RIM 802D Integrator Manual

,QWHJUDWRU·V
*XLGH

5,0'

2(05DGLR0RGHP

'5$)7

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

DRAFT
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.

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

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.

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

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:

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

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

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

Getting started – The MENU diagnostics tool 13

modem. This number is often referred to in other documents as ESN
(Electronic Serial Number).

Mode shows whether the radio is in powersave mode or express mode. The
default operating mode is powersave, wh ich reduces power consumption by th e
radio but introduces latency when receiving packets from the network. This
mode may be chan ged th rough software.

Tx is an indicator to let you know wh ether the radio’s transmitter is enabled or
disabled. The transmitter may be enabled or disabled thr ough softwar e, and is
normally en abled.

Status describes the cur rent state of the radio. Other documentation may also
refer to the Status value as th e r adio’s internal fault bits. The following table
shows the interpretation of the Status bits. If the Status value displayed on your
screen does not correspond to an y of the values below, then determine which
values add together in hexadecimal to give the Status value that you see. For
example, status value B403 would simultan eously describe states A000, 1000,
0400, 0001, and 0002, as described below.

Please n ote: if status bits are set, it does not necessarily indicate that there is a
fault with the radio. These bits are useful only for troubleshooting a known
problem, and should not be r ead or interpreted by any application. For example,
it is possible for the status bits to read 0040 yet th e radio is able to transmit.

0000 The radio modem status is normal. There are no wa rni ngs.
0001 The RIM 802D has been out of coverage for a long time. No adequate base

station was found. Possible causes include lack of network coverage, wrong

network selected, or the battery level is too low.
0002 This is a new RIM 802D being used for the first t ime. No action is necessary.
0008 The radio modem has exhausted its internal memory. This should not happen

under ordinary use. Turning off the radio modem then turning it back on will

resolve this.
0040 The modem’s transmitter has been disabled by your software, using the RAP

“Turn Transmitter Off” command. The transmitter can be turned back on with

the RAP “Turn Transmitter On” command, or by resetting the radio.
0100 Another device may be using the same LLI number as your device on the same

base station. This should not happen under ordinary use. It may cause

duplicate, dropped, or mixed up packets. Contact the network operator to

determine whether two units have the same LLI number.
0800 The RIM 802D may be having a problem remembering its last base station. If

the problem persists, the unit should be returned for repair.

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

14 Getting started – The MENU diagnostics tool

1000 The RIM 802D has received an unknown interrupt and might be having

problems receiving packets. If the problem persists, the unit should be returned

for repair.
2000 The RIM 802D has received an unknown interr upt. No action is necessary.
4000 The RIM 802D has been damaged and cannot be used until this problem is

corrected. The unit should be returned for repair.

How to change to a different network

The RIM 802D radio may be used on different DataTAC networks operating on
different channels in the 800 MHz range. Up to 16 network channel lists may
be programmed by RIM into each radio. If the network shown is not the cor rect
one, you can choose another from the list of networks available. Press N and
the MENU utility will present an additional prompt for selecting the network,
as shown be low.

RIM 802D Firmware Version 1.0.0 release

(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 ? Choose a network from the list (1..2) ?

LLI=88231144 RSSI= 30% 22 dBuV Battery= 97% Network=AMSC
Contact=Yes Mode=PowerSave Tx=Enabled
Status=0080

Change network name

You may now enter a number corresponding to the desired network shown
under Networks Available. When you press ENTER, the radio modem will
switch to the selected network, as shown below. If you do not enter a number ,
or if you er ase the number you have typed, then no change will occur when you
press ENTER. Pressing ESC will cancel the network set-up command.

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

Getting started – The MENU diagnostics tool 15

The scr een below shows what would h appen if you press 2 th en ENTER. The
values shown beside Network h as chan g ed.

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= 30% 22 dBuV Battery= 97% Network=BELLMOB
Contact=Yes Mode=PowerSave Tx=Enabled
Status=0080

Radio update was successful.

“Ping” the network: an end-to-end radio test

You can determine wheth er your radio modem is working on the network by
pressin g P. When you “ping,” you send a message (SDU – Service Data Unit, a
DataTAC data packet) to yourself via the wireless network base station. The
MENU utility will display a message indicating that the SDU was sent. A few
seconds later, it should also indicate that the SDU was received. Th is confir ms
that your r adio modem is operational and active on th e network.

If you get the message “Status SDU cann ot be sen t – out of coverage”, th en you
are not in an area that is covered by th e DataTAC network. You can determine
whether you are in coverage by looking at Contact on the status lines. If you
are certain that you are in a coverage area, but are still not able to communicate
with the network, check the antenna to make sure it is connected proper ly and
is positioned vertically. Signal quality can vary sign ificantly within a building.
Try moving the antenna to a new location, perhaps near a window, to see if
you can get a signal.

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

16 Getting started – The MENU diagnostics tool

RIM 802D Firmware Version 1.0.0

(c) 1999 Research In Motion Limited

Radio Setup Radio Serial Number = 031/11/066383

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= 30% 22 dBuV Battery= 97% Network=BELLMOB
Contact=Yes Mode=PowerSave Tx=Enabled
Status=0080

Received SDU from 88231144 (to 88231144)

If you are unable to communicate with the network, first contact the n etwork
operator to make sur e that your device is activated on the network. If the radio
has not been activated, then the network will not send the SDU back to the
radio. Secon d, make sure that you are in network coverage. You can determine
whether you are in coverage by looking at Contact on the status lines. If it
shows Contact=NO, then you are not in an area that is covered by your
DataTAC network. You can also determine whether the antenna is connected
properly and is deployed properly. Signal quality in buildings can vary
significantly over shor t distan ces. Try moving th e antenn a to a new location,
perhaps near a window, to see if you can get a signal. If none of th ese remedies
help, con tact RIM for assistance.

Exiting the utility

When you have finished using the utility, you should press Q to quit. Th is step
is important because it allows the radio to resume accepting commands from
other software. The screen will clear and you will be informed that the radio
has been reset. You can safely disconnect the radio and close your terminal
program once you have seen this message.

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



3.

Mechanical
integration

This chapter provides in formation about the RIM 802D that will be useful in
determining the ph ysical positioning of th e radio modem within an application.
Environmental properties and testin g, physical properties, mounting methods,
and connector in formation are provided.

Environmental properties

During environmental testing, RIM takes samples of its radio modems and
subjects them to a variety of harsh conditions. We measure over a hundred
digital RF calibration parameters, once before and once after each test. The
difference between these measurements precisely reveals any performance
degradation. Each unit in the sample is also inspected visually after testing.
This experience allows us to fine-tune our design and manufacturing process.

Environmental testing ensures that our products are able to withstand both
typical and extreme r eal-world con ditions in which they will be used. RIM does
not sell units that have been subject to environmental testing.

18 Mechanical integrat ion – Physical properties

Storage temperature

The RIM 802D OEM radio modem may be stored at a temperatur e from -40qC
to +85qC (-40qF to +185qF).

Operating temperature

The RIM 802D is designed to operate between -30qC to +70qC (-22qF to
+158qF). T he end u ser shoul d be careful not t o exceed th e upper temperature
limit, as performance degradation or damage to the power amplifier may occur
past this poin t, especially while transmitting.

The radio contains a temperature sensor that will automatically shut off the
transmitter if the temper ature reaches approximately +75qC (+167qF).

