Wireless Barcode Scanner for Square Register

[mrliquorsd]

I have posted this in the Square Community but I feel like something needs to be done about the fact you cannot get a wireless Barcode Scanner for the Square Register. The Seller Community has a workaround that does not seem to work all the time so I have stopped using it.

You would not think that having a compatible Wireless Scanner is something that would be hard to accomplish considering the Zebra/HP scanners are the ones sold with the Registers and they have wireless options.

[douglsmith]

@the_storehouse: My theory is that the Square equipment's USB port doesn't always supply enough power to run the receiving cradle. The scanner has a battery in it to charge. Some cradles have a battery but some do not. Those that do not have a battery would completely rely on the power supplied externally and require more power.

The other thing to be aware of is that the tip (the inside) of the connector is negative, while most power supplies you see around have a positive tip. So if someone got a more generic power supply then that could be the problem.

That document you linked to gives some important clues so thank you for that! One thing I learned from it is that there are different models of cradles that have different power requirements. The difference in cradles could be why I had initial success but others did not. I'll take a look in a few days when I'm in front my equipment and report back on my cradle model number.

Here are the specifications for the listed cradles:

CR0078-S/CR0008 Cradle

Power requirements: 4.75 - 14.0v

5v @ 700mA or 12v, 220 mA for charging cradles

5v @ 70mA or 12v @ 50 mA for non charging cradles.
So either a 5v or 12v supply will work with this cradle as long as it has a negative tip and enough current. The 5v supply I linked to was 1A, which is the same as 1,000mA, so that could supply plenty of power for this cradle.

CR0078-P Cradle

Power requirements: 12v

12v @ 160mA (idle scanner)
12v @ 335mA (charging scanner)

So this one would need a 12v supply, also with a negative tip and enough current. The max current it uses is 335mA so a 500mA or 1A supply would supply plenty of power for this cradle.

As a summary for the less-geeky readers is that the voltage has to match what is specified (5v or 12v) but the current can be any amount more than is required.

[douglsmith]

@the_storehouse I saw the "ref=" in your link and couldn't tell if it was affiliate. I just wanted to make sure you were in the clear if it was. Thanks for the explantation.

From the photo you posted I can see that you have a 12v power supply that can provide 4A (same as 4,000mA). So the voltage matches perfectly but the current is overkill for what it needs according to that document, assuming you have one of those models of cradles. That doesn't hurt anything, though, and it should work perfectly.

Do you know what model your cradle is?

[douglsmith]

Oh, @the_storehouse, your power supply has a positive tip. So everyone can disregard what I said about a negative tip. It may vary with the cradle model.

[acanosfinds]

It is just so disappointing that Square can make such great software and products but does not offer its own wireless scanner for the POS register- the largest investment for our business in terms of hardware (*we have 3 of them) and the most disappointing.

[mrliquorsd]

I just purchased the Zebra DS6878 from the link posted by @the_storehouse plugged it in with the power connected and nothing happened. My square register did not recognize it. 

Any tips on why this might have happened?

[Candlestore]

@mrliquorsd ;

I have 2- Zebra DS6878s,  I have the Scanner Cradle plugged into the USB brick to get power and my Zebra scanners connect.  I am not sure how you connected your DS6878 to the register if you are using a power adapter.  

Does your Scanner connect with a computer, PC or Mac?  My DS6878 connect to my Stand and to my Chromebooks and my Laptop computers for scanning barcodes to spreedsheets.

Try using these instructions for connecting your scanner:

Connecting the CR0078-P Series Cradle
Connect the interface cable and power supply (if necessary) in the following order to ensure proper operation of the digital
scanner and cradle:
1. Insert the interface cable into the cradle’s host port.
2. Connect the other end of the interface cable to the host.
3. Connect the power supply to the cradle’s power port.
4. Connect the appropriate cable to the power supply and AC power source.
5. Thread the interface cable over the cable support hook (see Figure 1-6 on page 1-6) and run the host and
power cables into their respective cable grooves.
IMPORTANT For healthcare environments, use cradle p/n CR0078-SC1009BWR and place the ferrite core
(included in box with cradle) on the power supply (refer to the Power Supply Ferrite Installation
instructions included in the box).
NOTE The radio link functions normally when the cradle draws power from a USB

[mrliquorsd]

@Candlestore i have mine connected to my Square Register. 

[Candlestore]

@mrliquorsd ,

Try different usb ports on the register, I read somwhere that all ports on the power brick on the register are not powered?!  Which seems really odd  to me.   I have stands not the register so I am just guessing too.  Are the lights coming on at all on the scanner?  They should light up when charging.  Mine show Green and when bad go red when it does not connect to the craddle.  This is why I also asked if it works on a Laptop or Desktop computer, testing to see if scanners are bad.  I have had mine since 2019 and only time I had issues were Square updates, but this has been fixed over a year ago.  The other thing I notice is my Zebra DS6878 show as Symbol DS6707 when looking at my Device Management on my Square Dashboard on a computer. I have 4 Card Readers normally connected 2 usb and 2 Bluetooth to my two stands.  So each stand has 1 USB and 1 Bluetooth at all times.  I think the one that needs attention is a spare I used to travel with.