Installation - Motorola MC50, MC55, MC55A, MC5590

As of 2019, these scanners are no longer supported (5 years after original notice). Refer to Linea-Pro IOS based scanners

In early 2014, the MCxx family reached a technological end of life after many years of being the standard for scanning in the industry. They do not support any of the latest end to end security and the windows mobile operating system is defunct

Recognizing this, we added support for Linea-Pro IOS based scanners (far easier to set up on networks, use and offer more capability). If you have existing MCxx scanners, we can provide support and replacement parts on as-available basis.

MC50

Following are the key functions of the scanner and how to set it up.

  1. Description of the Motorola MC50 and the buttons on it.
  2. Downloading and Installing the AMS Ticket scanning program on the scanner using Active Sync.

    Note: he link on this installer has been removed as it is no longer supported

  3. Setup of the scanner and mating of the scanner with your router and network.
  4. Setup of the login information and some key communication parameters before scanning can occur

Description of the Motorola MC50/MC55/MC55A/MC5590 Buttons

Theatre Manager supports the MC50, MC55, MC55A or similar wireless scanners for tracking people entering and leaving a venue.

The scanner operation buttons are:

  1. The yellow scan buttons are on both sides at the top of the scanner. They are interchangable so you can use either for scanning.
  2. When you are using the Theatre Manager AMS Ticket program, all functions are accessed by clicking on the touch sensitive screen using a stylus or your finger.
  3. The orange button at the bottom left of the keyboard is the numlock button. Pressing it once allows entry of a number. Pressing it twice turns on num-lock. Pressing it again, turns the keyboard back to alpha. It is handy when entering information to set up the device.

Active Sync for Windows

If the AMS Tickets program is not on the scanner, you will need to install it. You can determine if it is in the scanner by clicking the start menu at the top of the scanner and looking down the list for the Programs' menu item. When you pick Programs, you will see a list of applications loaded on the device.

Look for AMS Tickets.

In the screen at the right, you can see the 'AMS' logo with the name 'AMS Tickets' in the first row on the 3rd Column

If you cannot find the icon the program will need to be installed.

Installation must be done on a PC because the connection cables that come with the device are USB and serial. If you have a credit card server, this is an ideal machine for this purpose. Installation only needs to be done once because the program is placed into nonvolatile ram, so even if you run out of battery power, it will still be there.

Prerequisites

You need:

  • The Windows Mobile software and the AMS Ticket program. You can download all you need from our web site.
    • If you have Win 2000 or XP, then you must install Active Sync 4.5.
    • For Windows Vista, 7, 8 and later, Microsoft Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) replaces ActiveSync. WMDC offers device management and data synchronization between a Windows Mobile-based device and a computer and is most often installed on the computer as part of the operatiing system.
  • A PC computer with a USB connection.

Installing Active Sync 4.5

Active Sync 4.5 only applies to installing software on the Motorola scanners using windows 2000 or XP. If you have Vista and above, Microsoft Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) replaces ActiveSync and you may need to download and install that instead (if it is not already on the computer)

Step 1

If you have not already done so, download the installers for the AMS ticket program.

Expand the zip file to a convenient location and have a look at the folder. You will see some folders and files that look like the image to the right.

If you have plugged in the scanner to your USB port, please unplug it.

Double click on the ActiveSync 4.5 installer. This is the first step in getting the program installed.

This happens once, regardless of the number of scanners you need to install the program on.

Step 2

An installation window, similar to the one to the left, opens. Please follow the instructions to Install Active Sync 4.5.

Click the Next button.

Step 3

After reading the terms, click to accept the licence terms, then click the Next button.

Step 4

Enter your user name and customer information and click Next.

The software will most likely default the information for you.

Step 5

Again click Next.

Step 6

Click the Install button and wait till the installer is finished doing its work.

This can take several minutes, depending on the speed of your machine.

Step 7

Once you have installed Active Sync, you should see an icon at the bottom left of your computer in the icon tray. It looks like a couple of 'arrows' in a circle. If it is grayed out (like this picture), the device is not in and not connected.

Step 8

If the scanner is its cradle and is connected, you should see the the icon is 'green' (indicating a connection).

Step 9

In either case, you can 'double-click' on the icon to open the active sync program. You will see a window like the one on the left.

