Socket Mobile RFID001 User Manual

CF RFID Reader Card

CompactFlash Card with Integrated High Frequency RFID Reader/Writer for Pocket PC 2003

™

User’s Guide

5/2005 Document # 6410-00260 B

Socket, the Socket logo and Mobility Friendly are registered trademarks of Socket Communications, Inc. CF RFID Reader Card, RFID Demo, SocketScan, and SocketScan Trigger are registered trademarks or trademarks of Socket Communications, Inc. All other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective holders.

Reproduction of the contents of this manual without the permission of Socket Communications is expressly prohibited. Please be aware that the products described in this manual may change without notice.

Feel free to contact SOCKET COMMUNICATIONS at:

Socket Communications, Inc.

37400 Central Court Newark, CA 94560

Other than the above, Socket Communications can assume no responsibility for anything resulting from the application of information contained in this manual.

Please refrain from any applications of the Socket CF RFID Reader Card that are not described in this manual. Please refrain from disassembling the CF RFID Reader Card. Disassembly of this device will void the product warranty.

You can track new product releases, software updates and technical bulletins by visiting Socket’s web page at:

www.socketcom.com.

Table of Contents

About the Software 4 System Requirements 5 Package Contents 5 Product Registration 5

2 | SETUP FOR WINDOWS MOBILE 6

STEP 1: Uninstall Other Scanning Software 7 STEP 2: Install the Software 8 STEP 3: Insert the CF RFID Reader Card 10 STEP 4: Start SocketScan 10 STEP 5: Assign a Trigger Button 11 STEP 6: Read Tag ID into a Windows Program 12 OPTIONAL: Configure Prefix/Suffixes 15 OPTIONAL: Configure Sounds 16 OPTIONAL: Use SocketScan Trigger 17

3 | RFID DEMO 19

Read an RFID Tag 20 Enable Inventory and Loop Modes 22 Select Tag Type 23 ADVANCED: Write to Tag 24

APPENDICES A | SPECIFICATIONS 27 B | HF RFID STANDARDS & TAG DESCRIPTIONS 28 C | TROUBLESHOOTING 37 D | TECHNICAL SUPPORT 38

LIMITED WARRANTY 39 REGULATORY COMPLIANCE 41

1 | Introduction

Now add high frequency RFID capabilities to your mobile data collection application with the Socket CF RFID Reader Card. This product reads and writes to all ISO 15693 and many proprietary

13.56 MHz RFID tags being used or deployed for asset tracking, access control, process control and healthcare/medical/pharmaceutical applications.

The Socket CF RFID Reader Card gives you the freedom of reading and writing to high frequency RFID tags anytime, anywhere with your Pocket PC2003 (Windows Mobile) device. The card’s compact design lets you read tags with only one hand.

The CF RFID Reader Card is sleekly designed with no cables or batteries – it draws minimal power from the Pocket PC. The card is designed to withstand repeated three-foot drops to concrete – even when inserted in the Pocket PC.

About the Software

For software updates:

SocketScan™ enters the RFID tag ID directly into any open Windows program, as if the data were manually typed. You can configure Prefix/Suffixes and assign a beep tone to signify good data reads.

Socket RFID Demo allows you to read memory blocks of selected RFID tags in range in either Inventory Mode or a continuous Loop Mode. For advanced users, there is also the capability to write data to the RFID memory.

For Windows Mobile, also included is SocketScan Trigger, which places a software trigger on your screen that you can tap to trigger the reader. Installation is optional.

www.socketcom.com/support/support_bar.asp

System Requirements

Your device should meet these minimum requirements:

• Pocket PC running Windows Mobile 2003 or 2003SE

• Available CompactFlash card slot

Note: For operation in a PC Card slot, use a PC Card adapter, available separately, SKU# AC4000-978.

Package Contents

The CF RFID Reader Card package includes the following:

• Socket CF RFID Reader Card

• SocketScan Installation CD

• Booklet with copyright and warranty information

Product Registration

Socket highly recommends that all customers register their products. Register online at:

www.socketcom.com/prodreg.

Product registration is not required to ensure your warranty rights.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 5

2 | Setup for Windows Mobile

This chapter shows how to install, configure, and use the CF RFID Reader Card on any of the following Windows Mobile-based devices:

• Pocket PC 2003

• Pocket PC 2003SE (Second Edition)

This chapter shows Pocket PC 2003 screens. Other Windows Mobile-based devices will have functionally equivalent screens except where otherwise noted.

Setup Summary

STEP 1: Uninstall any bar code scanning software already on your device. STEP 2: Install the software. STEP 3: Insert the CF RFID Reader Card into Your Device. STEP 4: Start SocketScan. STEP 5: Assign a trigger button. STEP 6: Read tag IDs into a Windows program.

OPTIONAL:

• Configure prefix/suffixes.

• Configure sounds to confirm a successful read.

• Use SocketScan Trigger.

STEP 1: Uninstall Other Scanning Software

Delete any bar code scanning software you may already have installed on your Pocket PC. You can either uninstall the software directly from your Pocket PC, or indirectly via ActiveSync.

OPTION 1: Uninstall Directly from the Pocket PC

1. Make sure the bar code scanning software is closed, and remove the CF

RFID Reader Card from your Pocket PC.

