Barcode Scanner FAQ

1. What are the differences between Barcode Wand, Slot Reader, CCD scanner, and laser Barcode Scanner?

See Barcode Reading Device Introductions here for more information

2. Advantages of CCD scanners and Laser Scanners

CCD scanners are very durable since it has no moving parts inside it.
CCD scanners are very low cost barcode scanning device comparing to the laser scanner.
Generally, CCD scanners have great performance when reading higher density barcodes, some scanners such as HHP IT3800 can even read as small as 3 mil density barcodes.
Some CCD Scanners models on the market are able to output the infrared light so that the scanner is able to "see" through the barcodes which are protected by a piece of blacken plastic sheet over it for security purposes.
Laser Scanner's scan range (Depth of Field) is generally longer than the CCD Scanner, some laser scanners that made by Symbol Technologies is able to read a piece of barcode label from more than 6 meters away.
Laser Scanner engine consumes much lesser power than a CCD scanner so it is ideal to use for the portable system/device integrating applications.
Laser Scanner is capable to read wide barcode labels.
Laser Scanner works very well under strong illuminating conditions, scanning performance will not reduced much even during the outdoor operations.

3. What kind of Connection Interfaces are available with barcode scanners?

Keyboard wedge interface with PS/2 or PC/AT (MiniDin6/DIN5) connectors: The scanner is come with a piece of "Y" shaped cable that has 2 PS/2 male and female headers, one end of the cable goes to the computer host's keyboard PS/2 port, and another end goes to a standard Computer Keyboard, so that the scanner is able to input data to the computer like though it were typed on the keyboard by Keyboard Emulation Technology, therefore, Barcode Scanner with Keyboard Wedge Interface is plug&play like a computer keyboard made for PC or MAC.
USB interface is probably the most common barcode scanner interface nowadays, it requires no software driver like the keyboard wedge interface, and it is of course features plug&play as well. Another advantage of using the USB interface is that it is compatible with all notebook/laptop computers that has USB port on the market.
RS-232C interface is the standard serial interface, Data is sent in ASCII format at RS-232 levels (Most Common handshaking is 9600,N,8,1 for barcode scanning devices with serial interface.). Serial ports on a PC are RS-232, however the user must have software drivers to input data from the port. Generally, all POS application software on the market are supporting RS-232 communication since RS-232 is the most common serial data interface for POS devices. Simple testing of a RS-232 barcode scanner can be done via the default Windows Communication Tool - The HyperTerminal (Hyperterm.exe), simply run the Windows HyperTerminal, select the COM port where your scanner is connecting with, and assign the suitable handshaking properties (baud rate, parity, and start/stop bit), scan few barcode label and see if the scanned data comes out correctly in the HyperTerminal screen.
Wand emulation is designed for old POS systems that were previously using the barcode light pen (wand) as its barcode reader. The barcode scanner with wand emulation interface will actually decode and then emulates TTL level signal output as an an old wand device.
OCIA interface is used in many old cash register and POS terminals. The interface is similar to keyboard wedge.

4. What's the warranty on TYSSO Barcode Scanners

18 months. Hot spares parts and unit can be negotiated upon larger order volume requests.

5. Why my PS/2 barcode scanner is not working with my laptop computer?

The keyboard wedge interface emulates the keyboard input from a standard computer keyboard port, and the PS/2 port on some of the laptop models on the market does not have exactly the same specification as a standard computer keyboard, it was a common problem for almost all brands of barcode scanners. Therefore, a product called "Phony Keyboard or Keyboard Emulator" is designed to solve this matter, the tiny keyboard emulator device will emulate the exactly the same keyboard signals as a standard computer keyboard so that the barcode reader is able to use the signals from the phony keyboard's port instead of the laptop computer's PS/2 port. However, the current TYSSO barcode scanner models with keyboard wedge interface should be able to compatible with all brands and models of laptop computers even without the keyboard emulator attached.

6. What does the Decoded and Undecoded mean?

Barcode scanner that has built-in decoder is able to output the decoded signals that a computer can understand such as Keyboard wedge and RS-232C outputs. The undecoded reader basically outputs TTL level waveform which requires an additional decoder circuit / components, the undecoded barcode reader is normally used for system/hardware integration purposes where the system/hardware have the decoder circuit and IC designing already. Below are the pin-out information of the decoded and undecoded (TTL) barcode scanners:
PIN ASSIGNMENTS 　　　　
　　　　　　　
COLOR Function 9 Pin DSUB/AMP (F) 25 PIN DIN(M) 6 PIN DIN (M) 6 PIN MINI DIN (M) 　
Yellow Start of Scan 1 Orange Signal Data 2 2 2 White Led Indicator 3 Blue Trigger 5 5 5 1 　
Green Power Enable 6 4 4 2 　
Black GND 7 3 3 5 　
Red VCC+5V 9 1 1 3 　
　　　　　　　
Wand Emulation Signal Output 　　　　
　　　　　　　
COLOR Function 9 PIN DSUB/AMP (F) 5 PIN DIN (M) 6 PIN DIN (M) 　　
Orange Signal Data 2 2 2 　　
Black GND 7 3 3 　　
Red VCC+5V 9 1 1 　　
　　　　　　　
Note : The pin numbers for the 5 or 6 pin connectors are viewed internally. 　
         "F" stands for a female connector while "M" stands for a male connector. 　
　　　　　　　
PIN ASSIGNMENTS 　　　　
　　　　　　　
RS-232 Signal Output 　　　　　
　　　　　　　
COLOR FUNCTION 　 9 PIN DSUB/AMP(F) 25PIN DSUB(F)
Black          GND 　 5 　 7 　
Brown          CTS 　 7 　 4 　
Grey          RTS 　 8 　 5 　
Violet           RX 　 3 　 2 　
Green           TX 　 2 　 3 　
Red       VCC+5V 　 9 　 25 　
　　　　　　　
Note : For PC applications , a cable with DC power jack is required 　　
          to accept external power input. 　　　　
　　　　　　　
Keyboard Signal Output 　　　　　
　　　　　　　
COLOR FUNCTION 　 5 PIN DIN (F) 　 5 PIN DIN (M)
Black               GND 4 　 4 　
White             PC_Data                   --- 　 2 　
Orange             PC_CLK                   --- 　 1 　
Red             Vcc+5V 5 　 5 　
Blue             KB_CLK 1 　                 --- 　
Yellow             KB_Data 2 　                 --- 　