Step 10

If you have no connection, after plugging the scanner devince and the USB cradle, go to File->Connection Settings. This window has some settings that can be changed and should look like the image on the left. The default setting is to allow USB connections, but if you are having issues, please check to ensure the settings are similar. The important thing, is to get the Device Connected message.

Installation the Scan Ticket Application

These instructions are based on installation using Active Sync using a windows XP computer.

If you have Window vista or later, Microsoft Windows Mobile Device Center (WMDC) replaces ActiveSync. You can skip the install of Active Sync 4.5

You will also need to know the scanner type you have (MC50, MC55, or MC55A) and select the latest version of the software from the appropriate folder in the installer archive.

Click the icon to down load a PDF instruction sheet of this page.

Step 1

Once connected to active sync or equivalent (the window does not have to be open):

  • go back to the folder (in the install software) where the active sync 4.5 installer application is.
  • Click on the install.bat file. This moves a copy of the hand held ticket scanner program onto the actual scanner.
  • You will see a window giving you a chance to continue with the install program or to quit.
  • Click any key to install.
Step 2

As the install progresses, you see the results of dos commands and file copy. This step can take a while (perhaps 10 minutes) as it moves the data onto the hand held device.

Do not unplug the hand held device during the installation.

Step 3

While the sync is occurring, the scanner device will show items are being transferred with a set of left/right arrows on the screen near the time.

There is no animation of the arrows while the transfer is happening.

Step 4

At the end of the install, the DOS screen will close on your computer and the screen on your mobile device will ask if you want to reset the computer.

Although the messages 'all data and files will be removed', it really means the data that supported the installation of TM or other programs.

Click Yes

Step 5

After the restart of the device, you need to follow through with the device initialization.

This includes:

tapping the screen to start the setup process
clicking on some X in the screen to align the stylus
Then, the TM application should start up with a screen as displayed.

Mating the Scanner to Your Network

Click the icon to down load a PDF instruction sheet of this page.

Setting up a scanner requires two things to be done.

  1. The first is mating the scanner to your network and making it acceptable to your routers (all routers if you have multiple and if necessary).
  2. The second is getting the communication and parameters set up.

Mating the scanner with your network

We expect you are running a closed network - where you cannot log on unless your router has the mac address of the scanner entered into it and your scanner is set up to connect to that network using the SSID and WEP password for the wireless router.

You will need to involve your network support people to complete some of this part of the setup. Once done, it should not have to change again.

These instructions focus on the part of the setup relating to the scanner.

  1. Turn the scanner on.
  1. Look for an icon in the bottom right corner of the scanner. This is dark blue and has a red ! in it. Click on it.

    If you do not see this icon, start the AMS Ticket program. Choose Setup. On the setup screen is a button called Wireless that also shows the same options in the next steps.

  1. A menu pops up. Pick the WLAN Profiles option. You use this to set up you connection to your wireless router.
  1. You will see a screen that looks like below. This indicates that the device can have a number of profiles (or settings) that allow it to connect to your wireless hub. Before continuing, you will need to know your - Wireless SSID, Encryption Method and Password (in hex, perhaps).

    Click the Edit button to edit the default setting.

  1. It opens up at the Mode tab.

    Leave the profile name default.

    Change the 802.11 ESSID to be the SSID name of your router. If you are not sure what this is, ask your network support person.

  1. Click the Encryption tab.

    Pick the type of encryption that your router is using. If it is none, then you are fine. If it is WEP, then you will need to type in the 'key' given to you for your router as well as indicating the key length.

  1. Click the IP Config tab. Most wireless routers allow you to set this as DHCP and will give you an IP address automatically. If not, ask your network support person what manual IP address settings you need to type in here in order to get connected to the network.

    Click OK.

  1. When you return to the main window, the icon will have a green bar in it. Click on it and pick the status menu item.
  1. You should now be connected to the network and able to begin the scanning process. Your screen will display the signal strength. If you see green, close the window and you are finished. If you see red, there are parameters that need fixed. First, go back and check your IP settings, password and SSID to make sure that they are correct.

    Check these with your network support person and ensure this device is allowed to talk to the wireless hub before calling Artsman Support.

    For example, depending on how the security is set up in the router, you may need to enter the MAC address into the router or, depending on the signal strength, you may need to be closer to the router.

