3:12 p.m.
Fred N. van Kempen wrote:
On Sun, 31 Aug 2003 TRASH3(a)splab.cas.neu.edu wrote:
Plug it in, scan the barcode, and it should act like you just typed
those numbers.
If it doesn't send you the values, but if the scanner beeps once (high
pitch eep,
not a low pitch erp), then the wedge is probably broken. Does your keyboard
still work when the wedge is plugged in? It should act like you just
typed in
the barcode, and look something like this 021200665646.
any model numbers?
Oh... Symbol LT1700 scanner, with a Symbol LL-425 controller
equipped with the IBM-PC PS/2 wedge (i.e. it connects to a PC
between the keyboard and the PC.)
9:12 p.m.
I have two of these that connect similarly (I have no idea what model
number), and if I start a word processing program or whatever, anything
scanned is entered as text into the program. Just like hitting the keys
of the keyboard. Cool, and fun too.
-Bryan
Fred N. van Kempen wrote:
On Sun, 31 Aug 2003 TRASH3(a)splab.cas.neu.edu wrote:
any model numbers?
Oh... Symbol LT1700 scanner, with a Symbol LL-425 controller
equipped with the IBM-PC PS/2 wedge (i.e. it connects to a PC
between the keyboard and the PC.)
--f 
9:34 p.m.
You can probably find someone who will give you a CueCat. They look stupid,
but they work well enought, and there's lots of software on the web for them.
--John
On Sunday 31 August 2003 22:03 pm, Bryan Blackburn wrote:
I have two of these that connect similarly (I have no
idea what model
number), and if I start a word processing program or whatever, anything
scanned is entered as text into the program. Just like hitting the keys
of the keyboard. Cool, and fun too.
-Bryan
Fred N. van Kempen wrote:
>On Sun, 31 Aug 2003 TRASH3(a)splab.cas.neu.edu wrote:
>>any model numbers?
>
>Oh... Symbol LT1700 scanner, with a Symbol LL-425 controller
>equipped with the IBM-PC PS/2 wedge (i.e. it connects to a PC
>between the keyboard and the PC.)
>
>--f
9:42 p.m.
You can probably find someone who will give you a
CueCat. They look
stupid,
but they work well enought, and there's lots of
software on the web for
them.
Is that the ones they gave away free at Radio Shack? There was something they
were giving out at one time to make it easier to shop online out of their
catalog, but
I never had the time to plug it in and check it out, so I don't remember
the details all
that well.
At 10:26 PM 8/31/03 -0400, you wrote:
You can probably find someone who will give you a
CueCat. They look stupid,
but they work well enought, and there's lots of software on the web for them.
--John
10:24 p.m.
Yea, that's the basic summary. The bitch was each CueCat had a unique ID, so
when you scanned a product, they'd note that. If the UPC of the product
wasn't one they knew about, you could enter the information. The whole
"payback" of the CueCat was that they'd build this database of customers and
products they were interested in, and do targetted marketing. And the whole
point of their baseless lawsuit was that people who were using the CueCat for
other than they intended were "depriving them of revenue". Of course, since
they *gave* the thing away, that case was uninforceable. Particularly since
they were sent unsolicted through the mail.
They were kind of slick engineering in some respects. Wel built, very low
cost, and as I recall, they had a pretty good scan rate of success. The mods
in the 'net show how to read the scanned codes out (I think you had to XOR
everything with the unit ID, and delete some headers and trailers), and how
to defeat the ID part in the unit. But they're still pretty goofy looking.
I had about 50 that I had acquired by asking for several ("me and my friends
need one") everytime I went to Tech America or Radio Shack. I eventually did
nothing with them, and gave them all to a friend of mine.
--John
On Sunday 31 August 2003 22:34 pm, Mail List wrote:
You can
probably find someone who will give you a CueCat. They look
stupid,
but they work well enought, and there's lots
of software on the web for
them.
