Alien Technology ALR9900 RFID Reader User Manual
Alien Technology Corporation RFID Reader Users Manual
Users Manual

 ALIEN TECHNOLOGY® 
ALR-9900 
 HARDWARE 
SETUP GUIDE 
September 2007 
ALR-9900 
Legal Notices 
Copyright ©2007 Alien Technology Corporation. All rights reserved. 
Alien Technology Corporation has intellectual property rights relating to technology embodied in the products 
described in this document, including without limitation certain patents or patent pending applications in the U.S. or 
other countries. 
This document and the products to which it pertains are distributed under licenses restricting their use, copying, 
distribution and decompilation. No part of this product documentation may be reproduced in any form or by any 
means without the prior written consent of Alien Technology Corporation and its licensors, if any. Third party software 
is copyrighted and licensed from Licensors. Alien, Alien Technology, the Alien logo, Nanoblock, FSA, Gen2Ready, 
Squiggle, the Squiggle logo, Nanoscanner and other graphics, logos, and service names used in this document are 
trademarks of Alien Technology Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of 
their respective owners. U.S. Government approval required when exporting the product described in this 
documentation. 
Federal Acquisitions: Commercial Software -- Government Users Subject to Standard License Terms and Conditions. 
U.S. Government: If this Software is being acquired by or on behalf of the U.S. Government or by a U.S. Government 
prime contractor or subcontractor (at any tier), then the Government's rights in the Software and accompanying 
documentation shall be only as set forth in this license; this is in accordance with 48 C.F.R. 227.7201 through 
227.7202-4 (for Department of Defense (DoD) acquisitions) and with 48 C.F.R. 2.101 and 12.212 (for non-DoD 
acquisitions). 
DOCUMENTATION IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND ALL EXPRESS OR IMPLIED CONDITIONS, REPRESENTATIONS 
AND WARANTEES, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A 
PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGMENT ARE HEREBY DISCLAIMED, EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THAT 
SUCH DISCLAIMERS ARE HELD TO BE LEGALLY INVALID. 
FCC Compliance 
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of 
the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the 
equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio 
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with instruction manual, may cause harmful 
interference with radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful 
interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense. 
Any change or modification to this product voids the user’s authority to operate per FCC Part 15 Subpart A. Section 
15.21 regulations. 
Industry Canada Compliance 
Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference and (2) this device 
must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device. 
This device has been designed to operate with an antenna having a maximum gain of 6dBi. Antenna having a higher 
gain is strictly prohibited per regulations of Industry Canada.  The required antenna impedance is 50 ohms. 
To reduce potential radio interference to other users, the antenna type and its gain should be so chosen that the 
equivalent isotropically radiated power (EIRP) is not more than that required for successful communication. 
Caution 
Reader antennas should be positioned so that personnel in the area for prolonged periods may safely remain at least 
23 cm (9 in) in an uncontrolled environment from the antenna’s surface. See FCC OET Bulletin 56 “Hazards of radio 
frequency and electromagnetic fields” and Bulletin 65 “Human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields.” 

  TABLE OF CONTENTS 
ALR-9900 HARDWARE SETUP GUIDE 
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Alien Technology® 
Hardware Setup Guide 
ALR-9900 
September 2007 
Table of Contents 
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................1 
Audience .......................................................................................................................................................1 
RFID Reader Overview.................................................................................................................................2 
EPC Class 1 UHF RFID Tags.......................................................................................................................2 
Requirements................................................................................................................................................2 
Specifications ................................................................................................................................................3 
RFID Reader...........................................................................................................................................3 
RFID Reader External Circular Polarized Antenna ................................................................................4 
RFID Reader  High Performance Antenna.............................................................................................4 
Mechanical:  Reader Physical Size ........................................................................................................5 
I/O Port Terminal Interface .....................................................................................................................5 
I/O Port Screw Terminal (Female) – Looking at Reader..................................................................6 
RS-232 Port Pinouts...............................................................................................................................7 
RS-232 Connector (Female) – Looking at Reader ..........................................................................7 
System Architecture ...............................................................................................................................7 
CHAPTER 2 READER HARDWARE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION................................................8 
Receiving the RFID Reader ..........................................................................................................................8 
Reader I/O Panel....................................................................................................................................9 
Antenna Panel.............................................................................................................................................10 
System Assembly and Bench Test .............................................................................................................11 
Bench Test Configuration.....................................................................................................................11 
Bench Test Procedure..........................................................................................................................13 
Installation ...................................................................................................................................................14 
Requirements .......................................................................................................................................14 
Hardware Installation Procedure ..........................................................................................................15 
System Operation: Software Control ..........................................................................................................16 
Reader Interface Guide ........................................................................................................................17 
Demonstration Software Guide ............................................................................................................17 
Alien RFID Academy ............................................................................................................................17 

