Unitech PA982 User manual

unitech
PA982 Ultra Rugged Mobile Computer
User’s Manual
400556G Rev. A

i
Preface
About This Manual
This manual explains how to install, operate and maintain the PA982 Ultra Rugged Mobile
Computer.
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 the manufacturer. This includes elec-
tronic or mechanical means, such as photocopying, recording, or information storage and
retrieval systems. The material in this manual is subject to change without notice.
© Copyright 2006 unitech Electronics Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.
unitech global website address: http:\\www.unitech-adc.com.tw
Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG.
Microsoft, Windows and ActiveSync are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other product names mentioned
in this manual may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective companies and are hereby acknowledged.
Regulatory Compliance Statements
FCC Statement
This is a FCC Part 15 Class B product. In a domestic environment this product may cause
radio interference, in which case the user may be required to take adequate measures.
Canadian Compliance Statement
This Class B Digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing
Equipment Regulations.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel
broilleur du Canada.
The device is certified to the requirements of RSS-139-1 for 2.4 GHz spread spectrum
devices.
European Conformity Statement
Declaration of Conformity with Regard to the R&TTE 1999/5/EC and EMC 89/336/ EEC direc-
tives.
RoHS Statement
This device conforms to RoHS (Reduction Of Hazardous Sub-
stances) European Union regulations that set maximum concentra-
tion limits on hazardous materials used in electrical and electronic
equipment.

ii
Laser Information
The unitech PA982 series is certified in the U.S. to conform to the requirements of DHHS/
CDRH 21CFR Subchapter J and to the requirements of IEC 825-1. Class II and Class 2 prod-
ucts are not considered to be hazardous. The PA982 series contains internally a Visible Laser
Diode (VLD) whose emissions do not exceed the maximum limits as set forth in the above
regulations. The scanner is designed so that there is no human access to harmful laser light
during normal operation, user maintenance or during prescribed service operations.
The laser safety warning label required by the DHHS/IEC for the PA982 series's optional laser
scanner module is located on the memory compartment cover, on the back of the unit.
CAUTION! Use of controls or adjustments or performance of procedures other
than those specified herein may result in hazardous laser light. Use of
optical instruments with the scanner will increase eye hazard. Optical
instruments include binoculars, microscopes, and magnifying glasses.
This does not include eye glasses worn by the user.
Notices
This unit is equipped with a battery pack and backup battery. It is possible that the unitech
PA982 may not power-on due to battery discharge as a result of storage.
In the above situation, plug the PA982 to the USB charging cable which is with DC in port or
put the unit into the unitech PA982 Cradle (with 12V/2A AC-DC adapter), and recharge the
unit for 16 hours in order to fully charge its backup battery.
The backup battery will charge from external power or the main battery (if the main battery still
has enough power to turn on). In the event the main battery is fully charged, refrain from using
the PA982 for 16 hours in order for the main battery to fully charge the backup battery.
Backing-up data by backup battery only without the main battery installed in battery compart-
ment may take as long as 6 hours. Therefore, in order to prevent data protection failure due to
backup battery failure, do not leave the PA982 without the rechargeable battery pack installed,
or without connection to AC power for an extended period of time.
Battery Charge Notice
It is important to consider the environment temperature whenever you are charging the Lith-
ium-Ion battery pack. The process is most efficient at normal room temperature or slightly
cooler. It is essential that you charge batteries within the
stated range of -5°C to 50°C. Charging batteries outside of the specified range could damage
the batteries and shorten their charging life cycle.
Storage and Safety Notice
Although charged Lithium-Ion batteries may be left unused for several months, their capacity
may be depleted due to build up of internal resistance. If this happens they will require
recharging prior to use. Lithium-Ion batteries may be stored at temperatures between-20°C to
60°C, however they may be depleted more rapidly at the high end of this range. It is recom-
mended to store batteries within normal room temperature ranges.