MC55A addendum for Settings

The MC55A has Windows Mobile 6.5 (r) installed and has a few quirks as the interface is far less intuitive. Please adjust communication settings from within the Ticket Scanning program using the following general steps starting from the 'Theatre Manager Setup' window.
  • Ensure you have loaded the latest software for your scanner model. (For MC55A,as of July 2011 this is 2.0.0.06)
  • To WARM boot the device - press and hold the red power key for 5 seconds.
  • To cold boot the device - press the power button, W and C simultaneously. (you probably will never have to do this.)

Create and Managing a profile

Using the wireless button, select Manage Profiles

  • Press on the screen until the popup window to 'Add' a profile appears. You will see a window titled Wireless LAN Profile Entry
  • Enter a Profile Name
    • (for example - ticket scanning)  If you enter your network name, it is less secure as the network name should be private.>
  • Enter the ESSID (Network Name) of your network.
  • Click Next
  • Select the following:
    • Infrastructure - For operating mode.
    • USA for country, or whatever your router will allow
  • Click Next>
  • WPA2 - Personal for Security Mode (this must match your router)
  • Click Next
  • Encryption Type and Pass Phrase are dependant on what your router settings are
  • Click Next
  • ipv4 address type, check all the boxes, especially obtain IP Address Automatically. However, if that doesn't work, give each scanner a unique IP address suitable for your network.
  • Click Next
  • For Transmit Power, change the settings to Power Plus
  • Click Next
  • Change Battery usage mode to CAM
  • Click Save
Now that you have a profile, time to select it and use it. Press and hold on the profile until the popup appears and click 'Connect'. The icon changes if you have active connection. You may need to 'x' out of this window to continue. Before you do, please refer to for last minute settings that you might need to check.

Testing the Signal

Pressuming you are connected, click the Wireless button again in the ticket scanning program.

  • Scroll down and select Wireless Status
  • Pick Signal Strength - it should be a green bar (you wuld prefer excellent as the signal strength). The higher the signal, the better/faster scanning will be.
    • If you have no signal strength, then go back to the top of this page and adjust your network parameters, IP settings, etc so that you can connect to the network
  • If you have signal strength, then click the 'blue' arrow at the top right of the screen to go back to the previous window
  • Select Option 3: IPv4 status . On this screen you should see that you have an ip address from your router. If not, start at the top of the help page, verify the profile and make sure you are connected to your network
  • Click the blue arrow to go back
  • Click the quit option to get back to the ticket scanning program

Testing the Network
  • Click the Wireless button on the ticket scanning setup window
  • Scroll down and select Wireless Diagnostics
  • Select ICMP Ping
    • It may have an ip address in there, so try ping it and see if that works
  • Enter the ip address of the apache machine
  • Click start test to se if you can communicate
    • If you cannot ping the Theatre Manager Apache Server, you need to adjust your router to allow communication from the scanner to the apache server. You may also need to adjust your Profile, so back to the top of this help page.
  • Once you are able to ping the Theatre Manager Apache machine successfully, Stop the test
  • Click the Back button at the top (or OK button at the bottom) until you get into the Theatre Manager Setup Window

Once the network settings are done, then the next step is to try and end to end test. You will need to start at least one Theatre Manager Web Listener. For the purposes of the test, it is better that only one be started.

Testing a Scan

On the Web listener window, there is a pop-up at the bottom middle of the screen beside the Show Detail button. This is the log Level selection which is normally set to Error. Change the setting to say Ticket Scanning . The Web Listener will now report more messages, including those sent by a scanner. It is helpful in the diagnostic process.

  • Set the Web listener to Ticket Scanning error log level
    • Take the scanner near the screen so you can watch the listeners responses
  • On the Wireless device,ensure you have entered the Theatre Manager Address correctly - it will typically look like 192.168.0.xx/TheatreManager/1 as per these instructions
  • Set up the port, user initials and password as required. We recommend leaving the Performance as zero (0) as it means scan any event for the current day.
  • Click the Save button on the Theatre Manager Setup Window. This takes you back to the main window.
  • Click the scan button to take yo to the normal scanning interface
  • Type in 12345678 as the ticket number. Then click the green arrow to test the scanner. It is very likely that you'll see a stop icon.
  • You should also see an error message on the scanner indicating any problems (eg, invalid password, wrong ticket number or what have you. Please look at the Theatre Manager web listener and see if the message on the log line is similar to the message on the scanner. You should also see lines in the Web Listener Log that are 'Checkin/Out' messages and may display things like 'Scanner Synchronized Time' etc.
  • If you see no messages and you got this far, then you probably need to go back and look at network and firewall settings -- assuming that the scanner is mated with the network properly

Real Life Testing

The final step in the test process is to take the scanners to locations where you will use them (if you see messages that the scanner is communicating in the previous section).

