Scannel RU224 User manual
RU224 !
UHF RFID Reader
User Guide
Scannel RU224 UHF RFID Reader
User Guide
VERSION: 1.0 REVISION DATE: 03/11/2019
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Revision History
Version
Date
Name
Description
1.0
03/11/2019
Christian Tan
Initial Version
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Table of Contents
Introduction to RU224 4.....................................................................................
Getting Started 4..............................................................................................................
RU224 Specifications 5.....................................................................................
Technical Specifications / Features 5....................................................................................
Key Features 6.................................................................................................................
Hardware Introduction 7...................................................................................................
Operating System Introduction 9......................................................................................
RU224 ReaderTool Software Introduction 10...................................................................
RU224 Settings 11.............................................................................................
Hardware Configuration 11....................................................................................................
RU224 Initial Startup 13.........................................................................................................
Software Initial Startup 14......................................................................................................
Connectivity Setup 14.......................................................................................................
Bluetooth 14.....................................................................................................................
WiFi 16.............................................................................................................................
Ethernet 16.......................................................................................................................
Configuring your RU224 IP Address 17............................................................................
Browser 19.......................................................................................................................
File Manager 20................................................................................................................
Terminal 21.......................................................................................................................
Reboot, Logout, Shutdown 22..........................................................................................
RU224 Software 24...........................................................................................
RU224 ReaderTool User Manual 24......................................................................................
RU224 Software Development 34.....................................................................
Customized Software 34........................................................................................................
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Introduction to RU224
The RU224 is part of the Next Generation UHF RFID Reader Series from Scannel. It is
developed using the best high performance hardware technology in order to quickly adapt
with the fast-evolving technological advances in the age of Internet of Things / Industrial
Internet of Things.
Using UHF RFID Technology has never been easier with RU224 integrated with a Linux-
based micro-computer and high performance R2000 UHF RFID Chip. The device offers a
long read range with the capability of reading multiple tags at fast speeds using its four(4)
antenna ports. It complies with EPC Global UHF Class 1 Gen 2 / ISO18000-6C and
ISO18000-6B. With advanced heat sink casing design, overheating is prevented when it is at
maximum performance. It has built-in multiple connectivity (WiFi, BLE, and TCP/IP) and self-
powered GPIO to simplify installation and deployment in various applications.
RU224 RFID Reader (referred to hereafter as “Reader/reader”) is suitable for RFID
applications in supply chain management, logistics inventory management, cargo tracking
management, warehouse management, shop floor management, class management, etc.
Getting Started
Hardware and Software required for configuration and application of the RU224 are as
follows:
1. Hardware:
1.1. RU224 UHF RFID Reader
1.2. HDMI Cable (Full Size Type A)
1.3. UHF RFID Antenna with TNC Male Connector to SMA
1.4. Power Adapter (12V / 3A)
1.5. Optional: Input/Output devices such as LED Indicator Lights, Sensors, Switches,
etc.
2. Software:
2.1. RU224 ReaderTool V1.0
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RU224 Specifications
Technical Specifications / Features
Technical Specifications!
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RF Specifications
Air Interface Protocol
EPC global UHF Class 1 Gen 2 / ISO 18000-6C / ISO 18000-6B
UHF Frequency
865Mhz - 928Mhz (ETSI/FCC)
Output Power
0 - 30dBm (1W) (Configurable)
Peak Inventory Speed
>700 tags/sec
Antenna Port
4 Ports (RP-TNC-Female)
Max Baud Rate
115200 bps
System Specifications
CPU
1.2 Ghz Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A53
RAM
1GB LPDDR2 SDRAM
Storage
16GB
WiFi
Dual-Band 802.11ac wireless LAN (2.4Ghz/5Ghz)
Bluetooth
Bluetooth 4.2
Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet over USB2.0 (max300Mbps)
Display
HDMI (Full Size Type A)
USB
4 Ports (USB2.0)
GPIO (12V)
4 Input / 4 Output
Operating System
Linux
Software Development
Python / Java /
General Specifications
Power
Input: 12V / Output: 12V
Dimension
230mm (L) x 160mm (W) x 28mm (H)
Weight
1.8Kg
Operating Temperature
-20°C ~ +55°C
Storage Temperature
-20°C ~ +85°C
Key Features
Impinj R2000 Chip
Top of the line, High Performance UHF RFID Reader Chip.