iii
Table of Contents
Preface
About This Manual i
Regulatory Compliance Statements ............................................................................. i
FCC Statement ........................................................................................................................ i
Canadian Compliance Statement ............................................................................................ i
European Conformity Statement ............................................................................................. i
RoHS Statement...................................................................................................................... i
Laser Information ................................................................................................................. ii
Notices ...................................................................................................................................... ii
Battery Charge Notice ............................................................................................................. ii
Storage and Safety Notice....................................................................................................... ii
Chapter 1
Getting Started 1
Introducing the PA982....................................................................................................... 1
Features ................................................................................................................................. 1
Package Contents ............................................................................................................... 2
A Tour of the PA982............................................................................................................ 3
Front Left View........................................................................................................................ 3
Back View ............................................................................................................................... 4
Setting up the PA982.......................................................................................................... 4
Installing the Battery ............................................................................................................... 4
Charging the Battery............................................................................................................... 7
Charging the Battery using the Synchronization Power Cable.......................................... 7
Charging the Battery with the Docking Station .................................................................. 7
Checking the Battery Status .............................................................................................. 8
Connecting the PA982 to a PC............................................................................................... 9
Turning the PA982 on for the First Time................................................................................. 9
Powering On...................................................................................................................... 9
Calibrating the PA982 Screen ......................................................................................... 10
Setting the Time and Date............................................................................................... 11
Adjusting the Screen Brightness ..................................................................................... 11
Chapter 2
Using the Hardware 12
Using the Alpha Key ............................................................................................................. 12
Using Hotkeys....................................................................................................................... 13
Using the Stylus................................................................................................................. 13
Using the Laser Scanner ................................................................................................ 14

iv
Chapter 3
Getting Connected 15
Establishing Device-PC Connection.......................................................................... 15
Installing Microsoft ActiveSync ............................................................................................. 15
Connecting the Device to Your Computer ............................................................................ 15
Using ActiveSync to Exchange Files ........................................................................ 16
Installing the WLAN Card (Optional) ......................................................................... 17
Setting up the Wireless Local Area Network Card................................................................ 18
Obtaining an IP Address via DHCP Server ..................................................................... 18
Specifying an IP Address ................................................................................................ 18
WiFi Connection .............................................................................................................. 18
Using the WiFi Tool .............................................................................................................. 19
Chapter 4
Barcode Scanner Programs 20
Scanner Settings................................................................................................................ 20
Scan2Key .............................................................................................................................. 20
Barcode Symbologies........................................................................................................... 21
Chapter 5
Advance settings 22
Adjusting Settings............................................................................................................. 22
Checking the Main and Backup Battery Status..................................................... 23
Extending Battery Life ..................................................................................................... 24
Changing the Automatic Power Settings .............................................................................. 24
Reducing CPU Speed........................................................................................................... 24
Adjusting Backlight Setting ................................................................................................... 25
Performing a Hardware Reset ...................................................................................... 26
Performing a Cold Boot ........................................................................................................ 27
Performing a Cold Boot using the Boot Mode Utility ....................................................... 27
Performing a Cold Boot using the Hardware Reset Button ............................................. 27
Appendix
System Specifications 28

1
Chapter 1
Getting Started
Introducing the PA982
Thank you for purchasing the PA982 Ultra Rugged Mobile Computer. Your PA982 was designed for
users needing a compact and durable portable computer for data collection and real time transactions.
Ultra-rugged Design
The unitech PA982 Ultra Rugged Mobile Computer is a compact mobile computing device designed for
maximum durability. The PA982 is compliant with IP67 to resist water and dust and is industry tested to
meet harsh environmental operation requirements including underwater submersion up to one meter.
Easy to Use
The unit is equipped with large display, touch screen, and a 22-key keypad. The keypad is watertight
and has high visibility backlit keys that allow for operation in dim light conditions. The PA982 supports
integrated long range scanners for fast and accurate data collection.
Advanced Power Capacity
The double cell 7.4V 2200mAh battery pack support operation up to 12 hours. An optional gun grip han-
dle includes an additional battery for operation over extended periods.
Features
Powerful system
• Microsoft Windows CE 5.0 Professional
Plus operating system
• Intel Xscale PXA255 processor with
speed up to 400Mhz
System memory
• 64 MB SDRAM
• 64 MB Flash ROM
Display
• 3.5-inch QVGA LCD touch-sensitive
screen
• 320 x 240 resolution
Barcode scanner
• Built-in Bar Code Scan Engine
• Long range capacity (optional)
• RFID reader (optional)
• Symbol SE1200 support
• UNITECH HAMSTER barcode decoder
Expansion slot
PCMCIA Type II slot
Wireless connectivity
• 802.11b/g (optional)
• Bluetooth wireless technology
• Infrared port
Communication
• USB Host & Client
• IrDA 1.2 (SIR) using the cradle
• GSM / GPRS (via expansion slot)
• 802.11b/g (optional)
• Bluetooth version 1.2
(supports Bluetooth Printer, Bluetooth
Modem, Bluetooth ActiveSync)
Battery life
• Normal usage: 12 hours
• Charging time: 4 hours
• Embedded backup battery cell
User-friendly interface
• Quick launch hot keys for accessing often
used system applications, calibration, and
other device management tasks
• Keys for barcode scanning

