Setting up a Zebra DS2278 with iOS
By: POSGuys - 12/6/2017

In our latest video, we show how some recent updates to the [Zebra DS2278][1] scanner make it an excellent choice to pair with an iOS system. The new units have been equipped with a micro USB port to give it charging capabilities without the use of a cradle. Zebra has also added a double-click feature to quickly open and close out the keyboard in your OS while scanning.

Transcript:

Hi, Travis from POSGuys.com,

Today we are going over the [DS2278][2] and pairing it with iOS and using it in iOS. Out of all the retail styled barcode scanners this is the one we recommend the most because they added a couple new features into it that makes it very accessible for iOS.

So, traditionally, when you order a Bluetooth barcode scanner, like this, it's set up to work with Windows. So, it has a USB cable, it has a cradle, and then the scanner itself. Whenever you plug the cradle into your PC, then it will work as a keyboard, wedge scanner. So,  wherever the cursor is, is where your barcode scanner will scan into. So, the forma factor on it is very familiar to a cabled scanner, it's just cordless.

So, what they did with the [2278][3], because they thought it might be used with tablets, is they removed the need for the cradle. So, it does have contacts on the bottom of the scanner to charge it, but it also has a micro USB port that can plug in with any micro USB. So, if you have an extra phone charger, or even just a USB port, you plug in a micro USB cable into it and then when the scanner is connected, you can see that it is now charging. And this USB port is on the bottom of my Star printer, it just has an extra charging port on it, so you can plug it in. But, if your stand has a power port, or you just want to use a wall adapter, then you can charge the scanner through that type of thing.

So it saves you a little bit of money because you don't have to buy the cradle. The cradle is really nice for charging because it's just drop in. So, as soon as you set it into the cradle, it starts charging. But, if you want to save yourself some money, then you can omit the cradle use.

So, pairing with iOS is pretty straightforward, except that the barcodes that you need don't come with the quickstart guide. So, we did create an easy-pair guide for iOS that you can download off of our website, POSGuys.com. We will put a link in the bottom of this video if you want to check it out as well.

So, there are a couple barcodes that you need. The first thing is that you need to enable iOS features. So, there is s 2D bardoce listed. You scan that one. And then you'll need to find how you want it to connect via Bluetooth. I'm choosing to use HID Bluetooth classic. There is also a low power mode, but classic seems to work just fine.

So, once you do that, then it will no longer try to sync with the base. It's now going to try to sync with any kind of Bluetooth radio. You can see, in iOS, that it now detects the [DS2278][4] there. If you click on it, it will go ahead and pair. It's not going to ask for any kind of pin codes or anything like that, it just pairs automatically.

A couple of other barcodes. If you are going to be charging through the micro USB connection, on the quickstart guide, there is a little barcode there to help charge it sooner. So, it's called HID device conversion. I enabled that. And then, I'd like a carriage return because most of the apps require a carriage return, so I'm going to use that barcode as well.

So, now the scanner is connected and configured. We go into a simple notes program. You'll see the cursor on the screen, and if we scan a barcode, then it appears on the screen. And then you see the keyboard there as well. You scan again.

If you want the keyboard to go away, you double tap the trigger. And then the keyboard goes down. If you want it to come back, you double click again and it comes up. Double click, and it goes down. There's a keyboard toggle without having the need for a second button. On most if the companion-style scanners, the little thumb scanners, there are two buttons on it. One enables the keyboard, the other one enables the scanning.  Since this just has one button, it uses a double tap. And, then, you can always make it go down by just pushing the down keyboard button as well, if you want to do that.

So, that's how you make the keyboard come up and down with the barcode scanner without having a second button. That's how you pair with it. And, usage in the app will depend on it's ability to work with a Bluetooth keyboard. Some apps play friendly with it, other ones require a very specific barcode scanner to be paired. I'm going to log into Aldelo Express. This is in beta right now, but is has a retail mode.

This is actually restaurant software, but it does work with a barcode scanner, so if you had a mixed mode where you are selling hats and t-shirts along with food items, and you scan the barcode, then it will look for the barcode. This barcode wasn't entered into the database, but you can see how it works. So, it's pretty smart there.

If you go to the item name, and you need the keyboard to come up, again, you can double tap and the keyboard will come up and then you can type in the name of your item.

So, it's a good, little retail scanner. It's a much more familiar and ergonomic form-factor, so if you are going to be doing a lot of retail scanning, then this is definitely more comfortable than a thumb-style scanner. So, a good option there. The price point on this is very affordable, compared to the more expensive versions of the Zebra scanners. It's on their lower-end, but it's their only scanner that has that micro USB connection in a gun-style scanner.

For more information on the [DS2278][5] or to purchase, please visit us at POSGuys.com.

Thanks

A link the the [iOS setup guide][6].

[1]: https://posguys.com/barcode-reader-scanner_3/Zebra-DS2278_2590/
  [2]: https://posguys.com/barcode-reader-scanner_3/Zebra-DS2278_2590/
  [3]: https://posguys.com/barcode-reader-scanner_3/Zebra-DS2278_2590/
  [4]: https://posguys.com/barcode-reader-scanner_3/Zebra-DS2278_2590/
  [5]: https://posguys.com/barcode-reader-scanner_3/Zebra-DS2278_2590/
  [6]: https://posguys.com/download/zebra_ios_setup.pdf

Setting up a Zebra DS2278 with iOS By: POSGuys - 12/6/2017

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Setting up a Zebra DS2278 with iOS
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