Is that the ones they gave away free at Radio Shack? There was something
they were giving out at one time to make it easier to shop online out of
their catalog, but
I never had the time to plug it in and check it out, so I don't remember
the details all
that well.
At 10:26 PM 8/31/03 -0400, you wrote:
>You can probably find someone who will give you a CueCat. They look
> stupid, but they work well enought, and there's lots of software on the
> web for them.
>
> --John 
10:58 p.m.
It was thus said that the Great J.C. Wren once stated:
They were kind of slick engineering in some respects. Wel built, very low
cost, and as I recall, they had a pretty good scan rate of success. The mods
in the 'net show how to read the scanned codes out (I think you had to XOR
everything with the unit ID, and delete some headers and trailers), and how
to defeat the ID part in the unit. But they're still pretty goofy looking.
I got one of the units from RatShack (picked up an AT-PS/2 keyboard
converter at the same time) and wrote a C program to decode the data (which
I still have). If anyone is interested, I can give out copies (it's not
very long).
I had about 50 that I had acquired by asking for
several ("me and my friends
need one") everytime I went to Tech America or Radio Shack. I eventually did
nothing with them, and gave them all to a friend of mine.
I still have mine somewhere (I think it's now in storage) and never did
anything with it either.
-spc (Even have come incomprehensible Perl code to read them ... )
11:18 p.m.
Hello John,
And the whole point of their baseless lawsuit was that
people who were
using the
CueCat for other than they intended were
"depriving them of
revenue". Of course,
since they *gave* the thing away, that case was
uninforceable. Particularly since
they were sent unsolicted through the mail.
Who were they trying to sue? Their customer base?
I didn't know they were doing all that. The small size made it quite feasible
to keep in the notebook computer carrying bag. I had gotten two. One to use
and one to lose.
That darn Radio Shack. You can't even go in there and buy a battery without
going through their interrogation process. I got to the point that when
they asked
me for my first name, I said Johnny, and when they asked me for my last name,
I said Cash. Johnny Cash. Now do you want to sell the GD battery or what?
But they're still pretty goofy looking.
Like a mouse, shaped very much like a real animal mouse.
Best Regards
At 11:16 PM 8/31/03 -0400, you wrote:
Yea, that's the basic summary. The bitch
was each CueCat had a
unique ID, so
when you scanned a product, they'd note that. If the UPC of the product
wasn't one they knew about, you could enter the information. The whole
"payback" of the CueCat was that they'd build this database of customers
and
products they were interested in, and do targetted marketing. And the whole
point of their baseless lawsuit was that people who were using the CueCat for
other than they intended were "depriving them of revenue". Of course, since
they *gave* the thing away, that case was uninforceable. Particularly since
they were sent unsolicted through the mail.
They were kind of slick engineering in some respects. Wel built,
very low
cost, and as I recall, they had a pretty good scan rate of success. The mods
in the 'net show how to read the scanned codes out (I think you had to XOR
everything with the unit ID, and delete some headers and trailers), and how
to defeat the ID part in the unit. But they're still pretty goofy looking.
I had about 50 that I had acquired by asking for several ("me and
my friends
need one") everytime I went to Tech America or Radio Shack. I eventually did
nothing with them, and gave them all to a friend of mine.
--John
On Sunday 31 August 2003 22:34 pm, Mail List wrote:
> > You can probably find someone who will give you a CueCat. They look
>
> stupid,
>
> > but they work well enought, and there's lots of software on the web for
>
> them.
>
>
> Is that the ones they gave away free at Radio Shack? There was something
> they were giving out at one time to make it easier to shop online out of
> their catalog, but
> I never had the time to plug it in and check it out, so I don't remember
> the details all
> that well.
>
> At 10:26 PM 8/31/03 -0400, you wrote:
> >You can probably find someone who will give you a CueCat. They look
> > stupid, but they work well enought, and there's lots of software on the
> > web for them.
> >
> > --John
11:36 p.m.