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CHAPTER 1  INTRODUCTION 
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CHAPTER 1 
Introduction 
This Hardware Setup Guide provides instructions for installing and operating the 
ALR-9900 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. 
Included with each reader or developer kit is the Alien RFID Fixed Reader 
Software Developer’s Kit and User Documentation CD-ROM.  This CD contains 
additional information about RFID and the ALR-9900 including the following: 
 RFID Primer (PN 8101014-000) – an overview of RFID technology and a 
glossary of terms. 
 Reader Interface Guide (PN 8101938-000)– an overview of the 
communication interfaces for the ALR-9900. 
 Quick Installation Guide (PN 8102003-000) – a quick start guide for 
installing and running the ALR-9900 reader. 
 Quick Reference (PN 8101007-000) – a quick reference guide 
summarizing the Alien Reader Protocol command set.  
 Demo Software Guide (PN 8101023-000) – details installing and 
operating the Alien RFID Gateway demonstration software. 
 Quick Upgrade Guide (PN 8101051-000) – briefly explains how to use 
the demonstration software to upgrade the ALR-9900. 
To access these guides, please insert the CD that came with your reader and 
follow the on-screen prompts. 
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 
 Are experienced in software development and/or hardware systems 
integration 

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RFID Reader Overview 
The Alien ALR-9900 RFID reader is designed to read and program any EPC 
Class 1 tag (see below) and issue event reports 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) RS-232 serial cable (to connect to host computer) 
 One (1) power supply and cord 
 Alien RFID Fixed Reader Software Developer’s Kit and User 
Documentation CD-ROM 
 Alien RFID Gateway Application 
EPC Class 1 UHF RFID Tags 
The Alien ALR-9900 RFID reader is designed to read and program any EPC 
Class 1 Generation 1 or 2 tag (see below) and issue event reports to a host 
computer system.   
Class 1 tags are “passive” devices meaning they do not have a battery or other 
onboard power source. They are powered solely by the RF energy transmitted by 
an RFID reader.  
Tags communicate with the reader through backscatter modulation in which the 
tags do not transmit RF energy.  Instead, they change their reflective 
characteristics in a controlled way and reflect RF energy back to the reader.  An 
analogy to this is the way you can use a mirror to signal someone by reflecting 
light from the Sun.   
Alien Technology manufactures user-programmable EPC Class 1 tags compliant 
with all key commercial and DoD mandates.  Alien Technology offers a variety of 
designs capable of delivering optimal performance worldwide, including Europe 
and Asia. 
For more information about RFID tags from Alien Technology, please visit our 
website at: 
http://www.alientechnology.com. 
Requirements 
To interface with the RFID Reader you will need the following: 
 A PC running Windows 98 or higher, with CD-ROM drive, an available 
RS-232 serial port and/or Ethernet connectivity 
 Standard 120/220 VAC 50/60 Hz 
 Power supply and cord (included with reader) 

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 Host software (Alien Gateway demo software or your own custom 
software) 
Specifications 
Specifications for key components of the RFID Reader system are provided in 
the tables below: 
RFID Reader 
Name  Alien Multi-Port General Purpose RFID Reader 
Model Number  ALR 9900 
Architecture  Point-to-multipoint reader network, mono-static antenna 
Operating Frequency  902.75 MHz – 927.25 MHz 
Hopping Channels  50 
Channel Spacing  500 KHz 
Channel Dwell Time  < 0.4 seconds 
RF Transmitter  < 30 dBm at the end of 6 m LMR-195 cable. 
Modulation Method  Phase Reversal – Amplitude Shift Keying (PR-ASK) 
20 db Modulation Bandwidth  < 100 KHz 
RF Receiver  2 Channels 
Power Consumption  30 Watts  
Communications Interface  RS-232 (DB-9 F), TCPI/IP (RJ-45)  
Inputs/Outputs  4 coax antenna, 4 inputs/8 outputs (optically isolated), RS-232 com 
port, LAN, power 
Dimensions  8 “ (20.3 cm) x 7 “ (17.8 cm) x 1.6 “ (4.1 cm) 
Weight  Approximately 1 kg (2.2 lbs) 
Operating Temperature  -20°C to +50°C  (+32 °F to +122°F) 
LED Indicators  Power, Link, Active, Ant0-3, CPU, Read, Sniff, Fault (red) 
Software Support  APIs, sample code, executable demo app (Alien Gateway) 
Compliance Certifications  FCC Part 15; FCCID: P65ALR9900 (Pending) 
IOC: 4370A-ALR9900 (Pending) 
Safety Certifications 
(Pending)   
cTUVus   
UL: 60950-1:3004 
CAN/CSA: C22.2 No.60950-1-03 

