Onboarding a TSL Handheld Reader

Overview:

This article explains how to onboard a TSL handheld RFID reader (models: TSL 1128, TSL 2128, TSL 2128P, TSL 3138) to the Xemelgo platform. TSL readers connect to your Android phone via Bluetooth and require a specific serial number format when registering — this guide walks you through every step. 

1. Important: TSL Serial Number Format

TSL devices display their serial number in a reversed format over Bluetooth compared to the physical label on the device. This is the most common source of setup errors with TSL readers. 

Note: Always use the Bluetooth name when onboarding the detector in Xemelgo.

To find the Bluetooth name:

1. Power on the TSL reader
2. On your Android phone, go to Settings → Bluetooth → Paired Devices
3. The TSL reader will appear with the reversed format name (e.g., 000192-US-1128)

2. Pair the TSL Reader via Bluetooth

Before you can onboard the reader in Xemelgo, it must be paired with your Android phone.

1. Power on the TSL reader and ensure it is in pairing mode (refer to the TSL hardware manual for your specific model)
2. On the Android phone, go to Settings → Bluetooth
3. Tap “Pair new device” or “Scan for devices”
4. Select the TSL reader from the list of available devices
5. Accept the pairing request on both the phone and the reader
6. The reader should now appear under “Paired Devices”

Note: A phone can only be paired with one handheld RFID reader at a time. If another reader is already paired, go to Bluetooth settings, tap the gear icon next to the old reader, and select “Forget” before pairing the new one.

3. Onboard the Detector in Xemelgo

Once the reader is paired with your phone, register it in the Xemelgo system:

1. Log in to the Xemelgo web app
2. Click My Facility from the sidebar
3. Click Detectors
4. Click the Plus Sign (+) button to add a new detector
5. Under Detector Information, enter the following:

6. Click Confirm

4. Connect in the Xemelgo Mobile App

After onboarding, connect the reader in the Xemelgo app on your phone:

1. Open the Xemelgo app on your Android phone
2. Navigate to any feature that connects to the handheld
3. Attempt to connect to the handheld
4. The app should detect and connect to the paired TSL reader, showing “Connected” with a battery percentage

Still experiencing issues?

For general connection troubleshooting, see: Troubleshooting Handheld Connection Issues

Contact Xemelgo Support at support@xemelgo.com. Please include:

• TSL model (e.g., TSL 2128P)
• Serial number (from the device label)
• Bluetooth name (from your phone’s Bluetooth settings)
• Any error messages shown in the Xemelgo app