7. How to program my TYSSO barcode scanner?

Basic configuration such as enable/disable of the barcode symbologies can be edited as the following:
scan the following barcode labels on the TYSSO barcode scanner programming manual respectively: . "Enter Group", "The Option you want to configure", and finally, the "Exit" Label.

8. What are the "preamble" and "postamble" settings and how am I going to configure it?

Preamble and Postamble are used for adding ASCII characters in front and after the ordinary barcode data when the data is being decoded by the scanner's decoder., for example, you can set a Keyboard "Tab" key to be added in front, and a "Enter (CR)" key after each barcode inputs, so that the scanned data can go into the right place in the POS software or Computer Database by recognizing the configured premable/postamble settings.

Firmware Configuration Example:

Preamble & Postamble Setting:
Scan Enter Group 6 Label -->
Scan Preamble or Postamble Label -->
Refer to ASCII Table(page 44), scan two digits in Table-Hex (Page 43)
Representing one character, maximum 10 characters of a preamble/postamble can be accepted. -->
Scan Confirm Label in Table-Hex (Page 43)
Scan Exit Label

9. What is the Code ID setting?

Code ID Settings is designed for the software applications to differentiate the symbologies of every barcode inputs, it simply add a user's defined character which represent a certain symobology of the barcode such as Code 39, Code 128, and etc... so that the software application can immediately tell what types of barcode has been scanned by reading these defined Code ID characters, and then process further programmed actions.

10. Why my barcode scanner with keyboard wedge interface does not input correct data to my French or German language OS. and how to solve this problem?

Our keyboard wedge barcode scanners are designed to utilize the Scan Code provided by the standard English/US. keyboard, since the scan-code mapping are different on other language version of keyboard such as French and German, so when the other language system reads the Scan Code from the scanner, it takes the Scan Code as it is from the standard French. Keyboard, then the wrong scanning result will happen. In order to solve this problem, please enable the ALT mode in the TYSSO programming manual. The ALT mode will make the input to your computer as when you type special ASCII characters on DOS applications, for example: "ALT key (hold), "any character on your keyboard" , and "release ALT key" This should solve out all language keyboard's compatibility problems.

SCAN THE FOLLOWING BARCODE RESPECTIVELY TO ENABLE OR DISABLE ALT MODE:

1. Scan "Enter Group" Label

2. Scan "Alt Mode" Label

3. Scan "Exit" Label

11. What happen if my scanner starting acts strange after I have made certain configurations?

Sometimes the Scanner may be hang after incorrect firmware configuration steps (Scan "Enter Group" continuously at once for example...) You can simply scan the "Set All Default" label on the programming manual will return the firmware value to factory default.

12. Do you sell your barcode scanners without the TYSSO brand name label?

Yes, in fact, all TYSSO barcode scanners we supply are come without any brand names, we welcome private labeling for larger ordering volume requirements.

13. I need special pin-outs and connectors for my barcode scanners, can you provide such modifications?

Yes, we can make scanner cables with various connectors such as RJ-11, RJ-45, Dsub 12 Male/Female, AMP, JST, and etc... and are able to make custom pin-outs to fulfill our customer's business need. We require detailed specification of the custom specifications and a minimum order quantity. (these an be negotiated with your coordinated sales representatives of our company )

14. How to make simple test on my scanners should any hardware failure happens?

1. Scan the "Set All Default" label on the scanner's programming manual.
2. Make sure the symbologies that you intend to scan with is enabled by the programming manual.
3. Check if the cable are loose on both scanner end and PC/Keyboard end.
4. change a piece of cable by getting it from a working scanner and see if the problem is caused by the cable failure or not.
5. Listen if there is initializing beep sound when boot up - if not, please contact your dealer for further service arrangements.
6. Attach your scanner to another computer workstation to see if the problem is caused by the PC failure or not.

15. How to update my TYSSO scanner's decoder firmware to the most recent version?

The recent versions of TYSSO barcode decoders are upgradeable by the Win32 updating package via a piece of RS-232 cable. Please do the following in order to patch your scanner decoder to the most up-to-date version:

1. Scan the "Show Version" Label on your scanner's programming manual and make sure the version date is on or after 08-08-2004. Please note that Firmware upgrading package will not work with any firmware version prior to the above mentioned date.

2. Change a piece of RS-232 interface cable for your scanner and connect it to any free COM port on your computer

3. Scan "Set All Default" Label

4. Enable the serial interface by scan "Enter Group", "RS-232", and "Exit" respectively in the Interface Selection Section of your scanner's programming manual.

5. Scan Enter Group Label:

6. Scan "Upgrade" Label Below: