Simple yet flexible

Hand Held Products Imageteam 5620 is an imager based, bluetooth enabled, cordless linear scanner. Over the past several months the IT5620 has impressed us with its ease of configuration and number of operational parameters that can be set for it.

Batch mode and Roam Range

The first thing we tested is the “Data Accumulation Mode”, referred to as “Batch Mode” by some of our customers. The roam range on the scanner is impressive. Though it is rated at 33 feet (10 meters), at several locations we were able to achieve in excess of 100 feet. Once the scanner gets out of range of the base it can be set up to accumulate data. In this mode it will collect up to 500 UPC symbols (your mileage may vary based upon your barcode content size). Though 500 barcodes are not enough for a shift of work it is more than enough for the occasional signal interruption due to a forklift intersecting the signal or a quick jump into a seldomly used storage vault.

Demos with USB or Keyboard wedge

Though the scanner will not charge, communications can be achieved with only the keyboard wedge or USB cable connected to the base and computer. This has been very useful in demonstrating the scanner with nothing but a laptop.

With separate charging bases available and the ability to connect up to 7 scanners to one communications base, some have used a communications base with out a power supply to reduce the number of plugs they need at a workstation. Each worker is assigned a scanner and connects it to the communications base at the beginning of each shift. They return the scanner to a bank of charging cradles at the end of each shift.

USB COM Port Emulation

From an integrators stand point, the best feature about the IT5620 USB kit is the ability to emulate a Com port. With newer computer systems coming out with USB ports in lieu of COM ports, integration software that has been written to intercept COM port communications has meant using a USB to Com port adapter. These have proven some what troublesome as they require an additional piece of hardware and the weight of the COM port DB9 connectors can pull the USB plug out of its socket (that’s a fun one to trouble shoot for the first time). The IT5620 can emulate a COM port over USB, with no additional hardware, solves both of these problems.

Read Range

The read range is as to be expected. If you have a scanner that is more than 5 years old and are upgrading to the IT5620 you will be impressed at the range and speed. If you are adding the IT5620 to your existing set of modern scanners you will not be disappointed.

Conclusion

The IT5620 is a short range wireless scanner with solid performance. The ease of implementing its configuration options makes it simple to ship, un-configured, to users across the country regardless of their technical abilities and still have a working setup in only a few minuets of phone time.