EC400, EC400g
White Paper, August 2008
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Contents
Contents................................................................................................................................................................2
Preface..................................................................................................................................................................3
Product Overview..................................................................................................................................................3
EC400 Communications Summary...................................................................................................................4
Functions and Features for Productivity and Fun..............................................................................................5
Application Summary ........................................................................................................................................6
EC400 Hardware Overview...................................................................................................................................7
SIM Card...........................................................................................................................................................7
Status LEDs......................................................................................................................................................7
Radio Power......................................................................................................................................................7
Antenna.............................................................................................................................................................7
Flash Memory Drive for AutoInstall ...................................................................................................................8
About ExpressCard technology.........................................................................................................................9
Wireless Manager ...............................................................................................................................................10
Status Display.................................................................................................................................................10
Settings...........................................................................................................................................................11
Phone Book.....................................................................................................................................................12
SMS ................................................................................................................................................................13
PlayNow..........................................................................................................................................................13
Performance and Statistics .............................................................................................................................13
Wireless Manager Information.........................................................................................................................14
IT Manager Customization..............................................................................................................................14
SIM-ME Lock...................................................................................................................................................15
Documentation................................................................................................................................................15
GPS.....................................................................................................................................................................15
The GPS System.............................................................................................................................................15
GPS Features in Wireless Manager................................................................................................................16
NMEA Data Stream for Third Party Applications.............................................................................................19
Further Enhancements....................................................................................................................................19
PC Software Architecture....................................................................................................................................20
Windows Drivers .............................................................................................................................................20
Installation Procedure......................................................................................................................................21
Connection Configuration................................................................................................................................21
Connection Operation .....................................................................................................................................21
TCP/IP Optimization........................................................................................................................................22
Apple Macintosh Support....................................................................................................................................22
Description and Comparison of CSD, GPRS/EDGE, UMTS and HSPA..............................................................23
GSM Circuit Switched Data (CSD)..................................................................................................................23
GPRS..............................................................................................................................................................24
EDGE..............................................................................................................................................................26
UMTS..............................................................................................................................................................27
Characteristics of Mobile IP Connections........................................................................................................30
IP Number Allocation.......................................................................................................................................30
Data Compression...........................................................................................................................................30
Sony Ericsson Update Service............................................................................................................................32
Customization......................................................................................................................................................33
Terminology and Abbreviations...........................................................................................................................34
Related Information.............................................................................................................................................38
Links................................................................................................................................................................38
Trademarks and Acknowledgements..............................................................................................................38
Technical Specifications......................................................................................................................................39
Environmental Declaration..................................................................................................................................46
EC400 Material Declaration ................................................................................................................................46
EC400, EC400g
White Paper, August 2008
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Preface
The EC400 White Paper is designed to give the
reader a deeper technical understanding of the
features and applications of the EC400/EC400g
and how it is configured and used. A simplified
technical explanation of GSM/GPRS/EDGE
and UMTS/HSPA data services is included.
This document will make it easier to integrate
the EC400 with the IT and communications
solutions of a company or organization.
People who can benefit from this document
include:
• Consumers
• Corporate buyers
• IT Professionals
• Software developers
• Support engineers
• Business decision-makers
• Mobile Operators
More information and customer support can be
found on the World Wide Web at
http://www.sonyericsson.com/
Product Overview
The EC400 is an HSPA Mobile Broadband
ExpressCard module which enables PC and
Mac users to have mobile access to the
internet or corporate network with flexibility
and high speed, including ‘always online’
capability. It supports data services:
HSDPA, HSUPA UMTS, EDGE, GPRS,
SMS and UMTS/CSD. The EC400g also has
a GPS receiver.
The EC400 is user-upgradeable. New
versions of the PC application software may
be downloaded from the Sony Ericsson
Support website, whilst firmware upgrades
can be performed by the end user via the
secure Sony Ericsson Update Service.
This White Paper is published by :
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications
(USA) Inc
PO Box 13969,
RTP, North Carolina 27709, USA
Telephone + 1 919-472-7000
www.sonyericsson.com
August 2008
Publication No: 1209-1327, Rev. 2
This document is published by
Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications
(USA) Inc without any warranty
Improvements and changes to this text
necessitated by typographical errors,
inaccuracies of current information or
improvements to programs and/or
equipment, may be made by Sony Ericsson
Mobile Communications (USA) Inc at any
time and without notice. Such changes will,
however, be incorporated in to new editions
of this document. Any hard copies of this
document are to be regarded as temporary
reference copies only.
