Zebra DS9308 troubleshooting: beeps, LEDs and fixes

CauseNot enough power, a loose cable, or a cable for another host interface.

Fix

1. Tilt the scanner fully forward and push the cable into the rear port until it clicks.
2. Plug the USB end directly into the PC and try another port.
3. Check that you use a USB cable, such as the CBA-U21-S07ZBR from our kit, not an RS-232 or IBM cable.
4. A good start sounds low, medium, high beeps and the LED turns green.

Power-up beeps that repeat while the PC starts are normal.

CauseThe bar code type is switched off, the code is not fully in view, or it is too far away or damaged.

Fix

1. Check the type. UPC/EAN, Code 128, GS1-128, Code 39, Code 93, Interleaved 2 of 5, Codabar, PDF417, Data Matrix, QR Code and Aztec are on by default. Code 11, MSI, MicroPDF417, MaxiCode, DotCode and Han Xin are off. Enable a missing type in its section of the PRG chapter "Symbologies" (from page 123).
2. Interleaved 2 of 5 codes shorter than 6 digits are ignored by default (section "Set Lengths for Interleaved 2 of 5", page 171).
3. Hold the whole code in front of the window. Zebra quotes up to 22.4 cm for a standard EAN/UPC and 19.1 cm for a 20 mil QR code; small, dense codes need to be closer.
4. If a second code of the same type reads, the first label is damaged. Also clean the window; Zebra approves 70% isopropyl alcohol on a soft cloth.
5. If the illumination does not come on when you press the trigger in hand-held use, scan Enable Decoding Illumination (page 84). This setting only affects triggered scanning, not presentation mode.

CauseA dark or moving screen, or the factory display mode.

Fix

1. Ask for a brighter screen and a steady hold, with the whole code in front of the window.
2. In section "Mobile Phone/Display Mode" (page 82), scan Enhanced in Hands-free Mode, or Enhanced in Both Modes if staff also scan phones hand-held.

CauseNo text field selected, or a host type your PC does not use.

Fix

1. Click into Notepad and scan. If the data appears there, check your own software.
2. Four long low beeps mean the data was not sent. In section "USB Device Type" (page 240), scan USB Keyboard HID. The scanner restarts.
3. A red LED blinking on trigger press means the POS system disabled the scanner (IBM and OPOS modes). Enable it in the POS software.
4. Four short high beeps when you scan right after plugging in: USB has not finished starting. Wait a few seconds and scan again.
5. Five long low beeps: the code or a data formatting (ADF) rule contains characters the host cannot receive. Check the host type and remove faulty ADF rules.

CauseThe scanner assumes a US English keyboard. Inverted case comes from Caps Lock.

Fix

1. Scan the country keyboard type that matches the Windows layout (chapter "Country Codes", from page 484). All six of our markets are listed; our DS9308 setup guide gives the page for each.
2. Layout not listed: scan Disable Quick Keypad Emulation (page 247).
3. For case problems, turn off Caps Lock or scan USB-Override Caps Lock Key (Enable) from the DS9308 Quick Start Guide.

To check the active Windows layout, see our keyboard layout guide.

CauseBy default the scanner sends no Enter or Tab. If Enter appears twice, both the scanner and your software add one.

Fix

1. To add Enter, scan Add Enter Key (Carriage Return/Line Feed) in section "Enter Key" (page 88). For Tab, scan Tab Key on the same page.
2. To remove it, scan Data As Is in section "Scan Data Transmission Format" (page 91).

More options are in our Enter and Tab suffix guide, which uses the same bar code names.

CauseIn presentation mode the scanner reads every code in view. The same code can be read again 0.5 seconds after it leaves the field of view.

Fix

1. Keep labelled items, price lists and receipts away from the window.
2. Change the base angle so the window points away from shelves.
3. Increase "Timeout Between Decodes, Same Symbol" (page 80, 0.0 to 9.9 seconds).

CauseSettings were changed in the past, or the scanner was set to ignore programming bar codes.

Fix

1. In section "Default Parameters" (page 62), scan Set Factory Defaults. It clears custom defaults and restores Zebra's factory values. (Restore Defaults returns to saved custom defaults instead.) The Quick Start Guide prints it as Return to Factory Defaults.
2. A low/high/low/high beep while programming means the parameter memory is full: scan the default parameters as in step 1.
3. If no programming bar code works, parameter scanning may be off (section "Parameter Barcode Scanning", page 63). Reconfigure the scanner over USB with Zebra's free 123Scan.
4. Then set the keyboard country and Enter again.