Physical properties

Weight

The RIM 802D wei ghs 35 g (1.2 oz), including t he case.

Dimensions

The RIM 802D has been designed to meet the most stringent space
requirements. In most cases, there will be sufficient room in an existing
enclosu re to h ou se the radi o m od em .

The overall maximum dimensions of the radio modem, not including cables,
are:

x

Width: 42.0 m m (1. 65” )

x

Length: 67.5 m m (2. 66” )

x

Thickness: 8.4 mm (0.33” )

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

Mechanical integration – Physical properties 19

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

20 Mechanical integr at ion – Mounting methods

Mounting methods

The RIM 802D OEM radio modem may be securely fastened using a variety of
methods. The operating environment must be carefully considered when
choosing a mounting option. For example, extreme temperature, heavy
vibration, or high electromagnetic interference areas may require a special
mounting solution. It is important to ensure that the RIM 802D remains
secur ely attached in the en vironment where it will be used.

The following information is presented as a guide, but applications can vary
considerably. A mechanical engineer can help ensure that the mounting method
is suitable for the specific application .

Bolts or standoffs

The RIM 802D radio modem includes a hole in each corner, which may be
used to bolt the device onto a circuit board, device housing, stand-offs, or other
surface. The mounting hole pattern is four holes in a 62.5 by 36.5 mm
rectangle, with each hole 2.5 mm in diameter .

To allow room for components on your boar d un dern eath the r adio, you may
use standoffs instead of bolts. This is illustr ated in the following diagram.

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

Mechanical integr at ion – Mounting methods 21

Tie wraps

Tie wraps can be used as a secure but non-per manent means of attaching the
RIM 802D to a surface. Typically, each tie wrap passes through a hole drilled

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

22 Mechanical integr at ion – Mounting methods

into the sur face of your board, on either side of the RIM 802D. This allows the
radio to be attached to a sh ell, a PCB, or some other mounting surface.

If using tie wraps, ensure that the surface beneath the RIM 802D is flat.
Otherwise, the mounting surface could push up on the bottom surface of the
radio case while tightening the tie wraps pushes down on the edge of the radio
case. This could cause the metal case of the RIM 802D to flex upward and short
across components inside the radio, causing the radio to malfunction. For
example, thick adhesive foam tape and tie wraps should not be used together .

Permanent industrial adhesive

The RIM 802D is small and lightweight enough to be attached to the host
device using an industrial adhesive. For some applications, this method of
mounting is preferable to bolts, because adhesive is easier to use in a
manufacturing envir on ment, an d is more resistant than bolts to loosening. In
many cases, an effective solution is to adhere the radio modem to the inside
surface of your product’s casing.

An adhesive should be ch osen on the basis of its ability to stick to the material
used in the outer casing of the radio modem and in the surface to which the
radio will be mounted. The bottom casing of the RIM 802D is magnesium.

3M manufactur es VHB, a per manent industrial adhesive with excellent long­term holding power. The peel adhesion and tensile holding power of VHB tapes
are extremely high, making this a suitable solution when the radio will not
need to be removed. Choose foam tape for rough surfaces an d adhesive tape for
smooth sur faces.

More information about VHB may be obtained by contacting 3M Industrial
Tape and Specialties Division at 1-800-227-5085 (fax: [phone]). The
publication number for the VHB technical data sheet is 70-0702-0266­1(104.5)R1.

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

Mechanical integr at ion – Cables and connectors 23

Cables and connectors

There are two connectors on the RIM 802D radio modem. One connector is
used to interface the radio modem to a serial computing device and a power
supply, and a second connector is used to connect an an t en na to the radio.

Interface cable and connector

Serial communication data, control signals, and power are carried on a flat 22­conductor 0.30 mm (0.012”) thick flexible printed circuit (FPC) cable with

1.00 mm centerline spacing, wh ich can plug into a matchin g connector. Since
each application is unique, Molex can create a custom Flat Flex Cable Jumper
in the corr ect len gth and the correct connector orientation for your application.
The minimum cable len gth available is 30 mm (1.181”).

The interface cable supplied with the RIM 802D Devel oper’s Kit is a T ype D

76.2 mm (3.0”) long Flat Flex Cable (FFC) Jumper in 1.00 mm centerline
spacing, Molex part number 8800-8071, as illustrated in the following
mechanical drawing:

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

24 Mechanical integr at ion – Cables and connectors

This cable can plug into a matching 22-position 1.0 [0.039] horizontal FPC
connector. A variety of connectors are manufactured by Molex. More
information about each con nector, including mechan ical drawings, is available
fro m th e man ufac ture r’s we b site (www.mo lex. com), or you ca n con tac t RIM
([e-mail]) for help with selecting an appropriate conn ector for your
application .

Contact:

Molex Headquarters Molex Electronics Ltd.
Lisle, IL, USA Toronto, Ontar io, Canada
tel: [phone] tel: [phone]
fax: [phone] fax: [phone]

www.molex.com

Antenna cable and connectors

RIM uses th e industr y-standard MMCX connector for the RIM 802D because it
is a very small connector that has the mating force to withstand heavy
vibration.

Typically, an antenn a does not plug directly into a RIM 802D. Instead, a cable
is used bet ween the r adio’s an tenna connector a nd a second conn ector at the
outer casing of the device. This allows the antenna to be removed from the
system without having to open the device, and it eliminates a source of strain
on the radio’s MMCX connector.

The antenna cable should have low loss, an impedance of 50 :, and an MMCX
jack that mates with th e RIM 802D’s MMCX plug. The other end of the cable
can be any connector you choose, as long as it has an impedance of 50 :. An
SMA screw-on connector is suitable and widely available. TNC connectors ar e
also suitable, but larger than SMA. The antenna cable supplied with the
RIM 802D developer’s kit h as an MMCX connector on one end and an SMA
connector on the other. The cable is built with strain reliefs to prevent damage.

Huber & Suhner can provide antenna cables and connectors. The parts
descr ibed below h ave an impedance of 50 : and are suitable for use with the
RIM 802D.

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

Mechanical integr at ion – Cables and connectors 25

11MMCX-50-2-1C/111 Straight MMCX connector
16MMCX-50-2-1C/111 Right -a ngle MMCX connector
25SMA-50-2-25/111 SMA connector
EZ Flex 405 Low-loss matching (50 :) cable
133REEZ4-12-S2/1216 8” cable, straight MMCX to SMA
133REEZ4-12-S2/1699 8” cable, right-an gl e MMCX to SMA

The followi ng cable is included with the RIM 802D Developer’s Kit:

Contact:

Huber & Suhner Huber & Suhner
Essex Junction, VT, USA Kanata, Ontario, Canada
tel: [phone] tel: [phone]
fax: [phone] fax: [phone]

www.hubersuhnerinc.com

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



4.

Power requirements

The RIM 802D radio modem must be provided with a clean power source
capable of deliverin g bursts of high current. This can be provided by a plug-in
power supply un it, a rechargeable battery pack, or single-use batteries. RIM has
conducted extensive research to develop guidelines for integrators wh o follow
design the power supply system for the RIM 802D.

Load specifications

The RIM 802D draws its power in bursts; t he power r equired changes rapidly
depending on wh ether the radio is tran smitting, receiving, or in sta ndby. The
load profile is given on the following page. Th ese specifications can be given
directly to your power supply designer or batter y supplier.

