E-Scanner FAQ's
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IS THE E-SCANNER COMPATIBLE WITH ALL WEBTV BOXES?
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No
The e-scanner is compatible with the WebTV Plus box, and the DishPlayer box.
The Classic box, unfortunately does not have the video in jack needed to use the scanner.
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Upgrades
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Q. Can I use a scanner with WebTV?
A. Yes, you can use a scanner with your WebTV unit. Your internet (satellite) receiver can use a scanner with a video output port for sending photo attachments in email messages, for adding images to your WebTV home page, and for uploading photo images to online photo albums.
Your WebTV unit is compatible with the Hewlett-Packard e-scanner, which can be ordered online at
http://www.hp.com/go/webtvprint.
Hewlett-Packard can be reached at 1-800-752-0900.
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HOW DO I HOOK UP THE E-SCANNER?
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First, read the instructions that come with it.
THIS IS IMPORTANT!
The instructions recommend that you unplug ALL power from your WebTV terminal before hooking up the e-scanner.
Remove any tape covering the e-scanner's jacks.
There is a single RCA connection cable that comes with the e-scanner. One end goes into the single jack in the back of the e-scanner, and the other end goes into the Video Input in the back of your WebTV terminal.
The video cable that comes with the e-scanner has RCA plugs (also called Phono plugs) on each end. In case you get a bad cable or need a new one, the cable can be gotten at Radio Shack or any electonics store, This is the same cable that you probably have your cassette deck or CD player hooked to your home stereo with. Use only one side if the cables come as a joined pair, it doesn't matter which color you use.
Plug the e-scanner's AC power cord in, then plug in the terminal, and you're ready to go!
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HOOK UP WITH VCR
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You will find very good pictorial instructions here:
http://community-2.webtv.net/GEOH/FKEYS/
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Take a look at your VCR, find the video IN and OUT RCA ports. These are what you will be using. Power off your webtv, power off your VCR.
Hook the video OUT on the VCR to the VIDEO in on your web. Then hook the "video" component you want to use to the video IN on your VCR this will act as a buffer. Now you can power on both units, and if you want to change/disconnect your video component from your web, just unplug it from the VCR. And you can reconnect it while the units are on and you will be safe.
Also some VCR's and some WEB's are different so you will need to experiment with a few things to get it to work, here is what they are.........
1) The tv/vcr button on the VCR.
2) Power on, power off on your vcr.
3) The channel your VCR is set to.
4) The channel 3/4 setting usually in the rear of your vcr.
PS: By video component I mean the following..... Scanners, digital cameras, video cameras, camcorders.
Each VCR seems to have a different name for the "video in" channel, It might be called "Line" or "Line in" or "Aux" or it might be a specific channel like 91. If you were copying a tape from one VCR to another or using a video camera, it is the channel to which you would have to have the VCR set.
You have to detach the video in plug on your vcr in order to use the scanner which is attached to the in plug. When you want to use the vcr you would have to reverse the procedure..
Some use an A/B switch instead of having to plug and unplug in order to use the scanner or the vcr.
Hook up your long scanner cable to the video in on the back of your VCR and select that input when you want to scan.
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HOW DO I TURN THE E-SCANNER OFF?
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Unfortunately, HP omitted a power switch. However the e-scanner powers itself down, but not completely off after 30 minutes of non-use.
However, a lamp does not stay on in the e-scanner when not in use the way it does in a PC scanner (which I shut off). The scanner and power supply will feel warm. This is normal.
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The HP e-scanner goes into
power-conservation mode after 30 minutes of inactivity and turns off the video signal.
If you try to send an e-mail or place a picture in the Scrapbook on Webtv Plus Ineractive Service while the e-scanner is in
power-conservation mode, the video capture window, shown on page 7 of the User
Manual, displays the message that there is no video signal and suggests checking the
power and cables.
Press the Scan or Rotate button to restore the HP e-scanner to normal-operation mode and perform the scan. The video capture window will be black during the 8 seconds while the scan is being performed."
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If you're really worried about leaving it on, you can get one of those power strips almost anywhere for about $5 on sale, just plug the e-scanner only in it. The better power strips also act as a surge protector.
If you're a little handy electrically, you can buy a switch to install in a power cord where they sell lamp parts, etc. However do _not_ install this in the e-scanner power supply cord, install it in an extention cord that you plug the e-scanner in to.
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