Sierra Wireless AC803S User Manual
Sierra Wireless™ 4G LTE Tri-Fi
Hotspot
User Guide
©2012 Sierra Wireless. AirCard is a registered trademark of Sierra Wireless. Other marks are
trademarks of their respective owners.
Doc. 2400212 (FCC), rev C
Table of Contents
Get Started .................................................................................................................................. 10
Your Device ............................................................................................................................. 10
Package Contents ............................................................................................................... 11
Care and Maintenance ........................................................................................................ 11
System Requirements ............................................................................................................. 11
Setting Up Your Device ........................................................................................................... 12
Device Setup ....................................................................................................................... 12
Activating Your Device ......................................................................................................... 17
Getting Help ............................................................................................................................ 20
Online Help .......................................................................................................................... 20
Device Basics ............................................................................................................................. 21
Components of Your Device ................................................................................................... 22
3G and 4G Networks ............................................................................................................... 22
Battery ..................................................................................................................................... 23
Installing the Battery ............................................................................................................ 23
Charging the Battery ............................................................................................................ 24
Power Button ........................................................................................................................... 26
Turning Your Device On and Off ......................................................................................... 26
Using the Power Button to Determine the Device State ...................................................... 27
Controlling the Device Using the Power Button ................................................................... 27
Other Buttons and Switches .................................................................................................... 28
Reset Button ............................................................................................................................ 28
Restarting the Device .......................................................................................................... 29
LCD ......................................................................................................................................... 30
Interpreting the LCD ............................................................................................................ 30
LCD Information Screens .................................................................................................... 31
microSD Card Slot ...................................................................................................................
Your Network Connection ........................................................................................................... 32
Launching and Ending A Network Connection ........................................................................ 32
31
Launching Your Network Connection .................................................................................. 32
TOC i
Ending Your Network Connection ........................................................................................ 33
Sharing Your Connection ........................................................................................................ 33
Manually Entering the Wi-Fi information .............................................................................. 33
Connecting Through WPS ................................................................................................... 33
Connecting Through USB ....................................................................................................... 36
Making a Tethered Connection ............................................................................................ 37
TRU-Install ........................................................................................................................... 38
Browser Interface Home Page .................................................................................................... 40
Home Page Basics .................................................................................................................. 41
Displaying the Home Page of the Device ............................................................................ 41
Logging On as an Administrator .......................................................................................... 42
Device Views ....................................................................................................................... 42
Turning Your Device Off ...................................................................................................... 44
Setup Pages ........................................................................................................................ 44
Home Page Buttons ................................................................................................................ 45
Admin Setup Button ............................................................................................................. 46
Advanced Settings ............................................................................................................... 46
Map me Button .................................................................................................................... 46
Support Button ..................................................................................................................... 46
Feedback ............................................................................................................................. 46
Help Button .......................................................................................................................... 47
Connect/Disconnect Button ................................................................................................. 47
WPS Button ......................................................................................................................... 47
Power Off Button ................................................................................................................. 47
Icons and Text ......................................................................................................................... 47
Signal Information ................................................................................................................ 49
Mobile Broadband Information and Settings ........................................................................
Roaming Information and Settings ...................................................................................... 52
Alert Information .................................................................................................................. 52
GPS Information and Settings ............................................................................................. 53
50
Wi-Fi Users Information and Settings .................................................................................. 54
Battery Information and Settings ......................................................................................... 55
Internet Connection Information .......................................................................................... 56
TOC ii
microSD Card Information and Settings .............................................................................. 58
Sounds Information and Settings ......................................................................................... 58
Alerts ....................................................................................................................................... 59
3G Activation Required ........................................................................................................ 60
GPS Privacy Agreement ...................................................................................................... 61
SD Card Error ...................................................................................................................... 61
Software Update Available .................................................................................................. 61
Viewing Device Information ..................................................................................................... 62
Updates ................................................................................................................................... 64
Automatically Checking for Updates .................................................................................... 65
Manually Checking for Updates ........................................................................................... 65
Upgrading Firmware From a File ......................................................................................... 66
Device Settings ........................................................................................................................... 69
