Inateck Wireless Barcode Scanner 2D, Bluetooth 5.0 QR Code Scanner, Portable Pocket Scanner, 30m Transmission Range,Read Barcodes on Screen, BCST-40

Barcode readers are a little specialist for most people. You need a good reason to warrant buying one for home use. Businesses on the other hand may well need them for stock control and the such. Then there is that group of people, like me, who just love to try out these sort of gadgets. It’s quite addictive! I’ve tried quite a few different barcode readers, most from this manufacturer. They’ve all had a good quality finish and work reliably. This particular model is the first pocket-sized one I’ve tried. Although it’s small it works just as well as the bigger gun-shaped ones. The range of barcodes it can read is exhaustive, and I won’t bother listing them all here as the seller has done a good job of that on the product page. Probably the most important 2D code is the QR Code as this is appearing on so many products with links to their website or customer support. Like most readers, this one acts as a keyboard on your computer. When it scans a code it types it for you. So you need to be ready to receive the information. For instance, if you want to read a QR code that has a website link in it, start your browser and place the cursor on the address line. Then scan the QR code and the web address will be printed straight into the browser. It can connect to your computer in one of two ways. One uses a Bluetooth connection and the other uses a direct USB connection. Either way is just as easy to use. Bluetooth is easy to pair and connect. If you are doing say a stock take, and you don’t want to have a computer nearby, then the scanner can be set to inventory mode where it will store all the codes internally. Then, when back at the computer, all the codes can be uploaded in one go. Using all the functions is done by QR codes, and they supply the most common ones on a handy little card. Point the scanner at the QR code you want and that function will be activated. It’s quite an easy way of doing things. The scanner emits a red light when the button is pressed making it easy to line up with the code to be read. It’s worked on all but one barcode which was printed on an opaque plastic bag. On every other surface, including on-screen, worked perfectly. There is a beep when the code has been read along with a vibration which gives an acknowledgement that it’s done. The scanner has a built-in rechargeable battery and can be recharged using the supplied USB lead connected to any USB power source. Not sure how long the charge lasts for, but I have been playing with it for quite some time and the battery is still saying 100%. Overall, not cheap, but it’s a decent barcode scanner. I hope that helps.

Are you forever searching items or logging things for an inventory? This could help you do it a lot more efficiently. This is the Inateck Wireless Barcode Scanner 2D Bluetooth 5.0. It measures just 9 x 3.8 x 2.7cm, weighs just 181g and comes with wrist strap, USB to Micro USB charger and fabric carry pouch. Works with most o/s including Mac, iOS, Windows, Linux, Android etc. You will need to charge device firstly for a couple of hours, this will give you a good 8hrs scanning. Once charged pair to your chosen device via Bluetooth look for BCST-40-92EF-HID and pair. Once paid open up your chosen browser or spreadsheet you wish to use. Browser will get you product in search, on spreadsheet it will log the barcode number. Both lightning fast with added vibration. This will cope with most barcodes including 1D, QR, colourful, inverted, stacked etc. Simply press button and red light will cover code and scan. In a millisecond. You can even be upto 30m away from your paired device which is handy when doing lock up inventory. We found this handy to keep a log of the wife's art stock, I am going to log all my vinyl / cds eventually too. What lockdown does to you hey? The settings are a little odd, as you have to scan various QR codes, I guess it gives you practice! I would've preferred an app linked to a search engine which collates everything for you. But I guess it would up the price. If you are looking for a nice lightweight barcode scanner this is for you. Just a little fiddly to set up. Recommended.

