark, and Windows is a trademark, of Microsoft Corp.

Warning: This document is for the use of licensed users only. Any unauthorised
copying, distribution or disclosure of information is a violation of copyright laws.

While every effort has been made to ensure technical accuracy, information in this
document is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on
the part of Research In Motion Limited.

Researc h In M oti on

295 Phillip Street
Waterloo, Ontario
Canada N2L 3W8
tel. [phone]
fax [phone]

Email: [e-mail]
Web sit e : www.rim. net

DRAFT

FCC Class B Part 15
This devi ce compl ies with Part 15 of FCC Rules. O peration i s subject to

the following two conditions:

1. This device may not cause harmful inter ference, and

2. This device must accept any interference received, including

Warning

Changes or modifications to this unit not expressly approved by the
party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to
operate this equi pment.

This equipment has been tested and found t o c omply wit h the limits for a
Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These
limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interf erence i n a residenti al i nstallat ion. T his equipm ent generat es, uses
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, i f not i nstalled and used in
accordance with the manufacture’s instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radi o c ommunications.

FCC Compliance Statement (USA)

interference that may cause undesired operation.

There is no guarantee, however, that interference will not occur in a
particul ar installat ion. If thi s equipment does cause harm ful i nterf erence
to radio or t elev ision recepti on, which can be determ ined by tur ning the
equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or m or e of the following measures:

x

Re-orient or r elocate the receiv ing antenna.

x

Increase the separation between the equipment and r ec eiv er .

x

Connect the equipm ent int o an outlet on a circ uit di ff erent f rom

that to which t he r ec eiver is connected.

x

Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for

help.

DRAFT

This device complies with Industry Canada RSS 119, under certification
number xxxxx.

IC Class B compliance

This device complies with the Class B limits for radio noise emissions as set
out in the interference-causing equipment standard entitled “Digital
Apparatus,” ICES-003 of Industry Canada.

Industry Canada Certification

Contents

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DRAFT

FCC Complia nce S t a tement (USA)

Industry Canada Certification

..........................i

.................................ii

About this guide....................................................................v

1. Introduction...............................................................1

Radio performance...................................................................... 1

DataTAC network technology..................................................... 4

2. Getting started...........................................................7

Test board overview .................................................................... 8

How to connect the test board......................................................9

The MENU diagnostics tool.......................................................10

3. Mechanical integration........................................... 17

Environmental properties...........................................................17

Physical properties .....................................................................18

Mounting methods.....................................................................20

Cables and connectors................................................................23

4. Power requirements................................................ 27

Load specifications ....................................................................27

Calculating overall power consumption......................................29

Batteries ....................................................................................30

Plug-in supplies.........................................................................31

Automotive supplies...................................................................32

5. Interface specification............................................. 33

NCL and RAP link-layer protocols.............................................33

Pin descriptions .........................................................................35

How to turn the radio on and off................................................40

Loading firmware (optional)......................................................41

6. Antenna selection.................................................... 43

Selecting an antenna..................................................................43

Introduction to antenna terminology..........................................45

Antenna design considerations...................................................47

Shielding...................................................................................49

FCC radio frequency exposure rules...........................................50

Specifications...................................................................... 55

Glossary of terms................................................................ 57

About this guide

This guide will assist you in integrating the RIM 802D OEM radio modem into
a variety of devices such as laptop computers, handhelds, vending machines,
point-of-sale terminals, vehicle-based mobile terminals, and alarm system.

Topics covered in this guide include:

x

mounting requirements

x

power (battery) characteristics

x

interfacing to the RIM 802D

x

antenna selection and placement

Throughout the guide, there are suggestions and precautions that will ease the
implementation of a wireless communication solution. You are encouraged to
contact RIM if you would like to discuss the technical implementation of this
radio modem.



Introduction

1.

With the introduction of the RIM 802D, Research In Motion (RIM) has set a
new standard for radio modem performance. The RIM 802D is unrivaled in the
key area s of receiver sensitivity, output efficiency, noise immunity, and power
consumption. Its small size and weight make it suitable for virtually any
wireless data application, including handheld devices and mobile terminals.

The RIM 802D is designed for use with DataTAC wide-area wireless data
networks operating in the 800 MHz range, such as the American Mobile
ARDIS network and the Bell Mobility ARDIS network.

RIM radio modems are specifically designed to integrate easily into a
computing device. Potential applications include:

x

Laptop computers

x

Point of sale devices

x

Ruggedized terminals

x

Handheld PC’s

x

Parking meters

x

Dispatching

x

Vehicle tracking and location

x

Monitoring and telemetry

x

Vending machines

x

Utility meters

x

Billboards

x

Security alarm panels

Radio performance

The RIM 802D offers the highest performance of any radio modem for
DataTAC wireless data networks:

2 Introduction – Radio performance

Receiver sensitivity

Receiver sensitivity is a measure of how well a radio modem can “hear” a
network base station. This figure is important when a device will be used in
areas where signal strength is weak, such as inside buildings and in locations
that are not close to a base station. A radio modem with good receiver
sensitivity can be used in more places than a radio modem with poor sensitivity.

