RF Technology SEEKER User manual

Mobile Locating System
User Manual
P/N: 3100-0000-000
5Released: 01/06/0

Table of Contents
System Overview.................................................................................................4
System Components ............................................................................................5
Tags.................................................................................................................5
Receiver Card.................................................................................................. 5
Pocket PC........................................................................................................5
Software..........................................................................................................5
Installing Software...............................................................................................6
Installing Receiver Card ......................................................................................6
Mounting Tags.....................................................................................................7
Starting the Application.......................................................................................8
Main Window ...................................................................................................... 9
Performing Finds ...............................................................................................10
Online / Offline.............................................................................................10
Selecting a Find............................................................................................. 11
Find Results...................................................................................................12
Viewing Tag Details .....................................................................................13
Viewing History.................................................................................................14
Programming Tags............................................................................................. 15
Tag Entry...........................................................................................................16
Add Tags.......................................................................................................16
Edit Tags....................................................................................................... 17
Delete Tags ................................................................................................... 17
Integrating with Mobile Resource Manager ......................................................18
Services Settings ........................................................................................... 18
Downloading................................................................................................. 19
Uploading...................................................................................................... 20
Additional Settings ............................................................................................21
System Information............................................................................................22
Frequently Asked Questions..............................................................................23
Specifications..................................................................................................... 25
Mobile Reader...............................................................................................25
Tag ................................................................................................................25
Service and Repair.............................................................................................26
Warranty............................................................................................................27
2

Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Compliance
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.
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if
not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause
harmful interference to 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. Changes or
modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance
voids the user's authority to operate the equipment.
FCC ID: KXU-SEEK01
FCC Radiation Exposure Statement
This equipment complies with FCC radiation exposure limits set forth for an
uncontrolled environment. This equipment should be installed and operated with
minimal distance 20cm between the radiator and your body. This transmitter
must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other antenna or
transmitter.
3

System Overview
The Seeker Mobile Locating System is an asset tracking system utilizing a mobile
reader to allow remote reading of RFID tags. The Seeker mobile reader consists of
a Pocket PC with a custom receiver card installed. The mobile reader is used to
"search" an area for "tags" which are attached to various resources. The reader can
find an individual tag, or search for all tags with a specific department id. When a
tag is within range of the mobile reader an audible beep and light can be generated
by the tag so a user can locate the equipment within the area being searched. The
beep and light features can be disabled if desired.
A local database in the mobile reader creates associations between the resources
and the tags. When a tag is found the mobile reader will display the department id,
tag id, resource name, description and the signal strength which provides an
estimated distance from reader to tag. A picture of the resource can also be
associated with the tag information.
The Seeker Mobile Locating System can be combined with the PinPoint Mobile
Resource Manager software to provide extended visibility to the data captured
through the reader. Information from the mobile reader can be uploaded to the
PinPoint databases and then viewed by PinPoint applications. Additionally,
utilization and location reports can be generated using captured data from the
mobile reader.
Uses for the System:
 Locate misplaced equipment
 Remotely identify inventory
 Find equipment scheduled for maintenance
 Remote inventory of valuable assets
Special Features:
 User-programmable RFID tags
 Compact size
 0-100ft range through walls, up to 500ft in "clear air"
 Tag beeper and light helps physically locate equipment
 Down-loadable data to host using sync cradle
4

System Components
Tags
Tags are small in size and can be attached to
resources using the included adhesive tape.
When a tag is found by the mobile reader it
responds with its unique id and a status
message indicating its battery condition.
Tags can be instructed to beep and flash a
light when found allowing users to gain a
rough indication of where the tag is located.
Receiver Card
The CompactFlash receiver card includes the
receiver circuitry and the microprocessor for
decoding the tag signals to obtain the
department id, tag id and the status of the tag.
The information is then transferred to the
Pocket PC.
Pocket PC
The Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
includes the Microsoft Pocket PC Operating
System. The PDA supports the
CompactFlash standard CF+/Type II for the
addition of the receiver card.
Software
The software and documentation are provided
on a CD-ROM.
5