The data capture 'inventory' mode was the feature I was most interested in using, though it is quite happy to be a 'tethered' reader, either using via USB or wireless Bluetooth connected to a Macbook Pro (MacOS 10.15.7). I did find some 1D barcodes that the unit would not read that its 1D cousin could read (BCST-41). As 2D codes are larger, aiming the unit has to be done with care, particularly if there are other 1D or 2D codes nearby. The unit is only to happy to read anything in range that it can see and that may not be what was intended! When collecting data in inventory mode, it sensibly goes into standby after a few minutes. To wake it up it needs an extended button press, but it won't scan without a further press. If Bluetooth is within range then there is no visible indication regards whether the unit is active. If not, some more button pressing is needed, which can be a little irritating. However, it is likely that Bluetooth will be out of range so it gives a steady green, flashing warning - a useful, accidental indication that the unit is active. To copy the buffer to the host requires USB or Bluetooth. I have not found the re-establishing of the Bluetooth connection to be reliable, so one resorts to using USB. This does have the advantage of also topping up the unit's battery. The unit comes with a barcode command menu card. The code for clearing the buffer is next to the code for outputting the buffer and you can all too easily clear the buffer. As it is 4Mbyte (not in the spec) this slip could permanently lose a *lot* of work. Given the difficulty in aiming the unit, the codes need to be re-printed elsewhere (1D or 2D) to suit the application. You fairly quickly find out that the commands are short strings with the prefix '/*' and affix '*/'. In inventory mode inapplicable commands will be treated as user data. So a user who is not clear about what mode the reader is in may scan items from the menu card and these will be stored in the buffer. The unit will scan many types of barcode without restriction, particularly because of its necessarily wide field of view. So, it is quite likely some later filtering of buffer contents will be needed in practice. The set of warning tones I found too complicated to understand. So there needs to be a very clear and simple procedure defined for the inventory-taker featuring a restricted menu card. There is a vibrator as well as a sounder - useful in noisy environments. Having monitored the battery status, I can believe the life claims: I've not yet seen mine go below 100%. The Bluetooth range is going to depend on local obstructions and I've not witnessed it work further than about 6m. At the time of writing there was no manual available. However, the customer support is responsive. It may be that there are a lot of functions that are not covered in quick start guide that comes with the unit. When there's a manual to download I suppose we'll see!

Using this tool is very easy. Its light weight (65 grams) is another advantage. Connecting with Bluetooth is very easy. The area of use is very common. I recommend a quality product. included in the box * 1, USB Cable * 1, User Manual * 1, Function Setting Card * 1, Lanyard * 1, Flannelette Bag * 1

This is a fantastic little device. If is a compact, simple design with easy to use features. It is lightweight but made of good quality materials and comes with a handy wrist strap. Most importantly it works very well. I'm very impressed with this small but effective barcode reader.

Great little barcode scanner. Very easy to use, straight out of the box. The charge gives you enough time to get it set up and experiment before using it properly. Best to charge fully before getting serious with it. Depending on how intensely you use it, the battery holds a good charge. Nice size for keeping with you as easy to slip in the pocket, so much more convenient than the larger scanners. Seems to work accurately and quickly. This one is particularly useful as it has the QR scanner capability too. Certainly not particularly cheap, but makes stock taking so much easier and much more pleasant!

A good portable scanner, and it's 2D capabilities works well for irregular barcodes, such as small stickers or curved ones. It's an upgrade to using my phone for inventory stocking, and works along side my excel spreadsheet input. The battery lasts well and it's happily portable. Works as intended.

I have a traditional barcode scanner that works brilliantly but is too chunky to carry around with me. I was happy to try out a barcode scanner that could fit in my laptop bag. I found it reasonably easy to set up and connect. I have only had to charge it up once as the battery seems to last forever. I found it generally okay to use. I feel it has more functions than I need and so I did struggle to get it working as I wanted especially as you don't receive a proper manual. I also got a bit irritated at the fact that it doesn't instantly wake up from sleep mode. I do tend to have to do other tasks whilst I am scanning so having to push buttons to wake it up each time I needed to scan something was irritating. I haven't yet worked out whether I can turn off the sleep function. I do like this scanner because of the size but I will keep my old scanner to use at home.