Symbol PTC-960X User manual

PTC-960X
User's Guide

2
On December 1, 2000 Symbol Technologies, Inc. completed the purchase
of Telxon Corporation. References made throughout this document to
"Telxon" or "Telxon Corporation" are be replaced with "Symbol" or
"Symbol Technologies, Inc.", respectively. Any questions, contact your
Symbol representative.
©2000 by Symbol Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form, or by any electrical or
mechanical means, without permission in writing from Symbol. This includes electronic or
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systems. The material in this manual is subject to change without notice.
Symbol reserves the right to make changes to any software or product to improve reliability,
function, or design.
Symbol does not assume any product liability arising out of, or in connection with, the
application or use of any product, circuit, or application described herein.
No license is granted, either expressly or by implication, estoppel, or otherwise under any
Symbol Technologies, Inc., intellectual property rights. An implied license only exists for
equipment, circuits, and subsystems contained in Symbol products.
Symbol is a registered trademark of Symbol Technologies, Inc. Other product names
mentioned in this manual may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
companies and are hereby acknowledged.
Symbol Technologies, Inc.
One Symbol Plaza
Holtsville, New York 11742-1300
http://www.symbol.com
Symbol Support Center: 1-800-653-5350

GUIDE TO THE
PTC-960X

Guidetothe
PTC-960X
Part Number: 16670-701-01
Release Date: 9/17/93

Telxon, TCAL (Telxon Common Application Lan-
guage), and RAMSaver are registered trade-
marks of Telxon Corporation.
MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Microsoft
Corporation.
The information contained in this manual is
subject to change without notice.
Telxon Corporation shall not be liable for
technical or editorial omissions or mistakes in
this manual nor shall it be liable for incidental
or consequential damages resulting from your
use of the information contained in this manual.
This manual 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 Telxon.
© Copyright 1993 Telxon Corporation
All Rights Reserved.

Contents
FCC statement . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .8
Safety information . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .9
PTC equipped with a short-range laser scanner9
PTC equipped with a long-range laser scanner10
Disposing of nickel-cadmium batteries . .. .10
Scope . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .11
Overview of the PTC-960X . .. .. .. .. .. .. 12
Entering data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Communicating data . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Flash programming . .. .. .. .. .. .. .13
Getting started . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14
Unpacking the PTC-960X . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Installing the battery pack . . . . . . . . . . 15
Charging the battery pack . . . . . . . . . . 15
Checking the PTC-960X . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Parts . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .17
Accessory connector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Bar-code scanner .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .17
Bar-code scanner trigger .. .. .. .. .. .17
Battery charger . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .19
Battery compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Communication contacts. .. .. .. .. .. 19
Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
End cap/battery pack assembly . .. .. .. .20
FlashEPROM. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 20
Handle. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21
Keyboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
ENTER/YES key . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
ON/OFF key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
SHIFT key . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
ÄÄ
4

Keyboardoverlay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
RJ-41-to-RS-232 adapter cable (optional) . . 23
Status indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Charging . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .23
Good Scan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Low Bat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Scan . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .24
Wrist strap . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .24
Features . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .25
Autodiscrimination between bar codes . .. .25
Automatic off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Automatic return aton . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Backlight . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25
Battery backup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Beeper. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26
Clock . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 27
Communication . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .27
Display contrast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Memory . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .28
Communication and connections . .. .. .. .. .. 29
Connecting cables . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 29
Disconnecting cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Connecting tothe optional
communication cradle . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Scanning bar-code labels . .. .. .. .. .. .. .34
Maintaining the PTC-960X . .. .. .. .. .. .. 36
Operating conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Handling the PTC-960X . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Storing the PTC-960X . .. .. .. .. .. .37
Cleaning the PTC-960X . .. .. .. .. .. .38
Servicing the PTC-960X . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Replacing the battery pack . .. .. .. .. .. .. 39
Removing the battery pack . . . . . . . . . . 39
Installing a new battery pack . .. .. .. .40
5

Programming the flash EPROM . .. .. .. .. .. 41
Before you begin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Procedure. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 43
Troubleshooting . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 49
If the PTC does not turn on . . . . . . . . . . 49
If the bar-code scanner does not read a label 49
If you experience any other problems with
your PTC-960X . .. .. .. .. .. .. .50
Appendix A . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 51
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Physical . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .51
Electrical . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 51
Bar codetypessupported . . . . . . . . . 52
Communication . .. .. .. .. .. .. .53
Appendix B . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 54
Accessory part numbers . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Appendix C . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 56
Communication connections . . . . . . . . . 56
Appendix D . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 64
LED status indicators . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Glossary. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .65
Index . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .69
Figures
1.Parts of the PTC-960X . .. .. .. .. .18
2.Connecting a cable . .. .. .. .. .. .31
3.Scanning a bar-code . .. .. .. .. .. .35
4.Removing the battery pack . . . . . . . . 39
5.RJ-41-to-RS-232 25-pin adapter cable . .56
6.RJ-41-to-RS-232 9-pin adapter cable .. .57
7.PTC-to-1/2 duplex modem cable . . . . . 58
8.PTC-to-fullduplex modemcable. . . . . 59
9.PTC-to-host(DTE)cable . .. .. .. .. 60
6

