Sierra Wireless Airlink MG90 User Manual

AirLink MG90

Hardware User Guide

4118699

Rev 3

Preface

Important
Notice

Safety and
Hazards

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

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

Do not operate the Sierra Wireless modem in any aircraft, whether the aircraft is on
the ground or in flight. In aircraft, the Sierra Wireless modem MUST BE POWERED
OFF. When operating, the Sierra Wireless modem can transmit signals that could
interfere with various onboard systems.

Note: Some airlines may permit the use of cellular phones while the aircraft is on the ground
and the door is open. Sierra Wireless modems may be used at this time.

Limitation of
Liability

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

The information in this manual is subject to change without notice and does not
represent a commitment on the part of Sierra Wireless. SIERRA WIRELESS AND ITS
AFFILIATES SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ANY AND ALL DIRECT,
INDIRECT, SPECIAL, GENERAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
EXEMPLARY DAMAGES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, LOSS OF PROFITS
OR REVENUE OR ANTICIPATED PROFITS OR REVENUE ARISING OUT OF THE
USE OR INABILITY TO USE ANY SIERRA WIRELESS PRODUCT, EVEN IF
SIERRA WIRELESS AND/OR ITS AFFILIATES HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES OR THEY ARE FORESEEABLE OR FOR
CLAIMS BY ANY THIRD PARTY.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall Sierra Wireless and/or its affiliates
aggregate liability arising under or in connection with the Sierra Wireless product,
regardless of the number of events, occurrences, or claims giving rise to liability, be in
excess of the price paid by the purchaser for the Sierra Wireless product.

Rev 3 Feb.17 2 4118699

AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

Patents This product may contain technology developed by or for Sierra Wireless Inc. This

product includes technology licensed from QUALCOMM
manufactured or sold by Sierra Wireless Inc. or its affiliates under one or more
patents licensed from InterDigital Group and MMP Portfolio Licensing.

®

. This product is

Copyright © 2017 Sierra Wireless. All rights reserved.

Trademarks Sierra Wireless

registered trademarks of Sierra Wireless.

Windows

Macintosh
U.S. and other countries.

QUALCOMM
license.

Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

®

, AirPrime®, AirLink®, AirVantage® and the Sierra Wireless logo are

®

and Windows Vista® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

®

and Mac OS X® are registered trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the

®

is a registered trademark of QUALCOMM Incorporated. Used under

Contact
Information

Sales information and technical
support, including warranty and returns

Web: sierrawireless.com/company/contact-us/
Global toll-free number: 1-877-687-7795
6:00 am to 6:00 pm PST

Corporate and product information Web: sierrawireless.com

Revision
History

Revision
number

1 May 2016 Document created (Trial release)
2 October 2016 General release

Release date Changes

Changed recommended fuse to 9A (from 7.5A)
Updated factory reset instructions
Updated power consumption values
Updated LED behavior descriptions (Power, Signal, ALL LEDs)
Added Bracket Mount details
Added I/O Configuration topic (GPIOs)
Updated MTBF
Added SMA wrench details
Organized radio frequency/Tx power consumption tables by SKUs
Updated Battery Replacement/Disposal topic
Added topic to boot from USB for software update

Rev 3 Feb.17 3 4118699

Preface

Revision
number

3 February 2017 Updated Table 3-1, General Router Specifications, on page 30:

Release date Changes

• Added ACMA RCM certification

• Added Conducted Electrical Transients

Corrected RS-232 pin directions in Table 3-2, Serial Connector Pin-out, on page 33
Added topic GPIO Breakout Cable

Rev 3 Feb.17 4 4118699

Contents

1: Introduction to the MG90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Key Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Power Modes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

2: Installation and Startup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Powering the MG90 On. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Tools and Materials Required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Installation Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Step 1—Insert the SIM Cards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Step 2—Mounting and Grounding the MG90 Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Flat Surface Mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Bracket Mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Ground the MG90 Chassis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Cabling—Best Practices. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Cable Strain Relief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Cable Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Step 3—Connect the Antennas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Step 4—Connect the Data Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Step 5—Connect the Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Fusing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

DC Voltage Transients . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

MG90 Power Connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Connect the Router to the Vehicle’s Electrical System . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Wiring Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

I/O Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Step 6—Check the router operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

LED Behavior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

Ethernet LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Step 7—Startup and Software Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

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Reboot the MG90 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Reset the MG90 to Factory Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Boot the MG90 from USB for Software Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

3: Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Router Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Radio Bands/Conducted Tx Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

SKU 1102695/1102716 (North America/Europe) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

SKU 1103007 (North America) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

SKU 1103239/1103240 (Asia/Pacific) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Carrier Aggregation Combinations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Wi-Fi Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Mechanical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Contents

4: Regulatory Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Important Information for North American Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

RF Exposure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46

EU. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Battery Replacement/Disposal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

A: Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Antenna Separation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

GPIO Breakout Cable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Rev 3 Feb.17 6 4118699

1: Introduction to the MG90

The Sierra Wireless MG90 is a high performance, multi-network vehicle router
developed specifically for mobile applications in public safety, transit, and field
services. Together with the AirLink Mobility Manager and the AirLink Connection
Manager, it provides a secure, managed, high performance LTE networking solution
for the most demanding mission critical applications.

Key Features

• Multi-carrier LTE-Advanced WAN connectivity supporting up to 300 Mbps
downlink speed

• Cognitive link management system to optimize WAN connections for quality, cost,
and performance

• Commercially available to deploy on FirstNet/Band14 mission critical networks
today

• Dual concurrent 802.11ac Gigabit Wi-Fi (3 x 3 MIMO)

• Precision mobile events reporting at 1 second intervals allows for detailed

network and connectivity analysis

For information on configuring these features, refer to the Sierra Wireless MG90
Software Configuration User Guide available at source.sierrawireless.com.

1

Rev 3 Feb.17 7 4118699

Description

SIM Card holders (See Insert the

SIM Card on page 18)

LEDs (See LED Behavior on page 26.)

(See Ethernet on page 32.)

RJ45 Ethernet Ports

RJ45 Aux Port

Locking USB 3.0 type-A Ports
(See USB on page 32.)

9-pin RS-232 Serial Port
(See Serial Port on page 33.)

Power Connector
(See Connect the Power on page 20.)

Antenna Connectors

Reset button
(See Reboot the MG90 and Reset the MG90 to

Factory Default Settings on page 29.)

GNSS Cellular A / Diversity A Wi-Fi A (Wi-Fi WAN)

(1/2/3)

Bluetooth Cellular B / Diversity B Wi-Fi B (Wi-Fi Access Point)

(1/2/3)

(See Connect the Antennas on page 18.)

Ground

Reprogram/Reset

Back
Panel

Front
Panel

(See Boot the MG90

from USB for Software
Update on page 29.)

(Reserved for future use)

Introduction to the MG90

Figure 1-1: MG90 Connectors, LEDs and SIM Card Holder

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AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

Power Modes

The Sierra Wireless MG90 has two power modes, as described in Table 1-1.

Table 1-1: MG90 Power Modes

Power Consumption

Mode Description

On Ignition on, CPU and radios ar e on

Ignition off, CPU and radios are off;

Standby

power is still connected.
Device can be woken by an I/O input or

at a configured time

Configuration Typ Max

1 Cellular radio 14 W 17 W

2 Cellular radios 18 W 21 W

- - <135 mW

Accessories

Table 1-2 lists accessories that are included with the MG90 router or are available for

purchase from Sierra Wireless.

