OPL9724

Revision as of 26 February 2015 16:03 by gpotter (Comments | Contribs)
OPL9724-instand.jpg
OPL9724 in cradle

The OPL9724 is a wireless 1D terminal scanner. It runs a low-level firmware, typically called the "OS", and on top of that runs an application, which essentially drives the behavior of the device and exposes a simple user interface on the OPL9724's LCD screen. The application can be customized in order to change the behavior of the OPL9274, using Opticon's C-Library Kit and the Toshiba C Compiler. This allows end-users to create custom applications modeled around their barcode-driven processes, making the OPL9724 a simple and flexible solution for many business needs.

The OPL9724 is used in combination with a cradle (typically CRD9723) in order to charge the OPL9724'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 OPL9724 applications can utilize with Opticon's TCP/IP Library.

Loading Firmware

Follow the directions above for Setting up the Host.

Software Installation

Follow the Directions above for Installing USB Drivers

Installing Appload

  1. Appload is Opticon's multi-purpose utility for installing firmware onto devices such as the OPL9724. To install Appload follow the steps below.
  2. Download Appload from the Downloads Software Section.
  3. Open the zip file by double clicking on it.
  4. Launch the installer by double clicking on it.
  5. Follow the prompts to finish the installation.

Configuring Appload

This section outlines how to configure Appload to communicate with the OPL9724. Appload is a PC application used to load firmware on most of Opticon's products.

Select COM Port

  1. Select Settings
  2. Select Port
  3. Select the appropriate Port number so that it will match the COM port of either the USB or RS232 interface (whichever was used).
    1. 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.
    2. If you are using a USB interface then select the COM port will usually be a number between 2 and 250. The cradle should identify itself as an 'Opticon OPL/CRD USB Serial Port'.

Set IrDA type

  1. Select Settings
  2. Select IrDA Adapter/cradle type
  3. Select Not Installed

Download Firmware

You will need to download and unzip the appropriate firmware file for the action you wish to perform from the Software Downloads section.

Loading the Firmware

OPL9724 Firmware Setup

  • The OPL9724 must be placed into a download mode for firmware to install correctly. To do this follow the steps below.
  • Enter the OS-level system menu on the device (press Up, Trigger, and Down buttons simultaneously)
  • Choose the menu option to download an application
  • Return the device to the cradle

Load the Firmware

  • Drag the OS file onto Appload to program the OS or choose 'File' > 'Download' and navigate to the OS firmware file.
  • After the OS is finished programming, you can immediately drag the Application file onto Appload or choose 'File' > 'Download' and navigate to the OS firmware file to load the application.
  • After the application finishes, the unit will beep annoyingly.
  • Scan the serial number label on the box your device came in to stop the beeping and program the id.

Using the OPL-9724 In Batch Mode With NetO32

Batch mode scanning has the device send and receive data in files. It does not require the device to maintain a connection while scanning barcodes. It can be a little more complicated, however. The following sections will guide you through the initial setup of the OPL-9724 in Batch Mode. We recommend that you use the device with NetO32 to properly control the flow of barcode data off the device. However, if you would like to combine Batch Mode with OpticonRL, Opticon's software wedge, the final section will explain how to do so.

On the Device

Clearing the Bluetooth Address - From Main screen, navigate to 'System Menu'->Bluetooth->'Clear BT Addr'. (Navigate up or down by pressing the '1' or '2' buttons, and select options by pressing the center key.) Choose 'Yes' when prompted. Next, navigate from here to 'Master/Slave'. Select Slave when prompted. Now, back out one Menu level and Select the 'Protocol' option. Select 'Interface'. Select 'NetO'.

Now your OPL-9724 is set up to connect and transmit data over the NetO protocol.

Scan your barcodes.

When you are ready to transmit your scanned barcode data, navigate to 'Send Data' from the main menu.

The device will prompt you to input a Bluetooth address for your computer. Set your computer to Discoverable mode and select the 'Discovery' option to search for your computer by name. The discovery process will take a few minutes. When it is done you will be presented with a list of discoverable Bluetooth devices. Select your computer from the list.

Next, choose a PIN code. To input your pin code use button '2' to cycle through different numbers and letters, and button '1' to move between different positions. You will need to input this code into your computer in a later step, so choose something memorable.

When you are finished inputting your PIN code and you have confirmed it, the scanner will attempt to pair with the computer.

On the Computer

Windows will inform you that the OPL-9724 is attempting to pair. Follow the instructions from Windows, and enter the PIN code you selected earlier when prompted. After a few seconds the device will be paired.

Now, open up NetO32. Select 'Tools'->'Options'.

Set these settings on the RS232 page:

  • Baudrate: 115200
  • IRDA Device: None
  • COM Port: Whichever COM port was assigned to the OPL-9724(found in Properties on Devices and Printers screen). There will be two. If the first one you try doesn't work, try switching to the other one.

Set these settings on the Download page:

  • Receiving Directory: Select a convenient location for you, like your desktop.
  • Downloaded files: Choose either Append, Overwrite, or Unique, depending on what you want NetO32 to do when the file it is writing to already has data in it. Append is the safest option.

Choose 'OK' to store the changes and back out to the main window.

From the main window, select 'File'->'Save As...' to save your settings to a file. NetO32 does not automatically store your settings between sessions, so you will have to 'Open' your settings from the same menu each time you start up NetO32.

Now, select 'Protocol'->'Start'. If your COM port selection and other settings are correct the OPL-9724 should sound a tone. If the baud rate and IRDA device settings are correct, the OPL-9724 will transmit the data and then close the connection.

You can now open up the 'SCANDATA' file in the download location you selected earlier.