Installing Software
To install the Seeker application on your
Pocket PC from the software and
documentation CD:
1. Using your sync cable or cradle,
connect your Pocket PC to the
computer. For additional
information, see the documentation
that came with your Pocket PC.
2. Insert the software and
documentation CD into the drive on
the computer.
3. Using Microsoft Windows Explorer
or My Computer, navigate to x:\,
where xis the CD drive letter.
4. Double-click setup.exe.
5. Follow the instruction on the
computer screen to finish the
installation.
The Seeker application will be uploaded to
the Pocket PC through the sync cradle.
Installing Receiver Card
Insert the Receiver card into the compact
flash slot on the Pocket PC. Be sure the card
is seated properly in the compact flash
connector.
The Receiver Card does not require a custom
driver and should communicate directly with
the Seeker application.
The Receiver Card includes an LED to
indicate power and data arriving from the
Pocket PC.
Windows Installation
Software
Receiver Card
6

Mounting Tags
The Seeker Tag can be attached using an
adhesive pad that can be purchased with the
tag. The following section provides detailed
steps about applying the tag using the
adhesive.
To apply the adhesive pad to the tag:
1. Remove an adhesive pad from the
strip of paper.
2. Turn the tag onto its front.
3. Line the adhesive pad up with the
back of the tag.
4. Apply the adhesive pad.
5. Verify that the pad is applied
correctly and is not hanging over the
sides of the tag.
To attach a tag to a resource using an
adhesive pad:
1. Obtain the asset to which you want
to apply the tag.
2. Remove the adhesive plastic guard.
3. Firmly attach the tag to the asset.
4. Press firmly on the tag to verify that
it adhered to the asset
• Notes
• Before installing the tags make sure to
program them to the correct department
and tag ids. See the section
Programming Tags for further details.
• You may also use other means of
attaching a tag to your resources. For
example, a loop mount zip tie.
Tag Adhesive
7

Starting the Application
To start the Seeker application:
1. Tap Start->Programs->Seeker
If this is the first time the application has
been run on this Pocket PC the local SQL CE
databases will be created. A progress bar will
be displayed during the creation of the
database and tables.
Once the database and tables have been
created the Seeker Main window will appear.
During start-up the application will search for
the receiver card and select the appropriate
communication port for its operation. If the
card can not be found it may be necessary to
use the Settings window to select and try
each of the available communication ports
until the correct one is found.
Mounting Suggestions:
• The front of the tag
should face the expected
position from which
searches will be
performed.
• Do not place the tag
inside of a metal
container as the signal
will be blocked.
• Perform a test for tag
reception by performing
a search after mounting.
• Do not block the sounder
hole or tag volume will
be decreased.
• Try to make the tags
light visible when
mounting on the
resource.
8

Main Window
This window is the main navigation area.
Find Tags – Window to select department
and tag ids or resource name to search for.
Work Online/Offline – Determines if the
mode of operation for the application.
Write Tags – Writes and erases the dept and
tag ids in a tag.
View History – Records of each find are
stored in the Pocket PC. This utility is used
to review these archival records.
Settings – Changes settings such as
threshold, ruleset selection, clearing the
history, and exporting the history to a CSV
file.
• Notes
• In the offline mode the Tag Entry
selection is made available. The Tag
Entry window makes the association
between a tag and its resource.
• In the online mode two additional
selections will appear: Download and
Upload. These selections assist in
staying synchronized with a PinPoint
Mobile Resource Manager software
system.
Main Window Offline
Main Window Online
9

Performing Finds
Online / Offline
The Find Tags window can appear in one of
three modes.
Working offline using Resource Names
The user must select a resource to search for
by selecting its resource name from Resource
box. Department searches can not be
performed when using the resource names.
To operate in this mode select the Use
Resource Names checkbox in the Settings
window.
Working online using PinPoint Data
The user selects the location they are
currently occupying and the tag to find.
When tags are received they are matched to a
record in the local database. The database
information is used to provide additional
details about the tag and asset. Department
searches can not be performed when working
online.
Working offline using Dept and Tag
The user must select a department and a tag.
In offline mode the user can select a
department and then “any” tag or a specific
tag in the tag combo.
• Notes
• In online mode the locations and
resources are retrieved from the
PinPoint Mobile Resource Manager.
Consult the section Integrating with
Mobile Resource Manager for details.
Find Tags Offline using
Resource Names
Find Tags Online using
PinPoint Data
10