Power Settings ........................................................................................................................ 69
Battery and USB Power Settings ......................................................................................... 69
AC Power Settings ............................................................................................................... 70
Login Settings .......................................................................................................................... 70
Changing the Administrator Password ................................................................................ 70
Automatic Login (“Remember Me”) ..................................................................................... 70
Display Settings ....................................................................................................................... 71
Turning the LCD On or Off ................................................................................................... 71
Setting the LCD Timeout ..................................................................................................... 72
Setting the LCD Brightness ................................................................................................. 72
Enabling and Disabling the Power Button LED ................................................................... 72
Sound Settings ........................................................................................................................ 73
Enabling and Disabling Sounds for Specific Events ............................................................ 73
Low Battery Alert ................................................................................................................. 74
Critical Battery Level Alert ................................................................................................... 74
Advanced Settings .................................................................................................................. 75
Device Tab ........................................................................................................................... 75
Device Tab: Basic Panel ...................................................................................................... 75
Device Tab: Display Panel ................................................................................................... 76
Device Tab: microSD Card Panel ........................................................................................ 77
TOC iii
Device Tab: Sounds Panel .................................................................................................. 78
Device Tab: About Panel ..................................................................................................... 79
Device Tab: Log Panel ........................................................................................................ 80
WAN Tab ............................................................................................................................. 81
WAN Tab: Setup Panel ........................................................................................................ 81
WAN Tab: 3G Panel ............................................................................................................ 83
WAN Tab: 4G Panel ............................................................................................................ 84
WAN Tab: 4G LTE Panel ..................................................................................................... 86
WAN Tab: GPS Panel ......................................................................................................... 87
Wi-Fi Tab ............................................................................................................................. 88
Wi-Fi Tab: Network Panel .................................................................................................... 88
Wi-Fi Tab: Security Panel .................................................................................................... 90
Wi-Fi Tab: MAC Filter Panel ................................................................................................ 91
Router Tab Settings ................................................................................................................ 92
Basic Panel: General ........................................................................................................... 93
Basic Panel: UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) ..................................................................... 94
Basic Panel: SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) ..................................................................... 94
LAN Panel: General ............................................................................................................. 94
LAN Panel: DHCP ............................................................................................................... 96
LAN Panel: DNS Mode ........................................................................................................ 98
Port Forward Panel: General ............................................................................................... 99
Port Forward Panel: Enabling Port Forwarding ................................................................. 100
Port Forward Panel: Enabling Port Forwarding for an Application .................................... 100
Port Forward Panel: Disabling Port Forwarding for an Application .................................... 100
Port Trigger Panel: General ............................................................................................... 101
Port Trigger Panel: Enabling Port Triggering ..................................................................... 101
Port Trigger Panel: Enabling Port Triggering for Specified Protocols and Ports................
Port Trigger Panel: Removing Ports From the Port Triggering List ................................... 102
DMZ Panel: General .......................................................................................................... 103
DMZ Panel: Enabling DMZ ................................................................................................ 103
102
DMZ Panel: Configuring DMZ ............................................................................................ 103
Resetting the Software to Default Setting: General ........................................................... 104
Resetting the Software to Default Settings: Using the Reset Button ................................. 105
TOC iv
Resetting the Software to Default Settings: Using the Browser Interface .......................... 106
Exporting and Importing Settings .......................................................................................... 106
Exporting Settings .............................................................................................................. 107
Importing Settings .............................................................................................................. 107
Device Logs ........................................................................................................................... 107
Connection History ............................................................................................................ 107
System Events ................................................................................................................... 108
Setting the Method Used for Time Acquisition ................................................................... 109
Configuring the Wi-Fi Network .................................................................................................. 111
SSID (Wi-Fi Network Name) ................................................................................................. 112
Linking the SSID and the Host Name ................................................................................ 112
Wi-Fi Security ........................................................................................................................ 113
Wi-Fi Password .................................................................................................................. 114
Allowing or Denying Computers Access to the Network .................................................... 116
Displaying a List of Currently Connected Computers ........................................................ 117
Host Name (Device Name) ................................................................................................... 118
Setting the Maximum Number of Wi-Fi Users ....................................................................... 118
Wi-Fi Channel ........................................................................................................................ 119
Disabling Wi-Fi When Connected Through USB ................................................................... 119
Configuring 3G, 4G, and 4G LTE .............................................................................................. 120
Viewing 3G Activation Information ........................................................................................ 120
Resetting the 3G and 4G Configurations to Default Settings ................................................ 120
Resetting the 3G and 4G Radio Configurations to Default Settings ...................................... 121
Location Services and Settings ................................................................................................. 122
Location Services .................................................................................................................. 122
Requirements for GPS Service .......................................................................................... 122
Enabling GPS ....................................................................................................................