Power supply parameters

The RIM 802D requir es a clean, stable 4.1 to 4.75 volt source that is capable of
deliverin g a one-second burst of up to 1.7 A wh en required by the transmitter.
Maximum efficiency is obtained at 4.1V. RIM recommends designing a more
robust power supply that can provide adequate power under such non-ideal
condition s as an improperly matched an tenna, under which this bur st could be
as high as 2.2A. The receiver current consumption is 66 mA. The standby
current consumption is 0.2 mA in low-power standby mode and 4.3 mA in
regular standby mode.

28 Power requirements – Load specifications

Radio load profile (at 4.4 V)

Transmitter



transmitting 2.0 W to antenna…



worst-case peak instantaneous (due to extreme

temperature, poorly matched antenna, etc.)…

Receiver 66 mA
Standby 4.3 mA
Low-power Standby 0.2 mA
Transmit duration

– minimum…



maximum…

1.7 A

2.2 A

32 ms

1 s
Off current consumption
Overall power consumption (assume heavy usage)



based on 0.05% transmit, 5.00% receive, and

94.95% low-power standby…



if low-powe r standby is not used…

d

20 PA

4.3 mA

8.8 mA

Ripple specification

For best per formance, ripple of less than 15 mV peak-to-peak (measured at the
rad io end of t he conn ector) is recom mend ed across the fr equen cy ran ge 60 Hz
and 1 MHz. The maximum ripple at the connector that can be tolerated is
20 mV peak-to-peak.

Except in special cases where there are several sources of ripple, this means
that you measure the ripple with an oscilloscope set to 1 MHz bandwidth , and
the p eak-to-peak value is n ot to exceed 15 m V. Note tha t if ther e are s ever al
ripple components, or if ripple is measured with a larger (typically 20 MHz)
bandwidth, ripple will seem worse. If it is still below 15 mV under these
conditions, it will meet the ripple specification.

A passive LC (series L, shunt C) power filter can be put between your power
supply and the RIM 802D radio modem t o reduce ripple at the r adio connector.
Bear in mind that the RIM 802D radio already has about 70 PF of on-board
shunt capacitance. The inductor cannot exceed 100 PH (otherwise, transients
could reset the radio), it must be rated to pass the maximum DC current of

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

Power requirements – Calculating over all power consumption 29

2.2 A supply current at all temperatures, and its r esistance must be low enough
to guarantee minimum voltage of 4.1 V to the RIM 802D at 2.2 A.

Calculating overall power consumption

The instantaneous power consumption varies between 0.2 mA and 1.7 A, a
range of four orders of magnitude. At any given point in time, the power
consumption depends on what the radio is doin g. Calculating the overall power
consumption is important if a batter y with appropr iate capacity is to be properly
selected.

The current figures below are all measured at a supply voltage of 4.4 V. Th e
actual operating ran ge of the supply voltage is 4.1 to 4.75 V.

Transmitter power usage

The radio transmitter draws 1.7 A to transmit 2.0 W.

When the radio is not transmitting, the transmitter is off and consumes no
power.

Receiver power usage

The r adio r eceiver d raws 66 mA when it is turn ed on. However, in Powersave
Mode, the receiver is nearly always turned off, and is turned on only
occasionally. The base station will wait until th e radio’s recei ver is turn ed on
before attempting to send data to the radio. If no data is waiting at the base
station, the radio will turn th e recei ver off and wait another period of time. Th is
reduces power consumption significantly, but introduces a latency when
receivi ng data packets from th e wireless network.

The r eceiver al so stays on for 10 secon ds (th e “tr ans action time”) immediately
after data is sent to or received from the network base station. During the
transaction time, there is no latency intr oduced by the use of Powersave. This
allows two-way interactive applications to process a transaction without delay.

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

30 Power requirements – Batteries

Sending 3 packets in rapid succession will consume less power than sending 3
packets more than 10 seconds apart.

To decide wh ether to roam on to a new base station, the radio periodically scans
frequen cies of neighboring base stations. The length of time spent scanning is
difficult to predict, as it depends on coverage, user mobility, and number of
network channels. Most applications will spend less than 0.2% of the time
scanning, during which the receiver is turned on. However, a highly mobile
application will consume more power than one in a semi-fixed location.

Batteries

When integrated into a handheld device, the RIM 802D can be powered by
batteries. Th is is a proven technology that is easily available and eliminates the
need for power supply components such as voltage regulators.

Rechargeable batteries

We r ecommen d using rechar geable nickel cadmium (NiCad) batteries to power
the RIM 802D radio modem for battery-operated applications that require a
wide operating temperature range. Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) and lithium
ion (Li+) cells may also be used with good results, but many such cells do not
work very well at temperatures below freezing. Specifications for batteries
should be obtained fr om the manufacturer. The RIM engineering development
team ([e-mail]) can help you determine whether a particular battery
is suitable for your application.

The selected cells must be able to meet the load specifications of the
RIM 802D. Specifically, they must be able to provide 1.7 A (at 4.4 V) for
transmission. Rechargeable cells vary considerably, because capacity varies
with current draw. Even if two cells have the same publish ed capacity, one may
not be as efficient as another when the radio transmitter is turned on. This is
because some batteries have a higher equivalent ser ies resistance (ESR) at high
current drain. Th e ESR should be low enough that the battery can supply the
transmit current required without a large voltage drop.

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

Power requirements – Plug-in supplies 31

Rechargeable alkaline batteries are another option. These cells are typically
rated for about 25 discharge cycles, far fewer than NiCads, but they provide
longer life than NiCads. For the first five to ten cycles, you will get about 70 to
80 percen t of th e battery life you would expect fr om a single-use alkaline cell.
After 25 discharges, this number may drop to 50 percent. Some precautions
must be taken with this type of batter y. These cells are also not intended to be
used to their full capacity, so the actual useful run-time of these cells is closer to
30 to 40 percent of a single-use alkaline cell, and requires the user to pay closer
attention to the state of the batteries. If you fully discharge a rechargeable
alkaline batter y, you may only get five recharges before the capacity decreases
to the point where it is useless.

Single-use batteries

Among single-use cells, only alkaline and lithium cells provide the high
current necessary for transmission. In particular, AA alkaline cells are
inexpensive, widely available, and provide an excellen t power source. Alkaline
cells typically r un about four times longer than similar-size NiCad cells, and
about th r ee times longer th an similar-size NiMH cells.

The use of general-pur pose carbon-based batteries is strongly discouraged, as
this type of battery is unable to supply the power required by the tran smitter .
These cells are more suited to flashlights and other products that do not have a
bursty load characteristic. If a carbon-based battery is used, the voltage will
drop below the minimum power required under load almost immediately
following a radio transmit, which would reset the radio each time it tries to
transmit.

Since car bon cells are generally sold under names like “super heavy duty,” th e
best way to be sure that a single-use battery is alkalin e is to look for the wor d
“alkaline” on the label, or to use well-known brands such as Duracell or
Energizer. This should be communicated to the user of your product.

Plug-in supplies

A plug-in supply converts normal AC power (usually 110 volts or 220 volts)
into a steady DC source that can be used instead of batteries. The plug-in

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

32 Power requirements – Automotive supplies

supply must be designed to ensure that voltage spikes, lightning, and other
power fluctuations cannot damage the radio modem. Transient voltage
protection zener diodes, or other spike arrestor circuits, may be added to keep
the inputs with in the limits given in the RIM 802D load specifications. Th ese
should have a value of 20 volts and be placed on the supply side of the regulator
circuit.

