H13
About
The H13 is a wireless 1D terminal scanner. The H13 firmware is split into two levels, an Operating System(OS) and an Application. The Operating System exposes the functions of the hardware to the Application level firmware. The Application determines how the device behaves and the interface displayed on the H13's LCD screen. The application can be customized in order to change the behavior of the H13, using Opticon's C-Library Kit and the GCC WinArm. This allows end-users to create custom applications modeled around their barcode-driven processes, making the H13 a simple and flexible solution for many business needs.
The H13 is used in combination with a cradle (typically CRDH13) in order to charge the H13's removable battery, transfer data serially to a host (using plain ASCII, XModem, or Opticon's NetO), and load new OS revisions and applications (using Opticon's Appload). Other types of cradles exist, including a dialup modem cradle and a GSM cradle, which H13 applications can utilize with Opticon's TCP/IP Library.
Setup
All of Opticon's Demo Applications for the H13 support downloading of data through Opticon's proprietary protocol called NetO (Net-Oh). As with all communications there are two sides. In this case these are the terminal (the H13) and the host (usually a PC). This section covers setting up and using such a communication channel.
Setting Up the Host
To use NetO communications on a PC you need an application called NetO32. This can be downloaded from the Downloads table at the bottom of this page. Simply run the installer after download is complete and follow the setup instructions here.
Collect Materials
- A windows computer
- An H13
- A CRD13 cradle
- A 32-00606-00 power adapter for the CRD13
- Either a USB-A to USB-B cable or an Opticon RS232 cable
Assembly
- Connect the 32-00606-00 power adapter to a power outlet.
- Connect the 32-00606-00 power adapter to the CRD13.
- Connect the communication cable to the computer.
- If using USB then you can plug the USB cable in to any active USB port on the computer.
- If using RS232 your computer must have a DB9 (nine pin RS232) connector on the back.
Software Installation
In this section we step through installing both Opticon's USB drivers and NetO32.
Installing USB Drivers
If you are using RS232 please skip to Installing NetO32. Opticon's USB drivers need to be installed for the cradle to be properly via USB.
- Download the USB drivers by clicking here .
- Open the zip file by double clicking on it.
- Launch the installer by double clicking on it.
- Follow the prompts to finish the installation.
Installing NetO32
The H13 uses a piece of windows software called NetO32 to save the data file to the computer. To install NetO32 follow the steps below.
- Download NetO32 by clicking here .
- Open the zip file by double clicking on it.
- Launch the installer by double clicking on it.
- Follow the prompts to finish the installation.
Configuring NetO32
- Select 'Tools' > 'Options'
- Choose RS232 from the menu at left
- Choose the COM port for your cradle (COM 1 if using RS232, check Device Manager for USB ['Start' > 'Run' > 'devmgmt.msc' > click 'OK' and look under the 'Ports' section])
- Change Baudrate to 115200
- Change IrDA Device to 'None'
- Choose 'Download' from the menu at left
- Click the 'browse' folder icon at right to change the destination folder of the file once you have downloaded it.
- Choose between 'Append', 'Overwrite', and 'Unique' to determine what happens when you download a data file but a file by that same name is already present.
- Click 'OK'
- Choose RS232 from the menu at left
- Select 'File' > 'Save As'
- Choose a file name appropriate for you (such as your name or your company's name) to save the settings you just changed.
- Now every time after this that you open NetO32 you must select 'File' > 'Open' and choose this file to load your settings.
- Select 'Protocol' > 'Start'
NetO32 is now in 'Polling' mode. Note that you should see the yellow light on the cradle blinking steadily. This means it will sit here indefinitely sending queries to the cradle and waiting for the right response to start a download. Multiple downloads can all be done without ever closing NetO32. When you are done using NetO32 simply select 'Protocol' > 'Stop' and NetO32 will discontinue polling mode. The application can then be closed.
Starting the Upload from your H13
After NetO32 is in Polling mode (see above) follow these steps. First, of course, it is expected that you will have scanned some barcodes using the H13.
- Select 'Transmit Data' from the main menu (use the arrow keys to move up and down and trigger (center key) to select an option.
- The screen that appears should say "Transmit Data NETO Protocol.
- NetO32 status log will indicate that the data was downloaded and the H13 will go back to the main menu transmit data screen.
- Your Data File is now on the PC in the folder specified previously.
Links
Loading Firmware
The H13 is basically a mini computer. As such it has an Operating System and runs Applications (one at a time, loading one application erases the previous one). The process for loading either the OS or an Application file is the same for both and so the instructions for either are combined here. Opticon always provides updates to the OS (see the Downloads table at the bottom of the page). Opticon also provides free Applications for use on the H13 though it is also common for independent software vendors or resellers to develop their own software for use on the H13 (this is especially true if the company also provides PC side software). Applications made by Opticon are available at the Downloads table at the bottom of the page (with the exception of software made custom by contract which is provided in other ways to the purchaser). Applications made by a third party must be retrieved from said party.
