Sierra Wireless PC3200P User Manual

User Manual for the AirPrime PC3200P- version 0.4 (07/17/02)
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Getting the Most Out of Your Reception

Keeping Tabs on Signal Strength

The quality of each call you make or receive depends on the signal strength in your area.
Your PC card used with a laptop computer informs you of the current signal strength by
displaying a number of bars next to the signal strength icon. The more bars displayed, the
stronger the signal. If you’re inside a building, being near a window may give you better
reception.

Understanding the Power Save Feature

If your PC card is unable to find a signal after 15 minutes of searching, a Power Save
feature is automatically activated. If your PC card is active, it periodically rechecks service
availability or you can check it yourself by pressing any key. Anytime the Power Save
feature is activated, a message displays on the screen. When a signal is found, your PC
card returns to Standby mode.

Understanding How Your PC card Operates

Your PC card is basically a radio transmitter and receiver. When it’s turned on, it receives
and transmits radio frequency (RF) signals. When you use your PC card, the system
handling your call controls the power level. This power can range from 0.006 watts to 1
watts in digital mode.

Knowing Radio frequency Safety

The design of your PCS PC card complies with updated NCRP standards described below.
In 1991-92, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the American

National Standards Institute (ANSI) joined in updating ANSI’s 1982 standard for safety
levels with respect to human exposure to RF signals. More than 120 scientists, engineers
and physicians from universities, government health agencies and industries developed
this updated standard after reviewing the available body of research. In 1993, the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) adopted this updated standard in a regulation. In
August 1996, the FCC adopted hybrid standard consisting of the existing ANSI/IEEE
standard and the guidelines published by the National Council of Radiation Protection
and Measurements (NCRP).

Maintaining Your PC card’s Peak Performance

There are several simple guidelines to operating your PC card properly and maintaining
safe, satisfactory service.

• • Use your PC card with the antenna raised, fully-extended pointing up. Try not to
hold, bend or twist the PC card’s antenna.

• • Don’t use the PC card if the antenna is damaged.

• • Avoid exposing your PC card to rain or liquid spills. If your PC card does get wet,

immediately turn the power off. If it’s inoperable, return it to a Sprint Store or call PCS
Customer Solutions for service.

Note: For the best care of your PC card, only Sprint authorized personnel should service your PC card. Faulty

service may void
the warranty.

Maintaining Safe Use of and Access to Your PC Card

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OUTLINED MAY LEAD TO SERIOUS
PERSONAL INJURY AND POSSIBLE PROPERTY DAMAGE

Using Your PC card While Driving

• • Using your PC card while driving is not recommended and is prohibited in some
jurisdictions. Laws vary as to specific restrictions. Remember that safety always comes
first.

• • When using your PC card in the car, pull over to the side of the road and park safely

before utilizing your PC card.

Following Safety Guidelines

To operate your PC card safely and efficiently, always follow any special regulations in a
given area. Turn your PC card off in areas where use is forbidden or when it may cause
interference or danger.

Using Your PC card Near Other Electronic Devices

• • Most modern electronic equipment is shielded from radio frequency (RF) signals.
However, RF signals from wireless PC cards may affect inadequately shielded
electronic equipment.

• • RF signals may affect improperly installed or inadequately shielded electronic
operating systems and/or entertainment systems in motor vehicles. Check with the
manufacturer or their representative to determine if these systems are adequately
shielded from external RF signals. Also check with the manufacturer regarding any
equipment that has been added to your vehicle.

• • Consult the manufacturer of any personal medical devices, such as pacemakers
and hearing aids, to determine if they are adequately shielded from external RF
signals.

Note: Always turn off the PC card in health care facilities and request permission before using the PC card near

medical equipment.

Turning Off Your PC card Before Flying

• • Turn off your PC card before boarding any aircraft. To prevent possible
interference with aircraft systems, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
regulations require you to have permission from a crewmember to use your PC card
while the plane is on the ground. To prevent any risk of interference, FCC regulations
prohibit using your PC card while the plane is in the air.

Turning Off Your PC card in Dangerous Areas

• • To avoid interfering with blasting operations, turn off your PC card when in a
blasting area or in other areas with signs indicating that two-way radios should be
turned off. Construction crews often use remote-control RF devices to set off explosives.

• • Turn off your PC card when you’re in any area that has a potentially explosive
atmosphere. Although it’s rare, your PC card or its accessories could generate sparks.
Sparks could cause an explosion or a fire resulting in bodily injury or even death. These
areas are often, but not always, clearly marked. They include:

• • Fueling areas such as gas stations.

• • Below deck on boats.

• • Fuel or chemical transfer or storage facilities.

• • Areas where the air contains chemicals or particles such as grain, just or metal

powders.

• • Any other area where you would normally be advised to turn off your vehicle’s
engine.