The RIM 802D has a recei ver sensitivity of –118 dBm (MDC) and –111dBm
(RD-Lap) a t 0.01 BER. Th is means th at th e radio can inter pret r eceived data
from a very weak 0.0025 picowatt signal with a 1% bit error rate. Although 1%
may seem like a high error rate, the sophisticated over-the-air DataTAC
protocol corrects these errors before the data is passed to the application,
ensuring error-free communication. This capability is already built into the
radio’s firmware, and does not require any additional software development.

Noise immunity

The RIM 802D is not de-sensitized by the electromagnetic interference (EMI)
or “noise” that is generated by the electronics of the terminal into which it is
integrated. As a result, no special shielding is required between the radio and
your device.

Noise immunity offers several key benefits, including:

x

easier integration

x

longer battery life

x

increased reliability

x

im proved RF perfor mance

x

more coverage fr om each base station

x

no need for special RF shielding

Low power requirements

If you are planning to integrate the RIM 802D into a handheld or portable
device, battery life is a critical issue: your customers will insist on long lasting
devices without heavy battery packs. The RIM 802D sets a new power
consumption standard for DataTAC radio modems. This ensures efficiency an d
maximizes battery life.

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Introduction – Radio performance 3

Transmitting data: 1.7 amps or less (at 4.4 V), depending on output power

The transmitter is ON for a pulse of up to 1.1 seconds, depending on the
amount of data transmitted. The maximum packet size for a DataTAC
device is 2048 bytes.

Receivin g d ata: 66 mA (at 4.4 V)

The radio’s receiver is usually turned off, and turned on periodically for
the purpose of listening to the network for messages. The base station will
only attempt to communicate with the radio during these windows. To
minimize latency during rapid two-way communication, the receiver is
also turned on and kept on for 10 seconds after any communication
(transmit or receive) with the network.

Standby power: 0. 2 mA (at 4. 4 V)

Standby power consumption is very low and occurs when no radio activity
has taken place for at least 10 seconds and the radio is not in a receiver­on window. The radio and base station are closely synchronized to ensure
that a communication attempt is not missed when the radio is in standby
mode.

Battery life is not a concern for certain applications, such as in-vehicle
application s that draw power from the vehicle battery. For th ese applications, it
is possible to put the radio in an express operating mode, in which power
consumption is higher than normal but packet transfer latency is reduced to a
minimum.

Small size

Using a single board design, the RIM 802D is ver y thin, an d much smaller than
a busi ness car d, at on ly 42.0 by 67.5 mm. This tiny size allows the RIM 802D
to meet tight space requirements within most applications. Its single-board
design is more reliable than multi-boar d designs, particularly in high -vibration
environments (such as vehicles) or in devices that can be dropped (such as
handheld PCs).

RIM 802D OEM Radio Modem – Integrator’s Guide DRAFT VERSION

4 Introduction – DataTAC network technology

DataTAC network technology

The DataTAC wireless network technology has become an international data
communication standard. DataTAC is a secure, reliable, wireless packet
switching network specifically designed for wide-area wireless data
communications.

DataTAC networks are deployed around the world. DataTAC provides highly
reliable, two-way digital data transmission. The network provides error
detection and correction to ensure the integrity of the data being sent and
received , an d includes tran smissi on acknowledgment.

The DataTAC network has a hierarchical structure that allows messages to be
rout ed from sen der t o receiver alon g th e most di rect pa th possible. Ea ch r adi o
cell is served by an intelligent base station. Because intelligence is distributed
throughout the network, data is only forwarded to the lowest network node
common to the sen der a n d th e r ecei ver . For exa mp le, on e bas e station is able to
handle all traffic in its cover age area.

The network constantly mon itors the location of the mobile users. As a mobile
device moves from one area of coverage to another, base stations track its
signals, sendin g updated mobile location and status infor mation to the network.
If the network goes down at any point in tr an smission, the message is held until
networ k service is restored . If th e mobile recei ver moves outsi de the cover age
area, the base station stores the data until coverage is re-established, then
forwards it to the mobile. This prevents data loss, and increases the reliability
of transmission.

DataTAC is optimized for data communication. It uses a packet switching
technique to provide the greatest flexibility in data transmission. Conventional
cellular phone systems, by contrast, use a circuit-switched network, in which a
physical connection is created between the sen ding an d receiving nodes, and
must be main tained throughout the duration of the tran smission. With circuit­switched systems, the set-up time for establishing a connection involves
significant overhead and airtime cost, especially when only a small amount of
data needs to be transferred.

