ELITE READER GETTING STARTED GUIDE

Transcription

1 ELITE READER GETTING STARTED GUIDE Elite Reader Getting Started Guide 1 of 16

2 GETTING STARTED WITH YOUR ELITE READER Included materials: Elite Reader Battery Pig-tail Adapter Crossover Network Cable IPICO SPORTS ELITE READER BATTERY PIG-TAIL ADAPTER ETHERNET CROSSOVER CABLE Elite Reader Getting Started Guide 2 of 16

3 DIAGRAM OF READER HARDWARE INTERFACE FIGURE 1 DIAGRAM OF ELITE READER INTERFACE 1. Receiver Module 2. Receiver Module 3. External Buzzer Connector 4. Delta Module 5. LAN Communications Connector 6. Manual Tune Switch 7. Transmitter Module 8. Power Supply Module 9. On/Off Switch 10. Battery Condition Indicator 11. IPICO Fast Charger Connector v Battery Connector 13. TXA Transmitter (Green) 14. TXA Transmitter (Red) 15. TXB Transmitter (Blue) 16. TXB Transmitter (Yellow) Elite Reader Getting Started Guide 3 of 16

4 STEP 1: ELITE READER POWERING/CHARGING CHARGING THE ELITE READER FIGURE 2 CONNECTING AN IPICO SPORTS CHARGER OR 12V BATTERY (Be sure to twist the connector to lock in place and power the unit) The Elite Reader has two charging/battery inputs. The connections for these different options are located in the lower right-hand corner of the reader panel (diagram #11 and #12). The right-most connection (diagram #11) is for either a 12-volt external battery or the IPICO Fast Charger. THIS CONNECTION IS ONLY FOR THESE TWO OPTIONS ALL OTHER CHARGING OR POWER SOLUTIONS SHOULD USE THE CONNECTION TO THE LEFT OF THE BLUE 12-VOLT OR FAST CHARGER CONNECTION PORT. The other charging / powering connection (diagram #12) is labeled BATT 12V, and is meant for use with a Mains Power unit or other IPICO power solution. To charge the unit, your charging solution into the appropriate battery connector (described above) and ensure that the connector is twisted into position until a soft click is heard. This indicates that he charging cable is locked into place and will allow the unit to charge. The LED on the Battery Condition Indicator (diagram #10) will become maintain a solid green status. This also indicates that the unit it charging. POWERING THE ELITE READER The unit is safe to operate while charging or using an IPICO Sports charging solution or 12-volt battery. To power the unit, switch the ON/OFF switch (diagram #9) into the On position. NOTE: THE IPICO SPORTS ELITE READER CAN BE POWERED ON IN THE ABSENCE OF CONNECTED MATS. When powered, the LED on the Battery Condition Indicator (diagram # 10) will become a solid green (if not already a solid green) light. When the reader boots, several audible beeps will be emitted from the unit. This is a normal part of the starting procedure and will stop after a short time. These beeps indicate that the reader s Transmitter Module (diagram #7) is tuning to its current environment. When ON, the unit s Battery Condition Indicator (diagram #10) will display a visual representation of the unit s power. If the needle of the indicator is on the green side of the spectrum, the unit has a stable and operable charge. If the needle is on the red end of the spectrum, this indicates that the unit needs charging. The reader s battery will continue to charge even while it is powered ON. Elite Reader Getting Started Guide 4 of 16

5 STEP 2: CONFIGURING YOUR ELITE READER FOR OPERATION THE ELITE READER STARTUP PROCESS Booting an IPICO Sports Elite Reader can take anywhere between 1 and 2 minutes. The reader indicates its progress on the front panel of the Delta Module (diagram #4). When initially powered, nearly all of the LEDs on the front panel will become active, as pictured below. FIGURE 3 ELITE READER FRONT PANELS DURING INITIAL STARTUP As can be seen, the green LED on the Battery Condition Indicator (diagram #10) is a solid green, and its needle indicates a stable, usable battery charge. Nearly all of the lights on the Delta Module (diagram #4) are active, as well as those on the Transmitter Module (diagram #7), the Power Supply Module (diagram #8), and the two receiver modules (diagram #1 and #2, respectively). During startup, along with the emitted, rapid beeps, the TXA and TXB lights on the Transmitter Module (diagram #7) will flash in synchronization with the emitted sound. This is normal and is part of the module s start-up tuning process. Once startup has begun, the LEDs on the Delta Module (diagram #4) numbered 1-5 will become active in sequential order during the reader s boot-up process in the order pictured below. FIGURE 4 ORDER OF LED PROGRESSION DURING BOOTING PROCESS Elite Reader Getting Started Guide 5 of 16