2
Copyright 2006 unitech Electronics Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. unitech is a registered trademark of unitech Electronics Co., Ltd.
Package Contents
After opening the box, ensure the following accessories for the PA982 are present:
If anything is missing or appears damaged in any way, contact your dealer.
PA982 Terminal Power Adapter and Cable Battery Pack
Stylus USB Cable
(optional)
Synchronization and Power
Cable
CD-ROM Quick Reference Guide Cradle (optional)
nuitech
PA9 82
ESC
BKSP
TAB
FUNC
ENTER
123
46
78
0
9
5
*
#
+-
ABC DEF
GHI JKL MNO
PQRS
Alpha
TUV
[
/
WXYZ

Chapter 1 Getting Started
3
A Tour of the PA982
The following sections describe the main components and features of the PA982.
Front Left View
No. Component Description
1. Status indicator Indicates the battery charging and barcode scanning status.
Green - Battery is fully charged or barcode scanning process
is completed without error.
Red - Battery is charging, barcode scanner is activated and
processing.
2. Left scanner trigger
button
Press to activate the barcode laser scanner.
3. Power button If the device is off, press this button to turn it on.
Alternatively, when the unit is on, this key must be pressed and
held down for about two seconds in order to turn the device off.
4. Universal connector Connects your device to a synchronization power cable, which in
turn connects to the computer’s RS232 port and through the AC
adapter to an electrical outlet.
This allows you to recharge your device and perform an
ActiveSync operation.
5. Stylus Enables you to interact with the operating system. To use the
stylus, remove it from its holder and hold it the same way you hold
a pen or pencil.
6. Desktop cradle
connector
Enables you to interface with the optional desktop cradle.
7. Infrared (IR) port Uses infrared technology to transmit and receive data from other
IR-enabled devices.
8. Keypad Keypad interface for controlling the PA982. See Using the
Hardware on page 12 for more information.
9. LCD Touch screen Displays the applications and data stored on your device. It is
touch-sensitive and responds to the stylus or finger.
3
6
9
2
5
8
Alpha
7
0
1
4
FUNC
TAB
BKSP
ESC
ENTER
1
2
4
35
6
8
7
9

4
Copyright 2006 unitech Electronics Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. unitech is a registered trademark of unitech Electronics Co., Ltd.
Back View
Setting up the PA982
This section explains how to install and charge the battery, how to check battery status, how to connect
the PA982 to a PC, how to turn on the PA982 for the first time, how to install an optional Wireless Local
Area Network PCMCIA card, and how to calibrate the screen.
Installing the Battery
WARNING! There is a risk of fire and burns if the battery pack is handled improp-
erly. DO NOT disassemble, crush, puncture, short external contacts,
or dispose the battery pack in fire or water. DO NOT attempt to open
or service the battery pack. Dispose of used batteries according to
local recycling guidelines in your area.
A backup battery cell is embedded into your device to prevent data loss in instances when the remov-
able battery pack is removed or completely discharged. This backup battery cell will only support the
system for a maximum of 72 hours.
NOTE:
•To enable the internal battery cell to provide backup power supply, charge your
device with the main battery pack for at least 16 hours.
•The first time you use the PA982, you must turn on the backup battery switch.
•The first time you use the PA982, you must activate the LCD heater switch. When
activated, LCD heater will turn on automatically when the temperature is lower than
-10°C.
No. Component Description
10. Battery compartment Houses the removable and rechargeable 7.4V 2200mAh
lithium-ion battery pack
11. Reset button Press the end of the stylus into the button to reset your
device.
12. Handstrap Enables you to securely hold the PA982 while using it.
13. Right scanner trigger button Press to activate the barcode laser scanner.
14. PCMCIA compartment Open this compartment to access the PCMCIA slot.
15. Barcode scanner window Used to scan barcodes.
10
11
12
13
14 15

Chapter 1 Getting Started
5
1. Open the battery compartment by removing the four screws that secure the battery compart-
ment cover (A) and removing the cover (B).
2. Locate the backup battery switch and LCD heater switch and turn them both on.
3. Position the battery pack, making sure the battery contacts are aligned with the contacts in the
compartment, as shown in the following illustration.
AB
LCD heater switch
Backup battery switch
Compartment contacts
Battery contacts

6
Copyright 2006 unitech Electronics Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. unitech is a registered trademark of unitech Electronics Co., Ltd.
4. Place the battery pack into the battery bay and press the battery securely into the compartment.
5. Replace the battery compartment cover and the four compartment screws.