10.Cloning cable, RJ-41-to-RJ-41 . .. .. .61
11.PTC-to-IBM PC/AT download cable . . . 62
12.PTC-to-IBM PC/XT download cable . . . 63
Tables
1.Accessory partnumbers . . . . . . . . . 54
2.LED status indicators . . . . . . . . . . . 64
7

FCC
statement
This equipment has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class Adigital de-
vice, pursuant to Part 15 of the Federal
Communication Commission (FCC) rules. These
limits are designed to provide reasonable protec-
tion against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a commercial environ-
ment. This equipment generates, uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not in-
stalled and used in accordance with this
instruction manual, may cause harmful interfer-
ence to radio communications. Operation of this
equipment in a residential area is likely to cause
harmful interference, in which case users will be
required to correct the interference at their own
expense.
ÄÄ
8

Safety
information
©PTC equipped with a short-range laser scanner
This product is a Class II laser product. It emits
a 1.0-milliwatt beam of laser light from the out-
put window. No maintenance is required to keep
this product in compliance with U.S. Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
regulation 21 C.F.R. subchapter J. No controls
are provided for operation or maintenance. Laser
light in excess of Class I limits is inside an inter-
nal protective cover. Do not stare into the beam
if the protective cover is removed.
The laser safety warning label required by the
DHHS for the PTC-960X equipped with a short-
range laser scanner is illustrated below. This
yellow and black label is located on the bottom
of the PTC-960X near the scanning window.
ÄÄ
9

©PTC equipped with a long-range laser scanner
This product is a Class IIIA laser product. It
emits a 5.0-milliwatt beam of laser light from
the output window. No maintenance is required
to keep this product in compliance with DHHS
regulation 21 C.F.R. subchapter J. No controls
are provided for operation or maintenance. Laser
light in excess of Class I limits is inside an inter-
nal protective cover. Do not stare into the beam
if the protective cover is removed.
The laser safety warning label required by the
DHHS for the PTC-960X equipped with a long-
range laser scanner is illustrated below. This red
and black label is located on the bottom of the
PTC-960X near the scanning window.
©Disposing of nickel-cadmium batteries
Nickel-cadmium batteries contain chemically
active materials that are hazardous to the
environment; therefore, they must be disposed
of properly. Never attempt to incinerate a nickel-
cadmium battery; doing so could cause it to
explode. Telxon urges you to contact the Environ-
mental Protection Agency, the Department of
Natural Resources, a local hazardous waste dis-
posal agency, or the Telxon Customer Support
Center for assistance prior to disposing of your
nickel-cadmium batteries.
10

Scope
This manual provides general information on
how to operate, handle, and maintain the PTC-
960X. Use this manual as an introduction to the
PTC-960X along with the manual or instructions
provided by your supervisor.
This manual does not provide instructions on
how to perform the tasks specific to your job in
your organization. For that information, refer to
the manual or instructions provided by your
supervisor.
ÄÄ
11

Overview
ofthePTC-960X
The Telxon PTC-960X is a battery-powered,
hand-held computer used to collect, store, and
transmit data. The PTC-960X has a built-in bar-
code scanner. Options for transmitting data over
telephone lines and printing are also available.
The PTC-960X automates your data collection
procedures and is custom programmed to effi-
ciently handle your organization’s unique data
collection applications.
The PTC-960X is designed for use in areas
where dust, dirt, or moisture can be excessive.
The PTC has been specially sealed to resist these
hazards.
Because the PTC-960X is custom programmed
for each organization, this manual does not in-
clude the specific operating instructions for your
organization’s unique PTC data collection pro-
gram. Operating instructions and training for
your PTC’s application program should be avail-
able from your supervisor.
The PTC runs an application program specially
designed to collect data for your organization.
This program leads you through the application
with a series of display messages, prompts, and
beeps. Messages tell you when you make an
error and provide information on the application
or the PTC’s status. Prompts and beeps tell you
when to enter data, what type of data to enter,
and when you complete certain operations.
ÄÄ
12

