Sierra Wireless AirCard W801 User Manual
User Guide
Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot
by Sierra Wireless
AirCard
®
W801
www.sprint.com
©2009 Sprint. SPRINT and the logo are trademarks of Sprint.
Other marks are the property of their respective owners.
12/18/09
Table of Contents
Section 1: Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1A. Device Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Your Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Components of Your Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
3G and 4G Networks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
About This Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
1B. Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Section 2: Setting up the Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2A. Setting Up Your Device on Your Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2B. Setting Up the Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Installing the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Connecting the Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Connecting to the Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Change Password/Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Activating and Using Your Network Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Section 3: Using Your Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
3A. Power Button. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Turning Your Device On and Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Using the Power Button to Determine the Device State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Pressing the Power Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3B. LCD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Interpreting the LCD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
3C. Charging the Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Using the AC Charger with USB Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Charging Through a Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
3D. Connecting Through USB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
TRU-Install . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Requirements for a USB Tethered Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Making a Tethered Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
3E. Browser Interface Home Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Displaying the Home Page of the Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Logging On as an Administrator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Virtual Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Mini Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
3F. Alerts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
3G Activation Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
3G Network Update Available. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
GPS Privacy Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
SD Card Error . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Software Update Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
3G. Your Network Connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Launching Your Network Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Sharing Your Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Ending Your Network Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
3H. Vertical row (of icons and text). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Signal Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Mobile Broadband Information and Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
3G Roaming Information and Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Alert Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
GPS Information and Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Wi-Fi Users Information and Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Battery Information and Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Internet Connection Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
microSD Card Information and Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Sounds Information and Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
3I. Buttons On the Home Page. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Buttons Along the Top of the Home Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Buttons Below the Virtual Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
3J. Using the microSD Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
microSD Card Slot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Before Using the microSD Card Slot. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Inserting a microSD Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Removing a microSD Card. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Accessing the microSD Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
3K. Sprint Location Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Requirements for GPS Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Enabling GPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Displaying Your Location Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Viewing Your Current Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Performing a Location Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
GPS Fix in Progress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
3L. Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Automatically Check for Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Manually Check for Updates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Upgrade Firmware From a File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
3M. Viewing Device Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
3N. Connecting to a VPN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
3O. Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Replacing the Battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
3P. Reset Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Restarting the Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
3Q. Mute Switch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
3R. Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Important Notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Safety and Hazards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Section 4: Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .73
4A. Power Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Battery and USB Power Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
AC Power Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
4B. Configuring the LCD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Turning the LCD On or Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Setting the LCD Timeout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Setting the LCD Brightness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
4C. Enabling and Disabling the LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
4D. Enabling and Disabling Sounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Enabling and Disabling Sounds for Specific Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Low Battery Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Critical Battery Level Alert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
4E. Login Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80
Changing the Administrator Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Automatic Login (“Remember Me”). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
4F. Advanced Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Accessing the Advanced Settings Window . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Device Tab. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
WAN Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Wi-Fi Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
4G. Configuring the Wi-Fi Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
SSID (Wi-Fi Network Name) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Wi-Fi Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Host Name (Device Name) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Setting the Maximum Number of Wi-Fi Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Wi-Fi Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Disabling Wi-Fi When Connected Through USB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
