Connecting a Barcode Scanner > Why Use a Serial Interface Barcode Scanner?

Most barcode scanners have a USB or keyboard interface, and they act like a keyboard device – when a barcode is scanned, it appears as if the barcode number was typed on the keyboard and the “Enter” key was hit. This is great if the cursor is sitting in a field that is waiting for someone to type in a number and the “Enter” button is hit, but it just does not work if the User is trying to use other programs on the computer. For example, if you are writing a Word document and a member scans his card the numbers will appear in the Word document.

With a Serial Interface (RS232) scanner an application can listen for input from the scanner and handle that input in the background, independently of what’s happening onscreen. The Serial (RS232) port is an older technology, but that old technology is the best and only way to handle barcode scans in the background.

Your computer will most likely not include any built-in serial ports, so you will need to add one or more USB/Serial Adapters. A USB/Serial adapter allows you to connect any Serial device to a USB port. You can purchase USB/Serial Adapters at:

www.gymassistant.com/product/usb-serial-adapter/

Note: Access Control applications require a slightly different adapter, so contact Gym Assistant if you have any questions.

Note: Some higher-end USB barcode scanners have a built-in USB/Serial adapter that must be properly configured before use. Please refer to your barcode scanner User Guide for more information.