DataTAC packets include infor mation about the origin, destination, size, type,
and sequence of data to be sent. This enables packets to be transmitted
individually, in any order, as traffic permits. Internal to the networ k, individual
packets may travel along differ ent routes, in any or der, without interferin g with

Integrator’s Guide – RIM 802D OEM Radio Modem DRAFT VERSION

Introduction – DataTAC network technology 5

other packets sent over th e same fr equency by differen t user s. At t he r eceivin g
end, all packets are accounted for, and reassembled into the original message.

Set up time is eliminated and networ k connection is instantaneous. As a result,
packet-switching makes far more efficient use of channel capacity, typically
allowin g 10 to 50 times more users over a radio channel than a circuit switch ed
network.

RIM 802D OEM Radio Modem – Integrator’s Guide DRAFT VERSION



2.

Getting started

RIM is committed to facilitatin g the integration of the RIM 802D OEM radio
modem. We provide the necessary resources to evaluate the feasibility of
implementing a wireless communication solution, and work closely with our
partners to develop an application in the shortest time possible.

Years of intense R&D have spawned several tools that have been used
internally to help streamline our own development process. We have included
many of these tools with th e RIM 802D OEM Developer’s Kit. The purpose of
the Ki t is to accel erat e rad io int egration and to help system designers evaluate
the RIM 802D. Using the Kit, you can quickly begin interfacing the radio
modem to your computing device.

We’re here for you!

RIM has a t eam of experienced engineers who can support you in the design
and implementation of your project. If you need help getting started, or if you
have any questions about the radio technology or its integration into your
platform, please contact the RIM 802D engin eering development team:

e-mail:
phone:
fax:
web:

[e-mail]
[phone]
[phone]
www.rim.net

8 Getting started – Test board over view

Test board overview

The RIM test board provides a standar d RS-232 serial interface between a PC
and the radio modem. It is designed to help you quickly interface the
RIM 802D to a standard PC (through a COM port) or a termina l device wi t h an
RS-232 serial port. The test board also provides access points to the radio’s
communication port, which allows you to monitor activity with a logic probe,
multimeter, or oscilloscope.

The test board includes the following components and functionality:

RS-232 interface

The serial (COM) por t on a PC and most ter minal devices operates at RS-232
signal levels, which are typically r12V. This high voltage would damage the
RIM 802D, which is typically integrated into a device that operates an
asynchronous ser ial port at 3.0V. The RS-232 in terface on the test board allows
you to produce an output from the radio that is easily interpreted by a PC.

Test points

The test boar d is more th an just an RS-232 interface. It also features debugging
facilities to help you test your application. It provides direct access to each of
the 22 pins on the radio in terface cable, which allows connectivity to analytical
equipment (e.g. logic probe, multimeter, or oscilloscope) and real-time
indication of data flow.

On/off switch

With the switch in the ON position, the radio will turn on whenever power is
applied to the test board. Wh en the switch is moved to th e OFF position, the
radio will shut down.

Power supply

The RIM 802D must be provided wit h a clean, high-current power source. In
this case, we use a standard plug-pack to provide the current necessary to

Integrator’s Guide – RIM 802D OEM Radio Modem DRAFT VERSION

Getting started – How to connect the test board 9

operate the radio. The voltage is converted into the necessary levels by the
power supply secti on on t he test boa rd.

LED indicators

The test board includes several LED indicators designed to indicate the flow of
data to and from the host (in r eal time), the radio power status, power to th e test
board, and more.

How to connect the test board

Now that you are familiar with the components and functions of the test board,
you a re ready to connect the RIM 802D radio modem to an antenna and to a PC
(or some other computing device with an RS-232 serial interface). To do this,
you will use the test board and cables supplied with your RIM 802D
Developer’s Kit.

1. Flat interface cable (test board to radio)

The flat interface cable carries data between th e test board and the RIM 802D.
Control and status signals such as TURNON ar e a lso car r ied on t h is cable. Use
this cable to connect the RIM 802D to t he test boa rd.

This cable also carries clean, regulated power to the RIM 802D.

When inserting the cable, en sure that the side with the bare pins are in direct
contact with the pin side of the connector. To ensure proper contact, do not
force th e cable int o the connect or. In stead, pul l the ta bs on eith er side of the
connector, slide the cable in, then push the tabs back in to tighten.

2. DB-9 serial cable (test board to PC)

Connect the male end of the straight-through DB-9 serial cable to the test
board.

Connect the female end of the cable to your PC’s COM port.

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10 Getting started – The MENU diagnostics tool

3. Power adapter (test board to AC outlet)

Plug the 5VDC, 2.4A, center-pin-positive power adapter into the wall outlet.
Connect the other end to th e power jack of the test board.

