Baracoda newsletter > Technical Newsletter - January 2009
 

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Baracoda Technical Newletter - January 2009
Baracoda Newsletter December 2008 : Christmas news
Product information
News on product settings, user guides and communication protocol versions update
Software news


New APIs and new software functionalities

Firmware releases New firmware releases and improvements for our product lines

Any comments or suggestions about this technical newsletter? Feel free to contact us:

support@baracoda.com

? *** NEW PRODUCT*** Baracoda TagRunners (RFID 13.56 MHz)

Thanks to the success of the barcode scanners family RoadRunners (available today in 1D, 2D and Laser versions), Baracoda adds to its product range with this RFID version, based on the RoadRunners? key-elements: form factor, ease of use, robustness, efficiency, battery autonomy
Applications: Traceability for medical environments / Asset tracking (vegetable, tanks, barrels, outdoor facilities) Security applications / Quality control / Work in progress
  • Device: RFID Reader/Encoder (Read Tag ID, and Read/Write Tag Memory)

  • Reading distance: Contact

  • Reading technology: RFID HF 13.56 MHz

  • Reading mode:
    => Trigger: Simply press the trigger when you want to read a RFID TagID.

    => Autoscan: This mode enables the TagRunners to read continuously. In Autoscan mode, the RFID antenna is continuously on.

    => Smart Autoscan: enables battery power consumption optimization. Thanks to this mode, the RFID antenna is not always activated, and the TagRunners reads intermittently.

    => ?No Duplicate Scan? option available for each of these reading modes. Thanks to this option, the user cannot read the same Tag IDconsecutively twice.

  • Read/Write Tag Memory: Every RFID tag has a unique identifier (Tag ID), and some of them have also a non-volatile memory (TAG Memory) in which it is possible to read and write (with or without security). Unlike reading a tag ID, the read/write Tag memory operation is only possible in real time. As a consequence, the Host has to be connected to the TagRunners.

  • Specific plugin: We developed a specific TagRunners?s plugin (BBRT_plugin) available in BaracodaManager software v3.35.2 PC version. It is an easy way to read/write Tag Memory.

  • Power and energy consumption: 4 hours to recharge your battery at 100% and only 2 hours and a half for 80% recharge.

Features

  • Bluetooth Class.1 (range up to 100m) / Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
  • Buzzer / LED
  • Timestamp option
  • Real Time with ?No Data Loss? mode available (up to 10.000 Tag ID)
  • Batch mode available (up to 10.000 Tag ID)
  • Firmwares upgradeable via Bluetooth
  • Battery Autonomy (Li-ion): up to 15.000 reads
  • Compact & Robustness casing (it withstands several drops onto concrete when used with its protective boot (option))
  • Weight: 132g
  • Easy to use - Only one button (on the front casing) to switch on your TagRunners, to connect it and to read your Tags.
  • Compatibility: the TagRunners can be connected to a wide range of mobile terminals (PDAs, Mobile Phones, rugged PDAs, Pocket PCs, Smartphones, ?)

? *** Product Evolution*** RS232 Plug&Scan Dongle
The version of our RS232 dongle Plug&Scan has been updated (v3.27)

Supported modes: Classic (by default) or Transparent.

Functions available: Auto-reconnection, Swap, No Data Loss mode (*only in Classic mode), Batch mode.

Compatibility: Compatible with all our barcode scanners.

Communication Protocol available (v3.27.1) from our Website (free download).

? *** New Function*** Master Mode

The Master mode allows you to record the Bluetooth Device Address of the Host on which you want to send captured data. Thus if the scanner is disconnected, when you scan a data barcode, the scanner will automatically launch a connection to its recorded Bluetooth Address. When the connection is set, the data is automatically sent.
Note: By default, the Slave mode is still available if you activate the Master mode. Thus when the scanner is disconnected it accepts all connection requests.

This function is compatible with the following scanners: Pencil2 (firmware version v1.34 and above) / D-Fly (firmware version v1.34 and above) / All RoadRunners Evolution (firmware version v1.34 and above).

? *** Product Evolution*** New Symbologies

The following new symbologies are now available: Matrix 2 of 5 / Monarch / GS1 DataBar Omnidirectionnel (ex RSS-14) / GS1 DataBar Limited (ex RSS Limited) / Italian Pharmacode / ISSN-ISBN (EAN).

Available with the following scanners: Pencil2 (firmware version v1.34 and above) / D-Fly (firmware version v1.34 and above) / All RoadRunners Evolution scanners (firmware version v1.34 and above).

? *** New Function*** No Duplicate Scan Option

Function: The ?No Duplicate Scan? prevents the user from scanning or reading the same barcode or RFID tag multiple times.
This function is available with every Baracoda scanner (except IDBlue). You can enable this function on your Baracoda product with our BaracodaManager software (v3.35 and above) or by the Programming Guide (for the barcode scanners).


