Advanced Help Guide. Wireless Signature Pads. Copyright 2018 Topaz Systems Inc. All rights reserved.

Transcription

1 Advanced Help Guide Wireless Signature Pads Copyright 2018 Topaz Systems Inc. All rights reserved. For Topaz Systems, Inc. trademarks and patents, visit

2 Table of Contents Overview... 4 Advanced Configuration Settings... 4 Wi-Fi Radio Modes... 4 MAC Address... 5 Model Feature Comparison Table... 6 Bluetooth Pad FAQ... 7 Does my Bluetooth pad or PC require custom configuration to work?... 7 How many PCs can a Bluetooth pad pair with?... 7 How many PCs can connect to a single Bluetooth pad at the same time?... 7 How many PCs can communicate with a Bluetooth pad at the same time?... 7 If I have multiple Bluetooth devices with the same name, will my PC connect to the correct one?... 8 How do I determine the unique identifier (MAC ID) of my pad?... 8 Can a PC be configured to automatically connect to a pad when it is turned on?... 8 Can the pairing code for my pad be changed?... 9 Can the name of the pad be changed?... 9 How do I change the name my PC uses to identify my pad?... 9 What is the range of a Topaz Bluetooth pad?... 9 What can cause interference with a Bluetooth pad?... 9 How many Bluetooth pads can operate at the same time in one area? Can multiple pads be used simultaneously on a single client? How can I verify Bluetooth connection status of my Bluetooth device? Is my Bluetooth pad compatible with new Bluetooth standards and hardware? Back to Top

3 Table of Contents Wi-Fi Pad FAQ Does my PC see the Wi-Fi pad on the network? Is my pad connecting to the router? Is my pad configured to the same channel as my router? Is my router configured to work with radio mode of my pad? Does my Wi-Fi pad or PC require custom configuration to work? With how many PCs can a Wi-Fi pad authenticate? How many PC s can connect to a single Wi-Fi pad at the same time? How many PCs can communicate with a Wi-Fi pad at the same time? If I have multiple Wi-Fi devices with the same name, will my PC connect to the correct one? How do I determine the unique identifier (MAC ID) of my pad? Can a PC be configured to automatically connect to a pad when it is turned on? Can the password for my pad be changed? How do I change the name with which my PC identifies my pad? What is the range of a Topaz Wi-Fi pad? What can cause interference with a Wi-Fi pad? Can multiple pads be used simultaneously on a single client? How many Wi-Fi pads can operate at the same time in one area? How can I verify Wi-Fi connection status of my Wi-Fi device? Is my Wi-Fi pad compatible with new Wi-Fi standards and hardware? Back to Top

4 Overview This guide provides assistance with advanced configuration for Topaz wireless pads, as well as troubleshooting and FAQs. For general set-up, see the following guides: Topaz Bluetooth Pairing Guide: Topaz Wi-Fi Connection Guide: Advanced Configuration Settings Wi-Fi Radio Modes This option allows a user to choose a mode that is compatible with a Wi-Fi adapter or router. None of the modes improve performance of the pad. This option is compatible with both Computer and Router Mode. Before programming your pad, follow these steps: 1. Select the 2 nd tab labeled ConfigLog & Extra Settings 2. Select the mode and corresponding Wi-Fi data rate from the dropdown menu. 4 Back to Top

5 3. Program your pad. This completes all parameter fields. Engineering Note: Do not check the Set 9600 Baud checkbox; this is for factory use only. MAC Address Each pad has a unique ID that can be used for troubleshooting purposes. After a pad has been successfully programmed, the MAC ID of the pad will be returned and stored in the App. 5 Back to Top

6 Model Feature Comparison Table Bluetooth Wi-Fi (Computer Mode) Wi-Fi (Router Mode) Number of PCs that can pair with pad Number of PCs that can connect with pad at the same time Number of PCs that can communicate with pad at the same time Multiple pad use on a single client? Infinite Infinite Infinite router Yes No No Requires custom configuration? No No (but recommended) Yes PC identifies device by physical MAC ID out of the box? Yes No N/A Configurable name/ssid? PC only Yes No Configurable code/password? No Yes Yes 2 nd Wi-Fi adapter recommended (blocks other devices)? Device status available in system tray? Mobility restricted by stationary router? No Yes No Yes Yes No No No Yes Unique MAC identifier available? Yes Yes Yes Auto-connect available? Yes Yes Yes Max range 100m 100m 100m Operating frequency 2.4GHz 2.4GHz 2.4GHz Battery 5600mAh 5600mAh 5600mAh Data encryption AES128 AES128 AES128 Compatible with new wireless standards? Yes Yes Yes 6 Back to Top

