Thingmagic Astra User Manual

Astra Reader User Guide875-0025-03 RevA

Regional InformationAstra User Guide 10next channel and immediately occupy that channel for up to four seconds. This mode allows for continuous operat

Programming InterfacesAstra User Guide 11Programming InterfacesMercuryAPIApplications to control the Astra reader, and all ThingMagic Reader products,

Setting Up for Single Reader OperationAstra User Guide 12Setting Up for Single Reader OperationThis section describes how to set up the Reader for Sin

Setting Up for Single Reader OperationAstra User Guide 13Setup ProcedureThe steps required to set up and run the Astra Reader are:1. Connecting the Op

Setting Up for Single Reader OperationAstra User Guide 14Antenna DetectionTo minimize the chance of damage due to transmitting on open ports or antenn

Setting Up for Single Reader OperationAstra User Guide 15Powering Up the ReaderYou can power up the Astra Reader using: DC power supply - NOTE: Sold

Setting Up for Single Reader OperationAstra User Guide 16NoteYou can use the web interface to select whether to use DC power supply or PoE to power th

Setting Up for Single Reader OperationAstra User Guide 17Connecting Your PC to the ReaderYou can provide network connectivity to the Astra Reader usin

Setting Up for Single Reader OperationAstra User Guide 18Figure 5: Local Area Connection Status Window

Setting Up for Single Reader OperationAstra User Guide 195. Click the Properties button.The Local Area Connections Properties window appears, as shown

Government Limited Rights Notice: All documentation and manuals were developed at private expense and no part of it was developed using Government fun

Setting Up for Single Reader OperationAstra User Guide 207. Click on the Properties button.The Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window appears, a

Setting Up for Single Reader OperationAstra User Guide 21Logging On to the ReaderYou may use any Java-enabled web browser to log on to the Reader. To

Setting Up for Single Reader OperationAstra User Guide 22Figure 8: Astra Status Page

Setting Up for Single Reader OperationAstra User Guide 235. Check the Connected Antenna Ports fields. If the text is green, it indicates that antenna

Networking the ReaderAstra User Guide 24Networking the ReaderYou can set up the Astra Reader to use either manual IP addressing or DHCP. By default, t

Networking the ReaderAstra User Guide 25Wireless SetupOne way of connecting to the Astra Reader is through the wireless network. Using the Wireless Ne

Networking the ReaderAstra User Guide 26Figure 9: Astra Modify Settings Page

Networking the ReaderAstra User Guide 27Using Power Over Ethernet (PoE)Another way of powering up the Astra Reader is to use a single Ethernet cable t

Networking the ReaderAstra User Guide 28Using DHCPTo use DHCP to automatically assign your PC's IP address to the Reader:1. Select Start from the

Networking the ReaderAstra User Guide 29Figure 11: Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties Window8. Select the Obtain an IP address automatically button

3 ContentsAstra User Guide 6Introduction 6Regional Information 8Astra North America 8Astra Australia 8Astra Korea 8Astra India 9Astra Europe 9Program

Networking the ReaderAstra User Guide 30Automatic Hostname: Astra-xxxxxxAt startup, the Reader, by default, generates an 'automatic hostname&apos

Networking the ReaderAstra User Guide 31Reader DiscoveryYou can find the available Readers on the network by using the Multicast DNS (mDNS) protocol (

Networking the ReaderAstra User Guide 32In the case of Reader Listing Page, no plugin is required and works in any browser. The Reader Listing Page co

Networking the ReaderAstra User Guide 33Figure 12: Astra Reader Listing Page

Connecting to the Astra Serial PortAstra User Guide 34Connecting to the Astra Serial PortAstra supports communication over its serial port to enable y

Using GPIOAstra User Guide 35Using GPIO The Astra Reader includes 12-pin GPIO screw terminal connector. This connector is used to support four opto-is

Using GPIOAstra User Guide 365. GPIO Input (GPIO_7)6. GPIO Output (GPIO_0)7. GPIO Output (GPIO_1)8. GPIO Output (GPIO_2)9. GPIO Output (GPIO_5)10. Amb

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 37Controlling the ReaderThe Reader uses RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology to read and write data

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 38 Query Page- Allows the user to write tags; this is only applicable to tags that are editable. Settings Pag

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 39NoteCheck to see that at least one antenna port is connected before performing any tag queries or tag write o

4Reader Listing 31Connecting to the Astra Serial Port 34Using GPIO 35Inputs 35Outputs 35Controlling the Reader 37Using the Browser-Based Interface 37S

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 40NoteYou must click Stop to stop the query before exiting. Otherwise, the Reader will continue to transmit RF

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 41Show RawThe Show Raw button displays raw tag data on the Query page, as shown in Figure 14. This is the actua

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 42Raw Tag DataDepending on the fields included in the query, you can display a variety of tag data: id: Tag id

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 43Figure 15: Astra Write Page

