Finding The Best Handheld Barcode Scanner For Your Needs
In order to find the correct barcode scanner for your requirements, you will first need to know exactly what they are. Barcode readers run the full spectrum as far as price and features. Cost tends to be a main concern so you may want to decide first how much money you are able to spend on the device. Once you have figured that out, then you will want to find out what scanners are available to you in that price range and what their features are. You will want to decide whether or not you need a laser based scanner or a CCD scanner. The newer of the two technologies is the CCD scanner which is more likely to be able to read the current barcode technology.
Do you need a hand held scanner or one that is mounted on a counter? Will this scanner act only as a point of sale device, or will it also need to be disconnected and used to track your back room stock? If you need something that can be disconnected and used in your stock area, you will want a device that can go wireless and has its own power contained within it.
Once you narrow down your price range, your needs and your expectations, you will be able to find a quality device that is affordable and performs as you require it to perform.
What Are Handheld Barcode Readers And How Do They Work?
Barcode readers have been around a long time, they started life as punch card readers in 1930. The idea was to optimize the point of sale procedures. The first real barcode readers used ultraviolet ink, they appeared in approximately 1948.
The barcode readers of today use the technology of linear symbologies, these are optimized to be read by a CCD imager whose technology emerged in the 1990s and was pioneered by a man named Welch Allyn. The CCD imaging surpassed the standard which was laser scanning in the year 2007 and continues to grow in popularity because of not only it’s performance but because of it’s durability. The scanner directs a thin wide beam of light across the barcode, reading‘slice’ of the code’s light and dark patterns. The symbologies contained in the light and dark coding contain information that the scanner picks up and then sends to either the point of sale system or warehousing system, or whatever system and use the scanner is set up for.
Stacked symbologies are optimized for laser scanning as the laser makes multiple passes across the barcode. 2-D symbologies cannot be read by laser for the same reason stacked can; multiple sweeps. 2-D requires scanning by a CCD or charge coupled device or other digital camera sensor technology.
What this all means is that the laser technology is on its way out while the imaging technology is poised to take over completely.
Is the Symbol LS2208 Barcode Scanner Right For Your Business?
The Symbol LS2208 is a mid range high performance scanner at a competitive price. This handheld barcode scanner will easily go from point of sale to warehouse work even to a patient’s bedside or the librarian’s check out counter at school. This is a fast, reliable device that is durable and light weight.
The LS2208 is not only easy to set up, it is easy to learn and use thanks to the plug and play features and it’s user friendly design. The LS2208 is so easy to use it will have employees fully trained, productive and fast in little time. The ergonomic design ensures that your employees will be able to do their job in comfort with little stress or fatigue to their hands and arms and this equates to increased productivity for your company.
The LS2208 has been tested and withstood multiple five foot drops to a concrete floor. It is encased in durable high impact plastic and the liquid polymer scan element provides shock protection, ensuring reliable operation even after multiple drops. The face is constructed of a scratch resistant tempered glass which continuously ensures reader accuracy.
The LS2008 features universal cable compatibility and support for not only current but emerging symbologies, which means this device will support you into the future at a competitive price today.
What The Honeywell Hand Held 3800g Barcode Reader Has To Offer
The Honeywell 3800g Imager is a general purpose scanner that includes Visual Express software. This allows for easy integration into most current systems. It supports not only Unified Point of Sale standard, it also supports Windows Embedded Point of Service, used for retail connectivity and it is GTIN compliant and RSS capable.
The 3800g features a 630NM intuitive vivid thin red aiming line that makes it easy to accurately scan bar coded menus and other densely populated documents, with a reading distance of from .5 inches out to a full 18 inches on medium density bar codes. The scanner performs 270 scans per second. The 3800g is also equipped with fully programmable options for application specific LED and alarm settings, these will verify to the user that they have a good scan.
On board this feature packed scanner are all of the popular interfaces including Visual Express software, for ease of integration. This device also supports unified Point of Sale standard and Windows Embedded Point of Service software for retail connectivity.
The body is made of high impact plastic, able to still function after fifty drops of five feet to a concrete floor. The 3800g uses common cabling solutions making it easy to order, replace and stock spares cables.
Need A Cordless Barcode Scanner? Check Out The Datalogic QS6500BT
The QS in the model name of Datalogic QS6500BT stands for Quick Scan. The Quick Scan reader series belongs to the value line of Datalogic’s general purpose hand held data collection products. The QS6500BT is the highest performing cordless model of the Quick Scan series. It features Bluetooth Wireless technology and has a thirty-three foot cordless range. With this kind of range, the user has much more ease of movement without having to struggle with a cord that is easy to trip over or get tangled or caught on something. This alone minimizes many safety concerns that might be present in a warehouse situation when a scanner is in use.
The user can also transmit data to the host through the base connection station as well as any other commercial or embedded Bluetooth version 1.2 compliant devices. The base also doubles as a charging station that will allow scanning activity even while charging is in progress.
The QS6500BT features a deep sleep mode that provides the ability to program durations of inactivity. This will have the effect of saving battery power which equates to an increased number of scans between charges. You simply need to depress the trigger button to reactivate the reader. When the reader is moved out of range, the base will sound an alarm notifying the user of a lost link. Reading the bar code on the back of the base station will reconnect the two devices.
Looking For Something A Little More Advanced? Look Into The Symbol MC3000
The Symbol MC3000 is more than just a scanner, it is a light weight, rugged, advanced mobile computer that is designed for applications and environments which require high quality data capture and high performance computing. You can customize this device to your specific needs and specifications of individual jobs, which allows your employees to complete their tasks faster, more efficient with less mistakes and better results.
The machine is well balanced in a brick form and is specifically designed for optimal performance in a scan intensive environment. It offers your employees comfort and ease of use throughout their entire shift. The MC3000 is designed for and excels at wireless bar code scanning and wireless mobile computing within not only retail outlets but also in warehouses on loading docks, even on postal routes.
The laser version of this machine has an adjustable rotating scan turret with left, right and front positions; the user can adjust to any of these positions for maximum comfort and productivity. 320 x 320 resolution on color/mono displays (with a backlight) offer thirty percent higher resolution that one quarter VGA and allows for easier reading in multiple environments, this reduces stress and strain on the eyes allowing for longer productivity periods, while increasing accuracy.
This device will excel anywhere barcode reading and computing are a necessity.
Discover The Metrologic MS9520 Voyager Handheld Barcode Scanner
The Metrologic MS9520 is one of the most advanced auto triggered scanners available in today’s point of sale scanner market, it features a futuristic design coupled with high performance scanning capabilities, encased in a sturdy plastic, able to stand up to the rigors of point of sale applications.
This device works as either a handheld scanner or can be set in its holder and used as an in stand, hands free scanner. The MS9520 Voyager is feature packed with Flash ROM (allowing data editing and allowing the firmware to be updated as new software updates become available) coupled with Meteor upgrade utility, and short range and long range activation capabilities.
It is also equipped with PowerLink user replaceable cables, MetroSelect one code programming, MetroSet Windows based software configuration and Bits n Pieces data editing utilities, it also has an optional EAS addition. For ease of use and upgrades, this device also uses common interfaces such as USB. This device helps not only with point of sale processing, but also with inventory control, able to decode all standard 1D par codes including RSS codes.
This is a very versatile scanner that takes up minimal precious counter space, it is easy to use and quick to learn. This little scanner will take you into the future with cost effectiveness coupled high productivity.
The Symbol LS9208 Barcode Scanner Has Everything You Could Want And More!
The LS 9208 is a presentation scanner with a high performance processor and omni-directional scan pattern, resulting in increased checkout volume. This little device has a small footprint and comes in a variety of colors. It comes with an adjustable stand that can easily adjust to your specific point of sale needs. It is encased in a sturdy plastic that can withstand a four foot drop to a concrete floor and is a nice streamlined device to add to your checkout countertop.
This scanner is very versatile, it is even able to deactivate EAS security tags. In a pharmacy the device is invaluable in its ability to help meet regulatory requirements, as it verifies prescriptions among other duties.
This device boasts ease of use so even a novice user can be up and running and keep your checkout stand humming, rather than having a long line of irritable customers who run a high risk of dropping their would be purchases at the counter and leaving.
Universal cables are use in the connection of this device to your existing system, this means you will experience easy replacement and or upgrades of any of your cables, it also has onboard multiple interfaces that allow for flexible host connectivity and an integrated antenna so you can save valuable counter space.
Compliment Your Stores Décor With The Symbol M2004 Cyclone
This is a versatile scanner that is able to decode not only the existing barcodes, but is also able to decode the new and emerging barcode technology; this allows the M2004 to be a viable addition to your point of sale system well into the future where barcodes are changing to allow more information on smaller tags in order to track smaller merchandise, all in a smoother flowing interface between product supplier all the way to the check out stand. This is accomplished by using the scanners ‘next generation scanning technology’. The M2004 Cyclone can handle large or small packages with single or multiple barcode types. It is equipped with a user selectable scan pattern that was created by Symbol Technologies and is a very desirable feature for a point of sale barcode scanner.
The emerging barcode technologies will allow this device to help you not only track your financial information on the products, but what the products are, their own unique information such as weight or lot number, it will allow the merchandiser to scan and record purchase data, identification and shipping data, etc. and this will all be located on a bar code no larger than a postage stamp.
The Symbol M2004 Cyclone is a lightweight ergonomically designed futuristic looking scanner; it is encased in sturdy plastic that can withstand multiple four foot drops, even to concrete floor. This scanner can be hand held or set down for hands free scanning, it is omni-directional.
The Metrologic MS3780 Fusion Barcode Scanner Can Fill Your Omni Directional Needs
If you’re looking for an omni-directional handheld barcode scanner, the Metrologic MS3780 Fusion Barcode Scanner may be just what you’re looking for. It is affordable, it comes with a mounting stand that is stabilized and weighted or that can be hard mounted to any counter or wall. This stand is adjustable with a 50 degree tilt and has three locking positions. This allows the user to scan hands free, or it can be pulled out to scan by hand. When mounted in the stand, the integrated infra-red sensor will automatically activate the laser when a barcode is passed under it. This single line capable scanner with optionally integrate EAS has industry leasing capabilities.
The scanner itself is light weight and ergonomically designed to cause less fatigue under continued use. It is built of sturdy plastic that will stand up to the daily use of up to a medium sized retailer. It has a 20 line scan pattern that provides superior scanning capabilities which makes this little device a welcome edition to any medium to small sized retail store checkout system.
For a cost efficient addition to your existing checkout system, this is a quality little device that puts out performance, accuracy and ease of use as well as having a small footprint and versatility.