hooking barcode readers to the Pocket PC and what uses peo..

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

Amy, What type of work do you use your PDA for?

Everyone else let's hear what you use yours for?

We have an IPAQ rx3715.

We use ours at the museum as a portable communications device, to record
interviews with and we also can use the camera in an emergency to grab a
picture if we are in a situation we do not have one of the larger still or
video camera with us.

One thing we would like to do is use this also with a barcode scanner... We
have a percom barcode scanner that we use with a desk top and laptop
system. It has a USB cable converter on it... so we need to figure how to
hook it to the IPAQ ( any suggestions folks?)

Thanks Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC

Please check our web site at
http://www.smecc.org
to see other engineering fields, communications and computation stuff we
buy, and by all means when in Arizona drop in and see us.

address:

coury house / smecc
5802 w palmaire ave
glendale az 85301



"Amy Gray" <JudgeAmyGrayNOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:gc46v0hg1pgj8mo93pjf014kgv5qa9ebp7@4ax.com...
> >QUIT COMPLAINING!!!
> And if desktop computer users stopped complaining they desktop
> today would have a 20 meg hard drive and a 15" ega monitor.
>
> Desktop users wanted more and better. Why cant' PPC users
> want more and better?


--
Thanks Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC

Please check our web site at
http://www.smecc.org
to see other engineering fields, communications and computation stuff we
buy, and by all means when in Arizona drop in and see us.

address:

coury house / smecc
5802 w palmaire ave
glendale az 85301

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 01:11:38 -0700, "ed sharpe" <esharpe@uswest.net>
wrote:

clip

>
>One thing we would like to do is use this also with a barcode scanner... We
>have a percom barcode scanner that we use with a desk top and laptop
>system. It has a USB cable converter on it... so we need to figure how to
>hook it to the IPAQ ( any suggestions folks?)

A USB port must have "host" (rather than "client", I think) support to
support external devices. Few Pocket PCs have USB ports with such
support, although I _think_ that is changing.

If the scanner can work with a serial port, several companies make
adapters that can add a serial port to Pocket PCs. Socket is one:
www.socketcom.com
MobilePlanet carries such stuff:
www.mobileplanet.com

Most scanners come with a "keyboard wedge". This is a program that
sits in the background, grabs what comes from the scanner, and mimics
a keyboard to "type" it. Thus, the result of each scan will go to
whatever window happens to have focus. This can be "interesting"
(think what might happen if a control panel (settings) applet has
focus). But with a little care on the part of users it is a very
effective to add barcode support to any app with _no_ need to modify
the app. I rely on keyboard wedges to get scanner input into my app
and have had no complaints (I think users adapt quickly).

If you're thinking of using the scanners to collect data, please
consider my company. See my signature for contact info.

>
>Thanks Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC
>
>Please check our web site at
> http://www.smecc.org
>to see other engineering fields, communications and computation stuff we
>buy, and by all means when in Arizona drop in and see us.
>
>address:
>
> coury house / smecc
>5802 w palmaire ave
>glendale az 85301
>
>
>
>"Amy Gray" <JudgeAmyGrayNOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:gc46v0hg1pgj8mo93pjf014kgv5qa9ebp7@4ax.com...
>> >QUIT COMPLAINING!!!
>> And if desktop computer users stopped complaining they desktop
>> today would have a 20 meg hard drive and a 15" ega monitor.
>>
>> Desktop users wanted more and better. Why cant' PPC users
>> want more and better?

-----------------------------------------
To reply to me, remove the underscores (_) from my email address (and please indicate which newsgroup and message).

Robert E. Zaret, eMVP
PenFact, Inc.
500 Harrison Ave., Suite 3R
Boston, MA 02118
www.penfact.com

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

yes this does have the keyboard connection, we just changed it to the USB
adaptor for use with the laptop!
so we need a keyboard to serial adaptor then?

