JANUS
®
900 MHz
Radio Frequency
P/N 060207-002
Quick Reference Guide
Intermec Corporation
6001 36th Avenue West
P.O. Box 4280
Everett, WA 98203-9280
U.S. technical and service support: 1-800-755-5505
U.S. media supplies ordering information: 1-800-227-9947
Canadian technical and service support: 1-800-688-7043
Canadian media supplies ordering information: 1-800-268-6936
Outside U.S. and Canada: Contact your local Intermec service supplier.
The information contained herein is proprietary and is provided solely for the purpose of allowing
customers to operate and/or service Intermec manufactured equipment and is not to be released,
reproduced, or used for any other purpose without written permission of Intermec.
Information and specifications in this manual are subject to change without notice.
1996 by Intermec Corporation
All Rights Reserved
The word Intermec, the Intermec logo, JANUS, IRL, TRAKKER, Antares, Duratherm, Precision Print,
PrintSet, Virtual Wedge, and CrossBar are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Intermec
Corporation.
Throughout this manual, trademarked names may be used. Rather than put a trademark ( or ®)
symbol in every occurrence of a trademarked name, we state that we are using the names only in an
editorial fashion, and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement.
Manual Change Record
This page records the changes to this manual. The manual was originally released at -001.
Version Date Description of Change
002 7/95 JANUS 2050 information added.
Contents
Contents
Overview of an RF System 7
Setting Up RF Communications 8
Attaching the Antenna 8
Configuring the RF Parameters 10
Unloading and Loading the RF Protocol Handler 12
Using RF Communications 13
Understanding the RF Status Icons and LEDs 13
Managing Your J2010 and JR2020 Battery Power 14
Troubleshooting Your J2010 and Your JR2020 15
Troubleshooting Your J2050 16
Configuring Your JANUS RF Device 17
Using RF Communications 17
Using the Interactive Configuration Application 18
Scanning Bar Code Labels 19
RF Configuration Parameters 19
Acknowledgment Delay 19
Broadcast Receipt 20
Channel Allow 21
Channel Select 22
Device Address 23
Duty Cycle Percent 26
Duty Cycle Period 27
Loopback 29
Network ID 29
Repeat Count 31
Retry Limit 32
RF Protocol 33
RFNC Address 34
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JANUS 900 MHz Radio Frquency Quick Reference Guide
This guide describes how to use radio frequency communications on the JANUS RF
devices (J2010 with an RF back and JR2020 handheld data collection computers and
J2050 vehicle-mount computer). It also tells you how to attach the antenna and
configure the JANUS RF devices. For more help about any other features, refer to your
JANUS user’s manual.
Overview of an RF System
A radio frequency (RF) data collection system establishes a two-way radio link
between a JANUS RF device and a central network controller. The data from
the JANUS RF device is sent in real time through the RF system to the network
controller and then on to the host computer. The RF link is completely
transparent to the user. The following illustration shows one example of an RF
data collection system.
Nuggetfont
9183
Repeater
J2010 with
an RF Back
9181 Base
Radio Unit
9180
Network
Controller
Host Computer
JR2020 (RF)
20X0Q.004
With your JANUS RF device you can move anywhere within range of a base
radio unit (BRU) or a radio repeater and transmit data to and from a network
controller that is connected to a host computer. If your controller has a 900
MHz RF ISA card installed, you can transmit directly to it. For help in learning
about RF systems, refer to your controller user’s manual.
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JANUS 900 MHz Radio Frequency Quick Reference Guide
Setting Up RF Communications
Before you can use RF communications on the JANUS RF device, you need to
do the following:
• Attach the antenna to the J2010 with an RF back, JR2020, or J2050.
• Configure the RF parameters.
• Make sure that the RF protocol handler is loaded.
Attaching the Antenna
Caution
The antenna must be attached before turning on the JANUS RF device. The
internal radio could be damaged if the antenna is not attached.
