FAQ’s

Category – Portable Terminals
Manufacturer – Symbol Technologies
Product – SPT 1500

Q: What is the SPT 1500?
A: The SPT 1500 is the first palm-size, bar code scan enabled, terminal developed by Symbol that is based on the Palm OS™ computing platform. The terminal is Palm OS compatible and allows mobile professionals in a host of industries to collect, manage and synchronize data with unparalleled ease and functionality.

Q: What markets will benefit with the SPT 1500?
A: The SPT 1500 is a great tool for any business needing mobility to capture and communicate bar code data. Markets in retail, sales and work force automation, transportation, inventory management, tracking and healthcare will all benefit with the SPT 1500.

Q: What is the list price?
A: The list price of the SPT 1500 is $535 for the 2MB version and $685 for the 4MB version. At the present time, the 2MB configuration can not upgraded to the 4MB configuration.

Q: Does the scanner act as a keyboard wedge in existing PALM applications?
A: No. The application needs to be written to be scan-aware using Symbol's API calls from the Symbol SDK.

Q: What are the types of Bar codes the unit will be able to scan?
A: The SPT 1500 can decode the following symbologies:

UPC/EAN/JAN, Bookland EAN, Code 128, Code 39, Code 93, Interleaved 2 of 5, Discrete 2 of 5, Codabar, MSI Plessey

Q: How far away from a bar code can the SPT 1500 read?
A: Range:
Maximum: Code 39 at 55 mils: 60 cm;
Minimum: 100% UPC: 5 cm; Code 39 at 55 mils: 24 cm

Q: Does the scanner affect the use of the IR port?
A: The IR port is in the same location as on the original Palm units. The scan engine for reading bar codes is placed to the left of the IR port and does not interfere with IR transmissions.

Q: When I go into my scanning application, I get a pointer instead of a scan beam. What am I doing wrong?
A: It is in pointer mode, because the last application that you were in, prior to your application, set the pointer mode on. When you entered your application, the parameters were not set upon initialization, so that scanning is enabled. Therefore, it is keeping the setting from the previous application.

Q: Is the scanner beam dangerous?
A: The scanner is a CDRH Class II, IEC 825 Class 2, using a Visible Laser Diode at 650 nm

Q: I was scanning and the unit stopped sending out the laser beam. What is wrong?
A: Your batteries might be low and the application is not showing a low battery message. Check with your application developer.

Q: Will the unit scan 2-D bar codes such as PDF417?
A: The current SPT 1500 configurations do not scan 2-D Bar Codes. However, there are plans for decoding PDF417 in the future.

Q: Why can't I decode a particular bar code?
A: Check that the particular bar code is enabled in your application and that the length for that particular bar code is correctly set.

Q: I want an application that scans in data. How is an application created for the SPT 1500?
A: Reference the SPT Application Development Tool. This section talks about the major tools that are available to help develop custom applications.

Q: What type of applications will work on the SPT 1500?
A: The SPT 1500 maintains 100% compatibility with the Palm OS platform. In our development of this product, we have ensured that all applications that work on the Palm III product by 3Com also run on the SPT 1500.

Q: How do I get started writing applications?
A: There is a SPT 1500 Software Development Tool CD from Symbol which includes the scanner API, sample versions of development tools supporting our API, and a software utility program to allow developers to add and remove applications from the ROM image. Standard development tools such as CodeWarrior and SatelliteForms will incorporate our API in their tool sets.

Q: I wish to use the Palm OS Emulator on my PC but it causes an error and can not be used. What can I do?
A: Symbol is working with Palm to get the POSE (Palm OS Emulator) working with the 1500. The SPT 1500 is fully application compatible but since the 1500 has extra "stuff" in the ROM, the POSE chokes. We anticipate having it working by Q2/99. The resulting POSE will be posted on Palm's website.

Q: My application causes the unit to lock up. What do I do now?
A: You can reset the unit, by inserting the tip of an unfolded paper clip (or similar object, without a sharp tip) into the reset hole on the back panel of the unit. You will not lose any data. The SPT 1500 will restart and all records and entries on the terminal will be retained.