ed sharpe
<r_z_aret@pen_fact.com> wrote in message
news:6gvhv0t4lbajpllmsak63pbt5b9shhehji@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 01:11:38 -0700, "ed sharpe" <esharpe@uswest.net>
> wrote:
>
> clip
>
>>
>>One thing we would like to do is use this also with a barcode scanner...
>>We
>>have a percom barcode scanner that we use with a desk top and laptop
>>system. It has a USB cable converter on it... so we need to figure how to
>>hook it to the IPAQ ( any suggestions folks?)
>
> A USB port must have "host" (rather than "client", I think) support to
> support external devices. Few Pocket PCs have USB ports with such
> support, although I _think_ that is changing.
>
> If the scanner can work with a serial port, several companies make
> adapters that can add a serial port to Pocket PCs. Socket is one:
> www.socketcom.com
> MobilePlanet carries such stuff:
> www.mobileplanet.com
>
> Most scanners come with a "keyboard wedge". This is a program that
> sits in the background, grabs what comes from the scanner, and mimics
> a keyboard to "type" it. Thus, the result of each scan will go to
> whatever window happens to have focus. This can be "interesting"
> (think what might happen if a control panel (settings) applet has
> focus). But with a little care on the part of users it is a very
> effective to add barcode support to any app with _no_ need to modify
> the app. I rely on keyboard wedges to get scanner input into my app
> and have had no complaints (I think users adapt quickly).
>
> If you're thinking of using the scanners to collect data, please
> consider my company. See my signature for contact info.
>
>>
>>Thanks Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC
>>
>>Please check our web site at
>> http://www.smecc.org
>>to see other engineering fields, communications and computation stuff we
>>buy, and by all means when in Arizona drop in and see us.
>>
>>address:
>>
>> coury house / smecc
>>5802 w palmaire ave
>>glendale az 85301
>>
>>
>>
>>"Amy Gray" <JudgeAmyGrayNOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>>news:gc46v0hg1pgj8mo93pjf014kgv5qa9ebp7@4ax.com...
>>> >QUIT COMPLAINING!!!
>>> And if desktop computer users stopped complaining they desktop
>>> today would have a 20 meg hard drive and a 15" ega monitor.
>>>
>>> Desktop users wanted more and better. Why cant' PPC users
>>> want more and better?
>
> -----------------------------------------
> To reply to me, remove the underscores (_) from my email address (and
> please indicate which newsgroup and message).
>
> Robert E. Zaret, eMVP
> PenFact, Inc.
> 500 Harrison Ave., Suite 3R
> Boston, MA 02118
> www.penfact.com

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

Hi,

>>
so we need a keyboard to serial adaptor then?
<<

No. Just get a serial barcode reader. The one that I use cost only $75 --
so it is less expensive than an adapter would be.

Dick

--
Richard Grier (Microsoft Visual Basic MVP)

See www.hardandsoftware.net for contact information.

Author of Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to Serial Communications, 4th
Edition ISBN 1-890422-28-2 (391 pages) published July 2004. See
www.mabry.com/vbpgser4 to order.

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

r_z_aret@pen_fact.com wrote in news:6gvhv0t4lbajpllmsak63pbt5b9shhehji@
4ax.com:

> A USB port must have "host" (rather than "client", I think) support to
> support external devices. Few Pocket PCs have USB ports with such
> support, although I _think_ that is changing.

The Toshiba line does

Scott

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

Hi Beverly, yes have been looking into rfid also.

one other thing the barcode is good for is the issn and isbn numbers on
publications. Yes! saw the sdio scanner, ah now if only this ipaq had 2
sd slots... we usually have a 1 gig card riding in it... I suppose we
could pull it out when we were to scan but many programs and data actually
reside on the 1 gig card in case of hard reset and size....

ed sharpe archivist for smecc


"Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]" <BevNoSpamBevHoward.com> wrote in
message newsVPywXJBFHA.3416@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Having done a lot of barcode work, would _strongly_ recommend that you go
> with one of the socket card based scanners. Socket now has an SDIO
> scanner that would give you maximum portability.
>
> In addition to working without having to deal with cables and power supply
> issues, the socket drivers allow you to input the scanned data into any
> app.
>
> >> museum <<
>
> Have you looked at rfid possibilities? would seem to be a much better
> "fit" for a museum that barcodes for a lot of reasons. There are several
> CF card format rfid scanners currently available.
>
> Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

the Bluetooth scanner looks great but... store price of 649.00 was hoping
for a more economical solution but this is pretty amazing no wires has a
stylus in the end of it so you do not have to fumble around..... pretty
slick... I will continue though the rest of their site.... thanks for the
url!

