Technical
Questions

9. How Do I Purchase
Airlink Management Service?
Access to ALMS is included as
part of AirLink Complete management and support plan. Access is
included in the first year with supported device packages. About
AirLink Management Service Managing remote assets and infrastructure is a demanding
task. You need to
maintain multiple device configurations, update device software,
and remotely diagnose reported issues.
AirLink Management Service
(ALMS) is the industry's leading network management solution. This
highly advanced application supports over-the-air device
registration, configuration and software updates. Dashboards
display up-to-date views of the entire fleet, and custom reports
can be set up to monitor critical events and prevent
downtime.
The interactive monitoring
dashboard and map show the status, signal strength, and location of
all AirLink gateways¹ deployed. Drill down to quickly troubleshoot
devices or update older versions of firmware with one-click.
Advanced heartbeat reporting and custom alerts can be set up to
notify you when devices go offline, resulting in faster issue
identification, less downtime, and fewer field trips.
Access to the AirLink Management Service (ALMS) is part of
AirLink's management and support plan.
The first year is included with the purchase of a supported
device.
ALMS offers functionality that helps to reduce much of the
demand for supporting your devices remotely, including:
- Supporting over-the-Air (OTA) device registration,
configuration and updates
- Displaying the real-time status of your fleet
- Customized reporting to monitor critical events and prevent
unwanted downtime
- Viewing the status, signal strength and location of your
gateways
- Quickly troubleshooting a device with a single click
- Alerts when your device goes offline
10. How Is Airlink
Management Service Different From ACEmanager?
ACEmanager allows you to
configure an AirLink ALEOS device using a web browser. ACEmanager
resides on the device and will enable you to configure only that
device. AirLink Management Service provides a one-to-many solution
for monitoring all your devices' status and configuring all of your
devices. ACEManager is a solution that is designed to
offer the ability to communicate with your devices on a one-to-one
basis. This communication took place via a web browser. ALMS is a
more advanced solution, offering "one-to-many" capabilities to
monitor and configure all of your devices.
11. Does Airvantage
Require My Devices To Have Public IP Addresses? Can Airvantage Work
With Operator Private Networks?
No. Unlike many other device management applications, AirVantage
has been designed to work with device-initiated communications.
This allows for your devices to remain securely behind a
firewall and still have the ability to communicate with
AirVantate.
12. Are Both SMA
Connectors Required On Airlink Gateways?
When using any of the newer cellular networks (such as 3G, 4G,
or soon, 5G), it is always best to use two antennas (more if the
device supports it). Simply, this creates a more stable and higher
bandwidth connection than if fewer antennas are used.
Sierra Wireless' LTE gateways (such as the RV50 / RV50X) utilize
2x2 MIMO (Multi-in, Multi-Out) technology. This is to improve the
level of cellular signal/quality on both the uplink and the
downlink. This differs from legacy 2G/3G connections using Rx
Diversity.
MIMO uses two distinct Tx/Rx signals, intelligently combined, to
increase data throughput speeds where signal multipath is
available. This means there is an improvement in performance in
areas that may have customarily experienced degradation.
Finally, when using the Verizon Wireless network, two antennas
are required for reliable operation.
13. Do I have to use both
SMA connectors on Sierra Wireless Airlink Cellular Gateways for the
Radio Modem antennas?
Sierra Wireless Airlink, LTE
Cellular Gateways such as the RV50 and RV50X, utilize 2×2 MIMO
technology. MIMO equals Multi-In/Multi-out and is designed to
improve the cellular signal and quality on both the downlink and
uplink.
MIMO for LTE works
differently from the older optional 2G/3G Rx Diversity antenna. It
utilizes two distinct Tx and Rx signals intelligently combined with
increasing throughput where signal multipath is available. MIMO
will increase throughput in areas where interference would
otherwise cause throughput degradation.
Two antennas must be used to
achieve this performance and comply with several updated network
operators' transmission requirements. Verizon's TM4, for example,
requires two antennas for reliable operation, not just
understanding.
14. Can I Remotely
Change Acemanager Password On ALEOS Gateway
ALEOS Application Framework
(ALEOS AF) provides developers with a complete set of building
blocks and tools for creating applications that run inside Sierra
Wireless AirLink GX gateways. ALEOS AF makes on the proven ALEOS
built-in embedded intelligence and integrates with the AirVantage
M2M Cloud Platform to offer developers and customers a platform for
creating tailored end-to-end M2M solution.
ALEOS AF provides M2M and
network protocol stacks, remote application and data management,
access to existing ALEOS services, and direct access to hardware
interfaces for building custom M2M applications.
ALEOS AF gets solutions to
market faster, simplifies deployment, and allows for specialized
features that yield cheaper and more focused solutions.
Intelligence at the edge reduces hardware and communication costs
by preprocessing and transmitting only necessary data.
For a visual introduction to
what is ALEOS AF and what it enables, please see the ALEOS AF video
below.
https://doc.airvantage.net/alms/reference/monitor/howtos/remotelyChangeACEManagerPassword/
15. What Is This Difference Between AirLink Manager (AM)
AirLink Mobility Manager (AMM)?
Follow this link for a chart detailing
the key features included in the Sierra Wireless ALMS AM
vs ALMS AMM.
16. Do I Need To Use Sierra Wireless Branded
Antennas In Order To Achieve Optimal Device
Performance?
Sierra Wireless antennas have been tested and certified to
provide guaranteed performance with all AirLink routers and
gateways. If the Antenna you need isn't available, Novotech can
help you find a compatible antenna for your device.