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RFID Reader External Circular Polarized Antenna  
Model  ALR-9611-CR and ALR-9611-CL 
3 dB Beamwidth  E-plane: 65 degrees  •  H-plane: 65 degrees 
Frequency  902-928 MHz 
Gain (dBi)  5.73 dBi  
Polarization  Circular 
RF Connector  6 m LMR-195 with Reverse-Polarity TNC  
VSWR  1.5:1 
Dimensions  (cm) 22 x 27 x 4  •  (in) 8.5 x 10.5 x 1.65  
Weight  .57 kg  • 1.25 lb 
RFID Reader  High Performance Antenna 
Model  ALR-9614 
3 dB Beamwidth  E-plane: 65 degrees; H-plane 65 degrees   
Gain   8.0 dBi; 6.0 dBiL (maximum) 
Polarization  Circular 
RF Connector  Reverse-Polarity TNC Jack 
VSWR  1.25:1 
Dimensions  11.1 “ (28.2 cm) x 11.1 “ (28.2 cm) x 1.68 “ (4.3 cm) 
Weight  TBD 
Cable  Must be used with Alien cable; Part Number 0800097-001 

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Mechanical:  Reader Physical Size 
Figure 1 - Outline Drawing of the ALR-9900 
I/O Port Terminal Interface 
The ALR-9900 I/O port provides four digital inputs and eight digital outputs, 
optically isolated from the reader circuitry. Opto-isolators have two basic 
elements: a light source (usually a light emitting diode) and a photo-sensitive 
detector. These two elements are positioned facing one another and inserted in 
an electrical circuit to form an opto-coupler. The key property of an opto-coupler 
is that there is an insulating gap between the light source and the detector. No 
current passes through this gap, only the desired light waves representing data. 
Thus the two sides of the circuit are electrically isolated from one another. 
This protects the circuitry inside the reader from damaging ground loops (when 
the external device is at a different ground potential than the reader), and voltage 
spikes. 

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I/O Port Screw Terminal Connector 
(Phoenix 14-pin header) 
Pin 1  V+   (5-24 VDC) 
Pin 2  Output 0  (optically isolated; 500 mA max) 
Pin 3  Output 1  " 
Pin 4  Output 2  " 
Pin 5  Output 3  " 
Pin 6  Output 4  " 
Pin 7  Output 5  " 
Pin 8  Output 6  " 
Pin 9  Output 7  " 
Pin 10  Input 0  (optically isolated; 5-24 V) 
Pin 11  Input 1  " 
Pin 12  Input 2  " 
Pin 13  Input 3  " 
Pin 14  V- 
I/O PORT SCREW TERMINAL (FEMALE) – LOOKING AT READER 
Figure 2 - Input and Output Circuits 

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RS-232 Port Pinouts 
RS-232 Connector (Female DB-9F) 
Pin 1  DCD Connected to Pin 6 
Pin 2  TR1 Transmit Data (Output) 
Pin 3  RC1 Receive Data (Input)  
Pin 4  DTR Connected to Pin 6 
Pin 5  Ground 
Pin 6  DSR Connected to Pin 4 
Pin 7  RTS Connected to Pin 8 
Pin 8  CTS Connected to Pin 7 
Pin 9  Not Connected 
RS-232 CONNECTOR (FEMALE) – LOOKING AT READER 
System Architecture 
Antenna
Switch
RF
Modulator
RF
Receiver
RF Source
Digital
Control
Circuitry
Host 
Communication
Interface
A0
A1
A2
A3
Figure 3 - System Architecture for the ALR-9900 Reader 
54321
9 8 7 6

