Operating ReaderStart Software Navigating in the ReaderStart User Interface 13.4 2 1 3 4 Fig. 23: ReaderStart user interface The user interface of the ReaderStart consists of the following sections: ●● menu bar (①); see Menu Bar, p. 52; ●● settings and controls for the reader, divided into individual functional groups and situated under different tabs (②) and the contents of the tab (③), displayed in the central part of the screen; see Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software, p.
Saving Reader Configuration to File There is a wide variety of parameters available for configuring the RF front end. It is possible to save the complete setting as a parameter set in an XML file under File ► Save reader configuration to file and to load it later. ►► Under FIle, click Save reader configuration to file. ➯➯ The following window appears: 1 2 3 4 5 Fig.
Operating ReaderStart Software opens a pop-up window to select the directory in which the configuration file in the XML format will be saved and the file name for it To save reader configuration to file: ✔✔ The parameter sets have been selected/unselected and described. 1. 2. 3. ⑤ Save 4. 5. ⑥ Click Save. ➯➯ A dialogue appears. Select the file name and the directory in which the configuration file will be saved. Click OK.
Loading Reader Configuration from File ►► Under FIle, click Load reader configuration from file. ➯➯ The following window appears: 1 2 4 3 5 6 7 8 Fig. 26: 9 File: load reader configuration from file ① File opens a dialogue to select the configuration file To load reader configuration to file: 1. Click File (④ in Fig. 26). ➯➯ A dialogue appears. 2. Select the directory and the configuration file from which the parameter sets will be loaded. 3. Click Open.
Operating ReaderStart Software loads the selected parameter sets to the reader ✔✔ The parameter sets to be loaded have been selected/unselected. 1. ⑧ Load 2. 3. ⑨ Click Load. ➯➯ The progress bar (④) shows the progress of the save operation: Cancel ➯➯ After the configuration has been loaded, a pop-up message Load reader configuration from file Loading done appears. Click OK to close the pop-up message. ➯➯ The software returns to the view shown in Fig. 26, p. 55.
Options 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Fig. 27: Options ① Language select selects the user interface language between English/German/Spanish/French 1. Click Language select (① in Fig. 27). ➯➯ The four languages are shown. The language applied in the user interface is marked with a tick. 2. Click on the desired language. ➯➯ A pop-up message appears: Question. Please restart the programme to apply changes. Restart now? 3. Click Yes to restart the programme and change the language or Click No to cancel the changes.
Operating ReaderStart Software Updating Firmware 1. Click Firmware update. ➯➯ A dialogue appears. ① shows the current firmware version. 1 2 3 4 2. 3. 4. 5 6 7 Click on the box at Path to update file (②). ➯➯ A dialogue opens to select the file with the current firmware. Having selected the update file, click Update (⑤). ➯➯ The reader firmware is being updated. The update progress is shown by means of the progress bar (③). The status (④) shows what the software is currently performing, e.g.
Changing Date and Time Settings The reader has an integral clock which can deliver the time stamp for a tag operation. It is possible to set the clock using Date and time settings under Options in the menu bar. When this menu item is opened, it automatically reads the current date and time from the reader and compares this with the date and time from the host computer. The date and time of the host computer can now be loaded to the reader by pressing the Set system date and time on Reader button. 1.
Operating ReaderStart Software Loading Factory Default Settings 1. Click Load factory defaults. ➯➯ A pop-up message appears: Are you sure to load factory defaults? 2. Click Yes to load factory default settings or Click No to cancel the operation. Linux Module 1 2 3 5 4 6 changes the Linux password ① ② 1. To change the password, click Change Linux password. ➯➯ The following pop-up window appears: 2. 3. 4. 5. Type in the old password. Type in the new password. Confirm the new password.
configures the secure connection and the backward compatibility 1 2 ④ Connection config 3 4 ① ►► Check Allow only secure connection so that all connections are secure. ② activates or deactivates compatibility to Generation 2 KBRP ③ reads the current secure connection and backward compatibility configuration ④ sets the secure connection and backward compatibility configuration ⑤ NTP settings enters a preferred NTP1) server; see Changing NTP Settings, p.
Operating ReaderStart Software Changing DNS Server Settings ►► Click DNS server settings (②). ➯➯ The following dialogue opens.
Info This menu item provides information about the ReaderStart software and the reader. 1 2 3 4 Fig. 28: Info shows the version number of the software and links to the licenses ① About ReaderStart v3 ② Reader info shows information about the reader; see Showing Reader Information, p. 64 ③ License key automatically reader the license key and show various factory-set reader parameters; see Showing License Key Information, p.