7 Bluetooth Pad FAQ Does my Bluetooth pad or PC require custom configuration to work? No, the pad is preconfigured to work out of the box. No configuration to the pad or PC (other than standard driver installation) is required. How many PCs can a Bluetooth pad pair with? A pad can be paired with limitless PCs. Pairing is the process of registering your Bluetooth pad with a PC; the PC will remember the device and connect to it without the user entering the pairing code again. It also allows the PC to automatically connect to the device. How many PCs can connect to a single Bluetooth pad at the same time? Per Bluetooth standard 2.1+EDR, up to 7 PCs can be connected to a single Topaz Bluetooth pad at the same time. Connect refers to a Bluetooth link between a pad and a PC and does not include communication from an application on the PC to the pad. How many PCs can communicate with a Bluetooth pad at the same time? Only 1 PC can communicate with a Bluetooth pad at a time. After a pad pairs and connects via Bluetooth to a PC, an application can connect to the Bluetooth device s COM port and begin to communicate. For example, if 2 PCs are paired to the same pad, they will both automatically connect via Bluetooth when the pad is turned ON. At this point, only 1 app can work with the pad. Open the Topaz DemoOCX (found under C:\Windows\SigPlus) on both PC #1 and PC #2. Click the Start button in DemoOCX from PC #1 only and sign on your pad. PC #1 will connect to the Bluetooth COM port and your signature will be displayed in the window in DemoOCX from PC #1. Press the Stop button in DemoOCX from PC #1. Press the Start button in DemoOCX from PC #2 and sign on your pad. Your signature will be displayed in the window in DemoOCX from PC #2. Note: Topaz recommends the use of 1 pad per PC. Operation of 1 pad with multiple PCs can lead to connection failures if the app is left connected to a pad on one PC while a user is trying to connect on another PC. 7 Back to Top

8 If I have multiple Bluetooth devices with the same name, will my PC connect to the correct one? Yes, your PC will use the unique identifier gathered during the pairing process to guarantee connection to the correct device. How do I determine the unique identifier (MAC ID) of my pad? Go to the System Tray, select the Bluetooth icon, and then select Show Bluetooth Devices. Select the Topaz Bluetooth pad device (in this example A-BTB1-03-R ). Then, go to the Bluetooth tab. The Unique identifier can be found in the section Troubleshooting Information. Can a PC be configured to automatically connect to a pad when it is turned on? Your Bluetooth device will automatically connect to your PC by default if the PC has already gone through the pairing process and the correct pairing ID was entered. For Topaz devices, the 4-digit pairing code is: Back to Top

9 Can the pairing code for my pad be changed? No. Can the name of the pad be changed? The name that a PC uses to identify a pad can be changed. Think of this name change as your PC allowing you to create a nickname for the device. The name stored in the pad itself cannot be changed. How do I change the name my PC uses to identify my pad? Go to the System Tray, select the Bluetooth icon, and then select Show Bluetooth Devices. Select the Topaz Bluetooth pad device; in our example, it is A-BTB1-03-R. Then, go to the Bluetooth tab. The name of the Bluetooth device can be modified by entering a new value at the top of the window. Type in the new name, click Apply, and then click OK. Note: The custom name of the pad is stored on the PC only. The Bluetooth device will continue to report its factory name (in this case A-BTB1-03-R to this and any other PC). What is the range of a Topaz Bluetooth pad? Topaz Bluetooth radios use a class 1 high power amplifier (+18dBm) to achieve up to 100- meter (328-feet) range. The actual range of your pad will depend on a user s unique environment. What can cause interference with a Bluetooth pad? Any device that 2.4GHz ISM band can cause interference with a Topaz Bluetooth pad. This includes other Bluetooth devices, Wi-Fi devices, wireless phones, wireless cameras, etc. 9 Back to Top

