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Sierra Wireless Aircard® 300 - Unable to Start Data Link

This document cover the following products:

Aircard 300 - part number 1200046.
The part number is located on the back of the Aircard.

Symptoms

Watcher gives an error stating that it is unable to start data link.

Resolution

1. Remove antenna. If the Watcher program continuously scans for a radio channel, then there is a problem with the signal strength. Do the following:
   • Reinsert antenna.
   • Move to a different location to see if the signal strength increases.
   • Move antenna counterclockwise to see if signal strength increases.
   • Check with CDPD carrier to determine availability of CDPD service within the area.
   • Swap antenna for a different antenna. The antenna may be defective.
   • Remove the antenna and check the pin inside the antenna connector on the Aircard. If the pin is missing, broken or pushed in, call the Sierra Wireless Technical Support Help line for assistance in having it repaired.
2. Remove antenna. If the Watcher program does not scan for a radio channel and is only displaying one channel, then it is a Resource/IRQ issue. Do the following:
   • Reinsert antenna.
   • ON WINDOWS 9X:
     • Run WINIPCFG program. Go toStart>Run. On the Open box, type WINIPCFG and click OK. An IP Configuration box will display. Choose the Sierra Wireless Adapter. Click on the Release button once, and click on the Renew button once. Click on OK button to exit program. Start the Watcher program to see if you can register.
     • Go to Start>Settings>Control Panel>System and tab over to Device Manager. In Device Manager, expand Network adapters by double clicking on the Network adapter icon. Disable any other adapter except for Sierra Wireless adapter. To disable other adapters, double click on adapter and under the heading Device usage, put a check mark to disable the hardware profile. Click on the OK button and a red X mark should display beside the adapter. Do the same procedure for any other adapter except for Sierra Wireless. Reboot your computer and start the Watcher program. It should register with a CDPDprovider.
   • ON WINDOWS NT:
     • Goto Start>Programs>AdministrativeTools>Windows NT Diagnostics. Tab over to Resources. Make a list of all the IRQ spaces not displayed. These are the IRQ?s available for use.
     • GotoStart>Settings>Control Panel. Double click on the Network icon and then click on the Adapters Tab. Highlight the "Sierra Wireless Aircard" adapter and click on Properties. On the Interrupt window, change the IRQ number to an IRQ that is available (one that you noted in the first step).
     • Reboot computer and start Watcher. If Watcher fails to register, change to a different IRQ. Repeat this process until an IRQ is found that works.

Last update: September 6, 2000 - JD
Reviewed by: September 12, 2000 - KC