GS1 EPC Gen2 Protocol
Follows the globally accepted air interface protocol.
Multi-Connectivty
Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth(BLE)
Built-in Micro-computer
The RU224 can work independently without the need for a
separate computer.
Storage Drive
16GB storage capable to save scanned data for long periods.
HDMI Ready
Allows easy connection for a display screen.
Linux Operating System
The OS makes the RU224 work like a desktop computer.
Multiple Programming Language
Develop your own software using Python, Java, C…
GPIO
Control the GPIO with the UHF Software or independently
12V Power Output
Provides power to your external device without the need for
external power adapters.
4 USB Ports
4 USB ports allows you to connect various peripherals such as
keyboard, mouse, USB drives, Barcode Scanners, etc.
RTC
Built-in Real-time clock to manage and save current date and
time.
4 UHF RFID Antenna Ports
Offers 4 antenna ports for various applications such as portal
readers, tunnel readers, etc. RF power can be set independently
from each antenna port. Software can recognize which antenna
port was used to read a Tag.
RU224 ReaderTool Software
Developed to provide users with a software that has functions
and features which can be used in real-life applications such as
direct transfer of data to the users database using WiFi or
Ethernet. Save data on the local storage to prevent data loss
during transfers.
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Hardware Introduction
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Top View
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Front View
Back View
Operating System Introduction
The RU224 has a built-in Linux operating system based on the Debian distribution. The main
function of the operating system in the RU224 is to run the UHF RFID software locally
without the need of a separate computer. This differentiates the RU224 from the traditional
UHF RFID readers which requires a controller or computer to transfer the data it scans to
the user. You can develop your own software for the RU224 to locally collect RFID Data,
process, analyze, create, and view reports locally or remotely and transfer these to your
Middleware or directly to your ERP/MES/WMS database.
A notable feature is the scope of software customization it offers not only for the UHF RFID
Software but also for non-related RFID software functions. You can develop your own
software to perform tasks unrelated to the UHF RFID Software such as:
• Control the GPIO of the RU224
• Display customized information
• Save data in the local storage of the RU224
• Transfer data within your network
• Automate tasks
• Browse the internet
• etc.
*Note: Certain features may only be used one process at a time. (E.g. If you’re UHF RFID
Software is using the GPIO, your other software will not be able to run properly and vice
versa.)"
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RU224 ReaderTool Software Introduction
The RU224 comes with pre-installed UHF RFID Reader software called ReaderTool. The
software was developed to provide users with a fast and easy way to integrate the RU224
UHF RFID Reader into their system. The features incorporated in the software were
gathered from the vast experience of the Scannel RFID Solutions team in various RFID
projects.
RU224 ReaderTool main features:
• Read - Shows Total Read Quantity, EPC in HEX and ASCII, Read Count, Read Date/Time,
Frequency, Antenna Number.
• Configurable Settings - RF Output Power, Antenna Ports, Session, Target, Region
• Write - Encode UHF RFID Tags in ASCII Format
• Save Data - Save the scanned data on the local storage or to your Database via WiFi or
Ethernet.
• GPIO - Start and Stop scanning using the Digital Inputs and use external device such as
LED, Buzzer, etc. to indicate scan status using the Digital Outputs.
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RU224 Settings
Hardware Configuration
1. Connectivity:
1.1. Ethernet
1.2. WiFi
1.3. Bluetooth
2. USB 2.0 x 4
3. HDMI for Display
4. GPIO
4.1. 4 Input
4.2. 4 Output
5. Output Power - 12V for external devices (E.g. LED Status Light, Sensor, Switch, Etc.)
6. Input Power - 12V
7. UHF RFID Antenna Ports x4 (RP-TNC-Female)
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ANT 1
ANT 2
ANT 3
ANT 4
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Ethernet
HDMI
GPIO
Input Power
12V
USB 2.0
Output Power
12v
GPIO Pin Definition!