Chapter 1 Getting Started
7
Charging the Battery
Before using the PA982 for the first time, you need to charge it for about 16 hours. After that, you can
charge the PA982 every day to recharge the battery to full capacity. Charge the PA982 using the syn-
chronization power cable or the docking station.
CAUTION! Operating the PA982 for the first time without the AC adapter, and without fully
charging the backup battery may result in loss of data stored in RAM memory.
When the main battery is removed, the backup battery retains RAM data in memory
for 72 hours; charge the battery as soon as possible to avoid the data loss in RAM
memory.
Charging the Battery using the Synchronization Power Cable
1. Connect the synchronization power cable connector to the PA982 (1).
2. Plug the AC adapter cable into the power jack on the RS232 serial connector (2).
3. Connect the AC adapter into an electrical outlet (3).
Charging the Battery with the Docking Station
1. Plug the AC adapter cable into the power jack on the docking station, then connect the AC
adapter into an electrical outlet.

8
Copyright 2006 unitech Electronics Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. unitech is a registered trademark of unitech Electronics Co., Ltd.
2. Slide the device into the docking station until it clicks into place.
3. The connection is secure when the bottom edge of the device is
aligned with the docking station, and the LED indicator on the device
lights up red.
Checking the Battery Status
If the main battery level becomes low in the course of nor-
mal use, a status icon appears on the device screen
system tray indicating low or very low battery status. In both
cases, perform an ActiveSync operation to back up your
data, then recharge your device as soon as possible. If the
battery level reaches low status, the device will enter sus-
pend mode; if the battery level reaches very low status, the
device will enter deep sleep mode. In this case, you have
about 72 hours to recharge your device after which you risk
losing all data on your device’s internal memory.
When the backup battery charge is low, an icon appears in
the system tray indicating that you should replace the
backup battery as soon as possible.
LED Status
LED Meaning
PA982 Solid Red Charging
Solid Green Charging complete
Docking Station
Power LED Power is on
Charging LED Charging
Sync LED Synchronization is taking place
Note: This LED is only applicable in
the RS232 model.
Backup battery
icon
Main battery
icon

Chapter 1 Getting Started
9
Connecting the PA982 to a PC
Use the synchronization power cable to connect the PA982 to a PC to use with ActiveSync.
1. Connect the RS232 connector jack to the PA982 (1).
2. Plug the RS232 serial connector into a serial port on the PC and connect the AC adapter into
the RS232 connector (2).
3. Connect the AC adapter into an electrical outlet (3).
Turning the PA982 on for the First Time
After you have initially charged your device for about 16 hours, the device is ready to be used. You can
now start up your device where you’ll adjust the screen brightness, calibrate the display, and set up the
system time zone, date and time.
Powering On
1. Turn on your device by pressing the power button
on the front panel.
NOTE: The PA982 screen ships with a protective
plastic film. You may remove this if desired
by peeling from one corner. The screen will
be more susceptible to scratching without
the film, but will be more readable.
2. The unitech PA982 welcome screen appears for a
moment followed by the calibration screen.
3
2
1
Power Button

10
Copyright 2006 unitech Electronics Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. unitech is a registered trademark of unitech Electronics Co., Ltd.
Calibrating the PA982 Screen
The calibrate screen automatically appears when the unit is powered-on for the first time or after the
system is reset.
This screen will automatically appear when the unit is pow-
ered-on for the first time or after the system is reset. This
screen can also be accessed at any time by pressing the hot
key [FUNC] and the [ESC] key.
The PA982 prompts you to calibrate the unit by tapping a
sequence of screen locations. Tap gently but firmly.
When you have completed the series of taps, press the [ENT]
key to confirm calibration or press the [ESC] key to cancel it.
After confirming calibration, the Date/Time Properties screen
appears prompting you to set the date and time.
Function
Button
ESC key

