Symbol PTC-960SL-III Getting Started

PTC-960SL-III
Getting Started

Overview of the PTC-960SL-III

The Symbol PTC-960SL-III is a battery-powered, hand-held computer
used to collect, store, and transmit data. It has an internal laser scanner
and may contain a direct-sequence or frequency-hopping spread
spectrum radio. The PTC automates your data collection procedures and
is custom programmed to handle your organization’s unique data
collection jobs.

The PTC-960SL-III is extremely durable. It is designed to withstand low
pressure, a 4 ft (1.2 m) drop to concrete, vibration, shock, dust, and
moisture.

An extended temperature version of the PTC-960SL-III is designed for
use in extremely cold environments, such as those found in walk-in
freezers. This optional unit can be operated in temperatures as low as
–22° F (–30° C

).

Getting Started

Unpacking the PTC-960SL-III

Each PTC-960SL-III shipping box contains

• a PTC-960SL-III portable tele-transaction computer,

• a 1,300 mAh lithium-ion or 500 mAh nickel-cadmium battery pack,

• a 12 VDC, 200 mA power module (if ordered),

• an antenna (if your PTC was ordered with a radio),·

• a wrist strap,

Guide to Maintaining Nickel-cadmium and Lithium-ion Batterie

•a

• this Getting Started Guide.

Any cables or additional accessories are shipped separately.

Unpack the box and check the PTC and accessories for shipping
damage. If anything is missing or damaged, notify your Symbol sales
representative.

Scanner lens

Antenna

Display

LEDs

Keyboard

s,

3. Plug the power module into a 110-volt AC electrical outlet. The
PTC’s Chg LED glows.

Note: To charge the PTC’s battery pack outside of the U.S. or
Canada, you need a power module designed for the country’s AC
voltage supply (e.g., 220 volts).

4. Charge the battery pack for 8 hours (lithium-ion) or 5 to 6 hours
(nickel-cadmium).

Note: A lithium-ion battery will take longer to charge if recharging is
not performed at room temperature.

5. When charging is finished, first unplug the power module from the
electrical outlet; then disconnect it from the PTC.

Checking the PTC-960SL-III

1. Turn on the PTC by pressing the ON/OFF key.

2. Look at the PTC’s display. If the PTC is operating correctly, none of
the following conditions should be observed or heard:

• A low-battery warning

• A blank display screen

• Any warning beeps.

Contact the Symbol Support Center at 1-800-653-5350 if you experience
any problems that you cannot solve.

Entering data

Data can be entered into the PTC-960SL-III in several ways. Data can be
keyed in through the keyboard, scanned bar codes with the internal laser
scanner, or received from another device.

Communicating data

After collecting the data, the PTC must transmit it to a host computer for
processing or send it to a printer, or both, to make it useful to you and
your organization. The PTC-960SL-III can transmit data through its
internal radio, via an optional communication cradle, or by being
connected via cable to a host computer, printer, or other accessory.

Connecting accessories

1. Turn off the PTC and the computer or accessory which is being
connected.

2. Connect the 15-pin connector on the appropriate cable to the PTC’s
micro DB-15 connector. (Refer the
list of available cables.)

CAUTION! Do not force the connectors together if they do not
connect easily; damage could result.

3. Connect the other end of the cable to the computer or accessory.

4. Turn on the PTC and the device to which it is connected.

5. Follow the instructions for your application program for operation.

PTC-960SL-III User’s Guide

for a

Control buttons

Scanner trigger

(built into handle)

Micro DB-15
Connector

Handle

End cap/battery pack assembly

Battery release button

(one on each side)

PTC-960SL-III (top, front, and side view)

Wrist strap connector

Connecting the antenna

If your PTC-960SL-III contains a radio, screw the supplied antenna into
the antenna connector on the top of the unit.

CAUTION! Do not turn on the PTC-960SL-III or attempt to transmit data unless the anten-

na is attached; otherwise, the radio may be damaged.

Installing the battery pack

If your PTC was not shipped with the battery pack installed, follow the
instructions under “Installing a battery pack” on the back of this sheet.