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 44Writing an ID to a TagTo write an ID to a tag:1. Click the Write link on the navigation menu. The Write page

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 45Settings PageThe Astra Modify Settings Page enables you to change network and Reader security settings. The p

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 46Table 1: RFID Protocol SettingsNoteThe Default RQL Query runs continuously at startup and thus a change to th

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 47Network Settings: Ethernet InterfacesTable 3: Network Settings: Ethernet InterfaceSetting DescriptionUse DHCP

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 48Network Settings: Wireless InterfacesThese wireless interfaces apply only when your reader supports Wi-Fi.Tab

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 49Boot Option SettingsThe boot option settings specify the location of downloadable firmware, configuration fil

5Appendix C: Advanced Administration 70Changing the Web Interface uid/passwd 70Changing console/root password: 71Appendix D: Troubleshooting 72Trouble

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 50Reader Identification SettingsThe Reader identification settings show the user-defined identifier strings.Tab

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 51Restart PageThe Astra Restart Page enables you to activate reconfigured network Reader settings or to recover

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 52Diagnostics PageThe Diagnostics page, as shown in Figure 18, expands on information found on the Status Page,

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 53Statistics PageThe Statistics Page, as shown in Figure 19, displays the Astra Reader statistics. These statis

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 54Firmware Upgrade UtilityAstra provides Firmware Upgrade Utility for updating the firmware.1. Click the Firmwa

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 553. Click the Update button to download the new firmware to the reader. The status frame at the bottom of the

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 56Using Safe ModeThere are two reasons to enter Safe Mode: To perform a firmware update for repairing a corrup

Controlling the ReaderAstra User Guide 57Forcing Astra to boot in safe modeTo force the Astra Reader to boot into Safe Mode:1. Connect to the Readers

Reader RF PowerAstra User Guide 58Reader RF PowerIf you are using an external antenna during initial installation, you must properly configure to use

Reader RF PowerAstra User Guide 59Setting the Reader RF PowerTo set the Reader RF power: 1. Log on to the Reader using your browser. The Astra Status

Astra User Guide 6 Astra User GuideIntroductionThis document assumes usage of an Astra with firmware version 4.1.21 or later.This document explains h

Mounting the ReaderAstra User Guide 60Mounting the ReaderSee Appendix B: Astra Dimensions for mounting hole locations and dimensions. When mounting th

Mounting the ReaderAstra User Guide 61Variables Affecting PerformanceReader performance may be affected by the following variables, depending on the s

Mounting the ReaderAstra User Guide 62Tag ConsiderationsThere are several variables associated with tags that can affect Reader performance: Applicat

Astra SpecificationsAstra User Guide 63Astra SpecificationsThe following are the specifications for the Astra Reader.Electrical ReaderUHF operating fr

Astra SpecificationsAstra User Guide 64Relative Humidity: 5 to 95% non-condensingMechanicalReaderLength: 25.7cm (10.125 in)Width: 25.7cm (10.125 in)De

Compliance, Warranty, and IP NoticesAstra User Guide 65Compliance, Warranty, and IP NoticesRegulatory ComplianceEMC FCC 47 CFR, Part 15Industrie Canad

Compliance, Warranty, and IP NoticesAstra User Guide 66gain should be so chosen that the equivalent isotropically radiated power (e.i.r.p.) is not mor

Compliance, Warranty, and IP NoticesAstra User Guide 672. cet appareil doit supporter toute perturbation, y compris les perturbations qui pourraien

Appendix A: Astra Antenna InformationAstra User Guide 68Appendix A: Astra Antenna InformationAuthorized Antennas To comply with FCC requirements for R

Appendix B: Astra DimensionsAstra User Guide 69Appendix B: Astra DimensionsFigure 22: Astra Dimensions

IntroductionAstra User Guide 7 Connecting to the Astra - Describes the methods available for connecting to the Astra over the ethernet, WiFi and Seri

Appendix C: Advanced AdministrationAstra User Guide 70Appendix C: Advanced AdministrationChanging the Web Interface uid/passwdThis steps below describ

Appendix C: Advanced AdministrationAstra User Guide 71the existing users.db file, so it retains existing user/passwords. You should use one or the oth

Appendix D: TroubleshootingAstra User Guide 72Appendix D: TroubleshootingTroubleshooting TableTable 9: Common Problems and SolutionsReset to the Defau

Appendix D: TroubleshootingAstra User Guide 73If you are not able to connect to the reader to reinstall firm you can try following the steps to Forcin

Appendix D: TroubleshootingAstra User Guide 74Analyzing the Boot LogsOne of the most common problems is due to incorrect or unexpected network configu

Appendix D: TroubleshootingAstra User Guide 75[...snip...]

Regional InformationAstra User Guide 8Regional InformationThe Astra reader is currently available in four different regional hardware configurations:

Regional InformationAstra User Guide 9channel for 400ms. The fastest it will move to the next channel, in the case where no tags are found using that