6 The reader has finished the booting process when the PWR LED is maintains a solid red state and the CPU LED (both located on the Delta Module diagram #4) blinks at a constant rate. At this point, all of the vital processes of the Elite Reader have started and the reader can now be accessed VIA LAN/Ethernet. USING ETHERNET CONNECTIVITY Once powered and booted, insert one end of the CAT-6 crossover cable (orange Ethernet cable packed with the Elite Reader) into the LAN Communications Connector (diagram #5) and into the network port on your computer. FOR WINDOWS XP The default reader IP address is , in the * range. In order to communicate with the Elite Reader over the CAT-6 crossover Ethernet Cable, the IP address and range on the computer connected to the reader must change as well. Open the connected computer s Control Panel and navigate to Network Connections, double clicking it and finding Local Area Connection, also double clicking that icon. Follow the process indicated in FIGURE 5 to change the IP address of the computer connected to the reader (figure below and continued on next page). FOR WINDOWS VISTA Navigate to the Windows Vista Control Panel, and find the Network and Sharing Center or click on the entry that reads Network and Internet. In the Network and Sharing Center, find the entry for Manage Network Connections at the left. At the Manage Network Connections page, find the entry for the Local Area Connection Click on Properties, located at the bottom of the menu and follow FIGURE 6 for further instructions. Telnet does not come with Windows Vista, but can be added free of charge. Navigate to the Control Panel and find the entry for Programs and Features. On the left hand side of Programs and Features window, find the button marked Add/Remove Windows Components. Telnet is a component you can install. See FIGURE 6 for more detailed visual instructions. FIGURE 5 INSERTING THE CAT-6 CROSSOVER CABLE INTO THE LAN COMMUNICATIONS CONNECTOR (DIAGRAM #5) Elite Reader Getting Started Guide 6 of 16

7 WINDOWS XP STEP 1 CLICK ON PROPERTIES STEP 2 HIGHLIGHT INTERNET PROTOCOL (TCP/IP) AND CLICK PROPERTIES STEP 3 CLICK USE THE FOLLOWING IP ADDRESS AND SPECIFY THE ADDRESSES AS LISTED, CLICKING OK TO EXIT AND SAVE FIGURE 6 CONFIGURING COMPUTER IP ADDRESS Elite Reader Getting Started Guide 7 of 16

8 WINDOWS VISTA STEP 1 OPEN CONTROL PANEL, FIND THE NETWORK & SHARING CENTER STEP 2 OPEN NETWORK & SHARING CENTER, LOOK TO THE LEFT-HAND TOOLBAR AND FIND MANAGE NETWORK CONNECTIONS Elite Reader Getting Started Guide 8 of 16

9 STEP 3 HIGHLIGHT LOCAL AREA CONNECTION, RIGHT CLICK AND SELECT PROPERTIES STEP 4 FIND INTERNET PROTOCOL VERSION 4, HIGHLIGHT IT AND CLICK ON PROPERTIES STEP 5 SELECT USE THE FOLLOWING IP ADDRESS AND CLICK OK TO EXIT AND SAVE. Elite Reader Getting Started Guide 9 of 16

10 STEP 6 TO INSTALL TELNET, RETURN TO THE CONTROL PANEL AND FIND PROGRAMS AND FEATURES AND DOUBLE-CLICK IT. ALSO, LOOK TO THE LEFT-HAND TOOL BAR, CLICK TURN WINDOWS FEATURES ON OR OFF STEP 7 FIND TELNET CLIENT IN THE MENU THAT POPS UP, AND CHECK THE BOX NEXT TO IT, THEN CLICK OK. FIGURE 7 CONFIGURING COMPUTER IP ADDRESS / INSTALLING TELNET Elite Reader Getting Started Guide 10 of 16

