Alien ALR-H460 User manual

ALIEN TECHNOLOGY®
ALR-H460
User Guide
ALR-H460

Legal Notices
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and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. U.S. Government approval required when
exporting the product described in this documentation.
Federal Acquisitions: Commercial Software -- Government Users Subject to Standard License Terms and Conditions. U.S.
Government: If this Software is being acquired by or on behalf of the U.S. Government or by a U.S. Government prime contractor or
subcontractor (at any tier), then the Government's rights in the Software and accompanying documentation shall be only as set forth
in this license; this is in accordance with 48 C.F.R. 227.7201 through 227.7202-4 (for Department of Defense (DoD) acquisitions)
and with 48 C.F.R. 2.101 and 12.212 (for non-DoD acquisitions).
DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED CONDITIONS, REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARANTEES, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR
NON-INFRINGMENT ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT SUCH DISCLAIMERS ARE HELD TO BE
LEGALLY INVALID.
FCC Compliance
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 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 instruction manual, may cause harmful interference with 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 his own
expense.
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not
cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.
Any change or modification to this product voids the user’s authority to operate per FCC Part 15 Subpart A. Section 15.21
regulations.
Caution
To comply with RF exposure requirements, a minimum separation distance of 0 mm must be maintained between the user’s body
and the device, including the antenna. This device is designed and manufactured not to exceed the emission limits for exposure to
radio frequency (RF) energy set by the Federal Communications Commission of the U.S. Government. The exposure standard for
wireless devices employs a unit of measurement known as the Specific Absorption Rate, or SAR. The SAR performance is TBD
W/kg. See FCC OET Bulletin 56 “Hazards of radio frequency and electromagnetic fields” and Bulletin 65 “Human exposure to radio
frequency electromagnetic fields.” This device was tested for typical body-Support operations. Third-party belt-clips, holsters, and
similar accessories used with this device should not contain any metallic components. Body-worn accessories that do not meet
these requirements may not comply with RF exposure requirements and should be avoided. Use only the supplied antenna.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ALR-H460 USER GUIDE
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Alien Technology®
User Guide
ALR-H460 Handheld
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1
About this Manual ................................................................................................................................ 1
Who should read this manual?................................................................................................................... 1
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 1
Precautions When Using the Battery.......................................................................................................... 1
Precautions When Using the Handheld...................................................................................................... 2
Components and Features .................................................................................................................. 3
Handheld Components .............................................................................................................................. 4
Handheld Buttons ...................................................................................................................................... 4
Device Specifications................................................................................................................................. 5
CHAPTER 2BASIC FUNCTIONS ....................................................................................................... 7
Power and Battery ............................................................................................................................... 7
Battery Charging ....................................................................................................................................... 7
Power On and Off...................................................................................................................................... 7
SIM and microSD Card Installation...................................................................................................... 7
OTG Network Connectivity .................................................................................................................. 8
CHAPTER 3RFID TAG READER...................................................................................................... 9
Starting the ALR-H460 Demo Software ............................................................................................... 9
Inventory Utility .................................................................................................................................. 10
Geiger Tag Utility................................................................................................................................ 10
Tag Access Utility................................................................................................................................11
Basic Access Tab..................................................................................................................................... 12
Advanced Access Tab.............................................................................................................................. 13
Tag Mask ........................................................................................................................................... 15
Tag Mask – Scan..................................................................................................................................... 16
Tag Mask – Custom................................................................................................................................. 17
Tag Mask – Presets ................................................................................................................................. 18
Tag Mask – Assets................................................................................................................................... 19
RFID Settings .................................................................................................................................... 21
CHAPTER 4BARCODE SCANNER .................................................................................................. 22