©Entering data
You can enter data into the PTC-960X using
either the keyboard or the built-in scanner.
When you press a key on the PTC’skeyboard,
the corresponding number or letter appears on
the display. Pressing the ENTER key stores the
data in the PTC’smemory.
The built-in bar-code scanner can “read” a bar
code. Abar code is a series of vertical bars and
spaces that you find on nearly every item in
business today. The PTC interprets the scanned
data, may show this data on the display,and can
store the data in the PTC’smemory.
©Communicating data
After collecting the data, the PTC must either
transmit the data to a host computer for process-
ing or send it to a printer, or both, to make the
data useful to you and your organization. The
PTC-960X is capable of transmitting data
through an optional communication cradle or by
being connected by cable to a host computer,
printer, or other accessory.
©Flash programming
The PTC-960X contains a flash EPROM, which
is an electronic chip that contains the PTC’s
application program. The flash EPROM can be
reprogrammed (flashed) while it isinside the
PTC, making updating and changing application
programs easy.
13

Getting
started
©Unpacking the PTC-960X
The PTC-960X is shipped in a single box
containing
•a PTC-960X,
•a battery charger,
•a wrist strap,
•a nickel-cadmium battery pack,
•the Guide to the PTC-960X,
•the Guide to the FLASH Utilities (TCAL
or MS-DOS Version), and
•the Guide to Maintaining NiCd Batteries.
Any cables or additional accessories are shipped
separately. Accessories have their own manuals.
1. Remove the PTC from the box.
2. Remove all packing material from the PTC.
Save the packing material in case the PTC is
ever stored or shipped to Telxon for service.
3. Check the contents of the package to make
sure you have received everything ordered.
4. Check the PTC and accessories for shipping
damage. Pay particular attention to the PTC
case, display lens, and scanner lens.
ÄÄ
14

If anything is missing or damaged, notify your
Telxon service representative.
©Installing the battery pack
1.Make sure the PTC is off.
2.Line up the end cap/battery pack assembly
with the opening in the bottom of the PTC’s
handle. See Figure 1 on page18 for theloca-
tion of the battery pack opening.
3.Slide the battery pack into the handle until
the end cap presses against the body of the
handle and the tabs on the end cap lock the
assembly into place. The curved sides of the
end cap allow thebattery pack to be installed
in onlyone way.
©Charging the battery pack
Equipment required:
•One battery charger for each PTC
•An electrical outlet within 6 feet (1.8me-
ters) providing 110 volts AC in the U.S.
and Canada or 220 volts AC elsewhere
Usethis procedureto recharge thenickel-cad-
mium battery pack installed in the PTC’s handle.
1.Make sure the PTC is off.
2.Disconnect all accessories from the PTC.
3.Lay the PTC-960X on its right side so the
charger connector is facing you.
4.Attach the end of the battery charger’s cable
to the charger connector on the PTC’sside.
15

See Figure 1 onpage 18 for thelocation of
thecharger connector.
5.Plug the battery charger into a standard 110-
volt electrical outlet (220 volts outside the
U.S. and Canada).
6.Charge the battery pack for 12 hours.
7.When charging is finished, first unplug the
battery charger from the electrical outlet;
then disconnect itfrom thePTC.
©Checking the PTC-960X
1.Press the ON/OFF key on the PTC’s key-
board toturn on thePTC.
2.Look at the PTC’sdisplay.
3.What appears on the display depends on the
program your organization uses.
If the PTC is operating correctly,you should
not see or hear any of the following:
•Low battery warning
•A blank display screen
•Any warning beeps
See the “Troubleshooting” section on page 49
if the PTC-960X is not operating correctly.
16

Parts
Figure 1shows the parts of the PTC-960X.
©Accessory connector
Amodular RJ-41-type connector for accessories
is located onthe PTC’s left side. One of a number
of special cables that plug into the connector can
be used to connect the PTC-960X to a particular
computer, printer, or other accessory.Cable part
numbers are listed in Appendix B, and cable dia-
grams are illustrated in Appendix C.
©Bar-code scanner
Abar-code laser scanner,which is mounted in-
side thePTC’s nose, lets you enter data intoyour
PTC by “reading” (scanning) bar-code labels.
Your PTC’s application program determines the
types of bar-code labels the PTC can read.
©Bar-code scanner trigger
The trigger on the front of the PTC’s handle turns
on the PTC’sbar-code scanner when you are ready
to read a bar code. Pressing the trigger also turns
on the PTC-960X if this option has been installed
by your organization.
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17

FIGURE1
Parts of the PTC-960X
BEEPER
BAR-CODESCANNER
COMMUNICATION
CONTACTS
BAR-CODESCANNERTRIGGER
ACCESSORY CONNECTOR
BATTERYCHARGER
CONNECTOR
ENDCAP/BATTERYPACK
ASSEMBLY
KEYBOARD &
KEYBOARD OVERLAY
STATUS INDICATORS
HANDLE&
BATTERY
COMPARTMENT
WRIST STRAP
ATTACHES HERE
DISPLAY
18