TransCore MPRX, System Manual

Page: 143 / 208

MPRX
TransCore Proprietary 8–17
Fine-Tuning and Verifying the Read Zone
If the read zone is too wide or too deep for your application, it can be fine-tuned by
physically adjusting the external antenna mounting orientation, reprogramming the actual
RF power output (#644NN Set RF Attenuation), and/or reprogramming the RF sensitivity
range (#643NN Set ATA Operating Range (Distance) and #645NN Set SeGo Protocol Tag
Operating Range). The combination of these adjustments allows you to confine the read
zone to the area where tagged vehicles pass.
Refer to sections
“643NN Select ATA Operating Range (Distance)” on page 7–27 ,
“645NN Set SeGo Protocol Operating Range (Distance)” on page 7–28, and “644NN Set
RF Attenuation” on page 7–27 for more information.
Note: As described in “Marking the Read Zone” on page 4-14, marking the read pattern
using test tags that are hand-carried by a tester gives a general idea of the read
pattern but the pattern may vary somewhat when actual rail assets are read.
Physically Orienting the MPRX Antenna(s)
You can manually adjust the location of the read zone by loosening the antenna(s)
mounting hardware and pointing the antenna in the desired direction. The unit should be
aligned to point directly at the tag as it enters the desired read zone.
Fine-Tuning the Read Zone by Lowering Output Power
You can make the read zone smaller by adjusting the MPRX RF power output from a
maximum of 2 watts to a minimum of 200 milliwatts using command
#644NN
Set RF
Attenuation.
To adjust the read zone by lowering output power
1. Ensure that your PC is communicating with the MPRX using a terminal emulation
program as described in section “Verifying Communications” on page 8–6 .
1. Mark the current read zone as described in section “Marking the Read Zone” on page
4–13 .
Caution
Test tags should be compatible with your MPRX. Test tags can be AAR-formatted or
SeGo-protocol tags.
2. Enter command #01 to switch to command mode. You are prompted with
#DONE
from
the reader and can now enter reader commands.
3. Enter in command #64401 to lower the RF power by 1 dB below 2 watts (default). Press
ENTER.
Note: In the command #644NN, NN can be any hexadecimal value from 00 to 0A.
Settings for attenuation are 1.0 dB increments over a range of 10 dB of attenuation from
the maximum power setting of 2 watts at 0 dB attenuation to a minimum power level
of 200 milliwatts at 10 dB attenuation. Increasing the attenuation lowers the output RF
power.