Motorola FX7400 connection question

[JK Race Timing Systems]

Hi

Can someone help me out please

I am trying to connect a reader I have picked up on ebay to the ART software but am failing miserably.

I have absolutely no problem pinging it under the cmd function under dos either directly connected to it or through the router I use for my impinj readers but no way can the software see it.

I am able to login to the reader settings using the Hostname (FX7400C83A3A) but not through the ip that is set ( remember I can ping it)

What am I doing wrong

Regards

JK 

[Peak Performance Timing]

is your computer on the same IP range as the reader is set to?

[JK Race Timing Systems]

Hi
Thanks for the reply.
I set the ip address to be 192.168.1.18 as the other 2 readers are .1.15 and .1.16 so I presume that would be in the same range. They all run into the same router and as I said I can ping all 3 readers with no issue.
I spent all night at it again with no luck. It's very wierd.
I can also log into the settings page but just by using the hostname. Trying by ip gives me no success.
I must be missing something
Regards
john

[blueridgetiming]

I've noticed that when I have a static IP set on my computer and wifi is enabled that none of my readers will connect. With this said, my fix was to set the computer to obtain IP automatically on Ethernet adapter.

Worth a shot.

[Ted Finch]

Networking with two connections Ethernet cable and Wifi, especially to the same router can cause the PC low level software problems. It may not 'know' which interface to use and so network traffic just gets lots in the 'big bit bucket'

I would suggest:
 all devices have fixed IP addresses on the same sub network 192.168.1.x
all PC interfaces also have fixed IP addresses on the same subnet.
only have one connection from the PC to the network

The poor little network packets are getting confused.

( In testing the new reader have you any communication connecting directly - not via the router?)

Cheers

Ted

[Brian Agee]

Couple of other tips:

1. Only one thing can connect to the reader at a time. So if you logged into the reader through the web console then ART wouldn't be able to connect until you log out of the console.

2. Numerous times I've seen anti-virus software prevent ART from connecting to the reader.

3. If the reader was previously used by another timing system (or some other company) then it's possible they have firmware on it that prevents programs like mine from using the reader. Other companies do this to force you to buy equipment from them. Holding the reset button for something like 30 seconds should do a factory reset on it, or you can do a factory reset from the web console I believe.

[JK Race Timing Systems]

HI Lads

Many thanks for the help to date.

I bought 2 x FX9500 readers and 1 x FX7400 off eaby and I have just succeeded in communicating with 1 of the FX9500 readers through art using info from this site .

I had to reset the unit through the Serial port as resetting with the little left me with IP address=none.

As mentioned I used a script from here to set the IP and it is working perfectly.

1 down and 2 to go.

I hope to do the same thing on the second FX9500 tonight.

Unfortunately the FX7400 does not have a serial connection so I dont know what to do there, I can ping that one no hassle but cannot connect.

If I get the 2 Fx9500 up and running I will be over the moon.

I notice instantly that the read rate on the FX9500 over my existing Impinj J1000 seems to be way more( In the testing reader section)

Looking forward to swopping out and using the Motorolas as the main readers.

The FX7400 would be the cherry on top but to date no joy but I will stick at it so thanks very much for the help to date

JK

[Ted Finch]

You may find the answer to set up in this:

https://www.ptsmobile.com/FX7400/fx7400_integrator.pdf

You can use the USB or Ethernet to establish a network connection to FX7400 and reach the admin console.

Motorola/Zebra demo software is available here, it may be worth a try to check that the reader is accessible.

https://www.zebra.com/us/en/support-downloads/software/demo/sessionone.html

Works with FX7400, FX7500 and FX9500.

"It demonstrates several capabilities of the reader including Device discovery, Inventory operations,
Access operations, Export tags, Map and show pictures to tag IDs etc. It can be used to demonstrate the
capabilities of the reader in a very effective and impressive manner."

Ted

[JK Race Timing Systems]

Hi Ted

Many thanks for this, downloaded and tried with the FX9500 readers and it is great. Looking forward to trying it on the FX7400.

You are a gent

Many thanks

One more question, where would I pick up the latest firmware files for these readers, are they unique for each reader or has someone access to them.I wnet to the link you directed me to but it looks like firmware files are not accessible there or am I incorrect  ( Im on 1.5.5.323)

I would like to bring them all up to date.

Picked up the 2 FX9500 units for 99 pounds sterling a piece form a recycling business in the uk so I am overjoyed with that. they had 3 but I missed out on one because I was too slow on the bidding.

I can't wait for the next race.

I see they are hefty on the juice compared to the Impinj.  24volts at 3.15Amp . Id say they are a powereful little reader.

Best regards

John

[Dioxin]

"I see they are hefty on the juice compared to the Impinj.  24volts at 3.15Amp "

My FX9500 uses about 11W when idle and 13W in operation. That's just over half an amp at 24V.
The power supply might be capable of supplying a lot more but the reader shouldn't need that much.

