This guide explains how to configure a DIGI DS-984 checkout scale for use with IncoPOS. The DS-984 is commonly found embedded inside Datalogic Magellan bi-optic barcode scanners and communicates with POS systems over a separate RS-232 serial cable.
Out of the box, the DS-984 may be set to a protocol that IncoPOS does not support. This guide walks you through changing the scale’s settings so it works with the DIGI DS-984 driver in IncoPOS.
What You Need
- DIGI DS-984 scale (any display variant: 6-digit LCD, 21-digit LCD, or 4.3″ TFT)
- The serial cable from the scale connected to your POS computer (directly or via a USB-to-Serial adapter)
- IncoPOS with the DIGI DS-984 scale driver selected
Step 1: Know Your Buttons
The DS-984 has 5 buttons on its display pole. In configuration mode, the arrow buttons are used to enter binary values:
| Button | Normal Function | In SPEC Mode |
|---|---|---|
| ↑ (Arrow Up) | Scroll up | Enter value 1 |
| ← (Arrow Left) | Scroll left | Enter value 0 |
| T | Tare | Save to memory and exit |
| 0 | Re-Zero | Cycle through SPEC numbers |
| ON/OFF | Power | (not used) |
Step 2: Enter SPEC Mode
- Power on the scale and wait until the display shows a stable 0.000 kg with an empty platter.
- Hold down the 0 (Re-Zero) button.
- While still holding 0, press ← ← ← (Arrow Left three times).
- Release the 0 button.
The display will change to show SPEC00 and a 4-digit binary value (e.g. 1011). You are now in SPEC configuration mode.
Tip: If the display briefly shows
888888and returns to0.000, the timing was off. Hold the 0 button firmly for 2 seconds before pressing the arrow keys, and press them at a steady pace.
Step 3: Configure the Scale for IncoPOS
You need to change three settings: SPEC02 (protocol), SPEC04 (transmission condition), and SPEC05 (data fields). Use the 0 button to navigate between SPEC numbers.
SPEC02 — Set to Type A (Continuous Streaming)
- Press the 0 button until the display shows SPEC02.
- Enter the value
0001by pressing: ← ← ← ↑
This sets the scale to Type A (Standard Stream) mode, which continuously sends weight data over the serial port.
SPEC04 — Enable Unconditional Transmission
- Press the 0 button until the display shows SPEC04.
- Enter the value
0110by pressing: ← ↑ ↑ ←
This tells the scale to send weight data even when the weight reading is not yet fully stable, ensuring IncoPOS always receives data.
SPEC05 — Minimal Output (Weight Only)
- Press the 0 button until the display shows SPEC05.
- Enter the value
0000by pressing: ← ← ← ←
This produces a shorter data frame containing only the net weight, which is all IncoPOS needs.
Step 4: Save Your Changes
After entering all values:
- Press the 0 button to cycle through all remaining SPEC numbers until you return to the beginning.
- Press T to save all changes to permanent memory and exit SPEC mode.
Important: You must cycle through all SPECs with the 0 button and then press T. If you power off the scale or press ON/OFF before pressing T, your changes will be lost.
Verify the Settings Were Saved
- Power the scale off and back on.
- Re-enter SPEC mode (hold 0 + ← ← ←).
- Navigate to SPEC02 and confirm it shows
0001. - Press T to exit.
Step 5: Configure IncoPOS
- In IncoPOS, go to the scale/peripheral settings.
- Select the DIGI DS-984 driver.
- Set the COM port to the serial port where the scale is connected.
- Ensure the serial port settings are: 9600 baud, 8 data bits, No parity, 1 stop bit.
- The scale should now send continuous weight readings to IncoPOS.
Summary of Recommended SPEC Values
| SPEC | Value | Keys to Press | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPEC00 | 1011 |
(leave as factory default) | 9600 baud |
| SPEC01 | 0100 |
(leave as factory default) | 8 data bits, no parity, 1 stop bit |
| SPEC02 | 0001 |
← ← ← ↑ | Type A — Continuous streaming |
| SPEC03 | 0000 |
(leave as factory default) | No protocol extension |
| SPEC04 | 0110 |
← ↑ ↑ ← | Unconditional transmission |
| SPEC05 | 0000 |
← ← ← ← | Net weight only (no tare field) |
| SPEC06 | 1100 |
(leave as factory default) | Protocol-specific options |
| SPEC07 | 0000 |
(leave as factory default) | Protocol-specific options |
Troubleshooting
Scale does not send any data
- Verify SPEC02 is set to
0001(not0000which disables output, or0100which is the factory default QUQA TRADING protocol). - Check that the serial cable is connected and the correct COM port is selected in IncoPOS.
