This is advice detailing what you can do when you run into an issue with your scanner.
This can be applicable to these scanners supported by Tower: Symbol / Metrologic / Motorola / Honeywell (1452g, 1472g, MS-7580g, MS-7120g), Element Bluetooth scanner, Zebra LI2208 or LS2208.
My scanner is scanning but it's not being scanned into the computer
Your scanner might be having a pairing issue with the computer. There are two things you can try:
- If it's a USB scanner, unplug the cable from the back of the computer and plug it into another USB port.
- If it's a handheld scanner, remove the battery from the scanner to fully restart it. Once the battery is placed back inside, place the scanner into cradle and wait for it to pair with the cradle again.
My scanner can't scan the product barcode
This is usually accompanied by no normal beeps heard when scanning, and there could be a few reasons why this is the case:
- If you're able to scan similar barcodes previously, there could be an issue with the alignment or interference of the label or barcode. You can try realigning the label settings based on what type of printer you use, such as Barcode Settings for A4 printer labels and Printer Settings → Advanced Settings for Zebra label printers.
- If it's a new scanner or it's been factory reset, you may need to scan some programming codes to allow to it to read the current barcode symbology that you tried. Do this by searching online for the product manual of your specific scanner, and use a barcode scanning app on your phone to determine what symbology you need to program/activate.
- The quality of the barcode printing may be too low. Look carefully at the barcode to see if there are smudged/blurred lines, or white lines cutting through any text on it from top to bottom.
- Smudged/blurred lines may require the printer to tune the printing speed down (slower) or decrease the darkness of the printing.
- White lines cutting through may indicate an issue with the print head, and you can try cleaning that out with a wipe.
Retailer doesn't find the item when I scan but I can see the barcode in the Point of Sale screen
- If you've just purchased a new scanner, you might need to scan the carriage return programming code for the scanner to then automatically press [Enter] after scanning a barcode. You can search online for your scanner's brand, model and add carriage return into the search to find relevant results. E.g. Honeywell 7680g carriage return.
The scanner is 'disconnecting' or not activating when it hasn't been used for some time
Scanners can frequently have a power-saving mode or setting that will put the scanner to sleep or power down when it hasn't been used in a certain amount of time.
This can be changed by programming the scanner, and the steps to do this depend on the scanner model.
The manual for the scanner will have a barcode relating to power-saving or sleep or standby modes that needs to be scanned and possibly changed. Refer to the scanner manual for more information.
The scanner may also not appear to scan if the computer has gone to sleep or power-saving mode so make sure the computer hasn't done that.