Printronix SL5000E series User manual

RFID Labeling
Reference Manual
SL5000eand T5000eSR
Smart Label RFID Thermal Printers
™
™

This Quick Setup Guide contains a CD-ROM with
the following materials:
• The User’s Manual
• Programmer’s Reference Manuals
• Useful utility programs
The CD-ROM is located in a plastic pocket in the back cover.
Do not discard this guide. If you move or pack the printer in the future,
you will need to follow the instructions in this guide.
For technical assistance, contact your
Distributor/VAR/Reseller for service.
For further assistance, contact the Printronix Customer Support Center.
The Customer Support Center offers technical support with:
• Installation
• Configuration and Setup
• Operation and Supplies Loading
• Specifications of Proper Print Media and Ribbons
• Answers to Post-Sales Service Support Questions
Printronix Customer Support Center contact information:
Americas [phone]
Europe, Middle East, and Africa (31) 24 6489 410
Asia Pacific (65) 6548 4114
Web site: http://www.printronix.com/public/servicessupport/default.aspx
Genuine Printronix Supplies:
Americas [phone]
Europe, Middle East, and Africa (33) 1 46 25 1900
Asia Pacific (65) 6548 4116 or (65) 6548 4182
Web site: http://www.printronix.com/public/supplies/default.aspx
Or visit the Printronix web site at www.printronix.com

SL5000eand T5000eSR
Smart Label RFID Thermal Printers
RFID Labeling Reference Manual

Printronix makes no representations or warranties of any kind regarding this material, including, but not limited
to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. Printronix shall not be held
responsible for errors contained herein or any omissions from this material or for any damages, whether
direct, indirect, incidental or consequential, in connection with the furnishing, distribution, performance or use
of this material. The information in this manual is subject to change without notice.
This document contains proprietary information protected by copyright. No part of this document may be
reproduced, copied, translated or incorporated in any other material in any form or by any means, whether
manual, graphic, electronic, mechanical or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Printronix.
COPYRIGHT © 2004 PRINTRONIX, INC. All rights reserved.
Trademark Acknowledgements
Alien and Alien Technology are registered trademarks of Alien Technology Corporation.
Manhattan Associates is a registered trademark of Manhattan Associates, Inc.
Matrics is a registered trademark of Matrics, Inc.
Printronix, PGL, and PrintNet are registered trademarks of Printronix, Inc.
Rafsec is a registered trademark of Rafsec.
SL5000e and T5000e are trademarks of Printronix, Inc.
Uniform Code Council, Inc. is a registered trademark of Uniform Code Council, Inc.
Zebra and ZPL are trademarks of Zebra Technologies Corporation.

5
1 RFID Smart Label Application
And Reference Notes7
Overview............................................................................... 7
What To Expect When Running Your RFID Application....... 9
Factors Affecting Smart Label Performance .................. 9
Overstruck Smart Labels................................................ 9
Smart Label Characteristics ......................................... 10
Transitioning From UCC/GTIN Applications Using
Printronix Software Migration Tools (SMT)......................... 11
How Printronix Makes It Easy ...................................... 11
How It Works................................................................ 11
How To Order More Smart Labels...................................... 12
Printronix Professional Services ......................................... 12
What We Can Do ......................................................... 12
Contact Information ...................................................... 12
Hardware/Infrastructure Considerations ............................. 13
Useful Industry Web Links .................................................. 14
Reference Material ....................................................... 14
2 Smart Label Development....................... 15
Overview............................................................................. 15
RFID CONTROL Menu....................................................... 16
RFID CONTROL Menu Items ...................................... 18
Admin User Menu Items............................................... 21
RFID PGL Commands........................................................ 24
RFWTAG...................................................................... 24
RFRTAG ...................................................................... 30
VERIFY ........................................................................ 32
Write Tag...................................................................... 36
Read Tag ..................................................................... 38
Table of Contents

Table of Contents
6
RFID PPI1 Commands ........................................................39
Get Tag Unique ID ........................................................39
Set Tag Type ................................................................39
Read Tag ......................................................................40
Write Tag ......................................................................41
Host Verification ............................................................42
PPI1 EPC Programming Examples...............................43
Software Migration Tools (SMT)..........................................44
Tools List.......................................................................44
Selecting The Tools ......................................................46
Error Messages ...................................................................47
Troubleshooting...................................................................48