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PIN ID
Function
Equivalent
Circuit
Instructions
PIN 1
I/O Input 1
*ReaderTool Demo Software: I/O Input settings
can be configured in the “Digital I/O” Tab.
*Customized I/O Control: Can be controlled
using various programming language. (Please
contact Scannel for more information.)
PIN 2
I/O Input 2
PIN 3
I/O Input 3
PIN 4
I/O Input 4
PIN 5
I/O Output 1
*ReaderTool Demo Software: I/O Output
settings can be configured in the “Digital I/O”
Tab.
*Customized I/O Control: Can be controlled
using various programming language. (Please
contact Scannel for more information.)
PIN 6
I/O Output 2
PIN 7
I/O Output 3
PIN 8
I/O Output 4
Pin 1
Pin 8
RU224 Initial Startup
1. Connect HDMI cable, Ethernet Cable (if necessary), GPIO Connectors (If Necessary),
keyboard and mouse to the RU224.
2. Power the Reader
2.1. Plug the power cable to the reader, there will be a short beep sound which indicates
that the reader is on.
3. Connect the Antenna(s) to the Reader
3.1. Connect your Antenna to the Antenna Port. Please note that arrangement of the
Antennas start from the leftmost as Antenna 1. *This will direct you on how to control
the Antennas using the Software.
3.2.Connect up to 4 Antennas according to your requirements."
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Software Initial Startup
Once you hear the short beep, the RU224 Operating System Desktop will be displayed on
your screen.
Connectivity Setup
The RU224 has Bluetooth, WiFi, and Ethernet connectivity. You can use the Bluetooth
connectivity to pair and interact with external devices (Compatibility may depend on external
devices). The WiFi and Ethernet allows you to connect to your network and thru customized
software, perform various tasks such as send and receive data, control your GPIO, connect
to the internet, automate tasks related to the RU224, etc.
Bluetooth
On the top right corner of the screen, you will see the Bluetooth icon. Right click on the
Bluetooth icon and click “Turn On Bluetooth” to activate Bluetooth.
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Right click again on the Bluetooth icon and click “Make discoverable” or “Add Device” to pair
your device with RU224.
After clicking “Add Device”, a window will pop-up and a list of nearby bluetooth devices will
be shown in the same window. (Note: Please make sure that the bluetooth option of your
device is enabled.) Select the name of your device to start pairing and click OK.
Pairing will start to create a connection and a message will show that pairing is successful.
Note: You must have a working bluetooth software application on the RU224 for your
external device in order to successfully use the Bluetooth function."
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WiFi
The WiFi can be activated/deactivated by clicking on the WiFi icon on the top right corner of
the screen. When WiFi is activated, the icon will turn blue.
Right click on the WiFi icon to select which WiFi network you want to join and input the
password to join your WiFi network.
Ethernet
For ethernet connection, simply plug in your ethernet cable to the RU224 and connection will
be automatically be established.
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Configuring your RU224 IP Address
In most cases, it is recommended to provide a static IP Address for your RU224 in order to
easily manage communication with your RU224. The configuration for the IP Address in
Ethernet and WiFi mode are the same. You can use both connections simultaneously if
necessary.
Right click on the Wifi or Ethernet icon on the top right corner of the screen and select
“Wireless & Wired Network Settings”.
A pop-up window will appear called “Network Preferences”.
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On the dropdown list beside “interface” you can select “eth0” or “wlan0”, depending which
connection you will be configuring.
Enter the required fields and click “Apply”. Restart your RU224 to ensure that configurations
are saved.
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Browser
The RU224 has a pre-installed web browser available to use when you are connected to the
internet. You can also use the web browser for your web-based applications which can serve
as a local monitor when a display is connected via HDMI on the RU224.
On the Taskbar, click the Web Browser icon to start the program."
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File Manager
The File Manager can be used to navigate through the various directories of the RU224.
features and functions of the File Manager are the same with most operating systems. You
can cut, copy, move, create, and paste files and folders to different locations within the
system. Note: Certain files and folders are restricted due to set permissions to avoid
corrupting the system.
On the Taskbar, click the File Manager icon to start the program.
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Table of contents
