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.
Limitation of
Liability
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.
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 4.0.1 May.11Proprietary and Confidential3
AirPrime MC7700 Hardware Integration Guide
PatentsThis 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.
Sierra Wireless’ AirPrime Intelligent Embedded Modules form the
radio component for the products in which they are embedded.
The AirPrime MC7700 is available for use on LTE, WCDMA and GSM
networks.
1
Note: An understanding of
network technology, and
experience in integrating
hardware components into
electronic equipment is
assumed.
Purpose of this guide
This guide addresses issues that affect the integration of AirPrime
embedded modules into host products, and includes design
recommendations for the host products.
The Universal Development Kit
Sierra Wireless manufactures a Universal Development Kit (UDK)
that facilitates all phases of the integration process.
This kit is a hardware development platform that is designed to
support the AirPrime embedded modules. It contains the hardware
components that are typically necessary for evaluating and
developing with the module, including:
•Development board
•Cables
•Antennas
•Other accessories
For instructions on setting up the UDK, see PCI Express Mini Card
Dev Kit Quick Start Guide (Document 2130705).
Required connectors
Note: Contact vendors
before choosing your
connectors—the numbers
included here are for
reference only. Choose
connectors that are appropriate to your design.
Rev 4.0.1 May.11Proprietary and Confidential7
When integrating AirPrime embedded modules into your host device,
you need the following connector types:
•RF cables that mate with Hirose U.FL connectors (model
U.FL #CL331-0471-0-10). Modules include two or three
connector jacks depending on module support for diversity and
GPS functionality.
•Industry-standard mating connector for 52-pin EDGE—some
manufacturers include Tyco, Foxconn, and Molex. For example,
the connector used on the Mini Card Dev Kit board is a Molex
67910-0001.
•Industry-standard USIM connector— the actual connector you
use depends on how your device exposes the USIM socket. For
example, the USIM connector used on the Mini Card Dev Kit
board is an ITT CCM03-3518.
AirPrime MC7700 Hardware Integration Guide
8Proprietary and Confidential2130114
2: Power Interface
Overview of operation
AirPrime embedded modules are designed to use a 3.3V (nominal)
power supply provided by the host. It is the host’s responsibility to
provide safe and continuous power to the module at all times; the
module does NOT have an independent power supply, or protection
circuits to guard against electrical issues.
The module’s power state is controlled by the host’s assertion/
deassertion of W_Disable#. The module also monitors its supply
voltage and requests shutdown if the supply is insufficient.
Power signals
The module must be connected to a 3.3V power supply, as described
in PCI Express Mini Card Electromechanical Specification Revision
1.1.
For detailed pinout and voltage/ current requirements of these
modules, see the Product Technical Specification Document for your
AirPrime embedded module.
2
Electrostatic discharge (ESD)
You are responsible for ensuring that the host has adequate ESD
protection on digital circuits and antenna ports as described by the
following specifications:
•(Operational) RF port (antenna launch and RF connector): IEC61000-4-2—Level (Electrostatic Discharge Immunity Test)
1kV Human Body Model and JESD22-C101 +/- 125 V Charged
Device Model
This guide provides specific recommendations where needed,
however, the level of protection required depends on your application.
Note: ESD protection is highly recommended for the USIM connector at the
point where the contacts are exposed, and for any other signals from the host
interface that would be subjected to ESD by the user of the product.
Rev 4.0.1 May.11Proprietary and Confidential9
AirPrime MC7700 Hardware Integration Guide
Module power states
The module has five power states, as described in Ta bl e 2- 1.
Table 2-1: Module power states
StateDetails
Normal
(Default
state)
•Module is active
•Default state when VCC is first applied in the absence of W_DISABLE_N control
•Module is capable of placing/receiving calls, or establishing data connections on the
wireless network
•Current consumption is affected by several factors, including:
• Radio band being used
• Transmit power
• Receive gain settings
• Data rate
• Number of active Tx time slots
Host is powered
Module is powered
USB interface active
RF enabled
Low power
(‘Airplane
mode’)
Sleep•Normal state of module between calls or data connections
•Module is active
•State is controlled by host interface using software commands:
• +CFUN=0 (AT Command Set for User Equipment (UE) (Release 6) (Doc# 3GPP
TS 27.007)))
•Module cycles between wake (polling the network) and sleep, at network provider-
determined interval.