Mail List wrote:
Hello John,
The Flying Butt Monkeys, IIRC.
For real.
Doc
And the whole point of their baseless lawsuit was
that people who
were using the
CueCat for other than they intended were
"depriving them of
revenue". Of course,
since they *gave* the thing away, that case was
uninforceable.
Particularly since
they were sent unsolicted through the mail.
Who were they trying to sue? Their customer base?
1 Sep
1 Sep
12:07 a.m.
The Flying Butt Monkeys, IIRC.
That is truly wild. The cue cat thing, all the time spent defeating it, etc.
I wish I had the spare time some people have. Maybe someday.
Best Regards
At 11:28 PM 8/31/03 -0500, you wrote:
Mail List wrote:
Hello John,
The Flying Butt Monkeys, IIRC.
For real.
Doc And the whole point of their baseless lawsuit was
that people who
were using the
CueCat for other than they intended were
"depriving them of
revenue". Of course,
since they *gave* the thing away, that case was
uninforceable.
Particularly since
they were sent unsolicted through the mail.
Who were they trying to sue? Their customer base? 
31 Aug
31 Aug
11:40 p.m.
On Mon, 1 Sep 2003, Mail List wrote:
That darn Radio Shack. You can't even go in there
and buy a battery without
going through their interrogation process. I got to the point that when
they asked
me for my first name, I said Johnny, and when they asked me for my last name,
I said Cash. Johnny Cash. Now do you want to sell the GD battery or what?
When they ask for your address, recite the address of the store that you
are in. See how many of the clerks will notice.
1 Sep
1 Sep
12:05 a.m.
On Sun, 31 Aug 2003, Fred Cisin wrote:
On Mon, 1 Sep 2003, Mail List wrote:
They seem to have stopped asking for that information in the
stores that I visit here.
- don
That darn Radio Shack. You can't even go in
there and buy a battery without
going through their interrogation process. I got to the point that when
they asked
me for my first name, I said Johnny, and when they asked me for my last name,
I said Cash. Johnny Cash. Now do you want to sell the GD battery or what?
When they ask for your address, recite the address of the store that you
are in. See how many of the clerks will notice.
12:23 a.m.
> > That darn Radio Shack. You can't even go
in there and buy a battery without
> > going through their interrogation process. I got to the point that when
> > they asked
> > me for my first name, I said Johnny, and when they asked me for my last name,
> > I said Cash. Johnny Cash. Now do you want to sell the GD battery or what?
> When they ask for your address, recite the address of the store that you
> are in. See how many of the clerks will notice.
On Sun, 31 Aug 2003, Don Maslin wrote:
They seem to have stopped asking for that information
in the
stores that I visit here.
... because they now know their own address?
6:07 p.m.
On Sun, 31 Aug 2003, Fred Cisin wrote:
No, they just don't ask for any address, Fred.
- don
> > That
darn Radio Shack. You can't even go in there and buy a battery without
> > going through their interrogation process. I got to the point that when
> > they asked
> > me for my first name, I said Johnny, and when they asked me for my last name,
> > I said Cash. Johnny Cash. Now do you want to sell the GD battery or what?
> When they ask for your address, recite the address of the store that you
> are in. See how many of the clerks will notice.
On Sun, 31 Aug 2003, Don Maslin wrote:
They seem to have stopped asking for that
information in the
stores that I visit here.
... because they now know their own address?
12:13 a.m.
When they ask for your address, recite the address of
the store that you
are in. See how many of the clerks will notice.
That's good. But at the mall or the strip malls, I don't know the address.
I should
find out, to be prepared in advance. But the truth is, with Radio Shack not
seeming
to stock as many basic DIY components these days, I only go there every once
in a while anymore. Last things I bought there were some lithium coin
cells, some
electronic clocks and digital display alarm clocks, but they were pretty
nice. Better
selection of that kind of thing than Kmart, and exactly what I needed at
the time.
