Step 5: Turning on the Reader

Before you go and Press the Red ON/OFF Button lets make sure of a couple of things.

1. Ensure that the Data Mode Switch (insert picture) is in the “UP” position.
2. Plug your Ethernet cable into the reader and your computer (Figure 1). (NB: you do not require the crossover adaptor)
3. Make sure your timing computer is on.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Power on the reader by holding down the power button for about 3 seconds. The battery voltage indicator and the Status Display will light up. The reader will perform its mat tuning procedure and emit two quick beeps when completed. You can also manually tune the antennas by pushing the Tune button on the reader.

Pass a test tag over the mat and look for an increase in the “Tags” counter at the bottom of the reader’s screen.

*An audible beep from the reader may be heard, or may only be heard on once the tag “First Seen” event, or may not be heard at all depending on the Tag Read Beep Event setting. The beep will reset itself after the “tag timeout period” which is configurable in the config.ini settings. But the tag must leave the mat’s energy field for this to happen.

The reader is also turned off by holding down the power button for 3 seconds. All indicators on the reader’s front panel should go off.

!Always time an event on battery only. Generators and Power Supplies can create electrical “noise” which can have drastic effects on tag (chip) read rates. Make sure you understand what “noise” is. Pay close attention to your battery indicator. An auxiliary battery can be connected to the reader at any time, but for best performance is it better to connect the auxiliary battery when both internal and auxiliary batteries are fully charged.