11 The IPICO Sports Elite Reader has a web interface, called Webmin that can be accessed at the IP address of the reader, on a given port, To access this port, open your web browser (Internet Explorer, FireFox, Opera, et al.) and navigate to the reader s IP address. For example, a reader with the IP address would have Webmin located at Input this address into the address bar of your respective web browsing platform and hit the Enter key. FIGURE 8 WEBMIN ENTRY PAGE The above-pictured screen is the login page to Webmin. For all IPICO Sports Elite Reader systems, the username and password are the same. To log into Webmin, use the username and password: Username: ipadmin Password: Fox1Bat This username/password combination is case sensitive. Thus, enter it exactly as it appears above. FIGURE 9 WEBMIN MAIN INTERFACE PAGE Once successfully logged in, the above-pictured page will appear. This interface contains all of the functions of the reader that can be accessed through Webmin. WEBMIN ICONS Allows for the settings changes for the Delta shutdown grace period (default 120 seconds) and for the reader s First Seen, Last Seen filter timeout. Elite Reader Getting Started Guide 11 of 16

12 Provides an interface by which the reader s stored data files can be disposed. Users can choose individual files or full reader history for deletion. Allows for download of reader history and maintenance log files through SCP protocol; this feature is added for backwards compatibility. Use of FTP is advocated. Lists settings for the reader s FTP server, the interface by which the reader s history files can be obtained. This interface also provides a link to the FTP. Allows for the reader s networking settings (IP, DHCP client or server status, et al.) to be altered. Provides users with start/stop and restart control of the reader s Delta module (diagram #4). Allows for the reader s system time to be changed. When received, all readers are configured for their specific destination s time configuration. Provides access to the reader s NTP (Network Time Protocol) settings for setting and configuring NTP server status for time sync. Allows for reader s system time zone to be changed. When received, all readers are configured for their specific destinations time zone. Provides an interface for upgrading the operating system version for the reader. When received, each reader is shipped with the most recent distribution. Reports the current operating process versions. When received, all readers have the latest distribution version of reader operating software. FIGURE 10 DIAGRAM OF WEBMIN ICONS AND FUNCTIONS Elite Reader Getting Started Guide 12 of 16

13 STEP 3: CAPTURING DATA THROUGH THE ELITE READER In order for data to be captured by the Elite Reader, mats must be connected to the TX connectors (diagram #13-16). To connect the mats, follow the proceeding pictured process. Taking the slim circular connector, the receiver connector, connect it to the corresponding, color-coded connection. In this case, the example uses a yellow 2.5m mat, connecting it to the receiver corresponding to the color-coded transmitter connector. FIGURE 11 CONNECTING MATS TO THE RECEIVERS FIGURE 12 CONNECTING MATS TO THE TRANSMITTERS Elite Reader Getting Started Guide 13 of 16

14 As seen in the above pictures, the longer, gray, plastic connector should be connected to the corresponding color-coded connector. As the example is using a yellow 2.5 m mat, the connector is inserted into the bottom right (diagram #16) TX connector. If the reader is ON when the mat is connected, the reader will emit a series of rapid beeps similar to those heard when the reader was powered on. These beeps can be stopped by pressing the manual tune switch (diagram #6). This starts the reader s tuning process immediately, rather than waiting to run. This tuning process runs routinely every 5 minutes. Once mats are connected and tuned, the reader will read tags. The IPICO Sports Elite Reader offers several data formats, accessible through M several scoring software programs, including RunScore and the Race Director. These ports are shown in greater detail in your reader manual, but are (Raw Data), (First Seen, Last Seen), and (First Seen, Last Seen in XML). Guides to connecting your reader to your scoring program of choice are available from IPICO Sports. RunScore and Race Director should be available on the storage media that you received with your reader. USING FTP TO ACCESS READER DATA FILES The IPICO Sports Elite Reader records all tag reads and maintenance reports into a variety of data log files depending on the type of data. To access the data files, open a web browser session and type ftp:// followed by the IP address of the reader to which a connection is desired. For example, a reader with an IP address of would be accessed by typing ftp:// FIGURE 16 SAMPLE FTP CONNECTION The files listed in the reader s FTP sort the data based on their source and type. For example, the data listed in FS_LS.log is the output of the FS LS stream on the reader. Even when not connected, all ports are streaming to their respective files. Below is a description of the most important files and their contents. Elite Reader Getting Started Guide 14 of 16