Best Regards
At 09:30 PM 8/31/03 -0700, you wrote:
On Mon, 1 Sep 2003, Mail List wrote:
That darn Radio Shack. You can't even go in
there and buy a battery without
going through their interrogation process. I got to the point that when
they asked
me for my first name, I said Johnny, and when they asked me for my last
name,
I said Cash. Johnny Cash. Now do you want to sell
the GD battery or what?
When they ask for your address, recite the address of the store that you
are in. See how many of the clerks will notice. 
1:09 a.m.
Mail List wrote:
That's good. But at the mall or the strip malls, I
don't know the
address. I should
find out, to be prepared in advance. But the truth is, with Radio Shack
not seeming
to stock as many basic DIY components these days, I only go there every
once
in a while anymore. Last things I bought there were some lithium coin
cells, some
electronic clocks and digital display alarm clocks, but they were pretty
nice. Better
selection of that kind of thing than Kmart, and exactly what I needed at
the time.
I never found Radio Shack to sell anything that one could ever do useful
things with for projects as they never seemed to have any thing in stock.
The real DIY is hi-fi audio with good old tubes is making a comeback but
don't expect to find it here. I consider Radio Shack just any low end
electronics store, that sells a few cables, connectors and a odd part.
1:28 a.m.
On Sun, 31 Aug 2003, Ben Franchuk wrote:
The real DIY is hi-fi audio with good old tubes is
making a comeback but
And homebrew video game systems. Check out:
http://www.xgamestation.com
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
1:25 a.m.
On Mon, 1 Sep 2003, Mail List wrote:
Actually, it's shaped like a long cat.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
But
they're still pretty goofy looking.
Like a mouse, shaped very much like a real animal mouse.
12:27 p.m.
Hello Sellam,
Actually, it's shaped like a long cat.
Ahh. I see that now. Thanks.
Best Regards
At 11:09 PM 8/31/03 -0700, you wrote:
On Mon, 1 Sep 2003, Mail List wrote:
Actually, it's shaped like a long cat.
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer Festival
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Man of Intrigue and Danger http://www.vintage.org
[ Old computing resources for business || Buy/Sell/Trade Vintage Computers ]
[ and academia at www.VintageTech.com || at
http://marketplace.vintage.org ]
But
they're still pretty goofy looking.
Like a mouse, shaped very much like a real animal mouse. 
3 Sep
3 Sep
3:21 a.m.
At 12:58 AM 9/1/03 -0400, Mail List wrote:
That is truly wild. The cue cat thing, all the time
spent defeating it, etc.
I wish I had the spare time some people have. Maybe someday.
Thing is a barcode reader is a really cool handy thing to have, IF you can
use it for what you want to do. If the companies had not been such putzii
in restricting use to JUST what they wanted me to do with it, most likely I
would have kept it handy and used it for both mine and their objectives. As
it is now I don't use them for anything.
My favorite is the CS1504 key fob sized unit with memory for a few hundred
barcodes that WuliWeb sent to me, but seems like the CueCat has lots more
software for it (I also have a few of those). I plan to get something going
like Thokbook and isbn/barcode book collection database thingy, but its
still on the list of stuff to do.
3:56 a.m.
Hi Mike,
If the companies had not been such putzii in
restricting use to JUST
what they
wanted me to do with it, most likely I would have kept
it handy and used
it for
both mine and their objectives. As it is now I
don't use them for anything.
I know what you mean. Another similar consumer data collection thing is going
on with the grocery stores and the Harris Teeter VIC card and the Food Lion MVP
card. You get some special buys if you have their card with you when you check
out and they scan it, but when you let them scan your card, they know who
you are
and what you are buying. I don't know if you have those grocery stores in
your area
or not. It's never really been any inconvenience with it though. But last
year when
my mom was in the hospital for the first time, for something very serious
that is,
Harris Teeter's database must have recognized that she hadn't been shopping
there
for a significant amount of time, and they sent some coupons in the mail as
an incentive
to get her to come back and start shopping there again. I guess the
important thing
is just don't give them your email address too, or only give them the email
address
that you don't mind receiving the junk mail at.
