TECHNOLOGY

SOLUTIONS UK LTD

USER GUIDE:
1126 DESKTOP UHF
RFID READER WITH USB

www.tsl.com
Design • Development • Manufacture
 www.tsl.com

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Copyright © 2021 Technology Solutions (UK) Ltd. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form, or by any electrical or mechanical means,
without permission in writing from Technology Solutions (UK) Ltd. This includes electronic or mechanical means,
such as photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval systems. The material in this manual is
subject to change without notice.

Technology Solutions (UK) Ltd (TSL) reserves the right to make changes to any product to improve reliability,
function, or design. TSL does not assume any product liability arising out of, or in connection with, the application
or use of any product, circuit, or application described herein. No license is granted, either expressly or by
implication, estoppel, or otherwise under any patent right or patent, covering or relating to any combination,
system, apparatus, machine, material, method, or process in which TSL products might be used. An implied
license exists only for equipment, circuits, and subsystems contained in TSL products. TSL and the TSL logo are
registered trademarks of TSL. Other product names mentioned in this manual may be trademarks or registered
trademarks of their respective companies and are hereby acknowledged.

All software is provided strictly on an “as is” basis. All software, including firmware, furnished to the user is on
a licensed basis. TSL grants to the user a non-transferable and non-exclusive license to use each software or
firmware program delivered hereunder (licensed program). Except as noted below, such license may not be
assigned, sublicensed, or otherwise transferred by the user without prior written consent of TSL. No right to
copy a licensed program in whole or in part is granted, except as permitted under copyright law. The user shall
not modify, merge, or incorporate any form or portion of a licensed program with other program material, create
a derivative work from a licensed program, or use a licensed program in a network without written permission
from TSL. The user agrees to maintain TSL’s copyright notice on the licensed programs delivered hereunder, and
to include the same on any authorized copies it makes, in whole or in part. The user agrees not to decompile,
disassemble, decode, or reverse engineer any licensed program delivered to the user or any portion thereof.

TSL reserves the right to make changes to any software or product to improve reliability, function, or design.

TSL does not assume any product liability arising out of, or in connection with, the application or use of any
product, circuit, or application described herein.

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CONTENT
Introduction 4
Parts of the 1126 UHF Reader 5
Antenna location and tag reading orientation 6
Installing the software 8
Driver installation 8
Demonstration software installation 8
Software Development 9
ASCII Protocol 2.x 9
UHF RFID SDK 9
Troubleshooting 10
Reader is slow to respond 10
USB serial port number too high 10
Technical specifications 11
Summary of specifications 11
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) 12
Warranty 12
About TSL 14
About  14
Contact 14

History

Version Date Modifications

1.0 17/09/2010 Document creation
1.1 05/04/2011 Update to Inventory screen with addition of Save button.
1.2 18/09/2012 Photographs updated
Update demonstration and com port notes
1.3 01/10/2013 Added notes on ASCII 2.x protocol

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INTRODUCTION
Technology Solutions’ 1126 Desktop UHF Reader connects to a host computer over USB to provide the capability
of reading and writing EPCGlobal Class 1 Generation 2 transponders. All power is provided by the host computer.

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PARTS OF THE 1126 UHF READER

FIGURE 1: Front View

Antenna

Power LED USB communication

Tag read LED LED

FIGURE 2: Rear View

Buzzer
(underneath reader)
Tag read LED

LED functions and colours

Power - Green Lights whilst the reader is powered by the host computer.
Tag read - Orange Flashes when a transponder has been read. May be deactivated under
software control.
USB communication - Red Flashes whilst data is being transferred between the reader and host
computer.

The buzzer is software controlled and can be used to indicate a successful tag read or given some other function.

For best performance the Desktop Reader should be plugged directly into the host computer with the USB cable
supplied. Using USB extension cables, low quality USB cables or unpowered hubs will reduce the power available
to the Desktop Reader and reduce the tag read rate.

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ANTENNA LOCATION AND TAG READING ORIENTATION

The antenna is located under the cover and reads upwards as shown below:

Main read zone

Antenna
location

Tags are read optimally when they lie in a plane parallel to the antenna cover. The antenna is circularly polarised
which means that the tags can lie in any position on the plane. Tags which are aligned vertically will not be read
well. The pictures below illustrate good and bad tag orientations.

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CORRECT

CORRECT

INCORRECT

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INSTALLING THE SOFTWARE

DRIVER INSTALLATION
Demonstration software is provided for use with Windows XP, Vista and 7. The following instructions assume one
of these operating systems is being used. Drivers are available for other operating systems but no demonstration
software is provided. Contact Technology Solutions Support (support@tsl.com) for further information.

Plug in the reader to a USB port capable of supplying 500mA. This will usually need to be a port on a computer
rather than a hub, unless the hub is powered.

The reader will be discovered and the driver software should be automatically located and installed (the computer
may need to connect to the internet to obtain the driver.)

The reader will be given a Virtual Com port (VCP) as part of the driver installation. If you have several devices
already connected to your computer (including Bluetooth devices) you may need to use Device Manager to find
out which VCP has been given to the reader.

