Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Michigan
Posts: 14

cue cat and visor deluxe

Has anyone done/heard of website that shows how to connect the Cue Cat bar code scanner to the Visor? I have a Cue Cat that I recieved from Radio Shack and parts coming to convert the output to standard serial output, but I don't have the necessary software. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 152

I did a google search on "palm cuecat" and the first entry that came up was for a DA/hack that accesses the CueCat through the Happy Hacking Cradle. Unfortunately, there is no Happy Hacking Cradle for Visors. There's a lot of open source software for hacking the CueCat, so that may be less of a problem than overcoming the Visor's limited serial port implementation.

Registered: Jan 2001
Location: Misplaced Canuck in Charleston SC
Posts: 257

Don't have a cuecat, but I suspect it wouldn't be too hard. The difficult part would probably be cobbling together a serial connector to attach to the hotsync connector or through the springboard.

Deciphering the output from the cuecat is fairly well documented, and there is a bunch of code out there to do it already. Porting it to PalmOS ought to be a pretty trivial task.

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Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Michigan
Posts: 14

Thank You for the help.
I think that I have enough information to get started.

Dave

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 99

What's the application?

I have a cue cat - a spare hotsync cable (that I could splice together) - but what's the application? Why would I want to put the two together?

Registered: Feb 2001
Location: Atlantic Rim
Posts: 570

Re: What's the application?

quote:

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Originally posted by jradi
I have a cue cat - a spare hotsync cable (that I could splice together) - but what's the application? Why would I want to put the two together?

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Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

You want to do this, because if you do, you have a mobile barcode scanner system. You can keep a full database of every windows liscence you have!!! (so Microsoft won't go after you.. ). I myself have all my Visor accessories barcoded, and I have a huge database of everyone, including where (Ie.. who has them) they are.

Notice the "Geek Next Door" tag in my sig !

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-miradu

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Michigan
Posts: 14

Mobile bar code scanning is exactly what I want to do with the CueCat.
I'm looking into inventory control and thought that since I had the CueCat I would try to use it instead of the Symbol Springboard Module.
However it seems that there is very little software available (for palm OS) for this device. I'm now trying to use HotPaw Basic to right a type of driver for the scanner. Unfortunately I don't know C well enough to right a program with it. If anyone has a better suggestion I'm open to it.

Thanks Dave

Registered: Dec 2000
Location:
Posts: 76

Serial Connection to CueCat

You were talking about adapting the Barcode Scanner output to a standard serial connection (presumably RS232.)

If you'd like to connect that to a Visor Solo, Deluxe, or Prism, then you can get a cable to adapt to that from:

www.pcables.com

I can give you information on specifically how to connect your serial device to one of the cables; I would suspect a PDCH-M9-6 would be the best unless you have a Platinum, in which case you may be looking at a PDCH-M9D-6 ("D" for "Device Powered".)

You can send email to [email protected] if you need further info on how to do this.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Michigan
Posts: 14

Good Evening;
Thank You for the cable link, but I purchased a MarkSpace modem cable for my Visor as soon as it was available. The CueCat bar code scanner is not a true RS232 device. It uses a "clock line" instead of a set Baud Rate. Several manufacturers make a converter for this, or at least the parts for a Do-It-Yourselfer.

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: Spring Lake Park, MN (45min from minneapolis)
Posts: 313

radio shack sells visor accesories? if so ill just go into our local mall(not the 'Mall of America') go to radio shack and see if it is true

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Registered: Jun 2001
Location: Mo-Town, WV
Posts: 22

I can't find anywhere that tells you how to connect the CueCat to the Visor. I've already had mine "declawed" a while ago though. Anyone mind giving me a push in the right direction?

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~Jonathan

Registered: Sep 2000
Location: Michigan
Posts: 14

To connect the CueCat to the Visor you must build a converter. The CueCat uses a synchronous RS232 output and a standard serial port uses asynchronous. The difference is that the synchronous version uses a clock line to set the Baud Rate and the asynchronous version "you" must set the Baud Rate.
If you check Palmgear for the "EasyType Keyboard" there are detailed instructions on building the converter on the publishers web site.
Good Luck, if I get mine working I'll post the details.

Dave