TransCore AP4118, User Manual

Page 1: ...AP4118 Rail Tag Programmer User Guide TransCore 8600 Jefferson Street NE Albuquerque New Mexico 87113 January 2017 P N 16 4118 001 Rev A ...

Page 2: ...are used under license All other trademarks listed are the property of their respective owners Contents subject to change Printed in the U S A For further information contact TransCore 8600 Jefferson Street NE Albuquerque NM 87113 USA Technical Support Phone 505 856 8007 Web transcore com rfidsupport ...

Page 3: ...ations if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual Operating this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case depending on the regulations in effect the users may be required to correct the interference at their own expense NO UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS 47 CFR 15 21 CAUTION This equipment may not be modified altered or changed in an...

Page 4: ...guring the AP4118 Rail Tag Programmer Permissions 10 PT5780 and PT5785 Permissions Tags 10 Ordering a Permissions Tag 11 AP4118 Rail Tag Programmer Control Number and Serial Number 11 Permissions Tag Expiration Date 11 Configuring the Rail Tag Programmer Using the Permissions Tag 12 Permissions Tag Programmer Control Number Matching 13 AAR Tag Programming 14 AAR User Data Type Detection and Format...

Page 5: ...t 211 cr 20 Write a Page of Data Using Hex Format 220yyxxxx cr 20 Write a Byte of Data Using Hex Format 221yyxx cr 21 Read a Page of Data Using Hex Format 230yy cr 21 Read a Byte of Data Using Hex Format 231yy cr 23 System Reset 30 cr 23 Display System Status 40 cr 23 Display Tag Door Switch Status 42 cr 24 Request Control Number 43 cr 24 Request Expiration Date 44 cr 24 Request Programming Mode 4...

Page 6: ...into Tag Holder 13 Figure 7 AP4118 Rail Tag Programmer Indicator Lights 17 Figure 8 Tag Being Slid into Tag Holder 25 Figure 9 Programmer Adapter and AT5549 EOT Tag Being Slid into Tag Holder 26 List of Tables Table 1 Typographical Conventions 2 Table 2 PC Interface Protocol Settings 7 Table 3 Data Format Code AP4118 Handling 14 Table 4 Rail Tag Page 3 Layout 15 Table 5 Troubleshooting Problems an...

Page 7: ...ng Host Software User Guide Guide Topics This document presents the following information Chapter 1 Before You Begin Describes the purpose intended audience guide topics related documentation and document conventions Chapter 2 Setting Up the Programmer Describes how to set up the tag programmer prevent electrostatic discharge damage to tags and connect the programmer to a host computer system Chap...

Page 8: ...s Table 1 Typographical Conventions Convention Indication This procedure might cause harm to the equipment and or the user Concerns about a procedure Code Code including keywords and variables within text and as separate paragraphs and user defined program elements within text appear in courier typeface Dialog Box Title Title of a dialog box as it appears on screen Function Starts with the charact...

Page 9: ...nters Null terminated string refers to strings of printable ASCII characters with a zero value byte placed in memory directly after the last printable character of the string Table 1 Typographical Conventions continued Convention Indication ...

Page 10: ...18 Tag Programmer Host Software AP4118 Programmer User Guide If any of the above items are missing from your order contact your TransCore distributor If you did not purchase TransCore P N 14 4118 002 and you want to program the AT5549 End of Train Tag you will also need an AT5549 End of Train Tag Programmer Adapter TransCore P N 20 4118 001 which is required to seat the AT5549 tag during programmi...

Page 11: ...ating performance Typical symptoms of ESD include the following Inability to program the tag Greatly reduced operating range Tag operating failure Antistatic Workstation In a factory or fixed indoor environment position the programmer in an antistatic workstation Well designed workstations use a system of multiple precautions against ESD Figure 1 shows an antistatic workstation Figure 1 Programmin...

Page 12: ...tach the ESD strap to your wrist by adjusting the hook and loop material Antistatic Mat The antistatic work mat on which your programmer sits should be connected to earth ground through the standard 1 M Ohm resistance that should be provided with the mat The mat also should be clean and free of any electrical path to direct earth ground Ionized Air Blower You may choose to set up an ionized air bl...

Page 13: ...t system is a PC or a communications terminal then you do not need to use a null modem The tag programmer s PC interface complies with the RS 232 standard for data terminal equipment and uses the protocol settings listed in Table 2 Refer to Appendix B for specifications of the programmer s RS 232 pin outs Table 2 PC Interface Protocol Settings Protocol Setting Data Rate 9600 bps Data Bits 8 Parity...

Page 14: ...h the tag programmer refer to Chapter 5 Troubleshooting AP4118 Host Software The AP4118 Tag Programmer Host Software can be found on the provided TransCore USB Drive The host software is not necessary to use the AP4118 Rail Tag Program mer Many customers prefer to use their specific host software to communicate with the tag programmer To Install the Host Software 1 Switch on the host computer 2 In...