Conseil
Si l’antenna n’est pas attachée avant que l’appareil RF de JANUS soit mise
sous tension, la radio interne peut être endommagée.
Nuggetfont
Note: Do not interchange antennas between any of the JANUS RF devices. Each
antenna is built specifically for the radio that is installed in the device.
1. Make sure the JANUS RF device is switched off. If the JANUS RF device is
on, switch it off by pressing L.
2. Screw the antenna into the connector of the JANUS RF device. Refer to the
following illustrations.
3. Switch on the JANUS RF device by pressing L.
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Attaching the J2010 Antenna
Attaching the J2050 Antenna
JANUS 900 MHz Radio Frquency Quick Reference Guide
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20X0Q.002
2050U.009
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JANUS 900 MHz Radio Frequency Quick Reference Guide
Attaching the JR2020 Antenna
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20X0Q.003
Configuring the RF Parameters
The RF configuration parameters define radio communications between the
JANUS RF device and the Intermec RF data collection system.
Note: The software version of your 9180 network controller can affect which RF
configuration parameters you set. Refer to the next section, “About Your Controller
Software Version.”
RF Configuration
Parameter Default Setting
Acknowledgment Delay 100 milliseconds
Broadcast Receipt Enabled
Channel Allow All channels are excluded from the search pattern
Channel Select 924 MHz
Device Address 0 (turned off)
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JANUS 900 MHz Radio Frquency Quick Reference Guide
RF Configuration
Parameter Default Setting
Nuggetfont
Duty Cycle Percent (reader)
Duty Cycle Percent (J2050)
Duty Cycle Period 1 second
Loopback Disabled
Network ID Channel search disabled
Repeat Count 0 repeaters
Retry Limit 0 (optimized setting)
RF Protocol Enabled
RFNC Address RFNC 0
30%
100%
To configure the JANUS RF device, follow the instructions in “Configuring a
JANUS RF Device” later in this guide.
About Your Controller Software Version
The software version that is running on your 9180 Network Controller
determines the RF configuration parameters you need to set on your JANUS RF
devices. If you have a 9180 controller running software version 1.3 or earlier,
you do not have some features that the 9180 controller with software version
2.0 and the 9185 Network Controller have. These enhanced features include
time broadcast, channel search capabilities, network management, and support
for multiple BRUs.
If the 9180 controller is running software version 1.3 or earlier
Parameter on
JANUS RF device Must match
Device Address The address used by the network controller to identify each
Channel Select The channel set for the BRU.
Network ID 0
RFNC Address A value that is twice the setting on the network controller.
Repeat Count The setting on the network controller.
JANUS RF device.
For example, if the network controller address is 2, you would
set the RFNC address on the JANUS RF device to 4.
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JANUS 900 MHz Radio Frequency Quick Reference Guide
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If the 9180 controller is running software version 2.0 or you have a 9185 controller
Parameter on
JANUS RF device Must match
Device Address The address used by the network controller to identify each
JANUS RF device.
Channel Select The channel set for the BRU that is most frequently used by the
JANUS RF device.
Network ID The value entered for the network ID on the network controller.
Note: The Channel Allow parameter must be set if you are going to be communicating
on more than one frequency by using the channel search feature.
For help in learning about the network controller, base radio unit, and radio
repeater, refer to your user’s manual.
Unloading and Loading the RF Protocol Handler
The protocol handler for RF communications automatically loads when you
boot a JANUS RF device.
If you do not need the RF protocol handler, you can unload it. For help in
learning about protocol handlers, refer to your JANUS user’s manual.
To unload the RF protocol handler
•
From the JANUS RF device DOS prompt, type:
unload rfph 4
Note: The “4” in the command line indicates you are unloading the protocol
handler for COM port 4 (RF interface).
If you have unloaded the RF protocol handler, and want to use RF
communications without rebooting your JANUS RF device, you can load it
again.