ed sharpe archivist for smecc


"Todd Ogasawara, Mobile Devices MVP" <Todd_MSN@NOSPAMmsn.com> wrote in
message news:eadC1pEBFHA.3592@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
> Check out the variety of bar code scanners from Socket at...
>
> http://socketcom.com/product/bar.asp
>
> The Bluetooth scanner might fit your needs.
> --
> Todd Ogasawara, MS-MVP/Mobile Devices
> Online Editor - http://MobileViews.com/ -- PDA & Wireless Info
> http://www.OgasaWalrus.com/MobileDot/ - Brief News & Comments
>
> "ed sharpe" <esharpe@uswest.net> wrote in message
> news:eJYHVfEBFHA.2192@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>> Amy, What type of work do you use your PDA for?
>>
>> Everyone else let's hear what you use yours for?
>>
>> We have an IPAQ rx3715.
>>
>> We use ours at the museum as a portable communications device, to record
>> interviews with and we also can use the camera in an emergency to grab
>> a
>> picture if we are in a situation we do not have one of the larger still
>> or
>> video camera with us.
>>
>> One thing we would like to do is use this also with a barcode scanner...
>> We
>> have a percom barcode scanner that we use with a desk top and laptop
>> system. It has a USB cable converter on it... so we need to figure how
>> to
>> hook it to the IPAQ ( any suggestions folks?)
>>
>> Thanks Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC
>>
>> Please check our web site at
>> http://www.smecc.org
>> to see other engineering fields, communications and computation stuff we
>> buy, and by all means when in Arizona drop in and see us.
>>
>> address:
>>
>> coury house / smecc
>> 5802 w palmaire ave
>> glendale az 85301
>>
>>
>>
>> "Amy Gray" <JudgeAmyGrayNOSPAM@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:gc46v0hg1pgj8mo93pjf014kgv5qa9ebp7@4ax.com...
>>> >QUIT COMPLAINING!!!
>>> And if desktop computer users stopped complaining they desktop
>>> today would have a 20 meg hard drive and a 15" ega monitor.
>>>
>>> Desktop users wanted more and better. Why cant' PPC users
>>> want more and better?
>>
>>
>> --
>> Thanks Ed Sharpe archivist for SMECC
>>
>> Please check our web site at
>> http://www.smecc.org
>> to see other engineering fields, communications and computation stuff we
>> buy, and by all means when in Arizona drop in and see us.
>>
>> address:
>>
>> coury house / smecc
>> 5802 w palmaire ave
>> glendale az 85301
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

Ok this is good to know. I was thinking as USB was just like a serial
port....

We do have this odd thing we ended up with that is a USB to USB adaptor
with electronics in the center and the fellow that fixed us up with it
said it could hook two pc's back to back for transferring files though the
USB ports....


"Scott Seidman" <namdiesttocs@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:Xns95EB7F5F62F10scottseidmanmindspri@130.133.1.4...
> r_z_aret@pen_fact.com wrote in news:6gvhv0t4lbajpllmsak63pbt5b9shhehji@
> 4ax.com:
>
>> A USB port must have "host" (rather than "client", I think) support to
>> support external devices. Few Pocket PCs have USB ports with such
>> support, although I _think_ that is changing.
>
> The Toshiba line does
>
> Scott

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

ok... that will save me some experimenting then! thanks!

ed
"Sven, MVP-Mobile Devices" <sejohannsen@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:ueXy9saBFHA.1408@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> That's just the USB version of the old null modem or LapLink cable. It
> will
> let two hosts talk to each other, it won't let a client talk to a client.
>
> --
> Sven, MS-MVP Mobile Devices
> "ed sharpe" <esharpe@uswest.net> wrote in message
> news:%23nUMr7MBFHA.2076@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> Ok this is good to know. I was thinking as USB was just like a serial
>> port....
>>
>> We do have this odd thing we ended up with that is a USB to USB adaptor
>> with electronics in the center and the fellow that fixed us up with it
>> said it could hook two pc's back to back for transferring files though
> the
>> USB ports....
>>
>>
>> "Scott Seidman" <namdiesttocs@mindspring.com> wrote in message
>> news:Xns95EB7F5F62F10scottseidmanmindspri@130.133.1.4...
>> > r_z_aret@pen_fact.com wrote in news:6gvhv0t4lbajpllmsak63pbt5b9shhehji@
>> > 4ax.com:
>> >
>> >> A USB port must have "host" (rather than "client", I think) support to
>> >> support external devices. Few Pocket PCs have USB ports with such
>> >> support, although I _think_ that is changing.
>> >
>> > The Toshiba line does
>> >
>> > Scott
>>
>>
>
>

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

On Thu, 27 Jan 2005 17:01:43 -0700, "ed sharpe" <esharpe@uswest.net>
wrote:

>Dick- ok this is different then when we just click on a field on the pc or
>the laptop and then it the scan button then.... I was in hopes it would be
>as easy for the PDA...
>"Dick Grier" <dick_grierNOSPAM@msn.com> wrote in message
>news:uoiwSCJBFHA.2572@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>> BTW, you would have to do some programming to receive and interpret the
>> serial data. However, I assume that you'd have to do that for ANY barcode
>> reader, regardless of interface method.