Page 15: ...shows the host software main screen Figure 3 Tag Programming Host Software Main Screen For complete instructions to install and operate the tag programming host software refer to AP4118 Rail Tag Programmer Host Software User Guide ...

Page 16: ...ching to the rail tag pro grammer via a RF signal Initial tag programmer configuration can be performed at the factory or at the customer site using a permissions tag Note Use the PT5780 tag if configuring the AP4118 programmer for 902 to 928 MHz frequency band tags and the PT5785 tag if configuring the AP4118 programmer for 860 to 880 MHz frequency band tags PT5780 and PT5785 Permissions Tags Tra...

Page 17: ...dministration An order form is available online at www transcore com downloads html under the USER and INSTALLATION MANUALS Miscellaneous menu Select PT5780 PT5785 Tag Order Form from the Miscellaneous pull down list AP4118 Rail Tag Programmer Control Number and Serial Number The CN is an eight character alphanumeric string and is printed on a label on the rear panel of the AP4118 Rail Tag Program...

Page 18: ...soft or warm boot and flash application code download opera tions Configuring the Rail Tag Programmer Using the Permissions Tag This section instructs how to configure the AP4118 Rail Tag Programmer using the permissions tag For complete instructions on the operation of an AP4118 Rail Tag Programmer refer to Request Control Number 43 cr on page 24 To use a Permissions Tag 1 Switch on the tag progr...

Page 19: ... tags Check the permissions tag expiration date etched into the tag face to ensure the tag is valid You can enter the 44 Request Expiration Date to retrieve the permissions expiration See Request Expiration Date 44 cr on page 24 for more information Finally compare the permissions tag CN to the tag programmer CN located on label affixed to back of tag programmer to ensure they match Note If the pe...

Page 20: ...AAR Specification S 918 Table 3 lists the supported DFC values If the DFC is any value not listed in Table 3 the AP4118 creates an error condition and ERROR response and tag programming stops AAR Rail Tag Security Character Handling Upon receiving a legacy AP4110 compatible tag programming command the AP4118 programmer checks the incoming security characters embedded in the user data If the incomi...

Page 21: ...arized here No rail tag owner lookup or matching all associated data in the permissions tag are ignored No security character lookup or matching in this mode only non secure charac ters see Table C 1 of this user guide may be programmed ignore all associated data in the permissions tag AP4118 Programmer CN and Permissions Tag ID Programming During each tag programming operation for both ATA and no...

Page 22: ...oftware User Guide provides detailed instructions for operating the TP software Note If you are using the TransCore TP software on your host computer do not use the RS 232 commands listed in this chapter To operate the programmer using a communications terminal or a personal computer PC that does not use TransCore s TP software follow the steps in Programming a Tag and or Verifying Tag Data sectio...

Page 23: ...rammer is receiving power READY The programmer is ready to program tags Sign On You should expect to see the following sign on message on the screen of the host system or a communications terminal upon power up or after you send the programmer command 30 Model AP4118 Ver X XX Copyright 2005 TransCore where X XX is the current software version Command Execution Protocol The programmer sends an appr...

Page 24: ... command or you can enter the command and place the tag into the tag holder within 10 seconds If you do not place the tag in the holder and close the door within 10 sec onds the programmer will abort this command See Programming a Tag on page 24 for tag insertion instructions Enable Tone Generator 120 cr The default state of the audible tone generator is tone enabled The tone generator creates aud...

Page 25: ...ag using the 4 bit ASCII hexadecimal hex format This format requires 30 characters of data Refer to Appendix D 4 Bit ASCII Hex Codes for a description of this ASCII hex format During execution of this command a series of beeps indicates that the programmer is waiting for a tag to be placed in the holder If you do not place the tag in the tag holder and close the door within 10 seconds the programm...

Page 26: ...ns Response xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx cr Done cr or Error cr Write a Page of Data Using Hex Format 220yyxxxx cr The programmer programs the user hex data xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 16 hex characters starting at hex address yy The starting address yy must be on an 8 byte page bound ary For example the starting address will be 00 08 10 18 If the tag is not already in the tag holder a series of beeps indi...

Page 27: ... memory area of the tag that is requested by the user Each program mer will be assigned permissions at the factory or through the use of a permissions tag that must be inserted into the programmer at pre specified intervals Response xx cr Done cr or Error cr Read a Page of Data Using Hex Format 230yy cr The programmer reads hex data xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 16 hex characters starting at hex address yy The...

Page 28: ...ave permission to read the memory area of the tag that is requested by the user Each programmer will be assigned permissions at the factory or through the use of a permissions tag that must be placed in to the programmer at pre specified intervals Response xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx cr Done cr or Error cr ...