Table 1-2: MG90 Accessories

Part Part Number Description

Included with router purchase
DC power cable 2000555 10’ power cable

SMA wrench 5400017

a

Used to install antenna cables to

MG90
Quick Start Guide 5302198 Basic setup and usage instructions
Available for separate purchase from Sierra Wireless

AC power adapter for
test bench use

Antenna packages
(Main)

Note: A secondary

antenna package is
also needed (for
Wi-Fi B and possible
second radio module)

Antenna package
(Secondary, for MG90
with one radio module)

Antenna package
(Secondary, for MG90
with two radio modules)

6001023

Contact Sierra Wireless
Sales for options.

Contact Sierra Wireless
Sales for options.

Contact Sierra Wireless
Sales for options.

• Universal adapter

• Voltage input: 100–240 VAC

• 6 antenna leads:

• (2) 3G/4G L TE

• (3) Wi-Fi

• (1) GNSS

• 3 antenna leads:

• (3) Wi-Fi

• 2 antenna leads:

• (2) 4G LTE

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Table 1-2: MG90 Accessoriesa (Continued)

Part Part Number Description

Introduction to the MG90

Antenna for Bluetooth

Mounting bracket 6001024

GPIO Breakout Cable 6001095

a. Subject to change.

Contact Sierra Wireless
Sales for options.

Optional Bluetooth antenna with

SMA connector

Mounting bracket for easy vehicle

installation and removal

RS-232 GPIO breakout cable. See

GPIO Breakout Cable on page 50

for details.

Warranty

The MG90 comes with a 3-year warranty, and has an optional 2-year warranty
extension.

Rev 3 Feb.17 10 4118699

2: Installation and Startup

This chapter describes:

• How to connect, install and start the MG90

• Front panel LEDs

• I/O functionality

Note: Field wiring and connections in hazardous locations must be
connected as per the wiring methods requirement for Class 2 circuits
mentioned in the National Electric Code and the Canadian Electric Code.

Note: The MG90 installation must be done by a qualified technician.

Powering the MG90 On

The MG90’s factory default configuration enables it to establish a
WAN connection if an appropriate SIM card is installed, and the APN
is configured correctly.

2

Note: Additional configuration is always recommended.

To start the MG90:

1. Apply power to the system:

· If the MG90 has been installed and wired into a vehicle's

electrical system, turn on the ignition.

· If the MG90 is not in a vehicle (for example, on a test bench),
use the optional AC power adapter.

The MG90 should fully power up within two minutes. When the
MG90 is turning on, the Power LED flashes green, then turns
solid green, and other LEDs begin to display their regular behav­ior. For more information on the LED patterns see LED Behavior
on page 26.

2. If the MG90 does not start automatically, press and release the
Reset button on the front panel.

3. Test the unit—Connect a test device (for example, a PC) to the
MG90 LAN via:

· Wi-Fi—An MG90 with factory default settings provides an

unsecured Vehicle Wi-Fi access point (AP) broadcasting its
own Serial Number as the SSID (e.g. ND60510068011018)

· Ethernet— Ethernet ports 1–4 (factory default configured for

LAN access)

Refer to the AirLink MG90 Software Configuration Guide for
configuration/ usage instructions.

Rev 3 Feb.17 11 4118699

Installation and Startup

4. The MG90 is ready for use. However, you should further configure the unit using
the sections provided in this document.

Tools and Materials Required

• SIM card(s) (provided by your mobile network operator)—Depending on your
device configuration, you will have one or two cellular modems. Each modem can
support up to two SIM cards.

• #1 Phillips screwdriver

• Laptop computer with Ethernet cable

• Multi-element antenna(s) appropriate for your MG90. See Table 1-2 on page 9 for

suggested antennas.

• SMA wrench (provided with MG90)

• AC or DC power cable (available from Sierra Wireless or use your own custom

cable). See Table 1-2 on page 9 for part numbers.

• Optional— 9-pin connection cable for the RS-232 port

Caution: The MG90 has a hardened case for use in extreme environments. If the MG90 is to

be used in these environments, make sure to use cables designed and specified for this use to
avoid cable failure.

Installation Overview

The steps for a typical installation are performed as follows:

• Step 1—Insert the SIM Cards on page 12.

• Step 2—Mounting and Grounding the MG90 Chassis on page 14.

• Step 3—Connect the Antennas on page 18.

• Step 4—Connect the Data Cables on page 20.

• Step 5—Connect the Power on page 20.

• Step 6—Check the router operation on page 25.

• Step 7—Startup and Software Configuration on page 28.

Note: Depending on where you are installing the MG90, you may want to mount the router
before connecting the antenna, cables and power.

Step 1—Insert the SIM Cards

The MG90 has four mini-SIM (2FF) card slots—two slots for each radio module (up to
two radios). The card slots are located behind a removable plate on the front of the
device as shown in Figure 2-1 on page 13.

From left to right, the “SIM Card” slots are:

• A1—First radio module (Cellular A), first SIM

• A2—First radio module (Cellular A), second SIM

• B1—Second radio module (Cellular B), first SIM

• B2—Second radio module (Cellular B), second SIM

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AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

Note the orientation of notched

SIM card cover

#1 Phillips screws

corner for proper SIM card alignment.

If you are using only one SIM card for a radio module, Sierra Wireless recommends
that you install it in the module’s ‘1’ slot (e.g. SIM Card A1, SIM Card B1).

If the SIM card(s) are not already installed, insert them into the MG90 before
connecting any external equipment or power to the unit.

To install the SIM card(s):

1. Use a #1 Phillips screwdriver to remove the SIM card cover (2 screws).

Important: These are ‘captive’ screws that remain attached to the cover. Do NOT remove

them from the door.

2. Orient the SIM card(s), as shown in Figure 2-1 (Gold contacts on the SIM cards
face-up).

3. Gently slide the SIM cards into their slots until they click into place.

(To remove a SIM card, press the SIM card in until it clicks, and release it. Gently
grip the SIM card and pull it out.)

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Figure 2-1: Installing the SIM Cards

4. Replace the SIM card cover.

Important: Do not over-tighten the screws. This could strip the threads inside the router,

which will prevent the cover from being re-attached.

Installation and Startup

Mounting screw

holes/slots

200.0 mm

230.0 mm

170.0 mm

Step 2—Mounting and Grounding the MG90 Chassis

The MG90 should not be mounted in the driver’s area of the vehicle or in areas where
it can distract the driver. Mount it in accordance with accepted after-market practices
and materials.

While mounting the MG90:

• Make sure the power source is OFF.

Note: See the Mechanical Specifications on page 45 for the MG90’s dimensions.

Mount the router where:

• There is easy access for attaching the cables. Make sure there is sufficient space
in front, behind, and above the unit to connect all components and perform
maintenance.
Typical locations for installing the MG90 include under the deck lid, or on the
floorboard of the vehicle’s equipment storage.

• Cables will not be constricted, close to high amperages or exposed to extreme
temperatures

• The front panel LEDs are easily visible

• There is adequate airflow

• It is away from direct exposure to the elements, such as sun, rain, dust, etc.

• It will not be hit or come into contact with people, cargo, tools, equipment, etc.

The MG90 has 4 mounting holes/ slots, as shown in Figure 2-2. For screw
specifications, see Screw Torque Settings on page 34. For additional mechanical
dimension details, see Figure 3-3 on page 45.

Figure 2-2: MG90 Mounting Slots

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AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

Mounting posts

Note: When mounting on a an inclined/vertical surface without the optional mounting bracket,
the MG90 should be positioned with the antenna ports facing down (or sideways) with the
mounting slots resting on mounting posts, as shown in Figure 2-3.

Figure 2-3: Recommended Orientation for Inclined/Vertical Mounting

Flat Surface Mount

If you are mounting the MG90 on a flat surface, use appropriate mounting screws.

