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Frequently Asked Questions

Below are introductory answers to frequently asked questions about our products and services. Click on a subject heading below to view questions and answers relating to your selection. Links throughout the answers will guide you to further information on our website or from other sources. Should you have any further questions, please consult our contacts page.

Readers

Tags


Miscellaneous

Readers

I can't remember the IP address of a reader and I want to reconfigure and use it.

Preferred option:

Use the Reader Configuration Utility (RCU), which can be downloaded from our downloads page. Connect the reader using the serial connection (RS 232). In the RCU, choose the “Local” option. The IP Address of the reader will be displayed.

Second option:

The M200/Mantis II can be connected using a serial connection and HyperTerminal with the following settings:

Bits per second - 115200

Data Bits - 8

Parity - None

Stop Bits - 1

Flow Control - None

In Call->Properties, set “ASCll Setup Receiving” to “Appended”.

Once the HyperTerminal settings have been set, the M200/Mantis ll can be powered up and the current IP address will be displayed, as the device boots up, in Hex.

What are the power requirements for the M200/Mantis II reader?

The reader has a built in bridge rectifier to permit either AC or DC operation. The reader can operate on 12-28 VDC or 9-20 VAC, ~250mA at 12VDC.

Does the M200/Mantis II Reader support a 100Mbps network?

No, the reader must be connected to a 10Mbps network.

What is the default network settings of M200/Mantis II readers?

IP address 192.168.1.129

Netmask 255.255.255.0

Gateway 0.0.0.0

Why does RF Code use 303MHz and 433MHz frequencies?

RF Code first began offering products in the 303MHz range (US & Japan) and later in the 433MHz range (US & Europe). These signal frequencies are limited, low-power, unlicensed ranges in the ISM (Industrial, Scientific and Medical) portion of the UHF band. RF Code began offering 433MHz products because of acceptance of this frequency in Europe. 433MHz is also the frequency which offers optimal performance in crowded environments such as offices, data centers, and hospitals.

How does 303MHz and 433MHz compare to 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz?

Generally, radio signals at lower frequencies travel farther than those at higher frequencies. Lower frequencies also benefit more from the effects of reflection and refraction which makes them more suitable for applications in crowded environments. For example, the 433MHz wavelength is approximately 69 cm vs. 10 cm for 2.4GHz. The larger wavelength of the 433MHz signal allows it to diffract around obstructions that might be found in a typical, crowded operating environment such as an office or warehouse. At frequencies of 2.4GHz and above, the signal is susceptible to obstructions, creating blind spots (areas of no coverage). Higher frequencies also require more power.

What is a quarter wave antenna?

A quarter wave means that the length of the antenna represents a quarter of the length of the entire wavelength. For example, the wavelength of a 433 MHz signal is ~0.7 meter (.69 m to be exact). A quarter of that would be ~18cm, so a quarter wave antenna for 433MHz would be ~18cm in length

What is a helical antenna?

A helical antenna has a portion of the length of the antenna (usually the bottom) wrapped inside itself like a spring. This reduces the apparent length of the antenna by “wrapping” the antenna in the base. The “spring” facilitates the induction of the received radio waves.

What is a Yagi antenna?

A Yagi antenna is made up of a central driven beam with several (usually 2 to 7) cross beams known as elements. The antenna has a directed range of 30 to 70 degrees depending on elements. The Yagi usually has a gain of approx 9dB.

What is a Whip antenna?

A whip antenna is an antenna that is usually the full quarter wave in length although it is not unusual to see full wave lengths on vehicles, mounted on buildings, or mounted in the ground, etc.. Full wave length antennas are impractical in environments where readers are used and offer no distinct advantage over quarter wave antennas.

What impedance is required for cables and antenna for the RF Code system?

50 ohm impedance (SMA Connector).

What read ranges can I expect from the standard quarter wave antenna that is standard with the M200/Mantis II 433MHz Reader and the M210/PCMCIA Mobile 433MHz Reader?

The nominal range for the M200/Mantis II Fixed Reader is about 300ft and 125-150ft for the M210/Mobile Reader. These values are for ideal conditions and may vary greatly depending on the environment.

What determines the range of the reader?

The range of the reader is based on the range setting (attenuation) combined with the type of antenna used. Readers can be attenuated in 8 ranges.

