Assemble the System:

http://scoutpal.com/sp/se3/instructions/assembly.htm

Start ScoutPalSE3:

• You can enable or disable the scanner's "beep" by scanning in special command bar codes that are available at:
       http://www.scoutpal.com/sp/rov-faq-disablecodes.htm.
• The scanner and cable must be connected to the phone before you start the ScoutPalSE3 program:
• Press the phone MENU key.
• Scroll to and select Java Apps.
• Scroll to and RUN ScoutPalSE3.
  

Login:

When the ScoutPalSE3 Login page first comes up, use the Up / Down scrolling buttons to move to and enter your ScoutPal ID and password.  It does not matter if they are entered in UPPERCASE, lowercase, or MiXedCasE.  The first time a key is pressed, it will type the first letter on the key, subsequent presses will type the letters. For example, press the "2" key three times to get the letter "c". To erase, press the "<*" (bottom left) key.  After LOGIN, your ID and password will be remembered, and you won't have to enter them again the next time you use ScoutPalSE3.

ScoutPal maintains two separate servers in order to provide 24x7 redundant service. If you cannot connect to the Primary server, you can use the Backup server. To select either server, start ScoutPalSE3, but do not LOGIN just yet... Instead, scroll down until the server you wish to use is highlighted, then press OK 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 at a slight angle about 4"-7" over a barcode, then press and hold the scan button on the scanner.  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.  As soon as the barcode is captured the barcode digits will appear on the phone screen, and will be added to the pending scan list.  Techniques to learn with practice are how to initially aim the scanner, and how far away and at what angle to hold the scanner. 

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.

The phone will display "Connecting" as it attempts to make a cellular data connection.  If the Nextel signal is weak or non-existant (you are outside or on the fringe of Nextel coverage where Nextel data services are unavailable) the "Connecting" message may terminate with an error.  If you are within Nextel coverage, but you are in a steel building or in a basement, it may help to move closer to a door or window.  But if you are in a geographic are where there is no Nextel cellular service, you will not be able to get connected.

Identifying and Scanning Merchandise Barcodes:

For important instructions on how to properly identify and scan in barcodes that can be used with ScoutPalSE3, please refer to: http://www.scoutpal.com/sp/se3/instructions/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 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 to return to the Scan List, or simply scan another barcode and ScoutPalSE3 will begin the FETCH process automatically for you.

Listing Details for each lookup can be retrieved by highlighting the ISBN, and pressing the OK 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:

Press the MENU key.  If the scan list is empty, you can also press FETCH to access the Options menu.  Scroll to your choice on the Options menu, and press OK to select it.

• www.scoutpal.com < -- The server you are using.  Press OK to return to scanning.
• Exit <-- Choose this when finished using the program
• Previous Scans <-- Restore your last scan list.
• Clear Scans <-- Clear out the scan list.
• Reset Scanner <-- Choose this if you have reinserted the plug since starting the program.
• Reset Login, Exit <-- This will exit and restore the program to its initial unused state.

If you ever change your ScoutPal ID and/or password, or you have errors when connecting, you should start ScoutPalSE3, LOGIN, press MENU, and from the Options Menu scroll down to "Reset Login and Exit" and press OK. Then restart ScoutPalSE3, reenter your ID and password, and LOGIN again.

Tips and Tricks:

Here are just a few of the "custom settings" you can make on your phone.  Take some time to explore all the options on your phone, you won't hurt anything by experimenting.

1. Assign one of the phone navigation keys (Up, Down, Left or Right) to go directly to Java Apps or ScoutPalSE3 by performing the following steps:
   • Press the phone MENU key
   • Scroll to Settings and press OK
   • Scroll to Personalize and press OK
   • Scroll to either the Up, Down, Left or Right key and press OK
   • Scroll to JavaApps (or to ScoutPalSE3) and press OK
   • Press BACK until you are at the main phone screen
   • The selected navigation key will now display JAVA
2. Start JavaApps or ScoutPalSE automatically, when the phone is first turned on:
   Menu|Settings|Personalize|PowerUp
3. Set the length of time that the backlight is on:
   Menu|Settings|Display/Info|Backlight|OK|(select a time)
4. Reset everything back the way it was when you first got your phone.  Use this if you have experimented a wee bit too much, and simply wish to undo all of your customizations:
   Menu|Settings|Advanced|Reset Defaults
    

Use the Scanner With Your Computer:

The scanner can be easily removed from the phone and used with your desktop or laptop computer, using the serial cord that is included with your ScoutPalSE3 package.

• Download and install the free driver software on your computer, available at:
       http://www.microvision.com/barcode/products/software.html
• More info on using the scanner with desktop/laptop software programs is available at:
       http://www.scoutpal.com/flic/HowTo.htm
• If your computer does not have a serial port, you can purchase a "USB to Serial" adaptor at nearly any "big-box" computer store like CompUSA or Frys, or online through eBay.
• IMPORTANT:   You will need to scan in the Factory Defaults barcode each time you switch between using it with a phone or computer.  After you scan the default bar code and plug your scanner into your computer, you may need to have the computer's scanner driver "detect" the scanner again.  A "defaults" bar code is printed inside the user guide that came with your scanner.
   

Maintenance and Care:

*  Take care that you don't scratch the red 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:

1. Check that the cable is firmly plugged in to both the scanner and the phone.  Then press the MENU key, scroll to Reset Scanner and press OK, or exit and restart ScoutPalSE3.
2. The scanner batteries are good for thousands of scans, but they don't last forever.  With heavy use, you may have to replace them every few days.  Always first make sure the batteries are fresh if the scanner ever fails to scan.  Test them with a flashlight or some other AAA-powered device.  If in doubt, replace the batteries with fresh new ones and try again.  You should replace the batteries every 3 months, regardless of condition, in order to prevent damage from battery leakage.
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.
4. Reset ScoutPalSE3 from the Options Menu: (see options menu instructions above)
   (start ScoutPalSE3) - LOGIN - FETCH - Reset Login and Exit - OK.

If you get stuck with a "Connecting" message when you try to FETCH, Master Reset the Phone:  (Similar to "rebooting" a computer.)

• Menu|Settings|Advanced|Connectivity|Master Reset
• Enter six zeroes for the "Security" code:  "000000"
• Press OK, then YES, then OK.  The phone will turn off by itself.
• Take out the battery, leave it out for 5 minutes, then turn the phone back on.
• Wait 5 minutes or more until the phone reconnects with Nextel.
• If asked to update your browser, answer "YES" and/or OK.
• Turn the phone off and then on again one more time.
• If asked to update your browser, answer "YES" and/or OK.