ASP ClassNet User manual

ClassNet Terminal
User Manual
The ASP ClassNet Terminal is an Australian product by:
ASP Microcomputers
14 Business Park Drive,
Notting Hill, Victoria, 3168
Australia
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone] Email:
[email protected]
www.asp.com.au
(ASP Microcomputers is a division of Grayline Holdings Pty. Ltd,. ABN 81 004 940 729)
Manual revised: November 19th, 2020 Copyright © 2000-2020 by ASP Microcomputers

Contents
Introduction............................................................................................2
ClassNet Terminal Overview .................................................................2
Operational Overview ............................................................................3
Cable Download ................................................................................3
Modem Download .............................................................................3
DataTag Download............................................................................3
Barcodes or IDTags?..............................................................................4
Student Attendance Programs ................................................................5
Barcoded Cards ......................................................................................5
IDTags....................................................................................................5
How do I determine the number of a IDTag?....................................7
Collecting Data from your ClassNet Terminals .....................................7
ClassNet Anywhere ...........................................................................7
ClassNet Polling Program..................................................................7
ClassNet DataTag Utility...................................................................8
Installation............................................................................................10
Setting the Network ID .........................................................................11
RS-485 Network Cabling.....................................................................12
Cable Termination ...........................................................................13
Network Expansion..........................................................................13
Power Requirements........................................................................14
RS-485 Connector Wiring ...............................................................15
Display Codes and Messages ...............................................................16
Technical Specifications.......................................................................17
Information to the user .........................................................................18
EMC Statement................................................................................18
Compliance with USA FCC Rules...................................................18
Warranty ..........................................................................................18

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Introduction
This Manual introduces ASP’s ClassNet Terminal, gives overviews of
related software and the Intelligent RS-485 Adaptor, discusses barcoded
student cards, and outlines installation.
ClassNet Terminal Overview
The ClassNet Terminal was designed by ASP Microcomputers as the
data collection component for Student Attendance Systems. The
ClassNet Terminal is the same size as a standard Australian power point,
and is designed for vertical flush or proud mounting using standard
power point fitting hardware.
The ClassNet Terminal integrates a time display, barcode card reading
slot, and IDTag reading socket (an IDTag is an alternative to barcodes
that looks like a lithium battery and is fitted to a key tag or card).
The ClassNet Terminal is normally powered by a low voltage plug pack,
and connected on a simple two-wire daisy-chained RS-485 network cable
to an ASP Intelligent RS-485 Adaptor, which connects to the serial port
of a PC.
The ClassNet Terminal stores time-stamped barcode or IDTag data in
battery-backed storage memory, so that it is not lost in the event of power
failures. Software periodically communicates with each ClassNet
Terminal, collecting the stored information, and stores it for access by
data analysis software. During the data collection sequence, the clock in
the ClassNet Terminal is also synchronised to that of the computer
collecting the data.
The ClassNet Terminal is normally supplied as a vertical mounting unit
(as shown on the left below), but it can be ordered in the new horizontal
mounting format, as shown on the right.

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Operational Overview
In a typical application, one or more ClassNet Terminals are installed
near where students enter and leave the classroom. Students are issued
with barcoded cards (or, less frequently, with IDTag tags), which they
use to indicate that they have attended the classroom.
The student swipes their card through the slot, or touches their IDTag in
the receptacle, until a beep is heard. The ClassNet Terminal displays
CARD or TAG (as appropriate) on its display, and stores the barcode or
IDTag number, and the time and date it was scanned.
If the storage memory of the ClassNet Terminal is full, it will display
FULL, and the data will not be stored. The stored information must then
be downloaded before further data can be stored.
The data stored in the ClassNet Terminals can be downloaded in one of
three ways:
Cable Download
In this scenario, the ClassNet Terminals are connected via cable to each
other and back to a computer, where an Intelligent RS-485 Adaptor is
installed. Software running on the computer, such as ASP’s Polling
Program, automatically downloads the collected data over the cable on a
schedule, and saves the data to disk. An administration program can then
process the collected data.
Modem Download
If the school has several campuses, but you want to centralise the
collection of student attendance information, cabling each terminal back
to central office probably isn’t possible.
In this case, the solution is to have a modem and Intelligent RS-485
Adaptor at each remote campus, connected to however many ClassNet
Terminals are required at the campus.
At the central office, another modem is connected to the administration
computer, and ASP’s ClassNet Anywhere program is used to
automatically dial the modems at each remote campus on a schedule, to
collect the data and synchronise the ClassNet Terminal clocks.
The administration staff at the central office can then process the data.
DataTag Download
In some schools, cabling can be difficult to run, or the costs can be
prohibitive. In these circumstances, data can be downloaded by a student

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or staff member going to each ClassNet Terminal and touching a
DataTag to the IDTag receptacle. The DataTag is then taken back to the
main office computer and inserted into a DataTag Homebase, where it is
read and stored to disk by ASP’s ClassNet DataTag Utility program.
As in the other download options, the administration staff can then run a
program to process the collected data.
Because there is no direct connection to the computer in this scenario, the
ClassNet Terminal’s clock is set using a special TimeTag which is
configured using the ClassNet DataTag Utility.
See the section later in the manual for details on how to use the ClassNet
Terminal with DataTags.
Barcodes or IDTags?
The ClassNet Terminal reads both barcoded cards and IDTags.
Plastic barcoded cards are cheaper than IDTags, and (although it makes
them dearer) can be printed with text, logos, photographs, the student’s
name and signature, and can sometimes be used for other purposes (ie
library cards, or identity cards, etc). Plastic cards also wear out.
IDTags are smaller, more robust, more secure (they can’t be duplicated,
whereas a photocopy of a plastic card will scan as easily as the original),
and conveniently attach to a key-ring. However, they are significantly
more expensive.