Displaying Your Location Information ................................................................................ 123
Viewing Your Current Location in a Web Browser ............................................................. 123
Performing a Location Search ........................................................................................... 123
122
GPS Settings ......................................................................................................................... 124
Setting the GPS Mode ....................................................................................................... 124
Setting the GPS Fix Rate ................................................................................................... 125
TOC v
Using Metric Units .............................................................................................................. 125
Changing Your Mapping Service ....................................................................................... 125
Performance Setting: GPS ................................................................................................ 126
Accuracy ............................................................................................................................ 126
Using the microSD Card ........................................................................................................... 127
Before Using the microSD Card Slot ..................................................................................... 127
Enabling the microSD Card Slot ........................................................................................ 127
Setting Up Access to the microSD Card ............................................................................ 127
microSD Shared Folder Name ........................................................................................... 128
Inserting a microSD Card ...................................................................................................... 128
Removing a microSD Card .................................................................................................... 129
Accessing the microSD Card ................................................................................................ 130
Frequently Asked Questions ..................................................................................................... 132
How Can I Tell I’m Connected to 3G or 4G? ......................................................................... 132
How Do I Connect to Wi-Fi? .................................................................................................. 132
Is Roaming on 4G Supported? .............................................................................................. 133
What Do I Do if I Forget the Wi-Fi Password? ...................................................................... 133
What Do I Do if I Forget the Administrator Password? .......................................................... 134
What Do I Do if the Home Page Displays “Charging paused”? ............................................. 134
If the Connection is “Always On,” Am I Always Being Billed? ............................................... 135
Questions About GPS and Location Services ....................................................................... 135
How Can I Stream GPS Data to Use With a Third-party GPS Application? ...................... 135
Questions About WPS ........................................................................................................... 135
What is WPS? .................................................................................................................... 136
How do I Use WPS? .......................................................................................................... 136
If a Wireless Device has a WPS Button or a WPS Software Option, Must I Use it to Connect
Via Wi-Fi? .......................................................................................................................... 136
How Do I Access My Corporate Network Through a VPN? .................................................. 136
Are Terminal Sessions Supported? ....................................................................................... 136
Tips ........................................................................................................................................... 137
Extending Battery Life ........................................................................................................... 137
Device Location ..................................................................................................................... 138
Improving Signal Strength ..................................................................................................... 138
TOC vi
Improving 3G Network Service .............................................................................................. 139
Improving Wi-Fi Performance ................................................................................................ 139
Security Tips .......................................................................................................................... 140
Finding the MAC Address ..................................................................................................... 141
Finding the IP Address .......................................................................................................... 142
Troubleshooting ........................................................................................................................ 143
General Tips .......................................................................................................................... 143
Connection Errors ................................................................................................................. 144
LCD Is Dark ........................................................................................................................... 145
Insufficient Signal Strength .................................................................................................... 145
Messages Displayed on the Device LCD .............................................................................. 146
3G Activation Failed ........................................................................................................... 146
Connecting to 3G/4G ......................................................................................................... 146
Connection Error ................................................................................................................ 147
Device Activation Required ................................................................................................ 147
Searching for Network ....................................................................................................... 147
Update Failed .................................................................................................................... 147
Cannot Connect to Wi-Fi ....................................................................................................... 147
WPS-Related Messages ....................................................................................................... 148
WPS Failed. WPS could not add the device to the network .............................................. 149
WPS Not Available. WPS feature not enabled .................................................................. 149
WPS Not Available. SSID Broadcast disabled .................................................................. 149
WPS Not Available. Wi-Fi currently disabled ..................................................................... 149
WPS Not Available. WEP or WPA security not allowed .................................................... 150
WPS Not Available. Max connected devices ..................................................................... 150
WPS Not Available. MAC Filter list empty ......................................................................... 150
WPS PIN Chksum Error ....................................................................................................
WPS PIN Mismatch. The PIN used did not match the PIN of the device .......................... 151
WPS Timeout. The WPS session was terminated. Press WPS button to try again........... 151
WPS Multiple Sessions Error ............................................................................................. 151
151
Cannot Connect Through USB .............................................................................................. 151
Cannot Display the Home Page ............................................................................................ 152
Cannot Connect to the 3G or 4G Network ............................................................................ 153
TOC vii
The Device Seems to Have Stopped Charging ..................................................................... 154
Location Services Aren’t Working or Don’t Seem to Be Available ........................................ 154
GPS Fix Not Available ........................................................................................................... 154
Cannot Check for Updates .................................................................................................... 154
Sounds Are Enabled, but the Device Doesn’t Generate Any Sounds ................................... 154
Technical Specifications ........................................................................................................... 155
LED Operation ....................................................................................................................... 155
Radio Frequency and Electrical Specifications ..................................................................... 155
Software Specifications ......................................................................................................... 156
Environmental Specifications ................................................................................................ 157
Mechanical Specifications ..................................................................................................... 157
Safety Information ..................................................................................................................... 158
Important Notice .................................................................................................................... 158
Safety and Hazards ............................................................................................................... 158
Proper Battery Use and Disposal ...................................................................................... 159
Regulatory Notices .................................................................................................................... 160
Legal ......................................................................................................................................... 162
Patents .................................................................................................................................. 162
Licenses ................................................................................................................................ 162
GNU General Public License ............................................................................................. 163
iPerf License ...................................................................................................................... 169
miniupnpd License ............................................................................................................. 170
OpenSSL License .............................................................................................................. 170
Original SSLeay License ................................................................................................... 171
PPPD License .................................................................................................................... 173
PPPStats License .............................................................................................................. 174
PPPDump License .............................................................................................................
