ScoutPalSE - Operating Instructions
(also available on the web at http://www.scoutpal.com/scoutpalse)

PLEASE READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USING SCOUTPALSE!

You must have an active ScoutPal subscription in order to use ScoutPalSE.

Subscribe to ScoutPal:

  • If you do not have a ScoutPal subscription, begin one now at: http://www.scoutpal.com/registernickname

  • If this phone is to be used as a SECOND ScoutPal phone, in addition to the phone that you are currently using with ScoutPal, you will need a new, separate subscription, but good news:  Add-On subscriptions are Half Price!  (If you do not get an add-on subscription the server will see that you are using ScoutPal with more than one phone and cancel your subscription.)  Instructions to get an Add-On subscription can be found at:  http://www.scoutpal.com/sp/addonsubscription.htm

Quick Start:

Start ScoutPalSE:

  • Press the phone MENU key
  • Scroll to and select Java Apps
  • Scroll to and RUN ScoutPalSE

Login:

 Enter your ScoutPal ID and password. It does not matter if they are entered in UPPERCASE, lowercase, or MiXedCasE.  Note that text entry using Java is different than when using the WAP browser. The first time a key is pressed, it will type the number, subsequent presses will type the letters. For example, press the "2" key three times to get the letter "b". To erase, press the "*" (bottom left) key.

ScoutPal maintains two separate servers in order to provide 24x7 redundant service. If you cannot contact the Primary server, you can use the Backup server. To select either server, start ScoutPalSE, but do not LOGIN just yet... Instead, scroll down until the server you wish to use is highlighted, then press the green "Phone Call" key to select it. The server choice will be retained until you change it again.

Press LOGIN to continue...

Main Scan Screen:

Aim the phone scanner about 3"-4" over a barcode, then press and release SCAN. Do not hold the SCAN button in, waiting for the barcode to be read. Just press and then release it, like you would ring a doorbell. The laser light will shoot out, and if necessary you can point the beam like a flashlight so that it shines across the entire barcode. The scan beam will automatically turn off when the barcode is captured, and the barcode digits will be added to the pending scan list.

ISBNs and UPCs may also be added manually, just type in the ISBN digits, then press ADD. If the next barcode is to be scanned in, or if you are ready to FETCH, you do not need to press ADD. The phone is shifted into numeric-only mode for ease of entry. If the ISBN ends in "X", simply leave the "X" off. The last digit of an ISBN is a "checksum" digit, and ScoutPal will compute it for you. Press FETCH when ready to get the results for the scan list.

Identifying and Scanning Merchandise Barcodes:

For important instructions on how to properly identify and scan in barcodes that can be used with ScoutPalSE, please refer to: http://www.scoutpal.com/scoutpalse/howtoscan.htm

The program is capable of scanning in up to 32 barcodes at a time. But in practice this is much more than you will want to do at once because each ISBN search can take up to 10 seconds to complete, depending on wireless connection quality and the current responsiveness of Amazon Web Services. So if you were to do 32 at once, it could take over 5 minutes to get all the results back.

The most efficient use of SPSE is to scan 1-3 books at a time, and then to continue looking for other books to scan while waiting 20-30 seconds for the current scan results to come back. That way you are always busy, either scanning, viewing results and making "buy" decisions, or searching through book stacks for the next candidates.

Viewing Results:

After pressing FETCH, the server will be contacted to lookup the results. Results will be "streamed" to the phone as they are retrieved, with an indicator giving a graphical depiction of progress. You can press STOP at anytime if the wireless signal fades, or when there is enough displayed data to make a scouting decision. Press BACK or SCAN to return to the Scan Screen.

Listing Details for each lookup can be retrieved by highlighting the ISBN, and pressing the green "Phone Call" key. After the details are retrieved, press the BACK key to return to the primary results display.

Accessing the Options Menu from the Scan List Screen:

If the scan list is empty, press FETCH to access the Options menu. If there are scans in the list, press "321", then press FETCH.

If you ever change your ScoutPal ID and/or password, or you have errors when connecting, you should start ScoutPalSE, LOGIN, press FETCH with no ISBNs in the list, and from the Options Menu scroll down to "Reset Login and Exit" and press OK. Then restart ScoutPalSE, reenter your ID and password, and LOGIN again.

Maintenance and Care:

The scanner is very rugged, but take care that you don't scratch the window at the bottom where the scan beam exits.  Clean the window with an eyeglass lens tissue, or similar.

If the scanner ever fails to scan, or you get stuck with a "Connecting" message when you try to FETCH, follow these steps:

  1. Reset ScoutPalSE from the Options Menu: (see options menu instructions above)
    (start ScoutPalSE) - LOGIN - FETCH - Reset Login and Exit - OK.
  2. Master Reset the Phone: http://www.scoutpal.com/scoutpalse/resetphone
    (Similar to "rebooting" your computer)
  3. Clean the phone and scanner contacts:
    Exit ScoutPalSE, turn the phone off, and detach the scanner plug.  There is a row of teeny-tiny gold plated pins at the end of the plug that attaches to the phone.  Carefully push down on the pins using a sharpened, new and clean pencil eraser tip.  The pins are spring-loaded, and you want to "limber" them up so that they will make good contact.  Push down on the pins about a dozen times each.  Brush the pins carefully and lightly with a very clean, dry toothbrush, which you are prepared to throw away after use.  (It can be an old toothbrush, as long as it is clean and dry.)   Now clean the contacts at the bottom of the phone using the toothbrush.  You can be quite aggressive doing this, as the phone contacts are not that delicate.  You want those phone contacts to be bright and shiny.  With the phone still turned off, snap the scanner plug on and off the phone 5 or 6 times to ensure that it is well seated and that those pins are making a good contact.  Then turn the phone back on, and try the scanner again.

Motorola Phone Tips and Tricks:

  1. Assign one of the phone "command" buttons (the keys on either side of the MENU key) to be a shortcut to Java Apps by performing the following steps:
    • Press the phone MENU key
    • Scroll to and select Settings|Personalize|Keys
    • Scroll to either the Left or Right key and press CHANGE
    • Scroll to and select JavaApps
    • Press BACK and EXIT until you are at the main phone screen
    • The selected "command" key will now display JAVA

     
  2. Set JavaApps as the start screen when the phone is turned on:
    Menu|Settings|Personalize|PowerUpApp|Change|JavaApps
     
  3. Set the length of time that the backlight is on:
    Menu|Settings|InitialSetup|Backlight|(time)
     
  4. Have the backlight come on even in daylight:
    Menu|Settings|InitialSetup|Sensor|Off
     
  5. Turn off the flashing red light at the top of the phone:
    Menu|Settings|InitialSetup|StatusLight|Off
     
  6. Master Reset the Phone: http://www.scoutpal.com/scoutpalse/resetphone
    (Similar to "rebooting" your computer)