# Peripheral Hardware Troubleshooting This section goes over some known strategies and troubleshooting techniques for the peripheral hardware we've tested with AnimalTrakker®. ## Reader and Printer Connect Slowly Android seems to have an issue with constantly connecting and reconnecting to Bluetooth devices. If your connections become too slow to function or fail to happen, restarting [[Start Here|AnimalTrakker®]] can sometimes fix the problem. 1. Start by turning Bluetooth off and on. 2. Restart AnimalTrakker®. ## Shearwell X6 Stock Recorder Preferences To set up a Shearwell Stock Recorder and allow [[Start Here|AnimalTrakker®]] to run on it, you'll have to complete the following tasks. ### Step 1: Get Into Developer Mode 1. Navigate to **Settings** > **About Phone**. 2. Scroll down to the build number, then tap it 7 times. 3. Go back once. 4. Navigate to **System** > **Advanced**. If you can see the Developer Options here, you're in Developer Mode. ### Step 2: Unlock From Kiosk Mode 1. Navigate to **Settings** > **Apps and Notifications** > **Show All Apps**. 2. Scroll down and select **Kiosk Home** > **Advanced**. 3. Set the **Home** app to **No**. ### Step 3: Set Screen Size 1. Navigate to **Settings** > **Advanced** > **Developer Options**. 2. Scroll down to **Smallest Width**. Tap it and enter 600. These steps will allow you to run the Shearwell Stock Recorder software with no issues, and no data will be shared between the two applications. Changing these settings just allows AnimalTrakker® to function on the device. ## AllFlex LPR Pocket Reader Troubleshooting This section address problems with the Allflex LPR Pocket Reader. ### Allflex Reader Won't Pair With Tablet If your Allflex Reader won't pair with your other devices, check to make sure it hasn't been set to Master Mode. It must be in Slave Mode for proper operation with the [[AnimalTrakker® System]]. To reset the Allflex Reader, hold the button down for at least 15 seconds at startup. The Reader will beep and flash a blue LED light indicating that it has been reset to Slave Mode. ### Allflex Reader won't connect If your Allflex reader will not show a proper Bluetooth connection, click the three dots on your [[Start Here|AnimalTracker®]] device and verify in the Reader Settings that the proper reader is selected. If you don't see your Allflex Reader there, the chances are high that it hasn't been properly paired. Try re-pairing the device to see if that fixes the issue. ## BaaCode Reader Reset If the BaaCode Reader stops reading TSU bar codes, it may need to be reset. The process of resetting the BaaCode Reader involves scanning five different paper codes in order. The required steps are: 1. Scan the one that says "Reset Configuration to Defaults" 2. Scan the one that says "bluetooth SPP mode" 3. Scan the one that says Add CR + LF 4. Then Scan the Custom Bluetooth Name codes 1. Cover the right side QR code with your hand and scan the left side QR code. 2. Cover the left side QR code with your hand and scan the right side QR code. 5. Let the reader power down then power on again Once you've finished, power the device off and on again. Next, pair the newly-reset BaaCode Reader with your tablet. The device is named "BaaCode spp." To pair, follow these steps: 1. Start by navigating to **AnimalTrakker® Settings**. 2. Select **BaaCode Settings**. 3. Select **"BaaCode spp"** as the Bluetooth device. The BaaCode Reader should now be functional again. You can use the BaaCode Reader to scan the data matrix codes on Allflex TSU tubes. In a pinch, you can use the BaaCode Reader to scan data matrix codes on official 840 RFID tags. It's difficult because animals move, making it hard for the reader to see the code, but it can be done. If you are using Shearwell SET tags, the code should be on the inside of the ear. You may need to clean the tag for the code to be readable. You will need to set the reader to use the BaaCode device for this to work. ## Datamars Reader Troubleshooting This section goes over troubleshooting issues with the Datamars Reader. ### Default Mode and Paired Before Starting AnimalTrakker® If you're using a Datamars Reader to communicate with your [[Start Here|AnimalTrakker®]] device, the reader must be in Default Mode and properly paired with your tablet *before* starting AnimalTrakker®. If you're experiencing issues, try restarting AnimalTrakker® after verifying that both of these requirements have been met. ## Phomemo M110 Label Printer Troubleshooting The Phomemo M110 Label Printer is a touchy bit of kit. It was never meant for general-purpose printing. However, it works well, is cheap, and prints great labels, so we put up with a bit of flakiness. You'll find troubleshooting information for it in this section. ### Phomemo M110 Connection Issues When the battery indicator on the Phomemo drops below one bar, the printer seems to experience Bluetooth issues. The easiest solution we've found is to plug the external battery pack in. This doesn't completely solve the problem, since the battery pack shuts off once the printer charges to full, but it mitigates the issue for the most part. We've also found that keeping the Phomemo plugged in to the backup battery from startup seems to keep disconnection issues mostly at bay. The backup battery tends to go to "sleep" when nothing draws current for a while, so waking it up frequently can help, too. Often, the printer connection seems to "time out" and takes ten or so seconds to reconnect. Other times, it prints immediately. We haven't been able to consistently reproduce the issue enough to diagnose it, but it's more of a bother than a true hinderance. It may be due to the printer trying to "sleep" after a lack of printing activity. On the [[Start Here|AnimalTrakker®]] Print Label screen, when the label is displayed, you can reselect the printer by touching its name. This sometimes fixes connection problems. ### Printer Prints Blank Labels in Sunlight In direct sunlight and at just the right angle, the printer will print a label, then advance several blank labels before coming to a stop. This is due to the gap sensor being overloaded by sunlight just under the cover. The easiest solution is to keep the printer safely in the shade. An umbrella or even a folder placed on top of the printer can keep it out of direct sunlight when there's no real shade nearby. ### Phomemo Label Alignment If the printer continues to advance blank labels without direct sunlight, open it up and verify that the alignment tabs are correctly placed. Check for slack paper in the roll as well, as this can cause similar advancement issues. We've run into one case where a label separated from its backing while inside the printer and stuck itself to the inside sensor. If you've tried all of the above and your printer is still advancing blank labels, make sure to check for this. ### Inserting Label Paper We currently have three different versions of this printer out in active service. The orange models have a different paper feed compared to the white and black models. If you have an orange Phomemo printer, use this picture to make sure the label follows the correct path. ![[label_printer_paper.png]] The black and white printers do not have the tabs that the labels have to thread between. ## Race Reader Troubleshooting and Operation Race Readers are typically chute-system panel readers. [[Start Here|AnimalTrakker®]] can support these devices in the Scan, Count and Log function under the Animal/EID management menu. Make sure to set the reader in the AnimalTrakker® settings to be a race reader. These devices are capable of reading 15 tags per second. If an animal stands in the reader for too long, it can end up counted multiple times. To eliminate this issue, AnimalTrakker® conducts a de-duplication process while in race reader mode over the last 5 tags read. Scan, Count and Log is the only function that uses a race reader configuration and allows de-duplication. We recommend always turning this setting on while using a race reader. To start, add a File Name Modifier as an integer number to start with. You can use another reader as a race reader, too, and it will read tags as fast as you can scan them. Once you're done using Scan, Count and Log, you must change the reader settings to turn off race reader and de-duplication settings. If you don't, you won't be able to scan tags for other operations within AnimalTrakker®.