Wireless Barcode Scanners - A Primer on the Eight Most Used Symbologies

Wireless Barcode Scanners

In today's global economy, barcode technologies are changing rapidly. Symbologies that were common place 10 years ago are not being employed in new applications. Through all this change, there are still four basic criteria that define and characterize a specific symbology or code.

• Character set - alphanumeric or numeric
• Number of ASCII Characters - ranges from as few as 10 to the full complement of 128
• Maximum characters per inch - ranges from 9.4 at the lowest to 17.8 at the largest
• Variable length - This is a yes or no criteria, either a symbology is variable length or it is not

Off the 400 plus barcode symbologies in use globally today, eight are the most common. Following is a short description of each of those eight symbologies including their predominant uses:

1. Code 39 - It is variable length and known to be the most commonly used symbology in industrial barcode systems today. It has a alphanumeric character set with 43 ASCII characters. It gets its name from the configuration of the bars, three of the nine are wide and six bars are narrow. There are four special characters that when paired with the alphanumeric characters extend the code 39 to the full ASCII character set of 128. It is known for its ease of use and capacity for standard check digits for data security.
2. Code 128 - Uses the full 128 ASCII character set and is variable length. Each character is represented by 11 modules that can be one of four bar widths. It is the most easily read code with the highest message integrity due to a large number of separate check routines. Of the eight common symbologies, it is the most flexible. Due to its flexibility it is becoming the symbology of choice for new applications.
3. UPC-A (Universal Product Code - A) - Is fixed length and is most common in retail. It is the barcode used in grocery stores and other retail applications across the US. It is a 12 digit numeric only code. The first six digits are assigned to an entity by the Uniform Code Council, the next five are assigned by the entity and the last digit is used as check digit. A variation called UPC-E is a compressed six digit code used for small packages including magazines and books.
4. EAN/JAN - 13 - This is a fixed length code similar to the UPC-A code but encodes a 13th digit. The 12th and 13th digits generally are used to represent the first two digits of the 2 or 3 digit country code. A variation called EAN/JAN-8 includes four digits for the country code. These symbologies are most often used in international shipping and transportation applications.
5. Interleaved 2 of 5 - Is a variable length, numeric barcode typically used in industrial and master carton labeling. It uses bars to represent the first character and interleaved white spaces represent the second character. Each character has two wide elements and three narrow elements.
6. Code 93 - This code is similar to Code 39 but encodes more characters per inch. It encodes the full 128 ASCII character set and uses 9 modules arranged into 3 bars with adjacent spaces. Code 92 is used for some of the same applications as Code 39, but when more needs to be represented in the code.
7. Codabar - This is a variable length symbology capable of encoding 16 characters within any length message. Codabar is constrained in its use and its reliability and not recommended for new applications.
8. MSI Plessey - Is a variable length numeric symbology generally used in marking retail shelves. Each character consists of four bars with intervening spaces for each encoded digit, up to two symbol check digits and a reverse start code.

The above is intended as an introductory description of the eight most used barcode symbologies, not a basis for making business decisions on new applications. Solicit the advice of a professional that can make recommendations based on your specific business requirements.

This is the second in a series of articles intended to describe and inform on barcode technologies. The first step in any business decision is to have a basic understanding of the technology so that the available options are assessed objectively.
Wireless Barcode Scanner

Higher Investment Costs Typically Apply to the Uninformed - Wireless Barcode Scanners

Wireless Barcode Scanners

There are more than 400 international barcode brands currently in use today. When influential the right symbology for your business, it is best to use a universal influential supported by most manufacturers. The other factors to consider are the type and amount of data to be encoded and the cost of the associated scanning and printing equipment.

Generally, each character in a bar code is represented by a series of bars and spaces. The code includes a quiet zone, start code, data, stop code and trailing quiet zone. Some codes support check digits to ensure data integrity. The check digits are usually located before the stop code.

The compactness of a barcode is defined by the narrowest element (in this case width when displayed horizontally) of the barcode. There are three standard densities or resolutions:

• High density/resolution - less than.009 inches (.23mm)
• Medium density/resolution - between.009 inches (.23mm) and.020 inches (.50mm)
• Low density/resolution - greater than.020 inches (.50mm)

For the most effective scanning, despite of the type of input device, you should use the lowest density possible that will print on the area available on your application. In a nutshell, the lower the density, the larger the graphic and a larger depth of field for the scanner to recognize the symbols.

The low density symbols can be printed on any dot matrix, inkjet or laser printer thus reducing the cost of high density printing and scanning equipment. As we said earlier, the key to selection is the space available on the your application, e.g. shipping labels, price tags, etc. Many buyers purchase high cost printing equipment when their standard office printer will suffice.

