CueCat - any other uses?

[davidamarkley]

Hello!

I have a CueCat - you know, those things that plug in between your keyboard and computer and you use to scan CueCat barcodes that would be found in different things - and was wondering if there were any other uses for it.

Here is an example of a CueCat barcode:

Since the service went under (for more info go to the CueCat site @ http://www.digitalconvergence.com) I was wondering if there was some mod/program that allowed me to use it like a normal bar code scanner or something even unrelated to a barcode scanner application.

Just curious as to what I might use this for. If I can't use it for anything else, I'll probably just toss it.

Thanks!

David

[Atomic Rooster]

Here's some linkys for ya:

http://www.cexx.org/cuecat.htm#drivers

http://www.azalea.com/QTools/

[sixf00t4]

see if anything here can help you http://www.techimo.com/forum/showthr...&highlight=cat

[davidamarkley]

Awesome... The second link Atomic Rooster had was perfect...

Thanks!

David

[no1_vern]

I just bought one of these (I paid $4.00 for it so...) to help me to catalogue my books. Basically anything that has a bar code can be read and tracked for you.

You can use it as a shopping wand: Every time you run out of milk or peanut butter, swipe the carton

The CueCat could also be used to catalog books, CDs and movies or for taking a quick inventory of your personal possessions. You could set up a personal lending library, too. Swipe a CD or a movie before it leaves the house and you will always remember who borrowed what.

Thanks to its built-in encryption, the CueCat could become a secure computer passcard reader. Instead of logging on with a username and password, a bar code is scanned before access is granted to a machine.

Others have turned the CueCat into a remote control and -- by removing the internal circuit board and replacing it with a pair of batteries –- a small flashlight.

Enjoy!

[davidamarkley]

Well, I've got different software from different people, but nothing I've tried is working...

I've got a PS2 version of the :Cue:Cat. But, I have a USB mouse and keyboard. (Don't know if that matters or not.)

I plugged the scanner in, and the red light comes on, so I know it's getting power, but when I scan a barcode, nothing happens in any of the programs I use.

Is there some sort of driver or something that I need to make it work?

O/S: Win XP Pro

I restarted and that didn't seem to help anything.

Thanks!

David

[nochay]

I've got a bunch of these around my house You may not be recieving anything because of how you have to scan the barcodes. I thought the scanning was "finicky" (no pun intended) The output from the scanner is encrypted with the numbers you scanned. Are you using catnap? I used that on my computers, and it unencrypted it.

Try scanning it over and over. Do you have a piece of paper that came with the scanners? It has a guide in it. If you don't, I can take a picture of it for you. (don't have a scanner) It talks about proper scanning.

Dane

(Side Note: These probably tanked pretty quick, as beneath that cute plastic surface, lurked a very major problem: spyware!)

[davidamarkley]

Yeah, I've tried using catnip, catscratch, java programs, perl programs, you name it, and it still doesn't do anything when I scan a barcode.

If you could take a picture of that manual/guide, I'd appreciate it!

I'm looking for some sort of driver for the device, but haven't found one that works yet...

Still looking though!

Thanks,

David

[no1_vern]

Quote ; spyware

That why you "declaw" the Cuecat. I bought mine already "modified" but its a very easy fix.
Go here www.cexx.org/cuecat.htm

BTW Ill bet all of the programs you tried required you to have the modified Cuecat for them to work. Basically you were sending encrypted information to the programs instead of the clear data they were expecting.

Corrected link. Sorry

[davidamarkley]

Hmm, ok...

I was thinking that these software programs bypassed the need to neuter it, and worked the same as the mod did, just without having to cut a trace or solder a jumper wire. I'll just go ahead and neuter the :Cat, and then let you know if that works...

Thanks,

David

EDIT: Your link is borked BTW.