4H. Configuring 3G/4G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Viewing 3G Activation Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
3G Section of the WAN Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Resetting the 3G/4G Configuration to Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
4I. GPS Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Setting the GPS Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Setting the GPS Fix Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Using Metric Units. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Changing Your Mapping Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Performance Setting (GPS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
4J. Configuring the Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
Basic Section of the Router tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104
LAN Section of the Router Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Port Forwarding Section of the Router Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Port Triggering Section of the Router Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111
DMZ Section of the Router Tab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Resetting the Software to Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114
4K. Exporting and Importing Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117
Exporting Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Importing Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
4L. Logs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Logs Available. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Connection History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
System Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Setting the Method Used for Time Acquisition. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
4M. Setup Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .121
Welcome to Your Device Window - Select an Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Section 5: Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
5A. More Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .124
Visiting the Sprint Web Site. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Contacting Customer Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Online Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
5B. Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
How Can I Tell I’m Connected to 3G/4G? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
How do I Connect to Wi-Fi? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .126
Is Roaming on 4G Supported? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
What Do I Do if I Forgot the Wi-Fi Password? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
What Do I Do if I Forgot the Administrator Password? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
If the Connection is “Always On,” am I Always Being Billed? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
Questions About GPS and Sprint Location Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .127
How do I Access My Corporate Network Through a VPN? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Are Terminal Sessions Supported? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
5C. Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
Extending Battery Life. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Device Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Improving Signal Strength. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Improving 3G Network Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
Improving Wi-Fi Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Security Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Finding the MAC Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Finding the IP Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
5D. Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .134
General tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
LCD Is Dark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Insufficient Signal Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .135
Messages Displayed on the Device LCD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Cannot Connect to Wi-Fi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Cannot Display the Home Page . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Cannot Connect to the 3G/4G Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Sprint Location Services Aren’t Working or Don’t Seem to Be Available. . . . 139
GPS Fix Not Available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Cannot Check for Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Sounds Are Enabled, but the Device Doesn’t Generate Any Sounds . . . . . . 139
Section 6: Technical Specifications and Regulatory Information . . . . . 141
6A. Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .142
LED Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Radio Frequency and Electrical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Software Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Environmental Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Mechanical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
6B. Regulatory Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .146
6C. Legal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .147
Patents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Trademarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Copyright . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Limitation of Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Additional Information and Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Section 1
Getting Started
Section 1A
Device Basics
⽧ Your Device (page 3)
⽧ Components of Your Device (page 3)
⽧ 3G and 4G Networks (page 4)
⽧ Package Contents (page 4)
⽧ Care and Maintenance (page 5)
⽧ About This Guide (page 5)
Your Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot allows you to easily connect to the Internet and to share your
3G/4G connection with others.
This user guide describes how to set up your device and use the browser interface to:
● View the status of your device.
● View and change the settings of your device and the browser interface.
It also describes your device (its various connectors and buttons).
2 Device Basics
Your Device
The Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot provides a simple way to use your 3G/4G Internet
connection with any Wi-Fi-enabled device, and to share your Internet connection with friends and
family.
Device Basics
Components of Your Device
Your device consists of these main components:
● Wi-Fi access point
The Wi-Fi access point connects your computers and o
Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot.
● 3G modem
The 3G modem connects your Overdrive 3G/4G Mobi
(CDMA 1X/EVDO) network (more widely available, compared to 4G).
● 4G modem
The 4G modem connects your Overdrive 3G/4G Mobi
(WiMAX) network (newer technology and faster speeds, compared to 3G).
ther Wi-Fi-enabled devices to your
le Hotspot to the Internet via the 3G
le Hotspot to the Internet via the 4G
Device Basics 3
● Ro
uter
The router handles traffic between the 3G/4G modems, y
our Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot, 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:
● Bo
th 3G and 4G coverage
● Only 3G coverage
● Only 4G coverage.
Your device automatically connects to the fastest network that is a
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” on page 39.
Download speeds
Actual speeds depend on several factors, including network conditions
Theoretical maximum downlink speeds Typical maximum downlink speeds
3G (CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev. 0)
2.4 Mbps 400–700 kbps
vailable to you. If you have both 3G
.
3G (CDMA 1xEV-DO Rev. A)
4G
Package Contents
Your package includes:
● Ov
erdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless
● Ba
ttery compartment cover
chargeable battery
● Re
● A
C charger with USB port
● USB to Micr
● Get Started guide
o B cable
3 Mbps 0.6–1.4 Mbps
10 Mbps 3–6 Mbps
4 Device Basics
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:
● Pr
otect 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.
Device Basics
● Do not
alter the antenna’s performance.
apply adhesive labels to the device. They may cause the device to overheat and may
About This Guide
This user guide is designed to provide you with all the information you need to install and use
your Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless (AirCard W801).
