Metrologic Fusion Review Review

Product:	Fusion
Manufacturer:	Metrologic
Type:	Omni directional Handheld
Support:	2 Year warranty through Metrologic, lifetime support through POSGUYS.com

The Metrologic Fusion is a replacement for the MS6720, and features omnidirectional scanning in a handheld unit.

Typical uses and environments:
The aggressive scan engine and omnidirectional scan pattern give the Fusion the means necessary to succeed in high volume retail and grocery environments. For larger or hard to move items, the Fusion may be removed from its stand and used as a handheld scanner, eliminating the need for two scanners per lane.

Unique Features & Advantages:
What really makes the Metrologic Fusion stand out from the rest of the omnidirectional class is the design. Metrologic designed the unit to work both as a handheld scanner and hands free in a stand. The ergonomic design allows it to be used easily in hand as well as in the stand.
Once in hand, the Fusion utilizes Metrologic’s CodeGate™ technology. CodeGate allows the scanner to display the beam over the barcode and won’t scan until you push the trigger button. This increases scanning accuracy when reading barcodes that are densely populated on a productThe Fusion also features multiple scan patterns, including single line, 4 line raster, and multi-line raster patterns. The alternate scan patterns aid in increasing scanning accuracy by limiting the readable range to a single line for products with multiple barcodes, or by multiplying the lines to read worn or damaged barcodes.

Standard Features:
Out of the box, the Fusion comes with an auto-sense stand and interface cable. No additional configuration is necessary once the cabling is attached. The auto-sense stand utilizes magnets to switch the scanner to auto-sense mode, eliminating the need for configuration when switching from hands-free to hand-held mode.
4 LEDs on the head of the unit illuminate when powered on. Two indicate whether the scanner is in standard or secondary scan mode, one indicates if the scanner is in auto-sense mode and the larger LED flashes after successful scans. The Focus utilizes rubber around the head unit to protect it and products from accidental collisions.

Performance Testing:
In testing the performance of the Metrologic Fusion, we ran it through a battery of tests, including scan range testing, barcode density, barcode width, damaged barcode robustness, and light resistance. Our testing determined the Fusion to fall in line with standard omnidirectional scanners. The optimal scan range of the Fusion is from contact to 12” away for standard UPC-A barcodes. For retail or grocery use, this range is more than necessary, covering the standard distances an omnidirectional scanner may encounter. During the density test, the Fusion successfully scanned barcodes between 9 and 50 mil, which covers the range of barcode densities generally encountered in retail or grocery environments. For barcode width, the Fusion read up to a 4.75” barcode, far wider than experienced in a retail setting and mainly a symptom of the 12” scan range.

Scanning damaged, dirty, or otherwise poor barcodes is where the Fusion truly stands out. Our model was able to scan every poor barcode in our testing group, showing the power that omnidirectional or multi-line raster scanners have in getting data out of otherwise unreadable barcodes. Excessive brightness can cause problems for any barcode scanner, and the Metrologic Fusion is no exception. Our unit experienced scanning problems with a 250W light bulb 20” away, as well as in direct sunlight. This can cause problems for locations that may be brighter than average, feature more directed light, or may receive more direct sunlight.

A breakdown of the Metrologic Fusion capabilities is listed in table and graph form below.



1D Results

Highest Density Barcode Scanned	6 mil	Good
Widest Barcode Scanned	147.32mm	Great
Shortest Barcode Scanned	38 mm	Good
Range Ideal Conditions (Standard 100% UPC-A)	Contact – 12 inches	Good
Scratched Barcode	3 of 3	Good
Worn Barcode	3 of 3	Good
Warped Barcode	2 of 2	Good
Curved Barcode	2 of 2	Good
Multiple Barcodes in close proximity	Accurate only in single line mode	Average
Scan through plastic layers	2 Layers	Good
Multicolored Barcodes Successfully Scanned	Blue, Grey	Good
Multicolored Barcodes Not Scanned	Red, Yellow, Black on Dark Grey	Average
Simulated Sunlight Test	Correct scans until spotlight was at 20”	Poor

Conclusion:
The Metrologic Fusion is an excellent solution for high-volume retail or grocery locations that need both an omnidirectional scanner as well as a hand-held scanner for large or hard to scan products. It can easily replace two scanners, saving time at checkout and money in the long run.

To Purchase This Product, go to Metrologic Fusion.

For Additional Reviews, visit our Product Reviews page.

To see our complete line of barcode scanners, visit our Barcode Scanners section.

Other Metrologic Products	Ideal Setting	Description
Metrologic QuantumT	High Volume Retail or Grocery Environments	Similar multiple scan patterns as the Fusion, however not designed for easy hand-held use
Fusion	High Volume Retail or Grocery Environments	Multiple scan patterns, easily used in hand-held mode as well as hands-free.
Orbit	High Volume Retail or Grocery Environments	Adjustable head for easy orientation. Can be used as hand-held scanner if necessary, though not for extended periods.

Testing and evaluation results for the Metrologic Fusion Review

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