Navigate to Device Manager from ‘Start>Control Panel>Device Manager’ (or one of the many alternative ways).
Expand the section ‘Ports (COM & LPT)’ to see a list of the available ports. This will look similar, but not identical
to the one below:

Unplug the reader and one of the USB Serial Port entries will disappear. Plug it back in and the entry will reappear.
This is the VCP for the Desktop Reader.

DEMONSTRATION SOFTWARE INSTALLATION

To demonstrate the capabilities of the UHF RFID Desktop reader install and use the UHF ASCII Demo FX as
directed on the CD.

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SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT
The 1126 Desktop UHF Reader supports both Technology Solutions UHF RFID SDK and the Technology Solutions
ASCII 2.x Protocol.

ASCII PROTOCOL 2.X

The ASCII Protocol is a powerful yet easy to use way to command the UHF reader from a terminal application
on the desktop. This allows quick experimentation with the ASCII command set, the ASCII Protocol Explorer
application is provided for this purpose.

There is an SDK to develop applications using the ASCII protocol available to download along with sample
applications.

The UHF Desktop reader driver is presented as a USB virtual com port. Open the com port that the reader is
connected to at 115200 baud, 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit with CTS/RTS hardware handshaking.

UHF RFID SDK

If required the 1126 Desktop UHF reader also supports the Technology Solutions RFID SDK. This SDK is available
for purchase and is supplied as part of the explorer kit.

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TROUBLESHOOTING

READER IS SLOW TO RESPOND

If the Desktop Reader pauses for a second or longer before responding to a command sent to it then the USB
connection may be introducing excessive voltage loss. The Desktop Reader pauses to allow an internal power
store to be recharged before doing a transponder read. A voltage drop in the cable used to connect the reader
slows down the recharge. For best performance the USB cable used should be short, good quality and not
connected through an unpowered hub.

USB SERIAL PORT NUMBER TOO HIGH

In some cases where there have been a lot of other devices installed on the host computer the UHF reader may
be given a Virtual Com Port (VCP) with a higher number e.g. COM35. Some applications are unable to connect to
com ports greater than 16. To resolve this, navigate to Device Manager from ‘Start>Control Panel>Device Manager’
(or one of the many alternative ways). Expand the section ‘Ports (COM & LPT)’ to see a list of the available ports.
Right click on the Reader port and select ‘Properties’, then the ‘Port Settings’ tab and the ‘Advanced button’ to get
to the screen shown below:

Select a spare COM port number below 16. This may still show as ‘In use’. So long as the device that was using it
has been disconnected it is safe to ignore the warning and click ‘OK’ to complete the change of port.

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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

SUMMARY OF SPECIFICATIONS
The following table summarises the 1101 UHF READER’s intended operating environment and technical hardware
specifications:

Symptoms
Frequency 865 – 868 MHz (ETSI mode)
902 – 928 MHz (FCC mode)
RF Power 10 - 800 mW (software controlled)
Antenna Integrated circularly polarised element
Read distance Up to 1.5 m (5 feet) (tag dependent)
Supported UHF tags EPC Class 1 Generation 2 (ISO18000-6C)

Physical Characteristics
Dimensions (without USB cable) 109 mm(w) × 110 mm (l) × 34 mm (h) maximum – 4.3” x 4.3” x 1.3”
Weight (excluding baseplate) 180 g (6.3 oz)
Enclosure material Polycarbonate
Colour Grey
Material finish Sparked surface
Baseplate Standard has rubber feet for desktop operation. Option for wall mount or
pedestal mount.
Power 5V, 500 mA maximum from host USB.

Environmental
Operating Temperature -20°C to +60°C (14°F to 122°F)
Storage Temperature -40°C to +60°C (-40°F to 140°F)
Humidity Up to 90% Relative humidity Non Condensing
Sealing IP54

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WASTE ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

(WEEE)
For EU Customers: All products at the end of their life must be returned to TSL for recycling. For information on
how to return product please contact TSL.

WARRANTY
(A) Warranty

TSL’s hardware Products are warranted against defects in workmanship and materials for a period of twelve (12) months
from the date of shipment, unless otherwise provided by TSL in writing, provided the Product remains unmodified and is
operated under normal and proper conditions. Warranty provisions and durations on software, integrated installed systems,
Product modified or designed to meet specific customer specifications (“Custom Products”), remanufactured products, and
reconditioned or upgraded products, shall be as provided in the applicable Product specification in effect at the time of
purchase or in the accompanying software license.

(B) Spare Parts

Spare parts (i.e. parts, components, or subassemblies sold by TSL for use in the service and maintenance of Products) are
warranted against defects in workmanship and materials for a period of thirty (30) days from the date of shipment. Spare parts
may be new or originate from returned units under the conditions set forth in subsection D below.

(C) Repair of TSL branded hardware

For repairs on TSL branded hardware Products under this Agreement, including repairs covered by warranty, the repair services
provided are warranted against defects in workmanship and materials on the repaired component of the Product for a period
of thirty (30) days from the shipment date of the repaired Product, or until the end of the original warranty period, whichever is
longer. Any such defects shall be notified to TSL in writing within 7 days of the same becoming apparent.