4. Antenna cable (radio to magmount antenna)

Your developer’s kit includes a high-performance, 6dB-gain magmount
antenna. This antenna is terminated with a screw-on SMA plug. The
RIM 802D radio modem includes a snap-on MMCX jack. The an tenna cable
supplied with your developer’s kit connects the antenna’s SMA plug to the
radi o’s MMCX ja ck.

The magmount antenna provides optimum RF performance wh en placed on a
broad metal surface, such as the roof of a car. When used inside a building,
performance is improved if the antenna is located near a window, with few
obstacles (wall, furniture, equipment, etc.) between the antenna and the
window. The antenna must be oriented vertically for best performance, and
performs equally well whether positioned rightside up or upside down.

5. Turn the system on

The power switch on t he test board is conn ect ed to the TURNON line of the
RIM 802D radio modem. To determine whether the radio is on, look at the
LED marked ONI. It is lit when the radio is on.

The MENU diagnostics tool

Now that you h ave successfully connected your RIM 802D radio modem to your
PC, you are ready to send a test packet through the DataTAC network.

Your radio modem must be activated by the network operator in order to be
used on the DataTAC network and to establish an airtime agreement. If you
have not already arranged for activation of your radio, contact your network
operator.

Integrator’s Guide – RIM 802D OEM Radio Modem DRAFT VERSION

Getting started – The MENU diagnostics tool 11

The RIM 802D contains a diagnostic utility called MENU. With this utility,
you can set the current network, “ping” your radio modem, or view r adio and
networ k status values.

Setup

The followi ng instructions assume that your RIM 802D is connected to a PC
running a terminal program, such as Windows HyperTerminal. The MENU
utility is based in the RIM 802D’s firmware, so HyperTerminal is the only
software required to use it.

The MENU utility’s user interface is a full-screen text mode interface, and uses
the ANSI cursor command set. Programs like HyperTerminal support th e ANSI
codes by default. If you are using a different terminal program that does not
provide ANSI cursor control, the MENU utility will drop into a line-by-line
interface. The appear ance of the line-by-line interface is not documented here,
but the commands it uses are the same as those described below.

Select the COM port which commun icates with the RIM 802D and configure
for 9600 bps, and either 7E1 (7 bits, Even parit y, 1 stop bit) or 8N1 (8 bits, No
parity, 1 stop bit). If you have set this up correctly, you may see occasional
bursts of characters from th e radio modem. These character bursts are normal;
they represent an NCL frame, which you can ignore for now.

Type the word menu (all in lower case letter s only) then press the ENTER key.
You can expect to see a full screen of information. If nothing happens, simply
re-enter men u until the radio modem responds. The word “menu” itself will
probably not appear on the screen as you type it in.

If you re-enter menu and n othing occurs, ensure that the radio is turned on and
connected to the PC, and that all cables are securely connected. Please contact
RIM for assistance if you are stuck at this point.

Once the utility has been started, the terminal program’s screen will look
similar to the following:

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12 Getting started – The MENU diagnostics tool

RIM 802D Firmware Version 1.0.0

(c) 1999 Research In Motion Limited

Radio Setup Radio Serial Number = 031/11/066300

Command Key Description Networks Available:

----------- ----------- ------------------­Q Quit and reset the radio. 1. AMSC

2. BELLMOB
N Set the current network.
P Ping: Send a Status SDU to yourself.

Your Choice ?

LLI=88231144 RSSI= 40% 24 dBuV Battery= 97% Network=AMSC
Contact=Yes Mode=PowerSave Tx=Enabled
Status=0080

The screen displays the software version and build date, the radio modem’s
serial number, the list of available DataTAC radio networks, current radio
modem status indicators, the “pin g” function, and other relevant information.

RSSI stands for Received Signal Strength Indicator. This is a measure of
network coverage. Th e higher the number, the better the coverage. The RSSI is
given both as a percentage and in dBPV (decibel microvolts). To obtain the
RSSI in dBm (decibel milliwatts), subtract 113 from the dBPV value. Note that
RSSI= 0% 0 dBPV does not necessarily represent the complete absence of a
signal; in many cases, the radio is capable of communicating with the network
at signal strengths of 0 dBPV or even less. Actual contact with the DataTAC
network woul d be in dica ted by t he Contact fiel d. The RSSI is upda ted every
ten s econds, or when ever you press D.

The Battery indicator shows the level of supplied voltage. The battery level is
upda ted once ever y thir ty seconds, or when ever you press D.

Network tells you which network you ar e currently using. The example shows
AMSC (American Mobile Satellite Corporation, which operates the ARDIS
networ k in the United States) and BELLMOB (Bell Mobility ARDIS operates a
DataTAC network in Canada).

LLI stands for Logical Link Identifier, which is a unique number that identifies
each DataTAC radio modem. The LLI is used for addressing packets. The
screen will also display a Radio Serial Number, which is uni que to each radio

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