[Dioxin]

Access to new Motorola/Zebra firmware is a joke.
They are hopeless with this. They make it so difficult to get hold of that it's not worth the effort.

In any sensible company they would post the latest firmware on their website where it could be freely downloaded as its only possible use is to help Zebra's own customers get the best out of the product.

Instead, you can spend hours looking for it because there website is rubbish and when you eventually find it, it's not available as you need a password and user name to access it.

They have no proper contact details available so you can't get a password and I recall some strange automated system they had for getting user name and password where you type in the serial number of the reader to get e-mailed details but none of my serial numbers for brand new readers were recognised!

Even the suppliers of the equipment couldn't help me.

I did eventually manage to get access to the downloads via the website after multiple attempts to contact Zebra and the response was that they would give me temporary access just for a few weeks to get sorted and then, presumably, they'd cut me off again!
They acted as if they were doing me a favour to allow me to use their readers when I'd just spent £3500 with them.

The download I needed didn't fix my particular problem and I haven't been back since so I don't know if I was cut off or not.


For customer service I'd give them 2 out of 10, but only because if I give them 1 or 0 out of 10 it might be mistaken as a mistyped 10!

Good luck.

[JK Race Timing Systems]

Hi Dioxin
Many thanks for the info.
Maybe I should leave well enough alone. They are working and working well.
Good news too about the 13 watts. I was recalculating my battery specs until you came back with that. Good news
Now if I can just get the 7400 running I would be on the pigs back. I will attack it later
Many thanks for your info as always
jk

[Ohio Race Day]

Dioxin is correct about Motorola / Zebra firmware.  I have a nightmare story involving weeks and weeks and probably seven different departments at Motorola before I gave up trying to update the firmware on an old school reader of theirs.

[JK Race Timing Systems]

Many thanks for all your help on getting these readers working.
All are now communicating with ART.
Thanks lads to all
jk

[John Tanton]

Hi

Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this discussion, it has made interesting reading. However I still cannot connect to my fx7400 and wondered if anyone has any further advice

I cannot access the console from the web browser using the hostname fx7400c83797, the site cannot be reached

I have tried changing the laptop ip address to 192.168.0.1 to be in line with the reader 192.168.0.2

I have tried resetting to factory settings using a pin in the hole at the front of the machine

Using SessionOne, the Zebra demo program, it cannot find the reader

I can ping 192.168.0.2 no problem. Is there any way to access this device in the cmd window using this ip address?

I bought a second reader from ebay thinking the first may be faulty but still no success

Many thanks

John

[Brian Brian.S.Agee]

I can setup a remote session and log into your computer and see what I can do. Would you be available some time within the next 8 hours?

[John Tanton]

That will be cool, thanks. I'll be available in the next 8 hours.

[Oscar Wagner]

I have same problem as John but have made a lot of progress. Did cmd> ipconfig and got a number.   Session 1 actually "discovered" my reader At 192.168.0.103: got a green PING light "000".  Reading something about the IP being less than something else, I tried 192.168.0.01 and got a "discovered" reader and an "LED" window below the PING button which had 4 vertical ovals with the 1st and 4th being filled in with green.  

Everybody keeps talking about ART.  I did not see that term anywhere in the (poorly organized) Motorola FX series literature.  What should I try next to get the management console to come up?

L. Wagner

[Oscar Wagner]

Got it to work using ethernet connection to my home internet router and 192.168.0.118. Reader Management Console came up. Hooked up antenna and fired up Session One and it read stuff clear across the house through a brick fireplace!

So do you always have to have a connection via internet / internet router?

[Brian Agee]

Oscar, are you available any time in the next 7 hours for me to remote in and look at the reader?

[JK Race Timing Systems]

Hi Oscar

No , If you are only using the one reader then you can connect through a Lan cable directly to your laptop.

If using more than one reader then you would have to use a Switch or a router.

You can also just connect the reader to a wireless router and then have a remote access to the reader up to the distance specified by the router specs.

Plenty of options and possibilities.

Regards

JK

[Oscar Wagner]

I just turned on e-mail notifications so I missed this.  But, I did get both my E-Bay FX 7400's running.  I do not understand IP numbers. BUT, the  way I got readers to go was to plug an ethernet cord directly into my home router.  Best guess is that he reader had to be "issued" one from somewhere.  

RNDIS (sp?)  USB utility.  Would like to be able to use USB but can't figure out how to download / install the program without being a first time buyer of a reader from Motorola.  

Thanks,

Oscar 

[Ohio Race Day]

Oscar,

I just saw your post from 12/27/17.  ART is an abbreviation we use for Agee Race Timing.  :)  

We connect our FX7400 units via a Power Over Ethernet device.    There is a lot of discussion within this group about them.  Let me know if you cannot find the info.

