802.11a/b Barcode Hardware

[disque71]

Does anyone know where I could find barcode scanner hardware using 802.11 standard. The main use of the product would be for inventory tracking.

[ua549]

This is new territory for manufacturers. Most use their own RF technology.

Try these links.

http://www.cdsalesman.com/raco/symbppt2700.htm

http://www.barcode-superstore.com/intermec5020.htm

[cleal]

You might take a look at an example of a Symbol Technologies wearable scanner at http://www.symbol.com/products/barcode_scanners/barcode_wearable_wss_1000.html . They pretty much lead the field as they hold most of the basic patents for laser scanners. Barcode scanning is getting ready to be replaced by RFID chips over the next ten years, especially for inventory tracking. Systems will remain basically the same with the scanner being the part that will be replaced.

[cleal]

You might take a look at an example of a Symbol Technologies wearable scanner at http://www.symbol.com/products/barcode_scanners/barcode_wearable_wss_1000.html . They pretty much lead the field as they hold most of the basic patents for laser scanners. Barcode scanning is getting ready to be replaced by RFID chips over the next ten years, especially for inventory tracking. Systems will remain basically the same with the scanner being the part that will be replaced.

[MoleStrangler]

Ok heres the truth.

RFID wil not replace the humble barcode for many many years because the huge difference in cost. RFID also has a long way in terms of world wide standards, but this is moveing forward. barcode are simple, very cheap and very well know and used in all industries.

The barcoding manufactures pioneered the wirelessLAN technology and have the greatest experiance with wirelessLAN installations. I have seem some Cisco guys at work and they were just a joke. The likes of Cisco, HP & Apple only appeared with 802.11b products started to appear, where were they with 802.11, OpenAir, Synth/UHF, Crystal/UHF. Experiance counts and experiancing the evolution of wirelessLANs makes for a better understanding how to make it work better.

802.11a is not really a wireless technology for the warehouse or manufacturing plant. It is designed for the office and I would not expect to see many (if any) 802.11a barcoding terminals around.

802.11b (2.4GHz) on the other hand has a good outdoor range of 300m and has been used in induistrial applicaitons with great success. You will also find 100% of all good barcoding terminal manufactures will support 802.11b today but not 802.11a.

The problem with 802.11a is the higher the frequency (@ 5.2GHz)the shorter the range and the greater effect objects reduce the range. Basically its crap in a warehouse, ok in the office, you would have to spend a fortune on Access Points to install 802.11a in a warehouse when comparing it with 802.11b. You are trying to reduce the cost of errors when installing a barcode system.


Try http://www.intermec.com