Rev 3 Feb.17 15 4118699

Installation and Startup

0.0

0.0

* all units in mm

Attach bracket to mounting surface and install MG90:

1. Pre-drill two screws into mounting surface.

2. Position mounting slots over screws.

3. Slide bracket down to ‘lock’ the screws in the tabs.

4. Secure the bracket with two more screws using appropriate mounting holes.

5. Position the MG90 as appropriate and secure to mounting bracket using the
screws provided with the bracket.

Bracket orientation for

horizontal mounting

Bracket orientation for

vertical mounting

260.0 267.4

218.0

19.2

209.2

156.8

79.8

35.0 225.0

96.3

173.3

77.0

190.0

Vehicle mounting holes

Green: Horizontal mount

Blue: Vertical mount

Bracket Mount

An optional mounting bracket (Part #6001024) is available from Sierra Wireless for
vertical mounting. This bracket comes is supplied with appropriate mounting screws.

Figure 2-4: MG90 Bracket Mounting Installation Examples

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AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

Ground

Ground the MG90 Chassis

For DC installations (with a fixed “system” ground reference), Sierra Wireless strongly
recommends always grounding the MG90 chassis to this system ground reference.

To ensure a good grounding reference connect one end of a short 18 AWG or larger
gauge wire with a ring terminal connector to the ground terminal on the rear panel of
the MG90 and connect the other end to the vehicle chassis.

The ground terminal requires an M4x 6 mm screw (or longer, depending on the ring
terminal connector size.)

Figure 2-5: Ground Connector (Rear Panel)

Cabling—Best Practices

Separate MG90 antenna, data, and power cables from other wiring in the vehicle and
route away from sharp edges.

Cable Strain Relief

Sierra Wireless recommends using cable strain relief for installations in high-vibration
environments.

Place the cable strain relief within 200 mm (8") of the MG90 to reduce the mass of
cable supported by the power connector under vibration. Ideally, the strain relief
mounting for the DC cable should be attached to the same object as the MG90, so
both the router and cable vibrate together. The strain relief should be mounted such
that it does not apply additional stress on the power connector (i.e. the cable should
not be taut and should not pull the power connector at an angle).

Cable Management

Proper cable management eliminates unnecessary installation complications, allows
for ease of maintenance, and prolongs cable longevity.

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Installation and Startup

GNSS

Cellular A Diversity A

Wi-Fi A (Wi-Fi WAN)

Bluetooth Cellular B Diversity B

Wi-Fi B (Wi-Fi Access Point)First Radio Second Radio (if installed)

12 3

12 3

When installing cables, adhere to the following practices:

1. Label each cable that attaches to the MG90. For example: “GNSS”, “Wi-Fi A”,
“Ethernet to Device X”.

2. Protect the cables using a proper cable conduit.

3. Secure each cable connected to the MG90 via a permanent fixture.

Step 3—Connect the Antennas

Warning: This router is not intended for use close to the human body. Antennas should be at

least 8 inches (20 cm) away from the operator or bystanders.

The MG90 has the following SMA antenna connectors:

Figure 2-6: Antenna Connectors (Rear Panel)

Table 2-1: Antenna Connector Types

Module Connectors Description Type

Radio

Radio

GNSS GNSS GNSS SMA

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi

Bluetooth Bluetooth Bluetooth RP-SMA

Cellular A First radio, Rx/Tx SMA
Diversity A First radio, Rx Diversity SMA
Cellular B Second radio, Rx/Tx SMA
Diversity B Second radio, Rx Diversity SMA

Wi-Fi A 1
Wi-Fi A 2 RP-SMA
Wi-Fi A 3 RP-SMA
Wi-Fi B 1
Wi-Fi B 2 RP-SMA
Wi-Fi B 3 RP-SMA

• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac, 3x3 MIMO

• Used for Wi-Fi WAN (Default configu-

ration)

• Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n/ac, 3x3 MIMO

• Used for Wi-Fi access point (Default

configuration)

RP-SMA

RP-SMA

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AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

Slips over connector

Open channel for cable

Use the wrench to
hand-tighten (or loosen)
SMA connectors

For regulatory requirements concerning antennas, see Maximum Antenna Gain on
page 47.

To install the antennas:

1. Mount the antenna unit(s) on the vehicle (typically multi-element units):

· Follow the antenna unit’s recommended installation instructions.

· Use appropriate cable strain relief. (See Cable Management on page 17.)

· When mounting antenna unit(s) containing WAN/WLAN cellular antennas,

make sure there is at least 20 cm between the antenna(s) and the user or
bystanders during normal operation.

· If the unit includes a GNSS antenna, make sure it has a good view of the sky

(at least 90

Note: If single-element antennas are installed, refer to Table A-1 on page 49 for recommended
antenna separation.

⁰).

Note: Use the SMA
wrench provided to hand­tighten the antennas to the
SMA connectors. Do not
over-tighten.
Recommended torque is

0.6–0.8 Nm (5–7 in-lb),
and max torque should not
exceed 1.1 Nm (10 in-lb.).

2. Connect the cables from the antenna units to their corresponding SMA/RP-SMA
connectors on the MG90’s rear panel.
From left to right (as shown in Figure 2-6 on page 18):

· If used, connect the GNSS antenna to the “GNSS” antenna connector.

· For the first radio module:

· Connect the main antenna to the “Cellular A” connector.

· If used, connect the diversity antenna to the “Diversity A” connector.

· Connect the Wi-Fi Access Point module’s three antennas to the “Wi-Fi A”

connectors.

· If used, connect a Bluetooth antenna to the “Bluetooth” connector.

· For the second radio module:

· Connect the main antenna to the “Cellular B” connector.

· If used, connect the diversity antenna to the “Diversity B” connector.

· Connect the Wi-Fi WAN module’s three antennas to the “Wi-Fi B” connectors.

Note: If the antenna unit(s) is located away from the router, keep cables as short as possible to
prevent the loss of antenna gain. Route the cables to protect them from damage or being
snagged or pulled. There should be no binding or sharp corners in the cable routing. Excess
cabling should be bundled and tied off. Make sure the cables are secured so their weight will
not loosen the connector from the router over time.

Rev 3 Feb.17 19 4118699

Figure 2-7: SMA Wrench Usage

Installation and Startup

Ethernet
(5 ports)

12345

Reserved for USB1 Serial (RS-232)

future use

USB2

Step 4—Connect the Data Cables

The MG90 has multiple ports for connecting optional data cables or accessories:

• Ethernet (10/100/1000 Base-T RJ45) ports (5)

Use Cat 5e or Cat 6 Ethernet cables to connect up to five devices.

· Ports 1–4: LAN (Default)

· Port 5: WAN (Default)

• AUX port reserved for future use

• USB 3.0 type-A locking ports. For USB port details, see USB on page 32.

To connect a USB cable/device:

a. Plug the USB cable/device into either USB port.

b. If using a USB locking cable, screw the jack screw finger-tight.

• Serial Port (9-pin RS-232)

See Serial Port on page 33 for cable requirements.

Figure 2-8: Data Cable Connectors (Rear Panel)

Step 5—Connect the Power

The router’s power supply cable must be connected to the vehicle’s fuse box, and
installed along the vehicle wall, always inside the vehicle cabin and must not cross the
vehicle’s firewall protection. Always follow the vehicle manufacturer’s
recommendations for electrical accessories connections. All components used in the
electrical connection to the vehicle should be UL Listed.

The MG90 comes with a 3 meter (10 ft.) DC power cable.