  • Print off several dozen real tickets for any event - enough that each ticket scanner has a few tickets to practice with. The tickets may be for the same seat or different seats - you just need some to get a continuous string of acceptances.
  • Set the performance parameter on the scanner to this event
  • Stand where you will be scanning
  • Check the signal strength as per the instructions above and make sure it is sufficient
  • Try scanning people into the venue and out of the venue
  • Test all scanners individually
  • Test all scanners working at the same time to make sure there is no interference or reduction in performance if all are working at the same time. If there is a reduction in speed, you might need to boost the wireless access point's antenna, or you may want another listener or two temporarily. This depends on number of scanners and wireless signal

Training

The scanners do work, as there are hundreds in use. However, we recommend that you have a training practice session a few days before using it on your first real event. Have the ushers come in and try it. Help them scan in and scan out people so that they are familiar with the basic operation.

Then try the scanners on a small event first - it is almost a certainty that there will be minor problems when real patrons are involved. Patrons bring tickets to the wrong event and your ushers need time to adapt to the controls that a scanner brings.

Once you have a few smaller events under your belt and feel comfortable, then you are ready for all events.

Scanner Prefs-Motorola MC50/55

Google bought Motorola in may 2012 and subsequently sold it to Lenovo. These scanners are no longer PCI compliant due to low encryption capabilities.

Note: the Motorola scanners are no longer supported.

Replacement scanners are the linea pro, which is also more reliable and versatile.
Accessing Setup Once the software is installed and the scanner is mated to the network, you can click the start menu, programs and the click on the AMS Tickets application.

It may take a couple of seconds or so to start as the scan program is synchronizing time with a time server and making sure the clock on the program is set properly. When it does start, you will see the screen at the side. Now we can set up scanning for an event / play. This must be done in advance of each performance that you are scanning tickets for.

All that needs to be done is set up some parameters.

Click the 'Setup' button on the screen.

  You will be asked for a system password to change the settings for the performance. Type '123' (this can be changed) and once the password is right, the next window will automatically appear.
Sample Setup When you open the preferences window using either of the two methods above, you have some fields that must be filled in. These are below (Press the orange button on the keyboard twice to turn the num-lock on mode):
  • IP address: this is the URL address of the web listener that will be responding to checkin and checkout requests. You can enter the inside address of your nginx server or the server/firewall. The address will look something like 192.168.xx.xx/TheatreManager/1 or tickets.yourvenue.org/TheatreManager/1.
    • the tickets.yourvenue.org is the same value you place in company preferences under the web settings.
    • The '1' is the company outlet number. In multi-outlet venues, this number will be different for each outlet.

    		The default configuration in apache is to elevate requests to https. You will have to change the apache httpd-balance.conf file to prevent this is you have these scanners.
  • Port: this is the port number that the web listener 'listens on'. Normally blank
  • User Initials: this is the upper case initials for the user id in Theatre Manager doing the scanning. This person does not need to be able to log on to TM for any other reason. You might wish to create a generic ID for this purpose (because the password in this screen is clear text)
  • Password: the password used for these User Initials to log on to Theatre Manager.

    Passwords are case sensitive per PCI compliance. Please ensure you get the case correct.
  • Performance #: You can enter the performance number that you are scanning for or leave it empty. Both options affect which tickets will be accepted by the scanner. Please refer to the scanner rules for more detail.
  • Other Buttons:
    • Key Clicks: check this to that you receive audible feedback from typing numbers.
    • Set Time: forces the time on the Windows Mobile device to match the time on the Web Listener. Effectively this will be the same as the time on the database server. If you do not set this, it will occur automatically each time you start the ticket scanning program.
    • Wireless: opens the wireless setup information as per the top of this page.
    • Cancel: does not save the changes to the memory of the device
    • Save: saves the changes.
 

