AntennaGear SEMTECH MP70 Sierra Wireless AirLink Owner's Manual

Connecting External Antennas:
- To enhance signal strength and reception, connect external antennas to the SMA connector ends of the SEMTECH AirLink MP70. Make sure to use antennas compatible with SMA connectors for optimal performance.
Antenna Placement:
- Place WIFI antennas in the designated WIFI ports, Cellular antennas in the Cellular ports, and GPS antennas in the GPS port on the device. Proper placement ensures each antenna functions effectively.
Powering On and Testing:
- After connecting the antennas, power on the SEMTECH AirLink MP70 device and test the signal strength and connectivity of each port to ensure proper functionality.

FAQs

Q: Can I use any type of antenna with the SEMTECH AirLink MP70?
- A: It is recommended to use antennas compatible with SMA connectors for optimal performance and compatibility with the device.
Q: How many ports does the SEMTECH AirLink MP70 have?
- A: The device has WIFI ports, Cellular ports, and GPS ports for connecting external antennas.
Q: Do I need to power off the device before connecting external antennas?
- A: It is advisable to power off the device before connecting or disconnecting external antennas to prevent any potential damage.

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SEMTECH AirLink MP70 External Antenna Ports
Formerly Sierra Wireless
SMA Connector Ends
See All Antennas for SEMTECH AirLink MP70

WIFI Ports

Cellular Ports GPS

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Introduction to the MP70

The AirLink MP70 is a high performance, LTE Advanced vehicle router developed specifically for mobile mission-critical applications in public safety, transit, and field services.
Offering high power, long range Gigabit Wi-Fi and Gigabit Ethernet, and up to 300 Mbps downlink speed over LTE Advanced, the AirLink MP70 unites the enterprise network with the fleet and enables applications to work simultaneously, further and faster from the vehicle area network (VAN) than ever before.
The AirLink MP70 supports advanced remote visibility and instant insight into the vehicle area network (VAN), in-field applications and assets, and mobile workforces.
Purpose built for the vehicle, the AirLink MP70 delivers superior reliability and uninterrupted operation in harsh mobile environments.

Key Features

• LTE Advanced
• 2.4 MHz/5 Gigabit (5 GHz) Wi-Fi
• 4 port Gigabit Ethernet
For information on configuring these features, refer to the ALEOS Software Configuration User Guide.

Description

Modes and Power Consumption

Table 1-1: Power Consumption Scenarios

a. Power consumption was measured at 12 V. Offb
b. All power is switched off. Ignition is low, but Vin remains connected.
c. The CPU and the radio are off, but the router can be woken by an I / O input voltage level or at a configured time.
d. The CPU and the radio are on. When the router is idle (i.e. no traffic is being sent or received).

Accessories

The following items come with the MP70 router:
• DC power cable
• Mounting screws
• Quick Start Guide
The following items can be ordered separately from Sierra Wireless:
• Universal AC power adapter
· Voltage input: 100–240 VAC
· Current output: 1.5 A
· Part number: 2000492
• I/O Auxiliary cable
· SKU number: 6001004

Warranty
The MP70 comes with a 3-year warranty, and has an optional 2-year warranty extension.

Installation and Startup

This chapter shows how to connect, install and start the Sierra Wireless MP70. It also describes the front panel LEDs, and I/O functionality.
Note: Sierra Wireless recommends that a professional vehicle electronics installer perform the installation. An experienced installer typically completes a standard installation in approximately half an hour.

Tools and Materials Required
• A SIM card (provided by your mobile network operator)
• #1 Phillips screwdriver
• Laptop computer with Ethernet cable
• AC or DC power cable (available from Sierra Wireless or use your own custom
cable)
• Cellular antenna
• Recommended—diversity antenna
• Optional:
· GNSS antenna
· Wi-Fi antennas1
· 9-pin connection cable for the RS-232 port
· 8-pin auxiliary I/O connector cable

Caution: The router has a hardened case for use in industrial environments and vehicles. If you are installing it in these types of environments, use cables designed and specified for use in these types of environment to avoid cable failure.

Installation Overview

The steps for a typical installation are:
1. Insert the SIM card(s)—page 10.
2. Mount and ground the MP70 chassis—page 11.
3. Connect the antennas—page 12.
4. Connect the data cables—page 14.
5. Connect the power—page 14.
6. Check the router operation—page 26.
7. Configure the software—page 29.

The following sections describe these steps in detail. Read these sections carefully before performing the installation.
Note: Depending on where you are installing the MP70, you may want to mount the router before connecting the antenna, cables and power.

