NAL Research Corporation (TN2009-25-V1.0)
12
phones) is used hold the SIM in-place. An external SIM card reader may also be interfaced as a peripheral to
the A3LA-XM via the DPL bus. A SIM card in the external reader will take precedence over the SIM chip in
the integrated connector when both are present.
7.0 LED DISPLAY
The A3LA-XM has three status LEDs depicted as P for power indicator, I for Iridium satellite signal
strength and S for spare (see Figure 7). They offer users a quick visual check to ensure proper modem
operations as well as a way to optimize antenna locations during field installation. These LEDs provide the
following information:
P (red LED): LED lights up when power is provided to the A3LA-XM.
I (green LED): LED stays solid when the signal strength is between 3–5, blinks when the signal
strength is between 1 and 2 and is off when signal strength is 0. The LED also stays solid when the
carrier detect (CD) goes high during a data call.
S (green LED): Spare LED and not being used by the A3LA-XM
8.0 AES-256 BIT ENCRYPTION
The A3LA-XM modem has a built-in AES-256 encryption software module. It can transmit either
encrypted or unencrypted data in all modes—dial up, direct Internet, RUDICS, SBD and SMS. The A3LA-XM
does not support encrypted voice calls. All voice calls are made in the ‗clear‘ unless an external encryption
module is hooked to it such as the General Dynamics® Sectéra. When encryption is enabled and for non-
packetized data transmission modes including dial-up, direct Internet and RUDICS, the A3LA-XM sends data
in NAL Research‘s proprietary format called packet send mode. Packet send mode is implemented to handle
AES-256 frame synchronization between the A3LA-XM and a connected device. The encryption and
decryption keys are matched in each frame to ensure NIST FIPS 140-2 compliance.
Instructions on how to use encryption can be found in manuals AT Command Reference for Model A3LA-
XM (TN2009-27-V1.0), Encryption Module Manual (TN2009-28-V3.0) and SatTerm Software Manual
(TN2009-19-V7.0). List of AT commands used to set encryption include ^CCOP, ^KD, ^KE, ^KZ, ^STR,
^UE and ^USMSE. The encryption algorithm implemented into the A3LA-XM complies with NIST FIPS 140-2
as defined in the following documents:
1.
Security Requirements for Cryptographic Modules
, FIPS PUB 140-2, US Department of
Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, May 25
th
, 2001.
Figure 7.
Iridium Satellite Modem A3LA-XM.
Iridium LED
Power LED Spare LED
