Xenon XP User Guide 79
The commands to which the scanner responds are listed on page 80. The [ESC] is a 
1B in hex. A typical command string is y [ESC] x, where “y” is the application work 
group number, “[ESC] x” is the escape command, and the comma is the terminator, 
which is required. (When “y” is not specified, the command is sent to the default 
Application Work Group 0.)
Example: Commands may be strung together to create custom response sequences. An 
example of a command string is listed below.
[ESC]4,[ESC]5,[ESC]6,
The above example will make a scanner that is in application work group zero beep 
low, then medium, then high.
Example: A good read beep is required for any item on file, but a razz or error tone is required 
if the item is not on file. In this case,
[ESC]7, is sent from the host to the scanner for an on-file product
[ESC]8,[ESC]8, is sent from the host to the scanner for a not-on-file product
When a barcode is scanned, the scanner enters a timeout period until either the 
host ACK sequence is received, or the timeout expires (in 10 seconds, by default).
Once Host ACK is enabled, the system works as follows when a barcode is scanned:
• The scanner reads the code and sends data to the base or Access Point to 
transmit to the host system. No audible or visual indication is emitted until the 
scanner receives an escape command. The scanner read illumination goes out 
when there’s a successful read.
• Scanner operation is suspended until 1) a valid escape string is received from 
the host system or 2) the scanner times out.
• Once condition 1 or 2 above has been met, the scanner is ready to scan again, 
and the process repeats.
A time-out occurs if the scanner does not receive a valid escape command within 
10 seconds. A time-out is indicated by an error tone. If a time-out occurs, the 
operator should check the host system to understand why a response to the 
scanner was not received.
Host ACK On/Off