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White Paper, August 2008
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EC400 Communications
Summary
The EC400 Mobile Broadband ExpressCard
keeps you in touch, enabling you to use the
best available mobile service wherever you
are. It supports tri-band (850/1900/2100MHz)
UMTS and quad-band
(850/900/1800/1900MHz) GSM/GPRS/EDGE.
High Speed Packet Access
(HSPA)
HSPA is an enhancement to UMTS networks.
HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet
Access) enables the downlink speed to be
dramatically increased; up to 7.2Mb/s using
the EC400. File downloads will be faster,
whilst applications such as video streaming
may operate at higher quality and greater
reliability. The maximum speed available
depends on the configuration of the mobile
network and local conditions such as distance
to the base station.
HSUPA (High Speed Uplink Packet Access)
enables the EC400 to upload data at
speeds up to 2.0Mb/s.
UMTS
In simple terms, 3G (third-generation)
services combine high-speed radio access
with IP (Internet Protocol)-based services.
This does not just mean fast mobile
connection to the Web, it means totally new
ways to communicate, access information,
conduct business, learn and be entertained.
Compared with 2G mobile networks, 3G
significantly boosts network capacity, much
needed in densely populated areas – thus
operators will be able to support more users,
as well as offer more sophisticated services.
3G networks based on UMTS and working in
the 850MHz, 1900MHz and 2100MHz bands
are now in operation in many countries.
The EC400 is a dual mode device, able to
connect via GSM/GPRS/EDGE and
UMTS/HSPA. Thus the user will remain
connected without having to think about which
system is being used – the handover between
the two systems is automatically managed by
the EC400 working together with the two
network technologies.
UMTS without HSPA provides internet or
corporate network access at data rates up to
384kb/s, uplink and downlink. A circuit-
switched connection at 64kb/s can also be
made. This is suitable for use with a separate
videotelephony client.
EDGE
EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for Global
Evolution) is an integral part of the GSM
family of open mobile standards. EDGE
networks exist, and are being expanded in
North America, Asia, Latin America and
Europe.
EDGE improves GPRS by increasing data
throughput by a factor of 3. GPRS networks
enhanced with EDGE are often referred to as
E-GPRS (Enhanced GPRS) networks. The
end user enjoys the ‘always on’ capability of
GPRS but with greater speed. The technology
is transparent – the user simply makes GPRS
connections as usual and benefits from the
increase in speed where EDGE is available in
the network. The EC400 can achieve
communication speeds up to a theoretical
maximum of 247.4kb/s downlink and
123.7kb/s uplink (MCS-9). Multislot
configuration is the same as for GPRS below.
An explanation of these speeds is given later
in this document. Typical end-user speeds are
in the range of 120kb/s under average
conditions, with bursts around 200kb/s in
strong signal conditions.
The Network Operator benefits from greater
network capacity.
GPRS
GSM/GPRS coverage is available almost
everywhere. GSM is the fastest growing
communications technology of all time. The
billionth GSM user was connected in 2004 –
just 12 years after the commercial launches of
the first GSM networks. The GSM Association
currently has operator members in more than
205 countries and territories. Sony Ericsson,
and its range of wireless offerings are present
in all of these markets.
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GPRS is an enhancement to existing GSM
networks which provides packet data
transmission, enabling "always on" mobility.
The connection set-up is fast and, once
connected, applications may send and
receive data whenever required. In today’s
GPRS networks, the EC400 receives data at
speeds up to 53.6kb/s and transmits at
speeds of up to 26.8kb/s. The EC400 is a
multislot class 10 device supporting 4+1 and
3+2 configurations. It supports Coding
Schemes CS-1 to CS-4, enabling receive
speeds up to 85.6kb/s and transmission up to
42.8kb/s where CS-4 is available in the
network. These terms are explained later in
the paper.
Short Message Service
The PC may send and receive SMS text
messages. Using PC facilities such as copy
and paste makes it fast and easy to send
information via SMS. Concatenation is
supported, meaning that messages larger
than 160 characters may be sent and
received.
Functions and Features
for Productivity and Fun
Flexible
The EC400 will automatically choose the best
data service available in a particular location
whether it is HSPA, UMTS, EDGE or GPRS.