10 How many Bluetooth pads can operate at the same time in one area? Advanced Wireless Pad Help Guide Interference will never result in lost data from/to a pad. If a data packet transmission is not successful due to interference or high traffic on the network by other devices, the packet will be re-sent. Topaz recommends user applications are coded to handle delays in data transmission. Can multiple pads be used simultaneously on a single client? Yes. Microsoft Bluetooth drivers will automatically detect different Bluetooth devices and assign unique COM ports for each device. A pad can only communicate with one application at a time. To use both pads on the same client at the same time, multiple remote sessions must be opened and each session must have a unique profile that always connects to the same unique COM port. Please contact the manufacturer of the remote environment you are using to confirm support and set-up procedures for this setup. How can I verify Bluetooth connection status of my Bluetooth device? Go to System Tray, select the Bluetooth icon, and then select Show Bluetooth Devices. Select the Topaz Bluetooth pad device (in this example labeled A-BTB1-03-R). Then, go to the Bluetooth tab. Last Connected will provide date of last connection. Is my Bluetooth pad compatible with new Bluetooth standards and hardware? Yes, Topaz pads use Bluetooth standard 2.1+EDR. Any PC or adapter that is Bluetooth 2.1 or higher (including Bluetooth 3.0 and 4.0/BLE) is compatible with a Topaz pad. Topaz pads are not compatible with Bluetooth Standards 1.1, 1.2 and Back to Top

11 Wi-Fi Pad FAQ Does my PC see the Wi-Fi pad on the network? The following confirms if the pad is listed and available for the Ethernet or Wi-Fi card of your PC to connect to. This troubleshooting step is most important when connecting to the pad indirectly through a router. 1. If more than one network adaptor was listed in the Topaz Wi-Fi Config App s Network Interface List, make sure the correct card was selected when the pad was configured. 2. Open a command prompt and enter the following: ipconfig /all. Note: Current directory in command prompt is not important. 3. Find the IP address of the network card you configured your PC to use to connect to the pad, in the command prompt. - For example, if your pad was configured with the following card, look for the matching network name Local Area Connection 2 in the command prompt. The description of the card (3 rd line of text) should match also., - Record the preferred IP address 11 Back to Top

12 4. Verify the pad s IP address is listed. To do this, enter arp /a in the command prompt. Note: Current directory in command prompt is not important. - Find the Interface with the IP address that matches the preferred IP address recorded in previous step. In this example, find Find the IP address your pad was configured to use. In this example, ip address If the address is included in the list, then your network card can see the address of this device and connect to it. 5. To verify the device listed is your Topaz pad, confirm the Physical Address listed in the command prompt matches the MAC address shown in the Wi-Fi Config. App as follows. Note: The MAC address is only listed in the Wi-fi Config. App after the pad has been successfully programmed Back to Top

13 Is my pad connecting to the router? If you are unsure if your pad is connecting to your router, do the following: 1. Make sure your pad is configured with the correct case sensitive SSID and password. 2. Connect to your router with a phone using the same SSID and password and confirm connection is successful. Is my pad configured to the same channel as my router? Make sure your pad is configured to the correct channel. Check the channel settings of your router. Reference the user guide of your router. Is my router configured to work with radio mode of my pad? 1. The default radio mode for Topaz pads is G mode. 2. Make sure your router is configured to operate at same mode as the pad. Since the default mode of your pad is G mode, make sure your router is configured to work with G mode also. See the user manual of your router to confirm this setting. The following is an example of what mode options a typical router might provide. Most routers are configured to operate in a mixed mode that will allow operation with devices operating in B, G, and N modes. Make sure your router is not configured to N Only mode Back to Top

14 Does my Wi-Fi pad or PC require custom configuration to work? Advanced Wireless Pad Help Guide Computer Mode: No, the Wi-Fi pad is preconfigured to work out of the box in computer mode. No configuration to the pad or PC (other than driver installation) is required. Router Mode: Yes, your Wi-Fi pad and the PC must both be configured. The Topaz Wi-Fi Config app configures both at the same time during programming. With how many PCs can a Wi-Fi pad authenticate? Computer Mode: A pad can be paired with limitless PCs; pairing is the process of registering your Wi-Fi pad with a PC so that the PC can remember the device and connect to it without the user entering the password again. It also allows the PC to automatically connect to the device. Router Mode: N/A; authentication is only required between the pad and a router. After this connection has been established, all PCs on the same network have access to the pad without the need to authenticate. How many PC s can connect to a single Wi-Fi pad at the same time? Computer Mode: 1 PC, No additional Wi-Fi devices Topaz recommends the use of one pad per PC. Connect refers to a Wi-Fi link between a pad and a PC and does not refer to communication from an application on the PC to the pad. For example, by default a Windows PC will auto-connect to a Wi-Fi device. If multiple PCs have authenticated with a single pad, then each PC will try to auto-connect at the same time; only 1 PC will achieve connection and the rest will be unable to connect. If your PC needs to connect to other Wi-Fi devices (such as a Wi-Fi router) at the same time that it is connected to the pad, a 2 nd Wi-Fi adapter must be added. Only 1 PC can communicate with the pad at a time. Router Mode: 1 Router Topaz recommends the use of one pad per PC. Connect refers to a Wi-Fi link between a pad and a router and does not refer to communication from an application on the PC to the pad. For example, by default a router will auto-connect to a Wi-Fi device. A pad is configured with the SSID and password of one router only using the Topaz Wi-Fi Config app Back to Top

