Symbol PTC-71 User manual

GUIDE TO THE
PTC-710

Guide to the
PTC-710
Part Number: 13977-000-03-004
Release Date: Nov. 2000

Symbol is a registered trademark of Symbol Technologies,
Inc.
The information contained in this manual is subject to
change without notice.
Symbol shall not be liable for technical or editorial omis-
sions or mistakes in this manual nor shall it be liable for inci-
dental or consequential damages resulting from your use of
the information contained in this manual.
This manual contains confidential and proprietary informa-
tion and is copyrighted. All rights are reserved. No part of
this manual may be photocopied or reproduced in any form
without the prior written consent of Symbol.
© Copyright Symbol Technologies, Inc., 1990
All Rights Reserved.

Contents
Unpacking the PTC-710.............1
Before You Use the PTC-710..........2
Charge the Nickel-Cadmium Batteries.......2
Turn on the Backup Battery............3
Overview of the PTC-710............5
Parts.......................6
Display.......................6
Keyboard......................6
Internal Modem (Optional).............6
RJ-11 Socket (Optional)..............8
Bar-Code Reader and Holder (Optional)......8
Bar-Code Reader Socket..............8
25-Pin Connector..................8
Acoustic Coupler..................8
Elastic Strap....................9
Batteries......................9
Application ROM Cartridge (ARC)........10
Features....................11
Power Backup System..............11
Clock and Calendar................11
Automatic Off...................11
Automatic Return At On.............11
Handling and Maintaining
the PTC-710.....................12
Use and Storage..................12
Cables and Accessories..............12
Cleaning......................13
Service.......................13
...........................13
Replacing Alkaline Batteries.........14
The PTC-710 / i

To Remove the Batteries:.............14
To Replace the Batteries:.............15
Charging Nickel-Cadmium Batteries.....16
Connecting and Removing
Accessories.....................17
To Connect an Accessory:............17
To Remove an Accessory:............18
Scanning Bar-Code Labels..........19
Attaching the Acoustic Coupler
to a Telephone Receiver ..............20
Connecting the Internal Modem
to a Telephone Line................21
Troubleshooting................22
If the PTC Does Not Start:............22
If the PTC Shows the Message “BACKUP BAT-
TERY FAULT”:....................22
If the Bar-Code Reader Does Not Read a Label: 22
Regulations..................23
FCC (United States)................23
Department of Communications (Canada)....23
ii/ The PTC-710

Unpacking the PTC-710
When you receive the PTC-710, the package should contain
the following:
•PTC-710
•battery charger (if the PTC-710 was ordered with
nickel-cadmium batteries)
•bar-code reader (if ordered)
The PTC-710 / 1

Before You Use the PTC-710
Charge the Nickel-Cadmium Batteries
Follow these steps only if your PTC-710 contains
nickel-cadmium batteries.
CAUTION! Do not connect a battery charger to a
PTC-710 that contains alkaline batteries. Attempting to
charge alkaline batteries can cause them to burst, which
can result in equipment damage.
1. Connect the battery charger to the PTC-710’s 25-pin
connector (see Figure 1).
2. Plug the battery charger into a standard 110-volt electri-
cal outlet. The charger’s red indicator light shows that
the batteries are charging.
Note: 220-volt outlets, used outside North America,
require a different battery charger than that shown in
2/ The PTC-710
Figure 1. Connecting the Battery Charger

Figure 1; see your Symbol sales representative for order-
ing information.
3. Allow the batteries to charge for 12 to 14 hours. After-
ward, unplug the battery charger from the electrical out-
let, then disconnect it from the PTC.
Turn on the Backup Battery
1. Remove the battery compartment cover by inserting a
coin in the slot at the bottom of the battery compartment
cover and applying light pressure to the coin (see Figure
2). The cover will pop up.
2. Using the tip of a pen or pencil, depress the backup battery
switch (see Figure 3).
3. Replace the battery compartment cover. Line up the bat-
tery compartment cover so the recessed edge on the top
of the cover is under the flange of the PTC’s case. Press
down lightly on the cover until it snaps into place.
The PTC-710 / 3
Figure 2. Removing the Battery Compartment
Cover