Global
As a quad band device, the EC400 can
operate on any GSM system in the world.
Therefore users can communicate wirelessly
from their laptops on all five continents, in
over 205 countries.
The EC400 automatically switches to a UMTS
850, 1900 or 2100 network where one is
available.
Convenient
Users no longer need to worry about carrying
cables, telephone jack converters, chargers
and batteries when out of the office.
Always available
Just plug the EC400 into an ExpressCard slot,
start Wireless Manager and connect! The
user will typically have a separate mobile
phone, which is kept free for telephone calls.
To provide maximum data network
availability, the EC400 does not support voice
calls. Voice Over IP may be used to provide
multimedia connectivity.
Simple to use
Connection settings are automatically created
based on the MCC and MNC (country code
and network code) from the SIM card. The
user may simply click the ‘Connect’ button to
make an internet connection. Parameters for
many networks are included to facilitate
manual configuration where required. A status
screen and an icon in the notification area
enable users to check status information such
as signal strength, perform common functions
and also to access help.
Wide Desktop and Laptop Compatibility
The EC400 can be directly plugged in to a
free ExpressCard slot.
Support for Microsoft Windows® 2000, XP and
Vista.
Auto Install
The Wireless Manager (or third-party
application) installer is held in memory inside
the EC400 so that installation can take place
automatically just by inserting the product in
to a laptop.
PlayNowTM
PlayNow provides music and content
download services.
Apple® Macintosh® Compatible
Apple Macintosh users can make
GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSPA connections via
the separate free software download “launch
2 net – Sony Ericsson Edition.” The EC400
can be used with MacBook Pro machines.
Open for Developers
Application developers may utilise the EC400
via the standard AT command interface.
GPS
The EC400g includes a GPS receiver.
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Application Summary
The EC400 provides a standard internet
connection using an NDIS “Mobile Broadband
Network Adaptor.” VPN (Virtual Private
Network) software may be used for
connection to corporate networks. In this
respect, the EC400 places no special
requirements upon applications. Typical
applications include:
E-Mail
Access to internet and corporate e-mail using
clients such as Microsoft Outlook Express,
ThunderbirdTM, Netscape Communicator,
Microsoft Outlook® and Lotus® Notes®. Using
the EC400, the server can be automatically
polled to retrieve mail. Mobile working
features such as Remote Mail in Outlook
optimize the use of the wireless connection.
Browsing
Web browsing on the internet or intranet using
a browser such as Microsoft Internet
Explorer® or Firefox®. A common e-mail
solution is to use an internet connection and
TLS security to browse corporate e-mail via a
web interface such as Microsoft Exchange
OWA (Outlook Web Access) facility.
Multimedia
Stream high quality audio and video content
to your PC.
Information Services
Information (stock prices, news etc) delivered
to the PC in real time.
Information Sharing
Access to files, databases, discussion groups
CRM
Customer Relationship Management
applications – field sales, customer support
etc.
Community
Instant Messaging, Chat, Conferencing
VPN
EC400 works with all popular corporate
Virtual Private Networking solutions.
SMS
Send SMS messages with the convenience of
a full keyboard and copy/paste functions.
GPS
The EC400g also contains a GPS (Global
Positioning System) receiver which can be
used with web-based services and GPS-
enabled application software to provide
location-based services such as navigation
and security. Wireless Manager is pre-
integrated with Google Maps™.
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EC400 Hardware
Overview
The EC400 is supplied in a consumer
package containing:
• Mobile Broadband ExpressCard
EC400 or EC400g
• Quick Start Guide
SIM Card
The SIM card is inserted into a slot in the
plastic extension part of the EC400.
Status LEDs
The EC400 has one status LED for the mobile
service status. The EC400g has an additional
LED which shows the GPS status. The LEDs
are located underneath the diversity antenna
Radio Power
The EC400 has the same radio power output
as most mobile phones:
GSM 850 Class 4 2W
GSM 900 Class 4 2W
GSM 1800 Class 1 1W
GSM 1900 Class 1 1W
UMTS 850 Class 3 0.25W
UMTS 1900 Class 3 0.25W
UMTS 2100 Class 3 0.25W
The EC400 can be turned off under software
control from the Wireless Manager application
or the signal strength icon in the notification
area. It is recommended that the user
removes the EC400 when not in use to
prevent damage to the modem or the laptop..