15 How many PCs can communicate with a Wi-Fi pad at the same time? Computer Mode: 1 PC Advanced Wireless Pad Help Guide Since only one PC can connect via Wi-Fi to a pad, only one PC can communicate with the pad. Communication is limited to one application at a time. Router Mode: 1 PC For example, if multiple PCs have been configured with the Topaz Wi-Fi Config app, then each PC will be able to connect to the IP address of the pad. The first application to connect to the virtual serial port of the pad will achieve connection to the device and the rest will be unable to connect. If a user forgets to disconnect the application from the pad, a user from another PC will be unable to connect to the pad. A Wi-Fi pad and the PC intended to connect to it must be configured with the Topaz Wi-Fi Config app. This app identifies the network to which your PC is connected and assigns an address from it for the pad to use. This address will also be available to any other PC that is on the same network. If I have multiple Wi-Fi devices with the same name, will my PC connect to the correct one? Computer Mode: No, Topaz Wi-Fi pads come preconfigured with SSID Topaz_Wi- Fi_Adapter and password Topaz_Wi-Fi. If multiple PCs are configured to auto-connect to this SSID and password, then multiple PCs will try to auto-connect and only one of the PCs will achieve connection via Wi-Fi. Other users will be unable to connect to the pad or communicate with it via an application. If a user forgets to disconnect the app, then other users will be unable to use the pad. Router Mode: N/A. How do I determine the unique identifier (MAC ID) of my pad? Computer Mode Only: 1. Open the Network and Internet settings window. 2. Select Hardware Properties. 3. Find Physical Address (MAC) Back to Top

16 Can a PC be configured to automatically connect to a pad when it is turned on? Your Wi-Fi device by default will have the connect automatically option checked. This will allow auto-connect if the PC has already gone through the authentication process, and the correct password was entered. For Topaz devices used in computer mode, the password is Topaz_Wi-Fi. Can the password for my pad be changed? Yes, Topaz recommends configuring the pad with a unique SSID and password for both computer and router modes. Use the Topaz Wi-Fi Config app included with the standard download to do this. How do I change the name with which my PC identifies my pad? For a Topaz pad used in computer mode, the SSID can be customized. For example, if a user has 3 pads and 3 PCs, the SSID for each pad can be configured so that is easy to differentiate which pad should be used with which PC. Configure the pad using the Topaz Wi-Fi Config app. What is the range of a Topaz Wi-Fi pad? Topaz Wi-Fi radios use a class 1 high power amplifier (+18dBm) to achieve up to 100-meter (328-feet) range. The actual range of your pad will depend on a user s unique environment. What can cause interference with a Wi-Fi pad? Any device that operates at the same frequency as the Wi-Fi pad (2.4GHz) can cause interference with a Topaz Wi-Fi pad. This includes other Topaz Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices, non-topaz Bluetooth and Wi-Fi devices, wireless phones, wireless cameras, cell phones, etc. In addition, physical materials, such as metal framing in walls, can cause interference. Can multiple pads be used simultaneously on a single client? No, the Topaz Serial-to-Ethernet (SEC) driver must be installed on the client machine and can only support one device Back to Top

17 How many Wi-Fi pads can operate at the same time in one area? Advanced Wireless Pad Help Guide Interference will never result in lost data from/to a pad. If a data packet transmission is not successful due to interference or high traffic on the network by other devices, the packet will be re-sent. Topaz recommends user applications are coded to handle delays in data transmission so that data cannot be lost. How can I verify Wi-Fi connection status of my Wi-Fi device? Go to the Network Device list and confirm that the pad is listed as Connected. Is my Wi-Fi pad compatible with new Wi-Fi standards and hardware? Yes, Topaz pads operate on either B or G modes (G mode by default). Newer Wi-Fi radios that operate at N and AC modes are also typically backwards compatible with B and G modes. Make sure to set your adapter or router to a mixed mode, i.e. mixed mode B, G & N Back to Top