READER HARDWARE INSTALLATION AND OPERATION CHAPTER 2 
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CHAPTER 2 
Reader Hardware Installation and Operation 
This chapter describes the RFID Reader and provides installation and operation 
information. 
Receiving the RFID Reader 
Your RFID Reader Kit is shipped with the items listed below. Please verify the 
contents of your received shipment before assembling. 
 RFID Reader 
 Power supply and cables (two sections: one attached, one detached) 
 RS-232 reader-to-PC cable  
 CD-ROM containing demonstration software, user guides and 
documentation 
The RFID Reader Developer's Kit includes the following additional items: 
 Two (2) circular or linear antennas with 6 meter coaxial cables 
 Ethernet cable 
 Software APIs and example code 
 An assortment of Class 1 UHF tags 
Figure 4 - ALR-9900 Developer's Kit 

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Reader I/O Panel 
The I/O panel (shown below) houses the following: 
 14-pin female I/O terminal block 
 LAN TCP/IP port 
 9-pin D female RS-232 serial port 
 Power connector 
Diagnostic LEDs  
The ALR-9900 includes diagnostic LEDs on the face of the reader to provide 
easy and convenient external indication for various operating conditions: 
 POWER (green) - indicates power is applied to the reader 
 LINK (green) – indicates that the reader is connected to the network 
 ACTIVE (green) – indicates reader is transmitting on the network 
 ANT 0 – ANT 3 (green) – indicates that the reader is transmitting power 
on the specified antenna port 
 CPU (green) – indicates that the CPU has booted successfully and is 
running normally. 
 READ (green) – indicates that the reader is receiving data from a tag 
 SNIFF (green) – indicates a tag signal has been detected, though it may 
not be strong enough yet to complete a transaction. 
 FAULT (red) – indicates a fault condition with the reader. 
Figure 5 - ALR-9900 Reader Connections 

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Figure 6 – ALR-9900 Reader Diagnostic LEDs 
Antenna Panel 
The antenna panel (opposite the reader’s I/O panel) contains four coax antenna 
connector ports as shown below. These are reverse-polarity TNC connectors.  
Also included on this panel is the Listen Before Talk (LBT) connector which will 
be available in future models. 
Figure 7 - Antenna Connections 

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System Assembly and Bench Test 
Assembling the RFID Reader system is easy. We recommend you set up the 
system and verify its operation in a bench test configuration before installing it in 
a production setting. 
Bench Test Configuration 
1.  Place the Reader on a tabletop. Ensure the following conditions: 
 A standard 120 or 220 VAC outlet is nearby. 
Figure 8 – Power, RS-232 and LAN Connections 
 Sufficient space is available on the tabletop for the reader and antenna. 
 2.  Connect the RS-232 cable to the reader.  
 Align the male cable connector so that its shape and pins match the 
shape and holes of the female DB-9 RS-232 port. 
Figure 9 - RS-232 Connector 
 Push the aligned connector into the port. 
 Finger-tighten the screws to secure the cable/connector to the reader. 
3.  Connect the RS-232 cable to the serial port on the PC. 
 Settings for RS-232 are 115200 Bits per second, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 
stop bit, and no flow control. 
 Start up terminal software on the PC, such as HyperTerminal with these 
settings, and be prepared to observe the reader's messages as it boots 
up. 
4.  Connect the Ethernet cable to the reader and PC or LAN. 

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 You must use TCP/IP to communicate with the reader, so connect a 
standard Ethernet cable from the reader to a nearby LAN drop or 
network switch. 
 You may alternatively use a cross-over Ethernet cable and connect the 
reader directly to the PC. 
 The reader comes preconfigured to look for a DHCP server to set it's 
network parameters. In the absence of a DHCP server, the reader will 
use the following settings: 
 IP Address: 192.168.1.100 
 Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0 
 Gateway: 192.168.1.1 
5.  Connect the power supply to the reader. 
 Using the thin cable attached to power supply, push the connector into 
the port until it is securely seated. Do not plug the power supply into the 
wall outlet yet. 
 Finger-tighten the securing ring onto the connector. 
6.  Connect the coaxial cable(s) to antenna ports (in pairs). 
 Antenna port 0 is on the top right-side, if viewing the reader from the 
front with the flange side down. The ALR-9900 has four (4) antenna 
ports.  If using the Alien Gateway software, please note that ANT 0 is 
selected by default when first initialized. 
 At least one antenna must be connected. The ALR-96xx high 
performance antenna must be connected using the cable supplied by 
Alien Technology manufacturing. 
 Align the coax cable’s center pin and push into the port 
 Screw the fitting from the cable end onto the reader connector clockwise 
until finger-tight to secure the cable to the reader. 
 Connect additional antennas to their respective ports and tighten fittings 
clockwise until finger-tight.  
7.  Plug power cord into power supply. 
 Use the female end of a standard 3-pronged power cord (a power cord is 
included with each reader) 
8.  Plug the power supply cable into the wall outlet and verify power. 
 The green POWER LED will illuminate when power is on. 
9.  Observe the reader's bootup trace, and determine the network settings. 
The RS-232 port displays useful information while the reader boots, including 
network settings. Toward the end of the trace, the reader displays a block of 
text similar to the following: 

