[Koha] Using Koha on Android devices for revision

[asakovich at hmcpl.org]

We’ve been evaluating the Tera Barcode Scanner Wireless 1D/2D/QR 2-in-1 unit from Tera Digital (Germany). This is a rather versatile scanner in that it can be either wired (USB) or wireless, and supports a USB dongle (included) for long distances (up to 100m), or Bluetooth 4.x. It can store barcodes when scanning in an "offline" mode, then upload them in a batch when connected to whatever device you want. The battery is quite hefty, allowing for multiple days or weeks of use between charges.

It works with a long list of 1D and 2D barcodes, reads QR codes, and can also read barcodes on device screens (e.g., library cards on people’s phones).

It works with Windows, macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Android, Linux, and just about anything else you can imagine.

  https://tera-digital.com/collections/all-products/products/tera-barcode-scanner-wireless-1d-2d-2-in-1

All that for less than $60US (which includes a stand — less without the stand).

Our only issue right now is that we have some barcodes with an "A" prefix and "B" or "A" suffix, and some don’t. The scanner only has the ability to remove a fixed number of characters, not specific characters. We’re working with Bywater to see about updating the barcode filters in Koha to do that conversion for us. If your barcodes don’t have such variable prefixes/suffixes, or are consistent in their use, you won’t have a problem with this.

HTH,
Aaron
--
Aaron Sakovich
Internet and Technology Services Manager

Huntsville-Madison County Public Library
915 Monroe Street | Huntsville, Alabama 35801 | https://hmcpl.org/




> On Feb 11, 2020, at 09:54, Tomáš Wünsch <tomas.wunsch at knihovna-uo.cz> wrote:
> 
>  I am trying to fidn out how to process a complete audit of the whole
> library without moving all those items from shelves to the desk and back or
> buying laptops just for this purpose.
> We are obligated to do this every second or fifth year here in Czech
> Republic, and it is quite an operation - we have 10 "big" (20-80k)  and 100
> small (2-6k of volumes) local libraries.
> 
> As of now, smoothest solution I see in Android tablets/phablets/phones +
> dedicated readers (we have USB versions, but I am thinking about buying
> some Bluetooth variations).
> Any experience or recommendation in this field?
> Some brands I should avoid?
> 
> My fast take on this:
> - Android has no problem with an input using USB barcode scanners (via
> USB-C or MicroUSB to UBC-A reduction)
> - Instead of numbers I get !#@$#$&^%$^%# => probably just need to find
> proper codepage for our Honeywell Eclipse MS5145 LS USB and Android with
> Czech layout.
> - Without new api or some plugin in koha itself for using camera and
> implementing OCR of barcode from picture, using built-in hw is no go.
> 
> - Anyone has some recommendations for a suitable product (light and durable
> BT barcode reader)?
> 
> Tomas Wunsch
> 
> PS:
> I was suggested to check this post by Owen and I love this possibilities
> for small libraries or patrons:
> https://bugs.koha-community.org/bugzilla3/show_bug.cgi?id=23641
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
>    S přáním překrásných dní    //    Beautiful Days To You
>  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  ~     ~
> 
> *Tomáš Wünsch*
> 
> 
> *Správce IT*
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