SSH2 License .................................................................................................................... 175
UUID License ..................................................................................................................... 176
Zlib License ........................................................................................................................ 176
174
Trademarks ........................................................................................................................... 177
Copyright ............................................................................................................................... 177
Limitation of Liability .............................................................................................................. 177
TOC viii
Additional Information and Updates ...................................................................................... 177
Index ......................................................................................................................................... 178
TOC ix
Get Started
Your Device
System Requirements
Setting Up Your Device
Getting Help
Your Device
The following illustrations show your device’s primary external features and buttons.
Front View
Bottom View (Battery Cover Removed)
Get Started 10
Top View
Package Contents
Your package includes several items.
● Sierra Wireless 4G LTE Tri-Fi Hotspot
● Battery compartment cover
● Rechargeable battery
● AC charger with micro-USB port
● Micro-USB cable
● Get Started guide
Care and Maintenance
As with any electronic device, you should handle this device with care to ensure reliable
operation. Follow these guidelines in using and storing the device.
● Protect the device from liquids, dust, and excessive heat.
● Do not handle or operate the device while driving or operating a vehicle. Doing so may
distract you from properly operating the vehicle. In some jurisdictions, operating
communication devices while in control of a vehicle is a criminal offense.
● Do not apply adhesive labels to the device. They may cause the device to overheat and
may alter the antenna’s performance.
System Requirements
This section lists items that are required to use your Sierra Wireless™ 4G LTE Tri-Fi Hotspot.
● One or more computers that support Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n)
Get Started 11
● Web browser (required if you’ll be using the browser interface to view status and to
configure settings). The following browsers are supported:
Internet Explorer (version 6.0 or higher)
Mozilla Firefox (version 2.0 or higher)
Google Chrome (version 2.0.172.28 or higher)
Apple Safari (version 2.0 or higher)
Opera version 9.64
● If you’ll be connecting the device through USB:
Computer running Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, or Mac (OS X 10.4.x or
higher)
USB 2.0 slot
Setting Up Your Device
Read step-by-step instructions for setting up the device.
Device Setup
Activating Your Device
Device Setup
Find out how to set up your device.
1. Install the battery, as described in Installing the Battery.
2. Connect the device to the AC charger, as described in “Using the AC Charger with Your
Device’s micro-USB Port” in Charging the Battery.
3. Plug the AC charger into an electrical outlet.
4. Important: Charge the device until the battery icon is full ( ).
Connecting to the Network
1. Make sure you are in a 4G, 4G LTE, or 3G coverage area (not roaming).
2. If you have a LAN connection, disconnect it.
3. Make sure your computer’s Wi-Fi is turned on.
4. If the device LCD displays “Charging,” “Charged,” or “Powered off,” press and hold the
power button for two seconds.
Get Started 12
5. Wait until the device LCD displays “Connect your computer to Wi-Fi network,” followed
by the network name (SSID) and password. This may take several seconds.
6. On your computer, connect to the Wi-Fi network listed on the device LCD. If you don’t
know how to do this, see How Do I Connect to Wi-Fi? After you’ve connected to the
Wi-Fi network, the device LCD displays “Open any web page to continue setup.”
7. Open your Web browser. The “Welcome to your Sierra Wireless™ 4G LTE Tri-Fri
Hotspot” window opens.
Note: This window displays the administrator password and the address of the device home
page. Please remember this information or write it down in a safe place.
This window provides several options.
● To keep the default settings of the device, click one of the following:
The Internet (to connect immediately to the Internet)
My Sierra Wireless™ 4G LTE Tri-Fri Hotspot’s home page (to view the device
status, customize settings). Proceed to Activating Your Device.
To change security settings, click Set up my Sierra Wireless™ 4G LTE Tri-Fri
Hotspot.
Get Started 13
Changing the Password and Settings
During the device setup, you can select Set up my Sierra Wireless™ 4G LTE Tri-Fri Hotspot
to change the following settings:
● Administrator password — This password is used to log in to the home page, where
you can view and customize your device settings. The default password is “password.”
Choose something easy-to-remember (yet not easily guessed by others). If you forget
this password, you’ll need to reset the device to its default settings and go through the
device setup (as described in Device Setup).
Your administrator password must be 1–20 characters long.
