TransCore encompass 4 User manual

TransCore
3410 Midcourt Road, Suite 102
Carrollton, Texas 75006
January 2009
P/N 412066
Encompass®4 Reader System Guide

Encompass 4 Reader System Guide
Information in this document is subject to change and does not represent a commitment on the part of
TC IP, Ltd.
©2009 TC IP, Ltd. All rights reserved. TRANSCORE, AMTECH, EGO, and ENCOMPASS are registered
trademarks of TC IP, Ltd., and are used under license. All other trademarks listed are the property of their
respective owners. Contents are subject to change. Printed in the U.S.A.
Products covered by this document are protected by one or more of the following U.S. patents 4,739,328;
4,782,345; 4,786,907; 4,816,839; 4,853,705; 4,864,158; 4,999,636; 5,030,807; 5,528,222; 5,550,547;
5,606,323; 5,673,037; 5,889,489; 5,912,632; 5,942,987; 6,097,347; 6,121,880; 6,275,157; 6,975,228; and
foreign equivalent patents. Other patents pending.
For further information, contact:
TransCore
3410 Midcourt Road, Suite 102
Carrollton, Texas 75006 USA
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Technical Support
Web: transcore.com/rfidsupport
For comments or questions about this document, e-mail [email protected].

WARNING TO USERS IN THE UNITED STATES
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION (FCC)
LOCATION AND MONITORING SERVICE STATEMENT
47 CFR §90.351
NOTE: The user is required to obtain a Part 90 site license from the FCC to operate this radio frequency
identification (RFID) device in the United States. See product label for FCC ID number. Access the FCC
Web site at www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form601/601.html for additional information concerning licensing
requirements.
NOTE: Users in all countries should check with the appropriate local authorities for licensing
requirements.
FCC RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENT
47 CFR §15.105(a)
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a 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 RF energy and may cause harmful interference to radio communications if
not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual. Operating this equipment in a residential
area is likely to cause harmful interference, in which case, depending on the laws in effect, the user may be
required to correct the interference at their own expense.
NO UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS
47 CFR §15.21
CAUTION: This equipment may not be modified, altered, or changed in any way without permission
from TransCore, LP. Unauthorized modification may void the equipment authorization from the FCC and
will void the TransCore warranty.
USE OF SHIELDED CABLES IS REQUIRED
47 CFR §15.27(a)
NOTE: Shielded cables must be used with this equipment to comply with FCC regulations.
TransCore, LP
USA

Encompass 4 Reader System Guide
Health Limits for Encompass 4 Reader Using
Integrated Antenna (902 to 928 MHz)
Within the United States, environmental guidelines regulating safe exposure lev-
els are issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Section 1910.97 of OSHA Safety and Health Standards 2206 legislates a maxi-
mum safe exposure limit of 10 milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm2) aver-
aged over 6 minutes at 902 MHz.
Although not binding, other organizations such as the American National Stan-
dards Institute (ANSI) have issued similar guidelines that are more restrictive than
the OSHA limits (ANSI C95.1). ANSI guidelines recommend a maximum safe
power density in mW/cm2of:
Frequency (in MHz)
1500
Thus, the maximum permissible exposure for general population/uncontrolled
exposure at 902 MHz is 0.60 mW/cm2. The power limit is a six-minute average.
The RF power density generated by the Encompass 4 Reader was calculated using
a maximum antenna gain of 9.5 dBi, equivalent to the antenna gain of the inte-
grated antenna.
Warning
At 2 W transmitted power and a distance of 19.3 inches (49 cm) from the reader,
the maximum power density calculated was less than 0.60 mW/cm2. Install the
reader at least 19.3 inches (49 cm) from the general public. Maintenance per-
sonnel must remain at least 8.66 inches (22 cm) from reader when system is
operating.
The data confirms that the TransCore Encompass 4 Reader effectively meets
OSHA requirements and thus does not represent an operating hazard to either the
general public or maintenance personnel.

