User's Guide

Table Of Contents

ThingMagic M6e User Guide 2

www.JADAKtech.com

2 Hardware Overview

Hardware Interfaces

Antenna Connections

The M6e supports four monostatic bidirectional RF antennas through four MMCX connectors: labeled J1

through J4 on the module. See

Cables and Connectors for more information on antenna connector parts.

The maximum RF power that can be delivered to a 50 ohm load from each port is 1.4 Watts, or +31.5 dBm

(regulatory requirements permitting).

NOTE: The RF ports can only be energized one at a time.

NOTE: FCC/NA Region max RF power is 30 dBm for the M6e module. For 31.5 dBm operation in the FCC/

NA Region the M6e-A module must be purchased.

Antenna Requirements

The performance of the M6e is affected by antenna quality. Antennas that provide good 50 ohm match at

the operating frequency band perform best. Specified sensitivity performance is achieved with antennas

providing 17 dB return loss or better across the operating band. (A higher numerical value indicates a better

match.) Damage to the module will not occur for any return loss of 1 dB or greater. Damage may occur if

antennas are disconnected during operation or if the module sees an open or short circuit at its antenna

port.

Antenna Detection

To minimize the chance of damage due to antenna disconnection, the M6e supports antenna detection.

Detection can be done automatically or manually, the choice of which is configured through API calls.

• Automatically if the antenna passes DC current.

• Manually by doing periodic checks of the ability of ports to pass DC.

• Manually by doing periodic checks to determine if the return loss is below a value that indicates an

antenna is present (a value of -10 dBm is a good threshold).

Regardless of how the reader is used, it is generally recommended that antenna detection be enabled as it

helps protect the module from possible damage.

For antennas to be detected automatically by DC current, the M6e antenna must pass some DC current

across the center pin and ground, i.e., must present between 0 Ohms and 10 kOhms DC resistance.