ThingMagic Mercury 5 User Manual
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ThingMagic Mercury 5 User Manual

Readers/intelligent, network ready, reads any tag/ignores interference, gets more 100% reads
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Mercury 4
Intelligent.
Network Ready.
Reads Any Tag.
/ MERCURY
®
User Guide
5
®
Ignores Interference.
Gets More 100% Reads.

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  • Page 1 Mercury 4 / MERCURY ® ® User Guide Intelligent. Ignores Interference. Network Ready. Gets More 100% Reads. Reads Any Tag.
  • Page 2 Copyright Notice: This manual and documentation are reserved under and protected by the copyright laws of the United States by ThingMagic, Inc. No part of this guide may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of ThingMagic, Inc.

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Contents Mercury4/5 Reader User Guide ............1 About This Guide .
  • Page 4 Settings Page ................. . 39 RFID Protocol Settings .
  • Page 5 Warranty Disclaimer and IP Notices..............66 Appendix A: M4 Antenna Information .

  • Page 6: Mercury4/5 Reader User Guide

    RQL queries for accessing tags are built into the reader’s web interface but you can get more out of your reader by modifying them. ThingMagic’s low-level application programming interfaces (APIs) provide fine control over all aspects of the reader. A separate API Programming Guide and software developer kit (SDK) is available upon request from support@thingmagic.com.

  • Page 7: Setting Up For Single Reader Operation

    Setting Up For Single Reader Operation Setting Up For Single Reader Operation The following section describes how to setup the reader for single reader operation. To setup the reader as part of a larger scale deployment, see the section Networking the Reader page 14.

  • Page 8: Connect The Antenna(S) To The Reader

    Connect the Antenna(s) to the Reader Note Use only authorized antennas and cables to maintain FCC approval. See Appendix on page 1. A: Mercury4 Antenna Information Connect antennas to the ports before applying power to the reader. Any port not having an antenna connected to it will be disabled when the reader is powered on.
  • Page 9 Place the antennas upright. 2. When connecting each pair of antenna cables, follow the labels on the reader faceplate as shown below. Connecting Cable Pairs to Reader Connect the top port of the antenna to the T-1 (transmit) port on the reader. Connect the bottom port of the antenna to the R-1 (receive) port on the reader.

  • Page 10: Power-Up The Reader

    Power-Up the Reader Plug the power supply into the reader’s power port. DC power input connector. Connect the extension cord to the power supply and plug it into a 100-240VAC power outlet. The reader will immediately begin powering up. Note There is no on/off switch on the reader.

  • Page 12: Interpreting The Reader Indicator Leds

    Interpreting the Reader Indicator LEDs There are four LEDs on the reader indicating reader activity: Power – When solid, the reader is booting. When pulsing, reader is ready for operation. Module A – Operational only on older model Mercury4 readers. Module B –...

  • Page 13: Connect Your Pc To The Reader

    Connect Your PC to the Reader These instructions are for directly connecting your computer to the reader. For instructions on connecting the reader to a network, see the section Networking the Reader on page 14. Connect the enclosed shielded Ethernet crossover cable to your PC and to the reader. Note Straight-through shielded Ethernet cables are fine for connecting the reader to a network.

  • Page 14: Set Your Pc's Tcp/Ip Setting

    Set Your PC’s TCP/IP Setting These instructions assume you are using Windows XP. For other operating systems, consult your network administrator. To set your PCs TCP/IP setting use the following steps: From the start bar, select Start →Control Panel. Double-click the Network Connections icon. Disable your PC’s wireless connection.
  • Page 15 Scroll down to the bottom of the list and select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) item. Click on the Properties button. The Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window appears. (see below).
  • Page 16 Select the radio button labeled “use the following IP address:” Enter the settings as shown below. IP address: 10.0.0.102 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 Default Gateway: 10.0.0.1 Click OK to save and exit the window. Click OK at the Local Area Connection Properties window.

  • Page 17: Log On To Reader

    Log On to Reader You may use any java-enabled web browser to log on to the reader. Use the following steps to logon to the reader: Launch your web browser and log on to the reader by entering the reader’s default IP address of http://10.0.0.101/ in the address bar and pressing ENTER.
  • Page 18 The Mercury4 or Mercury5 reader displays its browser-based interface. The Status Page is the initial page which appears. Mercury5 Status Page Check the Connected Antenna Ports. Green=Connected Next Steps To connect the reader to a network and log in remotely, see the section Networking the Reader on page 14.