RIM recommen ds a supply capable of pr oviding 4.1 V and ra ted for 2.5 A peak
cur re nt. LIN D Ele ctr oni cs (www. li nde lect ron ics. com) can supply a car lighter
adapter suitable to drive a 5V, 2A device (model number APA-SH0520M) with
a connector of your choice; your hardware should then reduce the power to

4.1V. For sales information, contact Dave Murphy at [phone].

Automotive supplies

If you plan to power t he RIM 802D from an automotive supply, extra protection
must be included to protect the radio modem from the intense power
fluctuations experienced when the automobile is started. A circuit comprising
inductors, transor bs an d voltage regulators sh ould be used to ensure the r adio
modem is protected from these power fluctuations.

Common ly, in automotive applications, voltages may be as high as 70 V on th e
battery, especially during starting. Commercial automotive adapters are
available th at will safely convert the 12 volt automotive supply to a regulated
supply suitable for operating the RIM 802D radio modem.

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



5.

Interface
specification

The asynchronous serial interface on the RIM 802D operates at 3.0V, making it
compatible with many existing system designs. The RIM 802D can be
controlled by a wide variety of microcontrollers and microprocessors, such as
the Intel 8051 or 80386, or Motorola 68000. In most cases, the RIM 802D can
be connected directly to a micro-controller, or through a Universal
Asynchr onous Receiver/Tran smitter (UART) to a microprocessor data bus. If
the radio modem is to be con nected directly to a PC or other RS-232 device, a n
interface must be provided to convert the signal voltage to the higher values
required by an RS-232 device.

NCL and RAP link-layer protocols

The RIM 802D requires a serial link-layer protocol to carry data, radio control
instructions, and radio status information between the RIM 802D radio modem
and the computin g device to wh ich it is attached. Two protocols are supported
by the radio: Native Control Language (NCL) and Radio Access Protocol
(RAP).

If you are using an NCL application with another DataTAC r adio and are now
migrating to the RIM 802D, you do not need to r ewrite the application in RAP
– simply continue using the NCL application. If you are writing a new

34 Interface specification – NCL and RAP link-layer protocols

application for the RIM 802D, you will need to ch oose whether to use NCL or
RAP as your link-layer protocol.

NCL assumes a high-noise envir onment where bit errors are likely to occur on
the serial link between the radio modem and the computing device. NCL is
designed to be extr emely r obust an d redundant, and should be used when the
serial link is unreliable or when the serial cable to th e RIM 802D is very long.

Advances in mobile computing technology have helped to ensure that serial
links are short enough to make bit errors extremely unlikely. This is especially
true for smaller devices such as laptops and PDAs. The complexity of NCL is
unnecessar y for these applications, and involves complex and lengthy software
developm ent.

RAP was designed to take advan tage of th e reliability inherent to a short serial
link. The primary ben efit of RAP is th at it is easy to describe and implement.
As a result, RAP reduces software development time, complexity, and memory
consumption. It also provides double th e throughput of NCL, by using binar y
frame data transfers instead of hex-ASCII encoding.

Since every application is different, the choice of protocol should be made
carefully. The following ch art is provided as a guide to comparing the relative
advantag e of e ach protocol.

NCL RAP

Interface cable from
RIM 802D to device

Designed for l on g serial
cable prone to bi t errors

Operating environment Withstands harsh, hostile

electrical int erference

Assumes a short, r eliable
serial cable

Best suited for laptops,
PDAs, other small devices

Software co mplexity Complex Simple

Implement at ion time
(typical)

Weeks or m onth s ,
or use third-par t y APIs

Days

Memory requi rements 5 to 20 kilobytes 1 to 3 kilobytes

Cost Free, open specification,

or pay for t hird-part y APIs

Free, open specification,
sample source code is fr ee

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

There is n o “best” protocol. The NCL or RAP protocol is used strictly for the
link between the radio modem and the computing device, and does not have
any influence on the speed or reliability of communication between the radio
and the DataTAC network. The RIM engineering development team
(rim802D@ri m . net) can help you select the protocol most suited to your needs.

Pin descriptions

All input and output lines are 3.0 volt logic; however, th ey will also be able to
drive 3.3 volt systems. Input lin es 13, 16, 19, an d 20 ar e 5.0 volt input toleran t.
Output lines will be capable of driving 5.0 volt systems provided the V
these pins is less than 2.5 volts.

All outputs will source a short circuit current of 3 mA. Inputs will have a
current leakage of 1 PA.

Interface specification – Pin descriptions 35

of

IH

This section describes the purpose of each of the 22 lines that comprise the
interface to the RIM 802D OEM radio modem . The symbol ~ before the label
indicates that line is an active low digital signal.

Note that pins 9 through 22 on the RIM 802D correspond to pins 14 thr ough 1
on the RIM 900. The numbering is reversed beca use the connector i s reversed,
but physically th e leftmost pin on th e RIM 802D connector is the same as th e
leftmost pin on the RIM 900 connector.

Pins 1, 2, 3, 4, 13, and 22 are designed for future use and must be left
disconnected. All other unused inputs to the radio should be tied to ground, and
any unused outputs from the radio should be left di sconnected.

Pin 5 ~MSG ~Message Waiting

This is an output from the radio.

The active state of this line is low, and indicates that the radio has received a
data packet (SDU) from the network, which has not been delivered to the
device application yet. This line continues to remain active until the application
ackn owled ges recei vi ng the pack et.

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

36 Interface specification – Pin descriptions

When the radi o’s receive buffer is full , th i s lin e will be inactive (high).

Pin 6 ~COV ~Coverage

This is an output from the radio.

The active state of this line is low, and indicates that the radio is in n etwork
coverage, as measured by the presence of a signal from the network base
station.

When the radio does not have contact with the wireless network, this line is
high.

Pins 7,8

POWER Power supply

These pins supply power to the radio. Since the current requirement during
transmit exceeds th e cu rrent r ating of a single line, both lines 7 and 8 should be
connected to the power supply.

Pin 9 GND Ground

This line sh ould be tied to the system ground of the computing device to ensure
proper operation. Pin 18 should also be con n ected to ground.

Pin 10 TURNON Turn Radio On

This is an input to the radio.

This line turns on the radio unit. It is a digital signal that eliminates the need
for an on/off switch across the power supply to t he radio. Thi s is a 3.0V input
to the radio, and is not 5.0V tolerant. Information about the use of th is pin is
contained in the next section of this chapter.

Pin 11 ONI On Indicate

This output from the radio that indicates that the radio is on and operational.

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

Interface specification – Pin descriptions 37

This line may be used by a computing device to qualify the handshaking
outputs on the serial interface. If CTS is low, and ONI is high, then the unit is
read y to receive data, but if CTS is low and ONI is low, then the radio is n ot
read y to receive data because it is off.

When ONI is low, all inputs to th e radio should be held low or disconn ected.
Otherwise, power will be consumed and wasted.

Pin 12 TRI Transmit Indicate

The active (radio transmitting) state of this line is high.

This output from th e radio that is asser ted while the RIM 802D is transmitting
a packet to the network base station. TRI has a built-in current limiter that
allows it to drive an LED directly, to provide real-time visual feedback to the
user that the radio is transmitting packets. If this is not necessary, t he li ne can
simply be left disconnected.

This line will supply 3 mA to a standard LED, and is short-circuit protected.
This line is low when the Radio is off.