Operating ReaderStart Software Showing Reader Information 1 2 3 4 7 6 5 8 9 Fig.
Showing License Key Information 1 4 Fig.
Operating ReaderStart Software 13.4.2 Status Field 3 message types are defined, see the example below: Fig. 31: Status field ① Info shows which action has been recently performed ② Warning indicates possible problems in the structure and configuration ③ Error indicates that the required action could not be executed Every status message has a time stamp next to it. The status messages are arranged such that the most current one is always at the top of the list.
saves status messages in the txt. format 1. ⑥ Save to file 2. 3. 4. Click Save to file. ➯➯ A pop-up windows appears requiring to select the location of the file. Select the directory/folder. Click Save. ➯➯ A pop-up message Saving done appears. Click OK to close the pop-up message. 14 Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 14.1 Communication Fig. 33: Communication Tab The communication tab groups together all the functions for establishing connections and configuring the Linux module.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 1 Fig. 34: 3 2 Ethernet section Establishing a Secure Connection ✔✔ The connection to the reader has not yet been established. 1. 2. In the Ethernet section, click the box next to the lock symbol (① in Fig. 34). Click Search for Readers (②) or Connect (③). ➯➯ The following pop-up window appears: 2 1 3 4 3. 4. Type in the user name at User (①). The default user name is root. Enter the default password UHF-RFID-Dev at Password (②). Tip 5. 6. 7.
3. Right-click on the reader. ➯➯ The following pop-up message appears: 4. Click Load factory defaults on this Reader. ➯➯ The pop-up message Are you sure to load factory defaults on this reader appears. Click Yes to set the reader to the factory default settings. Click No to cancel. ➯➯ If you have clicked Yes, another pop-up window appears: 5. 6. 7. 8. Click Start. ➯➯ A pop-up message Are you really sure to load factory defaults on this reader appears.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 4. Click on the star. ➯➯ The preferred reader is now placed at the top of the list, making it easier for the user to select it: 14.1.2 Communication Configuration Linux Module Communication Configuration Linux Module has different options, depending on the reader type. Selecting a Linux Module Option 1. Click on the symbol. ➯➯ The following options appear: 2. Click on one of the four options to change the settings. General 1 2 Fig.
① Refresh ② Name reads the current settings of the communication configuration Linux module shows the host name of the reader which is logged onto the DNS server It is possible to address the reader using this name as an alternative to the IP address. specifies the intervals of time at which the reader sends a data packet to check whether the receiver is still available If the connection to the reader is broken, the reader shuts down the connection.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software Ethernet 1 6 2 3 4 5 Fig. 36: ① 3 5 8 9 7 Communication configuration Linux model: Ethernet Refresh reads the current settings of the communication configuration Linux module manually issues the address ② IP address Tip It is only possible to use this parameter if the DHCP (⑥) is deactivated.
Wi-Fi 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 Fig. 37: 13 5 11 14 5 10 3 16 12 17 20 15 18 19 Communication configuration Linux model: Wi-Fi ① ② Refresh reads the current settings of the communication configuration Linux module IP4 see Fig. 36, p.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software adds an access point a c b ⑯ + 3 e d ⓐ enters the SSID of the access point ⓑ enters the password for the access point ⓒ opens the list with available access points ⓓ adds an access point ⓔ cancels the operation ►► Click Scan to open the list with available access points: g f ⓕ adds the SSID of the selected access point to ⓐ ⓖ updates the list of available access points 3 edits the selected access point 1 c b d ⑰ 3 ⓐ changes
Bluetooth 1 7 2 3 5 8 4 9 Fig.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software Mobile Communication Interface (2G/3G) 8 1 2 9 3 10 5 11 4 12 5 13 14 15 16 17 18 6 7 Fig.
⑮ Module temperature shows the temperature of the GSM module ⑯ IsOnline shows whether the GSM module is online ⑰ Get status reads the current status of the GSM module ⑱ Go online establishes the GSM connection ⑲ Go offline interrupts the GSM connection 77 of 122
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 14.2 Application The Application tab enables quick and easy configuration of the Kathrein RFID Reader for a selected application. 1 2 b a c d 3 e 4 Fig. 40: ① Application Tab Application 78 of 122 selects between the available applications represented visually by means of labelled pictograms ►► Click on a pictogram to select the application. ➯➯ The selected pictogram is marked in a darker colour, in Fig. 40 it is Conveyor > 2 m/s.
changes setting of the selected application ⓐ ⓑ ⓒ number of the expected tags selects the antenna to be used ►► Check Ports 1-4 to select the antenna port. It is possible to select one, several or all ports. selects the parameter set in which the configuration is saved sets the values for max. reading speed or max. reading reliability ►► Click Optimised for reading speed or Optimised for reading reliability. ➯➯ The values in Settings of selected application (③ in Fig. 40) change.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 14.2.1 Available Applications When the application is selected, the properties and the settings of the selected application are displayed in the respective fields. The applications available for selection in version 3.00 of the ReaderStart v3 are shortly described in the following chapters.