Note: The printed Get Started guide that comes with the Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot should be
sufficient for most installations.
● Chapter 1 (which you are reading) gives you an overview of the device.
● Chapter 2 p
Device” on page 7).
● Chapter 3 d
on page 15).
● Chapte
“Settings” on page 73).
● Chapter 5 con
help. (See “Resources” on page 123).
rovides step-by-step instructions for setting up the device. (See “Setting up the
escribes more-common tasks when using your device. (See “Using Your Device”
r 4 describes advanced configuration of the device and the browser interface. (See
tains frequently asked questions, troubleshooting tips, and resources for getting
● Chapter
require technical information, as well as regulatory information and legal information. (See
“Technical Specifications and Regulatory Information” on
6 lists the electrical, radio frequency, and other parameters of the device for those who
page 141).
Device Basics 5
Section 1B
Getting Started
⽧ System Requirements (page 6)
System Requirements
● One or more computing devices that support Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)
● Web browser (required if you’ll be using the browser interface to view status and to configure
settings). The following browsers are supported:
䡲 Internet Explorer (version 6.0 or higher)
䡲 Mozilla Firefox (version 2.0 or higher)
䡲 Google Chrome (version 2.0.172.28 or higher)
䡲 Apple Safari (version 2.0 or higher)
䡲 Opera version 9.64
● If you’ll be connecting the Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot through USB:
䡲 Computing device running Windows Vista, Windows XP, or Mac (OS X 10.4.x or higher)
䡲 USB 2.0 slot
6 Getting Started
Section 2
Setting up the Device
Section 2A
Setting Up Your Device on Your Account
Normally your device will be set up on your Sprint account at the time of purchase.
To verify that your device is set up on your Sprint account:
1. Log in to your account at sprint.com by entering your username and password.
2. Confirm that the Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot is on your account with a Mobile Broadband
connection plan.
If you don’t see your device listed, you will need to contact Sprint Customer Service to complete
setting up the device on your account (see
following available before calling:
● Your Sprint account information.
● The ESN number of your device (displayed on the packaging, on the device [under the battery],
and at
Advanced Settings > Device > About).
“Contacting Customer Service” on page 124). Have the
8 Setting Up Your Device on Your Account
Section 2B
Setting Up the Device
⽧ Installing the Battery (page 9)
⽧ Connecting the Device (page 10)
⽧ Connecting to the Network (page 10)
⽧ Change Password/Settings (page 11)
⽧ Activating and Using Your Network Service (page 14)
Installing the Battery
1. Remove the battery compartment cover.
Setting Up the Device
2. Insert the battery into the Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot (Sierra Wireless logo facing up).
Setting Up the Device 9
3. Put the battery compartment cover onto the device.
Connecting the Device
1. Connect the smaller end of the USB to Micro B cable to the device, and connect the other end to
the AC charger.
2. Plug the AC charger into an electrical outlet.
3. Important: Charge the device until the battery icon is full ( ).
Connecting to the Network
1. Ensure you are in the Sprint 3G or 4G coverage area (not roaming).
2. If you have a LAN connection, disconnect it.
3. Ensure your computer’s Wi-Fi is turned on.
10 Setting Up the Device
4. If the device LCD displays “Charging”, “Charged”, or “Powered off,” press and hold the power
button
for two seconds.
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?” on page 126.
Setting Up the Device
After you’ve connected to the Wi-Fi network, the de
continue setup.”
vice LCD displays “Open any web page to
7. Open your Web browser. The “Welcome to your Overdrive” window is displayed.
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.
● T
o keep the default settings of the device, select one of the following:
䡲
The Internet (to start surfing)
䡲
My Overdrive’s home page (to view the device status, customize settings). Proceed to
“Activating and Using Your Network Service” on page 14.
o change security settings, select Set up my Overdrive.
