seeking barcode scanner

[Philip Pemberton]

David Griffith wrote:
> I have more than a few of those already.  I'm discovering that they're 
> not especially suited for scanning an entire library.

The PSC 5381-123042 is a pretty decent scanner. Handheld, laser-based, RS232 
output, with a pushbutton to enable the scanner. Fairly cheap on the 
second-hand market, too.

I've got one tethered to a Socket Communications "R-I/O" PCMCIA serial port 
card, but the interface is via a 10-pin RJ45 on the bottom of the scanner, so 
not hard to interface with. IIRC it asks for +5V at 200mA, and provides 
RS232-level RXD/TXD outputs.

If I was going down this route (again) I'd pick up a cheap used scanner on 
ebay, and an FTDI USB-to-TTL converter cable (their UC232R-10-NE is probably 
the best for this sort of hackery). Lop the DB9 off the scanner, and desolder 
the one on the UC232 (personally I'd hacksaw through the DB9 pins and desolder 
the remains). Solder the bare wires from the scanner onto the UC232 board, and 
put it in a small plastic box. Use a few cable ties to hold the cables down 
(epoxy/superglue the cables to the ties if you feel pessimistic) and you've 
got a USB scanner for far less than a new one would have cost...

You could also (probably) use one of those PS/2 keyboard to USB adapter 
cables, and a keyboard-wedge scanner. Only thing is, some of those adapters 
won't forward keypresses along unless they can actually see a keyboard on the 
other end of the cable (most scanners let the keyboard handle the pings, and 
just inject characters as-and-when).

As regards to what scanner to use, go name brand -- that is, Symbol, PSC, or 
Metrologic. The Metrologic 9520 (Voyager) series work very well, and are 
pretty damned reliable (not to mention cheap on the used market, and pretty 
close to bulletproof).

If you're wanting to scan a ton of ISBN barcodes off of books, I'd skip the 
5381 (unless you can find one with the optional -- and expensive -- desk stand 
or can live with having to press the button to make it scan) and get a desk 
scanner of some description. The "el-cheapo" Chinese scanners might be an 
option, but don't expect them to scan anywhere near as reliably as a Symbol or 
Metrologic.

Just my 2p...

-- 
Phil.
classiccmp at philpem.me.uk
http://www.philpem.me.uk/