You can also purchase an optional AC adapter for test bench usage—see Table 1-2
on page 9.

Note: Electrical installations are potentially dangerous and should be performed by personnel
thoroughly trained in safe electrical wiring procedures.

Rev 3 Feb.17 20 4118699

AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

1

43

Pin 1 - Red
Power

Pin 2 - Black
Ground

Pin 3 - White
Ignition Sense

Pin 4 - Green
GPIO

2

For more information,
see wiring diagrams on page 23.

The MG90 supports an operating voltage of 7 V–36 V, but since low voltage standby
mode is enabled by default, you must supply more than 11 volts at startup.

If you want to operate the router at a lower voltage, you can change the low voltage
standby settings once the router is up and running. For more information, refer to the
MG90 Software Configuration User Guide.

Fusing

For DC installations, Sierra Wireless recommends fusing the power input using a 9 A,
fast blow fuse, recommended to have no more than ± 10% de-rating over the
operating temperature range.

DC Voltage Transients

The MG90 has built-in protection against vehicle transients including engine cranking
(down to 5.0V) and load dump, so external power conditioning circuits are not
needed. For details, see Industry Certification for Vehicles on page 30.

MG90 Power Connector

Rev 3 Feb.17 21 4118699

Figure 2-9: DC Power Cable Connections (Colors indicate DC cable wire colors.)

Installation and Startup

Table 2-2: Power Connector Pin and DC Cable Wires

Associated DC

Pin Name

1 Power Red

2 Ground Black Main device ground PWR

Ignition

3

Sense

Cable Wire Color Description Type

Note: If you want to turn the MG90 on/off using a control line, such as a vehicle

White

ignition line, Sierra Wireless strongly recommends that you connect the control/

ignition line to Pin 3 and apply continuous power on Pin 1.

Main power supply for device

Note: If you do not connect Pin 3 to the ignition, you MUST connect it to the
positive terminal of your power supply or battery. If you are using a Sierra
Wireless AC adapter, the connection is inside the cable.

Ignition Sense: Connected to the vehicle ignition or an external switch. The MG90
is off when this pin is either open-circuit or grounded, and on when this pin is
connected to power.

PWR

I

4 GPIO Green

General purpose digital input/output. For more information, see I/O Configuration
on page 24.

I/O

Connect the Router to the Vehicle’s Electrical System

To connect the MG90 router to the vehicle’s electrical system:

1. Make sure the vehicle is turned off.

2. Remove the key from the ignition.

3. Disconnect the vehicle’s battery:

a. Disconnect the negative terminal first.

b. Disconnect the positive terminal.

4. Connect the black (ground) wire on the DC power cable to the vehicle chassis.

5. Make sure the MG90 is grounded. (See Step 2—Mounting and Grounding the

MG90 Chassis on page 14.)

6. Use a 9 A, fast blow fuse, recommended to have no more than ± 10% de-rating
over the operating temperature range, to connect the red (power) wire on the DC
power cable to the vehicle’s fuse box. (See Figure 2-10.)

7. Connect the white wire (ignition) on the DC power cable to the ignition signal from
the vehicle.

8. Connect the DC power cable to the MG90.

9. Reconnect the vehicle’s battery:

a. Connect the positive terminal first.

b. Connect the negative terminal.

Rev 3 Feb.17 22 4118699

AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

MG90 power plug

Power (Red wire)

Ignition Sense (White wire)
I/O (Green wire)
Ground (Black wire)

-+

Battery

Ignition

1

3
4

2

Engine compartment Vehicle cabin

Vehicle firewall

Vehicle fuse box

9 A fuse

Note: If the I/O pin is not used, leave the

green wire unterminated.

Wiring Diagrams

Recommended Basic Vehicle Installation

For most vehicle installations, Sierra Wireless recommends connecting the white
Ignition Sense wire to the vehicle’s ignition switch, as shown in Figure 2-10.

Figure 2-10: Recommended Vehicle Installation

The recommended vehicle installation allows the router to operate with the vehicle.
When the vehicle ignition is off, the MG90 is in standby mode. If desired, you can
configure a delay between the time the vehicle’s ignition shuts off, and the time the
router shuts down. A delayed shutdown is especially useful if you want to maintain a
network connection while the vehicle’s engine is shut off for short periods, such as in
a delivery vehicle.

• Pin 1 (Power) —Use the red wire in the DC cable to connect Pin 1 to the power
source. Include a 9 A, fast blow fuse, recommended to have no more than ± 10%
de-rating over the operating temperature range, in the input power line. Sierra
Wireless recommends using a continuous (unswitched) DC power source.
Connect the power through the vehicle’s fuse box.

• Pin 2 (Ground)—Use the black wire in the DC cable to connect Pin 2 to the
vehicle battery’s negative terminal, or ground. See also Step 2 — Mounting and

Grounding the MG90 Chassis on page 14.

• Pin 3 (Ignition Sense) —Sierra Wireless recommends always using the Ignition
Sense wire (Pin 3) to turn the router off. It should not be turned off by discon­necting the power.

• Pin 4 (GPIO)—This pin can remain unconnected if GPIO functionality is not
required. Otherwise, connect the GPIO as described in the I /O Configuration on
page 24.

Rev 3 Feb.17 23 4118699

Installation and Startup

4

DC Power ConnectorRS-232 Connector

14

69

MG90 router

Off (default)

3.3V

V

High

2.1 V

Protection

circuitry

Internal Pull-up
Resistor

Digital

input

Pin 4 on the power connector, or
Pin 1, 5, 6, or 9 on the RS-232
connector

I/O Configuration

The MG90 has five pins you can use for digital input configuration (digital output to be
supported by a future software update):

• Pin 4 on the power connector

• Pins 1, 4, 6, and 9 on the RS-232 serial connector

Figure 2-11: I/O Pin-out for RS-232 Connector and Power Connector

You can use these pins as:

· Digital inputs—See Figure on page 25.

· High side pull-ups/ dry contact switch inputs— See Figure 2-13 on page 25.

Digital Input

You can connect any of the GPIO pins to a digital input to detect the state of a switch,
or to monitor an external device such as a motion detector, a remote solar panel, or a
remote camera. Digital input can also be used with the standby timer. While in
Standby mode, the digital input will not be acted upon if it changes state.

Rev 3 Feb.17 24 4118699

Figure 2-12: Digital Input

AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

MG90 router

On

3.3V

I

Source

= 1.1 mA (Typical)

Protection

circuitry

Internal Pull-up
Resistor

Output Off (default)

Pin 4 on the power connector, or
Pin 1, 5, 6, or 9 on the RS-232
connector

Table 2-3: Digital Input

Pull-up State Minimum Typical Maximum Units

Low — — 0.7 V

Off

High 2.1 3.3 36 V

a. Voltage levels are compatible with 3.3V TTL standard logic families.

a

High Side Pull-up / Dry Contact Switch Input

You can connect any of the GPIO pins to a dry contact switch, such as an alarm relay.
While in Standby mode, the dry contact switch input will not be acted upon if it
changes state.

Figure 2-13: High Side Pull-up / Dry Contact Switch Input

Table 2-4: High Side Pull-up / Dry Contact Switch Input

Minimum Typical Maximum Units Comments

Source Current - 1.1 - mA

Amount of current the external
switch must sink

Step 6—Check the router operation

1. With the ignition OFF (or AC power unplugged if using an adapter), attach the
power cable connector to the power socket on the rear panel of the MG90.

Line up the locking ‘key’ on the power cord with the corresponding slot on the

Rev 3 Feb.17 25 4118699

power socket and fully insert the connector. The lock snaps into place when the
cord is correctly inserted. This protects the power cord against accidental discon­nection caused by vehicle vibrations.