Charging the battery pack

Follow the instructions below to charge the PTC-960SL-III’s lithium-ion or
nickel-cadmium battery pack when you first receive the unit and
whenever the pack becomes low. The Batt LED glows and a low-battery
message may display when the battery pack is running out of power.
(Note: To charge the battery pack with a communication cradle or
universal battery charger, see the instructions provided with each unit.)

1. Turn off the PTC and disconnect any attached accessories.

2. Connect the power module’s cable to the PTC’s micro DB-15
connector.

Scanning bar-code labels

Use the following procedure to scan bar-code labels with the PTC­960SL’s-III internal laser scanner.

WARNING!

at anyone’s eyes. Permanent eye damage could result.

1. Point the PTC at the label to be scanned.

2. Press and hold the PTC’s scanner trigger to start scanning.

3. Watch the line of light made by the scanner as it scans the bar code.

4. Hold the PTC so that the scanning line is perpendicular to the bars

Do not stare into the PTC’s laser beam or point the scanner

The maximum distance from the scanner lens to the label depends
on the size of the label being scanned and the type of laser that was
selected by your organization.

The Scan LED glows red while the scanner is active. If the scanner’s
marker beam feature is enabled, quickly center the aiming dot over
the bar code.

Note: Your application program may not support scanned data for
every field. Consult your application’s manual to determine when the
scanner and trigger are enabled.

in the bar-code label. Also, make sure that the line passes over all of
the bars. If the scan is successful, the Scan LED glows green, and
the PTC beeps.

Replacing the battery pack

Removing the battery pack

1. Turn off the PTC.

2. With your thumb and index finger, press the battery release buttons
on both sides of the handle end cap; then pull the end cap and the
attached battery pack out of the handle.

3. Refer to the “Safety information” section for instructions on properly
disposing of your battery pack.

Installing a battery pack

1. Make sure the PTC is off.

2. Line up the end cap/battery pack assembly with the opening in the
handle.

3. Slide the end cap/battery pack into the handle until the end cap
presses against the body of the handle and the release buttons snap
into place.

4. Pull on the end cap to make sure it is locked into place.

This device complies with FCC Part 15. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

(1) this device may not cause harmful interference and (2) this device must accept any

interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Maintaining the PTC-960SL-III

Operating conditions

The PTC-960SL-III is designed for use in harsh environments. It can be
operated at temperatures between –4° F (–20° C) and 122° F (50° C).

An extended temperature version of the PTC can be operated at
temperatures between –22° and 70° F (–30° to 21° C).

• Do not leave the PTC unattended (without being held or operated by
a user) in a freezer environment
(0° to –22° F/ –18° to –30° C) for more than 2 hours.

• Do not leave the PTC’s battery pack unattended in a freezer
environment for more than 1 hour as the battery will freeze and
appear to be “dead.” If this occurs, allow the battery to warm up to at
least 65° F (18° C) before recharging it.

Cleaning the PTC

To clean the PTC-960SL-III, slightly moisten a soft, clean, lint-free cloth
with a mild, nonabrasive cleaner and wipe the outside surfaces. Do not
use a paper towel.

CAUTION! Do not soak the cloth and do not spray or pour cleaning
liquids directly onto the unit.

Storing the PTC

Do not store the PTC in temperatures below –40° F (–40° C) or above
167° F (75° C) or in a damp or humid environment.

1. Transfer any data stored in the PTC to a host computer or another
PTC or print the data.

2. Make sure a copy exists of all the PTC’s programs.

3. Disconnect any accessories from the PTC.

4. Recharge the PTC’s battery pack or replace it with a charged pack.

5. Pack the unit in its original packing material or in a padded box and
put it in a safe place away from dust, dirt, humidity, and excessive
heat or cold.

6. Charge the PTC’s battery pack every two months.

Servicing the PTC

Do not attempt to service the PTC-960SL-III. Only a trained Symbol
technician may service the unit.

Safety information

Using the batteries

Follow these guidelines when handling the PTC’s lithium-ion or nickel­cadmium battery pack:

• Do not expose the battery pack to water, metal objects, direct
sunlight, extreme heat, or fire.

• Do not attempt to disassemble the battery pack.

• Do not handle a damaged or leaking battery pack.