To load the protocol handler
•
From the JANUS RF device DOS prompt, type:
rfph 4
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JANUS 900 MHz Radio Frquency Quick Reference Guide
Using RF Communications
For RF communications, use the Communications Manager, IRL Desktop, or an
application created using the software libraries provided in the Programmer’s
Software Kit Language Libraries. For help in learning about the language
libraries, refer to your JANUS PSK reference manual.
Note: The Interlnk/Intersvr utilities do not work with RF communications.
When you use a communications program, the RF communications port is
designated as COM4. Since COM4 is not a standard PC communications port,
you cannot access it with commercial communications packages.
You can switch between RF communications and serial communications
(by designating whether you are talking to COM1 or COM4. If you are
switching between COM1 and COM4, you need to have protocol handlers
loaded for both ports.
Once your RF system is configured for RF communications, you can begin
collecting and transmitting data using your JANUS RF device to and from a
network controller. When you transmit data using the JANUS RF device, the
information is first sent to its radio buffer. The data is then sent on to the
network controller. Even if the RF network goes down, you can continue to
collect data until the radio buffer is full. When the buffer is full, the application
returns a communication timeout status. The actual status response depends on
what language you used to develop the application. When your RF network
comes back up, the data in the radio buffer is transmitted to the network
controller and you can once again transmit data.
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Caution
Do not operate two RF devices within 2 feet (0.6 meters) of each other when
using RF communications. Doing so may damage the radio receivers.
Conseil
Assurez-vous de ne pas utiliser deux devices RF de carte à moins de 2 pieds
(0,6 mètres) l’un de l’autre lorsque vous effectuez des communications en
radiofréquence. Sinon, les récepteurs radio pourront être endommagés.
Understanding the RF Status Icons and LEDs
RF status icons on the reader display correspond to LEDs on the J2050 case.
These RF icons and LEDs are used to manage RF communications:
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JANUS 900 MHz Radio Frequency Quick Reference Guide
.
Connected This icon contains an asterisk. The icon or LED flashes when the RF
*
interface is either actively channel searching or trying to reestablish
communications with the network controller. When this icon or LED is solid,
the RF interface is connected to a network controller. The RF interface in the
JANUS RF device handles RF communications.
If this icon or LED is off, RF communications are not possible. The JANUS RF
device may not be set up correctly for RF communications or there may be
another problem such as the battery being low. If RF communications appear
to be locked up, see one of the troubleshooting sections later in this guide for
more help.
Data This icon contains a square. The icon or LED turns on when data is
buffered in the RF interface. The data is either being transmitted to the network
controller or received data has not been accepted by the JANUS RF device
application. Up to five messages can be buffered in the RF interface.
If there are messages in the RF interface when RF communications are turned
off, the data icon or LED remains on.
Note: Do not turn off the JANUS RF device when the data icon or LED is lit. If you
turn off the JANUS RF device, the RF interface saves the data and attempts to transmit
the data again when the JANUS RF device is powered on. This could cause problems if
the JANUS RF device is not powered back on for some time. The data could then be
meaningless and/or disrupt the host application.
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Battery (JANUS 2010 and 2020 readers only.) This icon turns on and stays on
when the NiCad battery pack has approximately 15 to 45 minutes of power left.
Immediately replace or recharge the battery pack because you will soon lose RF
communications. For help, see your JANUS RF documentation.
If you continue to operate the reader without replacing or recharging the
battery pack, the battery pack charge becomes very low. The Battery icon stays
on, the reader chirps every 5 seconds, and then turns off after 1 minute. The
laser scanner and RF communications are turned off 15 seconds after the first
low battery chirp.
You cannot turn the reader back on until you replace the battery pack. The
Battery icon disappears when you replace or recharge the NiCad battery pack.
Managing Your J2010 and JR2020 Battery Power
The JANUS reader’s RF interface has built-in power management to maximize
the life of the battery. The RF interface is the hardware and software built into
the reader to handle RF communications. For more ideas on how to conserve
battery life, see your JANUS user’s manual.
To conserve battery life, the RF interface turns off. No RF communications are
possible in these situations:
• Reader is off.
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