The NCR Realscan 7883 Includes Two Auxiliary RS-232 Peripheral Ports

Nearly all NCR RealScan 78xx scanners typically include two Auxiliary RS-232 Peripheral Ports. The purpose of this feature is to permit other barcode-reading peripheral devices to connect to the host terminal through the 78xx, eliminating the need to use another serial port on the host terminal. A typical use of this feature is to connect a hand-held scanner for scanning items too large to place on the checkstand. It also can provide a connection for some security tag deactivation systems. Special programming is required for each peripheral device using a peripheral port. The connector is wired as follows:

AUX PORT PINOUT

Auxiliary RS-232 Peripheral Ports

Pin Number Signal Name

1 +5 Vdc

6 +12 Vdc

9 Frame GND

10 Frame GND

You have to program both the 7876 and the HH to work with each other.

PROGRAMMING THE 78xx BIOPTIC (FLATBED)

Power cycle scanner Then scan: PROGRAM MODE HEX 4 HEX 0 HEX 1 ;This enables the HH ports (400 disables ports)

HEX 4 HEX 0 HEX 2 ;This enables port 1 specifically. On the 7876, this is the TOWER (SIDE) PORT. -----OR---- HEX 4 HEX 0 HEX 3 ;This enables Port 2.

HEX 4 HEX 0 HEX 5 ;This makes the 78xx beep when it gets HH data (406 disables beep)

HEX 5 HEX 5 HEX 1 ;This sets the 78xx up for receiving data terminated by a CR/LF and one set of identifier bytes (FORMAT 1) ----OR---- HEX 5 HEX 5 HEX 2 ;This sets up the 78xx for receiving data terminated by a CR only, another set of identifier bytes, and VLI following C128, C39, ITF Identifier bytes. (FORMAT 2)

SAVE&RESET

Of Note:

The newer versions of firmware will also make the host 78xx produce a "bad" tone when you scan something with the HH that the 78xx didn't like. It might not like the data because: 1. It's a barcode type the 78xx doesn't have enabled, 2. If the 78xx isn't connected to a terminal, and the buffer is full 3. If the 78xx is disabled by the terminal and cannot take the data from the HH, if it happens to be still enabled.

Sometimes it's nice to have the bad tone so the user knows the scanned barcode didn't ring up. PROGRAMMING THE HANDHELD SCANNER

Regardless of scanner brand, the handheld MUST be programmed for these parameters in order to communicate with any NCR RS232 AUX port:

RS232 9600 baud, 7 bit data, even parity, 1 stop bit.

The HH data must also conform to one of two formats.

Format 1 is the option enabled when programming the 78xx with sequence Program Mode, HEX 5, HEX 5, HEX 1, SAVE&RESET

Format 2 is the option enabled when programming the 78xx with the sequence Program Mode, HEX 5, HEX 5, HEX 2, SAVE&RESET

1. FORMAT 1

Label Identifier bytes MUST be as follows, otherwise the 78xx will either ignore the data or produce a bad tone (note these are shown without parity):

UPC-A: ‘A’, 0x41

UPC-E: ‘E’, 0x45

EAN-8: ‘FF’, 0x46, 0x46

EAN-13: ‘F’, 0x46

Code 128 and UCC/EAN-128: ‘f’, 0x66

Code 39: ‘a’, 0x61

Interleaved 2 of 5 (ITF): ‘b’, 0x62

RSS (all types): ‘r’, 0x72

All messages must be terminated with a CR/LF combination when in Format 1.

Communication is ONE WAY only. The scanner or attached peripheral must pay attention to hardware handshaking (RTS/CTS) so scanner can control it. If the HH does not use hardware handshaking, then it will remain enabled and able to scan items while the flatbed is disabled due to transaction end, etc. 2. FORMAT 2

Label Identifier bytes MUST be as follows, otherwise the 78xx will either ignore the data or produce a bad tone (note these are shown without parity). When transmitting an “industrial barcode”, the scanner will attach a VLI after the identifier byte. This extra byte is shown as “” below.

UPC-A: ‘A’, 0x41

UPC-E: ‘E’, 0x45

EAN-8: ‘FF’, 0x46, 0x46

EAN-13: ‘F’, 0x46

Code 128 and UCC/EAN-128: ‘L’, 0x4C

Code 39: ‘C’, 0x42

Interleaved 2 of 5 (ITF): ‘I’, 0x49

All messages must be terminated with a CR ONLY when in Format 2.

Communication is ONE WAY only. The scanner or attached peripheral must pay attention to hardware handshaking (RTS/CTS) so scanner can control it. If the HH does not use hardware handshaking, then it will remain enabled and able to scan items while the flatbed is disabled due to transaction end, etc. The handshake barcodes recommended for Symbol scanners are “RTS/CTS Option 2” and “Host: Low RTS”.