Programming tags - lowering power on the reader?

[Rod Simpson]

I have 4 readers: 

2 new to me Motorola FX400s (thanks Patrick)

Zebra FX9600

Impinj R420

When I go to program tags using ART, the R420 is the only one that lowers its power enough not to read tags that are near.

The R420 works great for programming.  I hold the tag right onto the antenna and it on;y reads that tag and not tags that are close by.

If I use the other readers, they read tags that are nearby.  The FX9600 especially wants to read the whole room.  It use to behave like the R420, but now is too strong to program tags.

Is there a way to tell the readers to lower their power?  Is that what ART is suppose to do when programming tags?

For now I will keep using the R420 to program tags, but worry if it ever conks out, I will need to program tags by brining bibs into the room one at a time.

Advice?

Thanks,

Rod

[Tanvir Ahmed]

Normally It should lower the power, if it doesn't, you can login to the Motorolla web interface and go to the antenna section where you can reduce the power of the active antenna and save, but you need to set the power again back to default after programming otherwise the reader will keep the power low as you set. 

Regards

Tanvir 

[Graham Hall]

Yeah I get this problem too using FX9600

I have mitigated a little by sitting the antenna in foil covered wooden box with narrow slot to put tags through - but even that's not 100% - it picks up other tags depending on where other people in the room stand - ie the signal is be deflect off bodies.

It would be great if ART could lower the power when programming tags - or even have option on the Tag Programming screen to switch from full power to lower power(s)

Graham Hall

[Rod Simpson]

Thanks Tanvir, You don't happen to have a link to the Motorolla web interface.

When I search for an interface for the FX7400 I can't find anything.

[Bill Stokes - Stokes Race Timing]

https://supportcommunity.zebra.com/s/article/Access-to-FX-Series-RFID-Fixed-Reader-Web-Based-Administrator-Console?language=en_US

Rod, Try the instructions on this page. 

[Rod Simpson]

nice.  I will explore this option.

Thanks

[Brent Hamer]

I using a FX9600 with a 4" 5.5db antenna for programming tags, it work very well on a desk facing down. I place it on a roll of duck tape to lift it up 2in so I can side the tags just under it.   I able to place my stack on unprogrammed tags on one side of me and the antenna on the other side allowing me to move tag under the antenna one at a time.  this way i don't have to worry about dropping the power down on the reader

where is a link   Laird S9025PL

[Raphael Leal]

I ordered a cheap chinese reader only to programming tags.

Link of the Reader

You don't even need to hit "ENTER" key, only place the tag on the reader and hear the bip.

They also have a software easy to use. I save a lot of time programming with that reader.

[Brian Agee]

I just pushed out an installer that should allow for the Kiosk, Tag Check, and Programming Tag screens to set the reader to the lowest power setting. I haven't had a chance to test it personally, but I am confident it will work. Do one of you care to test it and let me know before I push it out to everyone else? You can get this update by clicking the link below:

• 1.6.3.6 Update Download

After getting this update, open the "Settings" screen and check the box on the "Advanced" tab that says something like "Use the lowest power setting".

[Rod Simpson]

Works great.

Thank you so much.

Tested with Zebra FX9600

Without the lowest setting checked.  Read chips in the room.

With the lowest setting checked.  Only read when the chip was on the antenna.  Even chips beside antenna were ignored.

Perfect.

Thanks again.

[JK Race Timing Systems]

Hi Brian

Brilliant but from testing this evening it is just a tad too weak, I have tried it on motorola AN 480 Circular Antenna and an impinj Linera threshold and both struggle to code the M750 Dogbone, No problem with the std dogbone or the Alien squiggle. Is it possible to ad another 5 or 10% power to the min power.

Turning off the setting programs them immediately but reads every other chip in the room.

All the best

John

[Brian Agee]

John, do you care to manually uninstall the software and re-install using this link and let me know if that does the trick. I'm doing this somewhat blind until I can get the time to set up a reader and test it myself, but I think it's a simple enough change that I wanted to take a crack at it and give you something to test.