4/ The PTC-710
Figure 3. Turning on the Backup Battery
PRESS
DOWN
BACKUP BATTERY
SWITCH

Overview of the PTC-710
The PTC-710 (see Figure 4) is a battery-powered, hand-held
computer that you use to collect, store, and send data. PTC
accessories are available for scanning bar codes, printing
data, and sending data to a main computer.
The PTC runs a program specifically designed to collect data
for your organization. This program leads you through the
data collection procedure with a series of prompts, beeps,
and messages. Prompts are words and symbols that tell you
when to enter data and what type of data to enter. Messages
and beeps tell you when you make errors or complete certain
operations. They can also provide information on the status
of the PTC and its program.
You can enter data into the PTC by typing information on the
keyboard or by scanning bar-code labels.
After you enter the data, the PTC must either send the data to
a main computer for processing, or send it to a printer for a
printed copy, or both, to make the data useful to you and
your organization.
The PTC-710 / 5
Figure 4. The PTC-710

Parts
Figure shows the locations of the PTC-710’s main parts.
Display
The PTC-710’s four-line display shows prompts and mes-
sages that tell you when to enter data and what type of data
to enter. Each line of the display can show up to 16 letters,
numbers, or symbols.
Keyboard
The PTC-710 keyboard has data keys and function keys.
The data keys consist of the letter keys (A-Z), the number
keys (0-9), and the symbol keys. You use the data keys to
enter information into the PTC. The function keys perform a
specific procedure. For example, your program may use one
function key to send the PTC’s data to a main computer and
another to erase the PTC’s data. You activate and deactivate
the function keys by pressing the PTC-710’s SHIFT key.
Your PTC’s program may turn off certain keys at selected
points in the program to prevent you from accidentally eras-
ing data or ending an operation too soon. When you press a
key that the program has turned off, the key will have no ef-
fect.
Internal Modem (Optional)
The PTC-710’s internal modem converts data into electronic
signals that can be transmitted over a telephone line.
6/ The PTC-710

The PTC-710 / 7
Figure 5. Parts of the PTC-710
RJ-11 SOCKET
KEYBOARD BAR-CODE
READER
DISPLAY
25-PIN CONNECTOR
HOLDER
BATTERIES
ACOUSTIC
COUPLER
ELASTIC
STRAP
BAR-CODE READER
SOCKET

RJ-11 Socket (Optional)
The PTC-710’s RJ-11 socket lets you connect the internal
modem directly to a telephone wall jack with a standard tele-
phone cable. A rubber flap protects the RJ-11 socket when
the socket is not in use.
Bar-Code Reader and Holder (Optional)
Your PTC may have an optional bar-code reader that lets you
enter data into the PTC by scanning bar-code labels. Your
PTC program determines the type(s) of bar-code labels you
can scan.
If your PTC-710 was ordered with a pencil wand bar-code
reader, the PTC will come with a holder attached to its right
side.
Bar-Code Reader Socket
The bar-code reader plugs into the PTC-710 through the
bar-code reader socket. If your PTC-710 was ordered with-
out a bar-code reader, there will be a plastic cover over this
socket. Do not remove the plastic cover except to connect a
bar-code reader to your PTC-710.
25-Pin Connector
Most of the PTC-710’s accessories connect to the PTC’s
25-pin connector (the bar-code reader is an exception).
Some accessories connect directly to the 25-pin connector;
others connect to it with a cable.
Acoustic Coupler
The PTC-710’s acoustic coupler changes the PTC’s data into
sounds that the telephone system can transmit to a main
computer. You connect the acoustic coupler to a telephone
receiver. Depending on your PTC’s program, the acoustic
8/ The PTC-710