The EC400 draws current from the
ExpressCard slot and therefore the laptop
battery when mobile. The amount used is
dependent upon a number of factors including
status, frequency-band, and distance to the
base station.
Antenna
The EC400 has a built in diversity mode
antenna. The main antenna is in the fixed part
of the plastic extension. The diversity antenna
is in the hinged opening part. The hinged part
Status LEDs
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also functions as the GPS antenna in the
EC400g. The antenna must be opened for
optimal efficiency.
The built-in GPS antenna is useful where
there is a good view to the sky. Please note,
however, that GPS signals are very weak and
can sometimes be blocked out by radio
frequency noise from the laptop itself.
Two antenna connectors are provided behind
removable covers:
Connector A is for an alternate GSM/UMTS
antenna. When connected, the built-in main
antenna is used as a Diversity antenna. The
main performance boost is in HSPA.
Connector B (EC400): External HSPA
Diversity antenna. Works in conjunction with
the other external (GSM) Diversity antenna.
When connected, the internal Diversity/GPS
antenna is disabled.
Connector B (EC400g): External GPS and
HSPA Diversity antenna. When connected,
the built-in Diversity/GPS antenna is disabled.
External GPS antenna
An external GPS antenna is supplied with the
EC400g. This antenna can be positioned in a
suitable place to get maximum view of the
sky.
Please note that the laptop must be operated
by a passenger when used in a car.
Flash Memory Drive for
AutoInstall
The EC400 contains a flash memory drive.
The Wireless Manager application and drivers
are written to this drive during manufacture,
so that the installation can be fully automatic.
The drive is only available prior to installation
of Wireless Manager.
The physical (hardware) capacity is
256Mbytes, however some of this capacity is
used internally by the EC400’s firmware.
* value approximate and depends on firmware
The filing system type is FAT (File Allocation
Table). The drive may not be reformatted to
other formats. Files and folders may be set to
read-only in the normal way.
The drive has volume label Sony Ericsson
EC400. The Wireless Manager installer files
are placed on the flash memory drive during
manufacture.
256 MB
Physical
87 MB*
File System
+ Firmware
169 MB*
available Software Installer
~ 144 MB
Free Space
~ 25 MB
B
A
Main antenna
Diversity/GPS antenna
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Windows AutoPlay detects the drive so that
the installation can be initiated by the user.
EC400 can be easily installed on another PC
using the Autoinstall feature.
About ExpressCard
technology
ExpressCard technology was developed by
the PCMCIA (Personal Computer Memory
Card International Association) and effectively
replaces the PC Card, though some models
of laptop have both types of slot incorporated
at the present time.
ExpressCard slots first appeared in quantity in
2006, in machines such as the Sony VAIO
SZ1 and Apple MacBook Pro.
ExpressCard modules are available in two
sizes: 34mm and 54mm wide. The EC400
uses the smaller 34mm wide format. The
connector is a single row of 26 pins. There is
normally no eject button; ExpressCards are
designed to have a press-to-inert and press-
to-release operation. Gently press the card in
and a spring in the slot will then eject it.
34mm cards can be inserted in to a 54mm
slot. A guidance feature ensures that the
connector is correctly aligned.
ExpressCard modules have the following
advantages over PC Cards:
• Smaller size
• USB and PCI connectivity options
• Faster throughput
• Easier to implement in a laptop
• Less complex card implementation.
PC Cards can be identified from the following
characteristics:
• 54mm wide
• Two rows of 34 pins
• Eject button or lever
PCI connectivity provides bandwidth up to
2.5Gb/s and is ideal for ExpressCard module
disk-drive and video adaptors. USB
connectivity provides bandwidth up to
480Mb/s to the USB 2.0 standard. The EC400
is a USB type ExpressCard module.
USB type ExpressCard modules can be used
in PC Card slots via an inexpensive (~$40)
third-party adaptor card.
USB to ExpressCard adaptors are also
available. These enable a USB type
ExpressCard module to be connected to a
USB 2.0 port. This is especially useful for
desktop solutions and to locate the
EC400/EC400g in a more optimal position, for
example, the car windshield.
Sony Ericsson cannot guarantee
interoperability or performance with these
adaptor products.
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Wireless Manager
Wireless Manager is the software application which is used with Sony Ericsson’s range of Mobile
Broadband Modem products such as the EC400 Mobile Broadband ExpressCard and the PC300 PC
Card.
