Sierra Wireless MC8805 Operators Guide

AirPrime MC8805

Hardware Integration Guide

411xxxx

Rev 1

Distribution under NDA only

Contents subject to change

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.

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 1 Dec.12 Proprietary and Confidential - Content s sub jec t to ch an ge 3

Hardware Integration Guide

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

This product includes technology licensed from QUALCOMM®.

This product is manufactured or sold by Sierra Wireless Inc. or its affiliates under
one or more patents licensed from InterDigital Group.

Copyright ©2012 Sierra Wireless. All rights reserved.

Trademarks AirCard

AirPrime™, Watcher™, and the Sierra Wireless logo are trademarks of Sierra
Wireless.

Windows® and Windows Vista® are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.

Macintosh and Mac OS X are registered trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in
the U.S. and other countries.

QUALCOMM® is a registered trademark of QUALCOMM Incorporated. Used
under license.

Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Contact Information

Sales Desk: Phone: [phone]

Post: Sierra Wireless

Fax: [phone]
Web: www.sierrawireless.com

®

is a registered trademark of Sierra Wireless. Sierra Wireless™,

Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Pacific Time
E-mail: [e-mail]

13811 Wireless Way
Richmond, BC
Canada V6V 3A4

Consult our website for up-to-date product descriptions, documentation,
application notes,

www.sierrawireless.com

firmware upgrades, troubleshooting tips, and press releases:

Revision History

Revision
number

1 December 2012 FCC certification

4 Proprietary and Confidential - Contents subject to change 411xxxx

Release date Changes

Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Required connectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Power supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Module power states . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

RF Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

RF connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Shielding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Antenna and cabling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Ground connection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Interference and sensitivity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Interference from other wireless devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Host-generated RF interference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Device-generated RF interference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Methods to mitigate decreased Rx performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Radiated Spurious Emissions (RSE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Radiated sensitivity measurement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Regulatory Compliance and Industry Certifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Important notice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Safety and hazards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Important compliance information for North American users . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Rev 1 Dec.12 Proprietary and Confidential - Contents subject to change 5

Hardware Integration Guide

6 Proprietary and Confidential - Contents subject to change 411xxxx

1: Introduction

The Sierra Wireless MC8805 PCI Express Mini Card is a compact,
lightweight, wireless

The MC8805 provides DC-HSPA+, HSPA+, HSDPA, HSUPA,

WCDMA, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, and GNSS connectivity for notebook,

ultrabook, and tablet computers over several radio frequency bands.
The device also supports 2G
provisioning.

Accessories

The Universal Development Kit (UDK) is a hardware development
platform for AirPrime MC-series modules. It contains hardware
components for evaluating and developing with the module, including:

• Development board

• Cables

• Antennas (Additional antennas may be required to support all

bands.)

• Initial allotment of support hours

• Other accessories

For instructions on setting up the UDK (part number 6000270), see

[4] PCI Express Mini Card Dev Kit Quick Start Guide
(Doc# 2130705).

1

UMTS-based modem.

/ 3G roaming, subject to carrier

Required connectors

Ta bl e 1-1 describes the connectors used to integrate the MC8805

into your host device.

Table 1-1: Required host-module connectors

Connector type Description

RF cables • Mate with Hirose U.FL connectors

(model U.FL #CL331-0471-0-10)

• Two connector jacks

EDGE (52-pin) • Industry-standard mating connector

• Some manufacturers include Tyco, Foxconn, Molex

• Example: UDK board uses Molex 67910-0001

SIM • Industry-standard connector. Type depends on how host

device exposes the SIM socket

• Example: UDK board uses ITT CCM03-3518

Rev 1 Dec.12 Proprietary and Confidential - Contents subject to change 7

1

Hardware Integration Guide

1. Manufacturers / part numbers are for reference only and are subject to change. Choose
connectors that are appropriate for your own design.

8 Proprietary and Confidential - Contents subject to change 411xxxx

2: Power

Table 2-1: Module power states

State Details

2

Power supply

The host provides power to the MC8805 through multiple power and
ground pins.The host must provide safe and continuous power at all
times; the module does not have an independent power supply, or
protection circuits to guard against electrical issues.

For detailed pinout and voltage / current requirements of this module,
see the AirPrime MC8805 Product Technical Specification Document
& Customer Design Guidelines.

Module power states

The module has four power states, as described in Ta bl e 2-1.

Normal
(Default

state)

Low power
(‘Airplane

mode’)

• 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

• Module is active

• Module enters this state:

• Under host interface control:

· Host issues AT+CFUN=0 ([1] AT Command Set for User Equipment (UE)

(Release 6) (Doc# 3GPP TS 27.007))), or

· Host asserts W_DISABLE_N, after AT!PCOFFEN=0 has been issued.

• Automatically, when critical temperature or voltage trigger limits have been

reached

Host is powered

Module is powered

USB interface active

   

   

RF enabled

Rev 1 Dec.12 Proprietary and Confidential - Contents subject to change 9