Installation and Startup

Locking connector

GNSS Wi-Fi Network Signal Activity Power

Figure 2-14: Power Cable Locking Connector

2. When power is supplied to the MG90, it powers up automatically. If it does not
turn on, make sure that the:

· Power connector is plugged in and supplying voltage greater than 11 V.

Note: Although the MG90 operates in the range 7 V–36 V, low voltage
standby mode is enabled by default, so in order to avoid the router powering
on in standby mode, ensure that it is supplied with more than 11 V at startup.

· Ignition Sense (pin 3) is connected to the battery or power source (see Step

5—Connect the Power on page 20 for details)

LED Behavior

Figure 2-15: MG90 LED Status Indicators (front panel)

Table 2-5: LED Behavior

LED Color/Pattern Description

GNSS

Solid Green Satellite fix available
Flashing Amber No satellite fix available
Off GNSS is off /disabled

Rev 3 Feb.17 26 4118699

AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

Table 2-5: LED Behavior (Continued)

LED Color/Pattern Description

Solid Green Wi-Fi enabled (any mode), and not connected to an access point
Flashing Green Transmitting/receiving over Wi-Fi while not connected to an access point

Wi-Fi

Network

Signal

Activity

Solid Amber

Flashing Amber Transmitting/receiving over Wi-Fi while connected to an access point
Off Wi-Fi is off
Flashing Amber Connecting to a network
Flashing Green Connected to WAN (over cellular, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet)
Solid Green Connected to VPN
Off No network connection

Wi-Fi connected to an access point (i.e. Network state is “Network Ready ­Wi-Fi”

If the active WAN link is:

• Cellular—Signal shown is for the cellular radio for that link.

• Other (Wi-Fi, Ethernet, etc.)—Signal shown is for the strongest cellular

radio.

Solid Green Good signal ( 85 dBm; equ ivalent to 4–5 bars)
Solid Amber Average signal ( -100 dBm, <-85 dB; equivalent to 2–3 bars)
Red Poor signal ( -100 dBm; equivalent to 1 bar)
Flashing Green Transmitting/receiving over the WAN interface
Off No WAN activity
Solid Green Power is present, normal operation
Flashing Green Power is present, MG90 is booting
Solid Amber Standby mode

Power

Flashing Red

• Slow blink (1 per second)—Temperature out of operating range (see

Temperature (operational) on page 31)

• Fast blink (4 per second)—Voltage out of operating range

Off No power
Green LED chase Radio module update is in progress

ALL LEDS

Note: A ‘chase’ is all

LEDS blinking in
sequence.

Amber LED chase Software update is in progress

Factory default reset is in progress

Solid White

When the factory reset finishes, the MG90 will power off and, if AutoPower
is enabled (LCI General > Startup tab), will reboot.

Rev 3 Feb.17 27 4118699

Installation and Startup

Ethernet LEDs

The connector has two LEDs that indicate speed and activity. When looking into the
connector:

• Activity—The right LED indicates the link status:

· Solid Amber—Link

· Blinking Amber—Activity

· Off—No link

• Connection Speed—The left LED indicates the Ethernet connection speed:

· Solid Green— 1000 Mbps (Gigabit)

· Off—10/100 Mbps

Step 7—Startup and Software Configuration

You can configure the MG90 using the browser-based Local Configuration Interface
(LCI). The utility presents configuration pages under a series of tabs and sub-tabs.

To access the LCI:

1. Connect a laptop to the router with an Ethernet cable— use any of the Ethernet
ports 1–4. (By default, ports 1–4 are configured as LAN connections and port 5 is
configured as a WAN connection.).

2. Launch your web browser and go to 172.22.0.1/MG-LCI. (Note that the URL is
case-sensitive.)

Figure 2-16: LCI Login Screen

3. Enter the default User name and Password, and click Login:

· User Name: admin

· Password: admin

4. Refer to the MG90 Software Configuration User Guide for details on using the LCI

to configure your MG90.

In general, when using LCI:

· Most configuration changes take effect immediately. However, changes

related to the serial port take effect only after the MG90 reboots.

· Your browser’s Forward and Back controls can be used to navigate through

the LCI.

Rev 3 Feb.17 28 4118699

AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

· If you make any configuration changes on a screen, you must click Save to

save and apply them before changing screens. If you do not click Save, your
changes will be lost.

5. When finished configuring the MG90, click the Logout tab to return to the login
screen.

Figure 2-17: Log Out of LCI Using Logout Tab

Reboot the MG90

To reboot the MG90:

• On the front of the unit, press and release the Reset button.

Reset the MG90 to Factory Default Settings

To reset the router to the factory default settings:

1. On the front of the unit, press the Reset button for the ‘Button Reset Time’
configured in the LCI’s General > Shutdown tab (factory default is 10 seconds).

2. When all the LEDs turn solid white, release the Reset button.

When the factory reset is complete, the MG90 powers off and, if AutoPower is
enabled (LCI General > Startup tab), will reboot.

Boot the MG90 from USB for Software Update

To boot the MG90 from a USB flash drive that is loaded with a software update
package (for cases when the MG90 cannot be upgraded OTA (over the air)):

1. Insert the USB flash drive in either USB slot on the back panel.

2. On the back panel, press and hold the Reprogram/ Reset button and apply power,

then release the button.

Rev 3 Feb.17 29 4118699

3: Specifications

This chapter describes the MG90 router specifications, RF band and Tx power
specifications, Wi-Fi support, and mechanical specifications.

Router Specifications

The following table describes general router specifications.

Table 3-1: General Router Specifications

3

Certification and
Interoperability

Reliability MTBF (Ground Benign, 25°C)— 203,409 hours (23.22 years)

Emissions/Immunity • CE (Including EMC Test case for vehicle installation EN301489)

• ACMA RCM

• FCC

• Industry Canada

Safety • CB Scheme

• UL 60950

Industry Certification for
Vehicles

Environmental
Compliance

GSM/UMTS
Certifications

• E-Mark (72/245/EEC, 2009/19/EC)

• ISO7637-2

• SAE J1455 (Shock & Vibration)

• RoHS 2011/65/EU (RoHS 2)

• WEEE

• PTCRB

• GCF-CC

• R&TTE

MTBF calculations are performed per Telcordia “Reliability Prediction
Procedure for Electronic Equipment” document number SR-332,
Method 1, Issue 3

Rev 3 Feb.17 30 4118699

AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

Table 3-1: General Router Specifications (Continued)

Environmental
Testing

Mobile Network Operator Certification • Verizon Wireless

Vibration (operational) MIL-STD-810G, test methods 514.6, 527

Composite Wheeled Vehicle

Shock (operational) MIL-STD-810G, test method 516.6-I

SAE J1455 (Shock and
Vibration) for heavy-duty
vehicles

Temperature
(operational)

Temperature
(non-operational)

Thermal shock MIL-STD-810G, test method 503.5
Humidity (operational) MIL-STD-810G, test method 507.5

Ingress Protection (IP)
rating

Drop (non-operational) ISTA 2A 2001, test categories 1, 4, 5, and 6

Procedure I—Functional Shock

• Vibration: Section 4.10.4.2 Cab Mount

• Shock: Section 4.11.3.4 Operational Shock

• Electrical: 12 and 24 V systems

Section 4.13.1—12 and 24 V
Section 4.13.2—SAE J1113-11 Level 3

MIL-STD-810G, test methods 501.5, 502.5
(-30° to +70°C)

MIL-STD-810G, test methods 501.5, 502.5
(-40° to +85°C)

5–95% RH, non-condensing
IP64 (if RJ45 and USB connectors are covered)

• AT&T

• Other major network operators pending

Network

Technology

Host Interfaces Antenna connectors SMA connectors:

LTE
DC-HSPA

For SKU-specific lists of supported bands, see Radio Bands/

Conducted Tx Power on page 36.