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Chapter 1
Introduction
About this Manual
This manual provides safety information, technical support information, and sources for additional
product information.
Who should read this manual?
This manual is written for personnel responsible for installing, configuring, and maintaining the
Alien ALR-H460 handheld. This manual provides information about the features of the ALR-H460,
and how to install, configure, operate, and maintain it.
Before you operating ALR-H460, please read through and become familiar with the contents of
this manual.
Introduction
The Alien ALR-H460 is a high performance and expandable Android-powered handheld terminal,
with data capture, data processing, and wireless communication. Easy deployment, reduced
complexity and decreased maintenance are just some of the benefits of using the Alien ALR-
H460 handheld.
The ALR-H460 meets industrial level IP64 (IEC sealing), and is perfect for routine applications,
such as: railway inspection, road/parking toll, vehicle inspection, logistics express, power
inspection, warehousing management, chain retail, etc. Whether the mobile operators are
working indoors or outdoors, with the Alien ALR-H460, business applications are always highly
efficient and on-line.
The Alien ALR-H460 comes with worldwide cellular 4G capability. Multi-channel data and voice
communication guarantees real-time communication and data efficiency.
Precautions When Using the Battery
1. Do not leave device unused for extended periods of time, either in the product or in
storage. When the battery has been unused for 6 months, check the charge status and
charge or send unit in for depot battery replacement
2. The typical estimated life of a Lithium-Ion battery is about two or three years, or 300 to
500 charge cycles, whichever occurs first. One charge cycle is a period of use from fully
charged, to fully discharged, and fully recharged again. Expect a two to three-year life
expectancy for batteries that do not run through complete charge cycles.
3. Rechargeable Lithium-Ion batteries have a limited life and will gradually lose their
capacity to hold a charge. This loss of capacity (aging) is irreversible. As the battery loses
capacity, the length of time it will power the product (run time) decreases.
4. Lithium-Ion batteries continue to slowly discharge (self-discharge) when not in use or
while in storage. Routinely check the battery’s charge status.
5. Observe and note the run time that a new fully-charged battery provides for powering
your product. Use the new battery run time as a basis to compare run times for older

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batteries. The run time of the handheld battery will vary depending on the product’s
configuration and the applications run.
6. Routinely check the battery’s charge status.
7. Carefully monitor batteries that are approaching the end of their estimated life.
8. Consider replacing the battery with a new one if either of the following conditions occur:
The battery run time drops below about 80% of the original run time.
The battery charge time increases significantly.
9. Always follow the charging instructions provided with your product. Refer to the product’s
user manual and/or online help for detailed information about charging its battery.
10. Charge or discharge the battery to approximately 50% of capacity before storage.
11. Charge the battery to approximately 50% of capacity at least once every six months.
12. Remove the battery and store it separately from the product.
13. Store the battery at temperatures between 5 °C and 20 °C (41 °F and 68 °F).
Precautions When Using the Handheld
•Careless use or repair attempts may damage the unit or stored data and will void any
warranties. Alien is not responsible for this damage.
•If a problem occurs, do not try to repair or disassemble the product; please contact Alien
customer service.
•Do not use where devices sensitive to electromagnetic radiation are operating, such as a
hospital, airplane, etc., or risk of interference may occur.
•The unit may malfunction at very high or low temperatures, or in a very humid
environment.
•Please do not use sharp objects to touch the screen, or damage may result. Use only soft
objects, like a fingertip or soft end stylus, on the touchscreen.
•The handheld may only be connected to a USB interface version 2 or greater
•Do Not connect to a Powered USB interface

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Components and Features
Component Identification
RFID/Barcode CPU Unit
Pistol Grip
Cradle
Wall Charger
Charging/Data Cable
Plus: SIM card removal tool & strap

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Handheld Components
Handheld Buttons
Button Function
Power Button Press and hold to turn the device on or off
Left/Right SCAN Button
Left FUNCTION Button
Auxiliary buttons to provide additional application-
specific functionality for custom programs.
Scan buttons act the same as the pistol grip in the
Alien RFID Demo.
Top
Barcode
Reader
Camera
RFID
Reader
Speaker
Power
Button
Right SCAN
Button
Left SCAN
Button
Front
FUNCTION
Button

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Device Specifications
Physical Characteristics
Dimensions 178 x 86.2 x 146 mm (7.0 x 3.4 x 5.7 in)
Weight 650g (23 oz.)
Screen 5.2 in. FHD (1920 x 1080)
Battery 8000 mAh sealed internal Li-Po
Expansion Slot Micro SD, up to 128 GB
SIM Slot
1 SIM card plus another SIM card OR microSD
card
Audio Speaker
Camera 13 MP Auto Focus with Flash
Keyboard Soft main keyboard, 4 front hard keys
Performance Characteristics
CPU Cortex-A53 1.45GHz quad core
OS Android 6.0
Memory 2 GB RAM, 16 GB Flash
Interface USB 2.0 Type C, OTG
Storage Micro-SD card
Max Storage Expansion 128 GB
User Environmental Characteristics
Operating Temp. -10℃to 50℃
Storage Temp. -40℃to 70℃
Humidity 5%RH-95%RH（non-condensing）
Drop Survival 1.0 m drop, 6 sides
Sealing IP64
ESD
=/-15kV air discharge, +/-6 kV conductive
discharge

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Wireless Communication
WAN WWAN (America) (2G: 850/900/1800/1900, 3G:
850/900/1700/1900, 4G: B2, B4, B7, B12, B17)
WLAN
IEEE802.11 a/b/g/n, 2.4/5 GHz dual-band internal
antenna
WPAN Bluetooth 4.0 BLE
RFID / Barcode
RFID (UHF) EPC Class1 Gen2 / ISO18000-6C
Barcode Scanner 2D laser scanner (SE4710)
Development Environment
SDK Alien SDK
Programming Language Java
Development Tool Android Studio