  • Page 19: Networking The Reader

    Networking the Reader Networking the Reader You can set up the reader to use either manual IP addressing or DHCP. By default, the reader has automatic addressing enabled: it boots up looking for a DHCP server. DHCP can be used to automatically assign the reader’s IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, NTP Server, DNS server and hostname.

  • Page 20: Dhcp

    DHCP To enable automatic assigning of your PC’s IP address by DHCP, use the following steps. From the Start bar, select Start → Control Panel. Double click the Network Connections icon. Disable your PC’s wireless connection, if one exists. Double click the Local Area Connection icon. The local area Connection Status window appears.
  • Page 21 Click the Properties button. The Local Area Connection Properties window appears. Scroll down to the bottom of the list and select the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) item. Click on the Properties button.
  • Page 22 The Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window appears. Select the radio button “Obtain an IP address automatically”. Click the OK button to save and exit the Internet Protocol Properties window. Click the OK button at the Local Area Connection Properties window. Click the Close button at the Local Area Connection Status window.

  • Page 23: Automatic Hostname: M5-Xxxxxx

    Ethernet port. You can also find the reader’s MAC address on the Status page. The first 6 characters of the MAC address are ThingMagic’s manufacturer’s code. The last 6 characters of the MAC address are specific to the ThingMagic reader and are used for automatic hostname addressing.
  • Page 24 The reader’s Status page appears. Check to see that all the Antenna ports are connected. Green = Connected.

  • Page 25: Bonjour

    Bonjour Another way of finding readers on a network is to use the Zeroconf protocol, which Apple calls Bonjour™ (formerly called Rendezvous). Bonjour works on networks without a DHCP server. Apple provides a downloadable Bonjour plug-in for Windows Internet Explorer at their web site: http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/bonjour/).
  • Page 26 Note Notice that each ThingMagic reader in the Bonjour frame on the left side of the page is referenced by the domain name — ThingMagic — followed by the hostname — Mercury4 and Mercury5 — followed by an m4 or m5 and the last six characters of the device’s MAC address, such as 10148c.

  • Page 27: Controlling The Reader

    SQL (structured query language) database server. See the Reader Query Protocol and RQL manual or download it from ThingMagic at http://www.thingmagic.com/html/support/manuals.htm — Finally, low-level APIs (application programming interface) provide fine control over all aspects of the reader. The reader supports UHF antennas, which are available separately.

  • Page 28: Using The Browser-Based Interface

    — Firmware Update Page on page 47 This page can be used to upgrade the tag reader with new firmware images supplied by ThingMagic. — Restart Page on page 49 Allows the user to restart the reader via a “warm boot.”...
  • Page 29 To start the browser-based interface: Exit all reader applications on the network. Note Running another reader application while using the browser-based interface may cause a reader error. If this happens, reboot the reader or restart it using the browser-based interface. Start a Java-enabled web browser from any network-enabled PC.
  • Page 30 A navigation menu and the Status page appear in the browser.

  • Page 31: Status Page

    Status Page The Mercury4 or Mercury5 Status page indicates the connected antennas, software version and LAN configuration of the reader. Note Check to see that at least one antenna port is connected before performing any tag queries or tag write operations.

  • Page 32: Query Page

    Query Page The Query page is mainly used to set up and run Anti-Collision searches quickly and give you immediate feedback. This can be useful for verifying performance when installation is complete and for debugging. Click the Query link in the navigation menu. Wait a few moments until the Java applet finishes loading, and prepare some tags for testing.

  • Page 33: Read Tags

    Read Tags Position one or more tags a few feet in front of one of the antennas connected to the reader. Select an appropriate built-in query from the pull-down list. For instance: – If you are using GEN2 tags, select “fewer than 10 GEN2 tags” from the list. –...
  • Page 34 Query Screen Drop-down List Query Field Runs the selected Query in Auto Mode Stops Auto Mode Runs the selected Query once only At the bottom of the screen is the Query field in which RQL search statements can be entered or selected from the stock queries found in the drop-down list to the right of the Query field.
  • Page 35 The RQL search statement in the Query field specifies which tag protocols will be read, which antenna ports are to be used, how long the query is to be run, and other read operation parameters. The query can be run once or continuously. See the figure for a list of available stock queries.

