How to use a car transponder (device, principle of operation, installation)
Content
The appearance of toll sections of highways with a simultaneous increase in traffic causes unproductive delays at toll points. This partially reduces the capacity of extended highways, creating bottlenecks on them. Automation of the payment process helps to solve the problem.
Why does a car need a transponder
With the help of a simple and compact device mounted on the windshield of a car, you can transfer the payment completely into a digital automatic format and not even stop in front of the barriers.
It is enough just to reduce the speed to the set threshold, then the system will work quickly and efficiently, the barrier will open.
Instead of paying in cash, talking to the cashier, waiting and getting change, you can use the skip-the-line passage through the lane designed for automatic calculation.
Principle of operation
In the general case, a transponder is any device of a transceiver type that is in constant readiness mode, analyzing all the information arriving at its antenna and extracting from the stream what is intended for it.
At the first stage of reception, frequency selection occurs, just as a radio receiver works with one station, and not with all available on the air.
Then selection by codes comes into play. The device has coded information, if it coincides with the received transponder, it is activated and begins to fulfill its duties.
Usually they consist in the submission of an encoded response signal, after which either the function can be considered completed, or a response exchange of information is organized through the transmission and reception channels.
If used to pay for traffic, the transponder will transmit its code name, after which the system will recognize the owner of the device, contact his personal account and assess the availability of sufficient funds on it.
If they are enough to pay for the fare, then the required amount will be deducted, and information about the successful completion of the transaction will be transmitted to the receiver in the car. The device will inform the owner when the payment is completed.
In the meantime, the barrier will be opened, which allows traffic on this section of the road. Everything described happens at a very high speed, in practice the driver will only hear an enabling signal or others, indicating that something has gone wrong. In these cases, the barrier may not open.
Устройство
The transponder is designed in the form of a small plastic box, fixed with a holder.
Inside are:
- power supply in the form of a small-sized disk battery;
- a transceiver antenna in the form of a coil interacting with the electric and magnetic components of the high-frequency field;
- a microcircuit that amplifies and decodes signals;
- memory in which control programs and data registered during registration of the device are stored.
Depending on the type of communication channel, different frequencies and signal power levels are used, which determines the range.
There is no need for long-distance communication to respond to payment points, on the contrary, this would introduce a lot of confusion. The coverage area is limited to tens of meters.
Types of transponders
Transponders can be used not only when paying for travel, so there are many devices of this type that perform remote identification of objects:
- communication over a sufficiently powerful high-frequency radio wave, for example, in aviation and space;
- close range, when it is necessary to recognize a keyless access or security system control card brought to the car;
- key fobs for triggering the intercom lock, they react to low-frequency radiation, using its own energy to work, therefore they do not have their own power source;
- immobilizer keys programmed to issue a fixed code message;
As applied to toll collection systems, the electronic part of the device can be the same for different operators (issuers), even produced at the same enterprise, but the systems used are different.
Thanks to a unified technical part, it becomes possible to use one gadget in different systems by enabling the interoperability mode on the issuer's website.
Where to buy the device
The easiest way to purchase a transponder is at the operator's sales point, where the initial registration procedures are immediately carried out. But they go on sale and through the Internet trade.
You can buy directly at the checkpoints of toll roads, where such a service is available. Numerous partner organizations are also involved, even gas stations. In each case, the registration procedures may differ.
How to install a transponder in a car
When installing, remember that the device must support radio communication, that is, it must not be shielded from electromagnetic radiation by the metal body of the car.
Usually the holder is glued to the windshield behind the rear view mirror. But not close to the junction of the glass with the body. No additional adhesives are required.
- The selected attachment point is cleaned and degreased. You can use wet wipes and alcohol-based glass cleaners.
- The place of gluing must be thoroughly dried, the strength of the connection also depends on this.
- A protective plastic film is removed from the gluing area of the device holder, and a retaining compound is placed under it.
- The device, together with the holder, is located horizontally and is tightly pressed by the gluing site to the glass surface.
- After a few seconds, the gadget can be removed from the holder bracket if the need arises. The holder will remain on the glass.
Some automotive glass has metallic inclusions in the composition. These can be athermal films or threads of the heating system. In such cases, a special place is usually allocated on the glass for the installation of transponders, which is marked or you can visually detect such an area by the absence of films and heating threads.
If even partial shielding of the radio signal occurs, then the connection will become unstable, the device will have to be removed from the mount to operate.
Installation must be carried out at a temperature not lower than +15 degrees, otherwise there will be no reliable contact with the glass.
How to use
Before use, it is necessary to pass the personalization of the device. Registration is made on the website of the service provider, and access to the personal account is issued. There, in the process of personification, the personal account number attached to the purchase, as well as the number of the device itself, are entered.
Filled in personal information. After linking a personal account, it can be replenished by any of the available methods.
Tariffs
All fares can be viewed on the issuer's website. They vary by day of the week, type of vehicle, time of day.
Transponder owners are always provided with significant discounts compared to cash payment, which allows you to quickly recoup the funds spent on the purchase of the device. The basic discount is about 10% and in some specified cases can reach up to 40%.
How to replenish the balance
You can replenish the balance of your personal account in cash through terminals, cards or through online banking.
There is a mobile application where not only payment is made, but also there are additional useful functions, calculation of the fare, payment of debts for travel where there are no payment points with barriers, buying single tickets, receiving additional discounts under the loyalty program.
How to pay for travel
When approaching the payment point, you must choose a free lane for cars with transponders. There should not be a stopped vehicle on it, this will mean that the contactless travel system did not work on it, difficulties arose.
If the second car stops next, then a situation may arise that for the passage of the first car, the signal will be received from the second, in front of which the barrier will close again.
It is also possible to travel along the lanes where there are ordinary payment terminals. The transponder will also work there, but for this it will be necessary not only to slow down to 20 km / h or indicated on the sign, but to stop completely.
Upon successful payment, a short signal will sound, indicating a regular operation. Two signals will also allow passage, but this means that the funds in the account are close to completion, it is necessary to replenish the balance.
If there are no funds, four signals will be given, and the barrier will not work. You will need to go to the cash point.