The symbologies are defined by four criteria:

• Character Set - alphanumeric or numeric
• Number of ASCII Characters - the standard symbologies range from 10 to 128
• Maximum Characters per inch - the standard symbologies range from 9.4 to 24.2
• Variable Length - barcodes are either variable length or not.

The above is only intended as an preliminary primer to the barcode technologies. The objective is to provide a growing knowledge base for businesses to use in making purchase decisions. The uninformed will pay more for equipment and systems they do not need.

The next articles in this series will continue to describe and inform on barcode technologies. Specifically, the next article will be on the nine symbologies most accepted by the international industrial community.

Wireless Barcode Scanner

Wireless Barcode Scanner - Tips to Purchasing a Wireless Barcode Scanner

Wireless Barcode Scanner

Improving business processes is very important which is why making use of a wireless barcode scanner is a great idea. These devices are designed to help with tasks like managing your inventory by storing data in a central host computer so you can make better decisions. Prior to purchasing, there are some factors to consider so here are tips to helping you get started.

One of the most trusted brands is Wasp Technologies as this company has been producing barcode scanners for quite some time now that are built to be reliable and durable. While these gadgets absolutely do not come cheap, spend money a quality unit is definitely worth it. You perhaps would want to spend money on a scanner that would only break down on you.

Another factor to consider is the range as you will most likely be moving around the warehouse or business environment quite a bit. Most of these devices from Wasp Technologies are able to transmit data up to 160 feet by making use of advanced Bluetooth technology. Depending on your needs, this may be enough but there are those models that are able to transmit even additional for an extra cost.

Finally, the product should also have a fairly good battery life before you need to recharge it as you will most likely be using it on a frequent basis. It should also come with software that is easy to operate so you can get started right away. While these devices are fairly expensive, they can prove to be extremely beneficial as they can help to give a better overview of your product inventory.

Wireless Barcode Scanner

Wireless Barcode Scanner - The History of Barcode Scanner

Wireless Barcode Scanner

A laser barcode scanner is the most ordinary type of barcode scanner. They are generally easy to use and do not have to be in real close nearness to a barcode in order to read the barcode.

The idea of the modern barcode can be traced back to 1948 when a graduate student at Drexel Institute in Philadelphia approached a teacher and told him about a conversation regarding a way to quickly and accurately capture product data at the check out counter. The idea intrigued the teacher and he worked on a product for the next two years and finally invented the first barcode by using Morse code.

The student and the teacher applied for a patent. IBM wanted to develop the technology but the teacher and student held out for a price that more closely reflected the potential of the technology and sold the patent to Philco in the early 1960s, and Philco went on to sell the patent to RCA.

Other companies were just beginning systems as well, knowing that the grocery business, in particular, would benefit from an easier way to keep track of items sold and when to re-order items. It was not until 1974 that the first product was actually logged in using a barcode system - the product was a 10 pack of Wrigley's chewing gum.

Next came industrial companies wanting to use a barcode system and then libraries got into the act. Throughout the 1970s became affordable and practical. The use of laser barcode scanners made the entire process much easier.

There are many laser barcode scanners to choose from and manufacturers include Wasp, Motorola, Honeywell and DataLogic to name a few. These scanners can read a barcode from about six inches all the way up to about thirty feet depending on the scanner you wish to purchase. A laser barcode scanner can cost as little as one hundred fifty dollars and as much as two thousand dollars.

The Honeywell 4820 scanner is great for light industrial mobile barcode reading applications. It features Bluetooth v1.2 radio wireless communications for freedom of movement in retail, warehouse and distribution. It offers movement of up to thirty-three feet from the base. This laser barcode scanner is priced at just about six hundred dollars.

The Wasp WLS9500 series laser barcode scanner is a high performance scanner. It is ideal for healthcare, retail and warehouse use. It will even read damaged or scantily printed barcodes and can scan barcodes up to poorly thirty feet away. It is designed to withstand constant, rigorous use in office to warehouse environments. It is priced at just around three hundred dollars.

The Motorola Symbol LS2280 laser barcode scanner is unimportant but will give you maximum productivity. It will work from near contact to approximately seventeen inches away. It is ideal for hospitals, retail stores, education and government settings. It is very strong and offers a scratch resistant tempered glass exit window. It is priced at approximately one hundred sixty dollars.

These are only three examples of many great laser barcode scanners that are available. You can often find great deals online and it is also very easy to do a comparison of quality to ensure that you are purchasing the barcode scanner that will meet all of your needs. 


Wireless Barcode Scanner