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Student Attendance Programs
ClassNet Terminals record raw time and attendance data – that is, the
actual time that students clock in to a classroom. Data Collection
programs such as ClassNet Anywhere, the ClassNet Polling Program and
the ClassNet DataTag Utility, download this data and save it to disk, and
synchronise the time and date on the ClassNet Terminal.
Once you’ve collected the raw times, you need a program to log the
attendance times against students, make adjustments as necessary, then
finally produce a printed report or a file.
Evaluation versions of ASP programs (on CD) are available on request.
Barcoded Cards
Slot readers make barcodes easier to use by avoiding the possibility of
scanning manually on an angle. Students will quickly learn how to use
the ClassNet Terminal. The ClassNet Terminal is designed to read the
most common barcode symbology, Code 39, of up to 30 characters in
length.
The position of the barcode on the card is important due to the fixed
location of the slot reading mechanism. The centre of the barcode must
be 9.5mm from the outside edge of the card, and if the card is laminated,
remember to include this in the calculation of the 9.5mm. As the actual
reading spot is only a fraction of a millimetre, tolerances need not be
precise, providing the barcode is of a reasonable height.
Barcodes should be medium or high resolution, and samples should be
tested with a ClassNet Terminal before committing to the barcode cards
to be used - ASP will be happy to assist in this regard.
Barcoded cards should have rounded corners to ease their path through
the ClassNet Terminal. The ClassNet Terminal’s slot has a stainless steel
backing plate, although the plastic lead-in ramp may wear slightly until
below the stainless steel floor, but this should not affect operation.
Provided the card swipes smoothly through the slot, card thickness isn’t a
concern.
Note that ASP can supply credit-card sized plastic barcoded cards, pre-
printed barcode labels, and the software to produce labels on a laser
printer.
IDTags
The ClassNet Terminal is designed to read the unique serial number
contained in each IDTag device, which is 16 characters long.

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IDTags are normally supplied as part of a key tag, but they can optionally
be attached to cards or other devices by adhesive or press fit stainless
steel retainers. If you have any special requirements, please contact ASP
Microcomputers.

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How do I determine the number of a IDTag?
If you look at the bottom of an IDTag, you’ll see the word DALLAS, and
underneath that, two characters on the right, two characters on the left
(with a underline beneath them), and then 12 more
characters below that.
The complete IDTag number starts with the two
characters on the left, then the 12 characters below
that, then the two characters on the right. For
example, on the drawing on the right, the IDTag
number is E6000000FBD8B301.
Note: IDTag numbers contain only the letters Ato Fand the digits 0to 9,
and are always sixteen characters long.
Collecting Data from your ClassNet Terminals
ClassNet Anywhere
Here’s a brief except from the ClassNet Anywhere manual that describes
the basic ideas behind the program. For complete details on how to set
up and use ClassNet Anywhere, please see the program’s manual.
ClassNet Anywhere operates around the idea of units, locations, and
schedules. A Location consists of one or more Units, and locations are
polled according to a Schedule.
Units are individual ClassNet Terminals. One or more units are connected by
RS-485 cabling to an Intelligent RS-485 Adaptor, which is connected to the
serial port of a PC, or to a modem.
Locations can be Local, where ClassNet Terminals are attached to a serial
port on the computer running the polling program, or Remote, where a modem
is used to communicate with ClassNet Terminals that are attached to another
modem at a separate site. Each location can accommodate up to 31 ClassNet
Terminals, and an unlimited number of locations can be defined.
Schedules are used to control when ClassNet Anywhere polls locations.
Scheduled polls can be periodical (for example, every two hours), or at
specific times (ie at 9:15am). More than one scheduled poll can be set for
each location.
ClassNet Polling Program
For complete details on how to set up and use the ClassNet Polling
Program, please see the program’s manual. Here’s an except that
describes the main screen of the program, and how it works.
To manually collect data from the listed terminals, just press the Download
button. If you want to set the time displayed on the terminals without collecting
the data from then, press the Set Time button.

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In the yellow section of the main screen, you’ll see a list of ClassNet Terminal
unit numbers that the program has been set to collect data from. While the
Polling Program is downloading data, or sending the time to the terminals, the
various fields of the main screen will provide status information.
While the Polling Program is communicating with a particular terminal, the line
for that unit is highlighted on the screen, a green arrow is displayed to the left of
the Unit Number column, and the Status column shows a “Polling…”
message.
When a unit has been successfully polled, a green tick is displayed to the left of
the Unit Number column, the Status column shows a “Done” message, the
Last Time Polled column shows the time and date of the poll, and the Number
of Scans column shows the number of items downloaded from the terminal.
If, for some reason, a terminal does not respond to a poll, a dark blue question
mark is displayed to the left of the Unit Number column, and a “Not
Responding” message is displayed in the Status column.
ClassNet DataTag Utility
ClassNet Terminals use three different types of
tags –
IDTags are used to identity students (fitted
with an angled key fob black plastic tag).
TimeTags, which are used to set the clocks in
Direct Download mode and initiate setup mode
to set a network ID number (fitted with a
straight plastic tag and a label “TimeTag”).
DataTags, which are used in DataTag
Download mode to transfer data between a ClassNet Terminal and a
computer (fitted with a straight plastic tag and labeled “DataTag”).
The use of IDTags is covered elsewhere – in this section, we address the
DataTag Download process, where data is transferred from a ClassNet
Terminal without network cabling using a DataTag, and where the time is
transferred using a TimeTag.