  • ? *** New Software*** BaracodaManager Connect&Scan

    We are very glad to introduce you to our new software BaracodaManager Connect&Scan (v3.35)
    Presentation: A software based on our Classic BaracodaManager software but allowing the user to create a Connect barcode directly on the screen of your PDA. The user only has to scan this barcode to establish the Bluetooth connection between the Terminal and the scanner automatically.
    Functions: the same as our Classic BaracodaManager software.
    Available on the following platforms: PDA platforms running under Windows OS and using Microsoft Bluetooth stack.
    Compatible with the following scanners: Pencil2 (firmware version v1.34 and above) / D-Fly (firmware version v1.34and above) / All RoadRunners Evolution (firmware version v1.34 and above).

    ? *** Web Site*** - Always available to you -

    • RMA Request section: The RMA request form is still available to request authorization for returning Baracoda products under warranty terms or simply for repairing them (clic ?Download? section / RMA Request)

      Support Request section: A Support request form is still available for you to contact our Technical Support.
      http://www.baracoda.com/ (?Download? section / Support Request)
    • New BaracodaManager software and SDK: latest version is v3.35 Available for the following platforms: PC or TABLET PC Windows 2000 / XP / Vista (with platform using Microsoft or Widcomm Bluetooth stacks): v3.35.2
      Note: under Vista, you must use the Widcomm Bluetooth stack v6.x (min)
    • PDA Pocket PC 2002/2003 (with platform using Microsoft or Widcomm Bluetooth stacks): v3.35
    • PDA Windows Mobile 5 & 6 (with platform using Microsoft or Widcomm Bluetooth stacks): v3.35
    • Smartphone Windows Mobile 5 & 6 (with platform using Microsoft Bluetooth stack): v3.35
    • Blackberry (for this platform, the BM software version is v1.14 and not v3.35)
    • Nokia S60 V2 & S60 V3 ? J2ME (for this platform, the BM software version is v1.09 and not v3.35)
    • Sony-Ericsson UIQ series ? J2ME (for this platform, the BM software version is v1.09 and not v3.35)
    • Nokia S80 / S60 V2 & S60 V3 ? Symbian (for this platform, the BM software version is v1.44 and not v3.35)
    • Sony-Ericsson UIQ 2 & UIQ3 ? Symbian (for this platform, the BM software version is v1.44 and not v3.35)
    • Motorola i605/i615 ? J2ME (for this platform, the BM software version is v1.09 and not v3.35)
    • WinCE platforms (for these platforms, we advice you to contact us: support@baracoda.com

      Note: This new BaracodaManager software version includes our new products Baracoda RoadRunners Evolution and TagRunners .
    • New KEmul Software: latest version is v3.35. Available for the following platforms:
    • PC or TABLET PC Windows 2000 / XP / Vista (compatible with all Bluetooth stacks).
      Note: under Vista, you must use the Widcomm Bluetooth stack v6.x (min)
    • PDA Pocket PC 2002/2003 (compatible with all Bluetooth stacks)
    • PDA Windows Mobile 5 & 6 (compatible with all Bluetooth stacks)

      Note: This new KEmul software version includes our new products Baracoda ScanWear, ToughRunners and RoadRunners Evolution indeed.


    • Pencil2: latest firmware for Pencil2 is v1.34
    • D-Fly: latest firmware for D-Fly is v1.34
    • IDBlue (RFID): latest firmware for IDBlue is v2.4
    • RoadRunners Evolution ?L (1D) / -Fs (2D) / -LA (Laser): Latest firmware for RoadRunners Evolution is v1.34
    • TagRunners (RFID): latest firmware for TagRunners is v1.36 (CPU version) & v1.49.0 (RFID version)
    • ScanWear: latest firmware for ScanWear is v3.01.04
    • ToughRunners: Latest firmware for the ToughRunners is v3.01.04

      Note: You can upgrade these scanners yourself thanks to BaracodaManager software (Feel free to contact us if you have any question regarding this upgrade).

      All our firmware files are available on our Partners website (?/Download/Firmware? section):
      http://www.baracoda.com/ Click ?Download & Partners?


    Thanks for your attention!

    Wilfried Lacroix
    Technical Support
    Tel: +33 (0)5.56.73.84.93
    support@baracoda.com



    The Bluetooth name and the Bluetooth registered trademark are owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and used by Baracoda under licence. Baracoda is a registered trademark of Baracoda SA. All other brand names are the property of their respective owners. © Baracoda, 2006 ? All rights reserved All specifications are subject to changes without notice ? Non-contractual pictures

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    The Bluetooth name and Bluetooth registered trademarks are owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and are used by Baracoda under license.
    The Baracoda names and Baracoda trademarks are own by Baracoda.
    All specification are subject to change without notice - Non contractual pictures © Baracoda - All rights reserved