• GNSS (all units)

• Cellular A (all units)—Connects to first cellular radio

• Diversity A (all units)—Connects to first cellular radio

• Cellular B (units with 2 cellular modules)—Connects to second

cellular radio

• Diversity B (units with 2 cellular modules)—Connects to second

cellular radio

RP-SMA connectors:

• Wi-Fi A (3 connectors) (all units) —Used for Wi-Fi WAN (default

configuration)

• Wi-Fi B (3 connectors) (all units)—Used for Wi-Fi Access Point

(default configuration)

• Bluetooth (all units)

Rev 3 Feb.17 31 4118699

Table 3-1: General Router Specifications (Continued)

USB

Note: Do not use the USB ports in a potentially explosive
environment.

• USB 3.0 Type A port, complies with USB Version 3.0 specifi-

cation

• Port supports use of SeaLATCH Type A USB locking connectors

Figure 3-1: USB Type A Locking Connector

• Ports are available for using a flash drive for offline software

upgrade if the unit is functional but is unable to be upgraded
OTA (Over The Air)

• The MG90 Software Configuration User Guide contains the

details of USB mode configuration and driver installation.

Specifications

Ethernet • (5) Gigabit (10/100/1000 Base-T) RJ45 Ethernet ports

• IEEE 802.3 Ethernet specification for 1000 Mbps speed (Gigabit

Ethernet) with fallback to 100 or 10 Mbps (Cat 5e or Cat 6 cable
is required for Gigabit Ethernet)

• Auto-crossover support

• Auto-negotiation detects the speed of the connecting device

Auxiliary Input • Reserved for future use

• RJ45 port

Rev 3 Feb.17 32 4118699

AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

12 3 45

6789

Table 3-2: Serial Connector Pin-out

Name Pin Description Type

DCD 1 GPIO4

a

a. GPIO pins are digital input only. Digital output to be supported by

future software update.

IN/OUT

RXD 2 Receive Data IN

TXD 3 Transmit Data OUT
DTR 4 GPIO2

a

IN/OUT

GND 5 Main GND. Connected internally to

BOARD GND

GND

DSR 6 GPIO3

a

IN/OUT
RTS 7 Ready To Send OUT
CTS 8 Clear To Send IN

RI 9 GPIO1

a

IN/OUT

Table 3-1: General Router Specifications (Continued)

Serial Port • 9-pin RS-232 serial port configured as DTE, connects directly to

most computers or other devices with a null-modem cable with
handshaking

Note: If you have a DTE device, you need to use a null modem
(cross-over) cable with handshaking.

• Used for connecting serial devices and configuration

• Provides access to MG90’s four GPIOs via pins 1, 4, 6, 9

• Complies with the EIA RS-232D specification for DTE equipment

Figure 3-2: DB-9 Male Serial Connector

Note: An RS-232 GPIO Breakout Cable is available. See GPIO

Breakout Cable on page 50 for details.

SIM Card Interface • Four mini-SIM (2FF) slots—Two for each installed radio module

Rev 3 Feb.17 33 4118699

• 1.8 V/3.3 V.

• This interface is compliant with the applicable 3GPP standards

for USIM.

Table 3-1: General Router Specifications (Continued)

Input/Output GPIOs:

• Configurable I/O pin on power connector

• GPIOs (4)—Connector type: RS-232 DB9 serial connector (see

Serial Port on page 33)

Uses:

• Digital input with optional pullup (see Digital Input on page 24)

• Open drain output with 500 mA sink capability

Power Adapter Pins 4-Pin connector:

• Power

• Ground

• Configurable GPIO (digital I/O)

(Output to be supported by future software update.)

• Configurable ignition sense

Reset Manual reset button on front panel

Specifications

LEDs

For more information, see page 26.

6 LEDs:

• GNSS

• Wi-Fi

• Network

• Signal

• Activity

• Power

Mechanical Specifications • Weight

· 5.3 lb/2.4 kg

• Dimensions

· Width: 10.6 in / 27.0 cm

· Depth: 8.7 in / 22.0 cm

· Height: 2.4 in / 6.0 cm

• Housing—The MG90 is made of ruggedized powder-coated

aluminum.

• RoHS—The MG90 complies with the Restriction of Hazardous

Substances Directive (RoHS). This directive restricts the use of
six hazardous materials in the manufacture of various types of
electronic and electrical equipment.

Screw Torque Settings • Mount screws (M6)— 40 kgf/cm (3.92 Nm/35 in-lb). Screws are

included with the optional mounting bracket.

• Antennas—Use the SMA wrench provided to hand-tighten the

antennas to the SMA connectors. Do not over-tighten. Recom­mended torque is 0.6–0.8 Nm (5–7 in-lb), and max torque
should not exceed 1.1 Nm (10 in-lb).

Operating Voltage Input voltage: 7–36V
Power Consumption Power state:

• ON:

· 1 cellular radio—14 W (typ), 17 W (max)

· 2 cellular radios—18 W (typ), 21 W (max)

• Standby—< 135 mW (max)

Rev 3 Feb.17 34 4118699

AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

Table 3-1: General Router Specifications (Continued)

Conducted Electrical Transients • Compliant to ISO 7637-2:2004:

· Load dump specifications—Test Pulses 1, 5a, 5b

· Harness transient specifications—Test Pulses 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b

· Cranking specification—Test Pulse 4

• Tolerates +200 V/-600 V spikes

• Uninterrupted operation during brownouts down to 5V

GNSS Technology • Embedded 48 channel GNSS receiver with active antenna

support

• Satellite systems supported:

· GPS, GLONASS, COMPASS (BeiDou-2)

· Galileo, QZSS (Future software support)

• Protocols: NMEA and TAIP messaging

• Local and remote forwarding via TCP or UDP

• Local and remote forwarding via serial port

• Dead reckoning (future release)

Protocols • Network: TCP/IP, UDP/IP, DNS, IPv4

• Routing: NAT, Host Port Routing, DHCP, VLAN

• GPS: NMEA, TAIP

Vehicle Area Networking (LAN) • Support for all on-board devices - wired and wireless

· IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac (built-in vehicle AP)

· 10/100/1000 Base-T Ethernet - RJ45 x 5 ports

· Bluetooth

· Serial—RS-232 DB-9

· DHCP Server (RFC 2131)

· USB - USB 3.0 x 2, Type A (female)

• Compatibility

· Operates with Wi-Fi certified client devices

· Supports all major client operating systems

Wide Area Networking (WAN) • Wireless Networking

· For SKU-specific lists of supported bands, see Radio Bands/

Conducted Tx Power on page 36.

· Optional support for LTE B14 (FirstNe t Public Safety Band 14)

· Integrated compatibility with current wireless WAN standards

including HSPA, HSPA+, 4G LTE Advanced.

· IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac

· Ethernet WAN devices (e.g. satellite modem)

• Transmit video and data through the MG90

· QOS - Application priority queuing

Rev 3 Feb.17 35 4118699

Table 3-1: General Router Specifications (Continued)

Specifications

Security Secure all data

transmitted to and from
vehicle without need for
VPN client software on
devices.

• WLAN Security and Authentication

· WEP, WPA, WPA2

· Key management WPA-PSK and WPA-EAP

• Firewall

· Port forwarding

· Port blocking

• Encryption

· IPSec including LAN to LAN, Host to LAN, IKEV2, MOBIKE

• Authentication and Accounting

· 802.1x/RADIUS authentication

Management Manage mobile network, vehicle and network health when operated

with AMM.