14.3 Basic Reading This tab is divided into two parts, the left part contains a table with information about the read tags (Ⓐ in the figure below), the right part (Ⓑ) shows the statistics as well as options to control the reading process, described in the chapters to follow. The appearance and disappearance of a tag is shown in colour for better visual effect. When a tag appears in the field, the row is represented by the green tag information, when it disappears, the row is red. 1 Fig.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 14.3.1 Mode 1 2 3 4 5 6 Fig. 42: Basic reading: mode allows the facility to switch the carrier off during the idle times, saving power ① Synchronous This mode is intended for applications in which the requirements for timing are not very demanding. The inventory of the tags is performed across all the antennas that are configured. Once all the tags in the field have been read on the last antenna, data are sent to the PC.
14.3.3 Statistics 1 2 3 Fig.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 14.3.4 Options 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Fig. 44: Basic reading: options selects between RFU, EPC, TID and User memory banks ① Memory bank ►► Click on the arrow to open a drop-down list to select a memory bank. ►► Click Save to file (④) to store the values RFU, EPC, TID and User in a CSV file. specifies the duration of the break between two inventories in milliseconds ② Break after reading During the break, the carrier can be deactivated.
14.3.5 Fig. 45: Grouping Basic reading: grouping It is possible to sort the read result by means of unique tags. This is useful in multi-antenna applications. If, for example, in a gate application with 4 antennas, a palette of 100 tags is read, the maximum number of the read results is 400. However, not all tags are read by all antennas, therefore, the read result will be about 250. ►► Check Group by unique tags to find out how many different tags have been read. 14.3.6 Expert settings 1 2 3 4 Fig.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software ② TransmitGetEPCsPreSelect see Chapter TransmitGetEPCsPreSelect in Configuration Manual for Kathrein RFID UHF Readers activates/deactivates the optimal receiver sensitivity of the reader ③ SelfJammerCan- This process might be necessary in an industrial environment with increased reflection, e.g. due celation (SJC) to metallic structures. However, this process is very time-consuming and slows down the tag detection.
14.4 LED Not all readers support the functionality with 12 LEDs; all readers have at least 4 LEDs. Please check the reader data sheet for information. In this tab, it is possible to assign various functions to the 12 LED channels. It is possible to activate other parameters, depending on the selected function. Tip As supplied to customer, the first 4 LEDs are allocated to antennas 1–4, LED 5 is allocated to GSM, LED 6 to KRAI, LED 11 and LED 12 to Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, respectively.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software ⑩ Set sets the new settings for all LEDs for which the settings have been altered 14.4.1 Selecting Functions ►► Click on the arrow (③ in Fig. 48, p. 87) to select between the following functions: 2 1 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 Fig.
shows the Bluetooth status flashing trying to connect ⑫ Bluetooth status ⑬ Ethernet link status shows the Ethernet connection status 14.5 permanently lit connected off Wi-Fi disabled RSSI LED Bar (received signal strength indicator) This menu is used to determine the strength of the received signal. 2 3 4 1 5 6 7 Fig.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 14.6 GPIO Functions Readers with GPIO functionality1) offer the possibility to set up small controls which trigger the reader, for instance by means of a light barrier, or which trigger an action at the outputs of the reader by reading specific tags. Such an action can switch an output to control the flow of goods. The GPIO tab allows the reader to interact with its environment.
⑥ ⑦ ⑧ ⑨ Last antenna the last antenna for the selected function Turn-off time sets the time for how long the output is on for the Tag found and Tag operation successful function Get reads the current IO configuration settings Set sets the output settings 14.6.2 Test Input and Output 1 4 5 2 Fig.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 14.6.3 Action List and Assign Input to Action List To automate the processes, it is possible to store command sequences on the reader in the form of action lists. These are triggered by a change of edge at the selected input. 1 2 5 Fig.