  • Page 36: Query Results

    Query Results The displayed tag data contains a lot of useful information. Each row shows sequential tag number, number of times tag was read, tag data, antenna, and protocol. See the figure. Query Page Detail Total Tags Seen During Current Search Number of Times Tag Was Read Show Raw Button...
  • Page 37 Note Notice that EPC1 Tags display their CRC value as the first four digits of the Tag ID and not the last four as the as GEN2, EPC0 and ISO 18000-6b protocols do.

  • Page 38: Bignum Checkbox

    Bignum Checkbox The Bignum checkbox (when checked) displays the total number of unique tags read during the current query until you clear the display. The total is displayed in large red numbers directly over the tags read. When you’re operating the reader on your own, with no assistance, this feature can come in handy so you can watch the screen as you move tags and antennas around to check read rates.
  • Page 39 By default, font size is set for 16 points. This can be increased to meet your viewing requirements, such as displaying the results with an LCD projector. Enter a larger font number in the font size field to increase the size of the font displaying tag data.

  • Page 40: Show Raw

    Show Raw The “Show Raw” button displays raw tag data on the Query page. This is the actual console output returned from the query. Each row in this example shows reader, protocol, antenna, tag ID and CRC for each tag found. A space separates groups of tags found during each query. Raw data can be easily copied and pasted into other documents.
  • Page 41 timestamp: Unix time in seconds and microseconds from 1-1-1970 when tag was seen. Ex: 3004832.188394 dspmicros: microseconds after start of reading out the tag cache – per protocol.

  • Page 42: Write Page

    Write Page Use the Write page to replace the id or data that is encoded on a tag. Write Screen Consider the following guidelines when writing to tags: Always place a tag 0.3-0.6m (1-2ft) from the antenna when writing. The tag may be damaged if it is too close to the antenna Only unlocked EPC0+, EPC1, IS018000-6b, or GEN2 tags can be written.

  • Page 43: Write An Id To A Tag

    Use the antenna connected to port 1 as it is used as the default antenna for writing tags Write an ID to a Tag Click the Write link on the navigation menu. The Write page appears. In the middle pane, type or paste a hexadecimal tag id to be written to the tag in the RQL statement after tag_id=0x .

  • Page 44: Settings Page

    Settings Page Use the Modify Settings page to change RFID protocol, network and reader security settings. The page is divided into five sections: RFID Protocol Settings on page 42 Network Settings on page 43 Network Settings: All Interfaces on page 43 Network Settings: Ethernet Interface on page 44 Boot Option Settings...
  • Page 45 Click the Settings link on the navigation menu. The Modify Settings page appears.
  • Page 46 Enter the required settings. Click the Save button to save the new settings. Saving overwrites the reader’s configuration file with the current settings.

  • Page 47: Rfid Protocol Settings

    RFID Protocol Settings The RFID protocol settings take effect immediately on the reader upon saving them. A restart is not required. The Default RQL Query runs continuously at startup and thus a change to this setting requires a restart of the reader. RFID Protocol Settings Setting Description...

  • Page 48: Network Settings

    Network Settings Static network settings are ignored when in DHCP mode, and DHCP related settings are ignored when in static IP mode. Please note that your network needs to have properly configured DNS servers if you wish to connect to the reader via its hostname. Usually when using DHCP, the DHCP server will add the hostname to the DNS server’s database.
  • Page 49 Network Settings: Ethernet Interface Setting Description Use DHCP? If set to Yes, the reader will automatically look for its LAN IP, Netmask and DHCP Gateway addresses from a Server. Vendor Class Identi- This radio button that enables 96-bit tag support. To optimize the reader keep fier this setting turned off unless it is needed.

  • Page 50: Boot Option Settings

    Boot Option Settings The boot option settings specify the location of downloadable firmware and configuration files and their optional parameters, and the location of a syslog server to which all reader events may be sent. Boot Options Setting Description Boot Config Options Optional parameters used when downloading a new configuration file to the reader.

