FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

READ/WRITE ISO15693 RFID TAGS

- If I wanted to attach the reader directly to a PC, I believe I need a C-100 and a serial cable. What terminal emulator (or other software) product would I use as a GUI to manage the reader from the PC monitor?

You can download and use APSX Test Application. Also, you can download Portmon (Google it) and monitor the serial communication. 

- We are trying to run the VB 6 project included in your download and receive this error.

Run time error 429
Active X component can't create object.

You need to use regasm.exe to register the dll. by using it in command prompt. 

regasm.exe C:\apsxdll.dll

- I can not read the UID of nearby tags by using the test application.

Things to check:

1- Wall adapter voltage (should be 6-9v DC) and good quality. It needs to be more than 6v DC less then 9V. The quality of the power source is important. 

2- Selecting the wrong port number. It will open any available port but it does not check if the device is on that port. There may be several ports on your computer especially if you are using a USB serial converter.

3- Other thing to try is to read the device version in the APSX Test Application (not DirecTalk). This should read 103. If this returns 0, and since you are able to turn on-off the leds, you might have problem with your cabling. 

4- Test to see if you can talk to any other serial device with your cabling and setup. Some cables reverse the pins 2 and 3 (null modem cables), and they would not work. You can also try to change the setting of the serial port in windows. Sometimes these are not overwritten by the applications depending on the serial port device on the PC.

- Is there any chance you can rev the test application to support COM ports over 10?

You can type in the desired com port # in that combo box in APSX Test Application.

- Reader Version reported is "0", while it should be 103

Version should return 103. If it does not (return 0) then there is a communication problem. You can download a free program called portmon (http://download.sysinternals.com/Files/PortMon.zip) then open the com port using the APSX Test Application and hit the Get Version button. You can save this log and send it to us if you still have problems. You can also try it on a different computer or use a different serial cable. (some serial cables are null modem cables, that is not what you should be using). It should have minimum 3 wire connections that connect pins 2,3,5 directly. Null cables have pin2 to pin3 connected which is not a regular serial cable.

- How can I write in the tags?

First, download and test with the APSX Test Application and see if it writes. If you are using Icode-2 (Phillips) tags, they require the option tag to be cleared (not set) for writing.  Texas Instruments tags require option tag to be set for writing. 

- Can the ASPX RFID Reader/Writers read multiple tags in the same field at the same time? 

No, our devices currently do not support anti-collision. Due to the short reading distances our devices have, this is rarely an issue for most. Our devices can read every 50 milliseconds. There are devices out there that will utilize anti-collision.  However, this does not guarantee to have a 100% read.  Your bigger issue is the antenna size and design of the antenna, and the total RF power. Also, reads depend on the goods that have the tags on.  Metal cans, and certain liquid containers may be harder to work with.  There are Texas Instruments devices out there that may suffice the power and antenna requirements but at a very high cost. 

- If I were to use APSX RFID reader to scan a basket containing four tagged items, would the reader scan the basket every 50 ms until it had read all four tags?  Is it possible that the 310 reader would just get stuck re-reading the same tag again-and-again for a 2 second period?

Once you read a tag, you can put that tag in sleep mode, so it does not respond to most commands (except reset) as long as it is in the field.  It is up to you to decide how frequent you want to read up to 20+ tags per second.  If you can put a tag into sleep, then that tag will not interfere with any others as long as it stays in the field. If it leaves the field it will reset when it enters back into the field. 

- Where can I find the command to turn the transmitter on/off in the Data Sheet?

You need to leave the transmitter on for tags to stay in any mode they need to be powered and be in the range. Otherwise they will lose power and reset. Or you can use the buttons on the top part of the RFID Test Application. Commands for serial talk are:

F8 (HEX)= turn on
F7 (HEX)= turn off

- I am having issues trying to set a tag into quiet mode, I am leaving the tag directly on the reader board (so I know it is in range and not moving, also it is one of the tags that I ordered with my evaluation kit).

You need to leave the transmitter on. Otherwise the tags will lose power and reset. 

- Green/Red L.E.D.s : Are they for testing functionality via the Test App or are they used in conjunction with actual read responses from the tags?

For the Read and Fast Read commands, red led will go on.

- What are the read/write distances exactly?

RW-110 has 4".  RW-210 can read/write from 6". For RW310, the distance is 11".