coupler may also automatically dial the telephone number of
the main computer.
Elastic Strap
The PTC’s elastic strap secures the PTC to the palm of your
hand for data entry. It also secures a telephone receiver to the
acoustic coupler for data communication.
Batteries
The PTC-710 uses three AA-size rechargeable
nickel-cadmium batteries as the standard source of power
(PTCs ordered with these batteries also include a battery
charger). As an option, the PTC-710 can also use three
AA-size alkaline batteries.
The PTC tells you when the batteries are going dead by
beeping five times and showing a “LOW BATTERY” mes-
sage
on the display. When this happens, either charge the batter-
ies (if your PTC contains nickel-cadmium batteries) or re-
place the batteries (if your PTC contains alkaline batteries).
Note: When batteries are extremely weak, the PTC-710 does not
operate, beep, or show the “LOW BATTERY” message. In this
event, charge or replace the batteries immediately.
CAUTION! If your PTC-710 contains nickel-cadmium batter-
ies, do not store it for more than one month without charging
the batteries. If your PTC-710 contains alkaline batteries, do
not store it for more than two months without replacing the
batteries. Otherwise, your data or program may be lost.
The PTC-710 / 9

Application ROM Cartridge (ARC)
The application ROM cartridge (ARC) contains the PTC’s
program. The ARC determines the PTC’s key functions, the
prompts and messages on the display, and the procedures for
sending, receiving, and printing data.
ARCs are removable and interchangeable, although during
normal use there is no need to remove or change an ARC.
10/ The PTC-710

Features
Power Backup System
The power backup system in the PTC-710 protects data, the
clock, and programs for 800 hours after you remove the
batteries.
Clock and Calendar
A clock and calendar are built into the PTC-710. Depending
on your program, the PTC may use the clock and calendar to
show the time and date on the display or to record the time
and date of data entries.
Automatic Off
To conserve battery power, the PTC-710 automatically
switches off after about one minute of inactivity. The exact
length of time depends on your PTC’s program.
Automatic Return At On
When you turn the PTC-710 off, or when it turns itself off, it
“remembers” where it was in the program. When you turn
the PTC-710 back on, it returns to that same point in the pro-
gram. You do not need to review what you have done so far
to find your place.
The PTC-710 / 11

Handling and Maintaining
the PTC-710
Follow these suggestions to keep your PTC in top working
condition.
Use and Storage
•Protect the PTC and its accessories from harsh, dirty en-
vironments and from excessive heat, cold, and moisture.
•Do not use the PTC for more than 10 minutes in temperatures
below 32°F (0°C) or above 120°F (49°C).
•Do not store the PTC in temperatures below -20°F
(-29°C) or above 160°F (71°C).
•If your PTC-710 contains nickel-cadmium batteries and
you store it in below-freezing temperatures for more than
one hour, do not charge the batteries until the PTC
reaches normal room temperature. Do not store the PTC
for more than one month without charging the batteries.
•If your PTC contains alkaline batteries, do not store the
PTC for more than two months without replacing the
batteries.
Cables and Accessories
•Do not insert any foreign object into the 25-pin connector
or the bar-code reader socket.
•Ensure that all accessories are connected correctly and
those with locks are locked into place.
•Do not attempt to connect any device that is not part of
your PTC-710 system to the PTC-710.
12/ The PTC-710

Cleaning
•Clean the PTC by slightly moistening a clean, soft,
lint-free cloth with a mild, non-abrasive plastic cleaner
and wiping the outside surfaces. Do not soak the cloth,
and do not spray or pour cleaning liquids directly on the
PTC.
Service
•Do not attempt to service the PTC. Only a trained techni-
cian may service the PTC.
The PTC-710 / 13

Replacing Alkaline Batteries
To Remove the Batteries:
1. Be sure the PTC is off.
2. Insert a coin in the slot at the bottom of the battery com-
partment cover (see Figure 6).
3. Apply light pressure to the coin and the cover will pop
up. Remove the cover from the case.
4. Remove the batteries with your fingers. Be careful not
to damage the battery contacts.
14/ The PTC-710
Figure 6. Removing the Battery
Compartment Cover