Download Files
You will need a few files to update your H13. All of these files can be found in the Downloads table below.
- USB Cradle Drivers
- Firmware: OS
- Firmware: Application
- Appload
Install Drivers and Appload
Installing USB Drivers
If you are using RS232 or you have already installed the USB Drivers please skip to Installing Appload. Opticon's USB drivers need to be installed for the cradle to be properly via USB.
- Download the USB drivers by clicking here .
- Open the zip file by double clicking on it.
- Launch the installer by double clicking on it.
- Follow the prompts to finish the installation.
Installing Appload
Appload is Opticon's multi-purpose utility for installing firmware onto devices such as the H13. To install Appload follow the steps below.
- Download Appload by clicking here .
- Open the zip file by double clicking on it.
- Launch the installer by double clicking on it.
- Follow the prompts to finish the installation.
Configuring Appload
This section outlines how to configure Appload to communicate with the H13.
Select COM port
- Select Settings
- Select Port
- Select the appropriate Port number so that it will match the COM port of either the USB or RS232 interface (whichever was used).
- If you are using an RS232 interface the physical serial port is usually assigned COM1 by Windows so if you are using an RS232 interface this is likely your COM port number.
- If you are using a USB interface then select the COM port will usually be a number between 2 and 250. It should identify itself as an Opticon device.
Download Firmware
Firmware: Application - USA Standard Standard Application
OR
FIrmware: Application - SpeedGen Application Interpreter Firmware for use with SpeedGen
Load the Firmware
Now that the cradle is configured and Appload is installed and configured, simply follow the steps below. Note that if you must upgrade the OS as well as an Application you will need to follow this step twice. On the H13
- Power OFF the device
- Press [.] + [1] + [POWER] (this works best by holding [.] and [1] and then tapping [POWER] while you hold the other two down)
- Select option 3 Download Appl
- Return the device to the cradle
On the computer
- Select 'File' > 'Download' from the Appload menu
- Browse to the firmware file you wish to load.
SpeedGen for the H13
Application Development Tool
SpeedGen utilizes an interpreter application and a configuration file, called a build file, to rapidly customize the appearance flow and operation of an H13 data collector. It allows you to tailor your application for your particular workflow. SpeedGen applications consist of screens, each containing data fields, which users fill in by either scanning barcodes, keying data, or a combination of the two. Each data field can also validate user input from one of three data files which are uploaded to the Opticon device.
SpeedGen Help
This version of Speedgen comes with a detailed help file rather than a manual. So if you get stuck trying to figure out how to configure your build file then please consult the help file. If you have a specific question or would like some general guidance you are always welcome to write Opticon Technical Support. We can't make the application for you but we are always willing to help.
Downloads
| Notice |
| The downloading and use of any Opticon software implies consent with Opticon's End User License Agreement. |
Documents
| Document | Description | Download |
|---|---|---|
| H13 Quick Start Guide | This is the quick start guide that comes in the box with the H13. | Download |
| Universal Menu Book | This document contains all of Opticon's standard configuration barcodes. The ability to configure the H13 terminal with this commands manual is application dependent (not supported on any of the Standard Demos). | Download |
Software
| Software | Description | Download |
|---|---|---|
| Appload | Appload is Opticon's multi-purpose utility for installing firmware onto devices such as the H13. Currently Windows only. | Download |
| NetO32 | NetO32 is an application that is used to download data from a few of Opticon's devices. Data is downloaded in whole file format exactly as it is stored on the device it is being uploaded from. | Download |
| Firmware: OS | This is the latest Operating System firmware file for the H13. | Download |
| Firmware: Application - USA Standard Demo | This is the standard application running on all H13s from our warehouse. It supports a large variety of barcode symbologies (which ones are configurable). Data is stored as a database including the barcode data scanned, the number of times that barcode has been scanned (with optional user quantity input) and the date and time the last entry was updated). Note that when data is viewed on the PC there is significant white space after the barcode data before you will see the quantity and time stamp information due to the nature of the database schema. It would be necessary to scroll to the right to see this extra information. | Download |
| SpeedGen | This is the SpeedGen PC-side application for the H13 . This tool is used to design and prototype your application, then download it onto the terminal when finished. | Download |
Drivers
| Platform | Description | Download |
|---|---|---|
| All In One Installer Package | USB-to-serial drivers installer package for both 32 and 64 bit versions of Windows XP (32 bit only), Vista, and 7. This package contains two drivers. The first driver is for the OPN-200x as well as many of Opticon's other products. The second driver is for Opticon's cradles and a few other products. You can choose any of the drivers to install on the first screen of the installer program. | Download |