  • Page 51: Security Settings

    Security Settings These settings control secure access to the reader using a combination of SSH (Secure Shell), HTTPS and secure RQL calls. Setting Description Secure Shell Only (dis- If Yes, the telnet server is disabled, and reader access can only be performed via able telnet) SSH (Secure Shell) a secure shell (...

  • Page 52: Firmware Update Page

    Firmware Update Page Click the Firmware link on the navigation menu. The Firmware Upgrade page appears.
  • Page 53 Place the cursor in the Filename field and type the complete URI network pathname of the firmware file or click the Choose file button to locate the new firmware file. C A U T I O N ! If you select the “Erase contents before installing”...

  • Page 54: Restart Page

    Restart Page Use this procedure to activate reconfigured network reader settings or to recover from a reader error. Click the Restart link on the navigation menu; the Restart Reader page appears. See the figure. To restart the reader, click the Restart System button. The following dialog box appears.

  • Page 55: Restarting The Reader

    Restarting the Reader Click the restart link on the navigation menu. Click the restart button and the OK button on the confirmation dialog. Wait for at least 60 seconds for the reader to boot up. The Power/Heartbeat LED is solid green while the reader boots. When the LED begins blinking, the boot process is complete.

  • Page 56: Diagnostics Page

    Diagnostics Page The diagnostics page expands on information found on the Status Page, including the current settings of the reader, comprehensive version information, and current status of network interfaces.

  • Page 57: Using Safe Mode

    Using Safe Mode There are two reasons to enter Safe Mode: To perform a firmware update to repair a corrupted filesystem. To change settings that are preventing the reader from operating normally. Both of these tasks can be performed via the web interface. Use the recessed Safe Mode button on the reader connector panel to recover from errors which prevent the reader from operating in normal mode.
  • Page 58 a PC must have an IP address and subnet mask that are compatible with the reader settings, for example: IP address: 10.0.0.10 Netmask: 255.255.255.0...

  • Page 59: Reader Rf Power

    0.6 dB, the maximum RF power that may be set is (36- 6 + 0.6) = 30.6 dBm. Reader RF Power Example Using ThingMagic shielded 25 ft. coaxial antenna cables TM-M5CAB-TT-P25 type LMR-195 and ThingMagic Dual Antenna TM-ANT-NA-2CX. Total 25 ft. cable insertion loss = 3.1 dB.

  • Page 60: Setting The Reader Rf Power

    Setting the Reader RF Power The Reader RF Power can be set using the Settings Page of the browser-based interface. Note that in no case may the power be set higher than 32.5 dBm. Log on to the reader using your browser. The reader’s Status Page appears.

  • Page 61: Mounting The Reader

    Mounting the Reader Mounting the Reader To install the Mercury reader, use the following steps: You can place the reader on a shelf or mount it to a wall. To mount the reader on a wall use the following steps: Hold the reader in its mounting location and mark the position of the two mounting screws.

  • Page 62: Mounting The Antennas

    Note Because customer requirements dictate the placement of reader and antenna components, your ThingMagic representative will supply this information separately. Authorized Antenna and Antenna Cables For information on the only antennas authorized by the FCC for use with the Mercury4...

  • Page 63: Variables Affecting Performance

    Variables Affecting Performance Variables Affecting Performance Reader performance may be affected by the following variables, depending on the site where your RFID solution is being deployed: Environmental Conditions Tag Considerations Multiple Readers...

  • Page 64: Environmental Conditions

    Environmental Conditions Reader performance may be affected by the following: Metal surfaces such as desks, filing cabinets, bookshelves, and wastebaskets may enhance or degrade reader performance. Mount antennas as far as possible from metal surfaces that are adversely affecting system performance. Devices that operate at 900 MHz, such as cordless phones and wireless LANs, can interfere with reader performance.

  • Page 65: Tag Considerations

    Tag Orientation - Reader performance is affected by the orientation of the tag in the antenna field. The ThingMagic antenna is circularly polarized, so it reads face-to but not edge-to. Tag Model - Many tag models are available. Each model has its own performance...

  • Page 66: Multiple Readers

    Multiple Readers These devices may degrade performance of the reader. The reader may also adversely affect performance of 900 MHz devices. The reader should be set to use Dense Reader Mode (DRM) or Dense Interrogator Channelized Signaling for GEN2 tags. Antennas on other readers operating in close proximity may interfere with one another, thus degrading reader performance.

