ANSWERED:Will the ACR38U work with my version of windows?

[Jay Aitchsee]

Edit: With ResScan 3.16 SP1, the correct driver package has been included. Jay

*****************Note: this applies to S8 Smart Card Readers Only
Will the generic reader ACR38U-SPC-R work with my version of Windows and ResScan 3.XX?
*Yes, if you have an ARC38U with the correct firmware (FW) version installed.
What is the correct FW version?
*The correct version is 110. Also known as the non CCID version
How can I identify an ACR38U with FW 110?
*All ACR38U readers with FW110 installed have serial numbers (S/N) beginning with RR00...
Are there any other physically identifying features?
*No, there are no other identifying features.
Are there other ACR38U FW versions?
*Yes, all ARC38U readers manufactured in the last few years have version 112C installed.
How can I identify this reader?
*All ACR38U readers with FW 112C installed have S/N's beginning with R052...
Is this reader compatible with ResScan and windows?
*Windows yes, ResScan no.
Can I modify FW 112 to be compatible with ResScan?
*No, it is hard wired.
Can I modify ResScan to be compatible with ARC38U FW 112C?
*I think a good programmer/code writer should be able to make a patch which would provide compatibility between ResScan and ARC38U FW 112C
Do we have any good programmers/code writers in the Forum?
*I don't know, we'll have to wait and see.
Are there any ARC38U's, FW 110 S/N RR00.. available?
*Probably not from dealers/distributors of new equipment, the item is not currently manufactured. Ebay or other sources of used equipment are possibilities. I have been in touch with a distributor of ACS products who is checking with the company about possible sources. I am not optimistic that there will be a source through normal retail channels.

****If I have the correct reader, how do I install it?
1.Read these threads:
viewtopic.php?f=1&t=38260&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... s&start=15 about guides for the reader.

viewtopic/t43836/My-ACR38-issues-with-Vista.html about driver installation and use of Quickview Diagonstic

2. If not already installed, install ResScan 3.xx. Do not bother to install the card driver, it is not compatible with newer versions of windows anyway. Do not worry about the warnings of unsigned or incompatible versions. Proceed. At completion, reboot, and open ResScan to check for proper installation.
3. After ResScan is installed, go to: Start/AllPrograms/ResMed/ResScan/Drivers/ResMed USB adapter/install the adapter
4. Close ResScan, reboot.
5. Download Drivers and Quickview Diagnostic from:
http://www.acs.com.hk/index.php?pid=drivers&id=ACR38.
Your choice, pick the MSI installer or the stand alone drivers, download and save
On the same page, go to Utility Tools/ACS Quickview/download and save (you'll have to leave them an email address) and unpack. (to the desktop is a good choice)
6. With ResScan still closed, plug in the reader (no card inserted). In later versions of windows, windows will find the driver. Go to Device manager and verify the driver is installed. It will be Smart Card Reader/ACR38 Smart Card Reader. Open the driver and if it has driver version 1.1.6.2 , you are good to go. If the device is listed as "Other" or refers to CCID you will have to manually update the driver. See the thread for links on how to do that, or I think there are instructions in the driver "readme". If manually updating, be sure to use the driver labled FW110
7. Once you have the drivers installed, run the diagnostic. Initialize. It should find, under PC/SC, under connected, the ACR38U O. Select it and you should see inluded among a lot of other stuff: connect - success, disconnect - success and a reference to Firmware 1100. See the thread for examples. If there is an "error" in the response, you will have to retrace the driver installation steps.
8. If you've passed the above, insert the card (contact side up), reclick on the ACR38U and the Diagnostic will indicate "card inserted" when you have the right spot. After each attemp, reclick on ACR38U to get the diagnostic to reread for card inserted. Mark the reader so you can insert the card at will. Another indication the card is inserted properly is the slow flashing light will quick-flash while the reader reads the card and then return to slow flash. See the thread
9. When you are confident the reader has passed, and the card is inserterted properly, start ResScan and go to Settings(tool bar)/no patient/select device/ in the dialogue box, the bottom icon represents the Smart Card. It will have green check mark when it sees the reader and an appropriate name when it reads the card. You can run ResScan and Quickview concurrently to determine the card is inserted properly

Thanks to Russellms76 for his help in sorting this out.

If anyone sees any errors in this, PM me and I'll edit.
Jay

[Jay Aitchsee]

See this post for a source of a few ResMed S8 compatible readers:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=64953&p=606185#p606185