VRX FAQS
Loss Prevention FAQ
Q: We get a lot of calls asking something like,"Do you have a text inserter for
Ruby
Supper Systems?"
A: There are three answers to this
question.Yes, Yes and Coming
Soon. We have kit solutions for these common
situations.
For more information, please go to the the page for Text Inserter
Kits for
Ruby (/Topaz) / Sapphire
Server
Q: Do you have a list of compatible cash registers? Or
Are you
compatible with XYZ point of sale?
A: Yes we have a web page explaining our approach to compatibility and a list of point of sale system with which our technology is known to have worked. Please visit: VR2004 POS (Point of Sale) Compatibility
Q: What are some of the common methods of fraud at the POS (Point of Sale)?
A: Cashiers can commit fraud
against
either the employer, the customer or both.
A cashier can charge an item to the customer which the
customer did not
buy and keep the item for themselves. A Text Inserter helps
detect this
type of fraud because the item charged was not what or in the
quantity
the customer brought
to the counter.
A cashier can charge an item to
the
customer which the customer did not buy and then, after the
customer
leaves, refund the item and keep cash for themselves. A Text
Inserter
helps detect this type of fraud because the item was not
refunded to
the customer.
A cashier can charge an item to
another
department such as charging groceries on the department for
lottery
tickets. The customer leaves the store with the groceries they
wanted
at the price they expected. Later the cashier leaves the store
with the
easy to conceal lottery tickets. A Text Inserter
helps detect this type of fraud because you can see what the
items are
and what the cashier is ringing up.
Q: What about software to analyze transactions?
Once you have identified a patter for investigation, you still need to catch the theft during the act. A Text Inserter will help provide the prove which was only a suspicion based on the suspicious behavior identified by the POS software.
VR2004 Text Inserter FAQ
Q: What does a VR2004 Text Inserter cost and how do I get one?
A: Give us a call toll free 866-543-8398 from 9 AM to 6 PM Eastern Time and we can assist you in what accessories could be needed and provide a quote for the VR2004.
Q: Do you support a particular Pole Display, Journal Printer, or POS System?
A: Check out our Compatibility Page, and if you don't find the answer there, then give us a call.
Q: What is the difference between the VR2004 and the Geovision data capture?
A: The Geovision Text Inserter only reformats the text output to send it to the Geovision DVR. The DVR inserts the text onto the stored video. The VR2004 actually overlays the text of the transactions onto the video. Then the video can be recorded by either a DVR or a VCR.
Q: What do you need to know to determine compatibility with our POS (Point of Sale) system?
A: Think of our Text Inserter at a Pole Display which happens to display on CCTV video.
So if the POS has an external
serial (or
parallel) pole display or can be set up for one our Text
Inserter can
probably be compatible. The other methods of interface
are to set
the POS for Journal Printer or if available a Surveillance
Interface.
The store owner or manager will have to be responsible for
setting the
POS serial port for the appropriate interface. We are happy to
help
explain the requirement. Typical setup is 9600 bps, 8 Bit, 1
Stop, No
Parity and Flow Control OFF. If you have the freedom to
choose, set for
Epson pole display or Logic Controls.
Q: What if VRX Company has never before heard of my POS type?
A: We would like to find a demo of
the
POS system software for testing to allow us to optimize our
product
setup.
What is the exact name of the POS system?
Who is the vendor, and do you have contact information?
Is there a web site?
What is the operating system used for the POS system? Is it
Windows
2000 or XP for instance?
What is the exact brand and model
number
of the pole display?
Is the pole display serial, parallel or other?
Is the printer serial, parallel or
other?
What is the exact brand and model number of the printer?
What is the cable into the serial printer? DB25, DB9 or
Centronics?
What is the gender of the pins at the cable end to the
printer?
Can you photograph the typical installation so we can guess at
cable
routing?
IMPORTANT: For most POS system,
Journal
Printers work much better than receipt printers work. For a
receipt
printer application, it is desirable to set the POS system to
print the
receipt line by line, as the cashier enters the sale. Only if
this
possible will a receipt printer solution be a good one.
Can we get some examples of receipts from the system? We would
like
normal transactions with several items and some transactions
with Void,
No Sale, Return or Refund and any other unusual transaction
events.
