Wednesday 18 December 2013

Honeywell Voyager 1400g 2D Bar Code Reader

Dragon Solutions offering the Honeywell Voyager 1400g 2D Reader

We're currently selling the new Honeywell Voyager 1400g 2D barcode reader so we thought we'd better try it out!

On receiving the new reader, we notice it comes packaged in a non-nonsense rigid corrugated cardboard box. A decent amount of bubble wrap is used for the protection of the contents.

This model comes complete with a hands free stand which requires assembling - when we say assembling, you just have to push the stem into the base, and you're done!

The model we tested is the USB kit. The USB interface lead simple pushes into the base of the scanner and clicks into place using an RJ-type plug. To remove this lead, you need a bent paper clip to release the spring clip.
Once you plug the USB plug into your computer, the drivers are automatically loaded - this just takes a couple of minutes and then you are ready to scan.

The default setting for your reader is 'Manual Trigger' - this means when you are using in hand-held mode, you have to press the button on top of the reader to activate a scan. When you insert the nose of the reader into the hands-free stand, it automatically sets the mode to 'Presentation'.
We tried scanning a variety of codes with this reader. Since it is what is known as an 'Area Imager', you don't need to align the scan beam to the code like you would if it were a laser scanner. There is a red rectangle in the centre of the diffuse illumination which is where the main reading area is. ITF, EAN, Code128, and a variety of linear codes were scanned with no problem irrespective of their size.

We were particularly impressed with the performance on small 2D codes. The little 5mm square ones which you find in Nokia mobiles and the negative ones printed on the batteries were despatched in no time.

Our feeling is that if you want a scanner which is capable of scanning all codes - linear and 2D and you're going to be working in mainly hands free mode, then this is the reader for you. If you're going to be using a reader in mainly hand-held mode, then you might find the gun form factor of the Datalogic QD2400 to be more suitable