My favorite is the CS1504 key fob sized unit with
memory for a few
hundred barcodes
that WuliWeb sent to me, but seems like the CueCat has
lots more
software for it (I also
have a few of those). I plan to get something going
like Thokbook and
isbn/barcode book
collection database thingy, but its still on the list
of stuff to do.
Some years ago when I was working as a tech for a small local computer company,
they had me build and set up a couple of systems for a local retailer that
were to be
networked together, and one was to operate a cash drawer, and both were to have
bar code scanners for scanning the UPCs on their merchandise. It's been so long
now that I don't remember exactly what I had to do to make it all work, but
I'm not sure
I remember the scanners they were using needing a device driver. They did
plug in
inline with the keyboard. If I found one that just worked, with no device
driver requirement,
just as though you had typed the characters on the keyboard, that would be
great. If it
were pen sized and shaped, so super small and compact, that would be even
better.
Does such a scanner exist? I'm getting kind of tired of devices that only
work with some
operating systems and not with others, or get left orphaned when a new
major release of
an operating system comes out.
12:23 p.m.
Mail List wrote:
Hi Mike,
What you want is called a keyboard wedge. Percon, Symbol, etc. sell them.
Depending on which one you get, you can attach pens, hand-held lasers, card
readers, etc.
If the companies had not been such putzii in
restricting use to JUST
what they
wanted me to do with it, most likely I would have
kept it handy and
used it for
both mine and their objectives. As it is now I
don't use them for
anything.
I know what you mean. Another similar consumer data collection thing
is going
on with the grocery stores and the Harris Teeter VIC card and the Food
Lion MVP
card. You get some special buys if you have their card with you when
you check
out and they scan it, but when you let them scan your card, they know
who you are
and what you are buying. I don't know if you have those grocery stores
in your area
or not. It's never really been any inconvenience with it though. But
last year when
my mom was in the hospital for the first time, for something very
serious that is,
Harris Teeter's database must have recognized that she hadn't been
shopping there
for a significant amount of time, and they sent some coupons in the
mail as an incentive
to get her to come back and start shopping there again. I guess the
important thing
is just don't give them your email address too, or only give them the
email address
that you don't mind receiving the junk mail at.
My favorite is the CS1504 key fob sized unit with
memory for a few
hundred barcodes
that WuliWeb sent to me, but seems like the
CueCat has lots more
software for it (I also
have a few of those). I plan to get something
going like Thokbook
and isbn/barcode book
collection database thingy, but its still on the
list of stuff to do.
Some years ago when I was working as a tech for a small local computer
company,
they had me build and set up a couple of systems for a local retailer
that were to be
networked together, and one was to operate a cash drawer, and both
were to have
bar code scanners for scanning the UPCs on their merchandise. It's
been so long
now that I don't remember exactly what I had to do to make it all
work, but I'm not sure
I remember the scanners they were using needing a device driver. They
did plug in
inline with the keyboard. If I found one that just worked, with no
device driver requirement,
just as though you had typed the characters on the keyboard, that
would be great. If it were pen sized and shaped, so super small and compact,
that would be
even better.
The pen scanners have more problems scanning items than the laser scanners.
You also have to control your swiping speed with the pens. The laser
scanners
work MUCH more reliably.
If you are using the scanners in a dirty enviornment, look into infrared
versions
instead of the visible ones, as they can scan through crud better.
Does such a scanner exist? I'm getting kind of
tired of devices that
only work with some
operating systems and not with others, or get left orphaned when a new
major release of
an operating system comes out.
Which is one reason to use a keyboard wedge. They are usually programmed
by scanning barcodes from a manual. The computer doesn't have to know they
are there for them to work. Only time you would need to change them, is if
the keyboard connector changed.
10:31 p.m.
