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01_Regular_Set_Up.md

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🛠️ Regular Set Up: Zebra FX7500 RFID Reader

The most effective way to interact with the FX7500 RFID Reader is through the MQTT protocol, using a Client-Server architecture. This tutorial provides an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide on how to do so.

📋 Requirements and Equipment

  1. Zebra FX7500 Fixed RFID Reader: The device in question, which will be the client.
  2. Reverse Polarity TNC cable (RF Coaxial Cable): To connect the RFID Reader to an antenna.
  3. Compatible Antenna: To use the RFID Reader. In this tutorial, the AN480 Antenna by Zebra is used.
  4. Ethernet Cable: To connect the RFID Reader to the Internet.
  5. Power Supply: +24V DC power supply cable (supports 12V-48V, but 24V is recommended).
  6. PC/Laptop: Will be used as the server. The code should be executed on this computer, which should also be running a distribution of Linux.

🖥️ Step 1: Configure the Server (MQTT Broker)

In the MQTT Protocol, the server is also known as the MQTT Broker. As mentioned previously, the MQTT Broker should be configured on the host machine (PC/Laptop), which must be running Linux.

First, install the necessary packages:

sudo apt install mosquitto mosquitto-clients

Once completed, create a configuration file:

echo 'allow_anonymous true
listener <DESIRED_PORT> 0.0.0.0
protocol mqtt' > mqtt.conf
mosquitto -c mqtt.conf

Replace <DESIRED_PORT> with the port on the host machine that will be used for MQTT traffic between the RFID Reader and the host machine.

📡 Step 2: Configure the Client (RFID Reader)

Connect the RFID Reader in the following order:

  1. Plug in the Ethernet cable.
  2. Plug in the Power Supply.

WARNING!: Following this order is fundamental. The FX7500 Fixed RFID Reader supports POE (Power Over Ethernet). If the Ethernet already provides power and the power supply is also connected, the reader may suffer irreparable damage due to overpower.

Since the host machine and the RFID Reader are on the same network, the reader's hostname is known. To configure the client, open a browser and navigate to: https://fx7500<xxxxxx>, where <xxxxxx> is the alphanumerical combination that identifies your reader.

When prompted, log in using your credentials:

Log In

Navigate to: Communication > Zebra IoT Connector > Configuration, and click on Add Endpoint.

Select MQTT as the Endpoint Type, and define a custom Endpoint Name and Endpoint Description. Then, configure the Connection tab of the endpoint with the server's (host machine) IP address and the port specified earlier. The Protocol should be set to TCP, and the client ID is recommended to be fx7500<xxxxxx>, where <xxxxxx> is the alphanumerical combination that identifies your reader.

EP 1

Finally, configure the Topics tab as follows, and select Add to add the Endpoint:

EP 2

After adding the endpoint, navigate to: Communication > Zebra IoT Connector > Operating Mode and configure it as follows:

OM

🔗 Step 3: Connect

On the host machine, start the server with:

mosquitto -c mqtt.conf

On the client (https://fx7500<xxxxxx>), navigate to Communication > Zebra IoT Connector > Connection and click on Connect.

A connection should be established.

📖 Step 4: RFID Reading

Define a test setup. Then, connect the antenna to the RFID Reader with the TNC cable. Finally, run the reading script from this repository.