Using the Vulcan RFID™ UHF Tag Read & Write Software

Overview:

This article will walk through the steps required to setup and utilize the Vulcan RFID™ UHF Tag Read & Write Software.

Downloads:

Vulcan RFID UHF Tag Read & Write software

Downloading and Installing Vulcan RFID™ UHF Tag Read & Write Software

Please see the video below for a complete walkthrough of installing and using the Vulcan RFID™ UHF Tag Read & Write Software.

To download the Vulcan Tag Encoder software, please utilize the link above in the Downloads section. Once the software is downloaded, unzip the .zip file and launch the software by double-clicking the .exe file, which will launch the installer. Once installation is complete, launch the software if it did not launch automatically.


Connecting Your Reader

After installation, the first step is to connect your reader. The current version of Vulcan Tag Encoder only supports serial devices that utilize Jadak's Mercury API, like the ThingMagic USB Pro reader. At this time, the Elara and EL6e readers are not compatible.

Connect your reader to your PC and follow the steps below:

  • First, open the menu options for Manufacturer and select the "ThingMagic (Jadak)" option.
  • Next, open the Connection menu and select the "Serial" option.

  • Now, connect your reader by selecting the "Scan Available Ports" button and verifying that your reader's COM port is shown in the IP Address/ COM Port textbox. Press the "Connect Reader" button to connect your reader.

Once the reader is successfully connected, a message should confirm this in the main text box.

Configuring Your Reader

After the reader is connected, there are a few configuration options that can be adjusted. To see these options, select the button titled "Configure Reader".

In the current release, the only parameters available for editing are the Write Power, Read Power, and Tag Display options.

  • Write Power (in dBm) - Sets the transmit power for writing tags using the connected reader (defaults to antenna 1).
  • Read Power (in dBm) - Sets the transmit power for reading tags using the connected reader (defaults to antenna 1).
  • Show tag data in (Hexadecimal/ASCII) - Allows the user to select the data format they would like to use to read/write their tags. Hexadecimal is limited to numbers 0-9 and characters A-F.

Once the desired settings are configured, select the "Save All Settings" button to apply the settings and close the configuration menu.

Your Application

The Vulcan RFID™ UHF Tag Read & Write Software can be very helpful in applications where it is desirable to read and write a single tag at a time. These applications typically require on-the-fly encoding as well as verification to ensure the correct tags were encoded with the proper information. There a few different ways in which the Vulcan Tag Encoder software can meet these needs:

  • Barcode Scan Encoding
  • Database Encoding
  • Automation of Memory Encoding and Locking

Barcode Scan Encoding

By default, the Vulcan RFID™ UHF Tag Read & Write Software is setup for encoding tags using a printed set of barcodes. This encoding method is very useful when a series of tags needs to be encoded and each tag has a printed barcode that matches the desired EPC for the tag. Also, barcode scan encoding allows the encoding process to be nearly autonomous, taking much of the  manual process of encoding tags out of the equation.

To encode tags using this method, simply connect a barcode scanner to your PC and ensure that it is HID enabled. What this means is that when your barcode scanner scans a barcode, it automatically feeds that barcode data into a selected text field.

Now, select the text field next to the Write button and scan a barcode that you would like to encode, and verify that the Write text field populates with the barcode data. Next, place the tag that requires encoding on or near your reader. Then select the Write button or press the Space or Enter keys to write the nearby tag.

If the write is successful, the main textbox should change to a green color, and the Write textbox should clear itself in anticipation of the next barcode scan.

Database Encoding

Using a database to encode tags is a very popular way encoding a batch of tags very quickly. Vulcan RFID™ UHF Tag Read & Write Software can use Microsoft Excel files (.xls and .xlsx) as a database for tag encoding data, pulling data from the database sequentially for quick tag encoding.

For easy setup, feel free to use the tag encoding template provided in the link here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/577indkyfb2fh58ovnfxe/Tag-Encoding-Template.xls?dl=0&rlkey=ehzpkdnza6yevrz5bcgoj9tnr

To use this encoding method, click the Add Excel Database button and use the file browser to select your database file.

Once the file is selected, the Vulcan RFID™ UHF Tag Read & Write Software will pull from the first column of your spreadsheet starting on the second row (to account for column headers). To change the selected row, enter in the row number in the DB Record Num. textbox and select the Update button. The textbox next to the Write button will show the selected row's contents.

Automation of Memory Encoding and Locking

In addition to the two encoding method above, the Vulcan RFID™ UHF Tag Read & Write Software can also assist in reading, writing, and performing security actions on tag memory banks.

To read or write a particular memory bank of a tag, simply select the radio button next to the the memory bank on which you would like to operate. To lock or unlock a tag, simply select the desired option and supply the Access Password in the textbox provided.

All of these options can be added to the two encoding operations mentioned above. For example, you may use the Barcode Scan encoding option to write your tags, and include the Lock Tag option with an Access Password to lock your tags simultaneously. 

Additionally, you may use the Database Encode option to pull from a database and write to your tag's USER memory instead of its EPC.


Verifying SGTIN-96 Encoding

Tags that are encoded in the SGTIN-96 format for retail use can be quickly verified for accuracy. 

Read the desired tag, enter the expected UPC for that tag, and click "verify." 
The software will decode the EPC and ensure it matches the UPC entered: 

This is a quick way to verify your retail tags are encoded properly. 

If you have any additional questions about setting up and using the Vulcan RFID™ UHF Tag Read & Write Software, please reach out to our support team at support@atlasRFIDstore.com.