Vehicles using liquefied petroleum gas (such as propane or butane) must comply with the
National Fire Protection Standard (NFPA-58). For a copy of this standard, contact the
National Fire Protection Association, One Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269, Attn:
Publication Sales Division.

Note: Never transport or store flammable gas, liquid or explosives in the compartment of your vehicle that

contains your PC card or accessories.

Restricting Children’s Access to your PC card

• Your PCS PC card is not a toy. Children should not be allowed to play with it

because they could hurt themselves and others, damage the PC card or make calls
that increase your PC card bill.

Acknowledging Special Precautions and the FCC Notice

FCC Notice

The PC card may cause TV or radio interference if used in close proximity to receiving
equipment. The FCC can require you to stop using the PC card if such interference cannot
be eliminated.

Cautions

Any changes or modifications to your PC card not expressly approved in this document
could void your warranty for this equipment, and void your authority to operate this
equipment. The use of any unauthorized accessories may be dangerous and void the PC
card warranty if said accessories cause damage or a defect to the PC card.

Although your PC card is quite sturdy, it is a complex piece of equipment and can be
broken. Avoid dropping, hitting, bending or sitting on it.

PC Card Operation

To maintain compliance with FCC RF exposure guidelines, ensure the antenna is at least one inch
(2.5 centimeters) from any part of your body and/or any bystander when transmitting. Use of non-

Sprint approved accessories may violate FCC RF exposure guidelines.
For more information about RF exposure, please visit the FCC Web site at

http://www.fcc.gov/.

Specific Absorption Rates (SAR) for Wireless PC Cards

The SAR is a value that corresponds to the relative amount of RF energy absorbed in the
head and/or body of a user of a wireless device such as a wireless PC Card.

The SAR value of a PC card is the result of an extensive testing, measuring and calculation
process. It does not represent how much RF the PC card emits. All PC card models are
tested at their highest value in strict laboratory settings. But when in operation, the SAR of
a PC card can be substantially less than the level reported to the FCC. This is because of a
variety of factors including its proximity to a base station antenna, PC card design and

other factors. What is important to remember is that each PC card meets strict federal
guidelines. Variations in SAR does not represent a variation in safety.

All PC cards must meet the federal standard, which incorporates a substantial margin of
safety. As stated above, variations in SAR values between different model PC cards do not
mean variations in safety. The FCC considers a SAR value at or below 1.6 W/kg safe for
public use.

The highest reported SAR values of the Sapphire PC3200P are:

• • PCS mode (Part 24)- Separation distance of 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) to near by persons:

0.853 W/kg.

• PCS mode (Part 24)- Separation distance of 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) to the user: 0.219 W/kg.

FCC Radio frequency Emission

This PC card meets the FCC Radio frequency Emission Guidelines. FCC ID number: PNF-
PC3200P. More information on the PC card's SAR can be found from the following FCC

Web site: http://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid.

Consumer Information on Wireless PC cards

(The following information comes from a consumer information
Web site jointly sponsored by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the
Federal Communications Commission (FCC), entitled “Cell PC card Facts: Consumer
Information on Wireless PC cards.” The information reproduced herein is dated April 3,

2002. For further updates, please visit the Web site: http://www.fda.gov/cellphones.

What is radio frequency energy (RF)?

Radio frequency (RF) energy is another name for radio waves. It is one form of
electromagnetic energy that makes up the electromagnetic spectrum. Some of the other
forms of energy in the electromagnetic spectrum are gamma rays, x-rays and light.
Electromagnetic energy (or electromagnetic radiation) consists of waves of electric and
magnetic energy moving together (radiating) through space. The area where these waves
are found is called an electromagnetic field.

Radio waves are created due to the movement of electrical charges in antennas. As they are
created, these waves radiate away from the antenna. All electromagnetic waves travel at
the speed of light. The major differences between the different types of waves are the
distances covered by one cycle of the wave and the number of waves that pass a certain
point during a set time period. The wavelength is the distance covered by one cycle of a
wave. The frequency is the number of waves passing a given point in one second. For any
electromagnetic wave, the wavelength multiplied by the frequency equals the speed of
light. The frequency of an RF signal is usually expressed in units called hertz (Hz). One Hz
equals one wave per second. One kilohertz (kHz) equals one thousand waves per second,
one megahertz (MHz) equals one million waves per second, and one gigahertz (GHz)
equals one billion waves per second.

RF energy includes waves with frequencies ranging from about 3000 waves per second (3
kHz) to 300 billion waves per second (300 GHz). Microwaves are a subset of radio waves
that have frequencies ranging from around 300 million waves per second (300 MHz) to
three billion waves per second (3 GHz).

How is radio frequency energy used?

Probably the most important use of RF energy is for telecommunications. Radio and TV
broadcasting, wireless PC cards, pagers, cordless PC cards, police and fire department
radios, point-to-point links and satellite communications all rely on RF energy.