7
1RFID Smart Label
Application And
Reference Notes
Overview
NOTE: For the latest version of this reference manual, visit the the
Services & Support page at www.printronix.com.
This manual covers the following products:
•Printronix SL5000e DK Smart Label Developer's Kit
•Printronix SL5000e MP Multi-protocol RFID printer, supporting
Class 0/0+, Class 1, and Class 1.19 RFID tags and labels
•Printronix SL5000e C1 Class 1 RFID printer, supporting
Class 1 RFID tags and labels
•Printronix T5000e SR Smart Ready RFID printer, upgradeable
with either:
•SLMP-Kit Multi-protocol Smart Label Upgrade kit,
supporting Class 0/0+, Class 1, and Class 1.19 RFID tags
and labels
•SLC1-Kit Class 1 Smart Label Upgrade Kit, supporting
Class 1 RFID tags and labels

Chapter 1 Overview
8
The Printronix SL5000e DK Smart Label Developer’s Kit contains:
•SL5000e MP multiprotocol RFID printer
•Integrated RFID UHF encoder supporting Class 0/0+, Class 1,
and Class 1.19 RFID tags and labels
•Software Migration Tools that permit the seamless encoding of
smart labels
•Media starter kit (100 4 inch x 6 inch standard labels, 50 m
8500 thermal premium wax resin ribbon, and a printhead
cleaning pen)
•1000 Class 1 RFID smart labels
•One 625 m thermal premium wax ribbon
•Network interface card, which includes Printronix’s PrintNet®
Enterprise, a remote network printer management software
application.
•Programming manuals (CD)
•RFID Labeling Reference Manual (this manual)
•Application and reference notes (this chapter)
•Technical support
The intent of the kit is to provide a complete environment for the
printing and encoding of RFID smart labels right out of the box.
Printronix has specifically designed this kit to help you fast track
your RFID printer application through the use of a suite of Software
Migration Tools (SMT).

Factors Affecting Smart Label Performance
9
What To Expect When Running Your RFID Application
Factors Affecting Smart Label Performance
Smart labels are based on an EEPROM technology that requires
some time to be programmed. You may notice this minor pause
between labels. This time is necessary to better ensure consistent
quality and improved reliability.
When dealing with smart labels, it is possible that an occasional
RFID tag may need to be written and verified more than once (retry)
before being considered acceptable. In this event each retry time
will be added to the inter-label pause.
Static electricity can damage the smart labels. Open the media
cover of the printer and touch an unpainted metal part of the printer
before you handle smart labels. This will discharge any static
electricity that may have built up on your hands.
Overstruck Smart Labels
If an RFID tag within a smart label is deemed unacceptable after
execution of the defined number of retries, what occurs next
depends upon the Error Handling setting. See “Error Handling” on
page 18.

Chapter 1 What To Expect When Running Your RFID Application
10
Smart Label Characteristics
IMPORTANT Purchase additional smart labels directly from Printronix to
assure the highest level of performance and reliability. See
“How To Order More Smart Labels” on page 12.
For a list of currently supported tag types, download the certified
smart labels brochure available at www.printronix.com.
Currently supported smart labels have the following characteristics:
General Tag Type
•UHF 915 MHz radio frequency
Technology Tag Type
•EPC Class 0 tags – 64 data bits Read Only
•EPC Class 0 tags – 96 data bits Read Only
•EPC Class 0+ tags – 64 data bits Read/Write
•EPC Class 0+ tags – 96 data bits Read/Write
NOTE: For Class 0+ tags, the AWID multi-protocol reader used by
Printronix enforces the EPC format in the following manner:
•For 96–bit data, the two most significant bits must be 0.
•For 64–bit data, the two most significant bits must be 1.
•EPC Class 1 tags – 64 data bits Read/Write
•EPC Class 1 tags – 96 data bits Read/Write
•EPC Class 1.19 tags – 96 data bits Read/Write
Label Size
4 x 2, 4 x 4, 4 x 6, 4 x 8 inch label stock
Inlay Style
•4 x 2, 4 x 4, 4 x 6, 4 x 8 inch label stock
•Alien®Squiggle or M-Tag inlays
•3 x 3 inch Rafsec®#313, #342, #450, #504
•4 x 6 inch Matrics®X1020, X2020
•Number of labels per roll will vary depending on the label length