● Wi-Fi network name (SSID) — This name is visible to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, and
is used to identify your Wi-Fi network. The length of the Wi-Fi network name (SSID)
depends on other settings of the browser interface. (See the Help bubble that’s
displayed when you move the cursor to the SSID input field.)
● Wi-Fi security — The default setting is WEP 64 Bit Open. To select another option, click
More options. (See “Wi-Fi Security Options”, below.)
● Wi-Fi password — The maximum length of this field is determined by the Wi-Fi
security option (the previous item). (See the Help bubble that’s displayed when you
move the cursor to the Wi-Fi password field.)
If you’ll be sharing your Internet connection, you may need to give the Wi-Fi password to
other users; don’t use your banking or other important passwords. Also, don’t use a
password that’s easily guessed by others.
From this window you can also enable the Password Reminder feature, which is useful if you
forget the Wi-Fi password (Show Wi-Fi password on your device). (See “Wi-Fi Password
Reminder” in Wi-Fi Password.)
Tip: Help information on each field appears (in a bubble) when you move the cursor into the
field.
Tip: You can display this window any time, by clicking Admin Setup ( ) in the home
page. (See Displaying the Home Page of the Device.)
After you change the settings and click Submit, the device restarts and displays updated
information on its LCD. Follow the instructions on the LCD, and proceed to “Your Device is Now
Restarting” (below).
Wi-Fi Security Options
If you click More options (after having clicked Set up my Sierra Wireless™ 4G LTE Tri-Fri
Hotspot, during the device setup), a window with several Wi-Fi security options opens.
Get Started 14
Note: All the devices used with the Sierra Wireless 4G LTE Tri Fi Hotspot must support the
selected security type.
Note: WPS is available only if you select either a WPA2 Personal option (including
WPA/WPA2 Personal) or (not recommended) no security. (See Connecting Through
WPS.)
The options displayed depend on the Basic Rate setting (in Advanced Settings > Wi-Fi >
Security; see Wi-Fi Tab: Security Panel).
If Basic Rate is “802.11b/g compatibility” or “802.11g only,” these options are shown:
● WPA-Personal — This is a strong security standard, supported by most Wi-Fi devices.
● WPA2-Personal AES — This is a stronger, newer security standard that is limited to
newer Wi-Fi devices.
● WEP-64 Bit — This option provides security, but it’s relatively weak. This option works
with older and newer Wi-Fi devices, and is recommended only if any of your devices
don’t support WPA or WPA2.
● None — No security is used (no password is required to access the Wi-Fi network); this
setting is not recommended. Anyone may access your device and use your Internet
connection. (You are responsible for payment for data usage fees.)
If Basic Rate is “802.11b/g/n compatibility,” these options are shown:
● WPA2 Personal - AES — This is a stronger, newer security standard that is limited to
newer Wi-Fi devices.
● WPA/WPA2 Personal (recommended setting if any of your devices are more than two
years old) — Wi-Fi devices that use either WPA or WPA2 can connect to the Sierra
Wireless 4G LTE Tri Fi Hotspot. Most Wi-Fi devices support this type of security.
● None — No security is used (no password is required to access the Wi-Fi network); this
setting is not recommended. Anyone may access your device and use your Internet
connection. (You are responsible for payment for data usage fees.)
If the above options don’t meet your requirements, click I don’t see what I want.... (This link
might not be displayed, depending on the Basic Rate setting.)
Expanded Wi-Fi Security Options
If you click I don’t see what I want... (from the Wi-Fi Security Options window during the device
setup), a window with an expanded list of Wi-Fi security options opens.
Note: All the devices used with the Sierra Wireless 4G LTE Tri Fi Hotspot must support the
selected security type.
Get Started 15
Note: WPS is available only if you select either a WPA2 Personal option (including
WPA/WPA2 Personal) or (not recommended) no security. (See Connecting Through
WPS.)
Note: You can also view the expanded list of Wi-Fi security options in the Security panel of
the Wi-Fi tab of the Advanced Settings window. (See “Accessing the Advanced
Settings Window” in Advanced Settings.)
Some of the following options may be displayed, depending on the Basic Rate setting (see Wi-
Fi Tab: Security Panel):
● None — No security is used (no password is required to access the Wi-Fi network); this
setting is not recommended. Anyone may access your device and use your Internet
connection. (You are responsible for payment for data usage fees.)
● WEP 64 Bit - Shared — This option provides security, but it’s relatively weak. This
option works with older and newer Wi-Fi devices, and is recommended only if any of
your devices don’t support WPA or WPA2.
Shared WEP uses the same key for encryption and authentication; some consider
shared WEP to be less secure than open WEP.
