Welcome to AirID First Steps. Our Quick Start Guide is the perfect place to start and get an overview of the most important features of the AirID. You will learn how to setup, pair with your phone/tablet/PC and connect.

If you would like to know more about AirID and its capabilities, continue reading our User Manual, FAQ and HowTos. 


AirID is pleased to welcome you as a new user of AirID's wireless smart card reader for ID-1 cards, AirID.

This guide explains all the basics of the AirID wireless smartcard reader AirID and gives you step-by-steps instructions to get you started using AirID. Please take the time to read the information and follow carefully the instructions and recommendations of the installation process.

Questions / Support



Content of Delivery


  1. AirID smart card reader
  2. Bumper landscape
  3. Bumper portrait
  4. USB cable
  5. Strap


Before start-up, ensure that the two safety seals are undamaged.

If the safety seals are damaged, it is suspected that your device has been altered inadmissibly. In this case, please contact your distributor and do not use the device.



Hardware Features


AirID is a wireless smart card reader that you can carry with you at all times. The AirID reader communicates via a secure Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connection with your device and makes the inserted smart card available for cryptographical operations such as data encryption or authentication. 

 

Device Features

1 Low Power LCD Display

2 LED indicator

3 Jog dial control element

4 USB interface

5 Smart card slot 

6 Power switch and second smart card connector (only with AirID 2)


Insert a smart card and power the AirID

Insert the card into the card slot with the chip first. The AirID 2 reader has two integrated smart card connector can read the smart chip regardless of which side the chip is on. By inserting a card, the power switch is triggered and the AirID switches on.

To remove the card, simply slide it with the finger through the cut-out.  

Remove the smart card and unpower the AirID

To remove the card, simply slide it with the finger through the cut-out. The AirID turns off. 




Control Element

AirID is designed for easy menu navigation using a 3-way version of jog dial control element.

ActionMeaning
up and down scrollingnavigation
pressselect

The current status of AirID is indicated by the following icons:
Status TypeStatus IndicatorDescription
Smart card status

card inserted, card not supported or damaged

card inserted and card supported

card access blocked (Distance Sensor)

Connection status

Bluetooth and advertising activated

Bluetooth activated and connected to host

Connected to host via USB in USB card reader mode
Battery status

remaining battery capacity

LED Indicator 

Following LED indicators exists on


AirID 2 (PN: A2XX…)

Color

Meaning

red

on while battery charging; off when battery charging is done

blue

on while bluetooth communication activities

green

on while smart card activities


AirID 2 (Rev. 1-3, PN: ARID002-…)

Color

Meaning
redon while battery charging, off when battery charging is done
blueon while smart card activities

AirID 1

ColorMeaning
redbattery low, please charge
red and bluebattery charging
blue and greenbattery completely charged

Charging

AirID is powered by a rechargeable Li-Po battery. The battery is charged by plugging the AirID into either a computer or external USB wall adapter using the USB cable provided.

Power On

Insert the smart card to power on AirID.


Choose Your Platform

Windows 10



In this section, you will find the steps to download and install the AirID Windows driver, the AirID Central management application and to pair the AirID with your Windows device.

Prerequisites

In order to use AirID with your Windows device, a Windows 10 system with a Bluetooth Low Energy 4.0/4.2 support is required.

For workstations without built in Bluetooth Low Energy 4.0/4.2 capabilities, a USB Bluetooth Donlge or the AirID Bridge - an USB Bluetooth connector - MUST be used to provide connectivity.

Since Windows 7 doesn't support the Bluetooth Low Energy standard, a AirID Bridge is required additionally.



Installer Download

Download the latest Windows installer - a zipped .exe file - for Windows at the Download Center.

Driver and App Installation

Unzip and double click on the .exe installer file.

Follow the instructions in the installation wizard to install the AirID Windows driver and the AirID Central App.


Bluetooth Pairing

  1. Power on your smart card reader
  2. Make sure that Bluetooth is activated at your reader by pressing the AirID control element. AirID should display: 
  3. Open Windows "Settings Devices Bluetooth" and make sure, that Bluetooth is activated.
  4. Click "Add a Bluetooth device" and your AirID should be listed with its serial number. Select the reader you want to connect with.
  5. For secure pairing, compare the displayed code on AirID with the code displayed on the host system and confirm the pairing code by pressing the jog dial on your AirID.

After successful pairing, "Your device is ready to go!" and the AirID serial number will be displayed on the Windows system and the device name of the paired device will be displayed on the AirID.


Using AirID


When AirID is successfully paired and the driver is installed there is a PC/SC reader registered in your Windows 10 which can be accessed like any other smart card reader. The inserted smart card is available to be used for cryptographical operations such as authentication or data encryption.

