| TEK
Flashpen 2000TM DCD |
| Q. |
What is the
loudness level of the TEK Flashpen 2000TM Data
Collection Device beeper. |
| A. |
The beeper loudness
level of each TEK Flashpen 2000TM is at least 100
dB at the probe.
|
| Q. |
The beeper loudness
of my TEK Flashpen 2000TM seems to have gotten
softer. What causes this apparent loudness reduction? |
| A. |
This is a question
we are frequently asked. In most instances an apparent
reduction in loudness level is a result of the gradual
accumulation of dirt, dust or other contaminant in the beeper
hole opening in the TEK Flashpen 2000TM DCD. If
you experience an apparent reduction in loudness, you should
check to see if the beeper hole is obstructed and remove the
obstruction. A beeper replacement can be purchased from TEK
Industries, Inc. as TEK Part No. F00410 for $37.00. Please
call Customer Service for an RMA#.
|
| Q. |
How many iButtonTM
Touch Memory records can I read with my TEK Flashpen
2000TM
Data Collection Device? |
| A. |
The answer to this
question depends on the type of iButtonTM Touch
Memory button being used and the amount of data recorded in
the iButtonTM Touch Memory button. As an example,
the TEK Flashpen 2000TM can read approximately
4,600DS 1990 iButtonTM Touch Memory buttons and
approximately 10,600DS 1990 short record iButtonTM
Touch Memory buttons.
|
| Q. |
The instructions I
received with my TEK Flashpen 2000TM Data
Collection Device specify I should use a Duracell DL2/3A 3
volt lithium battery? Can I use another substitute lithium
battery? |
| A. |
Although many 3
volt lithium batteries look alike, there are differences
between physical and electrical characteristics which may
dramatically effect the performance of your TEK Flashpen 2000TM
DCD. The Duracell DL2/3A 3-volt lithium battery was
specifically selected as an OEM battery for use with the TEK
Flashpen 2000TM Data Collection Device. We have
found from experience that the Duracell DL2/3A 3-volt lithium
battery provides optimal TEK Flashpen performance throughout
the life of the battery and in a number of diverse
environmental conditions.
Additionally, the physical
dimensions and shape of the battery compartment of the TEK
Flashpen 2000TM Data Collection Device are
designed to accept the Duracell DL2/3A battery. "Look
alike" batteries, including Duracell batteries, generally
have different physical dimensions which sometimes result in
the battery becoming lodged in the battery compartment.
Another problem sometimes
encountered with some "look alike" batteries, such
as the slightly longer Duracell 123A battery, is the port end
cap of the TEK Flashpen 2000TM Data Collection
Device generally cannot be reinstalled without some damage to
the port end cap or to the TEK Flashpen 2000TM
Data Collection Device itself. If the port end cap can be
installed, it is usually without the gasket and there is
generally a gap leaving the battery compartment vulnerable to
moisture, dirt or other contamination.
In addition to the above noted
problems, "look alike" batteries do not always
provide reliable electrical connection. |
| Top |
| TEK
iButton Cradle® DTS |
| Q. |
Can multiple TEK
iButton Cradle® Data Transfer Stations (DTS) be
"ganging" or "daisy-chaining" onto a
single TEK Comport Adapter. |
| A. |
After careful study
of a "ganged" or daisy-chained arrangement we found
that the TEK Data Collection Devices may not download properly
if two or more are installed in DTS's that are connected at
the same time to the same TEK Comport Adapter.
There are also current limitations
present at the computer port, this presents a problem with the
TEK Comport Adapter lighting the red and green LED's on more
than one DTS at a time.
We also experienced erratic
and sometimes unreliable system operation due to excessively
long cable runs and /or a series of connections.
It is possible; however, to
connect two stations to a single comport adapter by using a
RJ11 Duplex Adapter. This will normally allow reliable
operation as long as only one DTS at a time has a TEK Data
Collection Device inserted. Note that the LED brightness on
the DTS's will be significantly reduced.
TEK Industries strongly
recommends against attaching more than one DTS at a time to a
TEK Comport Adapter.
|
| Q. |
I am using Windows
95, Windows 98 or Windows NT on a newer PC (PCs with on-board
I/O). My TEK iButton Cradle appears to stop working at times. To
get it to work again I must either restart my application or
reboot my computer. |
| A. |
There are some
known problems with the UART chips in some of the newer PCs
(refer to article Q119853 on the Microsoft Developer Network
for more information on this error). If your FIFO is enabled,
you may find that you can resume communication by simply
restarting your application. If your FIFO is disabled,
however, you may find that a reboot is necessary. The latest
version of the tektp32.dll detects this lock-up
condition and automatically re-initializes the serial port (as
long as the FIFO is enabled for that port). If your
application uses an earlier version of tektp32.dll, it may
need to be recompiled for use with the latest version of
tektp32.dll.
|
| Top |
TEK
Software
32-Bit Library & 9 Pin Comport Adapter |
| Q. |
My software
application uses the 32-bit library (tektp32.dll) and a 9-pin
comport adapter. Windows Device Manager indicates that COM1
and COM2 are installed and working properly, however, my
software application is unable to initialize the 9-pin comport
adapter. |
| A. |
Programmers,
please be sure to check the return value from tpxSetupPort. A
return value of tmBAD_PORT indicates that Windows is unable to
access the port. This is usually due to the fact that another
application is already using the port, or the port is not set
up properly under windows. A return value of tmNO_PORT
indicates that Windows is able to access the port, however, a
9-pin comport adapter is not detected. This usually indicates
a bad connection.