● WEP 128 Bit - Shared — This option provides security, but it’s relatively weak (but
stronger than WEP 64 Bit - Shared). This option works with older and newer Wi-Fi
devices, and is recommended only if any of your devices don’t support WPA or WPA2.
Shared WEP uses the same key for encryption and authentication; some consider
shared WEP to be less secure than open WEP.
● WEP 64 Bit - Open — This option provides security, but it’s relatively weak. This option
works with older and newer Wi-Fi devices, and is recommended only if any of your
devices don’t support WPA or WPA2.
Open WEP uses the key for encryption, but not for authentication.
● WEP 128 Bit - Open — This option provides security, but it’s relatively weak (but
stronger than WEP 64 Bit - Open). This option works with older and newer Wi-Fi
devices, and is recommended only if any of your devices don’t support WPA or WPA2.
Open WEP uses the key for encryption, but not for authentication.
● WPA Personal - TKIP — This is a strong security standard that is supported by most
Wi-Fi devices.
● WPA Personal - TKIP/AES — This is a strong security standard that is supported by
most Wi-Fi devices.
Get Started 16
● WPA2 Personal - AES — This is a stronger, newer security standard that is limited to
newer Wi-Fi devices.
● WPA2 Personal - TKIP/AES — This is a stronger, newer security standard that is limited
to newer Wi-Fi devices.
● WPA/WPA2 Personal (recommended setting if any of your devices are more than two
years old) — Wi-Fi devices that use either WPA or WPA2 can connect to the Sierra
Wireless 4G LTE Tri Fi Hotspot. This setting is supported by most Wi-Fi devices.
Your Device is Now Restarting
The “Your device is now restarting” window opens if you’ve clicked Set up my Sierra
Wireless™ 4G LTE Tri-Fri Hotspot and then clicked Submit.
The changes take effect after the device restarts automatically.
You should write down the following information that’s displayed in the window:
● Wi-Fi network name
● Wi-Fi password
To complete the process:
1. Wait until the device LCD displays “Connect your computer to Wi-Fi Network.”
2. Connect your computer to the Wi-Fi network, using the information you’ve written down.
(If you don’t know how to do this, see How Do I Connect to Wi-Fi?)
3. After the Wi-Fi connection was successfully established, click the Click here text in the
window.
Activating Your Device
Normally your device will be set up on your account at the time of purchase. If this has not
happened, the browser interface will prompt you to activate your device.
The process of setting up an account is called activation. When the device starts up, it will
detect whether the device has been configured with an account (“preactivated”). If it has not, the
activation process starts automatically.
Note: If you’re able to connect to 3G, you are already set up to use your service on the 3G
network; no further action is needed. Proceed to Connecting Through USB.
In some cases, the activation process will be seamless, not requiring any action from your part;
you might not even see any activation-related messages displayed on the device LCD.
In other cases, your computer will display one of the following:
Get Started 17
● “3G Activation Required” alert (displayed on the home page; available if you have
already set up with your service provider a wireless account that is associated with your
Sierra Wireless 4G LTE Tri Fi Hotspot)
● Device Self-Activation wizard (displayed if you haven’t yet set up a wireless account that
is associated with your Sierra Wireless 4G LTE Tri Fi Hotspot)
Activating Your Device Through the “3G Activation Required” Alert
In rare cases, the device LCD and the home page may indicate that activation is required:
● The LCD displays “3G Activation failed.”
● The home page displays the alert “3G Activation Required.”
Note: You will still be able to connect to the Internet when you have 4G coverage. (You won’t
be able to connect to the Internet if you have only 4G LTE coverage.) Once you initiate
the activation process, you won’t be able to connect to the Internet through 4G or 4G
LTE, until the activation process has completed.
To activate your device:
1. Make sure you’re in 3G coverage and the signal strength is strong.
2. In the address bar of your Web browser, type http://192.168.0.1 to display the home
page.
3. In the Admin Login section (in the upper left area of the home page), enter the
administrator password (1–20 characters/numbers). (The default password is
“password”.)
4. Click OK.
5. Click the alerts icon to display the alert window.
6. If more than one alert is available, use the and buttons (at the top of the alert
window) to browse to the “3G Activation Required” alert.
7. In the alert, click Activate now.
If you haven’t successfully completed the activation, contact your service provider’s Customer
Service and have the following available:
● Your billing information.
● MEID of the device (displayed on the packaging and inside the battery compartment).
Get Started 18
Activating Your Device Through the Activation Wizard
If you haven’t set up with your service provider a wireless account that is associated with your
Sierra Wireless 4G LTE Tri Fi Hotspot, the Device Self-Activation wizard is automatically
displayed.
