USB Barcode Scanning - lawrencebillson/parkrun GitHub Wiki

What is it?

Starting in version 1.5, parkrunPortable will detect if a USB barcode scanner is connected. When one is detected, it will listen for it and generate a WebFMS compatible barcode file. Just like you'd get from an Opticon scanner.

How do I make it work?

Plug a USB barcode scanner in. Scan finish and athlete tokens as you would with the Opticon, and in the regular file download folder, you'll see a file for each barcode scanner detected.

Can I have more than one barcode scanner going at a time?

Yes. Using a USB hub, I've had as many as three barcode scanners in during my development. A separate barcode file is created for each scanner, just like when multiple Opticon scanners are used.

Can I scan phone screens?

Yes, depending on the model of barcode scanner. Some barcode scanners work with lasers (like the Opticon units used by parkrun). Others use a camera. Camera based scanners will usually work with phone screens. Look for keywords like "CCD" and it might well work!

What do I need to be careful with?

As far as I know, nobody has used this in anger. For the first couple of events it'd be a super-good idea to have your regular barcode scanning arrangements in place. The neat thing about the Opticon scanners is they store data in internal memory. If anything goes wrong, the data is still inside the scanner.

You may need to provide additional power to your parkrunPortable. Its internal battery is reasonable, but devices like barcode scanners will draw extra power. Another thought is that you'll probably need to collect barcodes for a good 45 minutes - longer than parkrunPortable is normally used for. An external USB battery may be a sensible thing to take for the first few events.

What barcode scanner works?

Any barcode scanner that presents itself as a USB keyboard should work.

Bluetooth or wireless barcode scanners?

Maybe. If you mail me one, I'll give it a good old Aussie go. Open an issue and we can get started.