● T
Change Password/Settings
During the device setup, you can select Set up my Overdrive to change the settings for the:
●
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 “Setting Up the Device” on page 9).
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
Setting Up the Device 11
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 WPA. To select another option, click the More options button.
●
See “Wi-Fi Security Options” on page 12.
●
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 with others, y
ou’ll have to give the Wi-Fi password to
others; 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 featur
e, which is useful if you forget
the Wi-Fi password. See “Wi-Fi Password Reminder” on page 94.
Tip: Help information on each field is displayed (in a bubble) when you move the cursor into the field.
You can display this window an
y time, by clicking the Admin Setup button in the browser interface.
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” on
page 14.
Wi-Fi Security Options
If you select More options (after having selected Set up my Overdrive, during the device setup), a
window with four Wi-Fi security options is displayed.
Note: All the devices used with the Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot must support the selected security
type.
Going from no security to stronger security, the options are:
None — No security (no password is required to access the Wi-Fi network); not recommended.
●
Anyone may access your device and use your Internet connection (you are responsible for
payment for data usage).
WEP-64 bit — Lower security. Works with older and newer Wi-Fi devices. Recommended only if any
●
of your devices don’t support WPA or WPA2.
●
WPA-personal — A strong security standard, supported by most Wi-Fi devices.
WPA2-Personal — A stronger, newer security standard. Limited to newer Wi-Fi devices.
●
If the above options don’t meet your requirements, click
I don’t see what I want....
12 Setting Up the Device
Expanded Wi-Fi Security Options
If you display the Security section of the Wi-Fi tab of the Advanced Settings window or if you
I don’t see what I want... (from the Wi-Fi Security Options window during the device setup), a
select
window with an expanded list of Wi-Fi security options is displayed.
Note: All the devices used with the Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot must support the selected security
type.
The options are:
●
None — No security (no password is required to access the Wi-Fi network); not recommended.
Anyone may access your device and use your Internet connection (you are responsible for
payment for data usage).
●
WEP-64 bit - Shared — Lower security. Works with older and newer Wi-Fi devices.
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
be less secure than open WEP.
to
●
WEP-128 bit - Shared — Lower security. Works with older and newer Wi-Fi devices.
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
be less secure than open WEP.
to
Setting Up the Device
●
WEP-64 bit - Open — Lower security. Works with older and newer Wi-Fi devices. Recommended
only if any of your devices don’t support WPA or WPA2.
Open WEP uses the key for encryption,
●
WEP-128 bit - Open — Lower security. Works with older and newer Wi-Fi devices.
but not for authentication.
Recommended only if any of your devices don’t support WPA or WPA2.
Open WEP uses the key for encryption,
●
WPA-Personal - TKIP — A strong security standard, supported by most Wi-Fi devices.
●
WPA-Personal - TKIP/AES — A strong security standard, supported by most Wi-Fi devices.
WPA2-Personal - AES — A stronger, newer security standard. Limited to newer Wi-Fi devices.
●
●
WPA2-Personal - TKIP/AES — A stronger, newer security standard. Limited to newer Wi-Fi
but not for authentication.
devices.
WPA/WPA2 Personal (recommended setting) — Wi-Fi devices that use either WPA or WPA2 can
●
connect to the Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot. Supported by most Wi-Fi devices.
Setting Up the Device 13
Your Device is Now Restarting
The “Your device is now restarting” window is displayed if you’ve selected the Set up my Overdrive
option and then clicked
Submit.
The changes take effect after the de
It’s recommended you write down the following information that’
● Wi-F
● Wi-Fi passwor
As described in the window,
i network name
d
vice restarts automatically.
s displayed in the window:
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?” on page 126 .
3. After the Wi-Fi connection was successfully established, click the Click here text in the window.
Activating and Using Your Network Service
Note: If you’re able to connect to 3G, you are already set up to use Sprint service on the 3G network; no
further action is needed. Proceed to “Using Your Device” on page 15.
