[Info-vax] Hand scanners and VMS.

[Bill Gunshannon]

On 7/21/22 23:55, Dave Froble wrote:
> On 7/21/2022 8:25 PM, Dave Froble wrote:
>> On 7/21/2022 6:35 PM, 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.
>>
>> I'm surprised there are still RS232 devices.
>>
>>> 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.
>>>
>>
>> Faced with such an issue, I would be looking ahead, not trying to 
>> continue with
>> yesterday's solutions.  Why?  Because yesterday's solutions just might 
>> no longer
>> be available.
>>
>> The first thing I'd be looking for is a device that lives on ethernet, 
>> or wifi,
>> but I trust wires more.  Terminal servers are a method of connecting to
>> ethernet, but I don't know what's still available.  A edvice that 
>> takes an RJ45
>> plug and talks TCP/IP would be what I'd look for.
>>
>> Failing that, I'd then be looking for devices that live on ethernet, 
>> and have
>> USB ports.  That should allow many scanners to be connected.
>>
> 
> Thinking about it a bit more, perhaps a minimal cheap small PC might work.
> 
> No keyboard, mouse, and monitor.  Just an app that waits for the scanner 
> input, connects to an app on VMS, sends the scanner info, then goes back 
> to waiting for the scanner.  If interested, we can discuss how to set 
> something like this up.
> 

Sounds like a job for a RaspberryPI.

Could even do it with an Arduino, but that would take more work.

bill