The EC400 contains a flash memory drive that is pre-loaded with Wireless Manager and the
necessary drivers for the EC400. Installation starts automatically when the EC400 is first plugged in.
Supported platforms are Windows 2000, XP and Vista. Installation takes less than 5 minutes. Should
manual or customised installation be required, the Wireless Manager software can be downloaded
from www.sonyericsson.com/support
The Wireless Manager is accessed from the Windows Desktop or via Start |
Programs | Sony Ericsson | Wireless Manager 5. Preferences can be set to
automatically switch on the transmitter and make a connection.
Status Display
Wireless Manager opens to a status window which provides network and connection information.
Please note that these screenshots are subject to change.
A ‘mini’ mode can be selected to show the essential information without getting in the way of other
applications.
Additional buttons can be customised by the operator, IT Manager or user to launch E-Mail, Web
pages or VPN. Wireless Manager is pre-configured with a button for PlayNow.
A Wireless Manager icon is also placed in the Windows notification area at the bottom right of
the screen. If ‘minimise to notification area’ preference is set in the Wireless Manager, then
minimising the status window clears away the Wireless Manager application, leaving just the icon as
a reminder that the EC400 is active.
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Right-click the Wireless Manager icon to access a useful menu.
Hide to Notification Area closes the Wireless Manager window, but keeps
the EC400 in operation, as shown by the icon in the notification area.
About provides information on the Wireless Manager version and also the
firmware version in the EC400.
An IT Manager can set up connection profiles so that all installations automatically get the
connection (private APN) defined with no need for further user interaction.
The Windows NDIS icon indicates a connection and data flow as usual. The connection time and
transmit/receive byte count is also shown in the Wireless Manager.
The EC400 may be removed by exiting the Wireless Manager and stopping the card via the “Safely
Remove Hardware” icon (Windows 2000), (Windows XP) or (Windows Vista)
Older Sony Ericsson PC Cards such as the GC86 continue to use Wireless Manager Version 4. It is
possible to install both Wireless Manager 4 and Wireless Manager 5 so that GPRS/EDGE PC Cards
(such as the GC86 and GC89) and Mobile Broadband Modems PC300, MD300 and EC400 can be
used in the same laptop without needing to change software or drivers.
Settings
Settings are presented in logical groups. Simply click on the required setting in the list and the
details will be displayed.
Connection settings are automatically set up each time a new SIM is inserted in to the EC400.
Wireless Manager contains a list of many operator settings. The home operator from the SIM is
matched in this list and a connection profile is automatically created and made default.
These settings may be viewed and edited. Alternative settings can be manually entered or selected
from a database covering many mobile operators. This database can be customised to contain only
relevant operator settings.
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It is also possible for an IT Manager to configure company-specific settings into Wireless Manager
so that these are automatically installed in place of the operator default internet service.
Phone Book
Click the Phone Book button to work with contact names and phone numbers.
The phone book listing from the SIM card is shown. Items can be added, edited or deleted. It is also
possible to copy and move entries to or from a Saved Phonebook, which uses PC storage rather
than the SIM card.
The SIM Phonebook is represented as one folder. A ‘Saved Phonebook’ folder is located on the PC
hard-drive. Functions are provided to copy and move entries between the folders.
The phone book can be used to add recipients when composing an SMS. It is also possible to send
an SMS directly from the phone book.
.
The address book can be exported or imported. The format is a two-column comma-separated text
file. An example is shown below. When importing, the user can choose whether to add the new
entries to the phonebook leaving the old entries there, or to delete the old entries so that the
phonebook just contains those in the imported file.
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SMS
Text messages can be sent and received. Concatenation is supported so that messages longer than
160 characters can be sent (the receiving end must also support concatenation for the message to
be displayed correctly, however such support is widespread).
The SIM Inbox is the inbox on the SIM card itself. This is the main inbox so that text messages are
not accidentally lost when moving the SIM between the EC400 and a mobile phone. Text messages
can be moved or copied to the Saved Messages folder, where any number can be stored on the PC.
A warning indication is provided when the SIM is full.
Users can Reply to or Forward SMS messages with a single click.
PlayNow
The PlayNow button opens the default web browser at the home page of PlayNow. Here the
user can access music downloads and other content. The PlayNow service is being rolled out to
regions and countries and the user can view status and make selection from the home page.
