Point of Sale Hardware Definitions and other helpful information

How to Identify Barcode Scanner Interfaces

Below are descriptions on how to differentiate between serial, keyboard (PS/2), and USB keyboard emulation scanner interfaces. Note: It is recommended if you need a barcode scanner to purchase a scanner and interface which is supported by your POS software.

1. Serial scanners have a 9 pin female connection which connects to the PC. These are NOT keyboard emulation barcode scanners. The decoded data goes to a special port on the PC called a COM port.

1. Scanner Side - Serial 9 Female Pinholes

2. PC Side - Serial 9 Male Pins

2. Keyboard Wedge shares the PS/2 port with a PS/2 keyboard allowing whatever information is scanned to be sent to the location of the mouse/keyboard cursor on the computer screen. Keyboard wedge scanners have a cable that splits off into two pigtails (Also called a "wedge" cable). The pigtail with the 6 pin male connection goes into the PC's keyboard PS/2 port (Do not plug this cable into the mouse PS/2 port). The remaining pigtail with 6 female pinholes is where a PS/2 keyboard should be plugged in.

1. Scanner's Wedge Cable Left male pigtail connects to computer's PS/2 keyboard port, right female pigtail connects to a PS/2 keyboard 

2. PC Side - PS/2 Keyboard Port Computer's PS/2 Keyboard port (Note the icon of the keyboard)

3. USB keyboard emulation scanners have replaced Keyboard Wedge scanners since most of the newer computers do not have PS/2 ports. These scanners are typically plug and play and will send barcode data to wherever the keyboard/mouse cursor is on the screen. USB cable on the scanner side has a rectangular male connection which plugs into any of the computer's USB ports. USB cable on the PC side has a rectangular female connection.

1. Scanner Side - USB

Download our intro to barcode scanning document here, provided by Datalogic.