Before using your device, you must have a Sprint wireless network account set up. The process of
setting up an account is called
has been configured with an account (“preactivated”). If it has not, the activation process starts
automatically.
activation. When the device starts up, it will detect whether the device
In most cases, the activation process will be seamless, not
some cases, you won’t even see any activation-related messages displayed on the device LCD.
requiring any action from your part; in
Initiating Activation of Your Device for 3G
In rare cases, the device LCD and the home page may indicate that activation is required:
● The
● T
To activate your device for 3G:
LCD displays “3G Activation failed.”
he home page displays the alert “3G Activation Required.”
Note: You will still be able to connect to the Internet, when you have 4G coverage.
1. Log in to the home page. See “Logging On as an Administrator” on page 29.
2. Display the “3G Activation Required” alert. See “3G Activation Required” on page 31.
3. In the alert, click Activate now.
If the activation fails, contact Sprint. See “Contacting Customer Service” on page 124.
14 Setting Up the Device
Section 3
Using Your Device
Section 3A
Power Button
⽧ Turning Your Device On and Off (page 16)
⽧ Using the Power Button to Determine the Device State (page 18)
⽧ Pressing the Power Button (page 19)
Turning Your Device On and Off
Turning Your Device On
1. Ensure that:
䡲 The
device has a charged battery inserted.
— or —
䡲 The de
as shown in the drawing on the next page.
Note: If you’ll be using USB for data transfer (and not just for charging the device), you must install the
vice is connected to the AC charger or a computer (through the USB to Micro B cable),
device driver when you connect through USB for the first time. See “Making a Tethered Connection”
on page 25.
16 Power Button
2. If the device LCD is blank, press and hold the power button for two seconds.
Power Button
Power Button 17
Turning Your Device Off
● From the home page:
1. Ensure you’re logged in to the home page.
2. Click the Power Off button (below the Virtual Device).
rom the Mini Window:
● F
1. Ensure you’re logged in to the home page.
2. Click the Power Off button.
m the device:
● Fro
䡲 Pr
ess and hold the power button for 2 seconds.
Note: You can turn the device on only from the device itself.
Using the Power Button to Determine the Device State
The power button on the device also acts as an LED/status indicator, and may or may not be lit;
this indicates the power state
of the device, as shown in the following table.
Power button
Not lit
Lit, flashing (approximately
every 4 seconds)
Lit, flashing (approximately
every 30
seconds)
Description You r a ction
● The device is turned off, and may
or may not be charging.
● The device is turned on, but you
have turned off the LED.
The device is turned on, and the LED
is enabled.
The device is in standby (low power)
mode.
The following are off: LCD, Wi-Fi
adio, 3G/4G radios.
r
For more information, see “Standby
(Low Power) Mode” on page 43
.
● To turn the device on, press and
hold the power button
seconds.
for two
● Optionally, turn on the LED. See
“Enabling and Disabling the LED”
on page 77
No action required.
To exit standby mode:
.
䡵 Connect the Overdrive 3G/4G
Mobile Hotspot to the AC
charger or computer, through
the USB to Micro B cable.
— or —
P
ress the power button .
18 Power Button
Pressing the Power Button
Note: The power button on the device also acts as an LED/status indicator, and may or may not be lit;
this indicates the power state of the de
Determine the Device State” on page 18.
vice. For more information, see “Using the Power Button to
If you do this to the
power button :
Quick press
Quick double-press
Press and hold for
two seconds
The result is:
If the device is on:
● If the device is in standby (low power) mode, the device exits standby
mode and becomes fully powered.
● If the LCD is enabled but dormant
a
, the LCD becomes lit.
● If the LCD displays a message (such as “Press to ...”), the
corresponding action is co
nfirmed or acknowledged.
● If the Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password were displayed on the
LCD, they are no longer displayed.
