Sierra Wireless 350 User Manual

User Guide

o Welcome

o Overview

o Components
o Supported Prods.
o Safety Notices
o Specifications

o Installation
o Using AirBooster
o Troubleshooting
o Service
o Contact Us

2110195 Rev 1.0

December 1999

Welcome to the AirBooster™ 350 RF amplifier

The AirBooster 350 is an intelligent RF amplifier for boosting some Sierra
Wireless Class III (600mW) CDPD devices to Class I (3W). The amplifier is

an "intelligent" booster in that it does not simply apply a fixed gain to a
varying input RF level as a linear amplifier would. Instead, the AirBooster
amplifier takes a constant RF level from the CDPD device and applies as
much gain as the CDPD system requires at that moment.

A GPS Option is also available, adding a GPS receiver inside the package.
This is available as a field upgrade kit or pre-installed at the factory.

Documentation related to GPS is covered in a separate section.

Your AirBooster 350 Components

All AirBooster 350 packages will include the following components:

AirBooster

™

350 RF amplifier.●
Power Cable.●
Sierra Wireless Product CD-ROM with this Documentation including a

3 Year Warranty.

●

4 Screws with Washers.●
Mounting Template.●
Quick Start Guide.●

Units with the factory installed GPS option will also include:

DB-9 Serial Cable.

●

Additional accessories are available from Sierra Wireless. These include:

RF Connector Cables (an assortment of lengths and connector options
are available).

●

GPS Options (Factory Installed or Field Upgrade Kit).●
GPS antennas (Magnetic or Hard Mount options).●

For details on these and other Sierra Wireless accessories contact sales or
visit our web site.

Supported Products

At the time of this writing, the AirBooster 350 RF amplifier is supported by
the following Sierra Wireless products:

AirCard

®

350 CDPD Adapter●

SB300 OEM Module●

Additional Sierra Wireless products may be added to this list. Consult our

web site for a complete and current list.

CAUTION - The AirBooster 350 amplifier is designed to be
used exclusively with supported Sierra Wireless products.
Attaching non-supported devices will not harm the device or the
amplifier but will severely impair transmissions from the device.

o Welcome (top)

o Overview

o Safety Notices

o Hazards
o Regulatory
o Patents
o Specifications

Important Notice

Because of the nature of wireless communications, transmission and
reception of data can never be guaranteed. Data may be delayed, corrupted
(i.e., have errors) or be totally lost. Although significant delays or losses of
data are rare when wireless devices such as the AirBooster 350 RF amplifier
are used in a normal manner with a well-constructed network, they should not
be used in situations where failure to transmit or receive data could result in
damage of any kind to the user or any other party, including but not limited to
personal injury, death, or loss of property. Sierra Wireless, Inc. accepts no
responsibility for damages of any kind resulting from delays or errors in data
transmitted or received using the AirBooster 350 RF amplifier, or for failure
of the AirBooster 350 amplifier to transmit or receive such data.

Safety and Hazards

Do not operate the AirBooster amplifier in areas where blasting is in
progress, where explosive atmospheres may be present, near medical
equipment, near life support equipment, or any equipment which may be
susceptible to any form of radio interference. In such areas, the host
communications device MUST BE TURNED OFF. The RF amplifier can
transmit signals that could interfere with this equipment.

Do not operate your data transmitter in close proximity to any aircraft,
whether the aircraft is on the ground or in flight. Near aircraft, the host
communications device MUST BE TURNED OFF. When operating, the
AirBooster RF amplifier can transmit signals that could interfere with various
onboard systems.

The driver or operator of any vehicle should not operate a wireless data
device while in control of a vehicle. Doing so will detract from the driver or
operator's control and operation of that vehicle. In some states and provinces,
operating such communications devices while in control of a vehicle is an
offence.

WARNING - The FCC has developed guidelines to reduce any
possible hazard due to exposure of the human body to
electromagnetic radiation (i.e. to radio waves). This device is
approved for operation with specific Sierra Wireless modem
transmitters using a 3.0dBd or a 3.4dBd vehicle-mount antenna
with at least 2dB cable loss, as described in the filing. The
combination of cable loss and antenna gain must not exceed an
overall gain of 1dB. The antenna installation must provide a
separation distance of 20cm (8") or more between the antenna
and all persons to satisfy MPE compliance.