Transmitting Data With the OPL-9724

After you have followed the pairing instructions from above, subsequent transmissions are much simpler.

  1. Open NetO32, and load your settings by selecting 'File'->'Open' then choosing the file where you saved your settings.
  2. On the device, select 'Send Data' from the main device menu. Press the trigger key a second time, and the device will start to connect with the computer.
  3. In NetO32, select 'Protocol'->'Start'

Your data file will download in a few seconds.

Using Batch Mode with OpticonRL

When using OpticonRL, there are a few settings that need to be changed from the above instructions.

  1. When selecting the Protocol, select 'No Protocol' rather than 'NetO Protocol'.
  2. Open up the program where you want the data. Position the cursor where you want the data to download.
  3. Instead of using NetO32 on the PC, open up OpticonRL. Select 'Settings', and then the COM port for the OPL-9724. From the menu that pops out, select 'Toggle On/Off'. Immediately click on the window you opened earlier. The data will transmit within a few seconds.

Using Real-time Scanning Mode with OpticonRL for Windows

Using Real Mode with OpticonRL is largely the same as using Batch Mode. There are a few different settings that need to be set, and the behavior of the device will be different. If you are trying to use the device to scan and send barcode data in real time then this is the best option. The following sections will guide you through the initial out-of-box setup for Real-time Scanning Mode on the OPL-9724.

On the Device

  1. From Main screen, navigate to 'System Menu'->Bluetooth->'Clear BT Addr'. (Navigate up or down by pressing the '1' or '2' buttons, and select options by pressing the center key.)
  2. Choose 'Yes' when prompted.
  3. Next, navigate from here to 'Master/Slave'. Select Slave when prompted.
  4. Now, back out one Menu level and Select 'Communicate'->'Protocol'. Select 'Interface'. Select 'No Protocol'.
  5. Back out one Menu level, then select 'Interface'->'BT Real Mode'.
  6. Go to the Main Menu. Select 'Scan labels'.

The device will prompt you to input a Bluetooth address for your computer. Set your computer to Discoverable mode and select the 'Discovery' option to search for your computer by name. The discovery process will take a few minutes. When it is done you will be presented with a list of discoverable Bluetooth devices. Select your computer from the list.

Next, choose a PIN code. To input your pin code use button '2' to cycle through different numbers and letters, and button '1' to move between different positions. You will need to input this code into your computer in a later step, so choose something memorable.

When you are finished inputting your PIN code and you have confirmed it, the scanner will attempt to pair with the computer.

On the Computer

Windows will inform you that the OPL-9724 is attempting to pair. Follow the instructions from Windows, and enter the PIN code you selected earlier when prompted. After a few seconds the device will be paired.

From here, open up OpticonRL. Select 'Settings', and then the COM port for the OPL-9724. From the menu that pops out, select 'Toggle On/Off'. You can now scan barcodes with your OPL-9724. The barcode data will be placed wherever you have your cursor on the computer.

Using the OPL-9724 After the Initial Pairing

After the OPL-9724 has been paired with the PC, its use is relatively simple. Each time you wish to use the device, select 'Scan labels' from the main menu of the device, and wait for the 'Waiting Host Connection...'. On the computer, open up OpticonRL and select 'Settings', then the COM port from before, then 'Toggle On/Off'. The devices will connect back up and you can scan barcodes with the OPL-9724 as normal.


OpticonRL on the Galaxy Tab

  • Using the OPL9724 with the Galaxy Tab or another Android 2.2.1 device? Check out the article here.

Downloads

Notice: The downloading and use of any Opticon software implies consent with Opticon's End User License Agreement.

Documents

Document Description Version Download
User Manual: Application LFBP0511 This is the User Manual for the behavior of the device while it is running the USA Standard Demo (pre-loaded from our warehouse on all OPL9724 units). Download
Universal Menu Book The Universal Menu Book is a document containing instructions and configuration options for the majority of Opticon's products. Support of the commands in this manual is product specific. A must read for System Integrators. In effect this is the User Manual for all of Opticon's products that do not have a User Manual of their own and a supplement to all others. December 2009 Download


Software

Software Description Version Download
Appload Appload Is Opticon's multi-purpose firmware update utility. It is a Windows PC application that provides the capability to download firmware onto most Opticon products. It also contains a versatile terminal interface that allows serial communication to any serial port connected to the PC (be it RS232, USB-VCP or Bluetooth-SPP). Opticon products can be queried and configured in this manner. EAGV0186
1.86
Download
NetO32 A PC application implementing the NetO protocol to transfer files from the PC to the terminal barcode reader. EGF2001H (2.1.0.0) Download
Firmware: OS This is the latest Operating System firmware file for the OPL9724 (older hardware variant, contact technical support for further details). LBCV0319 Download
Firmware: OS This is the latest Operating System firmware file for the OPL9724 (newer hardware variant, contact technical support for further details). LBRV0319 Download
Firmware: Application - USA Standard Demo This is the standard application running on all OPL9724s 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. LFBP0515 Download


Drivers

Drivers Description Version Download
All-In-One PC Drivers USB-to-serial drivers installer package for 32 and 64-bit versions of Windows XP (32-bit only), Vista 7, 8, 8.1 and 10. This package contains four drivers. The first and fourth drivers are for the Opticon cradles. The second driver is for the OPN200x scanners along with many other Opticon products. The third driver is an ATEN driver for a popular RS232 <-> USB-VCP adapter. You can choose any of the drivers to install on the first screen of the installer program. *Note: Opticon USB Drivers may not install or operate correctly if FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) is enabled on your host computer* 1.615 Download