Q: I tried to compile scan aware applications using Metrowerks CodeWarrior Lite and I get many error messages plus the message: " MW c/c++ 68k exception 0x0000005. Please terminate the IDE and report the problem". What is wrong?
A: CodeWarrior Lite is designed to be an introduction to the Metrowerks Compiler. Its purpose is to let you see how the IDE works by running pre-existing projects. You can modify source code files within the sample project provided. It will not allow you to create new projects nor will it allow you to add files to a project.

Q: I want to find a third party to write a custom application for the SPT 1500. How do I go about finding an experienced company to help develop custom applications?
A: Look at the directory posted in Reseller Solutions to get a list of custom developers. This list is by no means all inclusive, but it is a starting point.

Q: Do I need the Symbol Developer Tool (SDK) if I want to develop a scan-enabled SPT application?
A: No. The Scan APIs

Q: Will I be able to sync my E-mail with the SPT 1500?
A: Yes, you can sync your email to these listed Email products:

• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft exchange 4.0 or Higher
• Microsoft Windows Messaging
• Microsoft Outlook Express
• Eudora 3.03 and Higher
• Lotus cc: mail 2.5
• Lotus cc: mail
• Lotus cc: mail

Also, 3rd party products such as Intellisync by Puma Technologies and DataViz are available for other E-mail systems not listed.

Q: The first time I Hot Sync after loading the Desktop software, I receive the error "Please select a user name", even though my name is the only one showing in the Users window.
A: You must click on your name to highlight it before clicking on enter. The unit should now complete the Hot Sync operation.

Q: I have tried to HotSync with my Mac and it crashes the machine. What is wrong?
A: First make sure that SPT 1500, Rev B (a BigROM file such as: BigROM.Symbol.25.pim.rom, BigROM.Symbol.25.nopims.rom) is installed on the SPT 1500 unit and that you are using Mac OS, version 8.5 or later If you still are using the old user account on the Mac, you also still had an old Backup directory. If this directory still had the SerialHWMgr.prc file, it still will fail.

Q: What modem options are available?
A: The SPT 1500 is compatible with any modem option designed for the 3Com Palm III as long as it does not need to clip over the top.

Q: Can I adapt the serial port on the SPT 1500 to a standard DB9 connector?
A: You can use the serial cradle (Part #: CRD1500-1000S ) or the Serial Hotsync cable (Part #: 520-0006). Both terminate in a female DB9 connector. You can then use standard gender changers and 9-to-25 pin adapters to connect to a serial device if needed. The pin outs for the serial port are located at http://www.palmpilot.3com.com/devzone/hw.html

Q: When I try to use the flash utilities program, I get the error message "Invalid ROM file (unsupported ROM heap version)". What should I do? Can I continue with the flash procedure?
A: Just ignore the message and continue with the flash procedure. It is referring to a header referenced by our memory and database manager. The error message is just a warning.

Q: If I flash my unit with a new ROM image, will I lose all my data?
A: Before you flash your unit with a new ROM image, make sure that you have done a HotSync. You will lose all the information that was formerly on your unit.

Q: I flashed my unit with BigROM.Symbol.25.nopimnoft.rom and now I want to add some PIMs to the ROM. How do I do this?
A: The ROM, BigROM.Symbol.25.nopimnoft.rom, contains no PIMs and no diagnostics or demos. If you want to add a few PIMs, the prc files are on our web site (give the address here). Note that you must use the Symbol version of the PIMs in your unit. If you download the PIMs from the Palm website, your data will not be synchronized.

Just pick the prc for the PIM that you want to add. Select the ADD button in the Palm ROM Builder Tool to build a ROM that contains those PIMs that you have chosen. Then it can be flashed into ROM.

For example, to add the datebook to the ROM image, bring up the Palm ROM Builder Tool. Select as the Basic ROM image, BigROM.Symbol.25.nopimnoft.rom, and then use the ADD button to add the file, datebook.prc. Choose Build ROM and then choose Program Flash.

Q: When I use the flash utility, the flash process gets to about 70% or 80% of completion and then stops or times out. Why is this happening?
A: This timeout problem occurs with users who have laptop computers. You will need to remove the power management capability (battery icon) from the Startup.

