# Sierra Wireless AirLink router SIM cards with ThingSIM

> Sierra Wireless AirLink routers, now made by Semtech, are long-lived kit, and plenty of RV50s and GX450s are still in service alongside the current RV55 and XR series. All of them take a ThingSIM with the APN set in ACEmanager.

## Setting up a ThingSIM in ACEmanager (ALEOS) and AirLink Management Service

The APN goes in **ACEmanager → WAN/Cellular (RV55, MP70); Hardware Interfaces → Cellular Interfaces (XR series)**.

1. Activate the SIM in the ThingSIM portal, then insert it in the upper slot (SIM 1). On the RV55 the SIM cover takes a 2 mm hex key.
2. RV and MP models (ALEOS) — open ACEmanager, go to WAN/Cellular and enter the APN from the portal as the user-entered APN for SIM 1.
3. XR models (AirLink OS) — go to Hardware Interfaces → Cellular Interfaces → Configuration, set APN Mode to Manual and enter the APN.
4. Leave authentication as None, with no username or password.
5. On XR models set Data Roaming to On. A ThingSIM always connects as a roaming SIM.
6. Apply, then check the APN in use and the connection on the Status page.

**Two SIMs:** Two-SIM models set a primary and secondary slot on the cellular configuration page. On XR models leave the Roaming Timeout for automatic SIM switching unset with a ThingSIM; dual-radio XR80 and XR90 use a Multi-WAN policy instead.

**Checking it works:** ACEmanager Status → Cellular shows the operator, roaming state and APN in use; on XR models, Status/Monitoring → System → Cellular Radio. AirLink Management Service shows a fleet.

## AirLink

- **RV55**: Industrial router, 4G LTE Cat 4/Cat 12 or LTE-M/NB-IoT. Ultra-low-power rugged router for utilities, oil and gas.
- **XR60**: Industrial router, 5G, 2 × Nano SIM, Wi-Fi. Ultra-compact rugged 5G router.
- **MP70**: Vehicle router, 4G LTE-A Pro Cat 12, 2 SIM slots, Wi-Fi. Single-radio vehicle router for police/fleet.
- **MG90**: Vehicle router, 4G LTE-A Pro or 5G, Several SIM slots, Wi-Fi. Multi-network vehicle gateway (FirstNet Band 14).
- **LX40**: Industrial router, 4G LTE, 1 SIM slot. Ultra-compact router for POS, lockers, IP cameras.
- **XR80**: Vehicle router, 5G, 2 SIM slots, Wi-Fi. 5G router for fixed and mobile mission-critical use.
- **XR90**: Vehicle router, 5G x2, Several SIM slots, Wi-Fi. Dual-5G vehicle router for transit and public safety.
- **LX60**: Industrial router, 4G LTE. Dual-Ethernet LTE router for enterprise/industrial IoT.
- **RX55**: Industrial router, 4G LTE, 2 SIM slots. Rugged low-power IoT router for extreme environments.
- **RX400**: Industrial router, 5G RedCap, LTE Cat 4 fallback, 2 × Nano SIM. Power-efficient rugged RedCap router (solar, MIL-STD-810H).
- **EX400**: Branch router, 5G RedCap, LTE Cat 4 fallback, 2 × Nano SIM. Commercial IoT RedCap router for retail, manufacturing, agriculture.

## Older models

- **RV50** (no longer sold): Industrial router, 4G LTE. Earlier rugged LTE gateway.
- **RV50X** (no longer sold): Industrial router, 4G LTE. Ruggedised LTE-A gateway for utilities/oil and gas, very widely deployed.
- **GX450** (no longer sold): Industrial router, 4G LTE. Rugged mobile/fixed LTE gateway.
- **LS300** (no longer sold): Industrial router, 4G LTE. Compact 3G/LTE gateway.
- **ES450** (no longer sold): Industrial router, 4G LTE. Enterprise LTE failover gateway.

## Questions

### Does a ThingSIM work in a Sierra Wireless RV50X?

Yes. The RV50X is no longer sold but works the same way as the RV55. Insert the SIM and set the APN in ACEmanager.

### Who makes AirLink routers now?

Semtech, which bought Sierra Wireless in 2023. The routers and ACEmanager are unchanged.

Suggested plan: 1 GB, UK 4-network, £2.40 a month per active SIM, ex VAT.

Source: https://thingsim.com/devices/sierra-wireless