Quick Start Guide

MS-820 Industrial Bar Code Scanner

This guide is designed to get your scanner up and running

quickly. When connected to a host computer with Windows
operating system (98 or above), you can use ESP (Easy Setup
Program) to configure and control your MS-820 Industrial Bar
Code Scanner. In addition to ESP, you can send commands to
your scanner by serial command and by the scanner’s embedded
menus.

For a full explanation of the MS-820’s commands and features,

refer to the Help section of ESP or contact your Microscan sales
representative for the MS-820 Industrial Bar Code Scanner
User’s Manual, available in digital and print formats.

P/N 83-210046 Rev C 1

Step 1 — Check Required Hardware
Caution: If using your own power supply, be certain that it is wired
correctly and supply voltage is 10 to 28 VDC. Incorrect wiring or volt-
age can cause software or equipment failures.
If connecting to a host with an IB-131 Interface Box, you will need
the following:
Itema Part Number Description
1 FIS-0820-XXXXG MS-820 Industrial Bar Code Scanner
2 A Host Computerb
DB-25 Null modem configuration
3 61-300026-03 cable plug to DB-9 socket, 6ft.c or
a 25-pin cable to the 25-pin port
IB-131 Interface Box kit including
4 98-000014-02
configuration cable
5 61-000011-02 Null Modem Configuration Cable

6 97-100004-15 Power Supply

(90-264 VAC, 24VDC)
7 99-000017-01 Optional Object Detector

a. See “Connect the System” on page 3 for diagram of system.

b. With either a terminal communications program or Microscan’s
ESP which runs on Windows 98 or higher.
c. If using another host cable, make certain that it does not have
RTS/CTS connected to the host.

2 MS-820 Industrial Bar Code Scanner Quick Start Guide

Step 2 — Connect the System
Caution: Be certain all cables are connected BEFORE applying
power. Always power down BEFORE disconnecting cables.

1. Connect the scanner (1)

to the IB-131 Interface 1

Box (4) using the sup-

plied cable (5).
2. If making up your own 2 4

cable, make certain that 5

you connect transmit pins

Scanner
3

Network
Host

to receive pins. Power Trigger

3. Connect the IB-131 (4) 7

at the “HOST” 25-pin 6

connector to the com-

puter (2) via a null
modem cable (3).1 Hardware Configuration
4. Connect the power sup-
ply (6) to the IB-131’s
POWER connector.
5. Connect power to the system.

1. When wiring the IB-131 to a Host Computer that has a 25-pin connector, cross
pins 2 and 3. When wiring the IB-131 to a Host Computer that has a 9-pin
connector, do NOT cross pins 2 and 3.

MS-820 Industrial Bar Code Scanner Quick Start Guide 3

Step 3 — Install ESP
(ESP stands for Easy Setup Program.)
With your scanner connected to a host computer with Windows
operating system (98 or above), you can use ESP for configuration
and control.
If downloading from your “Microscan Tools” CD:
1. Insert your “Microscan Tools” CD in your computer’s CD drive.
2. Choose ESP Software from the main menu.
3. Launch Setup.exe under ESP and follow the prompts.
If downloading from the web:
1. Go to http://www.microscan.com/downloadcenter/
2. Create a new “myMicroscan” member account or, if you are
already a member, enter your user name and password.
3. Click the Download Software link and extract the latest version of
ESP to a directory of your choice. Note where your ESP.exe file
is stored on your hard drive.
4. At the end of the install process, the following icon should appear
on your desktop:

5. Click the ESP icon to start the program.

4 MS-820 Industrial Bar Code Scanner Quick Start Guide

Step 4 — Select Scanner Model in ESP
When you start the program, the following menu will appear:

1. In the Model dialog

box, select your
model. If you do not
want to make this
selection every time
you load ESP, uncheck
“Show this window
at Startup”.
2. Select the default
name (MS-820-1, for
example) or type in a
file name of your
choice and click OK.
3. Click Yes when the
following dialog box
appears:

Note: If you need to select another model later, you can find it in
App Mode under Model on the menu bar.

MS-820 Industrial Bar Code Scanner Quick Start Guide 5

Step 5 — Autoconnect
1. In the Connecting... dialog, if your communications port is not
the default COM1, use the pull down arrow to change your com-
munications port.

2. Click the Start button.

When connected, the scanner’s settings will be loaded into ESP
and the CONNECTED message will appear in a green box in the
status bar at the bottom right of your screen.

3. If the connection fails, enable a different Com Port, check connec-

tions, and try again.
Tip: If you do not see the CONNECTED or DISCONNECTED message
at the bottom of your dialog, try expanding the ESP window horizontally.

6 MS-820 Industrial Bar Code Scanner Quick Start Guide

Step 6 — Position Symbol and Scanner
1. Set up a symbol at the scanning distance you will be using in your
application.

Note: If using an I 2/5 symbol, verify that the number of characters

in the symbol being scanned matches the symbol length enabled for
the I 2/5 symbol type (default is 10 and 6).

2. Avoid bright light or IR light from other sources, including other

readers.
3. Pitch the symbol or reader at a minimum of ±15° to avoid specular
reflection (the return of direct, non-diffused light).
Skew
axis
Bar code
label
Tilt
axis

Scanner

Pitch
axis
Scan line

Scanner and symbol positioning

Note: Code 39 is the default symbol type enabled. If you are uncer-
tain as to your symbology type, enable all symbologies by selecting
the Auto Discriminate macro in Terminal mode.

MS-820 Industrial Bar Code Scanner Quick Start Guide 7

Step 7 — Test for Read Rate
If you don’t have a test symbol, print out this page and use the symbol
here for testing. With this test you can learn the percentage of decodes
per images captured by observing the active LEDs (20% through 100%)
on the top of the scanner.

Code 39 Test Symbol

You can also find test symbols

packaged with your Microscan
Tools CD.

By ESP
After connecting to the reader, ESP will open in Setup Mode.
1. Click the Test button in Setup Mode to begin the
read rate test.
2. Follow the instructions on the Setup Mode screen.
3. To end the read rate test, click the Stop button.
Note: If the reader is in the default Continuous Read mode, it will
read and beep repeatedly as long as a readable symbol remains in
the read range, and as long as the Read Cycle configuration has not
changed.

By Serial Command
Send a <C> to begin the read rate test.
Send a <J> to end the read rate test.

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Step 8 — Configure the Scanner
By ESP
To change reader settings, or to access the Utilities or
Terminal window, click the App Mode button.

To return to Setup Mode, click the Setup Mode button.

By Serial Command
From your terminal program or the Terminal screen in
ESP, you can enter serial commands and configuration and utility com-
mands.

Note: You can learn the current setting of any parameter by inserting
a question mark after the number, as in <K100?>. To see all K com-
mands, send <K?>.

MS-820 Industrial Bar Code Scanner Quick Start Guide 9

10 MS-820 Industrial Bar Code Scanner Quick Start Guide