Tip ►► If you would like to assign the action list to both the rising and the falling edge, click Assign to rising edge and then Assign to falling edge. To cancel the assignment: ►► Restart/reset the reader or select No action list under Action list (⑧). Adding Actions to the Programme The action lists consist of a sequence of individual actions which can be loaded in the form of an XML file in the Action context menu: 1 2 Fig.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software Get EPCs 0101 The example above shows the Activate buzzer 500 ms and Get EPCs actions. 14.7 Expert Settings 1 The ReaderStart software is a powerful tool for the reader configuration. It allows the reader to be customised to any application.
⑨ Antenna type ⑩ ⑪ selects the antenna type between pre-defined and custom antennas If the pre-defined antenna is selected, the programme sets the antenna gain to the maximum value permitted for this antenna. If Custom antenna is selected, it is possible to freely set the gain and power. Gain selects the antenna gain between –32.00 dBiC and 31.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 14.7.1 Port Power In Europe, the radiated power is limited in accordance with ETSI 302208 to 2 W ERP. In the FCC/IC region, max. 1 W connected RF power applies with an antenna gain of 6 dBi. If the antenna gain is greater than 6 dBi, it is necessary to reduce the RF power accordingly. While the European standard refers to a half-wave dipole, FCC part 15/RSS 210 refers to an isotropic radiator.
14.8 Expert Settings 2 The Expert settings 2 tab is divided into four sections for further configuration of the reader. In this tab, it is possible, for example, to change the default parameter set, copy one parameter set into another, read reader parameters to determine their ID and configure Select Filter Settings. Fig. 57: Expert settings 2 14.8.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 14.8.3 Change Reader Parameter Change reader parameter allows to change all reader settings using their respective configuration 4 IDs. 1 Fig.
⑩ ⑪ ⑫ Mask data sets the data to be filtered Get reads the data of the filter selected at ① Set sets the select filter Tip In Generation 3 readers, select filter data are permanently stored in the reader, e.g. if the select filter has been activated, it is active after a reader restart. 14.8.5 Applying a Select Filter (Example) You have the following results of the basic reading but you would like only the tags with the FC28 in the memory address to take part in the inventory: Fig.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software ➯➯ The reader only reads the tags with the filtered value (marked green). The tag without the filtered value is not read (marked red). 14.9 Test Gen 2 Functions This tab makes it possible to access individual tag functions. In addition to the functionality in accordance with the EPC Gen2 standard, it is possible, for example, to read and write tags as well as set and change tag passwords.
shows the information about the tag manufacturer and the chip type ►► Click on the information symbol. ➯➯ The information about the tag is shown: ② Info 14.9.2 Password for Operation 1 Fig. 64: ① TestGen2: password for operation Password 14.9.3 sets the password for the tag operation in the hexadecimal format Write EPC In this tab, it is possible to change the EPC of the tag. 1 2 Fig.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 14.9.4 Read Data This group supplies detailed access to all the data areas of the tag. Access is obtained by entering the selected memory bank, the address within the memory bank and the number of words. 2 6 1 3 4 Fig.
14.9.5 3 Write Data 2 6 7 1 4 5 Fig.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 14.9.6 Change Password To change the password, enter the current password at ① in Fig. 64, p. 101. If no password has yet been set, the default value is 0. 2 Fig.
14.9.7 Lock The EPC Gen2 standard provides security mechanisms for the tag data areas. This allows individual memory areas and functionalities of the tags to be provided with a password to protect it against access and/or changes. Under Lock, it is possible to lock the memory banks. 1 2 4 Fig.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software locks all the tags with the settings from ①−⑤ ⑦ Lock all tags 14.9.8 ►► To lock all the tags, make sure that all the tags have the same password. Kill ►► To deactivate a tag, set a deactivation password that is not 0; see ② in Fig. 68, p. 104. After a kill command, the tag will be unusable! 1 Fig.
14.10 @KRAI This tab allows changing KRAI-specific settings. The @KRAI tab is divided into several sections. Port and Port Info are always available, other sections depend on the antenna connected to the reader, e.g. Polarisation, Direction etc. The Reader recognises the connected antennas at boot up, but it is also possible to manually recognise a single port or all ports under Port. Port Info displays the information about the antenna. 1 2 4 5 6 7 8 9 Fig.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 9 14.10.1 Polarisation 1 Fig. 72: 3 @KRAI: polarisation sets the polarisation of the antenna ① ② ③ 2 If there are several types of polarisation selected at the same time, the antenna configuration changes after every inventory. Get polarisation reads the current polarisation information of the antenna Set polarisation sets the polarisation on the antenna 14.10.
