Symbol LS2208 now Zebra LS2208
By: POSGuys - 3/21/2016

![Symbol LS2208][1][350][]

<h1>Symbol LS2208 now the Zebra LS2208</h1>

The [Zebra LS2208][2] is the new name for one of the best selling barcode scanners of all time with over 5 million units sold.  It was originally the [Symbol LS2208][3] and part of Symbol Solutions before they became Motorola Solutions which eventually was bought out by [Zebra Technologies][4].

What made the LS2208 so good was its compact form factor, double trigger, and easy compatibility.  When the 2208 was created, there was a lot of confusion on what interface to use, serial scanners, ps2 keyboard wedge interfaces, and synapse were all used in the point of sale and auto-id industries.  USB had not taken off yet.  The Symbol LS2208 could use all these interfaces with an interchangeable cable which gave IT Managers as well as SMB owner's confidence in that the product they were purchasing would be useable for many years.

Eventually USB keyboard emulation became the standard where the scanner will send data to wherever the cursor is on the screen.  Model [LS2208-7AZU0100ZR][5] was the most popular version.  USB, Dark Grey, and no stand.  This was replaced by a world wide and [North American specific version of the Zebra LS2208][6], which worked just like the older version just a different cable.

The stand on the LS2208 was also a breakthrough at the time as it automatically would put the scanner into a hands free auto-sense mode when placed into it.  It did this via a magnet in the head of the stand that would trigger a switch inside of the scanner to use auto-sense.  When taken out of the stand it would automatically go back into triggered mode.  The current version of the [black scanner with stand][7] is the [LS2208-SR20007R-NA][7]

As far as scanning capabilities the LS2208 still does very well after all these years.  It has a tight beam that is easy to aim and under indoor or low lights it works very well.  The LI2208 is an updated imager version of it that works better outdoors.  It is primarily used in retail settings where it will be scanning UPC and EAN product barcodes.  It does this very well in or out of the stand.  The extra small jewelry labels or extra large vehicle barcodes don't scan as well as some of the newer 2D image scanners can do.

[1]: https://posguys.blob.core.windows.net/content/images/blog/51150/ls2208-gray_560_420.png
  [2]: https://posguys.com/barcode-reader-scanner_3/Zebra-LS2208_481/
  [3]: https://posguys.com/barcode-reader-scanner_3/Zebra-LS2208_481/LS2208-7AZU0100ZR_1139445/
  [4]: https://posguys.com/zebra-barcode-printers+34/
  [5]: https://posguys.com/barcode-reader-scanner_3/Zebra-LS2208_481/LS2208-7AZU0100ZR_1139445/
  [6]: https://posguys.com/barcode-reader-scanner_3/Zebra-LS2208_481/LS2208-7AZU0100ZNA_1119468/
  [7]: https://posguys.com/barcode-reader-scanner_3/Zebra-LS2208_481/LS2208-SR20007R-NA_1116732/

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Symbol LS2208 now Zebra LS2208 By: POSGuys - 3/21/2016

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Symbol LS2208 now Zebra LS2208
By: POSGuys - 3/21/2016