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--------------------------------------------- 
Network Settings: 
    MAC Address : 00:80:66:10:2D:12 
    DHCP        : 1 
    IP Address  : 10.9.8.10 
    Netmask     : 255.255.255.0 
    Gateway     : 10.9.8.2 
    DNS         : 10.9.8.1 
    TimeServer  : time-a.timefreq.bldrdoc.gov 
    TimeZone    : -7 
--------------------------------------------- 
Once the reader boots and you see the "Boot>Ready!" prompt, pressing 
return will bring up the "Alien>" prompt. 
10. Ensure the PC has compatible network settings. 
 In order for you to be able to connect to the reader over TCP/IP, the host 
PC must be on the same subnet as the reader. If you are unfamiliar with 
how to do this, consult your local IT service for assistance. 
 Once the initial connection is made, you may configure your reader's 
network settings as you choose. Refer to the Reader Interface Guide for 
instructions on how to do this. 
You are now ready to bench test or demonstrate the RFID Reader system. 
Bench Test Procedure 
1.  Access an operational mode suitable for bench testing. 
 Select a mode that will allow multiple consecutive reads of a single tag, 
such as Global Scroll if using the Alien Gateway software. 
 Refer to the applicable software application user guide for specific 
instructions. 
2.  Position the reader so you can see the diagnostic LEDs. 
 You may also want to position the PC so you can view the monitor 
simultaneously for later tests. 
3.  Move a tag slowly away from the antenna’s range. 
 Begin with the tag well inside the expected read range (~2m or 6 ft) and 
move it toward the antenna while observing the LEDs. 
4.  Verify the SNIFF LED illuminates when the tag approaches the read 
window. 
 SNIFF should be illuminated green. 
5.  Verify the READ LED illuminates when the tag is inside the read 
window. 
 READ should be illuminated green. 

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6.  Verify the host receives the tag data. 
 Refer to indications specified in applicable user guide to verify the tag 
was read successfully. 
7.  If bench test conditions are verified, proceed to installation.  
  NOTE: To perform a hard reboot of the system, simply cycle power on the reader. 
Installation 
This section provides guidance for configuring components in your RFID system. 
You should consider the overall design of your specific system before 
permanently mounting the equipment.  
Installation involves all the same connection steps required for bench test. 
However, instead of placing equipment on a tabletop, the reader, antenna, and 
their accessories are mounted in your application environment.  
Requirements 
Before installing your RFID Reader system, you will need the following: 
 A PC running Windows 98 or higher, with Ethernet connectivity and, 
optionally, one available RS-232 serial port. 
 Standard 120 or 220 VAC power for the reader  
 Host software (Gateway, for example)  
 (Optional) extra antennas (if desired for additional coverage or 
configurations) 
 Additional RS-232 cables or antenna coax cables needed to 
accommodate routing requirements  
 Standard grounded, three-pronged power cord of desired length 
 Mounting hardware suitable for the surface to which equipment is to be 
attached (e.g., wood screws, moly-bolts, brackets, etc.) 

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Figure 10 - View of the Reader showing mounting holes 
Hardware Installation Procedure 
1.  Select mounting position for antenna(s). 
CAUTION: Reader antenna should be positioned so that personnel in 
the area for prolonged periods may safely remain at least 23 cm (9 in) in 
an uncontrolled environment from the antenna’s surface. See FCC OET 
Bulletin 56 “Hazards of radio frequency and electromagnetic fields” and 
Bulletin 65 “Human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic 
fields.” 
 Mount the antenna at the periphery of the desired read window (either 
overhead or at the side), so that the position of the most distant tag 
passing through the window is no farther from the antenna than the 
maximum range specified for your system design.  
 Position the antenna at a height approximately midway between the 
highest and lowest expected tag position. (For example, a pallet tag may 
be the lowest tag position to be read, while the top-most case on a fully 
stacked pallet may represent your highest tag position.) 
 NOTE: To maintain compliance with FCC regulations, use only antenna 
and cable supplied with the unit or approved by Alien Technology for use 
with the ALR-9900. 
2.  Select mounting position for reader. 
 Reader should be positioned close enough to the antenna to 
accommodate the cable length without putting strain on the connectors. 
 Be sure power is available at the selected reader location.  
3. Install reader. 
 Secure the reader through the two mounting holes on either flange to its 
mounting location (wall, post, mounting bracket) using appropriate 
hardware. 