Off•Host keeps module powered off by driving W_DISABLE_N low
•Module draws minimal current
Disconnected •Host power source is disconnected from the module and all voltages associated with
the module are at 0 V.
10Proprietary and Confidential2130114
3: RF Integration
The AirPrime MC7700 operates on the frequency bands listed below.
Table 3-1: LTE frequency band support
BandFrequencies
3
Band 4 (AWS)
Band 17
Table 3-2: WCDMA frequency band support
BandFrequencies
Band 1
WCDMA 2100
Band 2
WCDMA 1900
Band 5
WCDMA 850
Band 6
WCDMA 800
a. WCDMA channel spacing is 5 MHz, but this can be adjusted to
optimize performance in a particular deployment scenario.
Tx: 1710–1755 MHz
Rx: 2110–2155 MHz
Tx: 704–716 MHz
Rx: 734–746 MHz
a
Tx: 1920–1980 MHz
Rx: 2110–2170 MHz
Tx: 1850–1910 MHz
Rx: 1930–1990 MHz
Tx: 824–849 MHz
Rx: 869–894 MHz
Tx: 830–840 MHz
Rx: 875–885 MHz
Table 3-3: GSM frequency band support
BandFrequencies
GSM 850Tx: 824–849 MHz
Rx: 869–894 MHz
EGSM 900Tx: 880–915 MHz
GSM 1800Tx: 1710–1785 MHz
GSM 1900Tx: 1850–1910 MHz
Rx: 925–960 MHz
Rx: 1805–1880 MHz
Rx: 1930–1990 MHz
Table 3-4: GPS frequency band support
BandFrequencies
GPS1575.42 MHz
Rev 4.0.1 May.11Proprietary and Confidential11
AirPrime MC7700 Hardware Integration Guide
RF connection
When attaching an antenna to the module:
Note: To disconnect the
antenna, make sure you
use the Hirose U.FL
connector removal tool
(P/N UFL-LP-N-2(01)) to
prevent damage to the
module or coaxial cable
assembly.
•Use a Hirose U.FL connector (model U.FL #CL331-0471-0-10) to attach an
antenna to a connection point on the module.
•Match coaxial connections between the module and the antenna to 50
•Minimize RF cable losses to the antenna; the recommended maximum cable
loss for antenna cabling is 0.5 dB.
•To ensure best thermal performance, if possible use the mounting holes to
attach (ground) the device to the main PCB ground or a metal chassis.
Note: If the antenna connection is shorted or open, the modem will not sustain permanent
damage.
Ground connection
When connecting the module to system ground:
•Prevent noise leakage by establishing a very good ground connection to the
module through the host connector.
•Connect to system ground using the two mounting holes at the top of the
module.
•Minimize ground noise leakage into the RF.
Depending on the host board design, noise could potentially be coupled to
the module from the host board. This is mainly an issue for host designs that
have signals traveling along the length of the module, or circuitry operating at
both ends of the module interconnects.
Shielding
The module is fully shielded to protect against EMI and must not be removed.
Antenna and cabling
When selecting the antenna and cable, it is critical to RF performance to match
antenna gain and cable loss.
Choosing the correct antenna and cabling
Consider the following points for proper matching of antennas and cabling:
•The antenna (and associated circuitry) should have a nominal impedance of
50 with a return loss of better than 10 dB across each frequency band of
operation.
•The system gain value affects both radiated power and regulatory (FCC, IC,
CE, etc.) test results.
12Proprietary and Confidential2130114
RF Integration
Developing custom antennas
Consider the following points when developing custom-designed antennas:
•A skilled RF engineer should do the development to ensure that the RF
performance is maintained.