• Management

· Operational support services for fault, configuration,

accounting, performance and security

· Network coverage reporting

· Location-based reporting

· Historical logging

· Remote software updates

· Secure VNC reach-through

· Email alerts for configurable thresholds

Radio Bands/Conducted Tx Power

The radio frequency bands supported by the MG90 vary by SKU configuration.

Table 3-3: SKU Configurations

SKU Cellular Radios Region

1102695 Single LTE-A radio North America/Europe
1102716 Dual LTE-A radios North America/Europe
1103007 Single LTE-A radio with

Band 14 LTE radio
1103239 Single LTE-A radio Asia/Pacific
1103240 Dual LTE-A radios Asia/Pacific

Note: The radio module types in your MG90 are listed in the Local Configuration Interface’s
WAN Link Status screen (Status > WAN).

North America

Rev 3 Feb.17 36 4118699

AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

SKU 1102695/1102716 (North America/Europe)

The following tables indicate supported radio frequency bands and conducted
transmit power specifications for SKU #1102695 and #1102716.

Table 3-4: Supported Bands (SKU #1102695 / 1102716)

Radio
Technology

LTE Band 1 1920–1980 MHz 2110–2170 MHz

Band Frequency (Tx) Frequency (Rx)

Band 2 1850–1910 MHz 1930–1990 MHz
Band 3 1710–1785 MHz 1805–1880 MHz
Band 4 1710–1755 MHz 2110–2155 MHz
Band 5 824–849 MHz 869–894 MHz
Band 7 2500–2570 MHz 2620–2690 MHz

Band 8 880–915 MHz 925–960 MHz
Band 12 699–716 MHz 729–746 MHz
Band 13 777–787 MHz 746–756 MHz
Band 20 832–862 MHz 791–821 MHz
Band 25 1850–1915 MHz 1930–1995 MHz
Band 26 814–849 MHz 859–894 MHz
Band 29 n/a 717–728 MHz
Band 30 2305–2315 MHz 2350–2360 MHz
Band 41 2496–2690 MHz (TDD)

WCDMA Band 1 1920–1980 MHz 2110–2170 MHz

Band 2 1850–1910 MHz 1930–1990 MHz

Band 3 1710–1785 MHz 1805–1880 MHz

Band 4 1710–1755 MHz 2110–2155 MHz

Band 5 824–849 MHz 869–894 MHz

Band 8 880–915 MHz 925–960 MHz

Rev 3 Feb.17 37 4118699

Table 3-5: Conducted Tx Power (SKU #1102695 / 1102716)

Specifications

Band Conducted Tx

Power (dBm)

LTE

Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 13, 20, 25, 26 +23±1
Bands 7, 30, 41 +22±1

UMTS

Band 1 (IMT 2100 12.2 kbps)
Band 2 (UMTS 1900 12.2 kbps)
Band 3 (UMTS 1800 12.2 kbps)
Band 4 (AWS 1700/2100 12.2 kbps)
Band 5 (UMTS 850 12.2 kbps)
Band 8 (UMTS 900 12.2 kbps)

+23±1 Connectorized (Class 3)

Notes

Table 3-6: GNSS Bands Supported (SKU #1102695 / 1102716)

Band Frequency

GPS 1575.42 MHz
GLONASS 1602 MHz
COMPASS (BeiDou-2) 1561.098 MHz
Galileo
QZSS

Future software support

Rev 3 Feb.17 38 4118699

AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

SKU 1103007 (North America)

The following tables indicate supported radio frequency bands and conducted
transmit power specifications for SKU #1103007.

Table 3-7: Supported Bands (SKU #1103007)

Radio
Technology

LTE Band 1 1920–1980 MHz 2110–2170 MHz

Band Frequency (Tx) Frequency (Rx)

Band 2 1850–1910 MHz 1930–1990 MHz
Band 3 1710–1785 MHz 1805–1880 MHz
Band 4 1710–1755 MHz 2110–2155 MHz
Band 5 824–849 MHz 869–894 MHz
Band 7 2500–2570 MHz 2620–2690 MHz

Band 8 880–915 MHz 925–960 MHz
Band 12 699–716 MHz 729–746 MHz
Band 13 777–787 MHz 746–756 MHz
Band 14 788–798 MHz 758–768 MHz
Band 20 832–862 MHz 791–8 21 MHz
Band 25 1850–1915 MHz 1930–1995 MHz
Band 26 814–849 MHz 859–894 MHz
Band 29 n/a 717–728 MHz
Band 30 2305–2315 MHz 2350–2360 MHz
Band 41 2496–2690 MHz (TDD)

WCDMA Band 1 1920–1980 MHz 2110–2170 MHz

Band 2 1850–1910 MHz 1930–1990 MHz

Band 3 1710–1785 MHz 1805–1880 MHz

Band 4 1710–1755 MHz 2110–2155 MHz

Band 5 824–849 MHz 869–894 MHz

Band 8 880–915 MHz 925–960 MHz

Rev 3 Feb.17 39 4118699

Table 3-8: Conducted Transmit Power (SKU #1103007)

Specifications

Band Conducted Tx

Power (dBm)

LTE

Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 12, 13, 20, 25, 26 +23±1
Bands 7, 30, 41 +22±1
Band 14 +23±2

UMTS

Band 1 (IMT 2100 12.2 kbps)
Band 2 (UMTS 1900 12.2 kbps)
Band 3 (UMTS 1800 12.2 kbps)
Band 4 (AWS 1700/2100 12.2 kbps)
Band 5 (UMTS 850 12.2 kbps)
Band 8 (UMTS 900 12.2 kbps)

+23±1 Connectorized (Class 3)

Notes

Table 3-9: GNSS Bands Supported (SKU #1103007)

Band Frequency

GPS 1575.42 MHz
GLONASS 1602 MHz
COMPASS (BeiDou-2) 1561.098 MHz
Galileo
QZSS

Future software support

Rev 3 Feb.17 40 4118699

AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

SKU 1103239/1103240 (Asia/Pacific)

The following tables indicate supported radio frequency bands and conducted
transmit power specifications for SKU #1103239 and #1103240.

Table 3-10: Supported Bands (SKU #1103239/1103240)

Radio
Technology

LTE Band 1 1920–1980 MHz 2110–2170 MHz

WCDMA Band 1 1920–1980 MHz 2110–2170 MHz

Band Frequency (Tx) Frequency (Rx)

Band 3 1710–1785 MHz 1805–1880 MHz
Band 5 824–849 MHz 869–894 MHz
Band 7 2500–2570 MHz 2620–2690 MHz

Band 8 880–915 MHz 925–960 MHz
Band 18 815–830 MHz 860–875 MHz
Band 19 830–845 MHz 875–890 MHz
Band 21 1447.9–1462.9 MHz 1495.9–1510.9 MHz
Band 28 703–748 MHz 758–803 MHz
Band 38 2570–2620 MHz (TDD)
Band 39 1880–1920 MHz (TDD)
Band 40 2300–2400 MHz (TDD)
Band 41 2496–2690 MHz (TDD)

Band 5 824–849 MHz 869–894 MHz

Band 6 830–840 MHz 875–885 MHz

Band 8 880–915 MHz 925–960 MHz

Band 9 1749.9–1784.9 MHz 1844.9–1879.9 MHz

TD-SCDMA Band 39 1880–1920 MHz

Table 3-11: Conducted Tx Power (SKU #1103239/1103240)

Band Conducted Tx

Power (dBm)