15 FS_LS.log Deltad.log Ttys0.log Ttys1.log Ttys4.log Contains all First Seen, Last Seen data. Contains reports of the operations of the Delta module (diagram #4) Contains the raw tag reads read through the left-most Receiver module(diagram #1) Contains the raw tag reads read through the right-most Receiver module(diagram #2) Contains reports of the reader s run-time activities, specifically those of the Transmitter module (diagram # 7) The files listed on the FTP port of the reader are the files that will be cleared and managed through the Delete STK History Files option in the reader s Webmin console. ELITE READER TROUBLESHOOTING CHECKLIST STARTING UP THE READER RECEIVER MODULES When the unit powers on, if the Receivers PWR LEDs are not lit, this may indicate that the module is not seated correctly in the reader. To re-seat the module, simply unscrew it, take it out, and carefully slide it back in. This will re-connect all the pins on the card with those internal to the reader. DELTA MODULE If the Delta does not boot or the LEDs of the Delta module seem to periodically flash, the Delta module s rechargeable AAA batteries need to be replaced or recharged. To do this, unscrew the screws connecting the Delta to the reader casing and carefully remove the Delta module. There are three AAA batteries onboard the Delta and, to ensure that all batteries are charged fully, remove all three and charge or replace them. This needs to be done periodically, recharging them every 6-8 months is recommended. TRANSMITTER MODULE When booting the reader, the Transmitter module may emit a constant beep, indicating that the reader s mat connections, the TX connections, are out of tune. The reader may attempt to tune when turned on, indicating this state. To tune the reader, press the Tune switch on the front of the Transmitter module to tune the reader, rather than waiting for the tuning process to be executed every five minutes. After connecting mats, the readers will likely need to be retuned using the same process. If the reader is tuned, but continues to emit a constant beeping and the TXA and TXB LEDs on the front panel of the Transmitter module are still flashing (alternating rapidly), the antenna power may have been turned off. To turn this process back on, locate the button labeled ANT PWR OFF, located on the Transmitter module. After pressing this button, the reader should stop beeping, and antenna power should be restored. Elite Reader Getting Started Guide 15 of 16

16 NETWORK CONNECTIVITY GENERAL Attempting to connect to the reader during its booting process will not be successful. As the reader boots, the LEDs on the front of the Delta module will move in succession through the lights marked 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. These indicate the progress of the startup of the Delta. The Delta is fully started and functional when the CPU light is blinking at a near-constant pace. This ensures that all processes have occurred and that the Delta is fully initialized. If the LAN port located on the Delta module does not have a green light or an orange light showing, this could be a sign of a potentially more complicated problem, and IPICO Sports should be contacted. If the Delta has fully started up and network connectivity is still absent, ensure that the computer being used to access the reader is correctly configured. The IP address of the reader may be different from the IP address of your computer, and they may not be a part of the same network family. To configure your network connection, follow the steps pictured in the beginning of this guide. If network connection difficulties persist, restart the Delta module by finding the recessed button located above the 1, 2, and 3 LEDs on the front panel. After pushing the button, the lights on the Delta should light up, and the module will restart. The reader, in its entirety, can also be restarted to help solve network connection issues. To do this, turn the reader power knob to the Off position, and allow the Delta to completely shut down (all LEDs are off). Then turn the reader back on and wait for the modules to complete their various start processes. DATA STREAMING If data streams (ports 10000, 10200, 10201) are unresponsive, restart the Delta module according to the process described above. After a full restart, the streaming ports should perform normally. This can also be the case with the input port (9999). If trouble with data streaming continues, restart the system by turning the power knob into the Off position. Allow all of the modules to complete their shutdown process (wait for the Delta module LEDs to go out). This process may take a couple of minutes. EQUIPMENT SETUP During race day testing, it is important that the data files on the reader are being constantly augmented with data. During pre-race setup, once the readers are fully initialized, ensure that these files are accepting contemporary data. Use the reader s FTP functionality by opening a web browser or FTP client and navigating to your reader s IP address. For example, if a reader s address is , the FTP portion of the reader can be accessed by opening a web browser and typing ftp:// into the Address bar. If using an FTP client, use the IP address as the FTP address. Elite Reader Getting Started Guide 16 of 16