Pin 14 ~RI ~Ring Indicate

This is an output from the radio.

When ~DTR is not asserted (high), th e RIM 802D asser ts ~RI (low) to indicate
that it has data waiting for the computing device. The radio will not transfer the
data until ~DTR is asserted (low). This line can be used to wake up a
suspen ded computin g device when the radio needs to communicate with it. If
~DTR is already asserted (low) when the radio has data to send the computing
device, ~RI will not be asserted.

For NCL implementations, this line indicates th at the radio has an NCL frame
waiting to transfer to the computing device. This line should also be
disconnected if your application does not use it.

For RAP implementations, ~RI is not used and should not be conn ected.

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

38 Interface specification – Pin descriptions

Pin 15 ~CTS ~Clear To Send

This is an output from the RIM 802D to the computing device. The active
(clear to send) state of this line is low.

When asserted low by the RIM 802D, this line indicates th at the r adio is ready
to recei ve d ata from the computin g device. When th is line is high, any data sent
from the computing device to the RIM 802D may be lost . Th is is a flow control
mechanism that is normally reacted to by the UART in your serial
communication system. If you do not plan to use it, leave it disconnected.

Pin 16 ~RTS ~Request To Send

This line is an input to the radio. The active (request to send) state of this line
is low.

All NCL implementations require this line, but it is optional for RAP
implementation s. This line sh ould be asser ted low by the computing device to
indicate that it is ready to receive data from the RIM 802D. This is a flow
control mechanism that is normally handled by the UART in your serial
communication system. If you do not con nect this line to your UART, it must
be tied low so th at it is permanently asserted and allows communication.

If your device’s buffer overflows, it should set RTS inactive to signal the
RIM 802D to pause in sending data. Note that there may be a 16-byte overrun
after the RTS line is made inactive, so your device should set RTS inactive at
least 16 bytes before any critical buffer overflows.

Pin 17 ~DSR ~Data Set Ready

This line is an output from the radio.

The active (data set ready) state of this line is low. DSR can be used by your
computing device as a confirmation that the radio knows the state of the
terminal. DSR follows DTR, so the two lines will always be at the same
voltage.

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

Interface specification – Pin descriptions 39

Pin 18 GND Ground

This line sh ould be tied to the system ground of the host unit to ensure proper
operation. Pin 9 should also be connected to ground.

Pin 19 ~DTR ~Data Terminal Ready

This line is an input to the radio.

The active (data terminal ready) state of this line is low, an d indicates that the
computing device is ready to receive data from the RIM 802D. De-asserting
this line high will turn communication off; the RIM 802D would not attempt to
deliver data to the computing device until ~DTR is again asserted low.
Asserting th i s l ine low will allow communication to r esume.

If you do not intend to use ~DTR, tie it to ground to ensure that it is always
asserted durin g radio operation.

This line should be driven low when the radio is off. Driving ~DTR high when
the radio is off will consume unnecessary power.

Pin 20 TX Transmit

This line is an input to the radio. Its idle (no serial transmit activity) state is
high.

This is an asynchronous serial input to the radio unit, and should be connected
to the computin g device’s Tran smit Data output. This line car ries data at 9600
bits per second. The parameter s are 8 bits, No parity, 1 stop bit.

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

40 Interface specification – How to turn the radio on and off

Pin 21 RX Receive

This is an output from the radio. Its idle (no serial receive activity) state is
high.

This line is an asynchronous serial output from the radio unit, and should be
conn ected to th e host t ermin al’s Receive Data input. This line carries data at
9600 bits per second. The par a meters are 8 bits, No parity, 1 stop bit .

How to turn the radio on and off

The TURNON pin is a digital signal that turns the radio on and off. It
eliminates the need for a power switch across the power supply to the radio.

Turning the radio on

To turn th e RIM 802D on, th e software should first check the ONI pin. If ONI
is high, but TURNON is being held low, then your application has recently
requested the radio to shut down, and the radio is performing shutdown
operations and should not be disturbed. Wait for ONI to go low before
continuing.

If ONI is low, thi s in di cates t h e ra dio is t ur n ed off. Set t h e T URNON lin e h i gh
to turn the radio on. The ONI pin will respond by going high, typically within 2
seconds. Once the ONI pin is high, other handshaking and communication
signals can begin.

If the radio fails to respond to a high TURNON line, the radio may require
service, or the power supplied to the r adio may be too low for proper operation.

Turning the radio OFF

A controlled shutdown is necessar y to allow the RIM 802D to tell the DataTAC
network that it is off air. To turn t he RIM 802D off, your softwar e should de­assert t he TURNON lin e by setting it low. The radio will then begin shutdown

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

Interface specification – Loading f irmware ( opt ional) 41

operation s, an d the ONI pin will remain active until all shutdown operations
are complete.

Shutdown will normally require several seconds to complete, and the radio
should n ot be disturbed wh ile it is shutting down. Attempting to communicate
with the radio during shutdown may extend the time taken to perform
shutdown operations. The ONI signal will be de-asserted (low) when the radio
has shut down.

All inputs to the r adio should be low wh en the radio is turned off. Th is ensures
that power consumption will be r educed to the lowest possible levels. Note that
if any line is left in the high state, as much as 5 mA may flow into the radio
modem.

SDU data that has been recei ved by th e RIM 802D from the DataTAC network,
but which has not been transferred to the computing device, will not be saved.
The SDUs will be lost when the unit enters sh utdown or is turned off.

Following this shutdown procedure, it is not necessary to r emove power from
pins 7 and 8, unless the application cannot tolerate th e 0.02 mA current draw
that occur s when the radio is shut down.

Loading firmware (optional)

The RIM 802D firmware controls the operation of the radio. RIM is committed
to the quality of its firmware, and improvemen ts or optimization s may be made
from time to time. The radio is designed so that loading r evised firmware is not
necessary; two RIM radios with different firmware revisions will always be able
to communicate with each other through the wireless network.

Because of its size, firmware can not be updated over th e air. If you decide to
implement the ability to update th e fir mwa re after th e radio is deployed, RIM
can provide a DOS or Win dows programming utility that loads firmware into
the r a d i o. If your device is n ot DOS or Wi ndows based, the programming utility
must reside on a PC or laptop that is connected through its COM port to the
radio’s RX and TX lines. This means that the RX and TX lines would be
brought out to an external connector , and a switch required to select whether
the radio is connected to your processor or to the external programming

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

42 Interface specification – Loading f irmware ( opt ional)

computer. Other lines that are required during reprogr amming are DTR (must
be asserted low), TURNON (must be h i g h), and GND.

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



6.

Antenna selection

The antenna is one of the most important components of a wireless
communication system. The r ight antenna will maximize the coverage area of
the RIM 802D.

The antenna that you choose should complement the needs of your specific
project. There are many different antenna types and options that will meet your
engineering and user requirements while remaining within budget constr aints.
We stron gly recommend the use of an experienced antenna provider in order to
realize the highest gain possible. A well-designed antenna solution will
maximize efficiency, coverage area, and battery life.

Selecting an antenna

Antenna manufacturers have designed and manufactured a wide variety of
antennas for use on the DataTAC network, and for other radio-frequency (RF)
systems operating in the 800 MHz range. RIM does not recommend specific
antennas because the choice of antenna is application-dependent.