If the scanner comes with a "keyboard wedge" (see my earlier post),
the wedge will mimic a keyboard and thus put the bar code in any
application that accepts keyboard input. Same mechanism used with the
usual SIP (Soft Input Panel) such as the handwriting recognition and
"keyboard" that come with Pocket PCs. So many folks _can_ collect data
with no programming effort and only a little user care (see my earlier
post).

>>
>> --
>> Richard Grier (Microsoft Visual Basic MVP)
>>
>> See www.hardandsoftware.net for contact information.
>>
>> Author of Visual Basic Programmer's Guide to Serial Communications, 4th
>> Edition ISBN 1-890422-28-2 (391 pages) published July 2004. See
>> www.mabry.com/vbpgser4 to order.
>>
>>
>

-----------------------------------------
To reply to me, remove the underscores (_) from my email address (and please indicate which newsgroup and message).

Robert E. Zaret, eMVP
PenFact, Inc.
500 Harrison Ave., Suite 3R
Boston, MA 02118
www.penfact.com

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

On Sat, 29 Jan 2005 18:11:04 -0600, "Beverly Howard
[Ms-MVP/MobileDev]" <BevNoSpamBevHoward.com> wrote:

>Can you expand on how a barcode wedge would be connected to a pocketpc?

The "wedge" is a _program_ (software) that is installed in the Pocket
PC.

>
>Thanks,
>Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

-----------------------------------------
To reply to me, remove the underscores (_) from my email address (and please indicate which newsgroup and message).

Robert E. Zaret, eMVP
PenFact, Inc.
500 Harrison Ave., Suite 3R
Boston, MA 02118
www.penfact.com

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.pocketpc (More info?)

the following you mention is my definition of the wedge too from the
litature I have encountered... I suppose you could do it in software....
actually the hardware wedge probably has software coded into it. the
percon I have talks to keyboard but will convert certain bar codes to
other bar codes... heck you actually use bar codes to program it with! it
is weird...
ed

..
wedges" that have the option to output scans
as ASCII text to a serial connection

"Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]" <BevNoSpamBevHoward.com> wrote in
message news:%23rhR$O$BFHA.4028@TK2MSFTNGP15.phx.gbl...
> >> The "wedge" is a _program_ (software) that is installed in the Pocket
> PC. <<
>
> Thanks for the clarification. The term "keyboard wedge" originally came
> from the box that went between the PC and its keyboard (hence the term
> "wedge" ) when wands were introduced for PC's about 15 years ago.
>
> Also while I have seen windows based software for serial wands that output
> ttl signals which converts the ttl signals to ascii data, I have not seen
> any that have been ported to the pocket pc. If you know of specific
> software that does this for the ppc, would be interested in more
> information. I have also not seen any wands that output serial ascii data
> without an additional wedge component.
>
> There are a some hardware "wedges" that have the option to output scans as
> ascii text to a serial connection, but the problem still remains as to how
> to get that output where you want it... i.e. either the keyboard buffer or
> into a specific buffer where a program can extract it and route it to
> appropriate storage.
>
> There is software such as http://www.taltech.com/products/cewedge.html
> which can function as a wedge, but the price quickly escalates the total
> cost into the same range as the symbol slot scanners.
>
> Power for external scanners also becomes a significant issue for use with
> a pocketpc as there is no easy and safe way to use a pocketpc's battery to
> power an external device except through an i/o slot.
>
> The above issues are what have returned me to recommend to those with a
> serious need consider the slot scanners despite what may initially seem to
> be a high price, as, in my experiments in connecting lower cost wands and
> other scanners to ppc have proven to both be very time consuming, plus the
> "carry package" with it's associated wires has it's own set of problems.
>
> I am, however, open to learning about other options, especially those that
> will keep the cost low.
>
> Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]
>