Page 29: ...ns at the factory or through the use of a permissions tag that must be placed in to the programmer at pre specified intervals Response xx cr Done cr or Error cr System Reset 30 cr The command resets the programmer to its original power on state with the self test System reset takes approximately eight seconds Response system sign on message Model AP4118 Ver X XX Copyright 2005 TransCore where X XX...

Page 30: ...e Request Programming Mode 45 cr This command requests the current AP4118 programming mode based on the permis sions tag Response AAR AAR S 918 compatible GEN Generic non AAR programming format Programming a Tag Note You have the option of first placing at tag into the tag holder before issuing the command or you can enter the command and place the tag into the tag holder within 10 seconds If you ...

Page 31: ...e 6 bit format for your data command 201 for the 4 bit hex data format command 220 if you are writing a page of SeGo data to the tag and command 221 if you are writing a byte of SeGo data to the tag 2 When the programmer begins its 10 second timer indicated by an audible beep once every second slide the tag into the tag holder Figure 8 and close the door Figure 8 Tag Being Slid into Tag Holder ...

Page 32: ...esponse to the host and emits a continuous audible tone When the tag is successfully programmed the programmer responds with a triple beep and with the following response xxx cr Done cr where xxx is the tag data read from the tag and is encoded in the specified format If the tag programming process fails the programmer responds with a continuous audible tone and with Error cr If you receive this r...

Page 33: ...n requisition Security characters are available for American Trucking Associations and International Standards Organiza tion tag data formats When enabled the security characters which are specific 6 bit patterns designated for security coding purposes will be two specific characters from the list of security char acters in Appendix F or one character each from Appendix F Security Characters and A...

Page 34: ...ify that the optical switch that is activated by the tag door is clean and is clear of any dirt buildup Tag programmer reads tags but programming sequence fails repeatedly Enter command 40 to retrieve the response code then use the programmer response codes list in Appendix E Programmer Response Codes to identify the problem Improve electrostatic discharge protection in programming area Tag progra...

Page 35: ...rammer Physical and Environmental Specifications Parameter Specification Size W x H x D 14 3 x 3 2 x 11 5 in 36 3 x 8 1 x 29 2 cm Weight 6 8 lb 3 1 kg Input Voltage 12V DC Power Consumption 12 W Excessive Current Protection 5 amp 250 volt Fast Blo fuse Operating Temperature 32 F to 122 F 0 C to 50 C Storage Temperature 4 F to 185 F 20 C to 85 C Humidity 95 noncondensing 77 F to 122 F 25 C to 50 C ...

Page 36: ...anel RS 232 connec tor Note The signal input output is listed from the tag programmer side Table B 1 RS 232 Connector Pin outs Pin Input Output Function 1 N A No connection 2 Out Transmit 3 In Receive 4 N A No connection 5 In Out Signal ground 6 N A No connection 7 In Clear to send CTS 8 Out Request to send RTS 9 N A No connection ...

Page 37: ... 1 TransCore s 6 bit ASCII codes are produced by subtracting 00100000 from the character s 8 bit ASCII value Table C 1 6 Bit ASCII Codes Character 6 Bit Code Character 6 Bit Code space 000000 G 100111 001010 H 101000 001101 I 101001 001110 J 101010 001111 K 101011 0 010000 L 101100 1 010001 M 101101 2 010010 N 101110 3 010011 O 101111 4 010100 P 110000 5 010101 Q 110001 6 010110 R 110010 7 010111 ...

Page 38: ...pattern These bit patterns are placed in specific groups of four consecutive bits within the tag The ASCII characters and their corresponding 4 bit hex codes are listed in Table D 1 Table D 1 4 Bit ASCII Hex Codes Character 4 Bit Code 0 0000 1 0001 2 0010 3 0011 4 0100 5 0101 6 0110 7 0111 8 1000 9 1001 A 1010 B 1011 C 1100 D 1101 E 1110 F 1111 ...

Page 39: ...nce 05 06 07 N A Reserved 08 Data compare error During a programming sequence the data read from the tag did not correspond to the user data that was written to the tag 09 Locked tag The programmer has detected a lock condition of the tag The tag data is stored permanently and cannot be changed 0A No frame marker The programmer could not decipher a frame marker from the tag Either the tag is not i...

Page 40: ... perform the security character function These ASCII security characters are encoded in the Amtech 6 bit data encoding scheme and are listed in Table F 1 Table F 1 ASCII Security Characters Character 6 Bit Code 000001 000010 000011 000100 000101 000110 000111 001000 001001 001011 001100 011010 011011 011100 011101 011110 011111 100000 111011 111100 111101 111110 _ 111111 ...