Q: I have had a problem with unzipping the SDK and ROM files. Do you recommend a utility for doing this?
A: We have successfully used the shareware zipping and unzipping utility, Winzip, version 6.3 or greater. Winzip can be downloaded from the shareware section.

Q: How do I update the APIs that ship with CodeWarrior?
A: CodeWarrior ships with one of the early versions of the scan manager library and API. Contact Compsee for the latest version and replace the version in CodeWarrior. The shipping version will work but there are a few known minor problems that have been fixed with the new version on the Web.

Q: The battery diagram on the main menu shows half full but I am getting low battery messages from my scanning application. Which one is correct?
A: The power consumption characteristics of the SPT 1500 are different than those of a normal Palm device. The low battery warning message for a scan-aware application will indicate a low battery earlier than that of the standard Palm device. This is to ensure that you don't lose data. The low battery warning in the SPT 1500 comes at a higher voltage level than the warning for the normal Palm device. Therefore, when the low battery warning appears, be sure to save your data and hot sync. You will still have power available to perform Palm functions, but scanning will not be possible until new batteries are inserted.

Q: I put in new batteries and lost all my data. How did this happen? What is wrong?
A: Check to see that the batteries are put in correctly. Make sure that the orientation of both batteries matches the "+" and "-" signs on the bottom of the battery compartment.

Q: When my batteries get low, what is the best way to change batteries on my SPT 1500 so that I don't lose any data?
A: Before you change the batteries, make sure that you sync your unit to minimize any potential problem. When battery voltage falls below the acceptable operating level and batteries need to be replaced, we recommend the following procedure:

1. Turn your unit off so that there is no screen display.

2. On the back of the SPT 1500, press the latch on the battery door and lift the battery door away from the unit.

3. Remove the two batteries and replace them with a new batteries.

Even though the unit may hold data for up to a minute, it is recommended that the battery replacement process not exceed 30-40 seconds.

Q: I changed batteries on my unit and then when I turned the SPT 1500 on, the screen started flashing. I can't make it stop with a soft reset. What is wrong?
A: In order to stop the flashing, you will need to do a hard reset. When your unit is stable, go to the Symbol icon and check what version of the Scan Manager you have on your unit. It is probably version 1.16. This version of the Scan Manager has a bug in it that will cause the flashing.

Downloading a new version of the ROM image (i.e., BigROM.Symbol.25.pim.rom) and then flashing it onto your SPT 1500 can solve this problem. To flash an updated version of the ROM image onto the SPT 1500:

1. Go to the Symbol Palm web site and download the latest ROM images. There are 3 ROM images for you to choose from. Pick the one that you want to use.

2. Use the flash utility program to flash your unit. Follow the instructions that you received with the flash utilities program. (The flash utilities program is available from Symbol, on the Developer's CD-ROM.)

Q: Can I upgrade the unit by adding more RAM?
A: No, the unit is not upgradable. The memory slot is used by a Symbol proprietary memory DIMM that connects the scan engine to the SPT 1500.

Q: What printing options do I have with the SPT 1500?
A: The following portable printer companies have developed scan/print demos for the Symbol Palm Terminals:

• Comtec
• Monarch
• O'Neil
• Zebra/Eltron

Symbol will soon provide a simplified print API that will support these printers in addition to PCL, Postscript and Epson emulation.

Q: What is our cradle strategy?
A: Since there will be many ways for organizations to communicate information to and from mobile SPT 1500 users, Symbol will offer various cradle solutions. Our strategy for host communications will a include single and multi-slot serial HotSync cradle, a single and multi-slot Ethernet cradle a serial/modem cradle solution, and a vehicle cradle.

Q: What is our strategy for printing?
A: Our plan for printing with the SPT 1500 will include working with suppliers to create drivers which will allow the SPT 1500 to communicate to printers via the IR and serial ports. Both portable and desktop print solutions are being considered.

Q: What is our warranty and service strategy?
A: Symbol will warrant the SPT 1500 for workmanship defects for 9 months from the date of purchase. Damaged LCDs will be replaced for a fixed cost.