[Info-vax] Hand scanners and VMS.

[abrsvc]

On Thursday, July 21, 2022 at 6:35:20 PM UTC-4, Jan-Erik Söderholm wrote:
> Hi. 
> 
> We/I currently struggle with somewhat of an issue. 
> 
> Our VMS system has for 30+ years received inout from traditional 
> hand scanners. From the very begining it was those pen-like 
> barcode scannes where you needed to "draw a line" over the barcode 
> to read it. HP made some popular models at the time. Today it is 
> of course modern "camera based" scanners that read anything from 
> usual 1D barcodes to 2D codes like QR. 
> 
> Now, these have always been connected to terminal servers and 
> our VMS system connect to the IP adress and IP port that matches 
> the RS232 port on the terminal server. Long ago this was LAT and 
> we connected a LTA device pointing to the node and service 
> of he RS232 port, but LAT or TCP is totalt transparent to the 
> applications. From the very start (11/730 time frame) it was 
> actually physical TXAnnn serial interfaces, but our application 
> design has stayed the same using the same QIOW calls. But that 
> was before my time... 
> 
> After switching to network based equipment a long time ago, it 
> has been boxes from DECserver 200, DECserver 90 and different 
> kind of Lantronix equipment. 
> 
> Now, the current hardware, "Lantronix WiBox", a two port terminal 
> server with Wifi and everythig, has gone out of market. I have 
> the replacement box "Lantronix SGX 5150" and test scanner 
> "Honeywell Xenon 1950" on my desk. The scanner is currently 
> connected to the USB-C port of the SGX 5150. 
> 
> One additonal issue is that hand scanners using RS232 are getting 
> harder to get with longer delivery times, USB scanners are not so. 
> 
> They have also moved RS232 from two DB9 connectors to two RJ45 jacks 
> so one usually need an additional adapter cable... 
> 
> Now, I have some issues to set this up, but I have a case open with 
> Lantronix support so let's not get into those details. 
> 
> Lat me just ask, isn't there anyone else having a need to scan 
> products in an assembly line for reporting purposes? 
> 
> We just need a scanner hanging on the wall that the user can 
> grip, scan and hang it back. This needs sub-second response 
> time, no logins and "always" beeing available for use. 
> 
> It seems as the market thinks that, if you have a hand scanner, 
> you also absolutely have an PC to connect it to. 
> 
> Now, I'm sure that it will work by having the RS232 optional 
> cable from Honeywell, but that is not as easy to find as the 
> standard USB cable. 
> 
> So, how are others having reporting needs using hand scanners 
> from production lines solving that need? 
> 
> Regards, Jan-Erik.
An application I supported used standard scanners with bar codes using terminal servers and Lantronix boxes.  I know that the terminal servers were set up as RAW TCPIP ports to do this.  I don't recall the details, but I do have access to the code and can look it up if needed.  All coding was done in Fortran at the time.  They also used USB scanners connected to some box that was on the network as well, although I don't recall the manufacturer.  A process always had the port open for read.

Dan