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Chapter 2
Basic Functions
Power and Battery
The ALR-H460 battery system consists of a sealed 8,000 mAh internal Lithium-Polymer battery.
Battery Charging
Place the handheld into the Charging Cradle.
Connect the adapter with the power cable to charge the device or connect it directly to the
handheld.
Power On and Off
Press and hold the ‘Power’ button on the side to turn the device on and off.
SIM and microSD Card Installation
Access to the SIM and microSD card carrier is on the right-side of the H460 data terminal. Remove
the plastic cover by pulling the right-hand side of the cover until the outside of the slot is visible.
Once the cover is removed, use the included SIM card removal tool to push into the release slot
which will push the carrier out. The carrier may be pulled out at this point. Please note that the
CAUTION
You must charge the battery with the power supply adapter
provided by Alien Technology, or your device may be damaged

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carrier is “upside down” and when re-inserting with cards in place, ensure that the device itself is
facing down, so the cards stay in place. Push the carrier in completely, replace the plastic cover
and the device is now ready to use with the cards inserted.
OTG Network Connectivity
In addition to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Cellular communication, the ALR-H460 also supports OTG USB-
LAN adapters for direct RJ45 network connectivity for DCHP and Static IPv4 connections.
To enable Ethernet on H460,
1. Plug OTG compliant USB adapter (please note a USB 2.0 Type C type connector is
required) into H460 (Note: OTG is NOT supported through the charge cradle)
2. Navigate to Settings Ethernet
3. Enable Ethernet on H460
4. Review settings after connection is established
5. Open web browser and try accessing a web page or ping the handheld from another
computer.
SIM 1
SD Card
SIM 1

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Chapter 3
RFID Tag Reader
Starting the ALR-H460 Demo Software
Start Alien Demo Software by tapping on the icon in the OS Applications group.
The main screen of the Alien demo application
has buttons for each of its utilities, and a menu
item for reader settings

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Inventory Utility
The Inventory utility allows scanning all of tags within range of the reader indicating tag’s EPC
and read count in a scrollable list. To start and stop the inventory utility, hold the pistol-grip trigger
button, or by clicking once on the green Start button. The reader continues to read tags until the
release of the trigger or subsequent click of the Stop button. Click the OK button at the bottom-
right corner to return to the main screen.
Geiger Tag Utility
The Geiger Tag utility is designed to assist in finding the location of a particular tag, or one of a
group of tags. It does this by measuring the returning signal strength (RSSI) from the tag, and
displaying this information on the screen, along with an audible and vibratory queue. As the
reader passes near a tag, the RSSI increases, and the change will be audible and visual.
To start the Geiger Tag search, either hold the pistol-grip trigger button, or click once on the
green Start Search button. The reader continues to read tags until trigger is released or stop
button is clicked. Click the red Close box at the top-right corner to return to the main screen.
Clicking the Mask button at the top of the Inventory
screen goes to a page where a specific subset of tags
may be read (see the Tag Mask section). This powerful
feature causes the reader to only read the tags of
interest – those selected by the mask.
Each tag read is added to the scrolling list, along
with the count for each tag. The number of unique
tags and total number of reads is displayed.
User may clear and save the list with the buttons
above the list.

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Tag Access Utility
The Tag Access utility allows reading from and writing to specific portions of a tag’s memory. The
utility is divided up into two separate tabs: The Basic tab and the Advanced tab. The Basic tab
gives a quick overview of the tag’s memory layout, and gives basic ability to write new data to the
tag. The Advanced tab gives full access (bank, start pointer, and length) over the low-level writing
and reading operations, as well as controls for locking and unlocking specific portions of tag
memory.
EPC Gen2 tag memory is divided up into four distinct banks: Reserved, EPC, TID, and User. The
Reserved bank contains the tag’s Access password and Kill password (each two words long),
though all tags may not support both passwords. The EPC bank contains the tag’s “id” – its
Electronic Product Code (or “EPC”) – along with some other information related to the EPC. The
TID bank is read-only, and contains information about the tag’s manufacturer, model, and basic
capabilities. Alien Higgs tags contain bits in the TID bank that are guaranteed to be unique from
one tag to the next. The User bank may not be present in all tag types, and when present, each
tag provides different amounts of available user memory.
The Geiger shows tag signal strength. Use the
Start Search button (or pistol-grip trigger) to
start the search.
Use the Mask button to refine search of
specific tags.
When a tag is read, the EPC is displayed on
the screen, along with graphical and numeric
readout of the tag’s return signal strength.