Check all physical
connections. Make sure the 9-pin comport adapter is plugged
firmly into the PC. Check the RS232 cable connecting the 9-pin
comport adapter to the TEK iButton Cradle. Verify that one of
the LEDs on the TEK iButton Cradle is lit.
Verify that the LEDs on the
TEK iButton Cradle toggle when you run your application. If the
red LED remains lit and the green one never flashes, then
check your BIOS setup. In your BIOS setup, deselect the auto
initialization feature for serial ports. Instead, explicitly
select 0x2F8/IRQ4 for COM1 and 0x3F8/IRQ3 for COM2. Reboot
Windows and rerun the application.
|
| Q. |
My software
application uses the 32-bit library (tektp32.dll) and a 9-pin
comport adapter. When my Data Collection Device is in the TEK
iButton Cradle and I run my software application, I frequently
receive an error message saying something like "Comport
Adapter Not Found". |
| A. |
Leaving your Data
Collection Device in the TEK iButton Cradle may result in
reduced battery life, and cause complications when you attempt
to initialize the 9-pin comport adapter. Initialization of the
comport adapter causes activity on the one-wire bus. If the
Data Collection Device is in the cradle and sees this
activity, it can mistake it for the presence of an iButton and
attempt to communicate with it. This causes contention on the
one-wire bus and conflicts with the initialization of the
9-pin comport adapter.
We recommend that you remove
your Data Collection Device from the TEK iButton Cradle whenever
you are not communicating with it. After downloading, setting
the time, etc., you should immediately remove your Data
Collection Device from the TEK iButton Cradle.
|
| Q. |
I am a programmer and I want to integrate an RS232 to USB
adapter for my comport, what do I need to do?
|
| A. |
RS232 TO USB Adapter Recommendations:
IOGear USB->Serial converter Model #GUC232A
Comport Version: Must be V1.1
or higher; the V1.1 comport increases the comport time out so
the information can pass
tmxTouchReset notes:
When using the USB port to
communicate with the pen or the cradle, any comport command,
should be preceded by a tmxTouchReset.
|
| Q. |
How do I link to a Visual Studio Product to the 32 bit dll? |
| A. |
Linking the DLL to Microsoft,
Recommended Reading found on the software
|
| Top |
| TEK
13.56 MHz RFID MOUSEMAT |
| Q. |
Can the Mousemat read multiple tags? |
| A. |
Yes, it can read 13.56 MHz
ISO15693 Standard Tags, TI Tag-it, and Phillips ICode.
|
| Q. |
Does the Mousemat have Anti-Collision? |
| A. |
Yes, it has Anti-Collision for TI
ISO Tags only.
|
| Q. |
Can the logo be customized? |
| A. |
Absolutely! We need at least a 300dpi logo or we can provide a template and one can be designed, saved and sent back to us for printing.
|
| Q. |
Can more than one Mousemat be connected on one computer? |
| A. |
Yes, each Mousemat has a unique
identifier in order to prevent the USB hub from crashing. If the
customer requires all of their mousemats owned to be
interchangeable, the customer can set the serial number of each
mousemat the same. Note, if multiple mousemats configured with
the same serial number are used simultaneously on the same
computer,the USB hub will crash
|
| Q. |
What is the read range? |
| A. |
The reader has a read range of 2" to 6" depending on the manufacturer of the tag and physical size of the tag.
|
| Q. |
Does the Mousemat need an external Power Supply |
| A. |
No, the power comes from the USB power supply. However, there is an RS232 version of the Mousemat which uses a wall plug-in style power supply.
|
| Q. |
Where is the reader? |
| A. |
The reader is located to the left of the Mousemat just above center. The TEK logo is placed directly above the reader antenna.
|
| Q. |
Is there a SDK (Software Development Kit)? |
| A. |
No. The Mousemat uses a handful of simple ASCII commands in order to control the hardware. All of the drivers, protocols, and Demo software are included on the CD provided with the Mousemat.
|
| Q. |
Error message: (MOUSEMAT NOT FOUND ON COMX.) |
| A. |
The Mousemat USB selects a virtual COM port. This is part of the driver set up. It is possible that COM1 - COM4 is used or has been previously setup and is no longer needed.
Plug in the Mousemat via USB.
START --> Control Panel --> System --> Hardware --> Device Manager --> "Double Click" Ports (COM & LPT) --> "Right Click" TEK RFID Mousemat (COMX) --> Properties --> Port Settings --> Advanced. Under the COM Port Number select a port COM 1 to 4. If there are only a few things hooked up to the computer and COM3 is not being used, it would be safe to select COM3 even if it is says (in use). (If COM 1 - COM 4 was (in use), that was probably the problem). Don't select a COM port if it is used for something else. Select OK for everything and close out the windows. It may warn that the port may be in use, select OK.
Now, with the Mousemat plugged in, open up the RFID Mousemat application and it should find the Mousemat.
|
| Q. |
What operating systems are supported? |
| A. |
The Mousemat has been tested using Windows 95, 98, 2000, and XP. |
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