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 If desired, position the reader so that the LEDs are easily observed. 
4. Install antennas. 
 Secure each antenna through the mounting holes on either flange to its 
mounting location using appropriate hardware. 
5.  Connect antennas to reader. 
 Route coax cables from the antennas to the reader according to your 
system design specifications and secure them properly. 
 Align the connector for each cable with the reader antenna port, push 
into the port, and finger-tighten the screw fitting. 
6.  Connect reader power. 
 Push the power supply connector into the reader port and tighten the 
retaining ring finger tight. 
 Plug the female end of the power cord into the power supply. 
 Plug the male end of the power cord into the 120 VAC outlet. 
7.  Connect reader to the LAN or host PC. 
 Align the RJ-45 connector with the corresponding TCP/IP port on the 
reader and push the connector in. Connect to the other end to a LAN 
drop or network switch. You may optionally connect the reader directly to 
a PC's network port, but you must use an Ethernet cross-over cable in 
this situation. 
 If you wish to observe the reader's bootup trace, or control the reader via 
RS-232, align and connect a DB-9 serial cable to the reader's RS-232 
port, and to the serial port on the PC. Configure your terminal software 
as described previously in the Bench Test Configuration topic. 
9.  You are now ready to use the reader.  If using the Alien Gateway 
software, please refer to the Demonstration Software Guide included on 
your CD. 
System Operation: Software Control 
The ALR-9900 RFID Reader is controlled from software running on a host 
system that communicates with the reader using the ASCII-based Alien Reader 
Protocol. All applications use this protocol to communicate with the reader.  
You may operate the reader from your own application code, using the example 
code provided on the Developer’s Kit CD, or using the Alien RFID Gateway 
application which is a demonstration program also included on your CD. 
For more details, refer to either the Reader Interface Guide or the Demonstration 
Software Guide described briefly below. 

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Reader Interface Guide 
The Alien Reader Protocol, mentioned previously, is described in detail in the 
Reader Interface Guide. Using this interface, the reader can be configured to 
read tags when queried or after one of a variety of event triggers (e.g., a rising 
edge on one of the I/O pins, or a timer).  
Tag data acquired in response to these triggers can be transmitted to the host in 
a number of formats (e.g., text, XML or custom) and under a number of 
conditions (e.g., on a new tag being observed, or a tag disappearing from view).  
If you are a software developer, the Reader Interface Guide provides the 
information you will need to connect to the reader from a host computer, 
communicate with it, and customize its performance.  
Demonstration Software Guide 
The Demonstration Software Guide describes the installation and operation of 
the Alien RFID Gateway application.  
 The Alien RFID Gateway application is a useful demonstration program that 
allows users to explore the reader’s functionality and build customizable demos 
with a user-friendly interface.  
Using the Gateway, the various operating modes of the reader can be controlled 
and custom interactive demos can be constructed using sounds, images, and 
text. 
Alien RFID Academy 
Need to absorb RFID systems fast? Enroll in the Alien RFID Academy! In two or 
three days we'll share our practical expertise in RFID tags, antennas, readers, 
frequencies, systems, and protocols.  
The Alien RFID Academy is a hands-on immersion into the workings, uses, and 
challenges of RFID technology. Rather than a product pitch, we put products to 
the test in the classroom, provide students with hands-on exposure in our RFID 
Solutions Center, and short-cut the learning curve by sharing practical solutions 
to real-world challenges. You'll learn best industry practice tag placement 
techniques for packaging and pallets alike. 
 Upon completion of the training, you will learn how to implement, avoid common 
costly mistakes, know how to make the correct decisions for your business, how 
to select the right RFID options for your requirements, and where to find RFID 
answers. 
Alien RFID Intermediate / Advanced Academy Topics: 
• RFID Physics, Protocols & Practical Applications 
• Tag Placement & Packaging Considerations 
• RFID Reader/System Configuration & Optimization 
• Hands-on Implementation 
• RFID System Architecture and Integration 
• Conducting Site-surveys & Contending with Interference 
Please visit http://www.alientechnology.com/academy for more information.