User's Manual

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
ALR-9890 – RR HARDWARE SETUP GUIDE
DOC. CONTROL #8102XXX-000-000 REV A
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CHAPTER 1
Introduction
This Hardware Setup Guide provides instructions for installing and operating the
ALR-9890 RFID Readers.
This document is designed for use by RFID system integrators and software
developers - those who wish to develop software products and extended systems
that take full advantage of the RFID Reader's capabilities.
Audience
For the purposes of this document, we assume the readers of the Hardware
Setup Guide:
 Are competent PC users
 Have minimal previous knowledge of Radio-Frequency Identification
(RFID) technology and be competent in the installation of RF antenna
and cabling.
 Are experienced in software development and/or hardware systems
integration
RFID Reader Overview
The Alien ALR-9890 RFID reader is designed to read any tag conforming to the
Association of American Railroads Standard for Automatic Equipment
Identification - AAR S-918 protocol (commonly found on rail cars) or EPC Class 1
Generation 2 protocol. Additionally the reader detects input event timing and
issue event reports (tag reads and IO events) to a host computer system. The
host computer can be locally connected to the reader via RS-232, or at a remote
network location.
The RFID Reader is delivered with the following components and accessories:
 One (1) RFID Reader
 One (1) power supply and cord
 Two circulator assemblies
The reader is intended to be operated in a system comprising the reader, its
power supply, two circulator assemblies and one or two external antennas. Each
individual system installation requires a site license issued by the FCC. It is the
responsibility of the system integrator/installer or user to obtain the site license.