To activate your device through the Device Self-Activation wizard:
1. Make sure you’re in 3G coverage and the signal strength is strong.
2. Follow the onscreen instructions displayed in the Device Self-Activation wizard.
If the activation fails, the following options may be presented:
Retry the activation.
Reset the device to its default settings (after which the device will restart) and then
retry the activation.
Cancel. You should retry the activation at a later time.
If, after trying the above options, you haven’t successfully completed the activation, contact your
service provider’s Customer Service and have the following available:
● Your billing information.
● MEID of the device (displayed on the packaging and inside the battery compartment).
To manually start the Device Self-Activation wizard (for example, at a later time):
1. Make sure you’re in 3G coverage and the signal strength is strong.
2. In the address bar of your Web browser, type http://192.168.0.1 to display the home
page.
3. In the Admin Login section (in the upper left area of the home page), enter the
administrator password (1–20 characters/numbers). (The default password is
“password”.)
4. Click OK.
5. Click Advanced settings ( ).
6. Click Device > About.
7. Click Launch Activation Wizard.
Get Started 19
Getting Help
Learn where you can get more information or assistance.
Online Help
Online Help
In the browser interface, click Help ( ) and, from the menu, select Online Help.
The Help system opens in a new Web browser window or tab.
You have several options to find the information you need:
● Browse the Table of Contents.
● Use the Index or Search feature: click the appropriate button in the lower left part of the
help window, and type the information you’re looking for.
Other Ways to View Help Information
● Some windows have a icon. Click the icon to view Help information.
● When you move the cursor over an item in Advanced Settings, help information, if
available, appears to the right of the window.
Contextual Help in the Advanced Settings Window
When you move the cursor over an item in Advanced Settings, help information on this item, if
available, appears to the right of the window.
To turn this feature on or off:
1. Make sure you’re logged in to the home page.
2. Click Advanced settings > Device > Basic.
3. Set Help for Advanced Settings to Show or Hide.
4. Click Save.
Get Started 20
Device Basics
Learn about the buttons, connectors, and other components of your Sierra Wireless 4G LTE
Tri-Fi Hotspot.
Components of Your Device
3G and 4G Networks
Battery
Power Button
Other Buttons and Switches
Reset Button
LCD
microSD Card Slot
Your device provides a simple way to use your 3G or 4G Internet connection with any Wi-Fienabled device, and to share your Internet connection with friends and family.
Device Basics 21
Components of Your Device
Wireless mode
Maximum downlink speeds
Typical downlink speeds
3G (EV-DO Rev. 0)
2.4 Mbps
400–700 kbps
3G (EV-DO Rev. A)
3 Mbps
0.6–1.4 Mbps
Your device consists of several main components.
● Wi-Fi access point
The Wi-Fi access point connects your computers and other Wi-Fi-enabled devices to
your device.
● 3G modem
The 3G modem connects your device to the Internet via the 3G (CDMA 1X/EVDO)
network (more widely available, compared with 4G).
● 4G modem
The 4G modem connects your device to the Internet via the 4G WiMAX network (newer
technology and faster speeds, compared with 3G).
● 4G LTE modem
The 4G LTE modem connects your device to the Internet via the 4G LTE network (newer
technology and faster speeds, compared with 3G).
● Routing hardware
The routing hardware handles traffic between the 3G or 4G LTE/4G modems, the Wi-Fi
access point, and the Wi-Fi network.
3G and 4G Networks
These wireless networks connect you to the Internet.
Depending on your coverage area, you may have:
● Both 3G and 4G coverage
● Only 3G coverage
● Only 4G coverage.
Your device automatically connects to the fastest network that is available to you. If you have
both 3G and 4G coverage and your connection happens to get disrupted, your device can
automatically switch to the other network. (For more information, see “Configuring the 3G/4G
Connection Preferences” in Mobile Broadband Information and Settings.)
Download speeds
Actual speeds depend on several factors, including network conditions.
Device Basics 22
4G (LTE)
20 Mbps
[TBD] Mbps
4G (WiMAX)
10 Mbps
3–6 Mbps
Battery
The battery compartment is on the back of the device. The battery is replaceable. If you need a
new battery, visit the Sierra Wireless online store at sierrawireless.com/eStore.
Installing the Battery
Before you use your device, install the battery.
1. Using slight finger pressure, slide the battery compartment cover towards you to remove
it.
2. Insert the battery into the device, contacts end first. Make sure the battery contact points
are aligned with those inside the battery compartment.
Device Basics 23
3. Replace the battery compartment cover.
Charging the Battery
You need to recharge your device’s battery periodically. You can continue using your device
while it is charging.
The faster method is to connect the device to the AC charger. (See “Using the AC Charger with
Your Device’s micro-USB Port”, below.) Alternatively, you can connect the device to your
computer, although this charges more slowly. (See “Charging Through Your Computer”, below.)
