ALR-9900 will not connect

[izzyesteron]

Hello Everyone!

I just got a pair of second hand ALR-9900 to add to my existing setup. While the software can detect it and give it an IP address, it will just keep attempting to connect to no avail.  I turned off the WIFI, firewall and Antivirus.  I am using Windows 7 Home Premium, SP1.
I already have a working FX900 and an Impinj R1000 and both are quite dependable.  Please Help!

Thanks

[Ohio Race Day]

From the last post about these Alien readers, here is something about the firmware ...

ftp://ftp.alientechnology.com/pub/readers/alr9900/firmware/100816/Firmware%20Release%20Notes_2010_08.pdf

[izzyesteron]

I got it to work.  It's not as easy to connect as the the 9500 or the r1000.  it just needed a little tweaking in my network configuration (I may just have an old computer). Thanks

[Mike Solis]

Would you mind sharing what you did to fix the issue? I'm having the same issue with a 990+. ART recognizes the reader, finds the IP address but does not connect. I'm running Windows 10, have updated the firmware, turned off the firewall, wi-fi etc but no luck.

Mahalo,

Mike

[Brian Agee]

If needed I can probably find time this weekend to remote into your computer and take a look at what is going on. I considering running in a 25K trail race tomorrow morning, but I have the rest of the weekend mostly free after that.

[Mike Solis]

I've been experimenting quite a bit. If I plug my reader directly into my router, and then my laptop running ART into my router, ART connects and works property. I was able to program chips and run a little mock race in my living room with my kids :) As soon as I plug my reader directly into my laptop, no go. It detects the reader IP address but won't connect to it.

[rtspt.usa]

Sounds like you are using dhcp in which the router is doing its thing and assigning ip addresses within the same subnet... So when you don't use the router there is nothing telling/assigning ip addresses within the same subnet hence no connection.
This is why I prefer to use fixed ip addresses.

[Mike Solis]

It is using DHCP. Initially it was set with a static IP but I couldn't get it to read so tried DHCP. The reader was initially configure to run with the Jaguar Timing System. It's possible they had it set up to run specifically with their hardware. I know how to set the IP address manually on the reader but I'm unsure about the other network settings (Netmask, Gateway, DNS). I'm also unsure as to whether any network settings on my PC need to be changed in preparation for it to recognize the reader, or does the computer just interpret the info from the reader and self configure the network?

I appreciate the help and ideas! I feel like I'm getting close. And I was able to set it up through the router and test out some new chips which was great.

Mahalo,

Mike

[Spryoshi]

I've actually used the alien readers for years on my personal stuff. They are very finicky and easy to mess up. Allot of times you have to reboot the router and then connect the reader to get it to sync correctly. But anyway on to your issue.

If you are going to connect directly to the reader via ethernet port on the computer. You need to use a cross over cable or you can use a strait through most modern computers will detect this and adjust accordingly. Then set a static ip on the pc and the reader. IE 192.168.1.1 Mask 255.255.255.0 and 192.168.1.2 Mask 255.255.255.0 then set the gateway to the others ip address ie if the pc is 1 set the gateway to 192.168.1.2 and vise versa on the reader. no setting needed for the DNS.

[Mike Solis]

Thanks for the response. I downloaded the Gateway software and it detects the reader (shows it listed under 'Readers'), but when I  double click on the reader in the list and go to the 'Command Line Interface' it attempts to connect and then fails. I'm assuming that I must be logged into the reader at this point to set it back to factory defaults.

I'm going to hook the reader back up to my router so I can access the reader user interface. I'll set the Mask, Gateway and IP addresses on both devices to what you recommended above and see how that works.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Mike

[Mike Solis]

We are up and running! Your suggestion above in regards to setting both devices gateways to each others IP addresses worked immediately.

Brian and I spent a couple of hours trying to figure this out this morning with no luck and you nailed it!

Many mahalos!

Mike

[Spryoshi]

No problem Glad I could help.

[Brian Agee]

Fantastic! I'm glad to hear it's working now and anyone else with this problem can view the solution on this forum. Great job Spryoshi!

[izzyesteron]

Hi Mike.

I just saw this post and it is good that you got your 9900 working.  I got mine to work too but not a 100%. 

1.  Only antenna 0 and 1 will work. (I got to work around this by writing a code in the console every time I need to use more than 2 antennas)
2.  If reading during a race and you decide that you want to stop reading, ART will stop reading but you will notice that the reader is still flashing its LEDs (meaning it is still ON)

I am using the the ALR-9900 and not the ALR-9900+.  If yours work perfectly can you please tell me the firmware version that you are using? 

Thanks Mike,

Izzy

[Joshua Eddy]

Hi, I'm not having connectivity issues, but I'm unable to assign tags. I can see my ALS-9900 reader indictor blinking like crazy when I present a tag in front of the antenna, but no tagdata shows up in the "Tag EPC" field. Any ides?

thanks,

[Spryoshi]

Izzy,

Your issue is different to what Mike was having. I would start a new thread on it I bet you would get more help. My two cents on the subject it sounds like its default set to just the two antennas. Also it sounds like its not accepting all the commands. If you haven't already I would ether login with the web interface or use the gateway software to reset to factory settings and see if that clears out your issue first before messing with firmware.

[Spryoshi]

Josh,

As I told Izzy I would start a separate thread as your issue really isn't related to Mike's. But my two cents on the issue. It could be many things so check the obvious first. Computer firewall windows or third party. Are you only connecting a single device to this reader? The alien will only send traffic to the last device to connect to it. They are also a little testy on what order you power things up. I usually start up the router, pc, software, then reader. Obviously make sure the device is fully booted before moving on to the next. List out what you have already tried and the results it will help in narrowing down the solution.

[JK Race Timing Systems]

Hi
I have the same issue as yours.
Only antenna 0 and 1 will work. I was only playing with this on the kitchen table and presumed that antenna 2 and 3 would activate once 0 and 1 were populated

[JK Race Timing Systems]