This will ensure that the unit is fit for the purpose and can survive in the environment.

Examples include:

• Retail — lower cost, for use in clean, dry environments
• Industrial — usually featuring a high level of sealing against dust and water, and toughened to resist knocks and bumps
• Hospital/Medical — antimicrobial case and sealed to allow frequent sanitisation
• And so on…

This will ensure that the scanner’s form is well suited to its intended purpose.

Examples include:

• On Counter: portable hand-held or omnidirectional model
• Embedded In Counter: large, fixed-mount omnidirectional model
• Stand-Mounted: allows hands-free use where the product is presented
  to the scanner
• Handheld: a wide range to suit a variety of industries
• Finger, Ring, or Glove Scanner: allows hands free use, such as
  for carton handling

Choosing the correct scan-engine type will ensure you get the correct reading range, code types, and scanning style for your needs.

Examples include:

• Charge Coupled Device (CCD) – Scans linear (1D) barcodes (and sometimes PDF417) with no moving parts.
• Imager – A specialised camera that can scan both 1D and 2D barcodes, typically in any orientation. Standard and long range models available.
• Laser – Rapid scanning for 1D barcodes, but can be fragile due to using a rotating mirror within the mechanism.
• Omnidirectional Laser – A “grid” of laser scanners combined to allow 1D barcodes to be read from any orientation.

A number of interfaces are available, and choosing the correct one will ensure that the scanner works with your system in the
way you want to use it.

Examples include:

CORDED

• USB: The most common connection method, featuring a number of different operating modes to suit almost all systems and software packages
• Serial: RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485 for connection to industrial, legacy, and other equipment
• Ethernet: Connect via a network to allow remote installation or access from multiple systems
• PS/2 Keyboard: Largely obsolete, but available for legacy systems

Note: Most modern scanners have a multi-interface capability. The interface can be changed by connecting a different cable and configuring the scanner.

CORDLESS

• Bluetooth
• Proprietary Wireless Technologies (such as 433MHz Radio-Frequency)

Bluetooth is by far the most common cordless technology used by modern scanners.

• These typically have a range of between 30 and 100 meters, and can be used with a wide variety of systems including PC’s, laptops, smartphones and tablets.
• Bluetooth uses an “always on” connection, and so Bluetooth scanners require frequent charging.
• Proprietary wireless scanners are an alternative to Bluetooth cordless scanners. These scanners use a different radio frequency (typically 433MHz) and function differently to Bluetooth scanners.

For example, they frequently allow multiple scanners to connect to a single radio base station, and have significantly longer battery life due to using “burst transmission” instead of an “always on” connection.

Doing your homework (with our assistance of course!) and selecting the right scanner based on the information above,
will ensure you end up with a device that will suit your needs for a long, long time.

POINT OF SALE (POS) SCANNERS

Also known as supermarket scanners, POS scanners are high-cost specialty scanners, generally only used in high-end
supermarket chains.

• They are high-speed omnidirectional laser or imager scanners designed to read from multiple sides
  to ensure fast scanning of barcodes.
• They almost always include built-in weight scales for fresh produce.

AUTOMATION SCANNERS

Automation scanners are typically used to scan goods on conveyors as they pass.

They come in a wide range of styles designed for different functions, which we’ll cover in greater depth in the chapter on automation.