[JK Race Timing Systems]

no problem at all, I have another 100 to do so will test straight away

Many thanks Brian

[JK Race Timing Systems]

stby for results

[JK Race Timing Systems]

still to weak, Im running an FX9500 by the way

[JK Race Timing Systems]

sorry just to clarify, Read power is perfect at absolute minimum, just struggling to write the M750 Dogbone  in any orientation  unless I get lucky

[Jim Hoppe]

I bought a small patch antenna that is lower gain and helps with programming tags.It is available on eBay for around $9 with free shipping. It comes with an SMA connector which I removed and put my own RP-TNC male connector to a RG58 coax so it will attach directly to a FX7400 2-port reader. You could find an SMA converter that would make it easier if you don't like to solder.
On eBay: $8.71 for a 5dBi PCB UHF RFID Reader 902-928M Antenna 5cmX5cm with SMA Connector RFID Reader
https://www.ebay.com/itm/355647976648?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D273798%2C273568%2C273427%26meid%3D986d0922e4904768a3c4438d57c9dcb8%26pid%3D101875%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D315364533198%26itm%3D355647976648%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DSimVIDwebV3WithCPCExpansionEmbeddingSearchQueryRecallAndCPCKnnRecalls%26brand%3DUnbranded&_trksid=p2332490.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum%3A355647976648986d0922e4904768a3c4438d57c9dcb8%7Cenc%3AAQAJAAABUPDQzHdIMm2YTLpV6XbSp86hh8RU43sWhV5EZzZaPfadRVxWNwVBQ%252BYNEWSecm7LRhBnCGf%252F1eJ6%252F7xVuHv4m12Yc6cu32qxZ%252FJU0%252BGswzk4kO1ZkN%252BrG9pOFyEhIOr9ODfYfXhbvlkSNV9%252BWmNF3NvM8jFu6k5x4Jc4A%252B5BWPhyharGzmdv5Ut5np6Uh4OwJC9BqPwWDbMDuQe0VRHz%252BEqri7uI4Nl3tFoFFQW5zGgbmOVNoK%252Bv51eWF9gMTvzLhYqCvdp5UH9%252BqOxsDv%252BJJdX9IXoykX52YulwrBwy48r%252FAiUmFSVAQ6HG55Xi5BktsxjAyPV4766AN4oSkxaMH%252F9Y%252B8PfeRT4nn7D4sjqRNu1iqjaLn7%252BmKrIbyIF64JqpE9PAj010OWmNgAgTFzbvNNnHDXC0LsM54b8y9e47y9LBlg50yDO2Ev8gH8mFL2RxQ%253D%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01J8B6ST9CN7C4D8JZYW4FZ2ZS

It is much less sensitive and I'm able to control spurious reads much more easily.

[Raphael Leal]

I just recorded a video using the RFID reader I've mentioned before.
Programming tags

[Jordan Schmidt]

Hey Raphael, I purchased the reader you linked to on a whim. Do you still have your video mentioned on October 4? Thanks! 

[Jordan Schmidt]

Hi Raphael just wondering if you still have that video or any other pointers? Thanks. 

[Raphael Leal]

Sorry about the delay to post the video.

If you guys have any question, just let me know.

Encoding RFID

[Jordan Schmidt]

Thanks for this Raphael. Can you show me where you downloaded that application from? :) 

[Zach Sancken]

Hey all! From this thread, I bought one of these little readers that Raphael suggested above from AliExpress. I think it was about $30. It came without software but had a contact card for questions. I emailed them and they sent me a link to download the software here:   https://od.lk/f/NDFfNDI3MTgwMDZf.  The download and install went fine. I couldn't get the user manual to work, but I used Raphael's video linked above to see what all the setting should be, and it is up and running. I just finished a test batch of bibs, and I think this might save me a bunch of time and headaches.  Thank you, Raphael!!!

As a sidenote, I was mildly concerned about downloading this software from China. I dug out an old, retired laptop and wiped it clean. I downloaded the software using public Wi-Fi and installed it. It's the only thing on this laptop, and my plan is to only use this laptop for this and to not ever connect it to my home network or to the internet again.

I hope someone finds this helpful!!  Happy timing.

[Dave Fleishman]

Well, I found it very helpful, Zach.

I, too, bought one of those readers, but I never had any luck getting it to work.  So it went into my box of useless tech items (I can’t bring myself to throw some things away).

When you posted, I decided to try again.  The software you linked was a little flaky at first, but then I realized I had a defective chip that I was trying to encode.  With that out of the way, I encoded nearly 100 chips in no time!

Thanks for the prompt!
d