The performan ce of an an tenna depends on its configuration and environment:
the same antenn a will behave differently in one device than in another device,
even if both devices use the same RIM 802D radio modem. For example,
magmount antennas include a magn etic base that allows the an tenna to clamp
onto a metal surface. This surface is called a ground plane, and reflects
electromagnetic radiation that would otherwise be lost to the antenna. This

44 Antenna selection – Selecting an antenna

effectively doubles the length of the antenna by creating a virtual “mirror
image” of the antenna ben eath the plane.

Antenna requirements

The following are th e minimum r equiremen ts of the antenna system used with
the RIM 802D.

Impedance: 50

Center frequency: 833 MHz, r5 MHz

Frequencies of operation: 806 to 825 MHz (transmit)

Accepta bl e return loss: VSWR < 1. 5 or RL < 14 dB (recommended)

:

this is deliberately biased toward transmit because
of the exceptionally sensitive receiver in the radio; it
helps balance the two-way link between the radio
modem and the network base station

851 to 870 MHz (receive)

VSWR < 2.0 or RL < 10 dB (m ini mum accep table)

required across the frequencies of operation

Supplier contact information

Larsen Antenna Technologies, Inc. Larsen Antenna Technologies-Canada,
Ltd.
Vancouver, WA, USA Burnaby, B.C., Canada

tel: (800) ANTENNA / [phone] tel: [phone]
fax: [phone] fax: [phone]

www.larsenantenna.com

Austin Antenna (subsidiary of World Wireless Communications In c.)
Salt Lake City, UT, USA
tel: [phone]
fax: [phone]

www.worldwireless.com

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

Antenna selection – Introduction to antenna terminology 45

Centurion International, Inc.
Lincoln, NE, USA
tel: [phone]
fax: [phone]

www.centuri on. com

Andrew Corporation
Orland Park, IL, USA
tel: [phone]
fax: [phone]

www.andrew.com

Introduction to antenna terminology

This section introduces some of the terminology that is used to describe
antennas, and expands on th e summary of antenna r equirements, above.

Gain and ERP

Antennas produce gain by concentrating radiated energy in cer tain areas, and
radiating less ener gy in other directions. The amount of gain depen ds on th e
radiation pattern, antenna match, and antenna efficiency. Antenna gain is
given as a rating of the maximum increase in radiated field energy density
relative to a dipole antenna, expressed in decibels of power gain (dBd).

A dipole is a balanced antenna consisting of two radiators that are each a
quarter-wavelength, making a total of a half-wavelength. The widespread use
of half-wave dipole antennas at VHF and UHF has led to the use of a half-wave
dipol e a s the referen ce elemen t.

The power output of the RIM 802D is 2.0 W at the antenna port, and the
antenna gain (or loss) will result in an increase (or decrease) in th is value. The
actual output is called the Effective Radiated Power, or ERP. For example, if
the RIM 802D is putting out 2.0 W of power to a 2.3 dBd gain antenna, the
ERP is 2.0 u 10^(2.3y10) = 3.4 W, the actual power radiated by the antenna in
the direction of maximum gain and polarization.

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

46 Antenna selection – Introduction to antenna terminology

Impedance matching, return loss, and VSWR

The antenna, cables, and connectors in a radio frequency system must all
possess the same impedance. The impedance required by the RIM 802D is
50 :, which is a widely-available industry stan dard. An y deviation from this
value may result in impedance mismatch.

Impedance mismatch can be caused by cable connections, cable lengths, and
imperfections in the cables an d conn ectors. The mismatch causes some of th e
radio fr equen cy energy to be r eflected back from the location of the mismatch.
This interferes with the signal and reduces its amplitude, resulting in a power
loss.

Antenna mismatch can be expressed as a return loss (RL), which is simply the
ratio of reflected power to the in cident power, expressed in decibels.

RL

u

1010log

Equation 1: Return Loss

§

P

¨
¨

©

reflected

output

P

·
¸

¸
¹

The Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) is an other way of expressing the
ratio of incident power (from the RIM 802D) to reflected power (into the
RIM 802D).

reflected

P



VSWR

Equation 2: VSWR

1

1 -

output

P

reflected

P

P

output

VSWR = 1 or RL = f dB is a perfect match. In practice, there will always be
imperfections, which means that VSWR will be greater th an 1 and RL will be a
negative number.

VSWR and RL normally vary as a function of frequency. The RIM 802D’s
frequency range includes 806 to 825 MHz (transmit) and 851 to 870 MHz
(receive). The minimum acceptable match across this range must be

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

Antenna selection – Antenna design considerations 47

VSWR < 2.0 or RL < 10 dB. For best performance, the recommended antenna
match at these frequencies is VSWR < 1.5 or RL < 14 dB.

Antenna size

The optimal antenna radiation efficiency is produced by an antenna measuring
one wavelength, O. The value of O for the RIM 802D is 36.0 cm, and is
calculated by dividing the speed of light c = 3 x 10
f = 833 MHz. Because the RIM 802D’s receiver is so sensitive, this value
includes a 5 MHz bias toward the transmit frequencies to help balance the
uplink and down lin k between the radio modem and the network base station.

Antenna lengths of O/2, O/4, and O/8 also work well, and usually result in a
relatively well match ed antenna. O/2 or O/4 can be electrically “shortened” by
adding load matching elements to control the antenna match. However, this
shortening will reduce the antenna efficiency and therefore the effective
radiated power.

8

m/s by the center fr equency

Antenna design considerations

Proper positioning of the antenna will maximize the gain provided by the
antenna. In determining the proper position, the designer must carefully
consider th e environment in which the device will be used. Physical devices can
vary significantly, and incorporating the antenna is an integral part of a
successful design.

The DataTAC network is based on vertically polarized radio-frequency
transmission. Therefore, the antenna should ideally be oriented so that it
provides vertical polarization. This is achieved by positioning the antenna
vertically upward when the RIM 802D is in use. In small, han d-held devices, it
may be conven ient to design the unit in such a way that th e an tenna folds out of
the way when not in use.

The antenna should be located as far from the active electronics of the
computin g device as possible. In gener al, metal con struction in the case of the
computing device and its internal components may attenuate the signal in
certain directions. This is not desirable, as it would reduce the sensitivity and

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

48 Antenna selection – Antenna design considerations

transmit performance of the radio modem when the computin g device is held or
positioned in certain orientations. However, the judicious use of metal in the
construction of a ground plane for an antenna can significantly improve the
antenna gain and the coverage area of the system.

If the computing device is designed to sit on a surface, then the antenna should
be as far from the bottom of the device as possible. This will reduce radio­frequency (RF) reflection s whenever the device is placed on a metal surface.

When the computing device is hand-held or is worn next to the body of the
user, the antenna should be positioned to radiate away from the body.
Otherwise, the body will absorb the radiated energy an d the effective coverage
area of th e radio will be reduced. This will also help the device meet the FCC’s
RF exposure requirements.

For best results, the antenna should be connected directly to the antenna cable.
If an exten sion cable is required, it should be low loss, as short as possible, and
have an impedance of 50 :. It is important that a proper matching con nector
be used, as each connector in the signal path introduces a return loss and
redu ces performan ce.

The following additional notes are provided courtesy of Larsen Antenna
Technologies:

“There are a number of critical issues to consider when integrating antennas
into portable RF systems. It is important to make allowances early in the
design process to optimize performance and provide flexibility in antenna
choice. Generally, it is prudent to position the antenna “up and away” from
the radio and printer motors to maximize noise reduction and receiver
desensitivity. Other “high noise” areas to be avoided include displays and
keypads that can seriously degrade antenna performance. Advances in antenna
shielding techniques may also be incorporated to retain the integrity of the
system.