If the device is on:
● If the LCD is enabled but dormant, the LCD becomes lit.
● The Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password are briefly displayed on
the device LCD; if the Wi-Fi Password Reminder is not enabled, the
password is shown as ****. See “Wi-Fi Password Reminder” on page 94
The device turns on (if it was off) or off (if it was on).
Power Button
.
a. The LCD turns dark, after a configurable time of inactivity.
Power Button 19
Section 3B
ABCDF
I
H
GE
LCD
⽧ Interpreting the LCD (page 20)
If the LCD is not lit, see “Turning Your Device On” on page 16.
Interpreting the LCD
The LCD shows icons and text that reflect the status of the device and your connection.
A
Signal strength
B
3G/4G status
C
Roaming indicator
D
Alerts
E
GPS
F
Number of Wi-Fi users
G
Battery status
Device name.
H
Message area.
Amount of data transferred; connection duration.
I
Message area.
Tip: Most of the LCD icons and messages are also shown on the Virtual Device and Mini Window. See
“Virtual Device” on page 29 and “Mini Window” on page 30. Also see “Messages Displayed on the
Device LCD” on page 135 .
20 LCD
Section 3C
Charging the Device
⽧ Using the AC Charger with USB Port (page 22)
⽧ Charging Through a Computer (page 23)
The Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot has a battery, which you must periodically charge. You can
continue using y
To charge the battery, you have two options, as shown in the drawing below — you can connect
the de
vice to a:
● A
C charger (faster way to charge). See “Using the AC Charger with USB Port” on page 22.
our device while it is charging.
Charging the Device
● Computer (slower wa
y to charge). See “Charging Through a Computer” on page 23.
Charging the Device 21
Using the AC Charger with USB Port
1. Insert the smaller end of the USB to Micro B cable into the USB connector on the side of the
device.
2. Insert the other end of the USB to Micro B cable into the AC charger.
3. Insert the AC charger into an electrical outlet.
When charging, the LCD shows
xx% complete.”
When the device is charged, the LCD shows:
●
●
(if the device is on)
and the message “Fully charged” (if the device is off).
and, if the device is off, displays a message “Charging...
22 Charging the Device
Charging Through a Computer
Note: Charging through a computer usually takes longer than charging through the AC charger.
Note: If you’ll be using USB for data transfer (and not just for charging the device), you must install the
device driver when you connect through USB for the first time. See “Making a Tethered Connection”
on page 25.
1. Ensure the computer is turned on.
Charging the Device
2. Insert the wider end of the USB to Micro B cable into the computer.
3. Insert the other end of the USB to Micro B cable into the USB connector on the side of the
device.
When charging, the LCD shows the animated icon
When the device is charged, the LCD shows
.
.
Charging the Device 23
Section 3D
Connecting Through USB
⽧ TRU-Install (page 24)
⽧ Requirements for a USB Tethered Connection (page 25)
⽧ Making a Tethered Connection (page 25)
Note: If you’ll be using USB for data transfer (and not just for charging the device), you must install the
device driver when you connect through USB for the first time. See “Making a Tethered Connection”
on page 25.
Use the USB to Micro B cable to connect the device to your computer when:
● Y
ou want to charge the device, but you don’t want to use the AC charger, or the AC charger is not
available.
our computer does not have Wi-Fi.
● Y
● Y
ou want to block others from using the device. (See “Disabling Wi-Fi When Connected Through
USB” on page 98.)
TRU-Install
TRU-Install™ is a Sierra Wireless feature that installs the necessary drivers the first time you connect
the Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot to your Windows or Mac computer through the USB to Micro B
cable (for details, see “Making a Tethered Connection” on page 25). An installation CD is not required.
By default, TRU-Install is enabled.
To change the setting:
1. Ensure you’re logged in to the home page.
2. Click Advanced settings > Device > Basic.
3. Select a value for TRU-Install.
24 Connecting Through USB
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