Can you tell me what the distance is for range 1, for instance?

No, because read ranges vary according to the antenna used and environmental conditions such as obstructions and building materials. Range 1 is used to create the smallest zones while Range 8 is used when maximum range is desired.

Can the antenna be extended away from the reader?

Yes. It is desirable to extend the antenna away from the reader by separating them by a distance of one wavelength (69 cm in 433; 1 meter in 303) from each other, but not more than 10 feet from the reader. At cable distances greater than 10 feet, attenuation is introduced because of the resistance of the cable.

How do I protect a reader from the elements?

NEMA 4 (National Electrical Manufacturers’ Association) enclosures can be used effectively to protect against dirt, rain, sleet, snow, windblown dust, splashing water, and hose-directed water; and by the external formation of ice on the enclosure. The rating should be maintained by sealing any holes with the appropriate grommets thus maintaining the original integrity of the enclosure.

How are readers usually mounted?

There are many mounting options for readers. Kits are available that permit the mounting from drop ceilings. Readers mounted outside should be mounted using NEMA enclosures consistent with environmental requirements.

How many connections can be made to a single reader?

Only one connection per reader, using a TCP/IP connection at socket 6500 or a Serial (RS232) connection.

Do M200/Mantis II Readers support Power over Ethernet (POE)?

Yes, we have an add-on module which provides POE 802.11af.

Does the M200/Mantis II Reader support wireless?

Yes, we use the Lantronix Wireless adapter to provide 802.11x connectivity.

I would like to use a mobile reader on a laptop running Windows. How do I set this up?

Perform the following actions based on the screen shots after inserting the card into the PCMCIA slot:

Figure 1 - Found new hardware dialogue box

Figure 2 - Driver installation search

Figure 3 - Port selection window

Figure 4 - Manufacturer and model selection

Figure 5 - Update Driver warning

Figure 6 - Installation wizard dialogue box

I have multiple M220 Readers and each one has a different COM port assignment when plugged in via USB. Is there a way to make all M220 Readers use the same COM port?

Each M220 Reader has a serial number which uniquely identifies it when plugged in via USB. The default behavior for Windows is to remember the serial number for each M220 Reader that has been connected via USB so that each reader can have a specific COM port assignment which will be the same regardless of which USB port the reader is connected to.

In some situations it may be desirable to have the COM port assignment determined by which USB port the M220 Reader is connected to. In this way, whenever a reader is connected to a specific USB port on the PC, it will be assigned the same COM port regardless of which M220 Reader it is. If the reader is moved to a different USB port, it will be assigned a different COM port which is then used for any and all readers when they are connected to that USB port.

In order to make this change you must create a new registry value that will instruct Windows to ignore the serial number on M220 Readers and instead use the USB port identifier to determine the proper COM port assignment.

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

  1. Start Registry Editor. To do this, click “Start”, click “Run”, type regedit in the Open box, and then press ENTER.
  2. Navigate to the following registry subkey:
    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\UsbFlags
  3. From the “Edit” menu, select “New” and click “Binary Value”
  4. For the name of the value, enter:
    IgnoreHWSerNum1c4007d4
  5. Double-click on the value you just created and this will open the “Edit Binary Value” dialog.
  6. In the “Value data” field, enter 01 and then click “OK”.
  7. Close Registry Editor.

You can now disconnect and reconnect the USB cable(s) on your M220 reader(s). The “Found New Hardware” wizard will only appear the first time an M220 Reader is connected to each USB port. You must repeat the installation wizard for each USB port you wish to use.

Tags

Why do your tags beacon at different rates?

Beacon rates are based on a combination of customer requirements and FCC regulations. The FCC requires that tags do not interfere with existing broadcasts. Tags can beacon once every 10 seconds. Tags may beacon at higher rates if the beacon represents an event that does not occur all the time such as a motion event. Motion events may beacon at 1 second rates in 303MHz tags and 2 seconds in 433MHz tags

What is the battery life of a tag?

Battery life is a function of operating temperature, beacon rate and whether the tag has motion or other additional sensor functionality. Generally, batteries have a life of 7 or more years and have easily replaceable CRS232 Lithium cells.

Can the tag id and group code be altered once we purchase them?

