Datamax 915MPDMX Users Manual

92-2443-01 Rev. D

RFID

Quick Start Guide

Datamax International

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Orlando, Florida USA 32808

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Printed U.S.A. © Copyright 2008

This guide presents a systematic overview of important media requirements, setup options, and modes of
use for Datamax H-Class RFID-equipped printers.

• This device complies with FCC Radio Frequency exposure limits for an

uncontrolled environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with a

CAUTION

minimum distance of 20cm between the radiator and your body. If 20cm distance
cannot be maintained, end users are to be 20cm from printer extremity.

• Any changes or modifications to this RFID module not expressly approved by

Datamax Corporation will void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

• Operation is subject to the following conditions: (1) this device may not cause

interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference, including
interference that may cause undesired operation of this device.

;

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to

part15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful
interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment
in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct
the interference at their own expense.

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Step 1: Know the RFID Media

Depending upon the type of encoder in your printer, ensure that your RFID media meets the following
specifications:

[1]

UHF Layout

A

Forward

Movement

D

E

Forward

Movement

Smart Label and Tag Requirements

HF Layout

C

B

[2]

C

D

E

A

Definitions

B

[3]

Designator Description Dimension (inches) Dimension (millimeters)

A Label Width 4.00 101.6
B Label Lengths 2.00, 4.00, & 6.00 50.8, 101.6, & 152.4
C Chip Location Tolerance ± 0.05 ± 1.3
D Label Pitch (minimum) 2.25 57.2
E Chip Inlay Location 1.10 27.9

[1]

Reference the Operator’s Manual for additional standard media requirements.

[2]

The HF RFID Chip Inlay Location can be left, right, or center justified.

[3]

These definitions are referenced while looking down onto the labeling side of the media, and from the leading edge
of the label (or tag) as it moves forward through the printer.

; Note: If you have questions regarding media selection, contact a Datamax Media Representative at (407) 523-

5650.

2

Step 2: Know the Printer

For easy setup and configuration, most RFID settings can be modified via the printer’s front panel.
Depending upon your RFID hardware option, the factory default settings are as follows:

y HF RFID Default Settings (RFID MODE = HF):

RFID POSITION = 1.10
HF SETTINGS:

TAG TYPE = ISO 15693

RETRY ATTEMPTS = 3

PRINTER OPTIONS

MODULES
PRESENT SENSOR
CUTTER
SCANNER

RFID

GPIO PORT
REWINDER

RFID

WED 09:32A 14MAR 2006
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RFID

y UHF RFID Default Settings (RFID MODE =

UHF):
RFID POSITION = 1.10
UHF SETTINGS:

TAG TYPE = GEN 2
TAG DATA SIZE = 96-BIT

RETRY ATTEMPTS = 3

EXIT

EXIT Key

MENU Button

ENTERSYSTEM

ENTER Key

UP & DOWN

Buttons

To change a factory default setting using the front panel, begin by accessing the ADVANCED MENU:

1) Press the MENU BUTTON.

2) Using the UP or the DOWN BUTTON, scroll to SYSTEM SETTINGS then press the ENTER KEY.

3) Using the UP or the DOWN BUTTON, scroll to MENU MODE then press the ENTER KEY.

4) Using the UP or the DOWN BUTTON, scroll to ADVANCED MENU then press the ENTER KEY.

Next, select the factory default setting to be modified (for example, RETRY ATTEMPTS):

1) Press the MENU BUTTON.

2) Using the UP or the DOWN BUTTON, scroll to PRINTER OPTIONS then press the ENTER KEY.

3) Using the UP or the DOWN BUTTON, scroll to RFID then press the ENTER KEY.

4) Using the UP or the DOWN BUTTON, scroll to RETRY ATTEMPTS then press the ENTER KEY.

5) Using the UP or the DOWN BUTTON, enter the desired number of retries then press the ENTER
KEY.

6) Press the EXIT KEY and, at the SAVE CHANGES prompt, answer YES to complete the setup.

; Notes: (1) If the display indicates NOT INSTALLED after selecting RFID, then the device is not equipped or not

communicating with the printer. In this case, proceed to the MODE setting and ensure that the correct
RFID device has been selected.

(2) For User Interface details, see the Operator’s Manual.

(3) To restore factory defaults, select SET DEFAULTS in the RFID options menu.

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As a final note on default settings, encoded RFID data can be exported to a host device (with proper
cabling) by enabling OPTION FEEDBACK. The data is contained in the format <A;B;C;D;E;F>[CR]
where:

A - Is the device type: R = RFID; and, S = Linear Scanner.
B - Is the resulting status: C = entire label complete; F = faulted (failed) label; and, U = unknown.
C - Is the number of expected reads for bar codes or tags, given in two characters.
D - Is the number of good reads for bar codes or tags, given in two characters.
E - Is the printer’s internal Job and Sub Job Identifier, given in four characters each.
F - Is the data that was read, delimited with semicolons (;) on multiple reads.

