RS-232 Handshaking

RS-232 Handshaking allows control of data transmission from the scanner using software commands from the host device. CTS/RTS operates in mode 2. When this feature is turned Off, no data flow control is used. When Data Flow Control is turned On, the host device suspends transmission by sending the XOFF character (DC3, hex 13) to the scanner. To resume transmission, the host sends the XON character (DC1, hex 11). Data transmission continues where it left off when XOFF was sent. Default = RTS/CTS, XON/XOFF and ACK/NAK Off.

RTS/CTS On* RTS/CTS OffXON/XOFF On* XON/OFF Off

ACK/NAK On

* ACK/NAK Off

Host ACK Selection

Some applications require that the host terminal (or server) approve or reject incoming bar code data and notify the operator of these actions. These applications require that the host maintain control over the response indicators emitted from the source scanner. Turning the Host ACK selection on, configures the cordless system scanners to respond to commands from the host system.

The following criteria must be met for the Host ACK to work correctly:

•The cordless system must be configured for “Host Port RS-232” (Terminal ID = 000)

•RTS/CTS is defaulted off. You must enable it if the host system requires it.•Host ACK must be enabled (page 2-12).•System performance degrades when using Host ACK at rates lower than 9600.

•The host terminal software must be capable of interpreting the bar code data, make decisions based on the data content, and send out appropriate escape commands to the source scanner.

Escape commands are addressed to the source scanner via “Application Work Groups.” Once a command is sent, all scanners in a group respond to that command. Because of this situation, it is recommended that each scanner is assigned to its own group in host ACK mode.