Step 1—Insert the SIM Cards
The AirLink MP70 has two mini-SIM (2FF) card slots. The upper slot is Slot 1 and the lower slot is Slot 2. By default, the SIM card in Slot 1 is the Primary SIM card.
If you are using only one SIM card, Sierra Wireless recommends that you install it in Slot 1.
If the SIM card (or SIM cards) have not already been installed, insert the SIM cards into the router before connecting any external equipment or power to the router.
To install the SIM cards:
1. Use a #1 Phillips screwdriver to remove the SIM card cover.
2. Orient the SIM card(s), as shown in Figure 2-1. The gold contacts on the upper SIM card face down, and the gold contacts on the lower SIM card face up. If you are using only one SIM card, insert it in the upper SIM slot (Slot 1).
3. Gently slide the SIM cards into the slots until they click into place. To remove a SIM card, press the SIM card in, and release it. Gently grip the SIM card and pull it out.

4. Replace the SIM card cover.

Step 2—Mount and Ground the MP70 Chassis
The MP70 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.
Sierra Wireless strongly recommends that you always ground the chassis using the unpainted mounting hole shown if Figure 2-2.
Mount the router where:
• There is easy access for attaching the cables
• 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.
The MP70 has 4 mounting holes, as shown in Figure 2-2. Use the mounting screws that came with the MP70 to secure it in place.

For DC installations (with a fixed “system” ground reference), Sierra Wireless recommends always grounding the MP70 chassis to this system ground reference.
To ensure a good grounding reference, either:
• Attach the MP70 to a grounded metallic surface.
• Connect one end of a short 18 AWG or larger gauge wire to the unpainted, upper right mounting hole (see Figure 2-2) and connect the other end to the vehicle chassis.

Cabling Concerns

Separate MP70 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 highvibration environments.
Place the cable strain relief within 200 mm (8″) of the MP70 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 MP70, 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.

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.
The MP70 has three SMA female antenna connectors:
• Cellular antenna connector: Primary receive and transmit antenna connector
• Cellular Diversity antenna connector
• GNSS antenna connector
The AirLink MP70s with Wi-Fi capability also have:
• Three reverse polarity SMA male connectors for Wi-Fi antennas.
Sierra Wireless recommends cabling out the antennas.
The MP70 supports 2.4 MHz (2400–2500 MHz) and 5GHz (4900–5900 MHz) Wi-Fi bands.
For regulatory requirements concerning antennas, see Maximum Antenna Gain on page 45.
Note: The antenna should not exceed the maximum gain specified in RF Exposure on page 44. In more complex installations (such as those requiring long lengths of cable and/ or multiple connections), you must follow the maximum dBi gain guidelines specified by the radio communications regulations of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Industry Canada, or your country’s regulatory body.

Note: Take extra care when attaching the antennas to the SMA connectors. Finger tight (approximately 0.6–0.8 Nm 5–7 in-lb.) is sufficient and the max torque should not go beyond 1.1 Nm (10 in-lb.).

To install the antennas:

1. Connect the cellular antenna to the SMA cellular antenna connector.
Mount the cellular antenna so there is at least 20 cm between the antenna and the user or bystander.
2. Connect a second antenna to the SMA diversity antenna connector.
For 3G networks, the second antenna operates as a diversity antenna, providing a second receive path.
For 4G networks, the second antenna operates as a MIMO antenna, providing a second receive path and a second transmit path.
If you are not using the second antenna, it can be disabled in ACEmanager, but Sierra Wireless recommends always using it, as disabling the second antenna prevents it being used in both the 3G and 4G applications.
3. If used, connect a GNSS antenna to the SMA GNSS antenna connector. Mount the GNSS antenna where it has a good view of the sky (at least 90⁰).
4. For Wi-Fi-capable routers, connect the Wi-Fi antenna(s) to the SMA Wi-Fi connectors:
· For MIMO 1×1, connect the antenna to Wi-Fi connector 1.
· For MIMO 2×2, connect the antennas to Wi-Fi connectors 1 and 2.
· For MIMO 3×3, connect antennas to all 3 Wi-Fi connectors.
The default ALEOS configuration is MIMO 3×3. If you are using another MIMO configuration, reconfigure the MIMO setting in ALEOS. For information on configuring MIMO, refer to the Wi-Fi chapter of the ALEOS Software Configuration User Guide for the MP70.
Note: If the antennas are located away from the router, keep the cables as short as possible to prevent the loss of antenna gain. Route the cables so that they are protected from damage and will not be snagged or pulled on. 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 connectors from the router over time.

Recommended Antenna Separation

The recommended antenna separation is related to the band frequency/ wavelength. To accommodate the shortest frequency/longest wavelength band supported by the MP70, Sierra Wireless recommends a minimum antenna separation of 214 mm for best results, and if necessary, a separation of 107 mm for acceptable results.