14.10.3 Jumper Cable Attenuation 1 Fig. 74: 2 @KRAI: jumper cable attenuation ① Get jumper cable reads the current jumper cable attenuation attenuation ② Set jumper cable sets the jumper cable attenuation attenuation For cascading smart shelf antennas, it is necessary to use cables with the same attenuation (cable length). Otherwise, the TX power of the antennas that is derived from the jumper cable attenuation is not calculated correctly. 14.10.4 Direction 1 Fig.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 14.11 AppManager This chapter gives a short overview of the apps, the requirements to operate them and the installation instructions. ►► For more information on how to operate an app, refer to the user guide for the corresponding app. 14.11.1 Currently Available Apps AccessManager Automated vehicle identification (AVI) is one of the key markets that Kathrein Solutions is focusing on.
14.11.2 Installing an App This chapter describes installing an app shown on the example of AccessManager. You can install all other apps following the instructions described below. ✔✔ The ReaderStart software is installed. ✔✔ The reader is connected to a PC. 1 Fig. 76: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. AppManager: installing an app Go to https://www.kathrein-solutions.com/products/software/interface-software/accessmanager. Downoad the app. If the downloaded app is in the zip format, extract a .tar file.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 14.12 TagScan To represent the relationship between the tag phase and the RSSI value, it is possible to plot both values by means of the TagScan. ✔✔ There is only one tag in the field or a tag has been selected. ►► Click Start to activate the TagScan. ➯➯ The phase shifts are seen in the frequency switching. The RSSI value does not change because the transponder (tag) is not moved. 5 6 7 1 8 9 2 3 Fig.
Fig. 78: TagScan: phase shift, transponder is moved Transponder movement is indicated by the amplitude of the phase. The RSSI value changes in small steps. The direction of the movement is indicated by means of the rotating pointer.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 14.13 Spectral Scan It may happen that the RFID transmission to or from the transponder is disturbed by frequency interfering. SpectralScan shows a qualitative frequency spectrum. Due to the fact that it is received by means of the connected RFID antenna, the frequency assignment on location is made visible. 1 3 2 4 5 Fig.
14.14 Authentication Using this function, it is possible to authenticate a tag. The Authentication tab consists of 4 areas, Get All Tags, Tags, Key and functions that are described below. 1 4 2 3 Fig. 80: ① ② ③ ④ ⑤ 5 Authentication Password enters the access password; see Password for Operation, p. 101 Get all tags reads all the tags in the antenna field Tags shows all the detected tags Key see Key, p. 115; necessary for TAM1 and TAM2 Functions see Functions, p. 116 14.14.1 Key 2 Fig.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software 14.14.2 Functions NXP UCODE DNA 2 Fig. 82: ① ② ③ 1 3 Authentication: NXP UCODE DNA Get key reads key 0 or key 1 currently set in the selected tag; only if the key has not been activated Set key sets key 0 or key 1 on the selected tag Activate key activates key 0 or key 1 on the selected tag Untraceable 1 2 4 5 Fig. 83: 3 6 7 Authentication: untraceable ① ② ③ U: asserts or deasserts U in XPC_W1; see EPCglobal Gen2 Specification, p.
selects a range ⑥ ⑦ Range Set Untraceable on selected tag Normal the tag operates in the normal range Toggle temporarily The tag temporarily toggles between normal and reduced operating range but reverts to its prior persisting operating range when the tag loses power Reduced the tag operates in the reduced operating range sets settings 1–6 on the selected tag TAM1 TAM1 is used to check whether the selected tag is authentic. ✔✔ The tag has at least one activated key, Key 0 or Key 1. 1 3 Fig.
Operating the Reader Using the ReaderStart Software TAM2 TAM2 is used to read the data of the selected tag. ✔✔ Key 1 has been activated. 1 2 Fig.
15 Contact Information Kathrein Solutions GmbH Lise-Meitner-Straße 7 85737 Ismaning Phone +49 (0) 89 / 286 7436 0 Fax +49 (0) 8036 / 90 831 69 Email: iot-info@kathrein-solutions.
Waste Disposal 16 Waste Disposal Electronic equipment is not domestic waste – in accordance with directive 2002/96/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL dated 27th January 2003 concerning used electrical and electronic appliances, it must be disposed of properly. At the end of its service life, take this unit for disposal at a designated public collection point.
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Electronic equipment is not domestic waste – in accordance with directive 2002/96/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL dated 27th January 2003 concerning used electrical and electronic appliances, it must be disposed of properly. At the end of its service life, take this unit for disposal at a designated public collection point. V 1.05/0519/GB | Subject to change. www.kathrein-solutions.com | iot-info@kathrein-solutions.