Encompass 4 Reader System Guide
Health Limits for Encompass 4 Reader Using External
Antenna (902 to 928 MHz)
Within the United States, environmental guidelines regulating safe exposure levels are
issued by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Section 1910.97 of OSHA Safety and Health Standards 2206 legislates a maximum
safe exposure limit of 10 milliwatts per square centimeter (mW/cm2) averaged over 6
minutes at 902 MHz.
Although not binding, other organizations such as the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI) have issued similar guidelines that are more restrictive than the
OSHA limits (ANSI C95.1). ANSI guidelines recommend a maximum safe power
density in mW/cm2of:
Frequency (in MHz)
1500
Thus, the maximum permissible exposure for general population/uncontrolled expo-
sure at 902 MHz is 0.60 mW/cm2. The power limit is a six-minute average.
The RF power density generated by the Encompass 4 Reader was calculated using a
maximum antenna gain of 9.5 dBi, equivalent to the antenna gain of the external
antenna.
Warning
At 2 W transmitted power and a distance of 19.3 inches (49 cm) from the antenna,
the maximum power density calculated was less than 0.60 mW/cm2. Install the
antenna at least 19.3 inches (49 cm) from the general public. Maintenance person-
nel must remain at least 8.66 inches (22 cm) from antenna when system is operat-
ing.
The data confirms that the TransCore Encompass 4 Reader effectively meets OSHA
requirements and thus does not represent an operating hazard to either the general
public or maintenance personnel.

Encompass 4 Reader System Guide

Contents

ix
Contents
Health Limits for Encompass 4 Reader Using Integrated Antenna. . . . . . . . . . . . . iv
Health Limits for Encompass 4 Reader Using External Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v
1 Introduction
Purpose. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Audience . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
System Guide Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Typographical Conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
System Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Reader. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Tags. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
How It Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Licensing Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-7
2 Developing the Site Plan
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Reading of Mixed Population Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Reader and Tag Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Polarization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
Unobstructed Line of Sight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6
Antenna Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
AA3100 Yagi (without radome) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
AA3101 Yagi (with radome). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
AA3110 Parapanel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
AA3140 PCB Log Periodic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
AA3152 Universal Toll Antenna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
AA3153 Toll Antenna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Antenna and Tag Alignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Polarization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Unobstructed Line of Sight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11

Encompass 4 Reader System Guide
x
Site Layout and Traffic Flow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
The Encompass 4 Reader Read Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Other Encompass 4 Readers in the Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Lane Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Gate with Center Island Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-13
Parking Garage with Ticket Island Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Overhead Reader Installation Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Lane Configurations for Encompass 4 Readers Using an External Antenna . . . . 2-15
Reflection, Refraction, and Diffraction of RF Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Existing Interference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Electrical and Communications Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Junction Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Power and Communications Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Electrical Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Power Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-17
Host Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-18
RS–232 Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
RS–422 Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Wiegand Interface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Input/Output Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-19
Antenna Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-20
3 Choosing, Installing, and Removing Tags
Compatible Tag Types. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
Reader and Tag Model Interoperability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-3
TransCore’s eGo Plus Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
eGo Plus Sticker Tag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
eGo Plus Security Sticker Tag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
eGo Plus License Plate Tag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-5
TransCore’s eGo Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
eGo Windshield Sticker Tag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
eGo License Plate Tag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Installing eGo Plus Sticker Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-7
Required Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Positioning eGo Plus Sticker Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Mirror Post Attached on Windshield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Mirror Post Attached on Header . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-8
Large Truck with No Inside Mirror. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
eGo Plus Sticker Tag Installation Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Removing eGo Plus Sticker Tags. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-10
Installing eGo Plus Security Sticker Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
eGo Plus Security Sticker Tag Installation Procedures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-11
Removing eGo Plus Security Sticker Tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-12