•Identify the bands that need to be supported
Determining the antenna’s location
Consider the following points when deciding where to put the antenna:
•Antenna location may affect RF performance. Although the module is
shielded to prevent interference in most applications, the placement of the
antenna is still very important —if the host device is insufficiently shielded,
high levels of broadband or spurious noise can degrade the module’s performance.
•Connecting cables between the module and the antenna must have 50
impedance. If the impedance of the module is mismatched, RF performance
is reduced significantly.
•Antenna cables should be routed, if possible, away from noise sources
(switching power supplies, LCD assemblies, etc.). If the cables are near the
noise sources, the noise may be coupled into the RF cable and into the
antenna.
Note: The MC7700 is
based on ZIF (Zero Intermediate Frequency)
technologies. When
performing EMC (Electromagnetic Compatibility)
tests, there are no IF
(Intermediate Frequency)
components from the
module to consider.
Interference and sensitivity
Several sources of interference can affect the RF performance of the module
(RF desense). Common sources include power supply noise and devicegenerated RF.
RF desense can be addressed through a combination of mitigation techniques
and radiated sensitivity measurement.
Power supply noise
Noise in the power supply can lead to noise in the RF signal.
The power supply ripple limit for the module is no more than 200 mVp-p 1 Hz to
100 kHz. This limit includes voltage ripple due to transmitter burst activity.
Interference from other wireless devices
Wireless devices operating inside the host device can cause interference that
affects the module.
To determine the most suitable locations for antennas on your host device,
evaluate each wireless device’s radio system, considering the following:
•Any harmonics, sub-harmonics, or cross-products of signals generated by
wireless devices that fall in the module’s Rx range may cause spurious
response, resulting in decreased Rx performance.
Rev 4.0.1 May.11Proprietary and Confidential13
AirPrime MC7700 Hardware Integration Guide
•The Tx power and corresponding broadband noise of other wireless devices
may overload or increase the noise floor of the module’s receiver, resulting in
Rx desense.
The severity of this interference depends on the closeness of the other antennas
to the module’s antenna. To determine suitable locations for each wireless
device’s antenna, thoroughly evaluate your host device’s design.
Host-generated RF interference
All electronic computing devices generate RF interference that can negatively
affect the receive sensitivity of the module.
Proximity of host electronics to the antenna in wireless devices can contribute to
decreased Rx performance. Components that are most likely to cause this
include:
•Microprocessor and memory
•Display panel and display drivers
•Switching-mode power supplies
Device-generated RF interference
The module can cause interference with other devices. Wireless devices such as
AirPrime embedded modules transmit in bursts (pulse transients) for set durations
(RF burst frequencies). Hearing aids and speakers convert these burst
frequencies into audible frequencies, resulting in audible noise.
14Proprietary and Confidential2130114
A: Regulatory Information
Important notice
Because of the nature of wireless communications, transmission and
reception of data can never be guaranteed. Data may be delayed,
corrupted (i.e., have errors) or be totally lost. Although significant
delays or losses of data are rare when wireless devices such as the
Sierra Wireless modem are used in a normal manner with a wellconstructed 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
and its affiliates accept 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.
Safety and hazards
Do not operate your MC7700 modem:
•In areas where blasting is in progress
•Where explosive atmospheres may be present including
refuelling points, fuel depots, and chemical plants
•Near medical equipment, life support equipment, or any
equipment which may be susceptible to any form of radio interference. In such areas, the MC7700 modem MUST BE POWERED OFF. Otherwise, the MC7700 modem can transmit
signals that could interfere with this equipment.
A
In an aircraft, the MC7700 modem MUST BE POWERED OFF.
Otherwise, the MC7700 modem can transmit signals that could
interfere with various onboard systems and may be dangerous to the
operation of the aircraft or disrupt the cellular network. Use of a
cellular phone in an aircraft is illegal in some jurisdictions. Failure to
observe this instruction may lead to suspension or denial of cellular
telephone services to the offender, or legal action or both.
Some airlines may permit the use of cellular phones while the aircraft
is on the ground and the door is open. The MC7700 modem may be
used normally at this time.
