Specifications

Table Of Contents

Delay

40 SkyePlus™ MXH and MXU Multiplexer Reference Guide

Delay

Delays caused by the high port count and time division of using additional

multiplexers may interfere with performance of time-critical applications. Using

more multiplexer ports requires more time to cycle through and perform

operations on all ports. For example, an application could take several seconds to

complete a single cycle using eight or more ports, depending on the tag type and

operations required.

Using Two Multiplexers

You can operate up 9-15 antennas using two SkyePlus multiplexers together. For

example, assuming you have a CF variant of a SkyeModule with six I/O lines,

you would connect and operate the multiplexers as follows:

● Connect the antenna (MMCX to SMA) cable from the reader to the input of

the first eight-port multiplexer.

● Connect one output (antenna) port of the first multiplexer to the input of

the second multiplexer.

● Connect one SkyePlus MXU to one to the MUX GPIO port. (This

multiplexer will be controlled with the Multiplexer Control system

parameter.)

● Connect the second multiplexer to the GPIO lines at J17. (Refer to the

SkyeTek™ Common Blade Interface Board Reference Guide for pin descriptions.)

● Use SkyeWare to add code to the host system to control the second

multiplexer using the User Port Direction and User Port Value system

parameters.

Assuming you are using a SkyePlus MXU, you could calculate the signal loss as

follows:

● Seven ports would have approximately a 1.3 dB signal loss.

● The remaining eight ports would have approximately a 2.8 dB loss.

Using More Than Two Multiplexers

Using an MH-style SkyeModule reader (which has only four GPIO lines) or

using more than two multiplexers with a CF-style reader requires the use of an

additional host microcontroller. SkyeTek also offers custom solutions that

integrate additional multiplexers with the SkyeModule reader. Please contact

SkyeTek technical support if you have questions about multiple multiplexers.