(D) Product Service

Products may be serviced or manufactured with parts, components, or subassemblies that originate from returned products and
that have been tested as meeting applicable specifications for equivalent new material and Products. The sole obligation of TSL
for defective hardware Products is limited to repair or replacement (at TSL’s option) on a “return to base (RTB)” basis with prior
TSL authorisation.

Customer is responsible for prompt shipment to TSL and assumes all costs and risks associated with this transportation; return
shipment to the Customer will be at TSL’s expense. Customer shall be responsible for return shipment charges for product
returned where TSL determines there is no defect (“No Defect Found”), or for product returned that TSL determines is not
eligible for warranty repair. No charge will be made to Buyer for replacement parts for warranty repairs. TSL is not responsible
for any damage to or loss of any software programs, data or removable data storage media, or the restoration or reinstallation of
any software programs or data other than the software, if any, installed by TSL during manufacture of the Product.

(E) Original Warranty Period

Except for the warranty applying solely to the repaired component arising from a repair service as provided in Section C above,
the aforementioned provisions do not extend the original warranty period of any Product that had either been repaired or
replaced by TSL.

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(F) Warranty Provisions

The above warranty provisions shall not apply to any Product:

(i) which has been repaired, tampered with, altered or modified, except by TSL’s authorized service personnel;
(ii) in which the defects or damage to the Product result from normal wear and tear, misuse, negligence, improper storage, water
or other liquids, battery leakage, use of parts or accessories not approved or supplied by TSL, or failure to perform operator
handling and scheduled maintenance instructions supplied by TSL;
(iii) which has been subjected to unusual physical or electrical stress, abuse, or accident, or forces or exposure beyond normal
use within the specified operational and environmental parameters set forth in the applicable Product specification; nor shall the
above warranty provisions apply to any expendable or consumable items, such as batteries, supplied with the Product.

EXCEPT FOR THE WARRANTY OF TITLE AND THE EXPRESS WARRANTIES STATED ABOVE, TSL DISCLAIMS ALL
WARRANTIES ON PRODUCTS FURNISHED HEREUNDER INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR USE. ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES THAT MAY BE IMPOSED BY LAW ARE LIMITED IN
DURATION TO THE LIMITED WARRANTY PERIOD. SOME STATES OR COUNTRIES DO NOT ALLOW A LIMITATION ON
HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS OR THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES OR CONSUMER PRODUCTS. IN SUCH STATES OR COUNTRIES, FOR SUCH PRODUCTS, SOME EXCLUSIONS OR
LIMITATIONS OF THIS LIMITED WARRANTY MAY NOT APPLY.

The stated express warranties are in lieu of all obligations or liabilities on the part of TSL for damages, including but not limited
to, special, indirect or consequential damages arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of the Product or
service. TSL’s liability for damages to Buyer or others resulting from the use of any Product or service furnished hereunder shall
in no way exceed the purchase price of said Product or the fair market value of said service, except in instances of injury to
persons or property.

TSL is not responsible for any damages incurred during shipment if the approved shipping container is not used. Shipping the
units improperly can possibly void the warranty. If the original shipping container was not kept, contact your local distributor or
TSL to have another sent to you.

TSL shall not be responsible for any injury, damage or loss of whatever kind caused directly or indirectly by the goods whether
as a result of their manufacture, operation, use or otherwise and the customer shall indemnify TSL from any claim arising from
any loss suffered by any third party.

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ABOUT

ABOUT TSL®
TECHNOLOGY
SOLUTIONS UK LTD

Technology Solutions UK Ltd (TSL®), part of HID Global, is a leading manufacturer of high performance mobile
RFID readers used to identify and track products, assets, data or personnel.
For over two decades, TSL® has delivered innovative data capture solutions to Fortune 500 companies around the
world using a global network of distributors and system integrators. Specialist in-house teams design all aspects of
the finished products and software ecosystems, including electronics, firmware, application development tools, RF
design and injection mould tooling.
TSL® is an ISO 9001:2015 certified company.

ISO 9001: 2015

CONTACT
Address: Technology Solutions (UK) Ltd, Suite A, Loughborough Technology Centre, Epinal Way,
Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3GE, United Kingdom.
Telephone: +44 1509 238248
Fax: +44 1509 214144
Email: enquiries@tsl.com
Website: www.tsl.com

ABOUT HID GLOBAL

HID Global powers the trusted identities of the world’s people, places and things. We make it possible
for people to transact safely, work productively and travel freely. Our trusted identity solutions give people
convenient access to physical and digital places and connect things that can be identified, verified and tracked
digitally. Millions of people around the world use HID products and services to navigate their everyday lives, and
billions of things are connected through HID technology. We work with governments, educational institutions,
hospitals, financial institutions, industrial businesses and some of the most innovative companies on the planet.
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, HID Global has over 4,000 employees worldwide and operates international offices
that support more than 100 countries. HID Global is an ASSA ABLOY Group brand.
For more information, visit www.hidglobal.com.

Technology Solutions (UK) Ltd reserves the right to change its products, specifications and services at any time without notice.

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