Comments on: How do I know if my door controller is working? http://fitnesscenterwebsites.com/2009/12/28/how-do-i-know-if-my-door-controller-works/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:28:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lee Roberts http://fitnesscenterwebsites.com/2009/12/28/how-do-i-know-if-my-door-controller-works/comment-page-1/#comment-6 Lee Roberts Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:40:17 +0000 http://fitnesscenterwebsites.com/?p=37#comment-6 We will soon release a step by step process for troubleshooting a barcode reader, but here are some quick tips. First, independant of your computer system, the barcode reader should beep on power up - if it does not, you probably have a bad reader (or power supply). Second, it should beep when a card is swiped - again if it does not your reader is probably bad (but make sure to try another card also). Beyond that - you may be experiencing a sympton where the reader beeps when a card is swiped as expected, but the data is not making its way to your computer. You should check all connections thoroughly by literally unplugging and plugging back in every connection between the reader and the computer. If the data is still not making its way to your computer, I would suggest replacing the reader. Note that there is still an outside shot that the cable(s) itself is damaged, which makes for a very difficult troubleshooting process. Before ordering a new reader, you may want to contact a local PC technician to come troubleshoot. Since the barcode reader is a serial device, a PC tech can use a communications program called hyperterminal to determine if the data truly is not making it to the computer. He or she may also be able to make sure that the proper COM port is configured. These steps are too advanced for a typical do-it-yourselfer, we recommend calling in a PC tech. We will soon release a step by step process for troubleshooting a barcode reader, but here are some quick tips. First, independant of your computer system, the barcode reader should beep on power up – if it does not, you probably have a bad reader (or power supply). Second, it should beep when a card is swiped – again if it does not your reader is probably bad (but make sure to try another card also).

Beyond that – you may be experiencing a sympton where the reader beeps when a card is swiped as expected, but the data is not making its way to your computer. You should check all connections thoroughly by literally unplugging and plugging back in every connection between the reader and the computer. If the data is still not making its way to your computer, I would suggest replacing the reader. Note that there is still an outside shot that the cable(s) itself is damaged, which makes for a very difficult troubleshooting process.

Before ordering a new reader, you may want to contact a local PC technician to come troubleshoot. Since the barcode reader is a serial device, a PC tech can use a communications program called hyperterminal to determine if the data truly is not making it to the computer. He or she may also be able to make sure that the proper COM port is configured. These steps are too advanced for a typical do-it-yourselfer, we recommend calling in a PC tech.

]]> By: Tony Johnson http://fitnesscenterwebsites.com/2009/12/28/how-do-i-know-if-my-door-controller-works/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Tony Johnson Tue, 19 Jan 2010 19:12:10 +0000 http://fitnesscenterwebsites.com/?p=37#comment-3 That's good information to figure out if my door controller is working, but what if I think I have a problem with the barcode reader? That’s good information to figure out if my door controller is working, but what if I think I have a problem with the barcode reader?

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