Rev 4.0.1 May.11Proprietary and Confidential15
AirPrime MC7700 Hardware Integration Guide
Important compliance information for
North American users
The MC7700 modem has been granted modular approval for mobile applications.
Integrators may use the MC7700 modem in their final products without additional
FCC/IC (Industry Canada) certification if they meet the following conditions.
Otherwise, additional FCC/ IC approvals must be obtained.
1. At least 20 cm separation distance between the antenna and the user’s body
must be maintained at all times.
2. To comply with FCC / IC regulations limiting both maximum RF output power
and human exposure to RF radiation, the maximum antenna gain including
cable loss in a mobile-only exposure condition must not exceed 7.5 dBi in the
Cellular band, 3 dBi in the PCS band, 5.5 dBi in LTE Band4, and 9 dBi in LTE
Band 17.
3. The MC7700 modem and its antenna must not be co-located or operating in
conjunction with any other transmitter or antenna within a host device.
4. A label must be affixed to the outside of the end product into which the
MC7700 modem is incorporated, with a statement similar to the following:
· This device contains FCC ID: N7NMC7700
Contains transmitter module IC: 2417C-MC7700 where 2417C-MC7700
is the module’s certification number.
5. A user manual with the end product must clearly indicate the operating
requirements and conditions that must be observed to ensure compliance
with current FCC / IC RF exposure guidelines.
The end product with an embedded MC7700 modem may also need to pass the
FCC Part 15 unintentional emission testing requirements and be properly
authorized per FCC Part 15.
Note: If this module is intended for use in a portable device, you are responsible
for separate approval to satisfy the SAR requirements of FCC Part 2.1093 and IC
RSS-102.
16Proprietary and Confidential2130114
B: Acronyms and Definitions
.
Table B-1: Acronyms and definitions
Acronym or termDefinition
AGCAutomatic Gain Control
BERBit Error Rate - a measure of receive sensitivity
BLERBlock Error Rate
Call BoxBase Station Simulator - Agilent E8285A or 8960, Rohde & Schwarz
dBmDecibels, relative to 1 mW - Decibel(mW) = 10 x log10 (Pwr (mW)/1mW)
DUTDevice Under Test
EDGEEnhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution
(V1/V2)
10
B
EMEmbedded Module
ESDElectroStatic Discharge
FERFrame Error Rate - a measure of receive sensitivity
GPRSGeneral Packet Radio Services
GPSGlobal Positioning System
GSMGlobal System for Mobile communications
HzHertz = 1 cycle/second
inrush currentPeak current drawn when a device is connected or powered on
IS-20003G radio standards for voice and data (CDMA only)
IS-952G radio standards targeted for voice (cdmaONE)
LDOLow Drop Out - refers to linear regulator
MC5728VSierra Wireless AirPrime embedded modules used on CDMA networks
MC57xxAny of the following CDMA AirPrime embedded modules: MC5728V
MC8801
MHzMegaHertz = 10E6 Hertz (Hertz = 1 cycle/second)
MIOModule Input/Output
MPEMaximum Permissible Exposure—the level of radiation to which a person
OTAOver-The-Air or Radiated through the antenna
PCSPersonal Communication System - PCS spans the 1.9 GHz radio spectrum
RFRadio Frequency
RMSRoot Mean Square
SASelective Availability
Sensitivity (Audio)Measure of lowest power signal that the receiver can measure
Sensitivity (RF)Measure of lowest power signal at the receiver input that can provide a
SIMSubscriber Identity Module
SNRSignal to Noise Ratio
SOFStart of Frame - a USB function
UARTUniversal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter
UDKUniversal Development Kit (PCI Express Mini Card Dev Kit)
UMTSUniversal Mobile T e lecommunications System
USBUniversal Serial Bus
may be exposed without hazardous effect or adverse biological changes
prescribed BER/BLER/SNR value at the receiver output.
USIMUniversal Subscriber Identity Module
VCCSupply voltage (3.3 V for these devices)
WCDMAWideband Code Division Multiple Access—In this document, the term
“UMTS” is used instead of “WCDMA”.
XIMIn this document, XIM is used as part of the contact identifiers for the USIM