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Basic Access Tab
The Basic Access tab has text fields for each of the separate fields of tag memory. Clicking the
Read button (or pulling the pistol-grip trigger) causes the reader to try and read all of the data for
each of the fields, from whatever tag is in the field. The separate fields fill in, one-by-one, as the
data is read. Since there is no definitive way of knowing how much User memory a tag has, the
reader simply reads the User data two words (32 bits) at a time, until a failure occurs.
The Basic Access tab gives a visual
overview of all of the fields in tag memory.
Pressing the Read button (or pulling the
pistol-grip trigger) fills in each memory
field with data from the tag.
Pressing one of the small “refresh” buttons
labeling each memory field will cause the
reader to only read data from that field.
Pressing one of the pencil-type “write” buttons
causes the reader to write the shown data to the
tag. Data may be edited in the field before writing
it to the tag. The field turns white or red,
depending on the success of the write operation.

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When there are many tags in the field, the Basic Access tab can have difficulty reading all of the
data from the same tag by clicking Read All button. To make sure that the same tag is being
addressed throughout the operation, a tag mask should be set by using the blue Mask button at
the top-left corner of the screen. Also, when the tag has some of its memory fields locked with an
access password, the same password must be provided as part of the access operation in order
for it to succeed. Click the violet APwd field at the top-right corner to do this.
The Mask button restricts the reader to
only access one tag at a time.
The APwd field is where to enter the
Access Password, for accessing tag
memory that may have been locked.

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Advanced Access Tab
The Advanced Access tab has three general control areas: Read, Write, and Lock. All three
operations requiring specification of which bank of tag memory to access (Reserved, EPC, TID,
and User). When reading and writing, the offset must be specified into that particular bank of
memory. The reading operation also requires specifying the length of the data to read. Both the
offset and length parameters are measured in words (1 word = 2 bytes = 16 bits).
Three operations s in Advanced Access:
Read, Write, and Lock. Each requires
specification to a particular memory bank.
To read from a memory bank, select the
Bank, start Word Pointer, and Word
Count, then click the read/refresh button.
Note that the tag’s EPC starts at word #2of
the EPC bank.
To write data to a memory bank, select
the start Word Pointer to write to, and
enter the hex-formatted data, then click
the pencil/write button.

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When locking, the Access Password and Kill Password (both in the Reserved bank) may be
locked separately, so the Lock command has a list of tag memory fields instead of banks. The
other parameter is the type of lock: Lock, Unlock, PermaLock, and PermaUnlock. All locking
operations requiring confirmation by clicking OK to an alert message. The “Perma” options are,
well, permanent, so use caution.
Locking a field doesn’t immediately protect it until a non-zero Access Password is written to the
tag (and should be locked as well). Please refer to the EPC Gen2 Protocol Specification for
complete details on how the various locking operations affect the tag’s behavior.
Tag Mask
By default, the demo application is configured to search for any all tags it sees. In the case where
the user is searching for a sub-set or very specific series of product / tag EPC such as a SGTIN-
96, the Gen 2 protocol provides a feature called a select mask which is a filter definition that is
broadcast to all of the tags in the field before each operation, that specifies which tags are
allowed to participate in that operation.
The ALR-H460 allows the user to specify a tag mask, which is used transparently in each of the
utility screens. The current mask is displayed at the top of each screen near the Mask button.
Each utility has its own mask, so use caution when switching from the Inventory to the Geiger to
the Tag Access screens.
At its heart, a tag mask defines a piece of data that must match exactly a specific portion of the
tag’s memory. This includes the memory bank (not just the EPC bank), a pointer offset into that
bank, and the actual hex data to match against.
When locking, specify the field to lock, the lock
type, then click the Lock button. There will be a
confirmation screen to confirm performing a
lock operation.
Just like on the Basic Access screen, there is
full access to the tag Mask and current Access
Password in this screen.

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In reality, instead of having to consider memory banks and pointer offsets – in an effort to find that
pair of jeans that is on the wrong rack, or a “pallet tag”, however that is defined. The Tag Mask
screen therefore offers four ways to pick a tag mask:
1. Scanning the field for tags (or loading a text file of EPCs) and picking a tag from a list.
2. Exactly defining the bank, offset, and hex data.
3. Picking a named mask from a preset list
4. Selecting a pre-defined asset (RFID+barcode+picture)
Once you have defined and set a mask, simply close the Tag Mask window and the new mask
will be displayed at the top of the previous screen, and it will be used in subsequent operations.
Tag Mask – Scan
After scanning. select a tag from the list and
click the Set button.
To clear the mask, click the Clear button.
The Scan tab acts just like the Inventory
screen – start/stop the reader with the
trigger or Scan button, and all tags in range
are displayed.