There is one other preference that can be set before we begin scanning. This indicates whether we are scanning the person into the venue, or scanning them as they leave to indicate that the ticket was not used

You can access this option directly from the main screen where the scan & setup buttons are. Click the 'Scan' button and you will see a screen like the one on the left.

At the bottom is a 'checkout' button with a red arrow. This means the mode is currently 'check in' and you click this button to change the mode to 'checkout'. It will also change the arrow at the top from green (checkin mode) to red (checkout mode)

If there is a green arrow with 'check in' at the bottom, then the current mode is 'checkout' mode. Click the 'Checkin' button to change the mode to checkin.

Theatre Manager Server Settings For Motorola Scanners

The Motorola Scanners rely on port 80 to scan tickets. The Theatre Manager Server, by default, elevates all traffic to Port 443. For this reason additional settings need to be added to the Theatre Manager Server through the Director to allow for scanner communication on Port 80.

Q: Why are there specific settings for the Motorola Scanners?

A: The Motorola scanners do not support secure connections to the Theatre Manager Server web server. The process below outlines how to setup an unencrypted side-entry point to the DMZ web server, while still maintaining a secure connection to the primary web server. If you’d like to have end-to-end security then please email sales@artsman.com for information on the updated, and fully secure, iOS scanners.

Settings

  1. On the Web Server computer, open the Theatre Manager Server Director in a browser by visiting http://127.0.0.1:3012

  2. Select the Configure tab.

  3. Check the box for Enable advanced options and click Save at the bottom of the left column. This will open up more tabs within the Director window.

  4. Select the Domain tab at the top of the Director window.

  5. Scroll to the bottom of the window and click the Add Another Domain button.
  6. Fill in the following details for the new domain:
    • Check the Enabled box.
    • Check the Enable load balancing box.
    • Check the Enable TLS for load balance addresses box.
    • Enter a Name for this connection. It may be something like Your Venue Scanning.
    • Enter the Domain (or IP). This should be the IP address of the Web Listener.
    • Enter 80 into the Port field.
    No additional information needs to be entered below this.
  7. Click the Save button at the bottom of the right column.

  8. Select the Balancing tab at top of the Director window.

  9. Click the Add Web Address button under right column.
  10. Enter the following details:
    • Set the Address to be the IP address of the Web Listener.
    • Enter 443 in the Port field.
    • Click the Save button at the bottom of the right column.

The Theatre Manager Server is now read to scan tickets using a Motorola Scanner.

Wireless Scanner Tips/Troubleshooting

The scanners are capable of a lot of functionality and the scanning program really only needs few of the features. However, since windows mobile is evolving and Microsoft has a tendency to make software more complex, you may run into some quirks here and there.

The following list are some things that we've encountered that may help you.

Settings for Performance and Static IP

  • Set power performance to maximum

    (Jul 2011 O/S) Windows Start -> System Tab -> Power -> Advanced -> Set to "Max Performance"

    (Nov 2011 O/S) Windows -> Settings -> System Power -> CPU Power [tab] -> Set to "Max Performance"

  • Increase time for auto-shutdown/sleep mode

    (Jul 2011 O/S) Windows Start -> System Tab -> ??? -> Advanced -> Either remove sleep mode or set to 10 to 15 minutes

    (Nov 2011 O/S) Windows -> Settings -> System Power -> Advanced [tab] -> Turn OFF "Turn off device if not used for" or set to the highest minutes.

    • This will stop the scanner from going to sleep and upon waking up, possibly receiving a different IP address.
    • It also allows for faster scanning at the door as the usher does not need to wait for the scanner to wake up and re-connect to the wireless router.
  • Set the Scanner to have a fixed IP address

    Theatre Manager counts the number of scanners in use by the IP address of the scanner that it is connecting from. If it is a DHCP and if each time the scanner connects to the network, it is given a new IP address, then you may run out of ticket scanner licenses.

    You can talk with the IT department personnel responsible for issuing IP addresses to determine a range of suitable numbers to assign to the scanners and set the scanner to a fixed IP. This will make connections to the wireless hub faster and allow Theatre Manager to keep track of the various scanners more effectively.