The tag id and group code are programmed at the time of manufacture and cannot be altered.

How many tags can a reader see at any one time?

This is a function of the beacon rate. More frequent beacons mean that more data has to be decoded by the reader. Generally, a reader reading tags with a 10 second beacon rate can decode approximately 144 tags per second with 95% accuracy. Since tags do not beacon at the same time, a reader can read approximately 2000 tags (10 second beacon rate).

I have attached my reader directly to my laptop. I cannot ping it. What should I do?

Some Ethernet cards will require you to connect to the reader through a hub or switch or by using a cross over cable. Your computer needs to be configured for a fixed IP Address, NOT DHCP, in the 192.168.1.x subnet range.

What is the behavior of the tamper tag?

The tag is shipped in sleep mode (no beaconing). When the tag is attached to an asset and the tamper switch is depressed for more than 10 seconds, the tag will wake up and the tamper switch becomes “armed”. The tag behaves as a 10-second beacon tag (payload P760).

If the tag is removed from the asset, the tamper switch is released (disengaged) and the tag emits a Tamper Alert: P770 eight times at ~0.5 second intervals. Then the tag continues to emit the P770 tamper payload at a 2-second interval. The tag can be physically reset after 1 hour by depressing the tamper switch for more than 10 seconds.

How do I get readings from the Temperature Tag?

The only situation where users need to calculate temperature values for Temperature Tags is when they are getting tag events directly from readers. RF Code software such as Zone Manager v1.2, MobileTrak Lite v4.3, and MobileTrak v4.1 or later has the logic to process temperature readings so users do not need to go through this exercise.

Note: How to interpret payloads for Temperature Tags is well-documented in the Reader API document (in Treatment Code 04D section). There are two comprehensive examples in the document. The Reader API document can be obtained from http://www.rfcode.com/devres/

Here is one more example for calculating temperature values for temperature tags:

Given that a temperature tag beacons every 10 seconds and a reader gets two beacons as illustrated below (as the API doc states, two consecutive tag messages completes one temperature report).

H,00000033,g0,P427,A76,B87 (1st message)

H,00000033,g0,P200,A75,B86 (2nd message)

 

Interpret 1st message:

427 oct = 117 hex (which is 100 hex (the highest bit = 1 indicates it is the 1st msg) + 17 hex (which is the first part of temp value))

 

Interpret 2nd message:

200 oct = 80 hex (8 is the 2nd part of temp value and 0 -> no flag)

 

Assemble two messages = 1780 (17 is from the 1st payload and 80 is from the 2nd payload)

So the temperature value is 178 hex (0 is the flag, not temp value) = 376 decimal.

Finally, apply “formula”: 376 dec multiplied by .0625 = 23.5 deg C = 74.3 deg F

 

Miscellaneous

Why is a site assessment a necessary part of the sales cycle?

The site assessment is a method used to determine the requirements of the installation. It is important to perform an accurate assessment of the environment and needs of the client.

The following areas are part of the site assessment.

  • Meet champions and key personnel (IT, facilities staff, decision-makers, etc.)
  • Determine customer expectations
  • Identify customer acceptance criteria and milestones
  • Set realistic expectations for deliverable
  • Identify assets to be tracked
  • Identify methods of fixating tags to asset
  • Assess the need for power for Readers and Room Locators
  • Assess the need for connectivity (Ethernet, POE, Wireless)
  • Obtain necessary support from IT/ facilities staff to make sure that all requirements for installation are met (appropriate contractors, IP address assignment, ID badging, delivery, etc.)
  • Identify anomalies
  • Assess technologies that may cause interference using reader diagnostics application
  • Communicate platform requirements for computers running the software
  • Determine areas of bleed through of RF
  • Determine areas of interference for IR

How large of a room will an A700 Room Locator cover?

The Locator will generally cover a room up to 400 sq. ft. The tag should be within 20 feet of the Room Locator.

Can I use two Room Locators with the same room code to cover a large or odd-shaped room/hallway?

The Room Locator was designed for an office, IT, or hospital environment to identify individual rooms, so this configuration is not officially supported. However, if multiple Room Locators are needed to cover a large room, they may interfere with each other periodically (depending on relative signal strength, tag orientation, and pulse timing). As a result, the room location information may not be available for a small percentage of time.