Motorola LI2208 Review
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| Product: | LI2208 |
| Manufacturer: | Motorola |
| Type: | High Volume Retail |
| Capture Method: | Linear Imager |
| Support: | 5 Year
warranty through Motorola; Lifetime support through POSGUYS.com |
The LI2208 is Motorola’s first cabled linear imager. Ideal for mid-level to high-level retail or healthcare scanning, select models come equipped with cabling and auto-sense stand.
Typical uses and environments:
The LI2208 features Motorola’s aggressive linear imaging technology. The lightweight and durable design of the scanner ensures it can survive most usage environments, though it shines in retail, light industrial, and health care applications.
Standard Features & Advantages:
Everything you need to get started is included with the LI2208. An included quick-start guide gives you access to configuration codes, including adding a carriage return to successful scans or switching interface types. Additional configuration guides are available on our site. Select models include an auto-sense stand with flex-neck. Some assembly is required to put the auto-sense stand together, but it is very straightforward. The stand allows the LI2208 to act as a presentation scanner, and the flex-neck can be adjusted easily to optimize scanning performance at your checkstand.
Rubberized molding around the boot, head unit, and scanning window on the LI2208 prevent it from being damaged from incidental contact with counters, shelves, or products, and protects delicate products from accidental damage by the scanner itself. The molding adds drop resistance, allowing the scanner to fall off a counter with no ill effect.
Unique Advantages:
Although the first cabled linear imager from Motorola, the LI2208 offers some of the most aggressive barcode scanning in its class. Advertising a scan range of up to nearly three feet for standard retail barcodes, the LI2208 can get successful scans remarkably quickly and easily, speeding up the scanning process and saving time.
Imagers are known for their ability to read barcodes on LCD, and the LI2208 is no exception. Unlike other imagers on the market, however, the LI2208 can read dense barcodes without any zooming. For mobile couponing, customer loyalty, or any other customer-facing scanning, this dramatically speeds the scanning process.
An “aim mode” configuration is an added bonus when scanning pick lists or from sheets of densely populated barcodes. In this mode, the LI2208 displays its beam continuously, but will only send data when you pull the trigger. This dramatically improves scanning accuracy for users of all skill levels.
Motorola offers the LI2208 in standard black and white, but also has a model built with healthcare specific plastics. These scanners are designed to withstand the chemical cleaning agents that usually make plastics brittle or pitted. They also come in white with blue accents, a standard color combination for healthcare-specific devices.
Drawbacks:
The only drawback we experienced with the LI2208 is similar with all Motorola scanners. A carriage return is not set to send automatically after a successful scan, but it can be set using the included quick start guide. This isn’t too big a deal, though it does add a step when setting the scanner up for use with most POS software on the market.
Performance Testing:
In testing the performance of the Motorola LI2208, we ran it through a battery of tests, including scan range testing, barcode density, barcode width, and durability. We tested LI2208-SR7U2100SGN, which is the black LI2208 with USB interface cable and auto-sense stand. Our testing determined the scanner to perform better than other scanners in its class.
Motorola advertises an optimal scan range of 1” to 31” for retail barcodes (100% UPC-A), though in our testing we were able to get some scans from close to 36”. This is well beyond what most retailers will experience and ensures great scanning within normal tolerances. Scanning range varies based on barcode density, but still offers capabilities that exceed expectations.
When testing the durability of the LI2208, the scanner passed our 3-foot and 6-foot drop tests with ease. To simulate rough retail use, we attempted to damage the LI2208 by stomping on the unit and hitting it with pipes and other items. Despite some minor scuffing and some plastic cracking, the scanner is still able to scan barcodes quickly and easily.
Motorola’s linear imaging technology is relatively new as of 2013; however, it has the polish and capabilities you would expect from Motorola. The LI2208 can read barcodes as small as three mil, such as those you find on hard drives, cellular phone boxes, and small electronics. For larger barcodes, the LI2208 performs well, reading our 100 mil reflective barcode from over twenty feet away. The versatility of the LI2208’s scanning capabilities ensure fast and accurate reads for a wide variety of retail and light industrial environments.
A breakdown of the Symbol LS2208’s capabilities is listed in table and graph form below.
1D Results
| Smallest Density Barcode Scanned | 3mil | Excellent |
| Largest Barcode Scanned | 187.9mm | Excellent |
| Shortest Barcode Scanned | 38 mm | Good |
| Range Ideal Conditions (Standard 100% UPC-A) | 1 inch to 34 inches | Excellent |
| Multiple Barcodes in close proximity | Relatively accurate, "aim mode" increases accuracy | Great |
| Scan through plastic layers | 4 Layers | Good |
| Multicolored Barcodes Successfully Scanned | Blue, Grey, B & W Inverse | Good |
| Multicolored Barcodes Not Scanned | Red, Yellow, Black on Dark Grey | Average |
| Simulated Sunlight Test | Scans in direct sunlight, spotlight near contact with barcode, all lighting conditions | Excellent |
Conclusion:
The Motorola LI2208 is an excellent scanner for any demanding retail application. It is competitively priced for scanners within its class, but exceeds expectations for a variety of uses. The addition of a healthcare-specific model makes it a great addition for admitting, bedside, or pharmacy scanning applications.
To purchase this product, go to the Motorola LI2208 listing
For Additional Reviews, visit our Product Reviews page.
To see our complete line of barcode scanners, visit our Barcode Scanners section.
| Similar Products From Symbol | Ideal Setting | Description |
 LS2208 |
All Retail, Light Industrial, Medium to High Volume Scanning | Excellent features for its price. Aggressive scan engine ensures accurate scans for all types of linear barcodes |
 LI4278 |
Light to Medium Industrial, Rough Retail, High Volume Scanning | Similar scanning capabilities to LI2208, LI4278 offers cordless scanning and compatibility with Bluetooth devices. |
 LS3578 |
Heavy Industrial, Harsh Environments | Cordless barcode scanner has extended range or fuzzy logic scan engine to increase scanning ability. IP64 seal protects it from the elements. |
Testing and evaluation results for the Motorola LI2208
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