At 04:48 AM 9/3/03 -0400, Mail List wrote:
They did plug in
inline with the keyboard. If I found one that just worked, with no device
driver requirement,
just as though you had typed the characters on the keyboard, that would be
great. If it
were pen sized and shaped, so super small and compact, that would be even
better.
Does such a scanner exist? I'm getting kind of tired of devices that only
work with some
operating systems and not with others, or get left orphaned when a new
major release of
an operating system comes out.
I keep vintage machines around for just that reason, but my guess is just
what you describe is out there, in fact I think most older barcodes worked
just like that, faking keyboard input.
1 Sep
1 Sep
3:43 a.m.
In message <200308312316.57677.jcwren(a)jcwren.com>
"J.C. Wren" <jcwren(a)jcwren.com> wrote:
I had about 50 that I had acquired by asking for
several ("me and my friends
need one") everytime I went to Tech America or Radio Shack.
I've got a few
of them *somewhere*, but I need more (I was going to build a
keyboard wedge for it). Anyone got a few spare PS/2 Cuecats? :)
Thanks.
--
Phil. | Acorn Risc PC600 Mk3, SA202, 64MB, 6GB,
philpem(a)dsl.pipex.com | ViewFinder, Ethernet (Acorn AEH62),
http://www.philpem.dsl.pipex.com/ | 8xCD, framegrabber, Teletext
... Real techs don't lick nine-volt batteries!
4 a.m.
In message <cc42072b4c.philpem(a)dsl.pipex.com>
Philip Pemberton <philpem(a)dsl.pipex.com> wrote:
I've got a few of them *somewhere*, but I need
more (I was going to build a
keyboard wedge for it). Anyone got a few spare PS/2 Cuecats? :)
Gah! I really
shouldn't post messages until I'm awake... Instead of
"Keyboard wedge" I meant to say "RS232 interface"...
Later.
--
Phil. | Acorn Risc PC600 Mk3, SA202, 64MB, 6GB,
philpem(a)dsl.pipex.com | ViewFinder, Ethernet (Acorn AEH62),
http://www.philpem.dsl.pipex.com/ | 8xCD, framegrabber, Teletext
... Real techs don't lick nine-volt batteries!
4:05 p.m.
J.C. Wren wrote:
Yea, that's the basic summary. The bitch was each
CueCat had a unique ID, so
when you scanned a product, they'd note that. If the UPC of the product
wasn't one they knew about, you could enter the information. The whole
"payback" of the CueCat was that they'd build this database of customers and
products they were interested in, and do targetted marketing. And the whole
point of their baseless lawsuit was that people who were using the CueCat for
other than they intended were "depriving them of revenue". Of course, since
they *gave* the thing away, that case was uninforceable. Particularly since
they were sent unsolicted through the mail.
They were kind of slick engineering in some respects. Wel built, very low
cost, and as I recall, they had a pretty good scan rate of success. The mods
in the 'net show how to read the scanned codes out (I think you had to XOR
everything with the unit ID, and delete some headers and trailers), and how
to defeat the ID part in the unit. But they're still pretty goofy looking.
There is a mod available for many version of the cuecat that causes it
to output decoded barcode information (no serial number, no encryption).
It involves adding one jumper.
I had about 50 that I had acquired by asking for
several ("me and my friends
need one") everytime I went to Tech America or Radio Shack. I eventually did
nothing with them, and gave them all to a friend of mine.
7788
days inactive
7791
days old
26 comments
14 participants
participants (14)
-
bfranchuk＠jetnet.ab.ca -
cisin＠xenosoft.com -
doc＠mdrconsult.com -
donm＠cts.com -
jcwren＠jcwren.com -
kth＠srv.net -
mail.list＠analog-and-digital-solutions.com -
mikeford＠socal.rr.com -
oldcomp＠cox.net -
philpem＠dsl.pipex.com -
spc＠conman.org -
TRASH3＠splab.cas.neu.edu -
vcf＠siconic.com -
waltje＠pdp11.nl