LTE

Bands 1, 3, 5, 8, 18, 19, 21, 28, 39 +23±1
Bands 7, 38, 40, 41 +22±1

Notes

Rev 3 Feb.17 41 4118699

Specifications

Table 3-11: Conducted Tx Power (SKU #1103239/1103240) (Continued)

Band Conducted Tx

Power (dBm)

UMTS

Band 1 (IMT 2100 12.2 kbps)
Band 5 (UMTS 850 12.2 kbps)
Band 6 (UMTS 850 12.2 kbps)
Band 8 (UMTS 900 12.2 kbps)
Band 9 (UMTS 1700 12.2 kbps)
Band 19 (AWS 850 12.2 kbps)

TD-SCDMA

Band 39 +23±1

+23±1 Connectorized (Class 3)

Notes

Ta b l e 3 - 1 2 : G N S S B a n d s S u p p o r t e d (SKU #1103239/ 11032400)

Band Frequency

GPS 1575.42 MHz
GLONASS 1602 MHz
COMPASS (BeiDou-2) 1561.098 MHz
Galileo
QZSS

Future software support

Rev 3 Feb.17 42 4118699

AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

Carrier Aggregation Combinations

LTE-Advanced uses carrier aggregation to increase bandwidth. Table 3-13 and

Table 3-14 indicate supported carrier aggregation combinations.

Table 3-13: Supported LTE Carrier Aggregation Combinations
(SKU #1102695 / 1102716/1103007)

1 + 8

2+ 2/5/12/13/29

3 + 7/20

4 + 4/5/12/13/29

5 + 2/4/30
7 + 3/7/20

8 + 1

12 + 2/4/30

13 + 2/4
20 + 3/7

30 + 5/12

41 + 41

Table 3-14: Supported LTE Carrier Aggregation Combinations
(SKU #1103239/1103240)

1 + 8/18/19/21

3 + 5/7/19/28

5 + 3/7

7 + 3/5/7/28

8 + 1

18 + 1

19 + 1/3/21

21 + 1/19

28 + 3/7

38 + 38
39 + 39
40 + 40
41 + 41

Rev 3 Feb.17 43 4118699

Wi-Fi Support

The MG90 includes two Wi-Fi modules:

• Wi-Fi A

· Default configuration—Wi-Fi WAN

Instead of submitting data over cellular while in the field, the user can choose
to wait until the vehicle arrives at its depot, where it can connect to the local
access point.

· 802.11 b/g/n/ac

• Wi-Fi B

· Default configuration—Wi-Fi Access Point

The VAN supports connections to the router by wired devices (over Ethernet
ports) and wireless devices.

· 802.11 b/g/n/ac

· Throughput >= LTE Advanced (~300 Mbps)

· WPA2 Enterprise (RSA) with AES encryption

· 4 SSIDs with separately configurable security, bandwidth, and QOS

· Up to 64 clients can connect simultaneously

Both Wi-Fi modules support 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

Specifications

Rev 3 Feb.17 44 4118699

Top view

Back view

Front view

Side view

5.3 lb / 2.4 kg

Weight

Mounting holes

LEDs

G

N

S

S

W

i

-

F

i

N

e

tw

or

k

S

i

g

n

a

l

A

c

t

i

v

i

t

y

P

ow

e

r

AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

Mechanical Specifications

Figure 3-3: MG90 Mechanical Specifications

Rev 3 Feb.17 45 4118699

4: Regulatory Information

Important Information for North American Users

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonabl e
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no
guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning
the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or
more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

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

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

4

Warning: Changes or modifications to this device not expressly approved by Sierra Wireless

could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.

RF Exposure

In accordance with FCC/IC requirements of human exposure to radio frequency
fields, the radiating element shall be installed such that a minimum separation
distance of 20 cm should be maintained from the antenna and the user's body.

Warning: This product is only to be installed by qualified personnel.

To comply with FCC/IC regulations limiting both maximum RF output power and
human exposure to RF radiation, the maximum antenna gain must not exceed the
specifications listed below for the device used.

Rev 3 Feb.17 46 4118699

AirLink MG90 Hardware User Guide

Maximum Antenna Gain

Note: The antenna gain must not exceed the limits and configurations shown in the
following table:

Device FCC ID/IC Number Technology Band

Maximum Antenna Gain

(dBi)

MG90 N7NMC7455 /

EU

LTE 2 6

2417C-MC7455

UMTS 2 6

PKTPEMAMW1 LTE 14 6

4 6
5 6
7 9
12 6
13 6
25 6
26 6
30 1
41 9

4 6
5 6

Sierra Wireless hereby declares the Sierra Wireless MG90 device is in compliance
with the essential requirements and other relevant provisions of Directive 1999/5/EC.

The MG90 displays the CE mark.

Warning: Changes or modifications to this device not expressly approved by Sierra Wireless

could void the user's authority to operate this equipment.

Warning: This product is only to be installed by qualified personnel.

Rev 3 Feb.17 47 4118699

Regulatory Information

Declaration of Conformity

The Declaration of Conformity made under Directive 1999/5/EC is available for
viewing at: source.sierrawireless.com/resources/airlink/

certification_and_type_approval/MG90_ce_declaration_of_conformity/.

WEEE Notice

If you purchased your Sierra Wireless MG90 in Europe, please return it to your dealer
or supplier at the end of its life. WEEE products may be recognized by their wheeled
bin label on the product label.

Battery Replacement/Disposal

The MG90 uses a BR2032 coin type lithium battery to power its RTC (Real Time
Clock).

For an installed MG90, the battery should meet or exceed the operational lifetime of
the unit. For a device in storage, the battery will last up to 5 years.

Caution: Risk of explosion if the battery is replaced by an incorrect type. Refer to and follow

applicable regulatory requirements (national, provincial, state, local, etc.) for disposal of used
batteries.

Rev 3 Feb.17 48 4118699

A: Accessories

Antenna Separation

When installing single-element antenna units, refer to the following table for
recommended antenna separation distances.

Table A-1: Recommended Antenna Separation

Service Frequency (MHz) Wavelength ((mm) Best (= 1/2 (mm) Good (=1/4 (mm)

LTE 700 428 214 107

800 375 187 94
850 353 176 88

900 333 167 83
1700 176 88 44
1800 167 83 42
1900 158 79 39

A

Antenna Separation

2100 143 71 36
2300 130 65 32
2500 120 60 30
2600 115 58 29

WCDMA 850 353 176 88

900 333 167 83
1700 176 88 44
1800 167 83 42
1900 158 79 39
2100 143 71 36

Rev 3 Feb.17 49 4118699

GPIO Breakout Cable

2940 ± 50

Cables unterminated

Pin 5 Pin 1

Pin 9 Pin 6

The GPIO breakout cable provides access to four GPIOs via pins 1, 4, 6, 9.

Accessories

Figure A-1: GPIO Breakout Cable

Table A-2: GPIO Breakout Cable

Part Number 6001095
Product Release Date 2017
Length 113.8–117.7 in (2890–2990 mm)

Table A-3: Pin Assignments

Pin Color Interface Function Direction

1 Black GPIO GPIO4 Input/Output
2 Grey Serial Rx Input
3 Yellow Serial Tx Output
4 Purple GPIO GPIO2 Input /Output
5 Orange Serial GND Ground
6 Red GPIO GPIO3 Input/Output
7 Brown Serial RTS Output
8 Green Serial CTS Input
9 Blue GPIO GPIO1 Input/Output

a

a

a

a

Rev 3 Feb.17 50 4118699

a. GPIO pins are digital input only. Digital output to be supported by future software update.