Performance and Statistics
Connection duration, volume of data and an indication of upload/download speed are provided in the
Wireless Manager window whilst a connection is in progress. View | Usage Summary provides
cumulative upload and download volumes. The counters can be reset when required. The figures
could be used to provide an approximate check of the data volumes billed. Please note that the
information shown here is not guaranteed to match the mobile operator’s bill.
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Wireless Manager Information
Connection and software/firmware version information is available from the View | Information
menu. This dialog box brings together in one place the information that might be required for a
problem to be diagnosed. A standard Help | About dialog is provided also.
Help | Diagnostics runs a quick self-test and displays essential system status such as Modem
present, Modem communicating, SIM inserted, SIM unlocked, Radio on, Circuit-switch registered,
Packet-switch registered, Connection Profile configured. A log file can be saved for remote
troubleshooting. This log file is limited to 2Mbytes and is a first-in, first-out type buffer.
IT Manager Customization
The Wireless Manager may be customized prior to deployment in a large organisation. Settings data
is maintained in a file called UserSettings.bin. You can define the following settings, which are
automatically saved to the file:
• Connection Profiles
• Preferences
• Radio Power
• Launch Buttons
Your customised UserSettings.bin file can then be included in the installation package so that target
laptops are preconfigured with your settings.
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SIM-ME Lock
SIM-ME lock can be specified as a customisation to the EC400. When a ‘foreign’ SIM is inserted,
Wireless Manager will detect it and present a warning message and enable the user to enter the
unlock code. If no unlock is possible (zero unlock attempts), Wireless Manager informs the user that
no unlock is possible.
Documentation
One or more multilingual printed Quick Start Guides are included in the package. Since it is not
possible to include all languages on a single sheet, the guides are broken in to four variants. These
are listed in the Specification – Supported Languages section. PDF versions of these guides may be
downloaded from the support website.
A PDF EC400 User Guide describes the EC400 Mobile Broadband ExpressCard and provides a
specification, safe usage and warranty information. It is installed with Wireless Manager and
accessed via Start | All Programs | Sony Ericsson | Wireless Manager 5 and can also be
downloaded from the support website.
Wireless Manager includes comprehensive built-in online help, available from the Help menu or by
pressing F1.
A PDF Wireless Manager 5 User Guide provides the same information as the online help, but in a
conventional printable PDF format. This document is available for download only.
A PDF AT-Command Reference Manual is available on the web. This is in English only.
GPS
The GPS System
GPS (Global Positioning System) is a network of satellites in orbit around the earth. They circle the
earth at a height of about 12,000 miles (19,300 km) and make two rotations every day. The satellites
are placed in predetermined orbital planes designed to give full global coverage.
The GPS network was developed and implemented by the U.S. Department of Defense as a military
navigation system, but soon became available for civilian use as well.
Each satellite contains an atomic clock and continuously sends out time-stamped messages. The
satellites are synchronized so that the position messages that they send out are transmitted at
effectively the same instant. The messages travel at the speed of light and therefore arrive at the
GPS receiver at different times depending on distance from each visible satellite.
The GPS receiver calculates its position based on the time of arrival of these messages. The
principle is that if you know your distance from several known locations, you can calculate your own
location.
Theoretically, a direct view of three satellites is sufficient to locate a position on the earth, however
four are necessary in practice to get an accurate latitude, longitude and height.
They send out signals which enable a GPS receiver to determine its position in three dimensions
(latitude, longitude and height, normally expressed as ‘above sea level’).
When a GPS receiver is first turned on, it takes around 50 seconds in good conditions to decode the
data stream from visible satellites and compute the position. Poor conditions, such as a limited view
of the sky, extend the time-to-fix to several minutes, if the position can be found at all.
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If the GPS receiver is moving, time-to-fix can be longer; the receiver must re-start the decoding
sequence if the data stream is interrupted.
A Cold Start takes place when the receiver has no information at all regarding the location of the
satellites.
When the receiver decodes messages from a satellite, it also receives the precise orbital parameters
for that satellite. These are valid for about two hours. This data is stored if the receiver is turned off.
If the data is still valid when the receiver is turned back on, a faster positional computation is
possible; around 10 seconds. This is known as a Warm Start.