    • Finally, if you can connect via internet explorer (located in the applications folder on the scanner) on the wireless device to your web site, you should have all the network infrastructure in place to do ticket scanning. This means only the Theatre Manager scanning program needs set up.

Changing the System password

Theatre Manager's application for the scanners is preset with the System Entry Password and System Exit Password of "123" (without the quotes). You may change this password and set your own System Entry and System Exit Password.

After you have changed the password(s), ensure you provide the updated password(s) to the required people within your organization> Otherwise they will not be able to access the Theatre Manager scanner application setup utilities.

To change the password(s), you perform the following steps:

Using Activesync
  1. Gain access to the scanner via ActiveSync.

    Start browsing the files on the scanner. To learn more about ActiveSync, click here.

  2. The files you are looking for are in the Applications -> AMS folder:
    • SystemPassword.txt (it contains 123)
    • ExitPassword.txt (it contains 123)
  3. Edit the contents of either file to the new password.
Using Windows Mobile Device Manager

You can edit the password files directly on the wireless scanner itself.

To change the password(s), you perform the following steps:

  1. Navigate to Windows -> File Explorer -> Applications -> AMS

    2. The files you are looking for are:

  • SystemPassword.txt (it contains 123)
  • ExitPassword.txt (it contains 123)
  • Edit the contents of either file to the new password.

    • Quick tips on scanner connections

    Quick tips on scanner connections

    • Make sure Wireless is on (it is off by default)

      Windows Start -> Settings -> Connections tab

    • Change network from "work" to "internet"

      Windows Start -> Settings -> Connections -> WIFI -> change "work" to "internet"

    • Turn Wireless mode "on"

      Windows Start -> Settings -> Connections -> Wireless Manager -> On

    • Uncheck the 801.11d checkbox

      This can be accessed from the home screen (or from the AMS setup/wireless/Options screen) by:

      • Clicking on the wifi settings
      • Clicking on the Fusion button on the bottom menu
      • Choosing Options, Regulatory (needs to be set to the country you are in to match your router - usually USA or Canada)
      • uncheck the 801.11d checkbox.

    Scan displays numbers slowly

    Some recent MC55/MC55A scanners take a second +/- to scan a ticket when the yellow scan button is pressed. This is longer than normally expected.

    Symptoms

    The symptoms seem to be that the first number from the ticket will appear on the scanner, then a small delay, then the second number will appear, then a small delay, then the rest of the numbers. In total, it might take the scanner just over a second to register all the numbers, rather than a fluid slow of digits to the screen.

    Solution #1

    If this occurs, the MC55 needs version 2.0.0.4A or later of scan wedge software installed. Please download and reinstall as per instructions to put the new software in place. Also, please record any settings you have made to set up the scanner as the re-install process clears all data and settings from the scanner.

    Solution #2

    Recent versions of Windows Mobile also has spell checking turned on. This has a rather detrimental effect on ticket scanning - as it the scanner tries to spell check and predict each ticket number as it is scanned. Please turn this off.

    Scanner Count Exceeded and Scanner Speed

    Only a couple of your scanners appear to be working. The scanners that are not working show the following:

    Scanners should be using a fixed IP address. Click here for more information.

    Theatre Manager tracks the scanner count by IP Address. If the scanner change their IP address (which they can do if they do not have a fixed IP address) a single scanner could be counted multiple times and your database knows how many scanners you are licensed for. If an IP address changes, then the database says - and now we have a fifth IP address. So somewhere along the line, Scanner #2 got assigned a new IP address.

    Second, Stop/Start all the Web Listeners (so they are all off at the same time). This will reset the IP addresses in the log. When you start the scanners again, the new IPs will be registered and the scanner counts will be refreshed. You can also go the to the Web Listener and click the Clear Cache button.

    Do not use a DNS Address, use a Static IP Address.

    Further on the scanner, is it looking for tickets.YourTheater.com or is it looking for the direct IP address of the Apache machine (192.xxx.xxx.xxx)? Entering the IP of the Apache machine will speed transmission as the scanner will not have to wait for the DNS to resolve. You change this in the scanner setup, and change the address. Click here for the setup page.

    Check the Number of Scanners

    To check the number of scanners you can pair to your system, choose Setup >> System Preferences.