Best regards,

Mike 

[Tim Irvine]

I bought one of the FX7400 units off ebay too. I also popped for the power supply. Got it in today, and before I reset it to factory standard, I took a chance and just plugged the bad boy up. Connected right away and started reading tags. I logged into the console to take a look too.

  Here is my question: Do you have to configure anything for the GPIO block to make the buzzer feature work? I know in the FX9500 you have to activate a script, but I can't find anything in the menus that looks similar. Would be nice if no config is needed, but it can't be that easy....can it?

  If anyone has used this feature on the FX7400, give me the heads up on how you did it just in case. 

   Thanks, for any input. Tim

[Oscar's Race Results]

Just got ART software last week after using two E-Bay FX7400's for several months.  Brian remotely set up the one I had hooked up and it worked fine.  The other is shown as ENABLED but will not connect. I have not been able to get either to work with USB, only Ethernet.  The one that would not hook up to ART this morning runs fine with SESSION ONE via Ethernet.  I copied the IP Session One was happy with and added that in ART Reader IP section.  No help.  Uninstalled MS Security essentials.  No help.  

Brian remotely did something so fast in CMD / DOS that I did not get it all.  Had something to do with IPconfig and PING I believe.  

Help, please!

Thanks,

Oscar 

[Brian Brian.S.Agee]

I setup a remote session and send you an email. If you can connect the second reader to that PC I can check it out.

[Oscar's Race Results]

Thanks, Brian.  Oscar just the umpteenth lesson in paying attention to details as I had Reader as DCAD75 written in big pretty letters on tape on it.    Problem was it was DCDA75.

Till the next time:)

[5Kevents.org]

I have a case (7) of the FX7400 - None of them will connect. Tried Pinging them but nothing. Light turns green on most of them but for whatever reason, the computer does not see them. Any thoughts? Older models I am guessing because none have the USB port. 

[Patrick W]

You've used the reset hole to reset their config to default? 

[5Kevents.org]

Yes - Held it down for 10 Seconds

[Patrick W]

I'm not sure the time but the lights start flashing and they go through a couple boot cycles. Without the USB it's hard to troubleshoot, because they're windows ce devices they're sorta black boxes without an interface to them.

I picked a couple as is ones up off ebay.
They were all board level bad, but I've fixed the easy one but still working on the others. There isn't much to the internals, it is basically 3 separate electronics blocks. The power supply, radio/antenna switching are each enclosed, the computing block out in the open.

[Patrick W]

I may have more thoughts once I get the power supply can removed and have poked things around a bit more.  Of the two I have still to fix, one has a bad power supply and one has a bad radio.  I'm not going to bother with the radio one because I don't have the details to adjust it if I accidentally screw up the tuning, but power supplies are much more forgiving in that matter (and I have a working one with a bad radio to harvest parts from lol)

[Oscar's Race Results]

 

Tracking down why a reader won't connect can be tricky because there are so many things that can go wrong.  This was actually on an FX9500 but assuming a 74 would do same. 

While doing some testing, I discovered the Ethernet plug on my timing computer is flaky.  Even "locked in" it can back off enough to cause disconnection from reader. Do not know how many it would hold. But, I read some tags with it backed off but still "locked in", then pushed it back in and ART took in a whole bunch all at once.  Evidently, they remain stored in the reader. 

You might test your machines to see if you have a similar issue.

[John Tanton]

Having expreienced similar connection issues by simply gently knocking the ethernet plug with the laptop mouse, when using an ethernet cable it would be advisable always to tape the connections in place both in the laptop and in the reader to reduce the risk of disconnection.

I also double the ethernet cable back on itself and re-tape as a protection against being dislodged by someone tripping over the cable.

[Patrick W]

Patrick was thinking about your readers and still find it strange... I still haven't opened the power supply of my wonky one to fix it, the 7400's have really good ground planes which makes it a pain to rework anything well soldered to the ground plane.  Of the 7 four port ones I got online I've repaired 4 of them using parts harvested off 2 of the other 3.  The 3rd has a power issue, when powered it smells like magic smoke so it's probably just a blown component and should be an easy fix as one of the ones I was harvesting has working power but bad radio... I've left it for when I feel bored.

Strange though that at least some of yours power up but you can't find them on the network.. Does SessionOne find them?  of the 7 bad ones I got off ebay not one had any sort of network issue, even the ones that had random fixed ip's were fine after a reset...  All the failures I dealt with were power, radio, or broken rp-tnc connectors.

p

[5Kevents.org]

I have 7 that I can't get to work. If you think you can repair them I would be happy to ship them to you and pay you for the same. Interested?

[Peak Performance Timing]

If the readers power up and yet you can't see them on the network, check you power supply to make sure it is putting out 24V DC. I have experienced this with a power supply not putting out the proper voltage. The readers will function on less than 24V, but when it drops below 15V, I have seen the problem of the reader powering up, but not being able to see it on the network.