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M6E To M7E Migration Guide

1 Introduction
This migration guide is intended to help users migrate seamlessly from M6E series RFID modules to the latest
M7E series RFID modules. This document lists the changes made in M7E RFID modules firmware and Mercury
API and describes the modifications to be made by the users in their applications.

2 Copyright Information
This product or document is protected by copyright and distributed under licenses restricting its use, copying,
distribution, and decompilation. No part of this product or document may be reproduced in any form by any
means without prior written authorization of Novanta Corporation and its licensors, if any.

Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.

3 Technical Support and Contact Information

Telephone: 315.701.0678 www.JADAKtech.com
Email: [email protected]

4 Revision History
Date Version Description

March 30, 2023 1.0 Initial Draft

Table of Contents
1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................... 1
2 Copyright Information ............................................................................................................................................... 1
3 Technical Support and Contact Information.............................................................................................................. 1
4 Revision History ......................................................................................................................................................... 1
5 Why Migrate? ............................................................................................................................................................ 2
6 M6E to M7E Migration............................................................................................................................................... 2
6.1 SKU Transitions ............................................................................................................................2
6.2 Compatibility Summary ...............................................................................................................2
6.3 Hardware Changes .......................................................................................................................3
6.3.1 M7e-Hecto ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
6.3.2 M7e-Mega...................................................................................................................................................... 3
6.3.3 M7e-Tera........................................................................................................................................................ 3
6.4 Host Interface ..............................................................................................................................3

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6.5 Functional/Software Changes ......................................................................................................3

6.5.1 Supported Protocols ...................................................................................................................................... 3
6.5.2 Limitations in Parameters/Features .............................................................................................................. 3
6.5.3 Unsupported Gen2 Custom Tag Operations.................................................................................................. 4
6.5.4 MercuryAPI Changes ...................................................................................................................................... 5

5 Why Migrate?
JADAK is facing end-of-life challenges with some critical components used in the M6E series modules forcing to
discontinue the M6E, M6E-A, M6E-Micro, M6E-M and M6E-Nano modules. So, the M6E series modules are
being phased out and their replacements are being developed as shown in the Section 6.1. This transition to
M7E series modules also gave an opportunity to improve and optimize some features in the module firmware
and Mercury API.

6 M6E to M7E Migration

6.1 SKU Transitions
M6E SKU M7E SKU
M6E-A M7e-Tera-CB
M6E M7E-Tera-CB
M6E-M M7E-Tera
M6E-Micro M7E-Mega
M6E-Nano M7E-Hecto
- M7E-Deka
- M7E-Pico

6.2 Compatibility Summary

Module Firmware API Compatibility
M6E-A/M6E 1.25.1 and below 1.35.2 and below Compatible
1.25.1 and below 1.37.0 Not Compatible
M6E-Micro/M6E-M 1.D.2 and below 1.35.2 and below Compatible
1.D.2 and below 1.37.0 Not Compatible
M6E-Nano 1.B.1 and below 1.35.2 and below Compatible
1.B.1 and below 1.37.0 Not Compatible
All M7E SKUs 1.3.0 and below 1.35.2 Compatible
1.3.0 and below 1.37.0 Not Compatible
2.1.0 1.35.2 Not Compatible
2.1.0 1.37.0 Compatible

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6.3 Hardware Changes

Refer to the list of hardware changes required for migration from M6E products to M7E products in below
link.

6.3.1 M7e-Hecto
M6E-NANO_TO_M7E-HECTO_PCN_03282023.docx (sharepoint.com)

6.3.2 M7e-Mega
M6E-MICRO_TO_M7E-MEGA_PCN_03282023.docx (sharepoint.com)

6.3.3 M7e-Tera
M6E-ULTRA_TO_M7E-TERA_PCN_03282023.docx (sharepoint.com)

6.4 Host Interface

M7E modules do not support the native USB host interface. Current users of the native USB interface on M6E
modules must switch to the UART interface. Refer the M7E User Guide for interfacing details.

6.5 Functional/Software Changes

6.5.1 Supported Protocols
M7E modules support EPCglobal GEN2V2 (ISO 18000-63) UHF RFID protocol only. Other protocols like AEI
ATA, IP-X and ISO 18000-6B are not supported.

6.5.2 Limitations in Parameters/Features

The following features and Mercury API parameters supported on the M6E modules have certain limitations
on the M7E modules.

Sr. Parameter/Feature Usage/Notes Impact at user level

No
1 Tag Buffer M7E modules can store a Tag Buffer size limit is
maximum of 48 96-bit EPC tags in significant for timed read
the Tag Buffer at a time as but not an issue in case of
compared to 512 96-bit EPC tags continuous read which is
for M6E modules. the recommended method
to read and stream tags.
2 /reader/gen2/writeReplyTimeout Controls the maximum time (in M7E modules are
microseconds) that each word configured to use a value of
write operation will wait for a tag 20000 microseconds by
response before moving to the default as per GEN2
next word. standard and any attempt
to modify this parameter
returns "Parameter to
command is invalid" error.
3 /reader/gen2/writeEarlyExit Controls the write early exit M7E modules are
option which determines if a tag configured to wait no more
waits no more than the specified than the entire 20000
timeout or exits early from a Write microseconds duration as
operation. per GEN2 standard and any
attempt to modify this

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parameter returns
"Parameter to command is
invalid" error.
4 /reader/userMode Configures the user mode for the Command is deprecated as
type of application which is not GEN2 and search settings
commonly used. can be configured
individually as required.
Any attempt to configure
the user mode results in
"Parameter to command is
invalid" error.
5 Verify User Config option Verifies the restored configuration Fails with “Unimplemented
which is redundant as verification feature" error.
is internally performed during
flash write.
6 Quantization step range Supported range in M6E modules Fails with “Unimplemented
is 15kHz to 6MHz whereas M7E feature" error for invalid
modules support limited values values.
(50kHz, 100kHz, 125kHz, 250kHz).
7 EPC Truncation Filters the tags that backscatter a Feature is disabled for M7E
truncated EPC following the Mask modules; Entire EPC is
specified. backscattered.

6.5.3 Unsupported Gen2 Custom Tag Operations

The following custom tag operations supported in M6E modules are not supported in M7E modules.

Sr. TagOp Usage Impact at user level

No
1 Untraceable-Authenticate Configures NXP UCODE DNA tags to Untraceable feature is
hide some or all their EPC, TID or User already supported via Access
memory fields from unauthorized command. Any attempt to
readers. send Untraceable command
via Authenticate results in
“Unimplemented feature"
error.
2 ReadBuffer Authenticates NXP UCODE DNA tags Same functionality can be
and optionally obtain and decrypt achieved using Authenticate
memory data. command. Any attempt to
send ReadBuffer command
results in “Unimplemented
feature" error.
3 Gen2 BAP Param Feature specific to EM Micro BAP tags Fails with "Parameter to
(EM4324 and EM4325). command is invalid" error.
4 SL900A tag commands Custom commands specific to tags Fails with “Unimplemented
using IDS SL900A chips. feature" error.
5 Denatran tag commands Custom commands specific to Fails with “Unimplemented
Denatran tags. feature" error.

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6.5.4 MercuryAPI Changes

Refer to MercuryAPI release notes for changes made in MercuryAPI.

MercuryAPI v1.37.0 Release Notes.docx (sharepoint.com)

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