“Mechanical issues for an integrated antenna revolve around proper cable
routing and use of service loops to provide uninhibited antenna rotation if
needed. The ability to position the antenna in a manner which will result in
antenna deformation, impact resistance and aest hetic requirements must also
be considered to design a workable form factor. The option to position the
antenna vertically when in use so that performance is optimized is another
consideration which can be limiting and a true consideration when choosing to
use off-the-shelf solutions.

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

“Custom antenna solutions may be worthy of consideration for some projects.
In some applications, custom designed antennas have shown performance
increases of up to 2 dB when compared to quality off-the-shelf solutions. The
cost of a custom design and resulting production can be as cost efficient as an
off-the-shelf solution for projects requiring quantities as low as 20,000
antennas. The use of state-of-the-art antenna theory, printed circuit
technology, and application of evolving concepts can produce antennas with
reduced sized without compromising performance.

“Examining the options available, and choosing an antenna early in the
development process, can only benefit the performance and aesthetic appeal of
a product. The engineering staff at Larsen Antenna Technologies are experts
in this field with over 30 years of experience in helping OEMs reach their
antenna design and production objectives.”

Shielding

Antenna selection – Shielding 49

The electrical design of the RIM 802D provides high immunity to radio­frequen cy (RF) noise, or electromagn etic interfer ence (EMI). The metal casing
also acts as a shield to help min imize the effect of RF interference originating
from the computing device to which it is attached, and to prevent the
RIM 802D from emitting RF en ergy into th e computing device and disrupting
the computin g device’s operation.

Consequently, you do not need to provide any additional RF shielding between
the RIM 802D and a computing device, unless the environment contains an
extreme level of RF noise (electromagnetic interference). In fact, it would be
more important for the power supply to the RIM 802D to be free of high­frequency electrical noise, than to provide additional RF shielding.

The antenna must be positioned in such a way that the radiated energy is
directed away from the computing device. If this is not possible, then RF
shielding may be required between the antenna and the computing device.

Note that circuits with a high impedance, and sensitive analog circuits, are
especially vuln erable to nearby radio frequency emissions, and may n eed to be
shielded. Typically-affected circuits include CRTs and LCD display drivers.

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

50 Antenna selection – FCC radio f r equency exposur e r ules

FCC radio frequency exposure r ules

DRAFT subject to change

Based on FCC rules 2.1091 and 2.1093 and FCC Guidelines for Human
Exposur e to Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields, OET Bulletin 65 and its
Supplement C, all integrations of the RIM 802D OEM unit are subject to
routine environmental evaluation for radio-frequency (RF) exposure prior to
equipment authorization or use.

For por table devices, defined in accordance with FCC rules as a tran smittin g
device designed to be used within 20 cm of the user body under normal
operating conditions, RF evaluation must be based on Specific Absorption Rate
(SAR) limits in W/kg. SAR is a measurement of the rate of energy absor ption
per unit mass of body tissue.

For mobile devices, defined as a transmitting device designed to be generally
used such that a separation distance of at least 20 cm is maintain ed between the
body of the user and the tran smitting radiated structure, the human exposure to
RF radiation can be evaluated in terms of Maximum Permissible Exposure
(MPE) limits for field str ength or power den sity in mW/cm

2

.

How to comply with FCC SAR/MPE guidelines

RIM has submitted module-specific in formation and test repor ts for a generic
MPE compliance.

The antennas tested are:

x

Larsen NMO Q 800B (0 dBd gain)

x

Andrew (formerly The Antenna Compan y) Eclipse II Mag Moun t

(3 dBd gain)

The Larsen groun d plane mount antenna with a 6 foot cable length passes the
MPE test when it is 20 cm from th e user. Similarly the passing distance for the
EclipseII magmount antenna, with 6 foot cable, is 20 cm.

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

Antenna selection – FCC r adio frequency exposure r ules 51

If the RIM 802D radio modem is integrated in a vehicle, and if one of these two
antennas is used, the MPE limits will not be exceeded provided that the
antennas are installed at least 20 cm from any edge of the vehicle rooftop. This
can be accomplished by making it mandatory for the customer to put a
prominent war ning in their user manual to tell the installer to make sure that
the antenna is properly mounted in the centre of the vehicle rooftop. The user
should also be warned to maintain the minimum required distance from the
antenna.

Please note that th e FCC grant for the RIM 802D does not limit or restrict it to
operate in vehicle-mount configurations. As long as the antenna type, gain,
cable loss, and minimum separation distan ce satisfy the MPE limits (through
proper installation), and an appropriate warning statement is included in the
user manuals of the final product, the FCC grant conditions are satisfied. For
example, in a non-vehicle situation you may need to provide semi-fixed
installation procedures for magmount an ten nas to ensure the MPE separ ation
distances are met for satisfying grant conditions and to overcome mobility
issues caused by such antennas.

Warning: If you use an antenna with different characteristics, then your end
product is n ot covered by RIM testing and submission , and you must perform
your own testing, submit for a separate FCC ID, and go through the appropriate
process. It is mandatory for portable end products such as handheld and body­wor n devices to comply with FCC RF radiation r equirements with respect to the
SAR limit.
The submission should include end product information, end product
SAR/MPE test report, and a reference to the RIM module FCC ID for all other
Part 90 requirements.

RIM strongly recommends the use of APREL Laboratories for SAR/MPE
testing, because of their experience with this type of testing of devices using
RIM radio modems. Con tact:

Dr. Pa ul Cardinal
APREL Laboratories
51 Spect rum Way
Nepean , Ontar io, Canada
K2R 1E6

Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

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

52 Antenna selection – FCC radio f r equency exposur e r ules

During the SAR/MPE testing, the RIM testing software resides on an external
PC that requires the ability to communicate with the radio directly. This means
that the device you submit for testing must have an external con nector th at can
be used to connect th e radio to a PC. If your device can run DOS p rogram s,
RIM can pr ovide a DOS- based u tility that joins two COM por ts. This can be
useful if the radio might be connected to a han dh eld device’s internal COM 4
port. There may also be an RS232 serial connection COM 1 that is exter nal to
the device. It would be possible to make a virtual link between the two COM
ports, so that an external device connected to COM 1 can communicate with
the radio conn ected to the internal COM 4, eliminating the need to remove th e
radio from the handheld device.

SAR and MPE limits

SAR limits for General Population/Uncontrolled exposure is 1.6 W/kg for
partial body exposur e, averaged over 1 g of tissue and 4 W/kg for h ands, wrists
and feet averaged over 10 g of tissue. The limits for Occupation al/Controlled
exposure are more relaxed, i.e., 8 W/kg for par tial body an d 20 W/kg for hands,
wrists and feet. The 1.6 W/kg limit applies for most of RIM OEM integrators.

2

The limit for MPE is 0.53 mW/cm

at 800 MHz.

Guidelines

RF exposure distance is based on normal operating proximity to the user’s or
nearby persons’ body. Th is distance is measur ed from any part of a radiating
structure, which is generally the anten na, to the closest body part. A set of tests
must be perfor med to determine the passin g distance that meets the exposure
limits with respect to SAR for h andheld, body-worn, and portable devices, or
MPE for vehicular an d mobile devices, if antennas other than the three tested
by RIM are us ed.