To enable OPTION FEEDBACK, proceed as follows:

1) Press the MENU BUTTON.

2) Using the UP or the DOWN BUTTON, scroll to COMMUNICATIONS then press the ENTER KEY.

3) Using the UP or the DOWN BUTTON, scroll to HOST SETTINGS then press the ENTER KEY.

4) Using the UP or the DOWN BUTTON, scroll to OPTION FEEDBACK then press the ENTER KEY.

5) Using the UP or the DOWN BUTTON, enter the desired output format (RFID HEX or RFID ASCII)
then press the ENTER KEY.

6) Press the EXIT KEY and, at the SAVE CHANGES prompt, answer YES to complete the setup.

Step 3: Calibrate the RFID Tag

To establish the critical tag to transducer distance setting and nominal power requirements, the printer
features two different RFID tag calibration methods, Quick and Standard. As shown below, while the
amount of operator interaction differs, both calibration methods accomplish the same result. Before
calibrating for the RFID tag, ensure the following:

1) That RFID media has been loaded;

2) That the printer’s media sensor has been calibrated for the RFID media; and,

3) That the RFID option has been enabled in the printer’s option menu.

(Consult the Operator’s Manual for details on these procedures and settings.)

Proceed with the RFID Tag calibration, choose your preferred method and execute the steps required:

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y Quick RFID Calibration –

With the printer at READY, simultaneously press both
the FEED Key and the TEST Button;

– OR –

y Standard RFID Calibration –

1) From the Advanced Menu, press the MENU BUTTON.

2) Using the UP or the DOWN BUTTON, scroll to
PRINTER OPTIONS and press the ENTER KEY.

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READY

CONFIGURATION

PAUSE

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RFID

RFID MODULE
RFID POSITION
HF SETTINGS
UHF SETTINGS
LOCK AFTER WRITE
RETRY A TTE MP TS

PERFORM CALIBRA T ION

SET DEFAULTS

EXIT

RFID

RFID

FEED

CANCEL

FEED Key

&

TEST Button

ENTERSYSTEM

3) Scroll to RFID and press the ENTER KEY.

ENTER Key

4) Scroll to PERFORM CALIBRATION and press the
ENTER KEY.

UP & DOWN

Buttons

Using either method, you will be prompted to PERFORM CALIBRATION? Answering YES at the prompt
will initiate the process, while NO will terminate it. If yes, the CALIBRATING RFID message will appear
and the printer will feed the media then begin scanning for the RFID tag location. Once the location is
established, power calibration begins. Wait briefly while both processes finish.

Upon completion, the media will be retracted to the TOF position, the calibrated position and power
results (along with a brief SUCCESS or FAILURE message) will be displayed, and the printer’s database
will be updated with the new calibration parameters.

; Note: If using the Standard RFID Calibration method, an additional pop-up window allows detailed calibration

results to be viewed and printed (see sample below).

5

This is the optimum
power level and tag
position that was
established and set
in the printer during
the RFID Calibration
process.

RFID TAG REPORT

WED 09:52AM 12 APR2006
POWER LEVEL

0dB

RFID POSITION

1.41in.

POSITION

1.10in.

1.14in.

1.18in.

1.22in.

1.26in.

1.30in.

1.33in.

1.37in.

1.41in.

1.45in.

1.49in.

1.53in.

1.57in.

1.61in.

1.65in.

1.69in.

1.73in.

1.77in.

1.81in.

1.85in.

OUTCOME

RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW

R

POWER

-4dB

-3dB

-2dB

-1dB
0dB
1dB
2dB
3dB
4dB

OUTCOME

RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW
RW

These are tested tag

positions and outcomes,

where:

RW = Read/Write;

R = Read; and

blank = unreadable.

After establishing the

tag position, these are

the tested power levels

and outcomes, where:

RW = Read/Write;

R = Read; and

=

Step 4: RFID Programming Modes

The printer features two different operational modes for RFID tag programming:

y Direct Mode allows the user (Host) to control the reading and writing of the RFID tag directly.

Containing both a generic read/write interface and a high-level tag UHF-specific interface, each RFID
tag is individually processed with status and data responses.

y Label Formatting Mode utilizes the current printer configuration to process all the reads, write, and

exception processing for each tag printed. (For exception processing and fault handling details, see
the Operator’s Manual.) The specification for the RFID operation is contained in the data fields of a
DPL label format, instructing the printer to write data, read data,

and update selective fields prior to
printing the label. This mode supports automatic increment and decrement commands for numeric,
alphanumeric, or hexadecimal.

; Notes: (1) Both programming modes will auto-position the label to the RFID tag location.
(2) Reference the Class Series Programmer's Manual for detailed RFID programming information.

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