Examples

  • 2-factor authentication: Windows smart card logon
  • Distance Auto-Lock (→ Set "Distance Sensor")
  • Signature and encryption for your email communication
  • etc.


Using AirID Central


AirID Central is a management software for your AirID forming the basis for usage of the device. The tool provides you with information and setting options for your AirID when your reader is connected to your device. When there is no connection established the various display and settings panels aren't available. AirID Central is available for Windows, iOS and Android.


Displayed InformationAirID Configuration
AirID Serial Number
  • Signal Strenght
  • Backlight
  • Buzzer
  • Display
  • Advertising

Smart Card Status







  • Distance Sensor
  • Used Encryption
  • Refresh (Firmware update)

List of connected AirIDs

Batterie Status



Displayed Information

  • Serialnumber
  • MAC Address
  • Hardware Version
  • Bootloader Version
  • Firmware Version


Paired Devices



Using AirID as USB Reader


If you intend to use AirID as an USB reader please insert your smart card, connect the AirID to your desktop via USB cable and set, if neccessary, the option "USB Card Reader" displayed on AirID to "On" or "Yes" .  

iOS 


With iOS, a system-wide support of smart cards and card readers is not possible. In order to use AirID with a specific app, the AirID driver needs to be integrated into this app.

Examples of apps with AirID integration:

  • SecurePIM by Virtual Solution
  • your company specific apps*

*contact your company administrator!

If you would like to integrate AirID into your app, contact our support at https://airid.com/service-portal and get our AirID SDK for iOS.


Prerequisites

In order to use AirID with your iOS device, the iOS version 10.3.3 upwards is required.

Make sure your have an internet connection to download the apps.


AirID need to be paired through an app on iOS. Here are the steps you need to follow in order to connect the AirID with your iOS device.

Third Party App / AirID Central App Download and Installation

Go to the App Store on your iOS device and search for your third party app / AirID Central.

Install the app on your iOS device.

Bluetooth Pairing

  1. Power on your smart card reader
  2. Make sure that Bluetooth is activated at your reader by pressing the AirID control element. AirID should display: 
  3. Make sure that Bluetooth is also activated on your mobile device (Settings → Bluetooth → On)
  4. Open the third party app / AirID Central app and add your AirID. Your AirID should be listed with its serial number. Select the reader you want to connect with.
  5. Follow the displayed instructions to pair the devices

After succesful pairing, "Your device is ready to go!" and the device name of the paired device will be displayed on your AirID.


If you already paired AirID with another device that are switched on and close to you, please navigate to "Prefer Device" in the AirID menu press the control element and choose "New". Then press the control element again to confirm. 


Android


With Android, a system-wide support of smart cards and card readers is not possible. In order to use AirID with a specific app, the AirID driver needs to be integrated into this app.

Examples of apps with AirID integration:

  • SecurePIM by Virtual Solution
  • your company specific apps*

*contact your company administrator!

If you would like to integrate AirID into your app, contact our support at https://airid.com/service-portal and get our AirID SDK for Android.


Prerequisites

In order to use AirID with your Android device, the Android version 8.0 (API level 26) upwards is required. Furthermore, a Bluetooth Low Energy functionality is necessary.

Make sure your have an internet connection to download the apps.


Due to the huge amount of variants of Android OS implementations, we can not guarantee the function of AirID SDKs and AirID devices with any Android device. We are only supporting AirD2 in combination of the Enterprise Edition of Samsung Galaxy S8, S9 & S10.

In case of unstable AirID2 - Android connections please contact our support by creating a support ticket:



AirID need to be paired through an app on Android. Here are the steps you need to follow in order to connect the AirID with your Android device.

Third Party App / AirID Central App Download and Installation

Go to the Google Play Store on your Android device and search for your third party app / AirID Central.

Install the app on your device.

Bluetooth Pairing

  1. Power on your smart card reader
  2. Make sure that Bluetooth is activated at your reader by pressing the AirID control element. AirID should display: 
  3. Make sure that Bluetooth is also activated on your mobile device (Settings → Bluetooth → On)
  4. Open the third party app / AirID Central app and add your AirID. Your AirID should be listed with its serial number. Select the reader you want to connect with.
  5. Follow the displayed instructions to pair the devices

After succesful pairing, "Your device is ready to go!" and the device name of the paired device will be displayed on your AirID.


If you already paired AirID with another device that are switched on and close to you, please navigate to "Prefer Device" in the AirID menu press the control element and choose "New". Then press the control element again to confirm.