Table 2-1: Frequency / Wavelength Range and Recommended Antenna Separation for the AirLink MP70

Step 4—Connect the Data Cables

The MP70 has three ports for connecting data cables:
• USB (Micro-AB)
• Ethernet (RJ-45) —Use a Cat 5e or Cat 6 Ethernet cable
• Serial Port (9-pin RS-232)

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 AirLink MP70 comes with a 3 meter (10 ft.) DC power cable. You can also purchase an optional AC adapter.
Note: Electrical installations are potentially dangerous and should be performed by personnel thoroughly trained in safe electrical wiring procedures.
The MP70 supports an operating voltage of 7 V–36 V, but since low voltage standby mode is enabled by default, you must supply more than 9 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 ALEOS Software Configuration User Guide (Services chapter).

Fusing

For DC installations, Sierra Wireless recommends fusing the power input using a 7.5 A, fast blow fuse, recommended to have no more than +/- 10% de-rating over the operating temperature range.

DC Voltage Transients

The AirLink MP70 has built-in protection against vehicle transients including engine cranking (down to 5.0V) and load dump, so there is no need for external power conditioning circuits. For details, see Industry Certification for Vehicles on page 32.
Power Connector on the MP70

Figure 2-4: DC Power Cable Connections (Colors indicate DC cable wire colors.)

Connect the Router to the Vehicle’s Electrical System

To connect the router to the vehicle’s electrical system:
1. Ensure that 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. Ensure that the MP70 is grounded. (See Step 2—Mount and Ground the MP70 Chassis on page 11.)
6. Use a 7.5 A, fast blow fuse, recommended to have no more than +/- 10% derating over the operating temperature range, to connect the red (power) wire on the DC power cable to the vehicle’s fuse box. (See Figure 2-5.)
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 MP70.
9. Reconnect the vehicle’s battery:
a. Connect the positive terminal first.
b. Connect the negative terminal.

Wiring Diagrams

Recommended Vehicle Installation
For vehicle installations, Sierra Wireless recommends connecting the white Ignition Sense wire to the vehicle’s ignition switch, as shown in the following illustration.

The recommended vehicle installation allows the router to operate with the vehicle. When the vehicle ignition is off, the router is off. 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 7.5 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 ground. See also Step 2—Mount and Ground the MP70 Chassis on page 11.
• 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.

Alternate Vehicle Installation

The main difference between this installation and the standard vehicle installation is that you can configure a timer to turn the router on at set intervals for a configured length of time, for example 20 minutes once every 24 hours when the ignition is off. Also, instead of the router turning on and off, the router alternates between on and standby mode.

• Pin 1 (Power) —Use the red wire in the DC cable to connect Pin 1 to the power source. Include a 7.5 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.
• Pin 2 (Ground)—Use the black wire in the DC cable to connect Pin 2 to ground. See also Step 2—Mount and Ground the MP70 Chassis on page 11.
• Pin 3 (Ignition Sense)—Connected to power
• Pin 4 (I/O)—Connected to ignition

Fixed Installation
For fixed installations, connect the wires as shown in the figure below. You can configure Low voltage disconnect to force the router into Standby mode when the voltage is low.

• Pin 1 (Power) —Use the red wire in the DC cable to connect Pin 1 to the power source. Include a 7.5 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.
• Pin 2 (Ground)—Use the black wire in the DC cable to connect Pin 2 to ground. See also Step 2—Mount and Ground the MP70 Chassis on page 11.
• Pin 3 (Ignition Sense)—Connected to power

Fixed Installation with I/O Input Triggered by Standby Mode
If you have a fixed installation where you want to use the I/O to monitor an external device such as a motion detector, remote solar panel, or a remote camera, refer to Figure 2-8. You can configure the I/O line to wake the router up for a configured length of time, and use low voltage disconnect to put the router in Standby mode if the voltage falls below a configured value.

• Pin 1 (Power) —Use the red wire in the DC cable to connect Pin 1 to the power source. Include a 7.5 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.
• Pin 2 (Ground)—Use the black wire in the DC cable to connect Pin 2 to ground. See also Step 2—Mount and Ground the MP70 Chassis on page 11.
• Pin 3 (Ignition Sense)—Connected to power
• Pin 4 (GPIO)—Use the green wire for I/O configurations. See I/O Configuration on page 19.

I/O Configuration
The AirLink MP70 has five pins you can use for I/O configuration:
• Pin 4 on the power connector
• Pins 2, 3, 6, and 7 on the auxiliary I/O connector

Documents / Resources

AntennaGear SEMTECH MP70 Sierra Wireless AirLink [pdf] Owner's Manual
MP70, SEMTECH MP70 Sierra Wireless AirLink, SEMTECH MP70, Sierra Wireless AirLink, Wireless AirLink, AirLink

References

User Manual

AntennaGear SEMTECH MP70 Sierra Wireless AirLink

Product Information

Product Usage Instructions