  • Page 67: M4 Specifications

    Mercury4 Specifications Mercury4 Specifications Electrical Reader UHF operating frequency: 902-928MHz Input voltage: 24Vdc, 2.0A Separate Power Supply Input voltage: Nominal 100-240Vac, 50/60Hz AC line current: Nominal 0.5A at 120V Output voltage: Nominal 24Vdc, 2.5A peak Certified limited power source Class 2 Environmental Operating Temperature: 0°...

  • Page 68: Supported Uhf Tag Protocols

    Mercury4 Specifications Supported UHF Tag Protocols EPC Class 1, GEN2EPC Class 0 ISO 18000-6BEPC Class 1 User Memory 64MB DRAM16MB Flash...

  • Page 69: M5 Specifications

    M5 Specifications M5 Specifications Electrical Reader UHF operating frequency: 902-928MHz (NA) Input voltage: 24Vdc, 2.0A Separate Power Supply Input voltage: Nominal 100-240Vac, 50/60Hz AC line current: Nominal 0.5A at 120V Output voltage: Nominal 24Vdc, 2.5A peak Certified limited power source Class 2 Environmental Operating Temperature: 0°...

  • Page 70: Supported Uhf Tag Protocols

    M5 Specifications Supported UHF Tag Protocols EPC Class 1, GEN2EPC Class 0 ISO 18000-6BEPC Class 1 User Memory 128MB DRAM32MB Flash...

  • Page 71: Compliance, Warranty And Ip Notices

    DISCLAIMS ANY AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Further, ThingMagic, Inc. reserves the right to revise this publication and make changes from time to time in the content herein in its sole discretion without obligation to notify any person of such revision or changes.
  • Page 72 Trademark Notice: ThingMagic and the ThingMagic logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of ThingMagic, Inc. Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks or registered trademarks of ThingMagic, Inc. or other companies. No part of this guide may be reproduced in any form without the prior written permission of...

  • Page 73: Appendix A: M4 Antenna Information

    Appendix A: Mercury4 Antenna Information Authorized Antennas In order to comply with FCC requirements for RF exposure safety, a separation distance of at least 22 cm (8.7 in) needs to be maintained between the radiating elements of the antenna and the bodies of nearby persons.
  • Page 74 Authorized Antennas Mercury4 Approved Antennas Item ThingMagic Dual Antenna Mercury Compact Antenna Model TM-ANT-NA-2C MT-262010-TRLH/K Gain 6 dBi max 6 dBi max Connector Reverse TNC Reverse TNC Item M/A-COM Dual Antenna Matrics General Purpose Antenna Model MANNAT0141 ANT-GPHP Gain 5.9 dBi max.

  • Page 75: Antenna Cables

    Antenna Cables Antenna Cables The only cables authorized by the FCC for use with the Mercury Readers are in the table below: 25 Foot TNC/TNC 25 Foot TNC/N ThingMagic Part No. TM-CAB-TT-P25 TM-CAB-TN-P25 Length 25 ft. 25 ft. Insertion Loss 3.1 dB min.

  • Page 76: Appendix B: M5 Antenna Information

    Appendix B: M5 Antenna Information Authorized Antennas In order to comply with FCC requirements for RF exposure safety, a separation distance of at least 22 cm (8.7 in) needs to be maintained between the radiating elements of the antenna and the bodies of nearby persons. Provide strain relief for all reader connections.
  • Page 77 Authorized Antennas Mercury5 Approved Antennas Item ThingMagic Dual Antenna Mercury Compact Antenna Model TM-ANT-NA-2CX MT-262010-TRLH/K Gain 7 dBi max 6 dBi max Connector Reverse TNC Reverse TNC Item M/A-COM Dual Antenna Matrics General Purpose Antenna Model MANNAT0123 ANT-GPHP Part No.

  • Page 78: Antenna Cables

    Antenna Cables Antenna Cables The only cables authorized by the FCC for use with the Mercury Readers are in the table below: 25 Foot TNC/TNC 25 Foot TNC/N ThingMagic Part No. TM-CAB-TT-P25 TM-CAB-TN-P25 Length 25 ft. 25 ft. Insertion Loss 3.1 dB min.

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