Disposing of lithium-ion or nickel-cadmium batteries

Lithium-ion and nickel-cadmium batteries contain chemically active
materials that are hazardous to the environment; therefore, they must be
disposed of properly. Never attempt to incinerate a lithium-ion or nickel­cadmium battery; doing so could cause it to explode. Do not throw away
the battery when it has reached the end of its useful life. Send it to an
authorized battery disposal center for recycling according to country,
federal, state and local laws.

If your PTC contains a radio:

This device is compliant to the ANSI C95.1 (1992) Standard for Safety
Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency
Electromagnetic Fields per FCC Docket 93-62.

Radio Frequency Interference Requirements

This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device
pursuant to Part 15 of the Federal Communications Commissions Rules and Regulation.
These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates,
uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance
with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.
Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in
which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.

However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If
the equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Re-orient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that which the receiver

is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

Important Note: To comply with FCC and Industry Canada RF exposure requirements, this
hand-held device is approved for operation in a user's hand when there is 20 cm or more
between the antenna and the user's body.

Radio Frequency Interference Requirements - Canada

This device complies with RSS 210 of Industry & Science Canada. Operation is subject to
the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference and (2) this
device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause
undesired operation.

This Class B digital apparatus complies with Industry Canada Standard ICES-003.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conform à la norme NMB-003 d’Industrie Canada.

CE Marking and European Union Compliance

Products intended for sale within the European Union are marked with the CE
Mark which indicates compliance to applicable Directives and European
Normes (EN). Amendments to these Directives or ENs are included:

Applicable Directives

• Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive 89/336/EEC

• Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC

RF Devices

Symbol’s RF products are designed to be compliant with the rules and regulations in the
locations into which they are sold and will be labeled as required. The majority of Symbol’s
RF devices are type approved and do not require the user to obtain license or authorization
before using the equipment. Any changes or modifications to Symbol Technologies
equipment not expressly approved by Symbol Technologies could void the user’s authority
to operate the equipment.

The Spectrum24 equipment is intended for use throughout the European Economic Area,
but its authorization for use in France is restricted as follows:

• PAN European Frequency Range: 2.400 - 2.4835 GHz, identified by -EU suffix to the
model number found on the product label

• France - Restrict Frequency Range for use in France: 2.4465 - 2.4835 GHz, identified
on [Product mmmm] by the -FR suffix to the model number found on the product label

• Belgium - Operation in an out of doors environment in Belgium must be restricted to

2.460 - 2.4835 GHz band

• Italy - Operation in Italy requires a user license

• Mexico - Restrict Frequency Range for use in Mexico: 2.450 - 2.4835 GHz

• Chile - Restricted Power Output for use in Chile: 50 mW

Caution: Handheld Devices: FCC RF Exposure Guidelines

To satisfy FCC RF exposure compliance requirements for a mobile transmit­ting device, this device should be used in hand-held, hand-operated configu­rations only. The device and its antenna should generally maintain a
separation distance of 20 cm or more from a person's body; except for the
hands and wrists because of higher exposure limit for extremities. This de vice
is designed to be used in a person's hands and its operating configurations,
generally do not support normal transmissions while it is carried in pockets or
holsters next to a person's body.

Laser Devices

Class 1 Laser devices are not considered to be hazardous when used for their intended
purpose. The following statement is required to comply with US and international regulations:
Caution: Use of controls, adjustments or performance of procedures other than those
specified herein may result in hazardous laser light exposure.

Scanner Labelling

Symbol is a registered trademark of Symbol Technologies, Inc.
The information contained on this sheet is subject to change without notice. Corpora­tion shall not be liable for technical or editorial omissions or mistakes on this sheet
nor shall it be liable for incidental or consequential damages resulting from your use
of the information contained on this sheet.
This sheet is copyrighted. All rights are reserved. No part of this sheet may be photo­copied or reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of Symbol Tech­nologies.

© Copyright 1997 Symbol Technologies, Inc., One Symbol Plaza, Holtsville, NY
11742-1300.
Symbol Support Center: 1-800-653-5350.
\All rights reserved.

72-52929-01

Revision A— June 2001