Smart Shelf Book Project Problems

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Hi Amal!!

OK.......

I moved my get up to another PC.....older but same OS. 

First off, my "better" MM is nothing of the sort. I was getting readings
 all over the place today. Ugh. So I resorted to MM #3. Here is what I 
have found on the other puter.....

On the comm port on the tower I have 11 volts on the RX and zero on the TX, as expected. 

when I power up the M1, I again have 10 volts on the RX, but 0.17 on the TX . According to this MM, I have zero voltages on either Antenna Loop, 
internal or external. 

Also, although the continuity on the inductor checks out, I have zero 
amperage running through it when connected to the PC. I thought I should
 have some sort of amperage in the inductor (along with voltage in 
either antenna loop) when the M1 is powered but maybe I'm mistaken. 

I am going to move my get up back to the other PC and check all values 
again to try to get some sort of consistency in what is happening. I've 
had a bad feeling about that M1 since I purchased it. 

Also, upon reading the above link information, I did a google search for
 the M1 I have. "Skyemodule M1 RC V8" is what is stamped on the back. 
The first link posted was from digikey and took me here: http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/1462484-module-m1-ttl-firmware-sm-m1-00-hf-rc.html

I recall you mentioning a difference between the TTL and 232. I wonder if this is a TTL M1? A 232 search for the M1 on digikey results in nothing similar. I don't know, grasping at straws now. Just not informed enough to understand the difference and how to decipher what I have. Time for more reading!! 

Anyway, time to implement my next plan of attack and see what values I can come up with. I am digging deep into the black book and might be able to get my hands on a scope from the college, know a few folks there, however, my next purchase will definitely be a good MM!!

THANKS AGAIN!!!

DT

Edited by FTEDT - 03 May 2011 at 3:19pm

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FTEDT Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 28 April 2011 Location: Idaho Status: Offline Points: 13	Post Options Post Reply Quote FTEDT Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 May 2011 at 3:18pm
	Hi Amal!! OK....... I moved my get up to another PC.....older but same OS. First off, my "better" MM is nothing of the sort. I was getting readings all over the place today. Ugh. So I resorted to MM #3. Here is what I have found on the other puter..... On the comm port on the tower I have 11 volts on the RX and zero on the TX, as expected. when I power up the M1, I again have 10 volts on the RX, but 0.17 on the TX . According to this MM, I have zero voltages on either Antenna Loop, internal or external. Also, although the continuity on the inductor checks out, I have zero amperage running through it when connected to the PC. I thought I should have some sort of amperage in the inductor (along with voltage in either antenna loop) when the M1 is powered but maybe I'm mistaken. I am going to move my get up back to the other PC and check all values again to try to get some sort of consistency in what is happening. I've had a bad feeling about that M1 since I purchased it. Also, upon reading the above link information, I did a google search for the M1 I have. "Skyemodule M1 RC V8" is what is stamped on the back. The first link posted was from digikey and took me here: http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/1462484-module-m1-ttl-firmware-sm-m1-00-hf-rc.html I recall you mentioning a difference between the TTL and 232. I wonder if this is a TTL M1? A 232 search for the M1 on digikey results in nothing similar. I don't know, grasping at straws now. Just not informed enough to understand the difference and how to decipher what I have. Time for more reading!! Anyway, time to implement my next plan of attack and see what values I can come up with. I am digging deep into the black book and might be able to get my hands on a scope from the college, know a few folks there, however, my next purchase will definitely be a good MM!! THANKS AGAIN!!! DT Edited by FTEDT - 03 May 2011 at 3:19pm
	Not so wise one trying to be wiser!! :-)

amal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 22 November 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2060	Post Options Post Reply Quote amal Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 May 2011 at 4:11pm
	A typical multimeter (good or bad) will not normally be able to return reliable readings for short bursts of voltage like those used in RS232 or TTL signaling. Also, the antenna loop used by the M1 (internal or external) are meant to resonate at 13.56MHz, so there are two problems with trying to read current using a multimeter. First, just by inserting the multimeter in-line with the antenna loop, you've changed the characteristics of the loop and therefor it will not resonate. Secondly, even if it were able to resonate with the meter in place, I seriously doubt any basic multimeter would know what to do with radio frequency alternating current pulsing through it. I know I've said it umpteen times now, but to do any actual troubleshooting of this kind of setup you'll need an o-scope. Hopefully you can find someone with one that will be able to sample both the 9600 baud serial data and, if you're interested, the 13.56MHz resonant field setup in the antenna loop. In looking at the silkscreening on your M1 module again, I can clearly see the pins you are using are the RS232 pins. In the photo, the TTL pins are just above the GND pin. The question is, does the firmware in your module try to communicate via the TTL pins or the RS232 pins. My hunch is that your firmware is probably fine, and communicating via the RS232 pins. I would again suggest that you download the Skyetek Documentation file I put together and use the CommandBuilder software. It will be able to tell you if the reader is even communicating on the COM port, regardless if your antenna loop is not working or tags are being read or not. Once you know you can communicate with your reader, then you know where to look for problems next; the antenna loop.
	Amal ;) www.amal.net

amal Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Admin Group Joined: 22 November 2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2060	Post Options Post Reply Quote amal Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 03 May 2011 at 4:13pm
	PS, your other option is to manually issue commands to the reader using Hyperterminal or some other terminal emulator software to see if it responds, but that will require reading up on the Skyetek protocol (one of the documents in the above-mentioned file).
	Amal ;) www.amal.net