- Confirm both the scale and IncoPOS use the same serial settings (9600/8/N/1).
Scale responds with only a single byte (0x15) when polled
0x15 is NAK (Not Acknowledge). This means the scale is on a command-based protocol (likely the factory default Type C) that does not understand the polling request. Change SPEC02 to 0001 for continuous streaming as described above.
Cannot enter SPEC mode
- The platter must be completely empty and the display must show a stable
0.000. - Hold the 0 button firmly for at least 2 seconds before pressing ← three times.
- Try power-cycling the scale and attempting again immediately after it stabilizes.
Settings are lost after power cycle
After making changes in SPEC mode, you must press the 0 button to cycle through all remaining SPEC numbers, then press T to write the settings to permanent memory. Pressing ON/OFF or disconnecting power before pressing T will discard all changes.
Garbled or unreadable data in IncoPOS
This usually means a baud rate mismatch. Verify SPEC00 is 1011 (9600 bps) and that IncoPOS is also set to 9600 baud.
Technical Reference
Data Frame Format
With the recommended settings (Type A, no tare field), the scale sends a 13-byte frame continuously at approximately 10 frames per second:
Byte 0: Status byte (e.g. 0x41)
Byte 1: Weight condition byte (e.g. 0x42)
Byte 2: CR (0x0D)
Byte 3: '0' — net weight header (0x30)
Bytes 4-9: Net weight as ASCII (e.g. "00.068" = 0.068 kg)
Byte 10: CR (0x0D)
Byte 11: EOT (0x04)
Byte 12: LF (0x0A)Each frame ends with EOT + LF (0x04 0x0A). The weight value is in kilograms with 3 decimal places.
Weight Condition Byte
Bit 1 of the weight condition byte indicates whether the reading is stable:
0x43— weight is stable, scale is at zero0x42— weight is stable, not at zero (item on platter)0x40— weight is unstable (reading still settling)
Serial Cable Pinout (DIN-5 to DB-9)
| DS-984 Pin (DIN-5) | Signal | DB-9 Pin |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | RXD | 2 |
| 2 | RTS | 7 |
| 3 | TXD | 3 |
| 4 | CTS | 8 |
| 5 | GND | 5 |
All Available Protocols (SPEC02 + SPEC03)
For reference, the DS-984 supports the following serial protocols. Only change these if you are not using the IncoPOS DIGI DS-984 driver and need to match a different POS system.
| SPEC03 (bits 1-0) | SPEC02 | Protocol Name |
|---|---|---|
| 00 | 0000 | Disabled (no serial output) |
| 00 | 0001 | Type A — Standard Stream (continuous) ✓ IncoPOS |
| 00 | 0010 | Type W — Standard Manual (send on key press) |
| 00 | 0011 | Type B — Standard Command (responds to ENQ 0x05) |
| 00 | 0100 | Type C — QUQA TRADING (factory default) |
| 00 | 0101 | Type D — IBM, HUGIN |
| 00 | 0110 | Type E — ICL OLD |
| 00 | 0111 | Type F — ICL PORTUGAL |
| 00 | 1000 | Type G — ICL ACTUAL |
| 00 | 1001 | Type H — CAS |
| 00 | 1010 | Type I — CAS PORTUGAL |
| 00 | 1011 | Type J — NIXDORF |
| 00 | 1100 | Type K — NCR |
| 00 | 1101 | Type L — MONS |
| 00 | 1110 | Type M — Checkout-Dialog 02/04 |
| 00 | 1111 | Type N — DATECS MP50/500 |
| 01 | 0000 | Type O — NCI4000 |
| 01 | 0001 | Type P — Checkout-Dialog 06 |
| 01 | 0010 | Type Q — UNIWELL, ICL OLD OMRON |
| 01 | 0011 | Type R — ICL ACTUAL OMRON |
| 01 | 0100 | Type S — ICL CS500 |
| 01 | 0101 | Type T — DTS |
| 01 | 0110 | Type U — SHARP UP-600/700 |
| 01 | 0111 | Type V — NCI-ECR, Metrologic |
| 01 | 1000 | Type X — WTN |
Notes
- SPEC00–SPEC07 are user-accessible settings. No metrology seal or SPAN switch access is required to change the serial protocol.
- The DS-984 does not support remote configuration over the serial port. All settings must be changed using the physical buttons on the display pole.
- If your DS-984 is embedded inside a Datalogic Magellan scanner, the Datalogic Scanalyzer tool configures only the scanner — it cannot change the DIGI scale settings.
- The scale uses a separate serial cable from the scanner. Both devices are electronically independent and connect to different COM ports on your POS computer.