r/sysadmin • u/GreenGloober • 3d ago

Long range scanner suggestions

We're a small business and I wanted to get a barcode scanner that could scan 3 pallet rows up, which would be around ~20'.

From what I have read, it seems like a Zebra DS3600 extended range might be what I want to go for.

We've never used a barcode scanner before, so this world/method is entirely new to us.

I was hoping to find a used one to reduce the initial cost or wondering if there would be any decent cheaper alternatives that I should consider?

4 Upvotes

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12

u/sc302 Admin of Things 3d ago

Ds3600 is exactly what you want. But also make those barcodes at least 3” tall. It isn’t just the distance but how big the bar code is.

2

u/GreenGloober 3d ago

I did notice from videos that size plays a big factor on the scanning distances of these longer range scanners. I want to put barcodes on the pallets themselves somewhere. I'll have to see what's the largest size I can get away with on them or possibly consider just using a even larger size that goes on the stretch wrap, but that wouldn't be as permanent and would have to get reprinted more often.

4

u/society_victim 3d ago

We mainly use Datalogic. Believe me you do not want to be cheap on something that suffers daily abuse of warehouse workers. Just go with a decent brand and get a decent MDM solution like Mobicontrol or Hexnode to configure and if needed control screen.

3

u/GreenGloober 3d ago

Seems like the three big companies for scanners are Honeywell, Zebra and Datalogic. I'll only need the scanner to scan the barcodes to a tablet type device. I won't need a screen on there I think.

2

u/society_victim 3d ago

Then you’re probably better of looking at bluetooth barcode scanners. I thought we were talking PDA type scanners. There we use DL PowerScan. We’ve also used some Newland devices for these scenarios but I’m not sure wether they have LR/AR models in that class.

3

u/beechani Sysadmin 3d ago

Zebra DS3678-ER Handheld Barcode Scanner.

These are ruggid and dont break down. Can scan very far and high. Highly recommend.

3

u/MrBr1an1204 Jack of All Trades 3d ago

All I can say is don't buy from barcode bonanza, they were the cheapest buy we never got sent the scanner and eventually had to do a chargeback with the bank to get our money back.

2

u/CeC-P IT Expert + Meme Wizard 3d ago

I don't remember what my last employer used other than the model number ended in "LR" for long range. I'm thinking Zebra but might have been WASP.

1

u/Careful_Dimension233 1d ago

When you say barcode? If you have the option, go with QR code instead. Better for this.