WARNING - For FCC compliance only a tested and approved
antenna should be used in conjunction with RG58 cable of at
least 4.5m (14'9") in length. As of this writing the following
antennas have been tested and approved:

Larsen model MM3800FME●
Antenna World model CLR-877●

Sierra Wireless continues to test other makes and models of
antennas. For the most current list, consult our website.

Regulatory Information

The equipment certifications appropriate to your device are marked on the
device and the accompanying product specific information. Where
appropriate, the use of the equipment is subject to the following conditions:

CAUTION - Unauthorized modifications or changes not
expressly approved by Sierra Wireless, Inc. could void
compliance with regulatory rules, and thereby your authority to
use this equipment.

WARNING (EMI) - United States FCC Information - This
equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed
to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in
an appropriate installation. This equipment generates, uses, and
can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used
in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful
interference to radio communication. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to
radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning
the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct
the interference by one or more of the following measures:

Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna

●

Increase the separation between the equipment and
receiver

●

Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different
from that to which the receiver is connected

●

Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician
for help

●

WARNING (EMI) - Canada - This digital apparatus does not
exceed the Class A limits for radio noise emissions from digital
apparatus as set out in the interference causing equipment
standard entitled "Digital Apparatus", ICES-003 of the
Department of Communications.

Cet appareil numérique respecte les limites de bruits
radioélectriques applicables aux appareils numériques de
Classe A prescrites dans la norme sur le matériel brouilleur:
"Appareils Numériques", NMB-003 édictée par le ministre des
Communications.

Patents and Trademarks

Portions of this product are covered by some or all of the following US
patents: 5515013, 5617106, 5629960, 5682602, 5748449, 5845216, 5845553,
5878234, 5890057, and other patents pending.

©1998, 1999 Sierra Wireless, Inc. All rights reserved.
The information in this manual is subject to change without notice and does

not represent a commitment on the part of Sierra Wireless, Inc. Sierra
Wireless, Inc. shall not be liable for incidental or consequential damages
resulting from the furnishing, performance, or use of this manual.

AirBooster™ is a trademark of Sierra Wireless, Inc.
AirCard

®

is a registered trademark of Sierra Wireless, Inc.

All other brand or product names, logos, trademarks, etc. mentioned in this
manual are owned by their respective companies.

o Welcome (top)

o Overview
o Safety Notices

o Specifications

o RF Amplifier
o Environmental
o DB-9 Pinouts

Technical Specifications

AirBooster 350 RF Amplifier

Compliance: CDPD Release 1.1

FCC Parts 15 and 22

Voltage: Standard vehicle battery

11 - 16 Vdc (13.8 Vdc nominal)

Current: Power Reduction Mode: 105mA (typical)

Enabled (Receive): 128mA (287mA w/GPS)
Maximum Transmit: 1.63A (1.8A w/GPS)

Transmitter Power: Class I mobile

Up to 4.5 Watts ERP from device
(depending on antenna/cabling)

CDPD Device Interface: SMA RF connector
Antenna Interface: 50 ohm TNC RF connector
GPS Interface: DB-9 at RS-232 level

non-standard pinouts.

GPS Antenna Interface: SMB RF connector

Environmental Specifications

Operating Temp: -30 to +70° C (restricted duty cycle)

-30 to +60° C (un-restriced duty cycle)
Storage Temp: -40 to +80° C
Humidity: 5 - 95%, non-condensing
Vibration: MIL-STD-810E,I-3.4.9.

GPS DB-9 Connector Pinouts

Pin # RS-232 AirBooster Application

1 DCD 1 Pulse/sec output from GPS module
2 RxD RxD (from GPS to host)
3 TxD TxD (from host to GPS)

4 DTR Input (reserved, DTR is accepted)
5 GND GND Signal Ground
6 DSR Output (reserved)
7 RTS TxD_2 (from host to GPS secondary port)
8 CTS RxD_2 (from GPS secondary port to host)
9 RI Output (reserved, disregard signal)

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©1999 Sierra Wireless, Inc. All rights reserved.