If we cannot get the above POS
software
as a demo, may we ask you to make a HEX DUMP of some receipts
with
representative transaction types? We can help you find how to
do a HEX
DUMP for Epson and Star Printers. You can set our Text
Inserter to make
a HEX DUMP. See the Debug Menu in the user interface.
The following transactions are typically interesting for Text
Inserter.
Normal transaction with several items. Items with and with out
tax if
applicable.
Void
No Sale
Return or refund
Other unusual transaction events.
Q: How do I determine if my POS system can interface to your Text Inserter? Or are you compatible with ABC_BRAND point of sale system?
So now the compatibility question changes into, what serial Pole Displays will the POS support? Or the question becomes, can the POS support a serial port Journal Printer.
The VR2004 supports many different pole display command sets (or control code protocols) and the EPSON printer codes. You can see the supported pole display types at:
http://www.vrxinc.com/vr2003_pos_compatibility.html
For Journal Printer compatibility, the POS owner will need to set the POS for almost any Epson type, such as TM-88.
Consult the POS vendor or the user manual to identify which possible interface method or methods are available. The pole display is usually the easiest to interface. Journal printer or a Security Video interface may provide more insightful data but may be more difficult to setup. In the case of a Journal printer, the Text Inserter will usually need a handshake adapter to satisfy the flow control requirements. For all three interface methods, turn off flow control to the serial port if possible.
Once you have the POS set up for a particular serial pole display, or Journal Printer or Security Video interface, the Text Inserter’s user interface allows the VR2004 to be set to emulated the appropriate one of several pole display brands or the printer codes.
For really tough problems, VRX Company can help you identify the tasks and questions you may need to ask regarding the POS. The questions below help.
We would like to find a demo of the POS system software for testing to allow us to optimize our product setup. Is there a demo version?
What is the exact name of the POS system?
Who is the vendor, and do you have contact information?
Is there a web site?
What is the operating system used for the POS system? Is it Windows 2000 or XP for instance?
What is the exact brand and model number of the pole display?
Is the pole display serial, parallel or other?
Is the pole display set up for its’ native command set or to emulate another brand?
Is the printer serial, parallel or other? (The VR2004 only works with serial and parallel. The VR2004 does not support USB.)
What is the exact brand and model number of the printer?
What is the cable into the serial printer? DB25, DB9 or Centronics?
What is the gender of the pins at the cable end to the printer?
Can you photograph the typical installation so we can guess at cable routing?
IMPORTANT: For most POS system, Journal Printers work much better than receipt printers. For a receipt printer application, it is desirable to set the POS system to print the receipt line by line, as the cashier enters the sale. Only if this possible will a receipt printer solution be a good one.
Can we get some examples of receipts from the system? We would like normal transactions with several items and some transactions with Void, No Sale, Return or Refund and any other unusual transaction events.
If we cannot get the above POS software as a demo, may we ask you to make a HEX DUMP of some receipts with representative transaction types? We can help you find how to do a HEX DUMP for Epson and Star Printers. You can set our Text Inserter to make a HEX DUMP. See the Debug Menu in the user interface.
The following transactions are typically interesting for Text Inserter.
Normal transaction with several items. Items with and with out tax if applicable.
Void
No Sale
Return or refund
Other unusual transaction events.
Q: GSITE® is going End of Life, so I will be upgrading from GSITE® to PASSPORT® soon. Will my VR2004 require a new PROM chip to work with my new PASSPORT® register?
Q: I am thinking of changing cash registers in the near future. Will my VR2004 require a new PROM chip to work with my new register?
Q: I am looking in the user setup, when can I use 2 LINE POLE display versus USE ALL LINES.?
Q: I have two registers but only one camera. How do I connect two text inserters?
Q: My serial printer will not work with the VR2003. How do you configure the VR2003 HARDWARE for a serial printer loop through application?
A: As built, the RX pin on the VR2003 echoes back the input data on the TX and parallel port. This can interfere with some printer applications where there is flow control on the RX line. To configure the VR2003 for a printer loop through application a soldering Iron and a zero ohm jumper wire are required. Remove RDCE1, R72 and stuff R71 at Zero ohms.
Q: I am confused about RS232 Data. Do you have a good
tutorial?
A: We have found lots of good
tutorials
on the internet.
B&B Electronics have a nice one here: http://www.bb-elec.com/tech_articles/FAQ_rs232_connections_work.asp