2. Tap Start | Settings. Tap on the System tab or Control Panel.

3. Tap on the Remove Programs icon.

4. Select the bar code scanning software, then tap Remove.

5. Tap Yes to confirm removal of the program.

OPTION 2: Uninstall via ActiveSync

1. Make sure the bar code scanning software is closed, and remove the CF

RFID Reader Card from your Pocket PC.

2. Use ActiveSync and a serial/Ethernet/USB cable or cradle to make an

active connection between your Pocket PC and a host PC.

3. On the host PC, open Microsoft ActiveSync.

4. Click Tools | Add/Remove Programs.

5. Select the bar code scanning software and click Remove.

6. In the confirmation screen, click OK.

7. The next dialog will ask if you want to remove the software from your

host PC as well.

• Click NO to keep a copy of the software on the host PC that can later

be re-installed onto a Pocket PC.

• Click YES to remove the software from the host PC.

CHAPTER 2: SETUP FOR WINDOWS MOBILE 7

STEP 2: Install the Software

Follow these instructions to install SocketScan into your Po cket PC. Afterwards, you may choose to repeat the same process to install the RFID Demo and/or Floating Trigger software, if desired.

1. Use ActiveSync and a serial/Ethernet/USB cable or cradle to make an

active connection between the Pocket PC and a host PC.

2. Insert the installation CD into your host PC.

3. Use My Computer or Windows Explorer to access your CD-ROM drive.

In the CD, click on SETUP.EXE.

4. Follow the instructions on your screen to install the software.

• Read the information in the Welcome screen and click next.

• In the Main Page, click Install Software.

• In the Installation screen, click Windows CE.

5. In the File Download screen, click Run.

6. If a Security Warning appears, click Run.

7. The installation wizard will begin. Follow the instructions that appear on

your screen to complete the installation.

8. When software installation is complete, disconnect the Pocket PC from

the host PC. Soft reset the Pocket PC by pressing the reset button.

IMPORTANT! BE SURE TO SOFT RESET YOUR POCKET PC AFTER INSTALLATION!

CHAPTER 2: SETUP FOR WINDOWS MOBILE 9

STEP 3: Insert the CF RFID Reader Card

Plug directly into a CompactFlash card slot.

adapter, then plug the combined unit into a PC Card slot.

Insert into an

STEP 4: Start SocketScan

1. Pocket PC: Go to Start | Programs | SocketScan.

2. Whenever SocketScan is running, either of two icons may appear in the

menu bar (visible from the Today screen for Pocket PCs).

Make sure the “CF RFID Reader Card detected” icon appears.

Icon Meaning.

CF RFID Reader Card detected. SocketScan detects the reader card and is ready to read or write.

No RFID Reader Card detected. The reader card is either missing or improperly inserted.

Note: The Dell Axim X5 and Toshiba e750 Pocket PC 2002 devices MAY exhibit a bug that prevents the operation of CompactFlash serial devices like the CF RFID Reader Card the first time they are inserted after a soft reset. If this occurs in your device, read the README file on the installation CD or

www.socketcom.com/support/support_bar.asp.

visit:

STEP 5: Assign a Trigger Button

Refer to your Pocket PC’s user documentation to assign a trigger button for the CF RFID Reader Card

Note:

• If SocketScan is not running yet, then pressing the assigned trigger

button is a quick way to launch SocketScan. Pressing the trigger button will activate the reader only when SocketScan is open.

• If it is inconvenient or impossible for you to assign a hardware button

on your Pocket PC, you can install SocketScan Trigger from the installation CD to place a software trigger button on your screen.

1. Go to Start | Settings | Personal | Buttons.

2. From the Button list, select a button to trigger the CF RFID Reader

Card. In the Button assignment field, select SocketScan. When done, tap ok.

Note: For maximum ergonomic placement, choose a button located directly beneath your thumb or forefinger when you hold the Pocket PC. The Voice Record button is a good choice for many Pocket PCs.

CHAPTER 2: SETUP FOR WINDOWS MOBILE 11

STEP 6: Read Tag ID into a Windows Program

1. Start the Windows application that you want to receive the data (e.g.,

Excel, Notepad, etc.). Make sure a document or spreadsheet is open. Place the cursor where you want to enter data.

Note: If using Pocket Excel, you may want to increase the cell width to fit the entire length of a tag ID, which may have more than 20 characters.

2. Hold the Pocket PC so that the CF RFID Reader Card is directly above

and parallel to the RFID tag, at most 2.5 inches above the tag. The back surface of the card must face the top of the RFID tag as pictured below:

CORRECT POSITION: Hold the RFID Reader Card parallel to and directly

above the tag, at most 2.5 inches above the tag.

Parallel,

2.5 inches max.

DO NOT hold the RFID Reader Card at an angle towards the tag.

WRONG POSITION:

WRONG POSITION: DO NOT hold the RFID Reader Card

perpendicular to the tag.

3. Press the assigned trigger button and read the tag. When data is read, a

beep should sound indicating a good read. If the CF RFID Reader Card fails to read data within a few seconds, you must try again.

Note: Alternatively, you can tap the SocketScan Trigger to read the tag, if you installed the SocketScan Trigger software.

CHAPTER 2: SETUP FOR WINDOWS MOBILE 13

+ 29 hidden pages

Socket Mobile RFID001 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual