The Amazing World of Wireless Barcode Scanners: Adapting to the Bluetooth Age

The Amazing World of Wireless Barcode Scanners: Adapting to the Bluetooth Age

Barcode scanners are now going wireless thanks to the Bluetooth technology. Wireless barcode scanners are providing their users with mobile convenience and storage options.

Barcode scanners or barcode readers are electronic devices designed for reading barcodes. Similar to a flatbed scanner, it has a lens, light sensor and a light source that translates optical impulses to electrical ones. Almost all barcode scanners have a decoder circuitry which analyzes the image data of the barcode and sends it to the output port of the scanner. It is the sensor who makes this process possible.

Wireless Barcode Scanners
Wireless barcode scanners are designed to enable the user scan barcodes even if he or she is walking farther away from the PC. In other words, it is very conveniently mobile. In other cases, you can rid yourself of the PC and still be able to read and write the information onto a database in the network. This means, the barcode scanner has a network connection, where in, the software navigates toward the data source in order to update data.

Before buying a wireless barcode scanner, assess your workplace situation and analyze if you just need a longer cord or you really need a portable data collector equipped with a mobile handheld computer and integrated barcode scanner. If you only need a longer cord, you can go for the wireless wedge scanner. You will be able to save more with this type since they are less expensive as compared to their technologically advanced brethren.

Wireless Wedge Scanners
Wireless wedge scanners are actually similar to corded scanners. They have two components, the base station and the scanner. It is the scanner that communicates with the base station, after which, the base station sends the “decoded” barcode data into its computer network.

The connectivity of the base stations to the computer is also similar to the connection process of wired scanners. They use the RS232, USB or PS2 connection. When using the USB ad PS2 connections, data is transferred to the PCs keyboard buffer. It will appear as ASCII text, appearing on the screen of the PC anywhere the cursor flashes. If you are using the RS232 interface, the scanned input is taken but it is not displayed at the flashing cursor. The data is just taken and place where it is programmed to go.

Wireless wedge scanners have 2 varieties. They only differ from the way the scanner talks to its base station. Oftentimes, they use a so-called “frequency hopping algorithm” that makes use of the 14 available channels with a 2.4ghz spectrum designed for wireless communication.

There are also cases, where they utilize the Bluetooth protocol. Although they are both similar in performance and range, the Bluetooth protocol enables you to connect your scanner onto any Bluetooth-enabled receiver, sending the ASCII text there. With this

Tags: Adapting, AMAZING, Barcode, Bluetooth, scanners, wireless, world

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