Chapter 1 Getting Started
11
Setting the Time and Date
In the Date/Time Properties window, use the stylus to select the cur-
rent date and time, time zone, and daylight saving time option.
Adjusting the Screen Brightness
Adjust the screen brightness by pressing the Function but-
ton [FUNC] to enable the soft keys and pressing the left
(decrease brightness) or right (increase brightness) cursor
buttons.
Function
Button
Increase
Brightness
Decrease
Brightness

12
Chapter 2
Using the Hardware
The following table describes the main keypad keys.
Using the Alpha Key
When t he PA982 boo t s , t he de f aul t condi t ion is Numeric Mode on . When you t oggle t o Alpha Mode , t he
de
f aul t condi t ion is CAPS mode o ff.
Key Main Function
Press this button to turn the PA982 on. Press and hold this button for two
seconds to turn the PA982 off.
Pressing this button corresponds to tapping the cancel or X button on the
screen.
Press the backspace key to erase characters.
Press the function key to perform alternative key functions. Refer to Using
Hotkeys on page 13.
Use the tab key to toggle between fields or to tab forward in word
processing applications.
Press the enter key to confirm an action or entry by the user.
Use the cursor keys to navigate in applications. Press and hold the
Function key and then press the right and left arrows to raise and lower the
screen brightness.
Press the alpha key to toggle between numeric and alphabetic entry
modes. This key also toggles between upper and lower case alphabetic
characters.
Press these keys to enter numbers or characters depending on whether
the Alpha key has been pressed. Press the 0 key to enter a space.
Press this key to add punctuation.
Alpha Mode Press alpha to alpha mode, the default condition is CAPS off.
CAPS Press Alpha key twice to toggle CAPS

Chapter 2 Using the Hardware
13
Using Hotkeys
The PA982 provides eight combination hot keys to activate specified screen setting functions or pro-
grams. These hotkeys are useful for calibrating the touch screen, toggling the backlight, and adjusting
screen contrast when the menu-driven operation is disabled. Below is the list of hotkeys. To use them,
press and hold the [FUNC] key in combination with the corresponding second key.
Using the Stylus
CAUTION! Never use anything other than the PA982 stylus on the screen. Using
another object as a stylus could cause permanent damage.
1. Slide the stylus in the direction of the arrow (A) and then pull out (B) to remove the stylus from
its holder.
2. Hold the stylus as you would a pencil.
3. To make a choice from a menu, lightly tap the tip of the stylus on that choice.
4. To write data into a field on a form, use the stylus to print the letters or numbers.
[FUNC] + [ESC] Re-calibrate the touch screen.
[FUNC] + Decrease screen brightness
[FUNC] + Increase screen brightness
[FUNC] + [TAB*] Toggle screen and LCD backlight.
[FUNC] + [6] Open the Task manager
[FUNC] + [7] Scanner Setting.exe
[FUNC] + [8] Open the Power Properties dialog
[FUNC] + [9] Open Sys
t em I n f orma t ion
[FUNC] + [0] Space
[FUNC] + [CursorS] Toggle Display Backlight
[FUNC] + [CursorT] Toggle Keypad LED Backlight
A
B

14
Copyright 2006 unitech Electronics Co., Ltd. All rights reserved. unitech is a registered trademark of unitech Electronics Co., Ltd.
Using the Laser Scanner
The PA982 has an integrated laser scanner which reads all major bar code labels with excellent perfor-
mance.
NOTE: Reading software must be enabled in order to operate the scanner. This can be a user-
loaded application or a pre-loaded utility such as Scanner Setting.
Activate the laser scanner by pressing either one of the trigger
keys located on the left and right side of the unit.
The PA982 has a built-in Scanner Setting utility that allows you to
test the device’s barcode scan function.
1. To launch Scanner Settings, press [FUNC] + [7].
NOTE: Alternatively, tap Start →Settings →System →
Scanner Settings.
2. The Scanner Control Panel opens.
From here you can configure barcode scanner parameters
such as enabling or disabling barcode symbologies, setting
data transmission options, configuring magnetic and prox-
imity reading options, and setting power management
options.
3. To test the barcode scanner, tap the Test tab and press one
of the scanner buttons on a barcode. The screen will dis-
play the results of the scan.
nuitech
PA9 8 2
ESC
BKSP
T
AB
FUNC
ENTER
123
46
78
0
9
5
*
#
+-
ABCDEF
GHIJKLMNO
PQRS
Alpha
TUV
[
/
WXYZ
Scan button