Using the AC Charger with Your Device’s micr o-USB Port
1. Insert the larger end of the micro-USB cable into the AC charger.
2. Insert the other end of the cable into the micro-USB port on the side of your device.
3. Insert the AC charger into an electrical outlet.
Device Basics 24
When charging, the LCD shows and, if the device is off, displays a message “Charging...
xx% complete” (where “xx” is a number value).
When the device is charged, the LCD shows:
● (if the device is on)
● and the message “Fully charged” (if the device is off).
Charging Through Your Computer
Note: If you’ll be using USB for data transfer (and not just for charging the device), you must
install the device driver. (See Making a Tethered Connection.)
Note: If you’re using Mac OS X 10.4.x, after you connect the device you may see a warning
message that your computer is running on UPS backup battery and that you should
perform a computer shutdown. You can continue with your work. To prevent this
message from being displayed, install the device driver. (See Making a Tethered
Connection.)
1. Make sure your computer is turned on.
2. Insert the larger end of the micro-USB cable into your computer.
3. Insert the other end of the cable into the micro-USB port on the side of your device.
When charging, the LCD shows .
Device Basics 25
When the device is charged, the LCD shows .
Power Button
Use the power button to turn your device on and off. The power button also is a status indicator.
Turning Your Device On and Off
Using the Power Button to Determine the Device State
Controlling the Device Using the Power Button
Turning Your Device On and Off
Use the power button on your device to turn it on and off.
Turning Your Device On
1. Make sure that:
The device has a charged battery inserted.
— or —
The device is connected to the AC charger or a computer (through the micro-USB
cable).
2. If the LCD is blank, press and hold the power button until the device turns on.
Device Basics 26
Power button
The device is turned off.
To turn the device on, press and
The device is turned on, but the
Optionally, turn on the LED.
Lit, flashing
every 4 seconds)
The device is turned on, and the
No action required.
Lit, flashing
The device is in standby (low
To exit standby mode:
Type of press
Result
Quick press
Removes device from standby (low power) mode.
Long press (press
seconds)
Turns the device on or off.
Turning Your Device Off
► Press and hold the power button until the device turns off.
Using the Power Button to Determine the Device State
The power button on the device also indicates the device’s status, as shown in the
following table.
Description Your action
hold the power button
Not lit
until the device turns on.
(approximately
(approximately
every 8 seconds)
LED is turned off.
LED is turned on.
power) mode.
The following are off: LCD, Wi-Fi
radio, 3G/4G radios.
(For more information, see
“Standby (Low Power) Mode” in
Battery Information and Settings.)
(See Enabling and Disabling the
Power Button LED.)
Connect the device to the AC
charger or computer through the
micro-USB cable.
— or —
Press the power button .
Controlling the Device Using the Power Button
The power button supports two types of presses.
Wakes up (turns on) the LCD if the LCD was enabled but dormant.
(The LCD turns dark, after a configurable time of inactivity.)
Confirms or acknowledges a displayed message.
Turns off display of the Wi-Fi network name and password.
and hold for two
Device Basics 27
Other Buttons and Switches
Navigation Button
The navigation button is next to the power button . Briefly press the navigation
button to go to the next information screen, if available. (See LCD Information Screens.)
WPS Button
Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ (WPS) provides a fast, simple, and secure way to connect WPSenabled devices to your Wi-Fi network. You don’t have to give the name (SSID) and Wi-Fi
password of your network to other users.
The WPS button is on the top of the device, as shown in the figure in Top View. Press
this button if you want to connect a device that supports WPS to your network. (See Connecting
Through WPS.)
Mute Switch
The mute switch is used to turn device sounds on or off. The mute switch is located on the top
of your device, to the left of the WPS button, as shown in the following drawing.
Tip: You can also disable sounds through the home page. (See Sounds Information and
Settings.)
Reset Button
If the device or the home page seems to stop responding, you can reset (restart) the device.
The reset button is inside the hole located near the battery compartment as shown below (after
the battery compartment cover has been removed).
Device Basics 28
For information on using this button, see Restarting the Device and Resetting the Software to
Default Settings: Using the Reset Button.
Restarting the Device
If the device or the home page seems to stop responding, you can reset (restart) the device by
pressing the reset button.
Tip: Alternatively, you may be able to restart the device by pressing and holding the power
button on the device for three to four seconds.
To restart the device:
1. Using slight finger pressure, slide the battery compartment cover towards you to remove
it.
2. Locate the small hole labeled “RESET” (near the micro-USB port). The reset button is
inside this hole.
3. Insert a thin object (for example, the end of a paper clip) into the hole, and press down
for about a second.
Device Basics 29
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