Operating manual compliance statement

For mobile and vehicular devices, you should include a statement in your
operation, user, and/or installation manual making the user aware of RF
exposure issues and ensur ing that the user s keep a passing distance from the
antenna while transmitting. You should provide in structions or diagrams in the

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

Antenna selection – FCC r adio frequency exposure r ules 53

manual for proper an tenn a mounting and position, when applicable, to ensure a
safe exposure distan ce to the operator and nearby per sons.

For handheld, body-worn, and portable devices, separate FCC approval is
required to be in compliance with FCC RF exposure guidelines with respect to
the SAR limits.

Label

If the minimum separation distance of th e final device configur ation cannot be
met due to occasional n on-essen tial operating conditions or r equirements, then
the device needs to have an RF radiation hazard label warning the user or
nearby persons to keep away from the antenna by the specified distance.
Compliance with respect to SAR limits which satisfy MPE limits would not
require war ning labels, but an RF radiation warning label can be used to alert
the user or n earby persons about abnormal usage conditions.

For mo re information

Sections 2.1091 and 2.1093 of the FCC Rules, which govern RF exposure
limits, are available at:

www.access.gpo.gov/nar a/cfr/waisidx/47cfr2.html

Bulletin 65 and its Supplement C, issued by the FCC’s RF Safety Gr oup (Office
of Engineerin g and Technology), is available at:

www.fcc.gov/oet/info/documents/bulletins/#65

Further infor mation concern ing the bulletin can be obtained by contacting the
RF Safety Group:

Telephone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.fc c.g o v /oet/rfsafety

Inquiries can also be dir ected to the FCC’s Call Cen tre. The toll-free n umber is:

1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322)

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

54 Antenna selection – FCC radio f r equency exposur e r ules

You may contact Research In Motion’s engineering development team at:

Email: [e-mail]
Telephone: [phone]

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

Specifications

The following is a summary of the RIM 802D OEM radio modem
specifications.

Power supply & typical current usage

x

Single power supply; operati ng range: 4.1 to 4.75V DC

x

Single 3.0V logic line to turn on/off

x

Battery save stand-by mode: 0.2 mA (at 4.4 V)

x

Receive / express stand-by mode: 66 mA (at 4.4 V)

x

Transmit mode: up to 1. 7 A (at 4.4 V, output 2. 0W)

x

Average current dr aw (heavy usage: 5% r eceive, 0.05% tr ansmit, 94. 95% st andby)

4.3 mA (at 4.4 V) if low-power standby mode is used

8.8 mA (at 4.4 V) if low-power standby mode is not used

RF properties

x

Transmit frequency: 806 to 825 MHz

x

2.0 W nominal maximum transmit power at ant enna port

x

Receive frequency: 851 to 870 MHz

x

Receiver sensitivity: -118 dBm(MDC) and –111dBm(RD Lap) at 0. 01 bi t err or rate
(BER)

x

8000 bps 0.3 BT GMSK

x

FCC Parts 15 and 90 pending

x

Industry Canada RSS 119 pendi ng

Serial communications

x

3.0V asynchronous serial port

x

8 bits with no parity (NCL and RAP)

x

Link speed: 9600 bps

x

Link leve l pr otocols :

i

Radio Access Protocol ( RAP)

i

Native Control Language (NCL)

56 Specifications – FCC radio frequency exposure rules

Other features

x

“MENU” is a simple-to-use firmware utility displays serial number, LLI, RSSI

level, battery strength, and network parameters. It can also select different
DataTAC networks or "ping" the network to test the radio modem.

x

Software can activate radio

x

Hardware flow control

x

Radio parameters stored at power down

x

Terminal devices may power-down while radio-modem r emains operational

Mechanical & environmental properties

x

Weight: 35 g (1.2 oz), i ncluding case

x

Footprint: 42.0 by 67.5 mm ( 1. 65” x 2. 66”)

x

Thickness: 8.4 mm (.33”)

x

3.0V interface connector: 22 pin FPC (Fl exi bl e Pri nt ed Cir cuit) connector

x

Antenna cable connect or: MMCX

x

Tested to IEC 68-2-6 Part 2 for vibrat i on

x

Metal case

x

Operating temperature tested to: -30°C to +70°C

(at 5-95% relative humidity, non-condens i ng)

x

Storage temperature: -40°C t o +85°C

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

Glossary of terms

Term: Meaning:

C The speed of light.
dB decibel. A measure of power, based on a logarithmic scale.
FPC

Gain In this document, refers to increase/decrease in radiated

LLI

NCL

MMCX The connect or on the RIM 802D to which an ante nna cable

DataTAC A radio network and its communication protocols.
SDU

Network Operator The corporation or agency which installs, maintains and

Noise Refer s to undesired, random inter ference combining with

F

lexible
RIM 802D is made using this type of flat multi-conductor
wiring. Also known as FFC (Fla t Flex Cabl e).

power.

L

ogical
one unique LLI. A LLI is a 32-bit number. The net work
operator will assign a LLI to each radio modem when they
authorize its use on their DataTAC network.

N

ative
exchanged via an asynchronous full-duplex seri al channel
between a data terminal or computing device and the
RIM 802D OEM Radio Modem.

is connected.

S

ervice

the DataTAC network and the radio modem.

authorises use of a DataTAC network in a given area,
usually within one country.

the signal. If the device is not immune to noise, the
interference must be overcome with a stronger signal
strength. Noise can be produced by electronic components.

P

rinted Circuit. The interface cable on the

L

ink Identifier. Each DataTAC radio modem has

C

ontrol Language. The link layer protocol

D

ata Unit. A parcel of data transferred between

58 – FCC radio frequency exposure rules

Term: Meaning:

OEM

Original E

quipment Manufacturer. Usually implies that

the “OEM product” is carried another manufacturer’s
name. The RIM 802D is desi gned to be embedded in OEM
terminals, PCs, and data gathering equipment.

OSI

The Open S

ystems Interconnection model allows different

systems, following the applicable standards, to
communicate openly with each another.

Polarity Direction of current flow. Connecting some cables with the

wrong polar it y (i.e. backward) may damage the device.

Radio Modem

A device which provides modulation and dem

odulation for

a radio frequency communications system.

Radiation In this document, “radiation” refers to the emission of

electromagnetic ener gy in the radi o frequency ( RF) band.
Do not confuse this with radioactive particle emissions
caused by nuclear r eactions.

RAP

Radio A

ccess Protocol. An alternative to the NCL

protocol, found on the RIM 802D. Provides simpler
implementation.

Return Loss A measure of ante nna matching.
RF

Radio F

requency.

RS-232 The standard asynchronous serial communications

interface used by most existing personal computers and
mini-computers. Usually refers to both the
communications protocol and the electrical interface.

SMA An RF connector type.
TTL

Transistor-T

ransistor Logic. Used in digital circuits. Low

(0) is represented by 0 V and High (1) by 5 V. The
RIM 802D uses 3.0V for High.

Type Approval s The se ap prova ls ar e re qui red by most govern ment s be fore

radio transmitters and equipment containing radio
transmitters can be used. In the USA, a device must be
tested and certified by an independent lab which is
recognized by the FCC.

UART

Universal A

synchronous Receiver/Transmitter. Used as an

interface between a microprocessor and a serial port.

VSWR

Voltage S

tanding Wave Ratio. A measure of antenna

matching. See the Antenna Selection chap ter .

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