GPS Features in Wireless Manager
The position data is made available in three forms:
• Basic position display in the GPS window
• Open Google MapsTM at the current location
• NMEA data stream for third party applications
In Wireless Manager, select View | GPS to access the GPS feature. In the main GPS tab, GPS can
be turned on and off, and status information is displayed. The GPS mode is standalone; there is no
assistance from the mobile network.
GPS time is an accurate display of time that is derived from the GPS data. It is shown as GMT
(Greenwich Mean Time). To translate to local time, it is necessary to factor in time zone and
Summer Time.
The Map Current Position button opens the default browser to show the present location in Google
Maps.
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The Log tab displays the raw NMEA data strings and allows them to be saved to file.
The Settings tab allows GPS settings to be configured. Units of distance are displayed in metric
(metres and kilometres per hour) by default, but can be switched to Imperial (feet and miles per
hour) where required.
By default (URL field left blank), Google Maps is accessed using http://maps.google.com. If an
alternative country-specific URL (e.g. maps.google.es) is entered, it is used instead. Please note that
the feature is specific to Google Maps; entering the URL of an alternative service such as Yahoo
does not work.
Here is a table of localized Google Maps URLs at the time of writing. Some of these are beta state.
For further information, see:
http://gmaps-samples.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/mapcoverage_filtered.html/
Australia maps.google.co.au
Austria maps.google.at
Belgium maps.google.be
Brazil maps.google.com.br
Canada maps.google.ca
China ditu.google.cn
Czech Republic maps.google.cz
Denmark maps.google.dk
Finland maps.google.fi
France maps.google.fr
Germany maps.google.de
Italy maps.google.it
The Search tab provides a search facility based on Google Maps. A drop-down selection provides
common search terms such as Airports, hotels etc. Any other search term can be entered in the
Other search term box. (Clear this box to use the pre-set terms)
Japan maps.google.co.jp
Netherlands maps.google.nl
New Zealand maps.google.co.nz
Norway maps.google.no
Poland maps.google.po
Russia maps.google.ru
Spain maps.google.es
Sweden maps.google.se
Switzerland maps.google.ch
Taiwan maps.google.com.tw
United Kingdom maps.google.co.uk
United States maps.google.com
EC400, EC400g
White Paper, August 2008
19
NMEA Data Stream for Third Party Applications
The GPS receiver provides standard NMEA data over a COM port. More than one application can
read the data at the same time.
Many third-party applications are able to read and use the NMEA data. NMEA data is to NMEA 2.0
standard. The following four NMEA sentences are output:
$GPGGA
$GPGSA
$GPGSV
$GPRMC
The NMEA data is output over the Sony Ericsson GPS Port. This is a Windows COM Port. To link a
third-party GPS-enabled application to your EC400g's GPS receiver, it may be necessary to access
the application settings and select the COM port number that Windows has allocated. This is
indicated in the GPS tab in Wireless Manager and is also displayed in the Windows Device
Manager:
To use an external application with GPS:
• Turn on the GPS receiver
• Start the GPS-enabled application
• Connect it to the Sony Ericsson GPS Port
When finished:
• Disconnect the application from the Sony Ericsson GPS Port
• Close the application
• Switch off the GPS receiver
Further Enhancements
Future releases of Wireless Manager will add additional GPS features:
• Support for Yahoo!® Maps
• Integration with Google Earth
• Save position as a waypoint
• Waypoint lists
• Personalized search lists
EC400, EC400g
White Paper, August 2008
20
PC Software Architecture
Windows Drivers
The EC400 drivers are based on standard USB functionality. The EC400 is presented as a
multifunction device providing USB, modem, network and COM-port interfaces.
The EC400 appears as the following devices when examined in Windows Device Manager:
Device Name Function
Sony Ericsson EC400 Mobile Broadband
ExpressCard/34 Modem Modem device which may be used with Dial-Up
Networking
Sony Ericsson EC400 Mobile Broadband
Network Adaptor NDIS interface over which Wireless Manager or
third party applications establish communication.
Appears to Windows as a LAN adaptor having
maximum speed 7.2Mb/s
Sony Ericsson EC400
Mobile Broadband Device Management This is a COM Port which is used by the
controlling application (normally Wireless
Manager) to control and obtain status from the
EC400.
Sony Ericsson PC SC Port Placeholder (non-working dummy device) for a
PC-Smartcard interface for EAP-SIM
authentication. Working functionality may be
introduced at a later date.
Sony Ericsson GPS port COM port which outputs NMEA data to one or
more applications.
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