Basic Connection Setup For M200 Readers With A PC And The Reader Configuration Utility
Basic Connection Setup For M200 Readers With A PC And The Reader Configuration Utility
Basic Connection Setup For M200 Readers With A PC And The Reader Configuration Utility
****PLEASE NOTE: This article is for reference only, since M200 readers have reached END-OF-LIFE and are no longer supported.****
When trying to connect a M200 reader to a PC for configuration purposes, you must first keep these facts about M200 readers in mind:
M200 Readers:
-- Are designed to respond to only 1 Ethernet connection total at a time. By contrast, M250 readers allow multiple simultaneous connections.
-- Have NO web interface. The Reader Configuration Utility (hereafter referred to as the RCU) must be used to configure M200 readers. M250 readers have a configurable web interface.
-- Unlike the M250 readers that need RF Code’s M250 reader driver file in order to use the RCU to properly recognize and configure them, the M200 readers do not use any special driver files from RF Code to be recognized by the RCU---the driver files that the Windows operating system by default sets up automatically for the M200 reader are sufficient for the M200 reader to be seen by the RCU when it is connected via 3 options:
1. A USB-to-Serial RS-232 DB9 cable. They look similar to this example below:
Though you may need to expose the 9-pins on the serial end by removing the shield for connection to the M200 reader like this example:
Notice how the screw nuts and the shield around the 9-pin serial connector were manually removed so that the 9-pin male serial connector is now completely exposed so it can connect (without obstructions) to the female serial port on the M200 reader.
2. A Crossover cable. --A Crossover cable is defined as a type of twisted pair copper wire cable for LANs (LAN = Local Area Network) in which the wires on the cable are crossed over so that the receive signal pins on the RJ-45 connector on one end are connected to the transmit signal pins on the RJ-45 connector on the other end.
3. An Ethernet cable. --For this option, you must first connect from a computer that is on the *SAME SUBNET MASK* as the M200 reader. Then, you will need to know the IP address that the M200 reader is assigned and put its IP address in the RCU (via the Network option). This method is not recommended if you do not know the subnet mask nor the IP address of the M200 reader ahead of time (or in the case of the M200 reader using DHCP, you are not able to see the DHCP license IP the M200 reader takes from the DHCP-server side, nor its subnet mask).
--Note: If you are unsure about what it means to have your computer on the “same subnet mask” as the M200 reader, you will need to consult your IT/LAN Administrator for assistance. Thus, Options 1 and 2 are simpler and quicker options to use than the networking knowledge needed for this option.
When your computer successfully recognizes a M200 reader, you will see the Reader Configuration Utility refer to the M200 reader by name, as highlighted in the below example (connecting by Serial port):
When your computer successfully recognizes a M200 reader via the Network port option in the RCU, the RCU screen will then update with the current M200 reader's configuration.